January 22, 2010
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
As I write this, I am stranded at home in the Northumberland hills. Looking out over the valley into the village of Rothbury, it is a picture of almost pure white.
The view would grace any Christmas card, and I am reminded of talk in recent years of 'we don’t really get bad winters like we used to'. I have even said this myself, and it is a big reminder of how important it is not to take nature for granted!
Charlotte, our daughter just turned 12, is very happy with the snow. Her school has been closed since Monday and there looks to be little prospect of going back before next week.
Of course it is great fun to pelt snowballs at Daddy, and it is lovely to see the enjoyment she gets sledging with best friend Zebbie.
I had to smile – nay, laugh out loud – when the subject of climate change was on TV the other day. Apparently, the very ‘super computers' which predicted a 'BBQ summer', and a mild winter, are the ones which have predicted that we will be burned to a crisp by 2050-2060. I will say no more!
Looking back at 2009, there were lots of highlights for Ray and myself. For Ray and his wife Laura, they were blessed just before Christmas with the birth of their first child Ava.
Ava was a month early, and as you can imagine it was a bit fraught, but all is well. Ray of course is very happy but very very tired!
In no particular order, here are the a few of the highs and lows that occur to me that happened in 2009:
Highlights
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We are helping more and more doctors and dentists with their financial planning. It is very satisfying to make a real difference to people's lives, and January has started with a bang as I have agreed to work with 5 new clients
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There is a huge amount of talk in financial services about how to change from commission based salespeople to fee based planners. This is because by 2012, all advisers have to achieve certain advanced qualifications, work in a certain way and charge fees. I myself need a couple more exams, but we made these changes six years ago!
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Raised over £700 for the Alzheimer’s Society by doing the Great North Run
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Collected 46 Xmas gifts for the Salvation Army to give to children in needy families
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Did not have any worried clients thinking about selling their investments in January to March when the market kept going down. This is because of the way we advise and construct our risk assessed portfolios, and ensure such monies are for the long term. Since March, portfolios have increased markedly
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We believe in passive investments, and it’s nice to see that the message is getting to across to many, with index type funds becoming more popular
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Making steady progress with my novel about Robert The Bruce
with ‘only’ 4 years to go! -
My Dad's eye operation has worked so far, meaning he still has some sight
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Little Ava decided not to wait!
Lowlights
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Bankers illustrate their massive greed with utter contempt for the tax payer
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Ditto MPs and MEPs
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The Financial Services Authority has failed on so many levels, and have awarded themselves ever bigger salaries
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Apparently our local council has also decided to increase their pay by 20%
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The same council fail to plough and grit our hill until our constant complaints shamed them to take some action
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The 'government' have said that they are the only ones to get us out of the mess they have created
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Taxes will have to rise because of their incompetence
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When Blair became PM in 1997, 1 in 7 worked for the government – last year it was 1 in 4
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The number of spindoctors employed by government has more than doubled
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Sunderland football team show their usual consistent inconsistency
I could go on here but I won’t!
Let’s hope 2010 shows a steady improvement in all our lives, and Ray and I wish you all a very Happy & Prosperous New Year.
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Filed under Personal 'Bit' by Graeme Urwin
