Rocky road ahead?

[Blackpool Rock]

A few threads currently touch on specific issues but there is potentially a wider issue here and when all of the smaller issues are combined these could lead to bigger more widespread problems all coming to a head at the same time.

I don't think we should go into the reasons why we are in this position but are we potentially heading for a Winter of discontent 
People may think sitting here mid October that it won't or couldn't happen however just look at how fuel shortages or rather perceived fuel shortages caused a panic.

So some of the current and potential issues -

Perceived fuel shortages resulting in panic buying.
Shortages of Turkeys, panic buying of Turkey and chicken
Not enough butchers to cut up pigs which may lead to a cull of healthy animals for land fill, que the panic buying of bacon and other pork products

Shortage of HGV drivers so even if goods are available getting them to their destination on time may not be possible
General labour shortage in many areas leading to increased wage demands

The knock on effect of higher wages and shortages is increased costs of everything we buy leading to inflation increasing

Energy prices have shot through the roof meaning suppliers are selling at a loss just as we go into winter.
Food prices rising fast from what i've seen in the supermarket
I've always scoffed at the claim people have to choose between "Heat and Eat" however I can only see this becoming a far more serious issue

So here's the scenario when Xmas comes -
The Jones family wake up on Xmas day, the heating hasn't been on much as it's hard to justify the cost but as it's Xmas Dad gives in to the whining wife and fires the boiler up.
The kids haven't actually got the toys they wanted as they were in short supply and didn't arrive at the store in time despite being pre ordered.
Fortunately they have all been given Xmas jumpers which will help keep the chill out along with blankets to go over their duvets.
Oh well you can have the Xbox in January or February when it arrives but that won't satisfy the kids who get a shitty on and decide to be miserable all Xmas thereby pissing the parents off even more.

Well we still have dinner to look forward to, I know we normally have a Turkey but this year I thought we could go with something else as I couldn't get one at least at a sensible price so anyone fancy chicken dippers instead 
Not fussed as my favourite is the pigs in blankets, sorry no bacon so no blankets, actually no pigs either as they are pork too 
But I did manage to get the last 2 tins of soup that were left on the shelf, unfortunately it's Broccoli and Stilton and no other fucker wanted it 

Well this is a shit Xmas isn't it, perhaps we could go down the pub to keep warm as they always have a real fire going, oh but we can't afford to go out drinking as Dad's just been made redundant since his factory which used a lot of gas was mothballed as it wasn't economically viable.

Oh and we still have January and February to look forward to which are usually the coldest and most miserable months of the year 

People can and will put up with so much but then a cumulative effect happens and people start getting pissed off once they have had enough especially if they don't see things improving on the horizon

In all honesty i'm not sure how bad things will get however i do think the next 6 months will be quite a testing time for the country as a whole and people will get pissed off, hopefully the BOE will keep a lid on inflation and there won't be a large increase in unemployment then things will improve once world supply chains get back on an even keel 

[Lou2019]

No point dwelling on it, it is what it is and a lot is out of our hands and beyond our control. Focus on the good stuff at least we can spend Christmas with family and friends this year.

[JamesKW]

Sounds like the kind of Christmas I wish I had in the past,would have saved me a bundle of cash for punting.

[Blackpool Rock]

No point dwelling on it, it is what it is and a lot is out of our hands and beyond our control. Focus on the good stuff at least we can spend Christmas with family and friends this year.

You hope 

[Lou2019]

You hope 

Might not necessarily be a good thing for some though lol

[Blackpool Rock]

Might not necessarily be a good thing for some though lol

Yeah unfortunately more family arguments and upset at Xmas than any other time of year, think it's a mixture of people being on top of each other and not necessarily actually liking each other coupled with excess alcohol and a general feeling that it's all over hyped and if it's so brilliant why aren't I having the time of my life.

Well I know why don't I it's because the Mother in bag is here for 3 friggin days 

[Lou2019]

Yeah unfortunately more family arguments and upset at Xmas than any other time of year, think it's a mixture of people being on top of each other and not necessarily actually liking each other coupled with excess alcohol and a general feeling that it's all over hyped and if it's so brilliant why aren't I having the time of my life.

