Oh and liability insurance, employers insurance, theft insurance so your motor is covered while it’s in their premises, plus they occasionally like to eat, go to the pictures, have a day off etc.

Twenty quid is less than 30 minutes labour these days.

They have to pay the rent rent, rates and bills for the garage–plus wages.
That’s how they justify it.

Reading Charlie’s assessment above, it seems to me that although my views on World politics may be a bit extreme, many here feel perhaps to a lesser extent what I feel.
With the exception of Derek, who is fighting for what he sees as a better future for his daughter, the rest of us are just bored and disillusioned old men, probably with too much time on our hands.
As Charlie points out, the two sides, so deeply entrenched are not going to resolve anything here.
Perhaps therefore we could give this subject a rest.
I’m inclined to not think the EU is a good idea, but nothing I’ve read here is going to make me become a supporter of UKIP, so I doubt if it’ll move me, it’ll change anyone else.

Oh and Jim.
There are plenty who can do what I do at Old Warden.

Andy

Surely much of the problem lies with us, the consumers.
As Charlie says, if we didn’t frequent the supermarket chains they wouldn’t exist quite so readily.
My own view is that if you think a packet of four beefburgers priced at £2.49 is going to be a quality product then you’re an idiot–I wouldn’t even expect them to contain anything as good as poor old Dobbin.

I realise that not everyone is rich and can afford the best, but even so…
It must be cheaper to buy mince yourself and make a burger, or are the masses now so indolent (and dare I say ignorant) that they’re incapable of doing even that to feed themselves..?
I often in my more idle moments compare the prices of meat in Tesco, to our local butcher, and often he’s comparable–certainly on bacon and sausages.
On quality, there is no comparison, even the best Tesco bacon doesn’t come close.
And how diificult is it to make Lasagne..?? You can even make a load and freeze it into ready meals.
My lunch is often a home made Lasgne, frozen in a tuperware container and put in the workshop microwave.
It’s like everything, if you buy down to the lowest price, what do you expect to get….Surely not the best…???

Where I differ from yourself is that in some way, I do care about some of the things debated, I want my daughter to have the best upbringing I can provide and it worries me that she may not get it because of the misguided opinions of others.

That’s where you and I differ Derek.
I have no one in the next generation to worry or care about.
I certainly however don’t blame you (I in fact applaud you) for wanting something better for your daughter–who wouldn’t? In my own case, when I’m gone, I’ll be gone. Some days I actually can’t wait.
As others have said here, I am acutely disenchanted with the World–more so than I hope any of you ever feel yourselves.

I do remember an optimistic young man of principle once, but sadly he was steam rollered by the complete ***t that life is.
What I’m left with is me.

Never mind.
A.

Derek.
I’ve just been looking at some of your pictures.
A couple of them bring back a few memories here.
You should concentrate on talking about them instead of this sh*t.

Let’s face it, we’re all railing against something with impotent rage here.
It’ll change not one jot of anything.
Whereas your pictures as far more interesting.
I guess the ones from the 1980’s are scanned slides–would I be right..?
I’m being serious incidentally. I’m not interested in the EU, World politics, who f*cks who (literally or metaphorically) in the Westminster village, or anywhere else for that matter.
I do like 5 Sqn. Lightnings though.

Andy

I liked that too.
Thanks for posting dave.

A.

Actually chaps, ‘apathy’ isn’t a word I’d use to describe my feelings.

Anger–white hot incandescent anger at what they all get away with while moralising about how the rest of us should live is much nearer what I feel.

Mr Fawkes had the right idea.