Wonderful wonderful news. The Government has lost the vote in the Gurkha case. Nasty Mrs Smith must now go. Britain owes a great debt to the Gurkhas and now we must pay them back properly.
This evil policy and set of rules must be changed today...............................
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
IS IT ALL AN ILLUSION?
I have been working on some Telecoms stuff for Ukraine all this week. I suspect the chances of turning it into folding money are slim but the opportunity is too good to waste. But whilst doing my research on Ukraine I read a comment that despite the terrible troubles with the Government and the growing poverty, the outdoor street cafes and downtown life of Kiev are going on as if all was rosy.
I had the same feeling yesterday afternoon as I walked through Old Riga. The sun was shining, the outdoor cafes were full, young boys on roller blades were being annoying and very tall Latvian girls (6 foot 3 or more) were walking around with short skirts and high heels talking 10 to the dozen and totally unnoticed by all except us foreigners. There was simply no sign of crisis at all. But at lunchtime I was celebrating a Names Day with my friend Visvaldis and he said that his company could last no more than three months. I know the feeling! My publishing client from last week is not going to last a month I suspect, and has still not paid me, and whats worse, one serious client company emailed me this week to say that I would have to wait another month for payment. All my book learning and cash flow projections go out of the window at times like this. So thank you Matthew in Athletics Weekly for your speedy contribution for my writing.
But if this normality that we have been seeing these past months is really an illusion and not real then why are the government apparently doing so little. The plans that are coming out show no urgency, or desire to make serious changes. I went to a Latvian school recently to a friends daughters parents day and the headmistress said that she had had to make no cuts at all. She was totally unconcerned about it all and it showed. There is much political talk of reform on television every day but if anything is happening, nothing is evident. The police still patrol in threes and fours carrying briefcases and bags, wearing inappropriate shoes and talking to each other as if the world around them is not there.
Perhaps I have got it wrong and I am an illusion and not really there? No that's not true, the tram and bus inspectors keep checking me - so they can see me all right.
I had the same feeling yesterday afternoon as I walked through Old Riga. The sun was shining, the outdoor cafes were full, young boys on roller blades were being annoying and very tall Latvian girls (6 foot 3 or more) were walking around with short skirts and high heels talking 10 to the dozen and totally unnoticed by all except us foreigners. There was simply no sign of crisis at all. But at lunchtime I was celebrating a Names Day with my friend Visvaldis and he said that his company could last no more than three months. I know the feeling! My publishing client from last week is not going to last a month I suspect, and has still not paid me, and whats worse, one serious client company emailed me this week to say that I would have to wait another month for payment. All my book learning and cash flow projections go out of the window at times like this. So thank you Matthew in Athletics Weekly for your speedy contribution for my writing.
But if this normality that we have been seeing these past months is really an illusion and not real then why are the government apparently doing so little. The plans that are coming out show no urgency, or desire to make serious changes. I went to a Latvian school recently to a friends daughters parents day and the headmistress said that she had had to make no cuts at all. She was totally unconcerned about it all and it showed. There is much political talk of reform on television every day but if anything is happening, nothing is evident. The police still patrol in threes and fours carrying briefcases and bags, wearing inappropriate shoes and talking to each other as if the world around them is not there.
Perhaps I have got it wrong and I am an illusion and not really there? No that's not true, the tram and bus inspectors keep checking me - so they can see me all right.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
MUGGED
One of my younger friends Arturs, a good country boy, was mugged this week on a once in a year visit to Riga. It was in broad daylight, on a main road near shops and by the main tram turnaround point. After losing his bag and wallet and having had a bit of a scuffle he went into the nearest shop, a flower seller, to wash the blood off his hands. He was delighted to find that he was unhurt and the blood on his hand wasn't his. He was lucky. Hopefully the muggers will think twice next time.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
COLD, CROSS AND RUBBISH DAY
It was bitterly cold today with a very sharp wind. The sun was out all day but it made no difference. It was also the Latvian cross country championships. The standard at the front of the races was good but it dropped away sharply after a few runners. There were also very few young children so the health of running is not good at all here.
And today was also Big Clean Up day where everyone goes out and cleans the roadsides and forests. The woods where I live are awful with litter and need far more than one day to clean. before I went I saw the weather man in the shops in his scruffy gear and carrying loads of the white bags everyone uses. So he was obviously off to do his bit in the woods. I bet television comes to follow him. But it is a good idea and UK could do with the same thing. The sides of the A1 are just rubbish tips.
I went to the forest and gardens exhibition yesterday. It was really weak, not just with people but also layout and ideas. I went with my colleague Juris and he asked loads of questions. It was clear that there were hardly any products made in Latvia (apart from the plants on sale of course). Virtually all the ceramics and garden furniture were foreign and again even much of the wooden made stuff was from other countries. But one good thing is that one of the Latvian tractor selling companies is opening a factory to assemble vehicles for Russia and Egypt this week. That is a serious happening. I hope to visit there on Tuesday.
But it was a good day apart from seeing the rabbits on sale for breeding to kill for skins and all the heads and horns of Deer and Elk. I do not like this sort of thing at all especially the poor seeing the poor bunnies.