Well I know why don't I it's because the Mother in bag is here for 3 friggin days 

3 days! Talk about overstay your welcome lol

[lillythesavage]

A few threads currently touch on specific issues but there is potentially a wider issue here and when all of the smaller issues are combined these could lead to bigger more widespread problems all coming to a head at the same time.

I don't think we should go into the reasons why we are in this position but are we potentially heading for a Winter of discontent 
People may think sitting here mid October that it won't or couldn't happen however just look at how fuel shortages or rather perceived fuel shortages caused a panic.

So some of the current and potential issues -

Perceived fuel shortages resulting in panic buying.
Shortages of Turkeys, panic buying of Turkey and chicken
Not enough butchers to cut up pigs which may lead to a cull of healthy animals for land fill, que the panic buying of bacon and other pork products

Shortage of HGV drivers so even if goods are available getting them to their destination on time may not be possible
General labour shortage in many areas leading to increased wage demands

The knock on effect of higher wages and shortages is increased costs of everything we buy leading to inflation increasing

Energy prices have shot through the roof meaning suppliers are selling at a loss just as we go into winter.
Food prices rising fast from what i've seen in the supermarket
I've always scoffed at the claim people have to choose between "Heat and Eat" however I can only see this becoming a far more serious issue

So here's the scenario when Xmas comes -
The Jones family wake up on Xmas day, the heating hasn't been on much as it's hard to justify the cost but as it's Xmas Dad gives in to the whining wife and fires the boiler up.
The kids haven't actually got the toys they wanted as they were in short supply and didn't arrive at the store in time despite being pre ordered.
Fortunately they have all been given Xmas jumpers which will help keep the chill out along with blankets to go over their duvets.
Oh well you can have the Xbox in January or February when it arrives but that won't satisfy the kids who get a shitty on and decide to be miserable all Xmas thereby pissing the parents off even more.

Well we still have dinner to look forward to, I know we normally have a Turkey but this year I thought we could go with something else as I couldn't get one at least at a sensible price so anyone fancy chicken dippers instead 
Not fussed as my favourite is the pigs in blankets, sorry no bacon so no blankets, actually no pigs either as they are pork too 
But I did manage to get the last 2 tins of soup that were left on the shelf, unfortunately it's Broccoli and Stilton and no other fucker wanted it 

Well this is a shit Xmas isn't it, perhaps we could go down the pub to keep warm as they always have a real fire going, oh but we can't afford to go out drinking as Dad's just been made redundant since his factory which used a lot of gas was mothballed as it wasn't economically viable.

Oh and we still have January and February to look forward to which are usually the coldest and most miserable months of the year 

People can and will put up with so much but then a cumulative effect happens and people start getting pissed off once they have had enough especially if they don't see things improving on the horizon

In all honesty i'm not sure how bad things will get however i do think the next 6 months will be quite a testing time for the country as a whole and people will get pissed off, hopefully the BOE will keep a lid on inflation and there won't be a large increase in unemployment then things will improve once world supply chains get back on an even keel 

Look on the bright side, all those tins and dry pastas you stocked up on will see you through, Global warming could make it the mildest winter ever and the old bag might not want to come for 3 days if all you have is soup and pasta.

[Ali Katt]

I think there has been a shortage of Turkey for a while now. I've looked for Turkey mince and breasts and never see it in supermarkets. With Turkey farming they have always been expensive and time consuming to farm, maybe farmers thought if we have another lockdown it isn't worth bothering with.

[sir wanksalot]

A few threads currently touch on specific issues but there is potentially a wider issue here and when all of the smaller issues are combined these could lead to bigger more widespread problems all coming to a head at the same time.

I don't think we should go into the reasons why we are in this position but are we potentially heading for a Winter of discontent 
People may think sitting here mid October that it won't or couldn't happen however just look at how fuel shortages or rather perceived fuel shortages caused a panic.

