Summary: I watched a programme about how much the royal family cost the taxpayer....it was very interesting and threw up a few facts I didn't know.....when you see the unbelievable amount spent on banquets for example it is quite staggering.....with the gold cutlery and gallons of wine and champagne and well over hundred guests.....it does beg the question is it really necessary?.....and the royal train which costs 20 grand a trip....not to mention Prince Andrew's helicopter flights to and from his golf games.....apparently the family cost us 70 million a year....and that is just what we know about..........we are then told that knife crime is on the increase and we haven't got the money for more police.....which,after the cuts,we are 22000 short......not to mention the homeless etc.....and all we hear is that the royalty bring people into the country which is good for trade....which I certainly don't go along with......what the programme illustrated to me was the sheer lack of gratitude on their part....they wander around and actually believe they deserve it....and all we seem to get for our money is the occasional royal wave......the only thing missing from that is the two fingers. 2.Our coffee machine went on the blink....a tragedy indeed....so a new one was required.....firstly I checked a few out in Argos and the one I fancied was £112......I then checked out the same model on Amazon.....£55......with free delivery to the door.....and the high street shops are complaining about falling profits ......I wonder why?.....it does pose the question as to how much profit they want to make.....whereas I appreciate there are overheads etc but if you can get the same item for half the price where are you going to go???....no brainer......it's like the music industry in the old days.....it was 10 quid for an Elton John cassette.....the raw materials cost 17 pence......of course there were studio costs etc but whichever way you look at it that is one tasty profit....then along comes modern technology which blows the greedy record companies out of the water.......I remember when I was hawking my "How To Say Llanfairpll...etc" song around the shops.....I offered them a batch for NOTHING...sale or return....they sell them and keep a third of the profit.....Oh no ...one bloke wanted 50%....needless to say the conversation didn't last long.....and boy did Mr.Greedy miss out. 3.I saw your posting on Facebook of Sinatra singing My Way....at the risk of upsetting the nation I have to confess I can't stand Sinatra....or that song.....I have to like an entertainer to enjoy their offerings.....I always found Sinatra's voice to be "dry" and he seemed to like to sing about himself......Start spreading the nooz...I'M leaving today.....Life's been good to ME....MY way...etc....I found him to be a little guy with a big suit who fancied himself as a tough guy...especially when he was surrounded by 6 foot bouncers.....I like Bing Crosby and Perry Como....Pat Boone.....good crooners and nice people.........bit like Robbie Williams...he was obscene when he started out and now we are supposed to accept him as Mr.Family Man......doesn't work with me....can't stand him. 4.I have a good pal who I meet up with in the gym.....he is a retired bobby and ex soldier who did active service in Ireland.....so he has seen it all and to me he is an unsung hero...as indeed is anyone who puts their life on the line.....but strangely he doesn't see it that way.....he says that soldiers are trained to do the job....the real hero is the passer-by who runs into a burning house and pulls people out....not the fireman who is trained to do it...which is an interesting point.....personally I still see them as heroes but he won't have it......... ....Our wonderful BBC treated us to three hours of football last Monday night....followed by two repeated programmes....three hours!!...and cons(continued)