And today was also Big Clean Up day where everyone goes out and cleans the roadsides and forests. The woods where I live are awful with litter and need far more than one day to clean. before I went I saw the weather man in the shops in his scruffy gear and carrying loads of the white bags everyone uses. So he was obviously off to do his bit in the woods. I bet television comes to follow him. But it is a good idea and UK could do with the same thing. The sides of the A1 are just rubbish tips.
I went to the forest and gardens exhibition yesterday. It was really weak, not just with people but also layout and ideas. I went with my colleague Juris and he asked loads of questions. It was clear that there were hardly any products made in Latvia (apart from the plants on sale of course). Virtually all the ceramics and garden furniture were foreign and again even much of the wooden made stuff was from other countries. But one good thing is that one of the Latvian tractor selling companies is opening a factory to assemble vehicles for Russia and Egypt this week. That is a serious happening. I hope to visit there on Tuesday.
But it was a good day apart from seeing the rabbits on sale for breeding to kill for skins and all the heads and horns of Deer and Elk. I do not like this sort of thing at all especially the poor seeing the poor bunnies.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
DOWNWARDS STILL MORE.
Our main street Brivibas Iela is now about 10% empty shops. Considering the number of banks and untouchable shops like supermarkets that is a lot.
But there is still difficulty persuading some client companies to cut costs. One thing is that the closeness of the society means many people are working with friends. This creates a strong customer loyalty and people do not want to change suppliers. I can understand this but it does not help
The newspapers have also led with the fact that 13000 more are becoming unemployed each month. One friend of mine on hearing this said, ''yes but they are all losers!'' This is a very stark comment but something I have heard before from even highly educated Latvians. I am often surprised at the apparent lack of softness and compassion here. I think it is some sort of historic self preservation system. Luckily for these ''losers'' summer is coming and at least they will not freeze in the coming months if they are homeless. lets hope the crisis settles soon.
One of my new clients is in publishing. They have really good titles but advertising is slipping fast. It is hard to see how cash flow can be improved in the short term and at best they have two months buffer. This will be challenging indeed for both them and us.
But there is still difficulty persuading some client companies to cut costs. One thing is that the closeness of the society means many people are working with friends. This creates a strong customer loyalty and people do not want to change suppliers. I can understand this but it does not help
The newspapers have also led with the fact that 13000 more are becoming unemployed each month. One friend of mine on hearing this said, ''yes but they are all losers!'' This is a very stark comment but something I have heard before from even highly educated Latvians. I am often surprised at the apparent lack of softness and compassion here. I think it is some sort of historic self preservation system. Luckily for these ''losers'' summer is coming and at least they will not freeze in the coming months if they are homeless. lets hope the crisis settles soon.
One of my new clients is in publishing. They have really good titles but advertising is slipping fast. It is hard to see how cash flow can be improved in the short term and at best they have two months buffer. This will be challenging indeed for both them and us.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
END OF CONDUCTORS!
Yesterday the second of April was the last day of conductors on the buses. On April fools day evening one of the conductors asked us for our tickets back so she could sell them again! Impending poverty creates strange new rules.
I shall miss the ladies. Most of them were at least 70 and seriously formidable. Some have become legends. Two of the girls on the Airport bus, both in their 60s were clearly highly educated and spoke marvellous English. they always went out of their way to help tourists. The company and Latvia should have been really proud off them. One lady on the 21 bus was hilarious. Again about 70 years of age she used to take naps in her conductors seat and if there were lots of people on the bus she stayed put and everyone at the back of the bus got a free trip. I shall miss her. Sadly they are no more and we now have to buy an electronic ticket or pay the driver. But there has been no comment that now all tickets are 50 centimes not the 40 we payed the conductors. A silent 20% price hike.
Spring is here at last. Except in the forest the snow really has gone. The new government is in place and despite not having met the standards required by the President by 31 March, he has let it stay . Not that anyone expected anything else from him really. But we shall see what they can do. The teachers marched in protest today, hundreds of them. One was on television last night. He earns 180 lats a month. You cannot live on that.
I shall miss the ladies. Most of them were at least 70 and seriously formidable. Some have become legends. Two of the girls on the Airport bus, both in their 60s were clearly highly educated and spoke marvellous English. they always went out of their way to help tourists. The company and Latvia should have been really proud off them. One lady on the 21 bus was hilarious. Again about 70 years of age she used to take naps in her conductors seat and if there were lots of people on the bus she stayed put and everyone at the back of the bus got a free trip. I shall miss her. Sadly they are no more and we now have to buy an electronic ticket or pay the driver. But there has been no comment that now all tickets are 50 centimes not the 40 we payed the conductors. A silent 20% price hike.
Spring is here at last. Except in the forest the snow really has gone. The new government is in place and despite not having met the standards required by the President by 31 March, he has let it stay . Not that anyone expected anything else from him really. But we shall see what they can do. The teachers marched in protest today, hundreds of them. One was on television last night. He earns 180 lats a month. You cannot live on that.
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