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Pretty much the opinion of all the investors I know, and they too have a rather dim view of professional economists. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/shares/why-the-stock-market-wont-even-notice-brexit/ Seems to me that not only don't economists understand how things work, but the chattering classes are in for a few lessons too.

Not even a few minutes hence - so those weather people have a distinct edge! This was very simply explained to me many years ago by a friend who worked at Lehman Brothers NY. The truth is that if anyone (and that includes financial analysts and economists) knew significantly more than the market on a consistent basis then the market wouldn't function. The armies of financial workers make their living from fixed commissions on other people's money, and telling their employers what their employers want to hear - not by having any unique insights into what's really going to happen.

Canny lass,where it says.."Colliery heap-keepers and Heap-lads"...., For the benefit of those who might not know owt aboot pitwark,it wasn't referring to the actual pit heap...as in "spoil-heap"....... The "Heap" was an abbreviation for "Heap-stead",which were the surface buildings surrounding the shaft itself. All activity was centred around the "Heap",from the full coal tubs being pushed out of the cage, by empty ones going into the cage. The full tubs went into the tipplers,which turned them upside down,and in so doing,emptied their load onto a shaker-chute,which fed the coal onto the screening conveyor belts. The tipplers and screens were on two levels,and the person in charge of the whole of the surface area,including timber-yard,washery,etc,was called the "Keeker". The heap-lads were obviously the lads who worked on the "Heap",under the charge of the "Keeker".[at least up in our pits,i.e.,it may have been different down south,where lots of mining terms were different to ours.] Just a thought! Great bit of research you did! I have memories of playing in the half-demolished terraced houses down Glebe road,after being at the Saturday afternoon matinee,no security barriers around the derelict buildings,it was a case of Friday night 5-0pm finish for the demolishers,doon tools,and away for a pint!......walls and floors left just hanging!![a great place for kids to play!]....probably around 1954-5..ish? [give or take a year or two!]