Whitey Grandad

That's very convoluted logic. Employers will only pay what they have to. If the cost of labour is too high then the product that they offer may be uncompetitive. You cannot force any enterprise to pay more than the operation will bear or there will be no jobs at all. Employers already pay a big wallop directly in NI contributions. Add to that sick pay, maternity pay and all the other job-related benefits and it is quite a considerable sum. It is not the job of an employer to provide jobs.

There's more than one colour in there. Do you mean 'in this pattern'?

The only way to tell is to look at the books. Incidentally, in the US many companies have found that they prefer working with smaller workforces, even if it's with a smaller turnover. But whoever you sre, if you've been stung badly you will be very slow to take people on again.

It's not an excuse. I know many small businesses who only kept going because the owners took no salary. Some even put in their life savings to keep going rather than lose staff but eventually the money runs out.

These have been very difficult times for most businesses. If you employ 30 people then a 3% pay rise equals one job and sometimes the decision is between paying more or losing some workers.

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

More a form of rodentism.

I always hold doors open for people but I can't resist a loud 'thank you' when they don't acknowledge. I have notice in France now that I've reached the age where they don't just say 'bonjour' any more, it's 'bonjour monsieur'. And we were very impressed in Bermuda in September when schoolchildren offered us their seats on a crowded bus.

Would that be an avatarse? I'll get me Horlicks.

In the last 20 years I have had my factory broken into twice, my little boat broken into, my house broken into and both my wife and my son have had their cars stolen. Catch the bastards and smash their knuckles with a hammer. Tattoo 'thief' on their foreheads and stop their benefits. This is a sh1thole of a country.

Over 100 British people have been killed by released murderer. Just a thought.

Watching the programme I would say that the fault was their own.

Don't forget that VAT goes up to 20% on 4th January.

Good point. So long as they're 'ours'. I include the former colonials in 'us' of sourse.

So what are we left with? Swedes, turnips, oats. Potage? Even that's french.

'tis an auxiliary verb.

In America the 'h' in 'herbs' is silent, like the 'p' in 'bath'.

I predate Fry, who likes to come across as an intellectual, which he undoubtedly could be if he tried, but does sometimes show up his lack of understanding. I am led to believe that the word 'orange' derives from the fruit, via Arabic naranj from India: e.g. Hindi nārangī : and later, "a norange" became "an orange". The color was named from the fruit. The spanish is or course 'naranja'.

Class has nothing to do with the style of eating, in my opinion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette

It marks you out as 'British', and consequently of higher class than any of the locals.

I think you may have misunderstood the correct meaning of 'ignorant'.

Ah, I think I may have been saying 'bone' wrong all my life.

Well, Dune, you can't go much higher than us.

I was, but it may be different to yours.

At last! a like mind. Even worse, I find, is when you hold the door open for someone and they suddenly stop and look at something, not even aware that you are offering them a courtesy.