MR BLACK BEARD

Have you noticed the latest Fad amongst men of all ages ?
They are on the TV, in Football Teams, Actors, Singers, Waiters - everywhere you go you see men with their Black Beards and Moustaches.

What is their effect ? They all look the same. They have lost their individuality and good looks.
You cannot tell one from the other.

OK - they are free to do whatever they wish. This is their right. How long will the fad last and and they become clean shaven men again whom everyone can recognise and admire ?
Probably in a year from now, perhaps around Autumn 2017, they will start to shave off their Beards and Moustaches.

Of course this is a Fad, one of many amongst the Sheep. Years ago it was the Fad of long sideburns and long hair. That lasted about 2 years.

Then there was the Fad of short hair - the Number 1 haircut. That seems to be still in fashion with some.

What is it that drives men to follow the trend like Sheep ? Is it their girlfriends ? Are they scared to be the odd one out ?

Time will tell what the next Fad will be. For me, I prefer to be myself and someone everyone can recognise, For better or worse !

THE YOUNG'S MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE BURDEN OF THE ELDERLY

Misconception that The Young are paying for the Elderly.

There is a general view in British Society that the burden of payments to the Elderly are being financed by the Younger Generations. This is rubbish and a complete misconception.
Let us state some facts.........

Many Pensioners like me have paid an Insurance Stamp as well as a contribution from the companies they worked for 47 years.
This has entitled them to a state pension currently at around £6,700 per annum. They had to join the State Pension scheme which as we all know now was a lousy scheme. Inflation over the years has seen to that.
Women receive a lower pension than Men. What a disgrace !
Elderly people who have had a Company Pension scheme, paid for by the Company and not The Young still pay tax which is going to support The Young. One could argue...Why should the Elderly support The Young ?
Those Elderly people who bought their house some 30, 40 or 50 years ago now find they are paying much more in Council Taxes.
So, these taxes gobble up a big part of the State Pension and they are subsidising The Young ! Another reversal of fact.

So, do not talk rubbish you Young People  and insult The Elderly with such views as ....We are subsidising The Elderly....They are a burden on The Young workers. This is simply not true.
When the day arrives that Elderly people die, the Taxmen Vultures are waiting to claim Inheritance Tax running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Where does the money go ? In part to support and subsidise The Young.

What is the Conclusion ?  False views in Society are dangerous.
Perhaps I have helped to put the record straight. I hope so.

To add salt in the wound, some people say that the Elderly caused the vote to Leave the EU denying The Young their future. What an insult to the Elderly. What a blow to Democracy. The Elderly perhaps have a more balanced opinion based on years of experience. If one reviews the analysis of the Referendum results, you will see that there was a broad church of age groups voting to Leave the EU.

So, the Elderly have paid more into the Treasury over their lifetime than the Young. Their Lifetime knowledge is greater.

One final thought - The Elderly when they were Young spent thousands of pounds raining their young families and in many cases helping to pay for University fees and provide money for items such as a car for their Young ! Sometimes over a 20 years period and beyond.

Thank you Elderly people wherever you are  - you are worth your weight in Gold !

BREXIT - THE PLAN TO LEAVE THE EU

BREXIT - WHAT IS THE PLAN ?

Remainers say.......There is no Plan. The Sheep say....Baa Baa Baa.
What is the Reality ?

The Remainers are still saying that the Government does not have any Plan for Brexit !
On BBC Question Time you will hear Libdems, Scottish Nationalists and Labour Members say.....It is a fact. The Government had no Plan for Brexit.
Baa Baa Baa says the Sheep that agree with them. When will the Government tell us their Plan ? They do not have one.
Meanwhile in the EU at Brussels, The Sheep say the same things.
Remainers blame the Elderly for the bad Referendum result. They say that the young people should have been listened to not the Elderly. The future is for the young. What a direct challenge to Democracy ! What an insult to the Elderly.
Do we want Democracy or Chaos ? Do we want a peaceful and lawful transition to new eras and policies or the Rule of the Mob ? Democracy may have weaknesses but the alternatives are much worse.

The Brussels Elite also say....No Single Market entry without Free Movement of Labour. Baa Baa Baa says The Daily Mirror. Baa Baa Baa says the Leaders of The Netherlands, France, Poland, Germany amongst others.

Over the past 6 months, have all these people been dreaming ? Or perhaps in hibernation for the Winter ?

Have they not heard the endless debates on TV, The Media and Public Meetings through the UK ?
Every News every night they gave details of the views of the Brexiteers and the Remainers.
The Pros and Cons were clearly stated with endless debates.
The Nation was saturated with information.The Government spent £9 Millions on a Nation wide Leaflet campaign promoting a Stay Vote. No one can deny, that the electorate knew the issues on both sides of the argument and the likely outcomes. The Nation understood what was at stake.
The Objectives of Brexit and Strategy for the future relationship with Europe and the Rest of the World was repeated time and time again.

So, what IS the Plan ?

Here is the Plan which gained victory for Brexit.....

1 - The UK wanted to control the amount of Migrants entering the UK. Currently at a rate of 330,000 per year who claim Welfare payments, free schooling, free Healthcare and housing - when there is a massive shortage of affordable housing. The UK population was already too large. Our roads and Motorways congested. Experience the delays on the M25 for example. Tube trains overcrowded, trains overcrowded and expensive.
We knew that the EU would not agree to this control of the free movement of Labour........Does anyone remember the efforts of David Cameron to get concessions from the EU ? I do. He got very little concessions after any months of negotiations with the Heads of EU countries. The EU Leaders stuck to the key principles of the Rome Treaty 1957 which established the Common Market - the original six countries France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy.

2 - It was clear that the EU would not allow the UK to remain in the Single Market, if the UK left the EU.
So, reality is.....the UK will leave the Single Market.
What is the Plan ? The Objective is that the  UK and the EU will trade in future on a mutually beneficial basis. If the EU impose tariffs on UK goods and services, the U.K.will do the same. Result? Everyone loses but the EU loses more that the UK because the UK buys more from the EU. So, a compromise is the Plan.
If no compromise, the UK will continue to trade with the EU. Eventually as unemployment grows in the EU, they will come begging to the UK for a new deal. This is reality.

3 - It is in everyone's interest to have free movement of Tourism, Investment and Short Term Visa Stays in the EU and the UK.
The Government Plan is to secure theses objectives.

4 - Another aspect of the Plan is to continue good EU relations with NATO, Security, Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development, Investments, Peace and Goodwill.

5 - British Law and Parliament will be supreme but the UK will respect EU Laws when trading or visiting EU Countries.

6 - The UK will strive to support British Farming Industry, Revival of the Fishing Industry and the Steel Industry.

7 - The UK will enter into Global Trade deals as and when it is in the interests of the UK, particularly with the Trump USA.
Good communications and liaison with the USA is essential to the future success of the UK.

8 - A major part of any net gain from retrieving the British contribution to the EU Budget will be spent on refinancing the NHS.
This will be based on the net saving and not the gross saving as stated during the TV and Bus Advertising campaigns. This was was wrong but the principle was right !

So, what more of the Plan do the Remainers and the Sheep want to know ? Or, are they simply being bloody minded and burying their heads in the sand ? Just being mischievous ?
How can they say there is no Plan ?

It is clear that it would  be foolish for the Government to publish their range of compromises to the Media ? Or, to speak in detail about it in Parliament.  If you play Poker, would you tell the dealer and other players....Oh look, I have Four Kings and an Ace ? Whow, I am on a winner !

If Remainers and the Sheep would stop, saying....What is the Plan ?and Baa Baa Baa, we might get a deal which is favourable to the UK. Trust the Government and the highly qualified negotiating team or be prepared to criticise them in due course.

The worst outcome is if the UK allow talks with the EU to drag on and on and on......
If there was a second Referendum, there would be riots on the streets across England and Wales.
We know the facts already.....the UK will be outside the Single Market but on a mutually agreed, cosmetic level of tariffs on a range of goods.

The Government will offer incentives to the Financial Services Industry to ensure they remain in London. However,since the level of British Global Trade is likely to increase in the period 2020-2030, it would be a foolish Chief Executive who would lead his Bank into the uncertain EU as a centre of operations.

What about Scotland and Northern Ireland ? They voted to remain in the EU ?
This could not happen if Scotland and Northern Ireland left the UK.
If Scotland had a second Referendum and voted to leave the UK, they might be in for a very big shock. I do not think for one moment that they would thrive economically with massive Debit, unsustainable benefits once they lose the UK subsidy and the resulting bad feelings which would be created. Scotland still would rely heavily on UK Defence and Trade at a Price. No, we are one British Family. Let us keep it that way.
Northern Ireland would only survive with integration with the South which I doubt would ever become reality.
Do we keep having Referendums until one gets the result that one wants ? Crazy is it not?

