ATTITUDES TO WEALTH

ATTITUDES TO WEALTH

Once upon a time, I used to work for a £ Multi Millionaire.
He had come to England from Eastern Europe in the 1930s to escape the advancing Nazi forces who were about to invade his Country. He was certainly not a sponger. He was a strong willed man and he at once started to build a company selling office supplies. This company eventually grew into a Public Company on the London Stock Exchange. He became a
£ Multi Millionaire in the 1960s.

One day, I asked him - “ What is it like being
a £ Multi Millionaire ?”
His answer was very profound. I have never forgotten it.
He said.....” I can only eat 3 meals a day like you. I can only sleep in one bed at a time like you, I can only drive one car at a time like you. I can only fly on an aeroplane and sit in one seat at a time like you. I can only marry one woman at a time like you. I can only wear one suit at a time like you.So, you see Ray, I am very much like you ! “

Of course, he was right.
As long as you have a reasonable amount of money to live a good life, you do not need to store up Millions and Millions of pounds.
I am not a £ Millionaire but I live a happy life full of achievements.
I do not want to be a Celebrity, famous and worshipped by the followers of glutinous wealth. I feel as successful and content in my own right. I am a Volunteer and I prefer to give rather than to receive. Yes, I too can only eat 3 meals a day, sleep peacefully in one bed at a time, drive one car at a time, fly in one plane at a time, just like the £ Multi Millionaire entrepreneur from Eastern Europe.
Good health, a happy marriage, a devoted family make me 
a “ Billionaire,” 

THINK ABOUT THIS and put your life into perspective.
You do not have to join the Super rich. Most of them worry to much about their wealth, think they that they are superior to the rest of us and thrive to collect more and more money.

FOR WHAT ?

THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2018

FAILURE ONCE AGAIN FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM

I have been watching the Eurovision Song Contest since ABBA won with their song Waterloo in the early 1970s.
I was delighted when Ireland won the Contest a few times with very melodic songs with words you could could hear and understand.
What has happened since then ?

Most of the recent songs have had singers who almost shout the words. The higher the pitch the more the audience would scream their applause. The more stupid The choreography was the better the audience liked it.
So, how has the UK performed after the last 10 years ?
As far as the performance of the artists are concerned, very well. The 2018 UK choice of singer, SuRie did her very best.
She came 24th out of 26 countries who reached the Final of the Contest.
Over the years, the UK had failed miserably to reach the top 10. Why is this so ?
Here is my evaluation......

Most of the songs selected by the UK jury have been poor.
The 2018 song choice was terrible. A loud, high pitched song about Storm. Noisy, non melodic, certainly not romantic. Just an assortment of Mumbo Jumbo !
Of course, the UK Press adopted a Wishful Thinking prediction. Many thought that this year we had a very good chance of winning. How wrong they were.
So, what is going wrong in the selection of the UK song for Eurovision ?

Firstly, I blame the so called experts, the UK Selection Panel Judges who do not seem to know how to select a potential winner.
The entry Rules for the UK play off seems to be clouded in mystery. I am a composer and I believe that two of my songs could actually win the Eurovision Song Contest. I contacted the BBC and they did not know how one applied for entry in the 2018 Contest. No one seems to know, how the singer is chosen to sing the winning song. The Public and Composers only seem to know what is going on when the Final 6 UK contestants sing in the Play off on television. At this stage, it becomes clear that all the songs chosen by the Judges were losers. So, I blame the Judges and the methodology of selecting winning songs. The net has to be cast wider.

I believe the time has come for the 2019 Contest in Tel Aviv to have a romantic Ballad. Invite a distinguished singer like RIA JONES to sing it. I can envisage her dressed in a long pale blue Gown, Centre stage with some backing singers dressed in pale yellow gowns. No dance routines. No stupid male dancers jumping around in the background, just Ria singing one of my ballads “ CRY OVER YOU “ or
“ EVERYTIME “ - a complete contrast to the crazy songs that have been performed in latter years for Eurovision.

I believe that the 200 Millions viewers onEurovision will like hearing a star like Ria, in her own wonderful manner of delivery and will vote for a song with melody in complete contrast to the rest of the entrants.
Certainly, the current trend on UK songs are all losers and unless the Selection Judges change direction in their choice of song for the UK entrant, I fear more failure in the future.
Is all this just a pitch for my songs ! Yes it is because I believe that they are far better than any of the UK entrants over the last 10 years.
The recipe for success at Eurovision Song Contest in my view is

 - Great singer like Ria Jones. If unavailable, someone of her standard from the Musical Theatre. Female.
 - Great new Ballad.
 - Simple colourful delivery on stage.
 - Romantic ambience in lighting and stage management.
 - No shouting the words.
 - Backing singers

I want this trend of failure for the UK to end.