So some of the current and potential issues -

Perceived fuel shortages resulting in panic buying.
Shortages of Turkeys, panic buying of Turkey and chicken
Not enough butchers to cut up pigs which may lead to a cull of healthy animals for land fill, que the panic buying of bacon and other pork products

Shortage of HGV drivers so even if goods are available getting them to their destination on time may not be possible
General labour shortage in many areas leading to increased wage demands

The knock on effect of higher wages and shortages is increased costs of everything we buy leading to inflation increasing

Energy prices have shot through the roof meaning suppliers are selling at a loss just as we go into winter.
Food prices rising fast from what i've seen in the supermarket
I've always scoffed at the claim people have to choose between "Heat and Eat" however I can only see this becoming a far more serious issue

So here's the scenario when Xmas comes -
The Jones family wake up on Xmas day, the heating hasn't been on much as it's hard to justify the cost but as it's Xmas Dad gives in to the whining wife and fires the boiler up.
The kids haven't actually got the toys they wanted as they were in short supply and didn't arrive at the store in time despite being pre ordered.
Fortunately they have all been given Xmas jumpers which will help keep the chill out along with blankets to go over their duvets.
Oh well you can have the Xbox in January or February when it arrives but that won't satisfy the kids who get a shitty on and decide to be miserable all Xmas thereby pissing the parents off even more.

Well we still have dinner to look forward to, I know we normally have a Turkey but this year I thought we could go with something else as I couldn't get one at least at a sensible price so anyone fancy chicken dippers instead 
Not fussed as my favourite is the pigs in blankets, sorry no bacon so no blankets, actually no pigs either as they are pork too 
But I did manage to get the last 2 tins of soup that were left on the shelf, unfortunately it's Broccoli and Stilton and no other fucker wanted it 

Well this is a shit Xmas isn't it, perhaps we could go down the pub to keep warm as they always have a real fire going, oh but we can't afford to go out drinking as Dad's just been made redundant since his factory which used a lot of gas was mothballed as it wasn't economically viable.

Oh and we still have January and February to look forward to which are usually the coldest and most miserable months of the year 

People can and will put up with so much but then a cumulative effect happens and people start getting pissed off once they have had enough especially if they don't see things improving on the horizon

In all honesty i'm not sure how bad things will get however i do think the next 6 months will be quite a testing time for the country as a whole and people will get pissed off, hopefully the BOE will keep a lid on inflation and there won't be a large increase in unemployment then things will improve once world supply chains get back on an even keel 

I wonder how much this is the media manipulating the news to panic people.

Once they get a sniff of something then they're like a dog with a bone. It's clearly the new trend to just scare the shit out of people with all type of conjecture (not facts).

I remember years ago when Rottweiler dogs were all over the news as they were attacking people every day (or so it seemed). When certain things are put in the spotlight they take on a disproportionate importance to their real significance.

When it comes to panic buying or herd panic then it can easily become self fulfilling. Would not be surprised if some machiavellian CEO is thinking of announcing a shortage just to bump up sales and prices!!

For what it's worth, I did speculate a year ago if we were heading for a Great Depression..............

[Thephoenix]

Blimey Charlie BR!

I avoid watching the news too often as it's all doom and gloom, so I sign in to my favourite community of happy go lucky chaps to cheer me up.

Hidden Image/Members Only

[radioman33]

Can’t go to the pub as most will be out of business or staff have left can’t get staff to work there.Universal credit cut so no kids toys,it’s a clever idea= the government want people to go and get a job as they think “I’m in the shit here,I’d better get off my arse and work”(a dwp worker said this on radio today).No turkey as people have bought them all by panic buying extra and an extra chicken in case.Freezing winter and flu virus worse than ever People staying in more using more heating and gas and totally skint in debt to energy companies as after all you only have so much money to pay council tax,and utilities,food and rent,before you are on the streets.On a positive ending more arguments to increase the divorce and domestic abuse which is sky high with the lockdowns already.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Do yer know the other year plain forgot to get a turkey or chicken so had a few bowls of Porridge instead but  did have a warm hot service provider round:)

And do you know what?, I'm still here and survived!!...

[Thephoenix]

Do yer know the other year plain forgot to get a turkey or chicken so had a few bowls of Porridge instead but  did have a warm hot service provider round:)

And do you know what?, I'm still here and survived!!...

That's the spirit!.....stiff upper lip and all that!

[Blackpool Rock]

I think there has been a shortage of Turkey for a while now. I've looked for Turkey mince and breasts and never see it in supermarkets. With Turkey farming they have always been expensive and time consuming to farm, maybe farmers thought if we have another lockdown it isn't worth bothering with.

