#UK why is it going so badly wrong? PT1 (Motivation)

Back from my early morning bike ride. Thinking in overdrive - ha!

A common theme is so much is going wrong in the UK. High taxes - but at the same time our infrastructure is creaking - social services are breaking down - the NHS is in crisis - crimes are not being investigated - their is a pension time-bomb pending - a housing shortage - and to top it all worrying breakdown in social cohesion. I could go on.

The question is WHY IS IT GOING SO BADLY WRONG ?

I am going to give my opinion based on my lived life experience. Rather than write a thesis (even if I had the time - ha!) I have decided to set out my thoughts in soundbites so to speak. Hopefully they will fill a logical order.

Here is the first.

Too many people in our society are demotivated. They have lost their self respect - their self esteem is fragile. They are unhappy and unfulfilled.

Why ? In my opinion it has a lot to do with the fact that they are not taking responsibility for their own lives. They have come to rely on other people to do the hard yards for them. They are sucking up the nanny state and politicians and many institutions to their shame are providing it for them.

To put it another way - the welfare state safety net is too high - government directives too many - expectation of government both unrealistic and unsustainable. Consequently when anything goes wrong the common retort is what are the government going to do about it ? A victim mentality pervades. It is someone else's fault - someone else's responsibility. To make it worse - to compound the problem - a perceived right has developed in our culture - a right not to be "offended". There is a reluctance to say things as they really are. There is no such thing as tough love anymore. Indulgence and virtue signalling has become the nations default.

I could easily give examples but I don't think it is necessary. Just listen to any news programme - not least from the BBC.

Next time I will focus on how we might be able to change things - increase motivation - create some energy and positivity in our society for the good of us all.

#Minimumwage & inflation and unemployment

I haven't really got the time to write this but need to let off some steam - ha!

The government has announced the statutory minimum wage must increase by nearly 10% from 1st April 2024. (this has been done ahead of inflation for at least the last 5 years).

Where will the money come from for employers to pay this huge increase because it is unlikely to come from increased productivity at this time? (another big issue)

The choices an employer faces is either or a combination of :

1) put up prices to pay for the increase.

2) absorb the cost out of profit.

3) reduce costs elsewhere to compensate.

4) close the business.

I will break down each of these options a bit further.

I will start with options 2 and 3 first.

Option 2 - absorb the cost out of profit. The vast number of jobs paying the minimum wage or affected by its increase are in retail, hospitality and social care. Many or even most of these businesses are all ready struggling. Is it realistic for them to be able to absorb this increase out of profit? Unlikely to say the least.

And anyway businesses must make profits - firstly to justify the business - why tie up capital - why invest in a business - why take the risk - why take the stress if there is little or no reward?

But more scientific than that - profit is the lifeblood of a business. Otherwise how does it invest - how does it maintain and improve? So many high street businesses for instance are already struggling to achieve this. Run down shops - gloomy pubs. The writing is on the wall. Our high streets are dying.

Option 3 - reduce other costs to compensate. Well most businesses are already likely to have done most of what they can achieve out of business necessity. Not many small businesses have fat on the bone because as I have said these statutory wage increases are annual events (and in my view the primary cause of inflation in our system.) Businesses like its employees are also struggling with increased utility costs - insurance costs and transport costs.

Is the answer really to keep the price the same but sneakily reduce the size of the packet or tin? 

Reduce costs to compensate is often a euphemism for cutting staff costs - as this is usually by a long way the businesses major cost. Spelt out - if a business has to pay higher wages - the answer very often is to reduce on a ratio basis the number of staff employed to compensate. Under-manning. Redundancies. Unemployment. Recession. Strikes. Business inefficiency. Loss of service standards. Loss of business. We have seen it happen - which is why so many now prefer to shop on line etc.

Option 4 - Close the business. It is happening all around us when 1) above is not possible or sustainable and 2) and 3) do not provide the answer. Who is the beneficiary here ? No one.

So all that most businesses can do is attempt to put up prices to give them the revenue to pay the enforced extra wages.

Think about the effect of that.

If prices go up as a result of the necessity to pay higher wages - the benefit of the wage increase is quickly nullified because things will cost more. It makes the increase almost pointless. It is inflationary - and inflation is rightly seen as the poison in our system. ( it is not just those on minimum wage that get the increase. In reality differentials have to be retained to motivate and satisfy those staff taking on extra responsibility or have additional skills ).

In reality so many business are already struggling as trade is not there because of cost of living pressures and consumer choice . Putting up their prices further is hardly going to help.

To sum up the whole living wage thing is a con. It is inflationary - it is often destructive in job loss terms and business closure - and it provides no one with a real increase in income !!! It is therefore pointless. In reality just about its only purpose is a politicians attempt to convince their electorate they are getting a real increase. They are not. Sleight of hand at best.

THE ONLY SUSTAINABLE WAY FORWARD IS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY - TO INCREASE THE NATIONS PER CAPITA INCOME. TO PAY OURSELVES MORE FROM THE CREATION OF REAL WEALTH FROM EFFICIENCIES AND INNOVATION. FOR MANY REASONS THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN THE UK. (FOR ANOTHER DAY).

I have blogged on this subject before. Here is the link :-

David Shoulder - Isle of Wight: #Livingwage will always be the minimum wage (davidshoulder60onwards.blogspot.com)

#Sardinia Bosa Cagliari and around - two great walks (and a run).

Rich with the 8 km long Poetto beach arcing behind that he ran there and back later in the day.

From Nuoro we are heading south to the capital and biggest city Cagliari as our final base. However before doing so we head for Bosa on the west coast for a look around. The guide books give Bosa a thumbs up for its situation and attractiveness.

