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Oh So Late. And oh so sorry . . .

Chris Evans | 05:41 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2012

On the wings of a dove comes another day tomorrow. And, as it happens, another budget. Yes, it's that time again folks, when the chancellor delves inside his funny tatty little red case and declares his plan for balancing the nation's books. Which might go someway to explaining the abnormal queue spilling out of the petrol station and snaking down our local high street this evening. I was heading for the video shop but thought better of it after a weird Tuesday teatime wait. Looks like the Berkshire massive think fuel's gonna get it again whereas I don't think he'll be hitting the tax on film rental too much so I should be ok putting my movie selection off for another twenty four hours.

But hey, do you remember, as a kid, the intrigue with which you greeted the budget ? And the mystery as to why all the adults got so uppity about having to spend more of their hard earned money to in order to kill themselves with fags and booze ? That's what I always used to think.

Nowadays I wonder whether the huge anti smoking and drinking campaigns of the last few years, which have obviously been so successful, have forced more recent governments to increase tax on cigarettes and alcohol exponentially in order to sustain what was once a rich vein of revenue for HMRC.

I'll tell you what, you have a glass of wine and think about it, I'll nip outside for a quick puff and we'll reconvene in ten.

Peace (pipe) and Love.

CE

2012

X.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Good morning everyone,

    It's one of those mornings where I could just walk for miles and miles, it's not sunny but it is very mild and feels like spring has sprung!

    Yes Chris, I wonder what the budget will have in store for us, our biggest outgoing is diesel, over £100 per week, it's a killer and really curbs our activities, but we do need a car each as we are about 4 miles from the nearest public transport.

    Thinking of Beez today, I still remember the last time I saw her, we shared a bottle of champange in Glasgow to celebrate my own, her and AnnieG's Birthdays, it really was a weekend to remember, and treasure.

    Hope you all have a good day.

    X

    G

  • Comment number 2.

    Morning!

    What can everyone be doing at 7.30am which means I'm second to post? Certainly not putting off getting ready for work like me....

    Have a wonderful spring day

    R

  • Comment number 3.

    Morning all,

    Sitting in the office having some porridge before my 8am meeting! Im useless without breakie & a cuppa.

    Since I learnt 60p from every litre of fuel goes to the tax man I practically grind my teeth as I fill the car up. I have taken to only putting in fuel I need - mainly for going to work & walking everywhere when at home.

    I don't smoke - never have and never will. My eldest daughter is quitting smoking at the moment. She goes to a local session provided free by the NHS every week and gets all her patches and inhalers free of charge. No ciggies for over 3 weeks so far -Im very proud of her. Not only does she smell and look better she is improving her chances of not ending up as one of my patients!!!!

    Anyway have a great day y'all

    C x

  • Comment number 4.

    Good morning blogettes:

    Happy Birthday Beezer. Used to love reading your blogs. I never met you but know that many who did would appreciate a hug today ( hugs )

    Regards PJ

  • Comment number 5.

    Hi Chris: I do indeed remember the budget being a big thing in our house when I was young. My dad would be engrossed in the newspaper the next night when he came home from work, fuming at all the increases. That is, while he smoked about five cigarettes, and had a beer!

    Hi everyone else - hope all is well.

    Dozer: that blog meet was just wonderful - I will never forget it, and I will never, ever forget Beez. xx

    C xx

  • Comment number 6.

    I see it would have been Beez's birthday today - boy would she have been shouting at Question Time this week! I do miss her here on this o' blog xx

    Laters

    Sezza xxx

  • Comment number 7.

    Good morning all.

    Happy birtday Beez ,I hope that you have a lovely day and that the pink fizz is on Ice . Cheers me dear .Smiling now :-)

    Chris ,yes I used to wonder why my mum and dad got irate when it was that red case day.they would sit there with baited breath and then I'd wait to see the steam escaping form their ears. lol.

    Dozer ,your day is sounding like my kind of day ,and by the way your holibob sounds great ,meant to say yesterday.

    Catmel , good luck to your daughter ,and pleased for her ,she will be so much better off in lots of ways eh!!

    PJ,morning to you ,hope its going well up in your neck of the woods.