That's possibly due to the start of a panic I guess but just looked online and the majority of articles said Turkey farmers didn't hatch as many birds due to labour shortages, a number mention the B word directly and there is also mention of the French taking the piss about it 

Then I saw another article saying it's all bullshit and Turkey numbers are only about 1.4% down on last year so happy days until I read about this, apparently even if there are enough Turkeys then if the CO2 shortage isn't rectified there is still a problem as the gas is used in slaughter and also to preserve the meat

The article mentioned not being able to get a Gin & Tonic as they need CO2 for the tonic but that will also affect all soft drinks, so long as beer production isn't affected, I mean that really could start a revolution   

External Link/Members Only

[lostandfound]

Haven't seen food prices going up (well maybe mushrooms). I doubt xbox will be in short supply as it's relatively light, premium priced and from a tier 1 tech firm.

Don't eat meat - not a veggie, just got out of the habit. And I don't feel the cold (you do NOT want to share an office with me - when I'm comfy you'll be moaning about brass monkeys).

etc etc. We'll muddle through, it's what Brits do.

I've been buying tech products and other stuff online, and it all been arriving just as it always has ...

[lillythesavage]

That's possibly due to the start of a panic I guess but just looked online and the majority of articles said Turkey farmers didn't hatch as many birds due to labour shortages, a number mention the B word directly and there is also mention of the French taking the piss about it 

Then I saw another article saying it's all bullshit and Turkey numbers are only about 1.4% down on last year so happy days until I read about this, apparently even if there are enough Turkeys then if the CO2 shortage isn't rectified there is still a problem as the gas is used in slaughter and also to preserve the meat

The article mentioned not being able to get a Gin & Tonic as they need CO2 for the tonic but that will also affect all soft drinks, so long as beer production isn't affected, I mean that really could start a revolution   

External Link/Members Only

I have never got the thing with turkey, is it American again?  A good chicken well cooked is far more tasty, for years I convince the mo in law I could not eat turkey, got a T bone instead, lovely woman, it was at least 10 years before she caught me after the alcoholic munchies, tucking into cold turkey alone in the kitchen.

I honestly could not care if I never tasted it again, plenty of nicer choices.

Going out now, to stock up on, Hendricks, tonic and Cucumber 

[Blackpool Rock]

I have never got the thing with turkey, is it American again?  A good chicken well cooked is far more tasty, for years I convince the mo in law I could not eat turkey, got a T bone instead, lovely woman, it was at least 10 years before she caught me after the alcoholic munchies, tucking into cold turkey alone in the kitchen.

I honestly could not care if I never tasted it again, plenty of nicer choices.

Going out now, to stock up on, Hendricks, tonic and Cucumber 

Yeah Turkey is American, traditionally I believe Goose was what the Brits had (If you could afford one)

[ulstersubbie]

I have never got the thing with turkey, is it American again?  A good chicken well cooked is far more tasty

+1

[threechilliman]

+1

+2

[lillythesavage]

Yeah Turkey is American, traditionally I believe Goose was what the Brits had (If you could afford one)

There you go, send the things to the USA, I tried goose last year, not a patch on duck, small is beautiful it seems. Time for lamb to make a big comeback, even if it is New Zealand in winter, Dump the yankee turkey.

Got lamb chops on Wednesday, they were so good I bought more For dinner Thursday and again on Friday, just put an order in with a butcher in Smithfield I know to fill the freezer.
There are other ways than relying on supermarkets who dictate what suppliers earn and the haulage rate they will pay, Tesco cleared a billion despite admitting they have been over charging for years buy price matching Aldi .

Time we all stopped being brainwashed into being lazy and explored other markets. Not spent a penny in Tesco since those price matching ads. Except for fuel as it was the only place I could get it at the time, then sold the car after filling it

[GingerNuts]

There you go, send the things to the USA, I tried goose last year, not a patch on duck, small is beautiful it seems. Time for lamb to make a big comeback, even if it is New Zealand in winter, Dump the yankee turkey.

