Think of this Mr. Salmond and all those Yes voters

[John Pruden]

every working person in the country is just another number my daughter in law had to pack in work today because some pencil neck further up the ladder decided to change her hours she had no say in the matter even with 2 kids on the ground who will mind them from 8am/9.30pm 3 days a week we do our best but our best is not good enough.. so as I say you are just a number and treated with contempt its back to the days if you don't like it .... off we will get another that will and after 7 years working for the same firm as well??jp

[Captain Kong]

All I was trying to say was, if you are in a dead end job, do something about it, dont stagger from one to another and end up the same situation. Train or study for another career, go to Night School , I did and I got qualifications,
If you cannot do it, because of circumstances then make sure your kids do not get into the same situation, Advise them, guide them, show them there are better ways of making a living.
It is hard , but you have to work at it to get away from that type of job and improve your prospects.
It is possible. and achievable.
.
All this is because all our Industries and good jobs were given away by our Politicions. We manufactured for the world, we exported on our ships, to every land on the planet. We were there doing it on our ships, Wilson closed half of our Industries in the 60s and sent them to the third world countries, , Now we are stuck with europe,
Our Prime Ministers should be traveling around the world drumming up business and export orders,
Merkel of Germany went to China and came back with a five billion dollar order for Aircrafts and parts.
Putin also went to China and got a several Trillion Dollar deal and to the South American countries and got Trade deals with them.
I was in South America early this year and on every dockside in Equador and Peru, a place that was once full of British Ships and exports , was now full of German ships and containers. Never saw one British ship or one British container. That is where your jobs have gone.
Our Politicions of all parties are totally stupid and obsessed with europe.
All Cameron does is play at lap dogs to the Americans over Ukraine, and Syria, The British worker is being put out of a job because he has brought sanctions against Russia, "make the Brits unemployed, that will teach the Russians a lesson". We had a big export trade to Russia now Cameron has finished it, now jobs are being lost.
So it does not matter which political party you want to support, they are all exactly the same.
Not one of "Leaders" were around in the hey days of British Shipping and exports, They have no idea at all.
Cheers
Brian.

[gray_marian]

Last Night of the Proms..........,Bravo....Did any watch it.....Bliss....No SNP Guest of 12 wks! to annoy me.....we even had 20,000 folk marching in Edinburgh for the NO Vote fingers crossed. Also marching were a few "Orange" Men & Woman not a fan myself but Hey Ho. There was a visit from Rupert Murdoch

Have to say I agree whole heartedly with Brian. I have earned since I was 14 years of age. £2.50. for babysitting 5 children [same family] 4pm-6pm twice a week. Progressed to Saturday job in sports shop where I had to run the gauntlet of a sleeze ball boss when squeezing past him to put money in till. [Never told parents]. On to retail and voluntary work in children's homeopathic hospital for three years. Next full time employment aged 17 with GPO till 21 newly married. PA for the next 30 years wages tosh but perks good [still are] got to sleep with Boss....Husband: Whilst rearing my children. Now Grandma, pick up oldest grandson from school twice a week as daughter went back to work when he was five. My children all taught to have same work ethnic as parents. Cannot afford something?....Then do without or diversify...simple. My two oldest children, son learned his trade, now self employed drystone dyker 13yrs. Oldest daughter Montessori nursery teacher 6yrs, now bakes and sells her wares to Cafe's & Farmers markets which in turn accommodate's her son's school hours. Youngest Miss Havisham [her words] ie Victoria who graced this site, solvent, Fine Art Degree [cost a small fortune] wants her own shop, biding her time till market is strong. Moral, be prepared to turn your hand to what's available and keep not only your eyes and ears but mind open too.

