October 19, 2009

Isn't this economic crisis delightful?

Well, what interesting times we are in! The 0.5% rate increase that I predicted hasn't materialised and the word on the street is that rates are unlikely to rise until the end of 2010. Who would of thought that things could be so bad?

Hey, let's be realistic, things are that bad for everyone. Look at the investment bankers... the top four or five banks will be paying out well over $30billion to their employees for the good job they have done. I applaud them at their astuteness as they earned money running the tanker we call the financial industry aground and now they are making money trying to find ways to to patch up the holes and get the tanker back out to sea. Actually, they don't really care if the ship floats in the long term or not as they will have already earned their money.

At least the public sector is getting real. Look at the Royal Mail here in the UK. Up to 75% of the 120,000 workforce is expected to strike. What's behind this strike? Well, now one said it better than one of the union representatives who said "“This is about a culture of management that seems to think in a democracy that the workforce have to do just what they’re told."

I think he should get a real job as I have never worked for a company that was anything other than a "civilised dictatorship"...

Posted by this ordinary life at 11:27 PM | | Comments (0)

July 9, 2009

A home owner's diary: All Bank of England MPC interest rate decision dates for 2009 and 2010

Now that I am a home owner, there are dates other than public holidays, birthday and anniversaries that matter... the days that the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee decides on Interest Rates.

I thought it would be worth sharing them with you...

2009MPC Meeting

Actual Rate(My estimate*)

Rate Change

JanWed 7 / Thu 8  1.5%-0.5%
FebWed 4 / Thu 5 1.0%-0.5%
MarWed 4 / Thu 5 0.5%-0.5% 
AprWed 8 / Thu 9 0.5%   0
MayWed 6 / Thu 7 0.5%   0
JunWed 3 / Thu 4 0.5%   0
JulWed 8 / Thu 9 (0.5%)   0
AugWed 5 / Thu 6 (0.5%)   0
SepWed 9 / Thu 10 (0.5%)   0
OctWed 7 / Thu 8 (1.0%)+0.5%
NovWed 4 / Thu 5 (1.5%)+0.5%
DecWed 9 / Thu 10 (2.0%)+0.5%

2010MPC Meeting  
JanWed 6 / Thu 7 (2.0%)   0
FebWed 3 / Thu 4 (2.5%)+0.5%
MarWed 3 / Thu 4 (3.0%)+0.5%
AprWed 7 / Thu 8 (3.5%)+0.5%
MayWed 5 / Thu 6 (4.5%)+0.5%
JunWed 9 / Thu 10 (5.5%)+0.5%
JulWed 7 / Thu 8 (5.5%)   0
AugWed 4 / Thu 5 (5.5%)   0
SepWed 8 / Thu 9 (6.0%)+0.5%
OctWed 6 / Thu 7 (6.0%)   0
NovWed 3 / Thu 4 (6.0%)   0
DecWed 8 / Thu 9 (6.5%)+0.5%

* - Note these estimates are completely based on my gut feeling.  I take no liability if you trust too much in them.  

I think that there a some significant interest rate increases ahead, but I am bullish that interest rates will be kept low for another 6 months at least.

If you are on a variable or tracker, keep your eyes open for the best time to fix your rate.  There are 2, 3 and even 5 year deals out there and although it may be higher than you are paying now, over the course of the fixed rate period there is the opportunity to make some significant savings.

 

Posted by this ordinary life at 1:04 PM | | Comments (0)

June 18, 2009

The X-MI X-mini Max - Sound goes portable

xmini%20maxA wise man once said "It's not the size that counts, but what you do with it that does."

That certainly is true for the X-mini Max portable speaker system. Who would have though that speakers so small could deliver a sound quality so grunty and presence announcing? I have just bought a pair and can only praise them.

For £22, they are by far not the cheapest speakers you can buy (I have seen a set of speakers going for £4 on ebay), but they are definitely worth every penny. They are ultra-portable, the USB charging battery are a god send and the sound quality doesn't disappoint.

While researching portable speaker systems I noticed that X-MI are really pushing the boundaries of design. Although the X-MI Max II speakers look like a Star Wars Clone knock-off, the originals look slick and black. There's something to say about "Once you've gone black, you can't go back!"

I have yet to fully challenge the 10 hour battery life, but based on the build and sound quality, I am confident that they won't disappoint in this respect either. I've tried them with my Ipod, internet radio over my netbook and as external speakers for my speakerphone on the Blackberry. Sound quality was great, although my brother did compalin about some echos when using it with the speakerphone.

My verdict:

If you can get these speakers under £30, they will are the perfect solution for:

  • pimping up your laptop audio when listening to music or watching movies;
  • sharing your Ipod's music collection with others when on the go;
  • and they might even help the next time you have a conference call to close that mega-important deal with only your BlackBerry X-mini Max speakers to hand.

These speakers get's 10 out of 10 from me!

Posted by this ordinary life at 10:09 PM | | Comments (0)

June 11, 2009

Beating allergies when cycling

DSC_6379-1.JPGWell, it's tough out on the streets of London at the moment.  The London Plane trees are at their fluffiest and the air is filled with torturous little fibers.  

Now if you are an hayfever sufferer like I am, you will hate days like these.  Particularly because they are usually accompanied by glorious sunshine and cloudless skies.  However, let me share with you a little secret of what not to do when you forget your sunglasses at home...

Don't resort to wearing your swimming goggles! 

My advice is to turn around as soon as you notice you've forgetten them and never make a poor substitute.  By the way, when it's hot the goggles steam up faster than you can blink. 

Posted by this ordinary life at 8:29 PM | | Comments (0)

June 10, 2009

Tube Strikes - are we in France?

rmt.jpg

Here in London we are under attack again.  The RMT, one of the Tube Worker’s unions, has decided to picket for better pay…. again.  This is bringing travel chaos to thousands and normality is unlikely to return to normality until Friday. To add insult to injury, I found out the following with regards to Tube workers terribly unjust starting salaries: 

·         Button Pushing Tube Drivers:                     £40,000

·         Chair Warming Station Supervisors:          £35,000

·         Unhelpful Station Assistants:                      £29,000

"How can someone live on such paltry wages?" you ask.  Well, considering the Average UK Salary is £24,908, most of the country seems to do just fine.  I also understand that everyone gets overtime and generous holiday allowances in addition to free travel for the employee and their spouse/partner!

It’s a shame to think that egotistical leaders such as Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, can misuse their influence to get workers to strike in the middle of a recession without any personal risk.  Actually, I can think of another public figure that misused his influence in a similar way… though he didn’t fare very well in the end... To hold a city to ransom (the Tube is the life blood of London) is criminal… no, wait, stealing and ignoring health and safety standards are criminal (the sacking of two staff for exactly these offences is cited as reason for the strike).   

The only way that we can put a stop to this is to reduce our reliance on Public Transport by cycling / walking more and also having Tube staff take a stand and not join the Union.  But then where would all these loud mouthed Union leaders go?  Well, they could fare too badly in Government with parties such as the BNP getting seats in the European Parliament. 

I extend my sympathy to everyone who will be spending time locked in trains or stuck at bus stops in the rain due to overcrowding.  However, if you get yourself a bicycle, you might be able to join the like of me who are cruising home in spite of the strike.

Posted by this ordinary life at 12:22 PM | | Comments (0)

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