Got lamb chops on Wednesday, they were so good I bought more For dinner Thursday and again on Friday, just put an order in with a butcher in Smithfield I know to fill the freezer.
There are other ways than relying on supermarkets who dictate what suppliers earn and the haulage rate they will pay, Tesco cleared a billion despite admitting they have been over charging for years buy price matching Aldi .

Time we all stopped being brainwashed into being lazy and explored other markets. Not spent a penny in Tesco since those price matching ads. Except for fuel as it was the only place I could get it at the time, then sold the car after filling it

Which supermarket(s) do you use now?

[Squire Haggard]

I wonder how much this is the media manipulating the news to panic people.

Once they get a sniff of something then they're like a dog with a bone. It's clearly the new trend to just scare the shit out of people with all type of conjecture (not facts).

I remember years ago when Rottweiler dogs were all over the news as they were attacking people every day (or so it seemed). When certain things are put in the spotlight they take on a disproportionate importance to their real significance.

When it comes to panic buying or herd panic then it can easily become self fulfilling. Would not be surprised if some machiavellian CEO is thinking of announcing a shortage just to bump up sales and prices!!

For what it's worth, I did speculate a year ago if we were heading for a Great Depression..............

The DM and several others never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. ''Sell out Saturday'' indeed.

It will probably be business as usual at my local supermarket.

External Link/Members Only

[lillythesavage]

Which supermarket(s) do you use now?

Only one, Lidl, and I am extremely happy with the quality of everything, particularly fruit and veg, which I buy a lot of and it lasts far longer than anything from Tesco ever did.
My mates who drive trucks and deliver there do not like doing so though, but guess lower prices have to come from somewhere

I also have a penchant for those Portuguese custard tarts, exactly the same as I bought in Tesco and probably the same baker supply them to both, in Tesco, 89p each, in Lidl 49p.

[suttonporksword]

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Is it just me or are all government parties unable to plan for consequences of their decisions? Always something else to blame than their own inadequacies. I am by no means a Thatcher fan but when it came to seeing a miners strike coming they stockpiled coal so the country didn't shut. All I ever seem to see is knee jerk and responsive policies

[lostandfound]

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Is it just me or are all government parties unable to plan for consequences of their decisions? Always something else to blame than their own inadequacies. I am by no means a Thatcher fan but when it came to seeing a miners strike coming they stockpiled coal so the country didn't shut. All I ever seem to see is knee jerk and responsive policies

Yeah - this lot fucked up - although there was stuff going on which they might fairly claim was a major distraction.

And also the one before fucked up, and the one before her. Which is another let out for the current lot, because they inherited some shit.

Overall though, has to be said, their party is on the rack. Been in charge for more than ten years. It's on them and noone else.

[lillythesavage]

Yeah - this lot fucked up - although there was stuff going on which they might fairly claim was a major distraction.

And also the one before fucked up, and the one before her. Which is another let out for the current lot, because they inherited some shit.

Overall though, has to be said, their party is on the rack. Been in charge for more than ten years. It's on them and noone else.

Nothing to do with private companies taking as much out of the business as possible and not investing in the future? , they can blame the big B all they like, they had plenty of notice, but kept pushing profits and giving it to shareholders and bosses, nothing kept for a rainy day

[Blackpool Rock]

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Is it just me or are all government parties unable to plan for consequences of their decisions? Always something else to blame than their own inadequacies. I am by no means a Thatcher fan but when it came to seeing a miners strike coming they stockpiled coal so the country didn't shut. All I ever seem to see is knee jerk and responsive policies

There is a general problem with long term planning when it comes to things like pensions and care for the elderly etc as they are by definition long term so money is put in now but people don't see the benefits for XYZ years at which point they get the credit whereas people feel the effects from day 1 when paying for it.
Not sure if there was something about 2016 in terms of planning things being shelved  It's been mentioned on the gas thread about gas storage being reduced in 2016 and previously in 2016 there was a decision not to build stocks of PPE and gowns etc for the NHS due to the cost despite a report saying we should 

[lostandfound]

Nothing to do with private companies taking as much out of the business as possible and not investing in the future? , they can blame the big B all they like, they had plenty of notice, but kept pushing profits and giving it to shareholders and bosses, nothing kept for a rainy day

Energy reserves and policy cannot be blamed on private industry.
.