    It's a beautiful day here ,wall to wall blue and the sun is at her best ,just a pity that I have to go to work shortly ,but I took the desicion to take Friday off ,so I have a nice long week end.
    Going to see my friend get married ,we were invited to the evening recetion ,but it's a bit to far to go for the evening and couldnt have a drink ,as I would be the driver .

    I cut my typing finger yesterday and have a plaster on it so having problems this morning ...seeing as I'm only a one finger typer ..well thatd my excuse anyway :-)


    Take care all, and have a good day .

    Bids.xxx.

    Ps , nice music this morning Chris.X

  • Comment number 8.

    Morning all

    Budgie Day eh Chris? Does that mean that when I go for a swim this evening there'll be chaps in budgie smugglers in the pool? Ewwwwww!

    I'm feeling old now. I remember my first car in 1988 - a Mini 850 - and it used to cost me precisely £10 to fill it up (and that was a squeeze to round it up to a tenner!) Now, when I fill the Micra up it's about £45. I know it's not as much as some vehicles but I still think that's ridiculous. I've had the Micra for about 4 years now and it was about £30 to fill it when I first starting driving it. Hmph!

    As for smoking, I only did it when I was at school, mainly due to hanging around with the wrong crowd and the threat of getting beaten up if I didn't join in the smoking "fun". I never did like it!

    We spend a fair bit on wine and beer but to be honest, the larger supermarkets always seem to have some kind of offers on fairly decent wines (only yesterday I saw 2 for £12 on a nice red that's usually £6.99/bottle). So, if you shop around there are deals to be had. Having said that, if Mr Chancellor doesn't increase the duty on grown up grape juice, I'll be happy!

    Right, clocked in with the blog possee, cleaned the house, sorted out Randall The Vandal - now time to get myself ready for the day - one of my lovely Suffolk friends is paying me a flying visit this morning with her hubby as they are picking something up not far from here. It's weird - I'd not seen her for 2 years, then I went to hers in February when I was in Suffolk for my nan's 90th, and now she's coming to me. Talk about London buses ....!

    Have a fantastic morning everyone, and if by chance you fancy cake ...... then have some!

    Hugs to Alright Flower (if you're lurking!)

    Muchos Amore

    Deevs The Dog Whisperer
    x x x

  • Comment number 9.

    Bids: Fine and dandy here on the borders. Weather mild and dullish but showing signs of brightening up later.

    Coincidence: I'm off on Friday also. As I work what's called a nine day fortnight I have every other Friday off. Yay! Usually go for a walk with a dear friend in the morning and the world's my lobster in the arvo. This week I'll mostly be spending it on my lottie. Things to plant.

    Regards PJ

  • Comment number 10.

    Doh! It was 3 for £12 .....

    x

  • Comment number 11.

    Morning All,

    Lovely and sunny here too and all I'll get to see of it is out of the office window!

    Deevs, That made me chuckle, I did think that it wasn't much of a bargain and you were only saving yourself a couple of quid xx Also agree about petrol, my Mini Metro cost a tenner to fill up 25 years ago now it's £50 to fill my Corsa!!

    Morning motheroftwo - welcome xx

    Hi Bids, Chrissie, Dozer, PJ, Sezza (how's the cold?) and Cathmel xxxxxx

    It was good music this morning, but I am well cheesed off that he talked over George Michael! He seems to be doing that more and more talking over the records, who does Chris think he is Steve Wright ;)

    As for the Budget, I believe they give with one hand and take away with another!

    Happy Birthday Beez, Gone but NEVER forgotten xxx

    AliB
    xx

  • Comment number 12.

    Hi Chris,

    THE SILVER ROCKETEER here.
    Been trying to get your attention.
    We own a 62 year old aircraft travel trailer once owned by John Paul Getty!
    Found her by a lake in Ohio being used as a camp for Deer hunters.
    Now she is a mobile Art Deco Cocktail Lounge.
    She has attended many high class do's, festivals and flying displays.
    We think we'd be perfect for your CARFEST and will naturally donate a good percentage of takings to "Children in Need"
    Please just take a peek at www.thesilverrocketeer.com
    xxx
    Jonathan and Amy

  • Comment number 13.

