A Donald Free Week, Well Almost.

Hi Everyone

This is just a very small example of how bureaucracy and regulation have changed over the last nearly seventy years. When we were saving to buy our first house, in my spare time after five and a half days at work and four nights at night school, I drew plans for houses and extensions etc. before submitting them for planning and building regulation approval. The process took eight weeks maximum and during that time, the planning officer who had a local office would offer help and advice to help you achieve a smooth and trouble free approval. There was no charge for the planning application and building regulation. Later when computers came on the scene the structural engineer appeared, adding another layer of cost. Later still in this area, there were concerns about the industrial fill used as fill under the concrete floors so I added to costs by carrying out tests on over 11,000 properties as well as replacing about 200 floors with some done for no other reason than to protect the surveyors and mortgage lenders from legal action. At the same time, the asbestos expert was called in and the one page surveyors report that we had when we bought our first house became at least six pages. Now, more recently the bat expert has to be called in on certain properties and large contracts have been delayed while they make sure the newts are protected. For some people all that adds up to £5000 to the cost of moving house and that is before the estate agents, solicitors and the removal company get their hands on your money. Now I read that a road in the south of England has been closed for five weeks to protect the frogs and toads being squashed by vehicles during their mating season. This is just one small example of similar situations that many companies and organisations face today with the extra costs born by us, the consumer. Don't forget that when the Roman Empire began its decline almost two thousand years ago it was not that they were beaten on the battlefield but mainly because they buried themselves in bureaucracy.

If you go to Hollywood there is a pavement (sorry sidewalk) where the names of the most famous movie stars are remembered with their name written within a star in a pavement (sorry sidewalk) slab. Here in the UK, we have Blue Plaques that link famous people with the house where they were born or lived. The plaque is fixed the the wall by the entrance door to the property. I am not sure who decides that a blue plaque should be placed by someone's front door except that the scheme is administered by English Heritage. There is apparently only one blue plaque in Stoke on Trent. To qualify for a plaque you have to have been dead for at least twenty years and to have made a significant contribution to human welfare and happiness. Now if you are a long time Rubbish reader you will have already realised where I am going with all this Rubbish. Can you imagine a blue plaque outside the Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Lolly and Game shop with the Senior Partner's name on it? She obviously qualifies, as for over thirty years she provided quality food at inflated prices whilst smiling at her customers, well some of them. I thought that she would be pleased that I was considering providing this accolade for her but when I researched how to apply for a blue plaque, I discovered that the application cost £4000 with no guarantee that the application would be a success. Add to that the fact that the Senior Partner was tight with money, so it looks like an hour in my shed with a piece of plywood and a tin of blue paint will have to do.

I saw a headline this week that said "You can train your brain to be happy". My first thought was that it is a bit late now, before I realised that I am already happy. I am not that happy however as Valentine's Day passed me by this week, especially as no one has ever sent me a secret 'card from an admirer'. The following day however was Daughter's Day where the quote said "Having a daughter in your life is one of life's greatest gifts". Now what value would you put that against a few red roses on Valentine's Day.

Just a Thought :

If my friend won the award for laziness, I would have to collect it for him.

A swastika has been spray painted over Donald Trupm's star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame. Police say that it is impossible to tell if the act was committed by Trump's opponents or supporters.

She's a reflection of me, so you know she is awesome.

Brian