One final point of Law. In 1975, the British People were mislead by PM Edward Heath in a Referendum about joining the EEC - the European Economic Community. They did not vote for the EU as it is today in 2016. They did not expect...A European Parliament, A Commission, European Law superior to British Law. In other words a Federal system of Government.The EU has become  Monster Mountain of Bureaucracy and is Undemocratic. Annual Accounts not signed off by the Auditors for many years - in the Business World totally unacceptable and illegal. Overpaid officials, suspected t schemes costing  Millions of Euros,  Millions of Directives and Laws, a Parliamentary talk shop, a President and Foreign Secretary highly paid for doing little. Low level economies such as Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Ireland, Portugal, Greece for example who love membership of the EU because they get something for nothing in net positive financing. More counties are lined up because they want the money...Albania, Montenegro, Turkey and so on. Counties like the UK are net positive contributors even though the UK National Debt is extremely high.

PM David Cameron backed by a 6:1 ratio of MPs in Parliament said that the Government and Parliament would abide by the result of the 2016 Referendum. So be it !

If the Supreme Court upholds the recent High Court ruling, then PM Teresa May should put a Vote to the House of Commons and if she loses, then call - A  General Election in January 2017.

So, Is there a Plan ? If you say NO and Baa BaaBaa, then you need to go to Specsavers for Hearing and Sightseeing Tests.
Or, perhaps worse, you are suffering the early stages of Dementia.

OF COURSE THERE IS A PLAN.

What more do you want Remainers and Sheep Baa Baa Baa ?

THE FUTURE NAME OF OUR COUNTRY

The Future of The United Kingdom

No, I do not mean BREXIT.
I mean what should our Nation be called for future generations ?
Some may say it will be -

United England and Wales

Scotland - as an independent Nation according to the
Scottish Nationalist Party

Northern Ireland and Eire

In other words no more United Kingdom. What a great pity !

I prefer to see an United Country, one British Family respecting our joint heritage and values. Protecting each other. Loving our British Families. Honouring our past and the men and women of British Forces who maintained our Freedom from evil forces and creeds.

My view is that our country should in future revert to......
GREAT BRITAIN.
In the Olympic Games we were known as Great Britain.

Some American tourists refer to us as -

England
Britain
The UK ( whatever those letters stand for )
The EU

Yes, Great Britain, defenders of Democracy, Freedom, Rule of Law.
A Decent Country, Peaceful, Humanitarian, Partners to Peaceful Global Countries. A country of Innovation and Prosperity.
A Country that delivers a higher standard of living for all.
A BREXIT Nation with good trading relations with the EU and Global Nations.

Long Live GREAT BRITAIN.

FOOTBALL GREED - THE CRAZY DEALS

Gareth Bale is Welsh and so am I. He is a very good footballer and he deserves the adulation from his supporters for kicking a football around for a couple of hours per week for Real Madrid in their wonderful stadium in Madrid Spain.

However, Football Clubs who play in the top echelon of Football such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and many others have gone crazy in their support of utter
Gluttonous and sheer Greed footballers.
Gareth Bale has just signed a new 6 year contract with Real Madrid worth £350,000 per week. Let me repeat this figure...
Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand per WEEK AFTER TAX.
Are they mad ?

I believe this kind of money - Rooney gets £250,000 per week at Manchester United - is a disgrace.
I hope that the Government checks closely if these greedy footballers are paying their fair share of tax like the rest of us !
Are they paying 40% tax ? Or, have they taken steps to avoid this level of tax ?
The Inland Revenue should prioritise investigations on these high earners and not the small earners.

Who is responsible for this crazy level of greed ?

Is it the Supporters ? Is it Big Business Sponsorships ?
Is it the Television Companies ? Is it the Agents ?

All I know is that we live in a very unfair World.
Think about this.......
If FIFA and Football Associations throughout the World put limits on Footballer earnings and transfer payments,
Would they lose all these high paid footballers ?
Would supports stay away if teams paid much lower salaries ?

My response is...NO, they would not.

There is another worrying aspect of the current situation.
Teams in the lower Divisions cannot sell their players at such extravagant  levels. They cannot pay these crazy salaries.
It is a vicious circle.
Ask yourself this....If a Surgeon, Teacher, Doctor, Engineer can earn around £100,000 per annum compared with the average wage £26,000 before tax, is it fair or Gluttoness for a footballer to earn £350,000 PER WEEK.

No, No, No........

Attitudes in Society today needs to change. I wonder if Gareth Bates would give £500,000 a year to Charities ?
I wonder if the Top Billionaire Earners in Britain would give
£100 Million of their wealth  to the poor, Great Ormond Street Hospital or NHS Scanner Appeals.
I am sure they give a pittance but they could donate much more.

In my lifetime, I wish that we could live in a Fairer Society.

Certainly Footballers, Bankers and the like have no intention of giving up their fortunes.

What are football Supporters and Shareholders in Banks and Blue Chip companies doing about greed  such as Annual Bonuses of £ Millions, salaries of £250,000 to £600,00, BBC Celebrities earning
£1- £3 Million per annum ?

NOTHING.

STATE PENSION COST INEFFECTIVE INCREASE AT 80 YEARS OF AGE

Whoever makes the decision about increases in the State Pension at 80 years of age, should be admonished and criticised in Public.
I have just been advised by The State Pensions people that at the age of 80, my State Pension will increase by.....25p per week.  Can you believe this ? This is nearly as bad as George Brown's Budget increase in the State Pension of 7p per week some years ago.

The Administrative Cost of making this change far outweighs the new increase.
My advice is to stop this foolish and misery increase.
Any saving in Administrative costs should be reallocated to the NHS Budget.
It will probably pay for a fraction of the gluttonous salaries of the Consultants working in the NHS!

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BREXIT - TAKING 10 YEARS OR 10 MONTHS - THE UK WILL DECIDE

BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS - Taking 10 years or less than 1 year ?
Britain should decide and become a successful Global Trading Power.


On Newsnight this week, they interviewed the Finnish Prime Minister. He expressed the view that BREXIT negotiations would take more than 10 years. He explained that there were thousands of EU regulations and directives that had to be dealt with. Dealing with the legal aspects of Britain leaving the EU would in itself take years.
In addition there was the question of the cost of BREXIT and Britain's contribution to the EU budget.

If ever you voted to remain in the EU, this illustrates how completely out of touch with reality his remarks are. It shows the mindset not only of Finland but many more EU Leaders. They are so embroiled in Red Tape and hierarchical thinking that they cannot face reality.

After the Referendum result in Britain, we have every  sovereign right to leave the EU early after Article 50 has been envoked, swiftly and in a short timescale. In no circumstances can Britain be bogged down in a morasse of bureucracy !
In January 2017 when Article 50 is implemented by The Prime Minister the following expectancies should be declared by the British Negotiating Team.......

1 - Britain should not join the Single Market. If the EU prevent free trade or impose tariffs on British goods and services, Britain will impose tariffs on EU goods and services. It is in everyone's interests to have free, unhindered trade between Britain and the EU.

2 - British Law and the Sovereignty of Britain should be enforced from 1 July 2017. A Fait Accompli.

3 - Britain Will impose strict immigration Laws. EU citizens cannot claim Welfare benefits in the UK. They claim Welfare from their country of origin

4 - The costs of Healthcare by EU citizens in Britain must be paid for in advance and can be claimed from EU countries. This applies to non EU countries as well.

5 - EU and other countries Diplomats must pay fines. If there are outstanding claims, the costs will be deducted from British Aid payments to those offending Countries.

6 - Britain will continue to work closely with the EU on matters of joint interests such as - Crime, Terrorism, Fraud, Internet abuse and hacking and Britain will remain a member of NATO and other International bodies.

7 - EU citizens can enter the UK for holidays and business with new entry Visas allowing up to 3 months stay.

8 - Britain will expect the same treatments for UK holiday stays in the EU and for business stays in the UK.

9 - Britain will remain outside the Eurozone, keeping the Pound Sterling as its national currency.

10 - Goodwill, Peace, Harmony and the Rule of Law will prevail between EU countries and Britain.


British negotiations must not be bogged down with arguments about Free Movements of people throughout Europe without restrictions. Britain rejects the EU treaties which were signed by British Politicians without any mandate from the British People.
In the 70s The British People voted to join the EEC - The Common Market.
Since them we have become embroiled in a movement towards Centralisation, unDemocratic Leadership, Civil Service Commission and a drive towards The United States of Europe.
Surely, Britain has the right to demand and establish its own terms for leaving the EU.

Prime Minister - do not be frightened or try to compromise Britain's future.

WE are in the driving seat !

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SEE DAILY MAIL ARTICLE AND MAIL ONLINE ARTICLE
BY ROBERT HARDMAN

17 SEPTEMBER 2016

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3793758/The-German-laid-war-hero-s-ghost-rest-73-years-Son-s-life-haunted-RAF-father-s-disappearance-stranger-pieced-puzzle-restored-faith-humanity.html#comments-3793758

THE CALAIS FIASCO 2016 - THE WORSE IS YET TO COME !

THE CALAIS FIASCO 2016 - The Worst is yet to come.

Europe is facing one of its worst crises from Multitudes of Migrants
wanting a better life in an European Country.
The 10,000 Migrants camped out in Calais France want to come to Britain where they expect jobs or Welfare support including housing, financial support and the freedom to live in a civilised country. Once accepted into Britain or other European country they expect to have their wives, parents and children to join them or if they claim Welfare Payments for their children back in their home country, they can send money to their families.

Now, consider this proposition.....There is estimated to be Millions and Millions who would like to have the European Lifestyle.
10,000 Migrants at Calais is just the tip of the iceberg !
Can Britain or any other European country sustain Mass Migration ?
The answer is clearly.. NO.