[j.sabourn]

I find it hard to fathom out, but for years Northern Ireland has been fighting to stay in the UK, and yet Scotland is fighting to get out. The UK to me is one country with one goal in mind, and that should be to guard the gates. There is another big conflageration coming and due to the stupidity of what we are forced to call political leaders we are going to be in it up to our necks. Every war since time began has been started by different political ideologys and religions. Are we that stupid that we accept blindly what we are told by some of the most ignorant people around, who are in such positions mainly due to their Daddys having a say in the running of a country years ago. A whole new political spectrum is required one that is not beholden to the likes of Germany and other countries in Europe whose pasts alone should be sufficient warning to steer clear of. The choice giving the the Scottish people, should have been given to the British people as a whole years ago re. Europe. The vote that was taken originally was a Free Trade Agreement, due to slimy politicians we have finished up being ruled by former enemies. JS

[Rodney Mills]

I agree most heartily with Captain Kong. Post #146 and Gray-Marian #153


I too left school at fifteen. I left Southchurch Hall High School, Southend-On-Sea as a barely functioning illiterate.


I was employed from fifteen to sixteen-- awaiting to join the M.N.--making bricks, washing dishes, frying chips, and then promoted to the heady heights of frying fish.


I joined the M.N. on my sixteenth birthday. A few years later I was carving meat at the first class luncheon buffet on the Warwick Castle. I remember looking at the passengers as they held their plates out for meat, laughing to each other, having a grand old time...they didn't even notice me. I was a piece of furniture. It was at that moment that I knew I would rather be on their side of the buffet table, and not a blo.dy servant.


I saved every penny I could for the next two years. I used every trick I could think of to attend the Union-Castle Catering School to learn cooking, I went there four times. I passed my ship's cooks ticket at nineteen and was the youngest person to pass.


I emigrated to Canada at twenty, still a semi-illiterate. I spent two weeks gross earnings, to home study high school math to the standards of Canada.


I was at the impressionable age of twenty-two when I had my second epiphany: I read three books by Ayn Rand, We the living, The Fountain Head, and Atlas Shrugged, and though flat broke I became a capitalist .


I emigrated to the home of capitalism, the U.S.A. at twenty-three. My first job was as a banquet cook. Eighteen months later I became an Executive Chef and began making very good money.


I studied English. I bought books on speaking; grammar; punctuation, and spelling. I have studied through to the second year university level. I'm still studying at seventy-seven. I want a masters degree equivalent in English (my wife has two masters degrees).


I continued studying. I studied bookkeeping followed by accounting, to the level I could prepare a balance sheet. Next I could determine cash-flow requirements and forecast budgets and finally auditing. I studied government; fine Arts and history. Everything you ever wanted to know is obtainable from a book, all one has to do is open it and read;
absorb, and turn the page.


At age 32 I was employed as Executive Chef of a large Southern California Hotel, and subsequently promoted to Food and Beverage Director, followed by additional promotions to Managing Director of the company's Iranian subsidiary; Middle East Divisional Director; Senior Vice-President of Operations, and then President and C.E.O.. I retired at 46.


I have flown on the Concord. I have dined at Maxim's of Paris (mediocre), Regularly dined at The Windows of the World on top of the former Trade Center in New York. I have stayed at the Savoy and other world famous hotels. My office (corner office) was on Madison Avenue, I could look down on St. Patrick's Cathedral across the road (where Bing Crosby held the dying Barry Fitzgerald on the cathedral steps in (I think it was) The bells of Saint Mary's), and in the distance I could see The Empire State Building where the other KONG (not Brian) climbed up and swatted at planes clutching Jean Harlow. (Who, along with her husband, I once had dinner with.)


So, have I made it to the other side of the buffet table? You betcha. Was it worth the hours of sweat and toil? You better believe it. What would I be today if I had never carved on that buffet on the "Warwick"? God! I hate to think?


Please don't tell me that times are different today, that's b.s.. Times are always different, it's called progress. Young people in their early twenties are becoming millionaires, some billionaires, inventing computer programs. They study, concentrate on computer science and trigonometry etc., and take risks and don't sit around bemoaning how unkind the world is...and in doing so provide millions of new jobs, which in turn pays for the schooling of the next generation of up and comers.