[Moby Dick]

Cheer Up!!!
Who’s died? You’ve got your health.

People don’t know how lucky they are these days.
We had it tough. Electric? heating? ,toys? New clothes? T’internet? Phones? Holidays? Moisturiser (WTF)....didn’t have any of that when I was a lad.

We used to 'ave to get up out of shoebox at twelve o'clock at night and lick road clean wit' tongue. We had two bits of cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at mill for sixpence every four years, and when we got home our Dad would slice us in two wit' bread knife.

 

[GingerNuts]

We used to 'ave to get up out of shoebox at twelve o'clock at night and lick road clean wit' tongue. We had two bits of cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at mill for sixpence every four years, and when we got home our Dad would slice us in two wit' bread knife.

I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us, and dance about on our graves singing 'Hallelujah.'

[lillythesavage]

I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us, and dance about on our graves singing 'Hallelujah.'

I can remember when companies had canteens, social clubs, staff days out, races etc, kids parties at Xmas and even a factory line worker, my Father at Fords, could afford to buy a three bedroom house and get a good pension.

Three that come to mind are Fords, Tate & Lyle and the LEB where I knew people working, When I was a kid most worked at Dagenham or the docks, could afford a car and there was never any shortage of anything really, the dock pilfering saw to that  , and that was exchanged for car spares supplied by Ford.

The swinging sixties in East London was no bad place to be, and plenty of bomb sites still to play on.

[Moby Dick]

I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us, and dance about on our graves singing 'Hallelujah.'

And you try and tell the young people of today that ... they won't believe you

[GingerNuts]

And you try and tell the young people of today that ... they won't believe you

Nope, nope...

[radioman33]

Living in Essex spoken to some older people who worked at Dagenham Ford,it produced the Ford Sierra which I liked.

[lillythesavage]

Living in Essex spoken to some older people who worked at Dagenham Ford,it produced the Ford Sierra which I liked.

I had one the very first week they were launched, honestly it was like driving a super car, it turned so many heads, I recently owned the oldest surviving model, sold it to guy who had loads of them, still a very good car if you find a good low miles one, I buy them whenever I find early ones, and sell them in Ireland, they have a big following there because of the big rally culture.

A friend bought a very low miles tucked away RS500 for 30k, a good detail clean and a major service it sold for 85k, even good run of the mill models are creeping up to 10k.

[mr.bluesky]

A few threads currently touch on specific issues but there is potentially a wider issue here and when all of the smaller issues are combined these could lead to bigger more widespread problems all coming to a head at the same time.

I don't think we should go into the reasons why we are in this position but are we potentially heading for a Winter of discontent 
People may think sitting here mid October that it won't or couldn't happen however just look at how fuel shortages or rather perceived fuel shortages caused a panic.

So some of the current and potential issues -

Perceived fuel shortages resulting in panic buying.
Shortages of Turkeys, panic buying of Turkey and chicken
Not enough butchers to cut up pigs which may lead to a cull of healthy animals for land fill, que the panic buying of bacon and other pork products

Shortage of HGV drivers so even if goods are available getting them to their destination on time may not be possible
General labour shortage in many areas leading to increased wage demands

The knock on effect of higher wages and shortages is increased costs of everything we buy leading to inflation increasing

Energy prices have shot through the roof meaning suppliers are selling at a loss just as we go into winter.
Food prices rising fast from what i've seen in the supermarket
I've always scoffed at the claim people have to choose between "Heat and Eat" however I can only see this becoming a far more serious issue

So here's the scenario when Xmas comes -
The Jones family wake up on Xmas day, the heating hasn't been on much as it's hard to justify the cost but as it's Xmas Dad gives in to the whining wife and fires the boiler up.
The kids haven't actually got the toys they wanted as they were in short supply and didn't arrive at the store in time despite being pre ordered.
Fortunately they have all been given Xmas jumpers which will help keep the chill out along with blankets to go over their duvets.
Oh well you can have the Xbox in January or February when it arrives but that won't satisfy the kids who get a shitty on and decide to be miserable all Xmas thereby pissing the parents off even more.