The United Nations in its broadest sense should be responsible for Asylum seekers - offering refuge in Africa, South American and other parts of the world community - on a temporary stay basis - until it is safe to return to their home country.

There should be no Economic Migrants unless they conform to the inward country's Migrant Laws.

So, what to do for the 10,000 people camped out in Calais ?

Firstly, the French authorities should process everyone such as - Asylum Seekers, Economic Migrants. Criminals and possible terrorists ?

Asylum seekers should be granted a temporary safe place of abode in Europe or as directed by the UN.
Note that most residents in the Calais campsite will claim to be Asylum seekers. Most of the residents are young men wanting a better life in Europe.
Rejected applicants must be returned to safe compounds outside Europe.

This may sound cruel but Mass Migration cannot be sustained in Europe and certainly not in the UK.
Social resources in most European countries are under severe pressure and Mass Immigration will only make matters worse.
This situation in Calais cannot go on.

There is a grave danger of Law and Order breaking down - perhaps it already has !
The British Government and other EU Governments must not let the Law of the Jungle to gain the upper hand.
Most people are appalled by the violence and intimidation that is a regular occurrence in Calais.
The French authorities let the Migrants into France with many more waiting to arrive. France must settle this problem with help from the EU and the UN.

The simple conclusion is this, hard though it might sound.
Britain cannot be held to ransom from Migrants. Britain must decide what limits are applied.
Britain cannot sustain Mass Immigration and that is the brutal fact of life.

Enough is enough with chaos, violence, mob pressures, unrealistic demands and a hopeless ineffective United Nations

If the current Migration trends continue on a much higher level, Civilisation and The Rule of Law within the Western Democracies will be at risk. It may never recover.

Be warned Governments of the World. Do something about it....soon.
.

BREXIT AND THE EU - WHERE NEXT ?

BREXIT and the EU - Where next ?
The view of one British Citizen

If you listen to some Remainers, negotiations with the EU will take many years. For others they will say that negotiations will be spread over the next 2 years. Some Politicians hope that negotiations will continue up to 2020 when the next General Election is due, hoping that Labour will win and reverse the result of the 2016 Referendum to quit the EU.
So who is right ?
Prime Minister Teresa May has said publicly that - BREXIT means BREXIT.
So, as a humble ordinary British Citizen of Welsh decent, let me give the government some personal guidelines.

1- Article 50 should be declared in January 2017 as Teresa May has indicated but severance from the EU should then start at once.
But, HOW ?

2- The trade balance with the EU is in Britain's favour.
We should say to the EU, if you impose tariffs on British goods, we will impose tariffs on EU goods and services.
In this way, everyone loses ! Is this what you want ?
Britain wants free trade with the EU. The alternative is a trade war.
Britain does not want to be part of the EU free trade area, nor the Norwegan, Swiss or Canadian special deal areas. We want to trade as an independent nation with goodwill on both sides.

3- The British Parliament should restore the British Judicial system as the main law making body - not the European Court of Justice.
The European Human Rights Laws should be replaced by British Human Rights Laws.
Terrorists, murderers, criminal should be sent back to their country of origin.

4- Britain will impose Border controls. Work Permits will be granted to suitable applicants fro the EU and other countries. There will be no freedom of stay for Immigrants or Asylum seekers. Limits will be imposed on numbers entering the UK. Welfare payments should be paid by the country of origin for foreign workers. Existing Foreign Workers can stay provided they have approved jobs and that they are not a drain on UK Welfare and Social Resources.

5- Short stay Permits will continue to be granted to EU citizens for holiday stays and business stays and these restrictions will be applied to all other countries. Immigrants from Pakistan, India, Nigeria and the West Indies will not have a right to enter and stay in the UK indefinitely. They will be subject t to British Immigration Laws.

6- Britain will participate in NATO, Security Organisations, WTO, G20, UN and other bodies of common interest.
All British MEPs will resign from the EU Parliament.

7- Britain will cease all payments to the EU budgets and funds by July 1st 2017.  Extra monies will be allocated to the NHS, Schools and Railways.

8- Britain, as from January 2017, will conclude trade deals where appropriate with USA, Commonwealth, India, China, Brazil and other countries.

9- Joint Venture companies will continue and increase with the EU.

10- Britain will continue to promote Peace, Social interaction, Prosperity throughout the EU and the rest of the World.

11- Britain is in the driving seat not the EU.

BREXIT does mean BREXIT.
We do not want extended negotiations.

In Business, I was taught that if you ate going to make radical changes, do so in the minimum of time span. Get change done quickly. Recovery and adjustment will be so much easier and productive.

So, PM Teresa May, The Cabinet and the Civil Service, do not be frightened. Get on with it and complete the withdrawal in 2017.

BREXIT WIN - IT COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF.....

BREXIT win - The UK to leave the EU

So, the majority of British voters have voted to leave the EU.

It could have been so much different if it was not due to the stupidity and myopia of the EU officials.

This is what the EU should have said :

Yes, the UK can put a cap of 50,000 immigrants who want to work in the UK per annum.

Yes, welfare payments can be paid but by the country of origin.
So, Polish workers who have a wife and children living in Warsaw or anywhere else in Poland get benefits from Poland and not the UK.

Yes, we recognise that the UK have debts of about £100 Billions.
They cannot sustain unrestricted movement of people from the EU.

Yes, the UK can stop economic migrants.

Simple and sensible is it not ?

The tragedy is that the EU is so short sighted. If only they had woken up to the reality of population movements, the vote in the Referendum might have been different.

I believe that we need a relook at our execution of Democracy.
On major issues a 75% vote in favour should be needed . The USA system is more realistic for major changes in Laws.

The sadness of the Brexit vote is that we could have had a better solution. However, the reality is that David Cameron worked hard over 4 years to get the EU to make sensible concessions. He got some minor changes from the EU.

If you want to blame anyone about the Referendum, blame the EU for their stupidity.
Also, blame the Stay Campaign for making some outrageous threats and doom and gloom.

If Scotland wish to stay in the EU they will find that the financial burden is so great that their standard of living will decline.

So lick your wounds Stay Campaigners. Let us go forward with hope and determination. Remember, we are still Europeans.

CREATING A HEALTHLY LIFESTYLE FOR THE 50 PLUS GENERATIONS

CREATING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE - A Personal Case Study - Learning from Experience

Ray Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM

To Appreciate Your Present, you need to understand Your Past


For the 50 Plus Generations a few reflections from one 79 year old Male.
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano. Romans Philosophy. A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body.

My Intergenerational Perspective comes from the age 79 years, soon to be 80 in November.
A recent Research Study from Bucks County Council Wellbeing Board  concluded that the average lifespan of a Man in Buckinghamshire was 80 years 5 months. I am hoping to buck the trend !
To understand where I am coming from......I have identified 3 life phases......so that I can present to you factual evidence from one person.....me. I think that I am typical of the Businessman fraternity up to the age of 51 but I am untypical of people in the 50 Plus Generations. Perhaps after hearing my views, you might agree that more people should follow my example ? You will decide later.

3 Phases of My Life cycle

Personal Research Study
Characteristics - psychographics - lifestyle study. 4500 Campers and Caravanners. Invented the word ZOISTICS - statistical study of Lifestyle characteristics. Greek Zoi...Life..Statistics.
Campers were much more physically active than Caravanners. ( Reference University of Lancaster
R J Williams 1984 ).  I wonder if campers live Longer than Caravanners ? Maybe a future research study ?


FOUNDATION YEARS
9 - 21 Phase -  Active sports. Rugby, Rowing LSE, Cycling, Swimming, Walking , Educational mental exercise. Vegetables. Steaks. Beer.
12 stone. Friends. Girlfriends. Social life. Sense of achievement.
Goals. Self esteem. Overcoming grief. Father kia  RAF Bomber Command

VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.

MID LIFE YEARS
22 - 50 Phase - Married, 5 children. MD. Entertaining. Parties. No sport. Lots of food and drinking. Self esteem.. Health concerns. 14.5 stone. Type 2 Diabetes. TIA mini stroke. Death of wife and son -high stress levels. Resilience. Inner strength related to 9-21 experiences. Learnt how to cope with Stress driven by need to perform well in Chief Executive Role and to look after young children. I had to survive.

VERDICT -Unhealthy Lifestyle.


LATTER YEARS
51- 79 Phase. Joined Wycombe 50 Plus Club. Past Chairman. Executive Committee, Chairman User Panel - Wycombe Leisure Centre. Volunteering. Music Composition. Keyboard player.Writer of 103 Articles on Political, Social and Cultural Affairs in Britain Today.
Mental exercise. www.eurekys.blogspot.com  Google EUREKYS..
Weight 11.7lbs. Regular active exercise.

VERDICT - Healthy Lifestyle.

EXERCISE REGIME
Profile weekly schedule is -

Monday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social interaction.
Tuesday - volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Wednesday - Tennis, social 2 hours
Thursday - Tennis and social 3 hours
Friday - 50 Plus 3-4 hours table tennis, short tennis, social
Saturday - Allotment 2 hours, Volunteering at Wycombe Swan
Sunday - Tennis and Social 3 hours.