I once had to conduct a seminar. Before it began I went into the room and taped a cent under three hundred seats. The attendees were seated, and I was introduced. I asked them all to stand-up and retrieve what was under their seats. I then asked them what they had found and what was the message I was sending them. Many just said a penny? Some had said money, but no one could understand the message...so I told them..."If you get up off your ass you'll make money." And then I commenced the seminar.


Cheers, Rodney


P.S. It's often asked do you remember where you were when President Kennedy died? "Yes"...I worked twenty-four plus hours straight, as two cooks never showed for their shift...from making bricks to the boardroom...I am well aware what hard work is.

[j.sabourn]

#155... Most seafarers of the old school Rodney know what hard work was. Previous to going to sea a lot of us were brought up in council houses with workingman fathers, who always strifed for a better life, mainly for their childrens sake. I had another cousin who went to sea who died not too long back, he started with RFA and went on to get his Chiefs and finished up lecturing at the Tasmanian Nautical School. The last time I saw him before he died we were talking about our fathers who were brothers, he said his father when he said he wanted to go to sea, had said to him I dont care what you want to do you can collect garbage if you want, all I ask is whatever you choose is that you be the best at, whether it is a bin man or a film star. Which just about summarizes after the war years they wanted us to be happy and get the best out of life. They did and gave huge sacrifices during the war and it is up to future generations to make the most of what they gave us, if we dont we have failed them, as well as ourselves/ JS

[John Pruden]

started work at 12 with brothers on demolition 10 bob a day breaking cast iron Colom's from the old dock sheds 15ton was the quota with a two man tupp that's a 56ib sledge hammer with one shaft on it Saturdays Sundays and school holidays driving a jones kl 44 mobile crane this a magnet loading the scrap into wagons that's after breaking and wheel barrowing the cast the crane could not get at worked all my life to get the kids a better life than I had any money went to them after my first stroke gave all monies away to the family we all know hard times and all had money but money is not the be all and end all I am content that I have done my duty as a father husband and provider for my family I know what its like to have paper in my shoes but my family has never gone cold hungry or without a happy roof over their heads all bills paid never owed a penny to anyone looked after a mother till she was in her 80s as a promise to my father on his deathbed and I think I would not have missed a minute good or bad??jp

[j.sabourn]

As far as I know we still have extra rates for weekend ashore. However the present Government is trying to cut back on same saying small businesses cant afford it. I wouldnt consider McDonalds although they may be franchised small businesses, perhaps thay are charging too much for their franchises. I learnt during many years you never give anything away to an employer when it comes to salary or wages, they offer all sorts of incentives for the future, but most speak with forked tongue. The only thing keeping wages in place in Australia regardless of likes or dislikes is the Unions. JS

[Captain Kong]

I have been chosen by the Office of National Statistics to take part in a survey, They havent called on me yet, but on their web site. WWW,ONS.GOV.UK has a lot of fascinating facts about the people of England and Wales, Dont know why Scotland is not involved.
, on employment. ,, if you have No qualifications very difficult to find a job.
So I think it is up to the parents to push their children hard to get qualifications. A lot of parents do not and cannot be bothered.
. Release: 2011 Census, Qualifications and Labour Market Participation in England and Wales
Released: 18 June 2014 All editions of this release
Contact
Tristan Browne

Census Analysis

census.analysis.inbox@ons.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)1633 45 5951

Categories: Labour Market, People in Work, Employment, Children, Education and Skills, School and College Education, School and College Skills and Qualifications, Higher Education and Adult Learning, Higher Education Skills and Qualifications

Frequency of release: Ad-hoc

Language: English

Geographical coverage: England and Wales

Geographical breakdown: Local Authority and County

Survey name(s): Census
•Fewer than half (48.5%) of those aged 25 to 64 with no qualifications were in employment compared with 8 in 10 (80.7%) of those with at least one qualification.

