Just in case you forgot, this is the Retirement thread.

Seems I escaped at just the right time. People in the NHS seem to be very downhearted the way things are going.
And yes John, I do log in from time to time. All one big happy international family on EBME.

... not to mention the rest of the population!

I can't imagine why folk working in the NHS should be especially downhearted. After all, they have all the possible benefits that those in the Public Sector are blessed with. What more could they want?

Meanwhile, the view from the darkest corners of the Dark Side doesn't look particularly rosy. And that's putting it mildly.

@Huw: yes - retirement. I only wish I could.

I do appreciate that this is a RETIREMENT thread but I just can not allow the above statement to pass without a comment.

HOW RIGHT YOU ARE GEOFF. It is all to do with "conventional wisdom" and how the liberal elite have succeeded in brainwashing those who hold influence in this once great country. Unfortunately those of us who were not brainwashed have held little influence.

Barney

We've had (and continue to have) zero influence, Barney.

But at least we are not traitors.

I was thinking to myself just the other day (as I was taking a stroll up across the fields) about how England might have been now ... if all that [censored] had not been allowed to happen.

The "liberal elite" (as you call them - I have alternative terminology available) mock the idea of "Little England". But personally I would wholeheartedly embrace the idea (as I always have). If it was good enough for my Great Grandfather ... and so on ... then it would certainly be good enough for me (and my own spoiled grand-kids, if only they knew what I was talking about, the daft sods).

Retirement? What's that? Folk such as myself shall need to keep struggling on until we croak. And what will it all have been for ... ?

But it all happened on our watch, Barney. How are we to explain that away?

I can only assume Huw their practicing for when they retire and become grumpy old men.

'ere young un things were better in my day

hmm, I wonder if I need to get out my off topic gifs?