    Good afternoon one and all. Sorry I'm late today. Thanks to whoever sent the better weather down here - might even get the washing dry.

    I'm not going to tell you how long ago, but when I owned a scooter it cost 3/6d to fill the tank, and that took me to school and to my part time job in the Mecca all week. Do you remember the Mecca before it became just bingo? Great places for the groups way back in the 60's. Darn - could have given the age away!

    PJ you're being robbed - you need Friday off every week, soooo civilised to have a 3 day weekend. Been doing it for years now.

    I've been buying some drinkable red at £4 per bottle - and you can buy one at a time (if you really must) from our local supermarket. Bet the shelves will be empty by now though.

    Right lunch break over - back to the preparations for the Exhibition.

    Bye everyone
    Mia

  • Comment number 14.

    Afternoon all,

    Well , it's grey skies all the way here, for some reason, we just dont seem to be getting a look in where the sun is concerned.

    I am keeping everything crossed that we dont get hit too heavily by the budget.
    I've not had a payrise for four years, and although I am fortunate to still be employed, it is disheartening seeing all the overheads sneaking up every month. Fuel it seems, is going up by the hour round here !!

    Not much fun in the office today, everyone seems to be glum. I am keeping my spirits up by cleaning my keyboard .

    Wishing Beez a happy cloud birthday , xxxx

    Have a nice afternoon everyone,

    MC xxxx

  • Comment number 15.

    Hello CE & Everyone.

    Oh yes, that dreaded annual thing which brings us down to earth with a bump. The poor motorists get it every time. Do the politicians not realise that this affects the whole economy. i.e. haulage companies struggling which in turn puts ups the price of just about everything meaning less spending. It's all very good trying to force cars off the road and asking people to travel by train but who wants to spend a fortune to sit on a train probably next to someone who is full of cold and talking loudly on their mobile.

    I used to moan about them putting up cigarettes but no longer as they made me ill but that's just my own opinion , I would advise everyone to quit smoking and apart from being healthier save themselves a lot of money.

    The thing is they always target the same people, why not spread their misery around more fairly.

    MM xxx

    PS Happy Birthday Beez (although up there or out there I'm sure that birthdays are not needed as only the body ages and not the soul.

  • Comment number 16.

    Afternoon all,

    What a lovely day again. Back in the office today but walked around the city at lunchtime - it's glorious.

    I didn't know Beez & started blogging around the time of her passing. I so wish I had known her as you all have so many fond memories. She must have been a special lady.

    Loved Chris' "Budgie day" today, my cats went crazy in the kitchen looking to see where the bird was hiding! Sooo funny.

    Is it nearly 5.00 yet?

    CG (missing Henry) xx

  • Comment number 17.

    Afternoon all, from a beautifully sunny Edinburgh, but I'm full of the cold and haven't the energy to go out an enjoy it!

    Still digesting the budget and how it will afftect me, the increase in the personal allowance will, but whether I notice it is another matter! I'm glad to see that there aren't any extra increases on fuel, it has really crept up in price (although here in Edinburgh it's cheaper than in Liverpool). I consider my car to be a luxury, but a flippin' useful one, but i do think a lot more about if I really need to use it to get to where I'm going, or if i can get the bus or walk instead.

    Not much else to report, sod's law has dictated that the lurgy has struck on my days off from work, so getting on with some writing for a competion run by my evening class.

    Happy Birthday beez.

    Rx

  • Comment number 18.

    Chris

    I personally don't take any notice of the budget. Most of it does not affect me directly and as the parts that do it is just a case of giving with one hand and taking back with the other.

    As for the fuss about the 50p tax rate, anybody who is smart enough to earn the kind of money to need to pay it will have an accountant who will make sure they won't have to.

  • Comment number 19.

    Happy Birthday Beez - I never got to meet you but all the other lovelies here chat about you :)

    Budget never really bothers me but I'm so fed up of so much tax on fuel - if they want people to use public transport they need to bring the cost down. It takes me two buses to get to work and 2 to get home - it's £3.50 for a day rider - at the moment i'm pretty sure that the 6 miles round trip is still cheaper (I could be wrong)

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