•While there was only a small difference in employment rates between the two highest levels of qualification, 2+ A Levels or equivalent (83.5%) and degree level or above (85.3%), those aged 25 to 64 with a degree level or above qualification were more likely to work in occupations with higher earnings.

•The unemployment rate for both men (12.9%) and women (10.8%) aged 25 to 64 with no qualifications was more than double the rate for those with at least one qualification (5.2% for men, 4.3% for women).

•The range of employment rates across local authorities was widest for those aged 25 to 64 with no qualifications (37.2 percentage points) and narrowed as the qualification level increased, with the narrowest range for those with a degree level or above (11.3 percentage points).
.

. So it is up to the parents to make sure their kids do have a proper education to give them a better future.
That is what I did for mine.
.
Cheers
Brian.
A lot of other statistical information on Deaths and causes, Alcohol related deaths and many other interesting facts.

[Rodney Mills]

I really love hearing stories about loving parents who encourage their children. Although I wouldn't know how that lucky child felt. Am I envious. Yes! Am I bitter? Yes; but getting over it ( finally, at seventy-seven years old today).


My mother "evacuated" my younger sister and me to Yorkshire AFTER the Battle of Britain--when the worst of the Luftwaffe bombing was over. Why? She dumped my father--who was in the army serving in North Africa--for another man, and my sister and me became inconvenient.


I later lived with her from thirteen to sixteen. Did she teach me anything? Sure, she taught me how to smoke when I was thirteen, and how to drop out of school and start work and begin paying rent at fifteen.


I never saw my father for nineteen years. The worst mistake was getting back together with him. You see he thought I should financially take care of him; his wife and a lazy half brother who had been on disability for ten years; as his back played-up "sumfing orrible". Wrong! I told them, my duty was to see to my children's needs and education. Once they found out there was no pot of gold, that was that...thank God.


It gives me a tremendous amount of satisfaction to know that what I have done I did by myself. I have no one to blame and no one to thank.


I take pride in the fact that both my wife and close friends call me a Horatio Alger character...an American story...Poor immigrant lands on the shores with his ass hanging out of his pants and finds the American dream...etc. etc..


But I agree with you that parental guidance, financial assistance, and encouragement are the optimum one should hope to do for one's children, but it's not a prerequisite for failure to be an orphan or even an orphan wanna-be like me.


As I said in my previous post, one can 'read' about any subject in the world. Can't afford a book? There are lending libraries. Need a computer? In our libraries there are free use of computers available; surely that must be the same in the U.K.. Unless one is mentally challenged there are no excuses. Physically challenged? how about Stephen Hawkins the scientist? Confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak, what courage and what determination. As for the rest I repeat, 'if they get off their ass they will make money'.


I am not heartless, I knew as C.E.O. in the hospitality industry, all my career plans could terminate without clean plates and the persons who kept them clean (remember I did that work once and pearl diving for pots and pans too).


The toughest unions I ever negotiated was in Alberta, Canada, but I never had a problem. We had an arrangement, I treat you and the members fair and you treat me and the company fair.


I think the Federal minimum wage in the United States should be doubled. Which would mean twice the amount of income tax paid in to the government and more consumer goods purchased, which in turn means more service and manufacturing jobs, and yet more state tax (sales tax).


Well that's the last from me on this subject...back to the subject of this thread:


Though I have followed this subject--Scottish independence--with great interest on BBC news; U.S. T.V.; and British on-line newspapers; and 'Ships Nostalgia', as well as here on 'Friends'. However, I do not feel it is my place to take a position one way or the other. What I hope though is that when the votes are counted and the die cast there is no bitterness between winners and losers, be they Scots or other citizens of Great Britain....That after all has been the British way throughout its history...Good luck to you all.


Cheers, Rodney