PROFILE OF WYCOMBE 50 PLUS CLUB
An excellent example of how to remain Active in later Life.
Current Chair - Maureen Dover. First Lady Chair in 34 years. Excellent Leader.
Wycombe 50 Plus Club
400 Members. 80 on waiting list.
Operate at Wycombe Leisure Centre Handy Cross. New £30 Million Wycombe Leisure Centre opened March 2016 by HRH The Duke of Kent. State of the Art facilities.
Winner 2015 - Pride of Buckinghamshire Award for Healthy Lifestyles. The Club was described as .....A Beacon of Inspiration in the Community.
www.wycombe50plus.org.uk Google for full details. Website created and maintained by Member - Managing Director Penn Computing Services - John Finnemore.
Activities........yoga, tai chi, swimming, muscle strengthening, keep fit classes, Zumba, spinning. Table tennis, badminton,short tennis, short mat bowls, racket ball.
Demand from Over 50 Generations is very strong in Wycombe District,

React games winners -South of England Champions 2015 - all sporting activities against 50 Plus Clubs in South of England - Reading, Woking, Wellimgton, Winchester, Alton amongst others.
Key Activities at 50 Plus - Exercise Classes - Social Events - oversubsctibed most of the time.
Monthly Walks 3-4 miles local. Organised bt 50 Plus Members.

Structure of Management Wycombe 50 Plus 10 Committee Members Volunteers for Duties.
Self funding.No external funding.  Places for People sponsorship for sporting polo shirts.
Executive Committee - Strategy and Operations
Social Committee - organising monthly trips.
Gazette bi monthly 8 pages magazine. Free to Members. Created, Maintained. Published and Managed free by Member Sue Fowler.
User Panel - WDC Places for People Plc Users Activities - Ray Williams Chairman. Regular input from Maureen Dover and other 50 Plus Members.
Places for People cooperation. PfP is one of the leading and most successful Leisure Management Companies in the UK. Stuart Lee General Manager Wycombe Leisure Centre and his staff have excellent relations with 50 Plus Club and regular communications and feedback - a key requisite for maintaining a high level of Member satisfaction.

Recent Features -new website, new logo, new motto ( Creating a Healthy Lifestyle ) new poloshirts, PfP sponsorship, Awards. REACT games Champions.
Blueprint for Government Suggested to Minister of Health.
50 Plus Schedule at Wycombe Leisure Centre - list activities.Refer to website for full information.

WEEKLY PROGRAMME
Monday pm
Wednesday am
Friday am
Social programme - list of  activities - trips, dinners, quiz, dances, carols at Christmas. Offshoots - dinner parties, holidays, races Ascot and Windsor. Manor House Ashbury hotel complex - sports and artistic activities. 34 people 2016. All enhancing a feeling of Belonging and Wellbeing.

Members Volunteering for -
National Trust
Theatre Ushers
Cancer Research
Red Cross
Hospital support

MY CURRENT LIFESTYLE
Personal Activities
Holidays 6 weeks Spain, plus Devon, Bournemouth, others Australia
Sun. Vitamin D important
Skin Cancer dangers to be avoided

The Indiana University recent research study found that Omega 3 fatty acids in oily fish, vitamin D from sunshine and resveratrol from red wine plays a key role in affecting longevity.
My wife and I spend some 3 months of the year in Spain or Australia and we get plenty of vitamin D
We also eat the Mediterranean Diet when in the sunshine and also regularly at home in the UK.

The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Australia after researching 1,600 adults aged 50 and over found that  Eating the right amount of fibre in Bread, cereals and fruits can help us avoid disease and disability in old age.

Food typical Regime - Ray Williams

Breakfast - shredded wheat, porridge, banana, coffee

Lunch - Small salad ham sandwich on brown seeded bread, coffee. Olive oil dressing.

Dinner - various meats plus range of vegetables, yogurt, fruit
1/3 glasses per week red wine these days. No beer.

No smoking. Sopped smoking some 10 years ago.
Regular Sleep pattern - 8/9 hrs per night.
Retire no later than 11.30pm each night.
No coffee after 7pm.

KEY PRESENT HEALTH INDICATORS

Weight 11.7 lbs
Blood Sugar 6.7
Chloresterol 3.2
Average Blood Pressure 125 / 75
Biological Age - 62

Medication has helped in addition to a Healthy Lifestyle regime.

OTHER LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF 50 PLUS MEMBERS
Adventurism - camping, caravanning, mobile homes
Home Life is core - family connections, happy marriage, loss of a partner
Hill walking. Allotments.

KEY FACTORS
Balanced Lifestyle
Social Activity
Self Worth
Believe in yourself
Collective support activities

SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done. Author Michael Townsend Williams book - Do Breathe - available from Amazon, Foyles, Waterstones and other bookshops.
Do breathe App  Called Breathe Sync
50 Plus Club Website
Leisure Centre facilities
Writing articles, Books
Music Composition
Painting Clubs
Uni of the 3rd Age
Bridge Clubs
Tennis Club
Swimming aerobics.
Walking Programmes
National Trust - Social interaction
Manor House Sports Hotel
Ashbury Hotel Golf Sports Hotel
Travel
Hobbies - music. Model Making, Painting, Fishing
Mindfulness - Michael Thownsend Williams - game.
Reading - passive

Food and Drink programmes - Guides to Healthy Living.
Weight Loss Clubs

You cannot get bored in Retirement - it is up to you !  The 50 Plus Generations in an Ageing British Population can play a key role in the Community. There are so many options to play a positive role and to remain healthy.

Preventative Healthcare rather than Remedial Healthcare.
Reduce the demands and costs of NHS.

DEALING WITH ILLNESS
Typical illnesses for 50 Plus

Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Anaemia
Athritis
Tia / Strokes
Skin cancer
High Cholesterol
Smoking problems
Dementia
Depression
Stress
Cancer

As indicated earkier, The Bucks Health and Wellbeing Board in one of their Health Reports stated that Women in Buckinghamshire had a Life Expectancy of 84.0 years and Men had a Life Expectancy of 80.5 years. It should be remembered hat in any statistical sampling there may be errors ranging from +/-3%.....+/-5%.....even +/-10%. depending on the size of the research sample.
Since I am 80 in November, I better enjoy my few months left of my Life on Earth !
However, the good news is that Life Expectancy rates are rising all the time. Wonderful !

In the Wycombe 50 Plus Club, we have many Members who are still active late in their 80s and some in their early 90s, They are a joy to behold and they are very inspirational and alert people.They may suffer from various aches and pains but they have a very positive attitude to life.
We should remember the Romans - The Mind and body functions are interconnected.

 I recommend the WOW. Leaflet from Wycombe District Council highlighting Health and Fitness Clubs in High Wycombe - Quite a wide range of activities. Movers and Shakers are one of these Clubs who offer exercise regimes for the 50 Plus Generations.

PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT
RJW has written to -

• Minister of Health
• Chief Executive NHS England
• Chief Executive Chilterns NHS
• Chilterns Commissioning via Sue Hyward Agent to Wycombe MP
• Rt.Hon .Steve Baker MP Wycombe
• Chief Executive Public Health England.

RJW Proposal to the Government - Promote 50 Plus Clubs. Use Wycombe 50 Plus as Blueprint. Good example with new £30 Millions Leisure Centre at High Wycombe.
This would be a low cost high impact Promotion including a Video, Literature, Case Study from Wycombe 50 Plus Club, Testimonials emailed and posted to Local Authorities throughout the UK.
Objective - Establish 50 Plus Club like Wycombe. Improve Healthy Lifestyles.

Collective Inertia is  a barrier to decisions.
Each one passed the buck.
Public Health England - Chief Executive wants proof statistics There are already a Myriad of statistics in the Public Domain - Exercise is good for you, smoking is bad for you, too much alcohol is bad for you, loneliness can affect your health,
.
REGULAR EXERCISE HELPS CONTAIN THESE ILLNESSES
Health Challenges - 50-90 Generations
Diabetes type 2 Control
Hip replacements Recovery
Knee replacements Recovery
Importance of exercise is Key
High blood pressure ....BNU work ,,,is there a correlation between exercise and lowering high blood pressure.
Loneliness ....50 Plus essential for people contact.
Muscle and joint pain.....exercise does help..... arthritis is  better with exercise.
Little and Prevention of Dementia.
Cancer
Stress

CONCLUSIONS
My Conclusions - 11 Key Positive Outcomes of 50 Plus Membership

1- There is a direct health correlation between people who join the 50 Plus Clubs with all the benefits - exercise and social and those who remain static lifestyles. Creating  Healthy Lifestyles motto.

2- Table tennis is a proven way of stimulating the brain...recent BBC study programme. Maybe helps prevent dementia or delays dementia.

3- Wycombe 50 Plus has many members still active in their 80s and 90s. Many still play and go on walks.Evidence ?

4- 50 Plus involvement is helpful in bereavement.Welfare Officer Collective support in illness and bereavement.

5- Helps prevent loneliness.Coffee mornings. Social events. Singles catered for not left out.

6- Helps recovery from operations hips knees examples.

7- Improves healthy mind
and attitude. Doers not takers. Volunteering.

8- Lowers weight.

