Monthly Archives: December 2020

Time traveller: What year is it? FBI Agent: 1963 Time traveller: Before or after JFK was… FBI Agent: Before

A doctor and lawyer were chatting at a party. The doctor was constantly interrupted by people describing ailments and asking for free medical advice. After an hour, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, “What do you do to stop people … Continue reading →

Gordon Brown introduced the Winter Fuel Allowance to solve the problem of seasonal heating costs. He was heavily influenced by the winter of 1996-7. In those winter months there were 49,000 excess deaths. The allowance cost £2 billion in 2019 … Continue reading →

If Dominic Cummings had read and understood Trollope’s novel he’d still be helping Johnson. He’d have been ultra ingratiating to Johnson’s bride-to-be for a start. A Mr Bonteen was more-or-less promised he’d be the new Chancellor but the wife of … Continue reading →

A young man was hired by a supermarket and reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile. Then he gave him a broom and said, “Your first job is to … Continue reading →

The coalition government, 2010-15, agreed Chancellor George Osborne’s ‘Age of Austerity’. The first phase, 2010-3, froze benefits and public sector wages. The impact was startling for child benefits and the state pension for different reasons. Conservative chancellors have reduced child … Continue reading →

Phase One: Eat Less Phase Two: Exercise more

NetFlix Original Series ~ The Queen’s Gambit (Anya Taylor-Joy) (2020) The NetFlix series is brilliant and compelling TV. In general I prefer to read a book rather than watch a series or film. On this occasion the series was better. … Continue reading →