'May the sun shine on the righteous?'

The recession is over! We shall soon be once again in the land of plenty, and the sun will shine on the righteous. I don’t think so! Fortunately we won’t be leaving it all up to our leaders; many of us are beginning to think that the gravy train has run its course. Look around, the shops with the luxuries are complaining that the customers are not rushing to buy. Certainly they are buying the basics, things to eat, and to try and keep us warm, without turning the heaters to high. The price of utilities, like electricity, gas, and petrol is rocketing.

We need to take stock and consolidate. But for younger people that is hard. Those of an older generation are thinking back to the times when rationing was part of our life. For example when you washed virtually anything you used in soda crystals. Now we need special and costly alternatives to remove stains from cottons and linens, to degrease cookers, additions to the washing load, de-scaling kettles, additives for the toilet – washing paintwork they all have special products.

Then there are the essential requirements for health. There are now gymnasiums, a multitude of vitamin pills, special clubs for walking or cycling, all with expensive equipment for participating.

Let’s go and watch the football, or the baseball, in fact to be involved in any sport is expensive, we thought about taking up golf until we found out the cost of just one golf club.

Then the cost of clothes, makeup, hairdressers, manicurist, pedicurists, and I am not talking just about women!

Have you been to the fish and chip shop, the burger kiosk, any fast food shop? No they are not a cheap way out nowadays. Restaurants were something you went to on special occasions, now the high streets are lined with them. Though I have noticed a few of them have closed, and ‘For Rent’ signs have appeared in the window.

The problem is when you are used to the soft way of living you expect it to go on forever. However the up and coming so called underdeveloped countries now want a slice of the cake, and you can only bake what you have the ingredients for. Possibly a little bigger than before; but not enough to keep the same soft living.

Cars, when I was young were for the lucky ones, youngsters would go out in the street and play ‘Please Mr crocodile can I cross your river’. You can’t now, there are cars parked everywhere. The road was the river, but now it’s full of obstacles. Play hop scotch on the pavement! Only if supervised; you need special, and costly, play areas in case of accidents.

The righteous, where are they? Actually they are out there enjoying the sunshine (climate change permitting), but their pursuits are more simple. They are taking time to look at the world, which is beautiful. And not trying to fill it with costly adult toys.

Phew! have you seen the games they show on the computers? Whoops – can I keep my laptop please it’s absolutely essential.