Christmas is coming. Not getting stuff done. Pension thoughts.

Yesterday was supposed to be a quick shop for turkey and an few trimmings. It turned into an all day marathon shopathon. This is what happens when you go shopping with your daughter, with a baby and a toddler in tow and a teenager who decides she wants to spend time with her other and grandmother. Oh boy! After buying a bottle of milk this morning I do not intend to set foot in a shop until at least Saturday. No Boxing Day sales for me!

Today was going smoothly - quite a lot of preparatory stuff for the Christmas meal tomorrow - all under control and then my brother-in-law turned up and stayed and chatted for about two hours. It was splendid to see him but really I needed more time. However, he did bring bottles of wine with him. I guess we might forgive him.

Now, have I missed something in recent years? Have our main political leaders always addressed the nation at Christmas time? Whatever the truth if the matter, this has been another thing to beat up Jeremy Corbyn over. Apparently his speech was a bit down in the dumps. Understandable really! Boris Johnson was seemingly very chirpy - well he would be wouldn’t he? Besides, he did just win the election.

There was a post on social media pointing out differences between us and the French. President Macron proposes putting up the pension age to 65. The French go on strike. Prime Minister Johnson proposes putting ip the pension age to 75. We vote him in for another 5 years. There you go!

I read that President Macron is planning to give up his own generous presidential pension in an attempt to calm anger over politicians’ privileges, as French transport strikes caused chaos for Christmas travellers. If he does so he will be the first president in more than 50 years to give up the automatic pension of more than €6,000 a month that all French leaders receive after leaving office, regardless of age or wealth. €6,000 a month!

Good grief! How much does a retired president need, for goodness sake? If they are paying that out to all retired presidents, no wonder the French want to sort out their pension system!!

Macron’s office added that he would not take his seat in France’s constitutional court, where former presidents are members for life and receive a monthly allowance of €13,500. I find it hard to believe these are MONTHLY allowances! I deed I am gob-smacked!

 But good for Mr Macron for trying to make a gesture.