9- Lowers blood pressure BNU study yet to confirm. I believe that it does help to control high blood pressure.

10- Improves energy levels after exercising.

11- Special classes improves circulation and muscle strength.

Theses are my views.
Maybe one day more people will realise the benefits of an active lifestyle. My views may be unscientific but a good pointer.

However, still difficult to escape Ageing Process and hereditary illnesses.. One day perhaps.


Challenge for the Future to everyone interested in Creating Healthy Lifestyles...........

HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THE 50 PLUS GENERATIONS
TO CREATE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN AN UNHEALTHY
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE -

To reduce health problems such as Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Attacks, Strokes, TIAs, Joint Failure, Depression, Loneliness.

ANSWER......Exercise on a regular and enjoyable basis. Socialise on a regular basis. Participate in Volunteering.

HOW ?

Here are some current methods that need to be expanded.

1- Recommendations from friends and family who have achieved health benefits from joining a Club such as Shakers and Movers or Wycombe 50 Plus Club.

2- Offer of Free Trial Sessions from Health Clubs of all kinds

3- Open Day invitations from Active Health Clubs

4- Recovery from operations needing exercise to achieve full recovery and normal physical movement of knees, hips, muscles.

5- Doctor's Recommendation

6-  Local Authority Advertising benefits.

7- Government Advertising, a Promotion and Funding.

8- Recommendation from NHS and Private institutions such as BUPA.

9-  Direct Promotion from Health Clubs

10- Champions of Healthy Lifestyles - Seminars, Conferences. BNU work and promotion via Press Articles.

11-  Government to promote Nationwide network of 50 Plus Clubs

12- Continuation of Research by Universities and NHS into Healthy Lifestyles. Publication via Media. Case Studies.


RECENT RESEARCH

Professor Chenki Wu of Oregon State University recently concluded a Study into Longevity as follows -

It shows Working Longer brings older people a lot of economic and social benefits that could have an impact on the length of their lives.

This Conclusion needs a lot of reservations. It all depends on the type of work involved.

For example -

It is a known fact that Teachers suffer from considerable stress and many leave the Teaching Profession or retire early.

NHS staff suffer from stress if they are asked to work too many hours which gets worse after the age 60.

Workers who have sedentary jobs such as in  Banks, Civil Service, Insurance Industries who sit for long hours in front of a Computer Screen, suffer from a variety of illnesses as well as stress.

Business people who suffer the stress of meeting Monthly Sales and Profit targets also suffer from many illnesses and need to retire early.

Workers in Heavy Industries suffer back pains, lung problems and other illnesses. They cannot work beyond 65.

Long Haul Airline Pilots also suffer dangerous stress is they work long hours and work longer.

So, we must take these Research Conclusions carefully.

High durations of Work mean less Leisure Time. I believe that it is the Active Exercise Regimes and Sensible Healthy Food Regimes as indicated earlier in this Article that is the cause of a longer life.

MY PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS -:

1 -People in the 50 Plus Generations need more Leisure Time to take up more Active activities in Sport, Social Affairs and Personal Challenges to lead a Balanced Healthy Lifestyle. 

2 - Future Government Monetary Policies should increase Pensions considerably because the
65 Plus Pensioners will spend most of the extra Pension Monies. This is good for the Economy and not a drain. 

3 - Using some past Economic Theories as a guide - The Multiplier Effect on the GNP will be maybe 5 or more times the extra rate investment of pension monies provided. This will increase Consumer Demand and Increase the Level of Employment.

4 - Active enjoyable Leisure Time for the older generations is more important than Work to improve Longevity.


5- Any future study of the benefits of Working longer to increase longevity Must take into consideration the negative factors of time taken to travel to and from the Workplace.

Otherwise, I believe that the results of the research can be biased and to be frank, totally misleading.

For example 

In all the major Cities in the World - London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney  - it takes workers on average 3 hours to travel to and from work. each day. This causes lots of stress.
As the pressure mounts for better Sales and Profit results, Managements expect Workers to work overtime - another cause of stress and lack of Family involvement - sometimes leading to friction within a marriage with disastrous emotional and financial consequences.
On Public Transport, such as Underground Transportation, there are large risks of germs and illnesses like colds and influenza.
Working well into latter years is not a good thing for longevity. On the other hand Volunteering locally can be good for Morale, Personal satisfaction and Personal Esteem - all  factors that contribute to Healthy Lifestyles - in my view.

The Oregon State University latest research says that there are economic benefits from Working Longer. Yes, for the Government maybe by prolonging Pension Payments to 67, 70 or more.
For the individual, it also means higher travelling costs - on the Train, Underground, Cost of Petrol consumption, Car Insurance Costs, Maintenance expenditure  and Stress !
Less Leisure time is bad for Health and Family Life.

MY PERSONAL ADVICE

Love yourself and Know yourself as the Ancient Greeks said - not in a vain, self centred, self flattering way but to appreciate your amazing human body. Look after and cherish your gift of life.
This will make you strong in mind and spirt so that your will overcome stress and achieve a happy Lifestyle.
The Romans did get it right after all.  

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO should be your goal in Life - it does Create a Healthy Lifestyle. 


NOTE
For Circulation for academic purposes please Google EURKEYS.
Copyright Raymond Williams
Permission is granted for reprinting in Full or part.

Eurekys in the Registered Trade Mark of the Writings and Music Compositions of 
Ray Williams

2016 

BREXIT -THE FUTURE OF BRITISH PEOPLE LIVING IN SPAIN

BREXIT - The Future of Limited Free Movement of people in the European Union.

I think that we all must agree whatever way you intend to vote in the Referendum that so many lies and exaggerations are being made mainly by the IN supporters.
Recently on BBC Question time, a Labour supporter made the comment....If we vote OUT, what will happen to all the British
 people living in Spain ? They will be designated Migrants. They may have to leave Spain.
What a load of Rubbish ! It shows the ignorance about British people living in Spain.

Most of the British people living on the Costa del Sol for example are property owners. Some are designated Permanente Residente and some are designated Non Residente.
We have had a property in Spain for 15 years. We are not Migrants.
We pay Spanish Wealth Taxes even though we do not rent out our property and we have no income in Spain. We pay IBI and Basuras - local taxes including refuse collection. We pay into the Spanish Economy for all food and drink, meals at restaurants, petrol. In addition we pay for a Spanish accountant to pay our wealth tax annually to the Spanish Tax authorities.
At our Complex, we pay for all services - the Spanish Gardener, Spanish Energy, Spanish Painters and so on.

In other words, we and millions of other British residents contribute to the Spanish Economy. Oh, do not forget we have poured some €200,000 investment when buying our property and in doing so provided employment which Spain badly needs in the Building Industry.
So, we are not Migrants. We are beneficial to the Spanish Economy.
We do not claim benefits.

What will happen then to the millions of British people living either permanently in Spain or who have a holiday home ?

Absolutely nothing !

The IN people who frighten us should take note. You are speaking Rubbish. There is a world of difference between Migrants who are dependent on Welfare Payments and become a burden on Housing, Healthcare, Schools, interpreters and live in ghettos and People who invest in a EU country, pay their way and create employment.
The same situation also applies to investors in France, Portugal, Italy and Turkey to name just a few countries where British people have holiday Homes.
If we leave the EU Britain will continue to welcome inward investment if it contributes to the British Economy in a positive manner. So will Spain.






















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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE GLUTTONS

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE GLUTTONS
Passive Shareholders need to wake up.

I am totally fed up with Recruitment companies and Headhunters saying - You must pay the market rate in the Global market for Senior Executives.
Great is it not for their fees !
Well, I am one who thinks that it is a disgrace and scandal that BP Board of Directors proposed to pay their Chief Executive
£14 Millions a year remuneration package for producing poor annual results - a loss of £3.4 Billion. His salary goes up 20%. Even if BP recorded good results, this level of remuneration is perverse. Thank Goodness that the shareholders rejected the proposal. However, BP are not alone. Most of our Top 100 companies and Banks overpay their Top Directors. Of course, the Remuneration system is a vicious circle. All the Directors are Gluttons. If they agree the top salary for the Chief Executive, there is a cascade effect on their own Gluttonous remuneration packages.
The same Gluttonous statement applies to the Civil Service, although on a more modest scale. Most of the Permanent Secretaries and Top Scale Civil Servants are all overpaid. The same self perpetuating circle of salary assessments is at work in all Government Departments. We must not forget the other Gluttons - The NHS Chief Executives and the Chief Executives of Quangos.

Just consider this for a moment - with an income of £14 Millions, after allowances, how much tax will the Chief Executive pay ? Do they pay 40% tax rate or is this watered down in some way ?
Instead of hounding MPs, how about hounding Chief Executives who earn £1million plus per annum for tax ? Or for that matter, check and double check those people earning £500,000 plus per annum.

I want to make my view crystal clear - these Chief Executives and Senior Executives do NOT deserve these grotesque levels of remuneration. They are not worth it and do not deserve it.
Teams of workers make profits for companies. Consumers make profits for companies.

The pyramid of high salaries for some of these arrogant, aloof, poor Directors has gone high enough. Time for a 70% tax on salaries over £200,000. If they want to leave the UK in search of more money, let them and good riddance.

