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A Little Bit on the Brits

July 20th, 2012 at 04:44 am

As I said earlier this week, I continually find myself doing an analysis of how people are coping with the economy in the UK. First, it's undoubtedly more expensive than it was last year--and a lot more than when we were there 12 years ago. A lot. VAT has risen significantly, and food and energy are much higher than ever.

Everywhere I turned, it seemed folks were talking about money. There were lots of articles about posher types now using the Pound Stores--their equivalent to our dollar stores. All the magazines and food markets seem to have a continual chatter about how much per serving things cost and lowering expectations, and simplifying lifestyles.

I had a long chat with a friend who does not have a garden allotment because of the long current waiting lists, but is growing all sorts of veggies in pots. This may not seem unusual--there's always been a keen interest in gardening--but this is a woman who used to get a weekly manicure, but now is really concerned about the banking system, her pension, and the costs of everything. I got that widespread vibe from lots of folks.

The area where DH grew up needed to replant some hedge rows due to construction, and the local government made a decision to make all the new hedge rows fruit-bearing plants, as the paper said, "suitable for foraging." That cultural shift to a sort of wartime austerity seems common.

But like here, lots of bankers in limos seemingly untouched by the cutbacks in funding to ordinary people, medicine, schools, etc.



Posted in hit the road, jack | 10 Comments »

10 Responses to “A Little Bit on the Brits”

  1. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 05:00 am 1342760401
    1342760401

    That is a really neat idea - making hedges fruit bearing. Would the fruit be free for the taking by passers by, or would it be "owned" by the local government?

  2. PauletteGoddard Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 05:29 am 1342762196
    1342762196

    "Everywhere I turned, it seemed folks were talking about money." This just cries out for another Martin Amis novel. I like how the media declare the banks are not to blame for fraud and financial misdealings -- I bet you saw the name Bob Diamond lots in the papers -- and lots of people think otherwise.

  3. patientsaver Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 12:05 pm 1342785916
    1342785916

    Well, it sounds very similar to how things are here in the US, which just sort of confirms that the recession is really global in nature...i think much of Europe is in the same boat.

    I also love the idea of fruit-bearing hedges. I wish highway crews and road construction teams would do more of that sort of thing for foragers of the critter kind.

  4. CB in the City Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 01:05 pm 1342789501
    1342789501

    I had a fruit-bearing hedge at a house I used to own. It bore little cherries -- not suitable for eating raw (too much pit) but I made lots of cherry jam and cherry syrup for ice cream.

  5. rob62521 Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 03:23 pm 1342797797
    1342797797

    The hedge idea is pretty cool... guess everything goes in cycles, doesn't it?

  6. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 03:34 pm 1342798452
    1342798452

    Indeed! I have always wished my city would plant at least some fruit trees when they are planting in public places. I understand the possible problem with fallen fruit on sidewalks, but really, I think we could cope. Besides-- fruit trees are so beautiful in bloom in the spring with their clouds of flowers.

  7. My English Castle Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 05:44 pm 1342806295
    1342806295

    When DH lived in Surrey, I used to wander the paths along the river which were thick with blackberries. The local government encourages people to pick the fruit. I always came home with fistfuls, until I got smart and began to bring along a bag. I really love all the different meatless meals available most anywhere there too. I need to find a market that regularly stocks haloumi cheese. And double cream.

    It is a global recession indeed. And Bob Diamond is insufferable. Just like Jamie Diamond.

  8. snafu Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 05:51 pm 1342806713
    1342806713

    Like so may countries the gov't went on a spending binge and encouraged consumerism while the bankers pulled off nasties not only to client but to each other via libor.

    Did anyone mention the rates for medical insurance?

  9. My English Castle Says:
    July 20th, 2012 at 06:34 pm 1342809285
    1342809285

    Only one of our British friends has private medical insurance. Everyone else uses (and is pretty happy with) the NHS.

  10. baselle Says:
    July 21st, 2012 at 02:31 am 1342837881
    1342837881

    Edible landscaping is an idea whose time has come. If I ever buy a place, I'm doing a hedge in blueberries and possibly raspberries, a quince tree, and a little bit of witch hazel as accent and winter interest.

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