The Financial Terrorists

Whilst I was in Ireland I read an article in The Irish Times about an e-mail sent to the staff of the Anglo Irish Bank written by their Chief executive a David Drumm where he writes to his staff about a party themed: 'The Back To School Doombuster Party' that he organized at a time when the financial crisis was deteriorating and the economy was turning deeply negative. The e-mail read:

"Dear colleague, the stock markets are down. They say the economy is in recession. It rained most of the 'summer'. The holidays are over. This is Anglo, so there is only one thing to do - party!"

Whilst the bank's financial position was becoming more precarious in December 2008, the bank spent 175,000 Euros on a Christmas party for staff, that month the bank also spent 53,000 Euros on hampers and wine for clients and 24,000 bringing customers and their children to the annual Christmas panto in the Gaiety Theatre Dublin. The previous year, Anglo spent 272,000 on Christmas staff parties in Dublin, London and Boston and 229,000 Euros on three Christmas parties in addition to 87,000 EU on hampers and wine. Anglo Republic is the bank that broke Ireland. Like if that was not enough on September 5th 2008 ( just three weeks before the government bailed out Anglo from collapse) the bank spent 80,000 Euros on a party for about 600 staff, at the Mansion House in Dublin. The cost excluded accommodation in hotels for staff who travelled from the bank's regional offices for the party. The drinks bill alone on the night, amounted to 24,000 Euros and staff were entertained by a live band.'

Whilst the financial terrorists are having a great time, it is the poor tax payer who has to foot the bills for their extravagances, it is high time someone goes to prison, how is it possible that these people can take a whole country to the brink of bankrupcy putting it into debt with the EU and there is not even one single person accountable for all this financial fraud? I ask. The politicians are in it as well, since its not their money that they gave to the same people in the bank who broke the economy in the first place. It amounts to legalized thievery at a large scale. Its happening in many countries, one cannot help thinking that its organized to fail so that the banks can get a hold of people's money. In other words, the countries are artificially being made to become bankrupt so that they can get their hands on the tax-payers money to create a single European Super State that no one in their right mind wants.

Back from Ireland

Hi there! Whilst we were in Ireland with friends we were talking about the strange custom in the 1700 where the husbands could sell their wives in the market by simply putting her on a plimth and another man would offer a price that the husband could accept. Mischiviously, one of my friends asked Peter how much would he be prepared to accept for me. Peter got serious and he replied that there wasn't a price that he would be prepared to trade for yours truly, my friends looked surprised at this answer and they said they were very impressed to hear this after a marrriage of nearly 30 years they said that was not the answer they were expecting to hear maybe that was a reply a newly wed man would give not after a 30 year marriage. I have to say I feel the same towards Peter as well and this brings us to.. in a couple of years time it will be our 30th wedding anniversary and I'm thinking of something special and romantic where we could go to. I Thought about the Orient Express, although I'm a bit claustrophobic I do like travelling by train anywhere especially if it will be to Venice and Austria on the way and all the lovely places the Orient Express takes you to. I also like the idea of dressing up in the evenings and imagine I'm in one of Agatha Christie's stories but without the murder because I think that would spoil the romance of being in such lovely surroundings. I'm however not too thrilled to hear that the rooms haven't got their own bathroom and you have to share it with other people too by walking along the corridor, that is what it really stops me from going ahead with this plan. We have done the cruise travels and frankly, we both don't fancy doing that again besides, I get sea-sick anyway. I'm thinking of something else to do and I would love it if someone can give me ideas. Where is a romantic place to visit. Whatever it is, it has to include Venice because for me Venice is the most romantic place on earth but of course there has to be many other places in Europe that I still have not visited that might be very romantic too. I would like it to be special, so there is no room for experimentation as I want everything to go smoothly and without a hitch. Any ideas?