Another one bites the dust...

At the moment it seems as though every time I either turn on the news or look at the BBC or Sky News websites there is another high street retailer on the brink of collapse and entering the black hole known as administration. I know we’re now in what is known as a recession but I can't help but think that there seem to be a lot of big companies on the verge of disappearing; most of them I would have thought would have the foresight to prepare for something like this. I do not even pretend to understand the major financial factors that have all played their part as things like interest rates etc don't appear high on my "things I need to understand" list but I cannot help thinking that somewhere in the non too distant past greed may have played its part; expanding when the money being freely spent over the last few years but not covering themselves when it dried up.

Most of the companies disappearing so far seem to fall into the "non-essential" bracket such as Pier, Whittards, and now USC but I cannot help think Woolworths could have been a victim of it's own doing. When I think of Woolworths I can remember every Saturday morning meeting up with school friends outside Woolworths in Chester-le-Street where we would all wander in and come away with either a cassette single, sweets or something completely useless; we knew almost exactly what they sold. Unfortunately over the last few days in conversation I asked a few people if they knew what Woolworths actually sold everybody said CD&s and Pick and Mix; although unfortunately from a recent visit the number of CD's they sold was extremely minimal and the Pick and Mix selection was tiny. So although they were a major high street brand and almost an institution does anybody actually what they sold apart from - just stuff

Great Pub

Not that it's very likely but if you're ever lurking in the area between Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon I'd definitely recommend popping into the Trafalgar Freehouse for a pint - very Royston Vasey but fantastic beer and great characters!

That's another one gone

After all the manic preperation and rushing around to make sure everybody has a present at the appropriate value Christmas 2008 has been and gone. I'm pleased to say that I defintely had a good one! I was a bit apprehensive about this year as it was our first Xmas since my brother died and even though we saw very little of him usually on Xmas Day I knew I would miss him - sure enough, I did! Having Katie around really helped both me and my parents, not just because she is fantastic to be around but it also meant there wasn't an empty seat for dinner - that would have been very strange! Now that Xmas is over attention turns immediately to the impending change from 2008 to 2009. Personally I cannot wait! I already know that 2009 is going to involve massive changes for me and Katie. My current job finishes at the end of March and so I have no choice about looking for something new. What, I do not know! After living in London for a year I have concluded that I definitely don't like it, and so any job hunting I do is going to be outside the M25 by quite a few hundred miles! This will definitely mean a pay cut and I guess a change in industry - but what I do not know! Any suggestions.....

London #2

It's probably just me but I've noticed that in London people seem to be lacking in the ability to walk in a straight line! Personally I'm a pretty fast walker, sauntering annoys me and more often than not when I make the move to go round somebody they decide for no reason to completely change direction. I know there's a lot to see in London but it's not an excuse for veering all over the place - I might start a petition for people to be fitted with indicators!

London #1

After the last week I know one this I really dislike about London - it doesn't snow here!! I love snow and when they announced it on the forecast I might have even let out a little 'Get In', but no! All we had this week was rain while back home it was snowing like there was no tomorrow! Humph!

London

Just under a year I ago I took the plunge and moved to London, since moving there I've come to experience all the good and bad things about the capital. I'm not just talking about the shootings, stabbings etc but there are more day to day annoyances that are starting to creep into daily life! I'm not going to go through them now as I'm in the middle of making tea, but I think I'll try and start to add them on here gradually! I'll try and be constructive!