dune

And it's good that she did. North Sea oil reserves are depleted, but we're still sitting on lots of coal for the future.

You can opt out. I chose to opt out years ago. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029426

Good documentary on More 4 now about the miners strikes. Makes me very proud to see how Maggie crushed the Socialists/Marxists.

wealth distribution is a commie philosophy.

Not at all. What you are advocating is communism and that worked really well didn't it.

See post # 44 http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?29434-Australian-burqa-incident You are a banana.

That is brilliant mate. We've got to use it.

He's too busy tweetering. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003994/Ed-Milibands-Twitter-question-answer-session-backfires.html

So if it is shown that an average scheme benefits lower paid employees over a final salary scheme, will you support the change?

I shall be posting on the UI and will pop in to see what you're all upto from time to time.

I have had to pay more into my pension in recent years. I didn't complain - I got on with it. Can you at least accept that average salary pensions are better for the lower paid?

I can quite believe it. The public sector is on a different planet to the real world. In the private sector people have knuckled down and got on with it, yet when it comes to the public sector these employees think they are above the economic constraints that are afflicting the western world.

Well if those on lower incomes can't afford AVC's, they should at least be greatful for the move away from a final salary scheme to an average salary scheme. They will be better off with an average salary scheme so i'm sure you'll join me in applauding the coalitions proposals.

If Jamie calls you dull it's bad mate.

What a lot of people are forgetting is that final salary schemes are only preferable to those who progress over the years. For lower paid public sector workers a pension worked out on average earnings over their entire service is usually better. I'm pretty clued up when it comes to pensions and my advice for anyone is to invest in AVC's as early in your career as possible. You get get tax deductions on your contributions and can take all contributions back (upto 25% of your lifetime allowance - pension pot + avc pot) as a tax free lump sum. There are 3 main investments available - deposit fund with a rate that basically tracks the base rate, bonds, or equities. Bonds are probably the best option if your are close to retirement, but if you're younger then equities should provide the greatest return. That said as you approach retirement switching to bonds or a deposit fund (if the BOE base rate is attractive) is prudent.

This is the opposite of my experience of recent years in the private sector. Sick time has gone down where I work as employees realise that they are lucky to have a job and also realise it's not easy to find a new job. I would suggest that the public sector need a serious overhaul to sort this problem out. Disciplinary procedures clearly need tightening up. This is yet another example of public sector workers living outside the real world.

I automatically assumed you were older seeing how you are an expert on most things.

I thought you were about 40. You are certainly wise beyond your years. Watch out Mikey, you have some competition here.

Would you like me to start a thread about you? I have recently be following you on twitter. I love your rainbow coloured bracelet. Where can I get one?

Examination system 'discredited', says Michael Gove Mr Gove, who is set to announce an overhaul of the exams for 16 and 18 year olds, said one of his main goals as Education Secretary was to “change our discredited exam system”. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/8583596/Examination-system-discredited-says-Michael-Gove.html His comments confirm what i've long believed. Exams have got easier and that is why we keep seeing an improvement in grades. I look forward to an apology from thorpe-le-saint.

I've stayed in a cottage at Bigbury (the small hamlet before Bigbury-on-sea). Seek out the tidal road from Bigbury towards Kingsbridge - it's really cool. Drove down it countless times and never saw the tide in until coming back from a meal and turned down the road only to have to slam on the brakes as the whole road was submerged under the sea. There is an oyster farm down there which is worth calling it at if you like fresh oysters. As to Burgh Island walked accross there one day and had a pint. The hotel there is a really posh.

I'm not being funny but those black and white face images make me think of KFC.

I'm doing my farewell tour atm. I'm not sure how i'll cope.