See my previous Article - The Gluttons of our Society. Google EUREKYS and scroll down the Menu on the right.
Britain, USA for example have produced a Society where some people earn £6,700 in pensions, many workers earn between £12,000. - £25,000 less taxes and a top echelon earn £500,000 per annum. Is this a fair, decent Society ? No it is not.
The trouble with the Labour Party is that they think that £30,000 per annum makes someone rich so they are candidates for more taxation. For goodness sake Labour wake up and concentrate on the Gluttons.
Conservative Party - do not overvalue these Gluttons. Remember that there are dozens of Executives who will willingly step into Director shoes if the Gluttons wish to leave the UK. They will not be missed so do not talk up their value.

Today in Britain we live in a very unbalanced, unfair Society. No-one is doing anything about it.
You will hear Politicians say - We must reward initiative. Yes, of course we must. But, do we have to pay Chairmen and Chief
Executives £1 Million plus a year ?

Corporate Governance is a Team effort. It has many layers. Hundreds of people contribute to the success of the company.
Shareholders to not create success. So, they must take equal shares with the Workforce in Financial returns. Yes, a revolution in thinking about Returns on Capital Employed and Returns on Worker Efforts. At present there is s massive imbalance.

Time to start reviewing  the rewards of success, high income taxation and the rewards of stakeholders.

Tell the Inspector of Taxes at the HMRC to concentrate on the Directors of the Financial Times Top 1,000 companies and to concentrate resourses on this sector.
Investigate - Remuneration packages, investments, tax paid, money transfers to companies, offshore investments.
Priory Two - investigate Football stars, Music stars.
But, also tell the Government to provide the right level of staffing for the HMRC to be able to do the job. This is key priority. Also, the staff must be trained to do the thorough investigation.

IMF AND BREXIT

BREXIT - The Doomsday Economic Forecasts from the IMF

If the UK vote Leave in the Referendum

If the UK vote to leave the EU, no wonder Economic Bodies such as the IMF predict uncertainty, disruption and economic trading setbacks for the UK.
The IMF have good reason to take this stance. Why? Because if the UK cease to be a net contributor of £Billions into the EU funds, who do you think that the EU will turn to for bail outs if they need an injection of funds to support Greece and maybe Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria and others ? You have guessed it......the IMF and the ECB.
The IMF have a vested interest in seeing the UK remain in the EU.

Why should there be disruption and uncertainty ? Surely the EU want to continue to trade with the UK ? Surely, If the EU impose tariffs of say 10 per cent, the UK will retaliate ? In that case everyone is a loser.
Surely prosperity in Europe is dependent on good trading relationships with the UK.
Now consider this...the UK is the 5th largest economy in the World. It is one of the few stable countries with strong efforts to balance the books by 2020. If not by 2020, the trend is favourable and better than other countries in Europe.
Do you think that the USA, India, China, Commonwealth countries, South America will not want to trade with the U.K ?
Do you think the EU will want to press the self destruct button by limiting the flow of trade with the UK ?
Do you think the Management of EU companies will act as sheep if the EU makes it difficult for them to trade with the UK ?
High Employment is directly related to the level of trading profitability. The EU and UK have common interests as far as Employment is concerned and economic prosperity.

There may be a period of uncertainty but surely the people and business organisations have the determination, the skills, the innovation and the spirit of internationalism that will make the UK a strong Global trading country ? Are we so timid that we do not believe in out own strengths ?

Remember this key fact - if the UK leaves the EU, we will not be leaving Europe. We are Europeans, we love our European neighbours, we want good peaceful relations with everyone and we are not frightened to believe in ourselves.

Stock Markets go up and down. The UK will remain a safe country to invest in. It is a decent, democratic, peaceful country.
So, Doomsday economists, you get so many forecasts and predictions wrong, why should we believe you this time ?
My own predictions are as good as yours.
Take note, BBC Newsnight !

If the UK vote Leave, I predict that the EU will make substantial new offers to placate the UK Electorate particularly on Migration and Welfare Policy. This will encourage the UK Government to put these New proposals to the UK Electorate. The result........
The UK will remain in the EU because the vote to leave was so close.... 2016 result prediction

Leave EU -    52%

Stay in EU -  48%

GOVERNMENT LEAFLET ON THE EU REFERENDUM

THE GOVERNMENT LEAFLET ON THE EU REFERENDUM

Why the Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is the best decision for the UK.

The view of one ordinary British Citizen

A leaflet costing some £8 Millions arrived at my door this morning.
It is a one sided opinion that recommends that we vote to stay in the EU when we vote in The EU Referendum, Thursday 23rd June 2016.
These are my views.

The Government should have given a balanced Pros and Cons about the EU.
£8Millions on a leaflet is too much for a one sided viewpoint.
The Government has plenty of opportunity on TV and the Press to put across their point of view, For example, Andrew Marr Show, Question Time, Newsnight and all the Press.

There is no doubt that there are Pros and Cons about the EU.
It is a question of balance and what the people want - even if they get it wrong. This is the fundamental principle of a Democracy.

Let us get one thing right - The UK is one voice amongst 28, soon to be more if Turkey, Macedonia and others join. More less prosperous countries wanting to get on the gravy train. I have lost count of the number of votes that the UK has lost in the EU Parliament.

As far as my MEP is concerned - I have never seen him, heard from him, had any feedback....nothing. He is the phantom MEP enjoying a large salary, expenses and doing very little for me and my fellow citizens. If he says that he is doing things, then he is a very bad communicator.

Now let us take a look at the Government's leaflet......

It says that we will keep our own border controls. This is laughable.
Take a look at the Migration statistics, the number of criminals that enter the UK, the denial of the European Court of Justice for the UK to expel convicted criminals....Human Rights are at stake. What about our Human Rights to be protected from known criminals.
The truth is that we do not control our own borders.

The Government says there will be tough restrictions on access to our Welfare system for EU migrants. Yes, delayed phased access, then they are on our gravy train. They will have access to healthcare, schooling, welfare , jobs- at our expense.
We need practical controlled borders such as the Australian System.
If we need migrants and they do not take UK citizens jobs, let them in by all means.

The Government says - we have a commitment to reduce red tape. How many times have we heard this before.

The Government claim that we will have a stronger economy if we stay in the EU is patently wrong. I question the validity of the claim that the EU buy 44 per cent of everything we sell abroad. This does not match the statistics provided by Cardiff Business School and the Parliamentary Committee that assessed trade between the UK and EU. The Government are implying that jobs will be lost, like in Steel, Fishing and other Industries ? The U.K. is an important market to the EU. In any case the EU and UK are signatories to the World Trade Organisation, OCED and other Trade links. Free Trade and Globalisation for better or worse is the name of the Trade game !
The U.K. Is in a very strong bargaining position for the future. Business people make trade deals and if Governments make bad and restrictive trade deals, they will not re main in power long.
Caveat Politicians.
Jobs will increase if we leave the EU.
The U.K. entrepreneurs will take advantage of the Global Growth Markets. UK innovation, quality, skills will match any EU competitors.

Cost of Living. The Government leaflet says.......Losing our full access to the EU 's Single Market would make exporting to Europe harder and increase costs. A big assumption. I disagree.

Travel abroad...The EU has made this easier and cheaper. Really ?
I thought that it was competition between Easyjet, BA and others that has led to cheaper flights.

What happens if we leave ? All propaganda. The Government are using scare tactics to frighten us.

A decade of uncertainty say the government. Well we have Four Decades of a EU system that we did not vote for, we do not like and we do not like the overpaid, accounts not approved, gravy train MEPs, A Commission which is undemocratic and millions of pages of words about trivial matters.

Immigration. Everyone knows that the EU has led to a flood of Immigrants, Migrants and undesirables entering the UK.

The U.K will continue t o work closely with International Police Agencies to fight Terrorists and Criminals. Leaving the EU...the UK will remain as safe as it can reasonably be. There is no perfect solution.

Finally, the Government quotes some benefits of EU membership as follows :

Special Status - which is subject to EU Parliament approval and is not enshrined in EU Treaties

Opportunities for your children to study abroad - this brings substantial income - so do you think for one moment, the EU would bar UK students ? The UK is host to many thousands of EU students. Why ? Because the UK has the best academic learning facilities and standards in the World.

UK Leading force  - Of course the UK will remain a powerful force in the World outside the EU.

Climate change - the UK is and will be a strong partner to avoid climate change - note the £Millions of taxes for Green Energy in the UK.

EU helps to prevent nuclear weapons spread, So does the UK, USA and the UN.

EU brings economic security - like the collapse of the Euro, the decline of Greece, admitting poor dependent Nations.

So,what about my vision ?
I see Britain as a leading Nation in the World... Strong in Trade, prosperous, friendly partners to all European and Global countries and with the freedom to chart its own future.

My conclusion....

EU...............   NO

EUROPE.......YES

THE APPOINTMENTS SERVICE IN THE NHS IN ENGLAND

THE APPOINTMENTS SERVICE OF THE NHS IN ENGLAND

Well, is it a Service ? I do not think so.
However, let us be fair. The NHS suffers from a number of hurdles. These are -

- Increased demand unmatched by Human Resources.
- Lack of Consultants and Doctors.
- Poorly trained Support Staff.
- Culture of Consultants and Doctors work schedules more important than the patients needs.
- A Prima Dona attitude from many Consultants.

