Black economy

The DT is getting itself into a lather about hypocritical MPs who complain that employing people for cash is immoral – it robs the exchequer of tax income allegedly. But the paper seems to avoid the real issue – that it’s the tradesmen who are doing the cheating, if they don’t declare their earnings for tax purposes.

Cherished reader, there is an important principle at stake here. If a thief sells me the proceeds of his work, am I not an ‘accessory’ to the crime? So if I know that my plumber’s business is or should be tax-accountable, don’t I have the responsibilty to ask for a receipt for my payment, complete with VAT number and stuff? Where is the line between ‘legal’ and ‘moral’? The trader is clearly breaking the law; am I not morally obliged to stop him (if I can)?

Or is the ‘everybody does it’ defence ethically OK? I am not my brother’s (book-)keeper.

Thirsty work

It’s no secret that Hashim Amla is a Muslim.

He has always refused to wear sponsors apparel if alcohol is involved, as the picture on the left depicts. (Note Jacques Kallis with the Castle brewery logo on his shirt.) Good for him, I’ve always admired a man of principles.

But this month is Ramadan!

Hashin Amla is according to Muslim tradition exempt from having to fast because he’s ‘traveling.’ Fair enough. But did you know that he spent his entire time collecting that mammoth 311 runs this past weekend, which took a whopping 790 minutes without publicly ingesting anything! Continue reading “Thirsty work”

Ibid.

It can be intimidating picking up a book of non-fiction. You’re lucky if you can find one with less than 600 pages. The sheer weight of these tomes is enough to put you off. Non-fiction books are thick. And there‘s a lot of dead wood in there.

The last 200 pages or so are filled with notes of sources. Is citing sources necessary? Why does what the writer say have to be verified? If it’s there on print I’ll take his word for it. He doesn’t need his expert pals to back him up. Because it is all back-scratching. From one book to the next all the usual suspects are roll-called in the source section.

I would hope that anything I write is taken at face value without the hard facts being questioned. Footnotes are like two left feet, they get in the way.

An Appeal.

This is a disgrace.

 

LCpl Isimeli Baleiwai, known as ‘Bale’ to his friends, is facing deportation from the UK after serving 13 years with the British Armed Forces. Bale is a foreign and commonwealth soldier from Fiji who was recruited by the MOD when he was 18.

He has served in 5 operational tours including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. His wife Kim is British and they have two young children a boy of 3 and a girl of 6; both British. Bale left the Army voluntarily to provide stability for his family.

He applied for British Citizenship in March while still a serving soldier, but was refused FFS! He appealed the decision, but received a letter from UKBA on 14/07/2012 stating he had until 9th August 2012 to leave the country. LCpl Bale was fined in 2011 after appearing on CO’s Orders for fighting with another soldier who instigated the fight. This was a purely military affair – which many of those of us who have served will know all about – there was no police involvement, no trial and no criminal conviction and therefore no criminal record. they’re chuckin him out!

A little anecdote.

I was going to add to my comment on TR’s post that it would be well to have a very large smile on his face should he ever consider – not that he would, of course, being the gentleman that he is – uttering a sentence with ‘men,’ ‘skirts,’ and ‘silly,’ in it where there was any chance that one of thee chaps might overhear it:

which reminded me

Raise your glass

“You’re not marrying her for her matchboxes?”

In a fortnight’s time my brother-in-law is making an honest woman of his partner and I have been chosen as the best man. This will be the third time I have been given the honour of being the “best”. Luckily, yet again, no kilts will be involved. A man in a skirt just isn’t right, now is it? Continue reading “Raise your glass”

Tour de force anglaise

While cherished cynics pooh-pooh the eighty-seven hour ride around the magnificent French campagne, there are those of us who will be pleased that three English riders have proved better than the rest. And although outspoken Daley Thompson believes that athletics are the superior discipline (his own claim to fame relies on his failure to be good enough at any one of his ten to be a world-beater like Steve Redgrave), I defy anyone to doubt the skill and dedication displayed by the Sky team in sealing first and second places overall for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome and two three* explosive stage wins for Mark Cavendish.

As a footnote, the spectacle was a welcome counterpoint to English fortunes at the Oval and Royal Lytham, where Soutie’s mates won all the laurels.

* mea maxima culpa, thanks, Soutie!