I am surprised how good the roads are and they are pretty quiet. Driving is orderly too - such a contrast compared with my previous experience of Italy and particularly Sicily.

As the road winds down towards Bosa we get sights of the coast and then there is Bosa - picture post card pretty - multicolored terracotta shades - sat on a hillside above the River Temo with a castle above it.

Bosa is on the river but very close to the estuary mouth. It would be an ideal place to keep a fishing boat ! The guide book says Bosa is famous for its filigree jewelry and lace making. However my impression is this is almost exclusively a tourist town. As such it was very quiet when we were there with not much open. It is quaint, attractive and preserved. Mainly little old ladies only - doing their errands. I can see the tourist attraction. Richard had a type of burger for lunch - served in a green bun! Rich has acute taste buds and thought the colour only added colour - ha!

Some mob photos of Bosa

We then drive on to Cagliari in the south. Mainly motorway type roads - took about 2 hours. We are located in the centre. We are in a much more cosmopolitan place but it has a good feel. 

As is always the case Cagliari was founded and developed because of its strategic position and natural advantages. It has a tremendous history - established by the seafaring Phoenicians in the 8th to 6th centuries BC. It has a large natural sheltered harbour flanked on three sides by either sea or salt marshes.

The two main areas the Marina and adjacent Castello districts (the old town) are on hand and really lovely to wander around. Plenty of cafe culture here. We had some great food. We really liked Cagliari. Another advantage - CAG is Sardinia's main airport and is only 10 or 15 minutes from the city centre. (We hired a car. I think that is the way to get around Sardinia.)

However we are here to enjoy the outdoors. Next morning we drive south to the unfortunately named Penus Village for a coastal/cliff walk to the Chia Tower. Wow! We are blessed with a bright sunny day. There is no one around. The scenery is gorgeous. There had been rain - so things were damp - but the effect of the drying sun really brought out the plant scents and smells. The paths were rocky but a lot of natural sand and gravel made the walking easy and comfortable. It was a 5 star walk - so relaxing to do. Definitely recommended.

Pickle Myrtle berries for their home brew.

It is a very late lunch - but somehow Richard finds somewhere open (google) in a lovely small town called Pula. I have subsequently read about it. It is very popular in the summer apparently - sandy beaches and nightlife. It is the opposite of tacky however - stylish and discerning as far as I could see. We had cracking food - their bread is so good - served to the table warm in a brown paper bag.

On Sardinia - wining and dining. First of all it is not a give away but no grumbles (it is an island!). If you get off the tourist trail it is of course cheaper. Wine is the cheapest drink. We liked the Cagliari brewed Ichnuso beer. Another to try - they are very partial to a liquer flavoured by Myrtle berries. Thumbs up. On the food - so many delights. How can you go wrong with capers - anchovies - pecorino cheese - olive oil - so many types of pasta - calamari octopus - prosciutto etc etc. In Cagliari you are spoilt for choice. The only problem we had was adjusting to eating times. They don't get going until 730 - 8pm. 

Saturday is our final day. The sun is out. There are more people around - nothing wrong with that. Our final walk is not far from the centre of Cagliari but it was the start of a really memorable day. The walk was on a limestone hill top - referred to as the devils saddle. It is Sella del Diavolo. Our walk started from Calamosca Beach. It only took 2 or 3 hours. The views of Cagliari and its setting were wonderful especially on this fantastic weather day - we were so lucky. Some photos below.

I want to round off with a personal account. As we closed to the top of Sella Diavolo the views had been behind us. However when we got to close the top we pushed through some bushes on a narrow path - the north side. The vista that emerged caught us by surprise. Rich and I were stunned. What layout below our cliff top was a brilliant azure, turquoise and green tinged sparkling sea. But that was not all. Before us was the 8k arc that was Poetto beach. The particular significance was Rich was planning to run the beach and back a bit later as part of his training for the forthcoming Bath half marathon. Seeing it like this was very motivating to say the least. After our walk we make the short drive around to Poetto Beach. The locals are out on this lovely weekend day. There is lots of activity - windsurfing and cat sailing. Rich sets off for his run. We plan to rendezvous at the finish from an hour. I wander a bit but settle at a beach bar to chill even further ha! The background music was great - the sun out and the Italian people milling around are fascinating to watch. I am looking directly at the cliff top where we had walked not long before. Everything was right as I sat there with a beer reflecting on the time we had had in Sardinia. As the time approaches for Rich to get back I stand up searching for sight of him because I want a photo as he closes. I see him too late as he steams past - I shout and he sees me but he is set to run the final 250 yrds to the beach end to complete what he had set out to do. When he gets back he is euphoric - he absolulely loved the run - said it was probably the best run he had ever had. He said he was listening to Fred Again but switched to Faithless - it was a Faithless run he said. At that moment I thought I totally get it - I know how Rich feels and it was special to see and feel his joy and satisfaction. Something clicked in my mind. Without being morbid or negative the thought I had was increasingly the joy in my life will be to watch my offspring do things. As I get older I will not be able to do everything myself in the same way. But no matter. The next phase. My role as the support team will be all I want and it will be a privilege and a blessing xxx

Poetta beach run

Fantastic fish and chips on the beach!

And just a few of Cagliari

Palazzo Civico 

Views of and from Bastionedi San Remy at closing dusk

Dr Richard loves his food

The week in Sardinia was really excellent. A lovely place although it will be much busier and hotter of course later in the year.

On that the busiest part of Sardinia in the summer as I understand it is in the north of Sardinia - the Costa Smeralda particularly. I have read there is so much pressure on some beaches that in an effort to preserve the quality and give nature a chance numbers are restricted and on some payment is required.