These are not excuses but reality and we must bear these factors in mind when judging the Appointments System.
There are a number of irritating defects that should be addressed.

I have already suggested some solutions to the problems facing the NHS in previous articles on my Blog - Google EUREKYS.
Scroll down my Profile and read Future Strategy of the NHS.

Here is Case Example -

Day 1 - your Doctor submits an urgent request for an appointment for you to a hospital department, such as Urology. There is suspect infection or maybe a cancerous lump.

Day 14 - The Urology Appointments Department posts a letter to you offering an appointment 16 days later, or Day 30.
Although the date is Day 14, you receive the letter in Day 18. Yes, they have predated the latter. It may be the fault of the Postal Service.
So, it has taken 29 days for you to see a Consultant for your URGENT condition.

This is quite a normal procedure. For some urgent illnesses, it may take much longer. If you need follow up surgery or treatment, you may wait months for an appointment.

If you telephone the hospital to change the appointment, you are greeted with a voice recognition message.....Speak the name of the person or department which you want to speak to....you say clearly....Urology. The reply is.....you want to speak to Pathology ? No you say .....Urology. Maternity the phone replies. You hang up.

 Either perfect Voice Recognition or let us speak to a human being again. This example is taken from Bucks NHS Hospitals.

Some of the excuses for lack of convenient or urgent appointments are -
Unavailability of Consultants at your hospital of choice, so you have to shop around.
Inefficiency of the appointments service. Why should it take 14 days to reply to a Doctor's letter sent by email ?
We live in a fibre optics broadband world of rapid response computer systems. They should be able to respond instantly.

Another problem is that if you cannot accept the date of appointment you are offered, you night have to wait another 4 weeks or more.

OK, let us assume that you have been lucky and you disagree with my views. Consider this......
You go to the hospital 15 minutes before your appointment at 10am in the Eye Department.
At 11.00am you are still waiting ! Why ? The Nurse tells you that you were advised in your letter that you must be prepared to wait up to 4 hours !
You them ask - why are you running so late ?
This is the answer that I once had from the Nurse:
We had a few patients who turned up late and we had to wait for them ! That is why we are running so late.
I told her that this is crazy. I arrive well in time for my
appointment but late comers are still given priority.
I proposed this solution for the future.

Letters of appointments should say that the patient should arrive 15 minutes before their appointment let us say 9.45am for a 10.00am appointment. If they are more than 20 minutes late ie they arrive at 10.05am then they go to the back of the queue.
The latecomers should be inconvenienced not the early birds!

There is one final shortcoming that needs to be highlighted .
There is never any feedback from the Nurse on duty to advise patients in the waiting room why there is such a long delay.
No feedback, no apology, no regular updates.
Patients are treated in a manner which exudes the feeling....
We are doing you a favour. Just sit there, be quiet and be grateful. The Doctor will see you when he is ready.

Now for the worst part of the appointments service. They book up to 10 patients in at the same time. Their reasoning....
Some patients do not turn up so we overbook to compensate for this. True but a rubbish explanation.
This overbooking means that on average you could wait for about 45 minutes, that is my experience.

So, NHS, you are a wonderful facility for us frail human beings. Probably, the best in the World. But, you need to improve the Appointments Service.

THE ROLE OF TURKEY IN BREXIT

ANOTHER GOOD REASON FOR BREXIT - THE ROLE OF TURKEY

Turkey is placing extra pressure on the EU to accelerate their application to join the EU.
Turkey is using the current Migrant crisis as a bargaining ploy to ensure that they get a positive response to their wish to join the EU.
This is one very good extra reason why BRITAIN should exit the EU. Why ?
If Turkey, a predominant Muslin country, joins the EU, its population of some 75 Millions will have the right under EU Law to travel unhindered to BRITAIN to seek employment.
Since wages and working conditions are much lower in Turkey, you do not have to be an Einstein to understand that BRITAIN will be flooded once more with foreign EU citizens.
Yes, Cameron negotiated a softening of Welfare payments but there would still be in place a Progressive scale of Welfare
payments to these Migrants. In addition, there will be immense pressure on the NHS and our Schools as well as extra demand  on housing.
If you think that EU Policy of free movement of EU citizens is bad enough, just wait for the influx of Turkish citizens.
Britain must be in a position to manage its own borders.
We cannot be forced by the EU to open the floodgates once more to EU workers and their families.
If we stay in the EU, I am afraid the bubble will burst and there will be an outcry - too late - from the indigenous BRITISH population, civil unrest and even violance.
The EU has already become one out of control bureaucratic nightmare. If you happen to be one of the high paid unelected officials, the EU is great.
The threat from Turkey to the BRITISH way of life cannot be overstated. If you are sitting on the fence and do not know how to vote in the coming Referendum, think  about The Turkish threat in addition to all the other negative aspects of remaining in the EU .

EUROPE.......Yes
EU..................No

THE MUSIC NOISE AWARDS 2015

THE MUSIC NOISE AWARDS 2015

Have you witnessed any similarities between My Music Noise Awards 2015 and Other Music Awards today ? In case you have not, let me enlighten you.

To win one of my Music Noise Awards  you have to have the following features in your act - according to me.

You have to have in the background.......Flashing lights all throughout your act. It does not matter what they are about as long as they are flashing.

Next the volume of background noise must be almost unbearable. This is so that the audience do not notice you the artist singing. Loud beating drums is a sure winning ingredient.

You must have lots of Dancers in sexy outfits making all kinds of gymnastic shapes. They are imperative. In the recent Brit Awards Show Rihanna's co singer simulated screwing her from behind in the sexy dance routine. The audience loved this ! Give us more of that. It does not matter about the music. Yes it is the Era of Bland, Noisy, Sexy, No Melody Music.

What a difference from some of the Jewels of the 1950 - 1980 period.
The wonderful sounds of Burt Bacharach and the like. The romantic sounds of Gershwin, Berlin, Cole Porter and Don Black. The magic of The Rock and Roll bands,the genius of the Beetles and the Stones, Elvis Presley and many many more brilliant Music Composers and Lyricists. What a decline in Music Composition. Or, is it a decline in the tastes of the Fans who buy millions of records each year, attend Concerts at £100 Plus per ticket and TV programmes like X Factor and Britain's Got Talent who produce average singers which the Music Industry change their image with new haircuts, a few tattoos, skimpy outfits, face cosmetics, nicknames, new simple dance routines and a Fan Club. Yes, if you are the 1:100,000 candidate who wins a big  Competition on TV, you can make Millions. For the other 99,999 losers it is back to the drawing board unless you come second and then you might just might hit the big time.

Another characteristic of successful Promoters and Artists in today's Music Industry is that the more money they make the more scruffy and dishevelled their appearance becomes. The casual open neck shirt, beard, hair sticking up in all directions, bad language, show off disposition, look at me stance, half drunk stature seems to be the winner if you want the Fans to love you and look up to you.....Yes, you are so great ! We love you.

The singer, Band or Group does not need any melody. Noise is the winning ingredient. You can shout as much as  like. Screeching to high notes is even better. It will get you lots of applause.

The amazing thing is that with this formula of music, you will almost be guaranteed to sell Millions of records worldwide.
The audience will go wild just like at the recent Brit Awards at the O2 Arena.

Oh, if you can throw in a few vulgar words whilst on stage, this will get you more applause.

What does this tell you about the BRITISH and American Music Industry today in 2016 ?
With a few exceptions, it is.....to use a semi vulgar word....Crap !
No wonder so many Wanabees think they can reach the top of the Music Industry....they probably can...even with no talent and they can earn £ Millions for performing RUBBISH.


I was unable to give my Screecher of the Year Award 2015 this year because I found it very difficult to differentiate between all the Screechers. They all sounded the same !
For all the winners at the Brit Awards 2015 I would like to award you my
Music Noise Awards 2015.  Think yourself lucky !

IF WE LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION - WHAT NEXT ?

IF WE LEAVE THE EU - WHAT NEXT ?

It is very important to maintain very good relations with the people of Europe. There will be a temptation for the  STAY IN factions and the EU Public Relations teams to convey that ....BRITAIN has turned its back on EUROPE. This will turn Europeans against BRITISH Products and Services and it will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect on British Trade. It may even spark a Trade War between the EU and the UK in which everyone will lose.
So, BRITAIN must win the PR Battle of Europe.
How can we do this ?

- The BRITISH Government must spend money in European Newspapers advertising the fact that The British People are still Europeans.

- We British love the Peoples of Europe and we want a Happy,Peaceful and Prosperous relationship with all the Nations of Europe including Russia.

- The British Media have a big part to play in a Post EU situation.
The Daily Mail and The Daily Express for examples need to curtail their Anti- Europe rhetoric and blazing Headlines.

- We are not voting against the Peoples of Europe. It is the EU that has caused BRITAIN to have a Referendum with such uncertainty.

- Politicians of all Parties must talk positively about Europe. They must not sound triumphant as if we have overcome Napoleon or Hitler again ! Be careful with the language you use Politicians and Newspaper Journalists - and the Television Presenters !

