I work in the Public Sector.  I work in a branch of the Public Sector that, frankly, if you tell people where you work, nine times out of ten, you’ll get slaughtered for it – because, no matter what, the perception is that you will have wronged somebody at some point.  You get used to it after a few years and the job becomes “oh, I just work in an office………”, sad but true! The spending review was announced last week and I’m now one of the 490,000 that are waiting to see what the future holds.  We were told immediately “we’ll tell you more in January!” and I’m sure they meant to add “Merry Xmas!” to that, but we’ll let them off eh?  I know I’m not alone in this situation, and that as things stand, I’m lucky to be employed – so I genuinely feel for everyone that has a lot more to worry about than me – kids, mortgages etc. – I really do, I only have myself to look after!  We’re all sharing the pain, it just must be easier to say that when you’re a millionaire!

You see stories in the press and on TV about some of the lazy [insert expletive of choice here] that have the nerve to sit there and moan that the £30,000 odd per year of benefits they get isn’t enough, yet won’t do anything to help themselves (except to tax payers cash) and fully expect the state to foot the bill for the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not tarring all unemployed folk with the same brush, I know that would be completely wrong, it just makes me mad to hear about the ones who can accurately be called scroungers!

“England is mine, it owes me a living, ask me why and I’ll spit in your eye!” The Smiths – Still ill

Some of them wouldn’t go to the end of the street to work, why should the country keep them?  To make a point, a colleague (and friend) left us this week, having secured a new job closer to home.  Without going into detail she’s a single Mum and has been commuting from Shropshire to Preston for almost a year whilst doing her best to find that job closer to home, so you can understand why the layabouts make me mad!  Anyway, all credit to Nicola and best wishes and good luck for the future hun! <hugs> Next time I’m down your way I’m coming round for a brew! What’s that? What do you mean you’re moving……………………? 😉 To reinforce my point Mr Bramley has proved twice this year that work is there to be had if you’re willing to get out there and not wait for it to come to you – all credit Tom!  It’s all proof that putting in the effort does pay off!

I’ve only ever been out of work a total of 12 months since I left school, and I’m pushing, errm, <coughs, looks at ceiling> 35 now (ok 35 and 120 months!) but I’ve always been lucky and managed to find something – might not be so lucky next time though, we’ll have to wait and see I guess!  I’d had 3 redundancies by the time I was 26 so it won’t be a new experience if it does happen, I’ll be in a very crowded boat.

Wayne Rooney.  OK, it’s obscene what Premier League footballers get paid (I won’t say earn!) but I don’t blame him for milking it, all he’s doing is being a selfish, greedy little [again, expletive here] and making the most of it.  To the people that say he’s worth it though, get a grip!  If he turns up at training one Monday and says “eeerrm boss, I think I’ve found a cure for Cancer/Parkinson’s/AIDS/Huntington’s/MS” etc. then yes, that would go a long way towards being worth it, but he’s a footballer, and without that, well…… that’s anybody’s guess?  And yes I can see how utterly unlikely that scenario is, unless Donkey gives him a hand of course?

Anyone been watching X-Factor?  I haven’t.  No disrespect to the people that enjoy it, I do understand it’s place in the “entertainment” sphere, I just despise the way shows like that dictate what people should be liking and the way that they very cleverly relieve people of their hard earned cash (phone votes, immediate downloads) all straight in to Mr HighPants back sack!  Most of my favourite bands / musicians have faces only a mother could love so they’d be buggered if they had to go through X-Factor to make their names – regardless of their musicianship or song writing skills, and I couldn’t imagine a bigger insult than being told you’re rubbish by that panel, unless it was by Dizee Rascal on that other show?  Ahh well, if you like it then who am I to complain, whatever puts the smile on your face is fine by me! Truly!

Anyway, weekends here again – enjoy Halloween and don’t forget to turn the clocks back, or more likely, forget and realise that all your clocks are wrong about 6pm on Sunday!

Cheers everyone!