Malcolm Robinson

Has no one ever heard of hieroglyphics? http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20110325/tuk-omg-heart-symbol-goes-in-the-diction-dba1618.html

What, couldn't do that foxy, I love her to bits! I take delight in looking after her, preparing delicious meals and making sure the house is nice and tidy for her. Wor Lass on the other hand………………

GGG, In the spirit of this topic title and your sub title…….'look mum no stealth taxes' I think there is one section which does require further consideration. ''In the last Budget, I announced that from next month welfare payments and public service pensions would be up-rated in line with the Consumer Prices Index. I said at the time we should also consider up-rating the tax system in the same way. So from April 2012, the default indexation assumption for direct taxes will move to CPI.'' So these benefits will be upped in consideration of inflation as measured by CPI. ''As announced by my predecessor, tobacco duty rates will increase by 2 per cent above inflation…..Rates of vehicle excise duty will increase by inflation only'' These tax rises will be indexed to inflation as measured by RPI. The difference is 1.1% at the moment with tax rises 'outperforming' any tax reductions or welfare payments! Playing both sides against the middle is something we have become used to with all Chancellors and it is somewhat disingenuous to hear Gideon claim he is any different.

Portugal looks to be on the skids.........PM forced to resign due to austerity measures. Might signal another cap in hand to the ECB/IMF.

Problem with that Brian is I think Wor Lass would probably prefer to see the back of me rather than the cat! I was never a 'cat person' but I have invested quite a bit into this one. I 'took' her when a 60 odd year old bloke was spinning her around by her tail and showing his grandson how far he could throw her when she was a kitten. Peasant, altercation called for! I have seen her run for her life three times being chased by foxes and I have had to climb trees and house roofs to get her down. It took about 5 years to get her to trust us and she is still wary when we have visitors, especially male visitors. Thing is if I put bread out for the birds our dog finds it and eats it and if I put up those suet balls it's like putting down a smorgasbord for the cat. I have found the best way is to make a bread tree, where I push pieces of bread into nooks and crannies and shoots on the trees and bushes we have. Course the sparrow hawk quite likes that idea. Bit of a tough life being a small bird around here!

I agree about Darling I don't think he was ever given the freedom he wanted or even should have had! Seems a half decent budget certainly aimed at attracting business start-ups, let's hope there is somebody somewhere pushing our region to get enterprise status! Nice to see a few little risks being taken which might produce dividends. It is certainly refocusing the economy.

Keith, The Jocks would probably eat them, including them as principle ingredients in their Haggis!!!!!! (Having said that we would be much better off if Scotland started at the Tyne….but that's for a different thread!) I suffered at Keilder as well, camping there on a fishing trip as a teenager! I have blackbirds, blue tits and collared doves building nests in my back garden now……problem is we have a cat like Merc's....

Probably a dawning realisation of the laws of cause and effect which has ultimately led to China being the dominant economic force in the world today……….. Having said that I wouldn't mind a war on midges, even learning the lessons of agent blue and orange. I once went to Inverewe Gardens, next day I looked like I had the Bubonic plague!

foxy, Given your dotage would that be the Yardbirds?

In 1958 China declared war on sparrows......... http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/michael-mccarthy-the-sparrow-that-survived-maos-purge-2068993.html

We might have to go to Newcastle instead of Ashington to pick up our parcels soon.............. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110322/tuk-royal-mail-unveils-plans-to-axe-3-40-45dbed5.html

Anyone fancy a boozer? http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/mar/20/punch-taverns-break-up-default?INTCMP=SRCH Might just split 3000 off into Spirit.

I suppose it could be argued we are building in disposability into our weapon sales………….we sell these people the weapons, then bomb them to bits every few years and sell them more soon afterwards. Ya gotta make a dollar or two ma boy………

Off to War again, this time against who..........oh yes......

The Fukushima 50 deserve a bit more than just a passing respect. Once again we see another country's leaders belittled by the selfless actions of a few brave souls working for the common good.