Christmas this year was a different affair . . . usually I surround myself by people, particularly when I am faced with another family-less Christmas, but this year I wanted something different. Specifically, I wanted to be alone this year . . . it's hard to explain why . . . I mean, it's not that I suddenly turned into the Grinch or anything, it's just that for over a year now it's just been go-go-go in my life. Specifically, the past year and a half has basically looked like this:
finish my masters, rush home to say my good-byes, move to Scotland, get a job, get a place to live, get a new job, move to England, work ridiculous hours for little pay, move back to Scotland, find a job, find a place to live, find a new job . . . you get the picture.
And, yes, that has really been what the past year a half has been all about. It's been stressful, but I am glad I am where I am today. So, basically what I am trying to say is that I wanted to relax and enjoy the day, and not have to worry about whether everyone else was having a good time - perhaps I was being selfish, but I really enjoyed my Christmas.
Don't get me wrong - I was incredibly disappointed not to have been able to afford the astronomical flight prices this year in order to get home and spend time with my family. When the reality sunk in that I was going to be stuck in Scotland while everyone else was at home, I had to move on to Plan B: Skype. I organized a surprise rendez-vous with my uncle via skype for Christmas day, as my family were all going over to his house to open gifts and eat Christmas Dinner. It was really nice to be able to see them open their gifts that I sent them and, hopefully, it was also nice for them to see me open their gifts. It was honestly the next best thing to being home.
On a related note, I was really touched this year by my friends who took the time to get in touch. It really meant a lot to hear from each of you. Thanks for everything and all the best for 2009!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Economic Blues
From reading the newspaper lately, I cannot help but feel a new form of winter blues. Specifically, the economic blues. Article after article sends me into a spiraling depression from which there seems to be no way out.
Woolworths, a company that first began in 1878 (Source: Wikipedia), is closing all of it's stores in the UK, resulting in approximately 22,000 jobs being lost. That is bad enough, but there's more. One of the latest companies to potentially fail is Jaguar Land Rover. Company officials asked the UK government for help (in the form of £1bn over the next 18 months) or else they will likely be forced to close their doors, resulting in 15,000 staff being out of work. Furthermore, if Jaguar Land Rover closes it's doors, there will be huge knock-on effects which could result in the doubling of people being out of work due to Jaguar's closure doubling.
The latest article that I read was citing many high street stores as potentially having to close down in the new year as they may not be able to pay their rent. One person said that what we could expect to see in the new year would be a "bloodbath". Ouch. And how is the UK government responding? By throwing money at the problems.
First of all, similar to the US there is a bank "bail-out" underway. HBOS (Halifax, Bank of Scotland, etc) was forced this year to seek a merger with Lloyds. This seemed to be the beginning of the end for the banking system as we know it. Although, the truth is that it started far earlier with Northern Rock going under.
Most recently, George W. Bush has agreed to provide $17bn to the ailing car manufacturing companies, Chrysler and GM. Naturally, this has resulted in the UK government feeling pressure to provide Jaguar with cash as well. A subsidy of some sort will likely be agreed upon in the coming days, but where does it end? And, more to the point, where are our governments getting this kind of money from?
The UK government's latest venture has resulted in them secretly selling shares in a Atomic Weapons Establishment to an American engineering firm. This was apparently done to raise well needed money and also results in the UK government having no say in nuclear warhead production in Britain. This makes me feel ever so slightly uncomfortable.
Overall, it feels like the governments trying to put a plaster (aka a bandaid) on a gaping gunshot wound. I don't think it will work in the long term, but it might slow things down for now.
For me, all of this has resulted in three major concerns:
1. What does all of this mean for me?
Really, at the end of the day, I think that is what most people are thinking. Will any of the companies I work for go under? Will I be looking for a new job? Do I have enough money saved to get me through this economic downturn? The fact is, no one can really answer that question. I expect, as do many of the "experts" that things will get worse before they get better. All I can do is wait and see.
2. What happens if the government commits too much money?
Let's face it, the government does not have infinite amounts of cash, so how are they going to finance all these ventures? One of the reasons why we got into this mess in the first place is because people spent more money than they had. Is the government doing the same thing?
3. Where do our respective governments draw the line?
By lending money to the big banks, and the big car companies, our governments are setting a potentially dangerous precedent. What happens when other big companies get into trouble? What about the little companies? How does one decide who to help and who to let fall by the way side?
Ugh, sorry if this post has depressed you! Perhaps I should have put a warning label at the top stating that my blues may be contagious????
Woolworths, a company that first began in 1878 (Source: Wikipedia), is closing all of it's stores in the UK, resulting in approximately 22,000 jobs being lost. That is bad enough, but there's more. One of the latest companies to potentially fail is Jaguar Land Rover. Company officials asked the UK government for help (in the form of £1bn over the next 18 months) or else they will likely be forced to close their doors, resulting in 15,000 staff being out of work. Furthermore, if Jaguar Land Rover closes it's doors, there will be huge knock-on effects which could result in the doubling of people being out of work due to Jaguar's closure doubling.
