The things I really remember are more from family than anywhere else.
My Grandad always used to say “Never a lender or Borrower be” I wish the whole of the Western world had listened to this one.

As with most Christmas times it brings back memories of childhood etc, and having lost my Mum unexpectly in June this year I have been thinking a lot of what my parents used to say like,

“This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you” when getting a light slap for being naughty my reply “Don’t do it then” often meant a bit of a heavier slap cam too 😀 .

My Mum always said when we were annoying her “Go and play with the trains at East Croydon” , I did for a while when grew up I worked there.

Of course the other warning passed down by several families was
“Never eat yellow snow” 😀

Fairytale of New York- Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, although its a song that always leaves a tear or 2 in my eyes. Mostly as Kirsty was killed the dayof my my dads funeral who also died unexpectedly and both near Christmas and in the same hospital as where Kirsy was born.

On a more cheerful note the following raise a smile for me

*Tom Petty’s Christmas All over again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaPj1GoDpQw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

*Bruce Springsteens Santa Claus Is coming to town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauxfOgZe0A

On a softer note I do like some of the classics like “Let it snow” by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Coles Christmas song, Both remind me of childhood days and my Grandad etc more innocent times.

and lastly on a more real/amusing note

*Ricky Tomlinsons Christmas my A*se

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pED8MFymQA0

Wizzard and Slade just get over played and for some reason I would rather jump in the oven with the turkey than listen to Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas, it just makes my ears bleeds and my teeth itch:D .

Like PeeDee I would think the main problem would be condensation, I used my camera last winter in UK and basically kept it in bag as much as could and under coat when using it, also when brought home I left it in bag in a cooler room for a few hours before taking out to download photos. Also while using it outside try and avoid breathing on the camera so no moisture from my breathing got near it.

The temperatures you are talking about are more extreme so I am wondering if possibly you can get the camera wrapped up a bit in something just to protect slightly, use an old coat or something.
Main thing is do not let cmaera get warm too quickly and then it should survive.

I honestly think its impossible to borrow yourself out of debt, Even if money was put into trade and manufacturing you still need a market to sell to. At the moment its hard to see any market big enough to be able to take such sales.
The only way countries will end up out of debt is if all debts are written off and the slate left clean, ultimately I wonder if thats the only way out of this mess but even then can countries handle such losses?

I still think that France and Germany will eventually set a two tier Europe with poor countries firmly in a different trading group from richer ones, but without support this will cause more problems than solutions.

Ok the discussion on the UK(not just England) leaving the EU goes like this, its NOT going to happen now or in the near future, and no government would think that it would be a good idea. So discussion on that is over.

Now to the Accord and Veto. With every day that has passed since then it does seem the most of the rest of Europe is getting pretty vocal against what David cameron did, but as yet not one new idea has come along as to what will sort out the Euro and the EU and its clear that in 2012 there will be huge sumits to try and find a way forward. Until those its hard to see how the UK will be involved.

For now it feels the light at the end of the tunnel could well be a gravy train about to derail.
Maybe next year will prove a better one, But for now its looking bleak and even words like depression are being bounded around.

This diagram on BBC simplifies the what could be’s

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16098582

For me so far I can not see what this accord has done to move things forward and as far as I see it things are just as bad as before this meeting as there is still no easy way to resolve the issues of Greece and Italy etc who literally we more than can ever imagine paying back no talking will solve that, and as I see it the rest of Europe is growing more unwilling or unable to pay these debts too.

Ultimately in simple terms I see it as too many poor countries joined a rich mans/womans club and they were let in even though they did not have the membership fee.
Now the EU is top heavy with more countries with debts than are stable and the only way I see the Euro and ultimately the EU surviving is if they drop the countries that are in trouble from the Euro and reduce amounts of money going to poorer countries. But doing this will still leave the poor countries in freefall and leave potentially dangerous unstable neighbours for the remaining Euro countries.

As to the UK parts in the whole thing its hard to know if the veto was the right thing or not, for sure its not a decision I would of wanted to make. The worry is initially cracks are showing in the government now which could be bad and in long term will Europe ignore the Uk’s needs totally.

Whatever happens we are at the start of things not the end and I fear worse to come yet sadly 🙁

Can anyone tell me what was achieved by this meeting last night?, as far as I see it the Euro will probably still fold as Greece Italy etc are still way in trouble and nothng has prevented this. France and Germany have more powers but nobody else has any money, and bail outs of bigger countries pretty much impossible.

David Cameron has probably done the only thing he could do to keep face
and either way we are a thorn in the side of Europe albeit probably a minor one.