- We ordinary Citizens have a role to play as well. When on holiday in Europe talk positively about the future within Europe.
Tell our EUROPEAN hosts that we have not divorced Europe but the EU  Federal System of Government.

A post EU period needs careful handling for all of us in Britain.
We have got to get the right tone in dealing with the EU and EUROPEAN Peoples.

If Scotland votes to want to join the EU and they are accepted by the EU Member Nations, let them go their own way. Let us remain strong Trading Partners. Wish our Scottish Neighbours every happiness and prosperity in the future - just like we have done for EIRE. No discrimination and  no backlash !

Let us respect the role of Democracy just like we have wanted in our Referendum with the EU.
Whatever happens in the future, We Britons should remember - We trade with the World. We will continue to trade with Europe - trade barriers would be detrimental for everyone in Europe. We have growth markets such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia,  China,USA and Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand....and growth Markets in Africa. What a World ! What an opportunity. 

If the Referendum result is To Leave the EU, it will not be the end of the World for BRITAIN.
It will be the Beginning of the New World for BRITISH enterprise, Management and Skills in its great MultiCultural population.

Will we fear the post EU World ?

                 NO,NO,NO as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher would have said !

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE UK VOTE NO ?

What does BRITAIN gain if we vote -
 To Leave the EU?

Direct control over Immigration Policy. We would only allow people to work in the UK if we have a need for example - Doctors, Nurses, Teachers. An Australian type of Work Visa.

We would not contribute to the EU Budget or Common Agricultural Policy. We would help our farmers as we feel appropriate.

If Scotland voted to leave the UK, we would develop a new relationship with Scotland for mutual prosperity. No backdoor entry of EU citizens via Scotland.

EU workers in the UK would get Welfare payments from their country of origin.

We would remain in NATO and all agencies for law and order.

BRITISH citizens would be subject to UK Laws and Judiciary.

The UK would serve voluntary on EU and International Committees for mutual benefit.

We would continue Free Trade in line with International Treaties and as Membership of World Trade Organisation, UN and World Financial Agencies.

The British Parliament would be Sovereign.

Britain would be an Independent Country again playing a leading role for Peace and Prosperity the World.

Britain would serve on all mutually beneficial Agencies but BRITAIN would decide which agencies and on what terms.

Investment in the UK would be subject to Bank of England regulations.

The £ would remain our currency.

Britain would decide the rules for the UK Fishing Industry, Steel Industry and Anti Dumping Laws.

Remember the foundation of our role in Europe......The UK voted in the Seventies to join the European Economic Community - a Trading Bloc. This was our Democratic Choice. I voted for this.
What did we end up in ?........The European Union. A totally different Organisation. A Federal System . Do we want to be a Democratic People or a Subservient People who will be forced to live in any system of Government  in which we have no say ? This is the Big Issue.

Your choice is Democracy or Eurocracy ?

EUROPE ............YES
EU........................NO

THE OUTSOURCING DANGER TO BRITAIN AND EUROPE

OUTSOURCING - THE ATTACK ON BRITISH AND EUROPEAN JOBS
Whatever the result of the BRITISH Referendum.

The attack on BRITISH and EUROPEAN Jobs has been well under way for some years now and no-one seems to be doing anything about it.
The threat comes from the Concept of Outsourcing Jobs to low cost economies. Amongst the culprit Nations are China, Phillipinnes and India to mention just a few.
There is a long list of Companies, part of their Globalisation Strategy, who are doing this. They are making British workers redundant in order to outsource jobs to these low cost economies to save Operational Costs. What a great idea or is it ?

Top Management of companies are not taking into account -

The Social Costs of their actions.

The Stress and unhappiness that they cause to workers who lose their jobs as a result of Outsourcing.

They ignore the negative impact on the home economy of the loss of spending power.

They forget the Welfare Payment and severance pay costs of their actions.

The waste of home grown talent.

They ignore the fact that BRITAIN pays £ Billions per annum in Overseas Aid to these Developing Economies....now they want to export them our jobs as well. Crazy ? Yes I think so !

This Outsourcing Phenomenon has gone far enough. Should we not be encouraging the growth of jobs at home and not export our jobs ?

Should we not be supporting BRITISH Families and European Families ?

As the Developing Economies growth, are we not in danger of losing our best talents and technological skills because they cannot compete with low wages ? Is this what we want ?
Do we want a skills reversal World......BRITAIN becomes the Second World Nation whilst India becomes the Developed and Prosperous Nation ?

Am I stupid ?

YOU DECIDE.

THE MAGICIAN'S ACT - EU OR UK

THE MAGICIAN'S ACT - Monsieur Le Kidologiste...............
To be or not to be....EU or UK ?

If you have ever been to the Theatre to see an Act of Magic, you will have noticed that the Magician tries to distract you, whilst he performs an amazing trick of Magic. He has deceived you by his slight of hand. He has made you concentrate on secondary issues rather than the main issues.
Brilliant you may have said. Or is it,once you know how he has done the trick ?
There is no doubt that David Cameron did his very best to renegotiate better terms for the UK within the EU structure.
He worked hard. He is a decent and excellent Prime Minister.
He has shown courage by giving the BRITISH people a Referendum on whether to stay in or out of the EU. That took guts and honesty. He has both. BUT, there is a big But !

What is the big issue at stake ?

It is that in the seventies, the British People in their Referendum thought that BRITAIN would be joining the EEC - the European Economic Community - a trade agreement.
What has happened since that Referendum has been one large development to a Federal System.
David Cameron will say that he has won a guarantee that BRITAIN will not be forced into an European Super State. Wonderful news is it not ? No. We are already in a Federal System of European Government.

Let me remind you of the facts.

- We are one Vote in the council of Ministers.
- We vote for MEPs to sit in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels. We are a minority voice.
- We are subject to the rules set by the European Commission.
- We are subject to the European Court of Justice.
- The British Parliament is no longer supreme.

Am I not right ? Am I dreaming ? Are we not subject to an European Federal System of Government ? Are we no longer an Independent Nation State ? Is this an European Super State in reality if not in name ?

This is the big issue. To be or not to be....an independent Nation State or one amongst 28 Member States where change is difficult without unanimity of votes on key matters. Look how it had taken 4 years of negotiations across Europe by David Cameron, many meetings through the night, 5am the last meetings, arguments galore. Still, the EU Parliament has to have its say and the individual State Parliaments and Cabinets have to have their say......and what about Public Opinion and oh, the Lawyers........?

I think that I have seen through the Magician's slight of hand trick.
All the GAINS from the recent Brussels renegotiation are subservient to the real issue. To be or not to be........

In the coming IN or OUT debates, we must talk facts - if we get the truth and the facts.......
My verdict remains......

EUROPE......YES
EU................NO

Britain will never turn its back on EUROPE. We will always trade with Europe, live in peace and share common policies with our European friends.
But, please, allow us the chance to run our own affairs for better or for worse. Is that not what DEMOCRACY is all about ?

OUTSOURCING JOBS - CHEAP LABOUR DESTROYING JOBS

THE OUTSOURCING MYOPIA - A STRATEGIC CHANGE IN MINDSET IS NEEDED

In the 1960s Professor Theodore Levitt of the Harvard Business School wrote a best seller book which he called Marketing Myopia.
Today in 2016 I have called this article The Outsourcing Myopia because I believe that so many Global Companies are short sighted in their Strategy to outsource operational functions to lower costs but they fail to take into consideration the Social Costs of their decisions to outsource to India and the Philipinnes to give just two current examples.
From the Consumer point of view this has been a disastrous Policy and there has been so much criticism of these overseas outsourced companies that there is almost a stampede to relocate functions back in their home countries.
In Australia Richard Branson has build a strong company with his Virgin Australia. I have the greatest respect for Richard Branson who has done so much to create employment in so many Industries. However, with a shortage of jobs in Australia - particularly in Melbourne and Brisbane, his company Virgin Australia are still trying to lower costs by outsourcing functions. He is not alone in this drive to outsource and lose jobs in the country of operation.
The result of this policy is a high Social Cost which in my opinion outway the cost saving benefits of outsourcing to India.
For example, an Indian work person will not pay any taxes to help the Australian Economy. He or She will not buy food products in Australia, pay for a House, pay for consumer Durables in Australia.
The Australian work person loses income, costs the Australian Government in unemployment benefits and places enormous financial burdens on the Australian family. How can this be fair?
The truth is that the Virgin Management and like International Companies are too short sighted to care about Social Costs of outsourcing functions to India and elsewhere.
In my view, Management should build on the skills of the local worker. They should stop outsourcing to India and other low wages economies.
Globalisation has been a failure from the point of view of the advanced economy workers.
Top Management should factor in the Social Cost before taking decisions that cause unemployment and misery to the indigenous employees.
The Policy of Increasing Shareholder Value - preached by most Business Schools - should not be the main Strategic Objective of Top Management. Increasing Worker Value and Employment in the country of Operation should be given equal status in Corporate Policy.
So. Richard Branson and Virgin Australia and all you other Companies that think that outsourcing to India is a good thing, stop, change your Strategy and invest in the country that is giving you revenue and profit. So, put  Social success first and build your workforce in the country of operation. Virgin Australia is Australian not Indian or Philipinnes.

Ray Williams MA MPhil MBA DIPM