Is anyone listening ?

EUREKYS

STUPID DECISIONS IN GOVERNMENT

BEWARE - THE STUPID DECISIONS IN GOVERNMENT TODAY

We all remember the Stupid decisions of Tony Blair and the Government to invade Iraq. Some people never learn from History.

A lesson that permeates History is that intervention in a Civil War in a foreign country can be a fatal mistake of Foreign Diplomacy. Britain should Stay out.
Britain should never have decided to enter the Syrian Civil War on the side of the so called rebels.

The Syrian Rebels should never have taken up arms against the Asad Government, however bad that Government had become, which, in the event, has triggered such death and destruction for Syrian citizens. How stupid ! Was it worth it ?
Why cannot Nations strengthen the role of the United Nations to help settle disputes or to draw a Blue Helmet line between the two opposing factions ? If not, Britain should be vigilant not to repeat the mistakes of the Past.

Once Russia decided to enter the Syrian conflict, the Allies should have kept out of interfering in the doomed conflict.
It is about time that Britain starts to be realistic and careful of the outcomes of involvement in a Civil War.
It is only a few years ago, that Adad was being driven down the Mall in London to Buckingham Palace for a State visit !
Do we have such short memories ?
The real culprits in all this Syrian disaster are the Rebels who took to violence.
Asad may not be perfect, but the alternative to his Government in my view would be chaos.
If he is guilty against crimes to Humanity, let him be tried at The Hague !

I am amazed that we have in Government today and Parliament such stupid decision makers. Let the United Nations decide what actions to take against Nations of violence, corruption and evil.

The World War 1 was such a disaster because of the Treaty system which was a recipe for death and destruction on an unbelievable scale. Was such military conflict worth it ? Certainly not.
Britain should participate but stay out of the Civil War conflicts in other countries.
Or, do we want to sacrifice our young soldiers in other people’s Civil War ?
To Save British lives is not a negative or immoral Policy. It is sensible. This is not Pacifism. It is Realism.

Henry Ford once said...” History is all bunk. “

No it is NOT Henry ! We should learn from the Past otherwise Nations will commit “ Suicide “ in the stupid name of Duty, Decency, GOD and Support for the “ Good guys...whoever they are.“

Try Patience, Diplomacy and Discussion next time, however long it takes. In Syria, Violence and Destruction has already taken 7 years with infrastructure destroyed and a large number of Syrians killed on both sides.

Surely any sane person would say....” It is not worth it !”

THE EU AND THE IRISH BORDER BREXIT PROBLEM

THE IRISH BORDER PROBLEM

The EU have already signalled that they do not like some of the solutions which the British Government have put forward to them. It looks at the moment that this issue of a Hard Border v a Soft Border might destroy an acceptable deal with the EU. What can be done if this non solution prevails ?
Here is one suggestion to place on the” back burner.”

The Governments of the UK and Ireland will certainly not like any stalemate.

So, the British Government should ask the Irish Government if they would hold a new Referendum to
decide if Ireland should remain in the EU.

Remember, some years ago Ireland held a Referendum and the people decided they wanted to leave the EU.
Then, the EU bribed the Irish Government to hold a second Referendum. This time the people voted to remain in the EU.

The UK should offer Eire the following benefits if they leave the EU -

1 - Eire will be part of the British Isles Free Trade Zone.

2- Eire - if they wish - can be part of the new Global Trade Agreements with enormous Economic benefits to Eire.

3 - Full open borders with Northern Ireland protecting the present trade routes and manufacturing policies.

4 - The UK might have to offer special subsidies for Agricultural products to replace any Irish Benefits from the Common Agricultural Agreements.

For the UK Government, there are many options to compensate for EU tariffs, such as -

1- Change the Terms of Trade such as a lower £ / Euro spread.

2- Tax rebate benefits to UK companies, VAT Rates being the obvious one.

3- Impose Reciprocal tariffs on selected EU goods and services.
4- In other words, if the EU want to play tough so should the UK.

5- The EU Members own the assets of the EU. The UK should seek compensation for their share of all EU assets thereby reducing the present £39 Billions on offer from the UK.

6 - If a deal is not agreed, all UK offers should be withdrawn.

So, Eire, what is it going to be for your future prosperity .......

1- Hard border with Northern Ireland ?

2- Outbreak of violence with Groups on the Island of Ireland ?

3- Imposition of tariffs on Eire goods and services ?

4 - Tight passport control to enter the UK ?

5- Citizen unrest with demonstrations ?

OR,

Prosperity with beneficial links to the UK and the World ?