Well we still have dinner to look forward to, I know we normally have a Turkey but this year I thought we could go with something else as I couldn't get one at least at a sensible price so anyone fancy chicken dippers instead 
Not fussed as my favourite is the pigs in blankets, sorry no bacon so no blankets, actually no pigs either as they are pork too 
But I did manage to get the last 2 tins of soup that were left on the shelf, unfortunately it's Broccoli and Stilton and no other fucker wanted it 

Well this is a shit Xmas isn't it, perhaps we could go down the pub to keep warm as they always have a real fire going, oh but we can't afford to go out drinking as Dad's just been made redundant since his factory which used a lot of gas was mothballed as it wasn't economically viable.

Oh and we still have January and February to look forward to which are usually the coldest and most miserable months of the year 

People can and will put up with so much but then a cumulative effect happens and people start getting pissed off once they have had enough especially if they don't see things improving on the horizon

In all honesty i'm not sure how bad things will get however i do think the next 6 months will be quite a testing time for the country as a whole and people will get pissed off, hopefully the BOE will keep a lid on inflation and there won't be a large increase in unemployment then things will improve once world supply chains get back on an even keel 

Well that's cheered me up no end 

[myothernameis]

I think there has been a shortage of Turkey for a while now. I've looked for Turkey mince and breasts and never see it in supermarkets. With Turkey farming they have always been expensive and time consuming to farm, maybe farmers thought if we have another lockdown it isn't worth bothering with.

If we have to rely on home grown turkey's, and turkeys from the EU are in short supply, so places a greater demand for UK turkeys.  This is bound to push the price up of turkeys, and turkey are already an expensive product, and in general the price is around £30 for a crown

[MilleMiglia]

I can remember when companies had canteens, social clubs, staff days out, races etc, kids parties at Xmas and even a factory line worker, my Father at Fords, could afford to buy a three bedroom house and get a good pension.

Three that come to mind are Fords, Tate & Lyle and the LEB where I knew people working, When I was a kid most worked at Dagenham or the docks, could afford a car and there was never any shortage of anything really, the dock pilfering saw to that  , and that was exchanged for car spares supplied by Ford.

The swinging sixties in East London was no bad place to be, and plenty of bomb sites still to play on.

To add to that, good rates for overtime, job security and  potential for career progression. Going back 20 years or so, I recall speaking to my parent's next door neighbour, who was taking early retirement from a public utility. He'd started in a junior position, worked his way up to senior management, and was now leaving with a nice gratuity and pension. He went on to say that things had changed a lot over the years, and that anyone starting out now would end up achieving far less.

[lillythesavage]

To add to that, good rates for overtime, job security and  potential for career progression. Going back 20 years or so, I recall speaking to my parent's next door neighbour, who was taking early retirement from a public utility. He'd started in a junior position, worked his way up to senior management, and was now leaving with a nice gratuity and pension. He went on to say that things had changed a lot over the years, and that anyone starting out now would end up achieving far less.

Have to agree with you, my mates dad had a management position with a big utility, office based but a new company car every year, he only used it for travel to work, the wife had a new car too, so he managed to get the company car insured for two 17 year olds with newly passed tests, by the company,  and we had it every weekend, try that now.

No idea if it still happens today, but as a Ford employee you got a big discount on a new car, had to keep it 12 months, but could then get another, I think that is why car ownership in our area was quite high for the time, the used ones got sold on locally or a non Ford Employee got one through an employee and left it registered to them for a year.

I spoke to a British Indian corner shop owner a lot when I used his shop, now closed, he said the shop was only to keep him and the family busy, Tate & Lyle had looked after him financially.

[JamesKW]

If we have to rely on home grown turkey's, and turkeys from the EU are in short supply, so places a greater demand for UK turkeys.  This is bound to push the price up of turkeys, and turkey are already an expensive product, and in general the price is around £30 for a crown

A turkey crown has been £30 for some time,personally I couldnt care less if I couldnt get it at Christmas,if I liked it that much I can get it all year round in Tobys.

[Chorley]

The way I see it, if you're an ordinary person you'll be fucked over by the politicians and their mates in big tech/globo corps and industry who basically couldn't give a shit about us plebs. I reckon we're on a downward  dystopian spiral of climate change, food shortages, fuel shortages and other grim shit in the next 20 years that will make MadMax look like a Disney film.
If you're rich poweful and infulential you'll be fine. Everyone will have to fend for themsleves! 

