Sex and the over 65's

Sorry, that should read: Tax and the over 65's.
So, pensioners will no longer enjoy a bigger tax allowance than the rest of the population! And most are complaining that it is unfair. Since when was life fair? Come to think about it since when were government decisions fair?

I was born at the tail end of WW2, OK, we had rationing but we also had the new National Health Service. Today's pensioners probably enjoyed the heyday of the NHS, it really was free at the point of need and Matron kept things running smoothly.
We also had free orange juice, cod liver oil and school milk. We grew up to be the healthiest generation for decades before or since.
Most of us had mothers who stayed at home and ran the house as it wasn't essential to have two wages to survive.
When we left school we could go to college or university with not only full grants for tuition but a maintenance grant as well.
When it came to getting a job we had a vast choice and many jobs came with a final salary pension scheme.

Today's pensioners who pay tax are not poor, those who only get State pensions are poor and they don't pay tax!
Most tax paying pensioners own their own homes, mortgages paid off years ago. We could get mortgages too, our home when we married in 1964 cost £3,150!

When we had children we all got a lump sum grant which paid for pram, cot and high chair too.

Compare the above with young men and women today....

 

1957: Britons 'have never had it so good'

The British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, has made an optimistic speech telling fellow Conservatives that "most of our people have never had it so good".

We did have it good, (we had the swinging 60's as well).

Stop whingeing fellow OAP's, we've had our cake; and we've already eaten it!

Charmed Monkeys

I am a great fan of LivingSocial and have enjoyed some delightful meals and short breaks at bargain prices. Last year we went for an evening meal at a Country House hotel. It was about 24 miles away but well worth the drive, the meal was freshly cooked and all home made and the menu was interesting and varied.

When Hubby got an email directly from the restaurant offering half price meals he booked a table by return email and the booking was confirmed. Thursday 15th March at 7:30pm.

We arrived at about 7:35, the car park was empty. We went in to the small bar area and it was deserted apart from the young barman who seemed surprised to see us. When we said that we had a reservation he looked even more surprised and told us that there were no bookings for that evening. After chatting about it he said that it must have been his mother that had sent the email, and that she was out, but would be back soon. He also said that they had a wedding booked for the next day and that he was busy preparing veg in the kitchen.

We got drinks and sat down to wait, the TV was on and bizarrely it was tuned to an episode of Man versus Food, so we watched a man try to finish a six pound burrito!

When it got to eight o'clock the barman gave us menus, his mother had still not returned. The set menu started with Roast Turkey and finished with Christmas Pudding, so we guessed that was off! When we read the a la carte menu we were a bit taken aback, to call it ordinary would be an understatement, gammon and egg etc. We chose goat's cheese salad followed by pork medallions, we both chose the same things as they were the only two that looked even slightly interesting.

By now we realised that "Son of absent Lady" was the only person in the place! He showed us into the empty, frigid dining room where one table was laid up. We looked toward the fireplace where there was a slate plaque with the name of the House followed by the words "Charmed Monkeys"! On closer inspection I realised that it actually said, "Charmed Moments"! But by now we both had a fit of the giiggles. "Son of absent Lady" brought us our starters, we were starving, the lettuce was tasty, the goat's cheese a bit sparse and despite the bread plates on the table there was no bread. We felt sorry for the lad who was obviously doing his best. So when the main course arrived and the sauteed potatoes were only a shade short of burnt, the pork was overcooked and tough and the peas were dry we replied to his enquiry that it was all fine. There was a sauce too which was either out of a packet or a jar. He was amazingly polite cheerful and attentive and offered us more drinks and said something about no charge, we had some wine.

When "Son of absent Lady" had cleared away our plates he asked us if we wanted anything else, coffee, more drinks? I looked down at the spoon and fork still on the table, were they redundant like the bread plate? "You haven't got any desserts, have you?" I said in much the same resigned way as in the Cheese Shop Sketch. "No" he replied.

Hubby just resisted saying, " I'm afaid I'll have to kill you!"

As we got up to leave I asked him if his mother had come back, "No" he replied....."and a good thing too the way I am feeling, In fact it has been such a monumental cock up that there will be no charge at all. Would you like another drink, have whatever you like!"

We declined but I did ask if perhaps now would not be a good time to tell him that we were from the Michelin Guide. He replied that he couldn't care less as they were closing down next week as the house was being sold "from under them".

I forgot to mention that a man kept appearing asking if the mother had returned.... perhaps that is why she kept away. It would have made a good episode for Fawlty Towers.

Oops!!

Hubby and I often have a laugh during breakfast and this morning was no exception when I dropped my breakfast vitamin pill, then couldn't find it. I stood up and looked for it as I was worried that the dog might eat it. Then mystery solved it had gone down my top and was inside my bra!

Later this morning we went to Ikea, as we were driving out of our village we stopped to talk with some neighbours. I explained that I was driving because Hubby had hurt his hip. Mrs neighbour said, "you'll have to handle him gently", to which I replied "I'm not handling him at all at the moment!". Hubby said "Too much information!" Mr and Mrs neighbour were laughing as I drove away feeling slightly embarrassed.

Later, after some time exhausting ourselves in Ikea we went to a nearby McDonalds for the wrap of the day. (Yes, dear granddaughters, we do go to McDonalds without you!)

A man was going round the tables with a dishcloth; no spray, just the cloth. He proceeded to wipe a high chair, various tables, some seats and the top of the rubbish bin, all with the same cloth! Did I say anything? No I was too much of a coward. 

Taking off your knickers in the high street!

Face Book throws up all sorts of odd stuff. the other day I followed a link to a page called:
 "Enclosed in their own fat", a sort of support group for obese people. It seems that many of the contributors feel persecuted due to their size. I do think that it is wrong and unkind to make fun of or taunt anyone for the way they look, but this fb page got me thinking.


 There have always been fat people, my auntie Nellie was definitely bordering on what we now classify as obese! But now there are so many that special ambulances and even king sized coffins are needed.
Modern food is just too good, when I was growing up in the 1940 and 50's you would have had to be a masochist to want to keep eating after you were full. Boiled cabbage, boiled potatoes and rissoles, followed by sago pudding. Also there were no between meal snacks, not enough money and sweets were rationed. Besides that no well brought up child would dream of eating in the street, it would have been as shocking as taking off your knickers in the high street!
Basically, food used to be boring, we ate to live not lived to eat. 


But as trans fat and Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils seeped in to western foods, Oh dear, fast food, cheap food, tasty food, snack foods ................. well we all know where this led!
Research has shown that long-term trans fatty acid consumption is a factor in larger weight gain despite a similar calorific intake.

Trouble is we can't turn the clock back and I would hate to go back to the boring post war diet, but fresh food made using, olive oil, garlic, herbs and spices must be a better option. 

Lets face it we've been conned by the food industry over the years but we can fight back. Fast food: an omelette with salad and with one of my favourites, potatoes cooked in the microwave till nearly done then sliced and sautéed in olive oil. Voilà and Bon Appetit!