The latest article that I read was citing many high street stores as potentially having to close down in the new year as they may not be able to pay their rent. One person said that what we could expect to see in the new year would be a "bloodbath". Ouch. And how is the UK government responding? By throwing money at the problems.
First of all, similar to the US there is a bank "bail-out" underway. HBOS (Halifax, Bank of Scotland, etc) was forced this year to seek a merger with Lloyds. This seemed to be the beginning of the end for the banking system as we know it. Although, the truth is that it started far earlier with Northern Rock going under.
Most recently, George W. Bush has agreed to provide $17bn to the ailing car manufacturing companies, Chrysler and GM. Naturally, this has resulted in the UK government feeling pressure to provide Jaguar with cash as well. A subsidy of some sort will likely be agreed upon in the coming days, but where does it end? And, more to the point, where are our governments getting this kind of money from?
The UK government's latest venture has resulted in them secretly selling shares in a Atomic Weapons Establishment to an American engineering firm. This was apparently done to raise well needed money and also results in the UK government having no say in nuclear warhead production in Britain. This makes me feel ever so slightly uncomfortable.
Overall, it feels like the governments trying to put a plaster (aka a bandaid) on a gaping gunshot wound. I don't think it will work in the long term, but it might slow things down for now.
For me, all of this has resulted in three major concerns:
1. What does all of this mean for me?
Really, at the end of the day, I think that is what most people are thinking. Will any of the companies I work for go under? Will I be looking for a new job? Do I have enough money saved to get me through this economic downturn? The fact is, no one can really answer that question. I expect, as do many of the "experts" that things will get worse before they get better. All I can do is wait and see.
2. What happens if the government commits too much money?
Let's face it, the government does not have infinite amounts of cash, so how are they going to finance all these ventures? One of the reasons why we got into this mess in the first place is because people spent more money than they had. Is the government doing the same thing?
3. Where do our respective governments draw the line?
By lending money to the big banks, and the big car companies, our governments are setting a potentially dangerous precedent. What happens when other big companies get into trouble? What about the little companies? How does one decide who to help and who to let fall by the way side?
Ugh, sorry if this post has depressed you! Perhaps I should have put a warning label at the top stating that my blues may be contagious????
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Sweden!
Lately, I have had very itchy feet - the travel bug has struck again. I don't remember the last time I went to another country for a holiday! In fact, I don't remember the last time I had a break. Sure, I went to Fort William recently, but I injured my back so badly that I can assure you it was not a relaxing vacation! So, I have been eager to travel somewhere, anywhere really, as soon as possible. However, I have been severly hampered by lack of funds.
Enter RyanAir with a brilliant sale!
I have scored flights to Stockholm, Sweden for 79pence (Roughly equivalent to $1.60) each way + tax. I think that's a pretty good deal! I've never been to Sweden or any of the nordic European countries before, so I am really looking forward to it. Tomorrow, I will need to go to Waterstones to pick up a trusty Lonely Planet to use in my adventure. I go to Stockholm in February, so it'll likely be pretty cold there still! I'm not sure how cold it really gets, but I guess I will find out. It can't be worse than Ottawa, can it?
Hopefully, RyanAir will still be alive and well in February . . . I am worried that it might go under!
If anyone has been to Stockholm and has any recommendations, I would appreciate it!
Enter RyanAir with a brilliant sale!
I have scored flights to Stockholm, Sweden for 79pence (Roughly equivalent to $1.60) each way + tax. I think that's a pretty good deal! I've never been to Sweden or any of the nordic European countries before, so I am really looking forward to it. Tomorrow, I will need to go to Waterstones to pick up a trusty Lonely Planet to use in my adventure. I go to Stockholm in February, so it'll likely be pretty cold there still! I'm not sure how cold it really gets, but I guess I will find out. It can't be worse than Ottawa, can it?
Hopefully, RyanAir will still be alive and well in February . . . I am worried that it might go under!
If anyone has been to Stockholm and has any recommendations, I would appreciate it!
Sunday, December 07, 2008
I went to the Zoo!!!
St Andrew'sDay weekend, was a frightfully cold one, but there was a lot of free stuff on, as per usual. Edinburgh Castle was free, but I'd already been there . . . .the zoo was free, and while I'd already been there too, a free opportunity to go again was hard to miss. Especially since I didn't get to see all of the animals the last time I was there. In fact, even though I spent 3 hours at the zoo on St. Andrew's Day, I still only made it to about half of the enclosures . . . it looks like I wil have to go back!
Some of my favourite animals I saw were:
African Painted Dogs
The Grey-Crowned Crane
Penguins
Pygmy Hippo
(the fence to the right only comes up to about waist height)
Rainbow Lorikeets
I got to feed them nectar as they landed on my arm!
Cotton-topped tamarin
(I know it's a blurry picture, but he's too cute!)
Some of my favourite animals I saw were:
African Painted Dogs
The Grey-Crowned Crane
Penguins
Pygmy Hippo(the fence to the right only comes up to about waist height)
Rainbow Lorikeets
I got to feed them nectar as they landed on my arm!
Cotton-topped tamarin(I know it's a blurry picture, but he's too cute!)
And when the end of the day drew near, I got to see a beautiful sunset from corstorphine hill:
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