[lostandfound]

The way I see it, if you're an ordinary person you'll be fucked over by the politicians and their mates in big tech/globo corps and industry who basically couldn't give a shit about us plebs. I reckon we're on a downward  dystopian spiral of climate change, food shortages, fuel shortages and other grim shit in the next 20 years that will make MadMax look like a Disney film.
If you're rich poweful and infulential you'll be fine. Everyone will have to fend for themsleves! 

Looking at it another way, those of us not in that top tier, but "middle class" enjoy a standard of living comparable to a medieval king, such as Henry VIII. Not too shabby.

[lillythesavage]

A turkey crown has been £30 for some time,personally I couldnt care less if I couldnt get it at Christmas,if I liked it that much I can get it all year round in Tobys.

I guess long before big supermarkets our local butcher supplied all the Turkey, fresh and hung all over his shop, he used to sleep there with a shotgun under his arm.

I am with you, let the yanks keep it, over rated.

[Ali Katt]

Haven't seen food prices going up (well maybe mushrooms). I doubt xbox will be in short supply as it's relatively light, premium priced and from a tier 1 tech firm.

Don't eat meat - not a veggie, just got out of the habit. And I don't feel the cold (you do NOT want to share an office with me - when I'm comfy you'll be moaning about brass monkeys).

etc etc. We'll muddle through, it's what Brits do.

I've been buying tech products and other stuff online, and it all been arriving just as it always has ...

Oddly enough I read that both the Xbox and PS5 are sold below cost and they make the money on software and online services. Not sure how true that is. I do know someone who has been after a PS5 for months but he doesn't want to pay resellers prices.

[Ali Katt]

I had one the very first week they were launched, honestly it was like driving a super car, it turned so many heads, I recently owned the oldest surviving model, sold it to guy who had loads of them, still a very good car if you find a good low miles one, I buy them whenever I find early ones, and sell them in Ireland, they have a big following there because of the big rally culture.

A friend bought a very low miles tucked away RS500 for 30k, a good detail clean and a major service it sold for 85k, even good run of the mill models are creeping up to 10k.

You see Cosworths a lot at classic car shows. Weird how something from my youth is now a classic.

[Ali Katt]

The way I see it, if you're an ordinary person you'll be fucked over by the politicians and their mates in big tech/globo corps and industry who basically couldn't give a shit about us plebs. I reckon we're on a downward  dystopian spiral of climate change, food shortages, fuel shortages and other grim shit in the next 20 years that will make MadMax look like a Disney film.
If you're rich poweful and infulential you'll be fine. Everyone will have to fend for themsleves! 

Hasn't that always been the case if you're not a billionaire or been to the right schools and met the right people you are the underclass.

[Ali Katt]

I have never got the thing with turkey, is it American again?  A good chicken well cooked is far more tasty, for years I convince the mo in law I could not eat turkey, got a T bone instead, lovely woman, it was at least 10 years before she caught me after the alcoholic munchies, tucking into cold turkey alone in the kitchen.

I honestly could not care if I never tasted it again, plenty of nicer choices.

Going out now, to stock up on, Hendricks, tonic and Cucumber 

With Turkey it is an excellent dietary and body building food. Leaner in fat than chicken and more protein, but it tastes worse

[catweazle]

I also have a penchant for those Portuguese custard tarts, exactly the same as I bought in Tesco and probably the same baker supply them to both, in Tesco, 89p each, in Lidl 49p.

Agreed,  I got a taste for them in Lisbon,  then found the Lidl ones were  almost identical. Tesco do a frozen pack to cook yourself, which I think is £2 for 4, and of course you can have then warm from the oven,too.

[lillythesavage]

Agreed,  I got a taste for them in Lisbon,  then found the Lidl ones were  almost identical. Tesco do a frozen pack to cook yourself, which I think is £2 for 4, and of course you can have then warm from the oven,too.

Tesco and Sainsbury are on my blacklist , since advertising the price match for Aldi, probably the only one who saw it as an admission of over charging and only giving in when the competition became serious.