Value Added

Chocolate sales are going up in Britain, this is because more people are staying at home instead of travelling- small affordable treat instead of large treat due to the credit crunchie. Not going on holidays is good for Cadburys whose profits have leaped up by 30% but not good for the obesity epidemic. At the same time, Scottish doctors are advising the government to put a tax on chocolate. They argue that the high calorific value of chocolate fuels the obesity problem and hence diabetes and heart disease. Good for the government, not good for Cadburys. To get back to an earlier post about the world being controlled by lizards. The slimey guys in the government have noticed that Cadburys are the only ones making a profit in these hard times, what better way to glass and a half them out of some more money than by getting doctors to advise the government that there should be a higher tax on chocolate. How would the chocolate be taxed? For instance, if it contains 70% cocoa solids, will it be taxed more than say a Wispa bar that only has a whisper of cocoa in it. I think a few eyebrows will be raised in Belgium. Or will it be taxed according to fat and sugar content? Will it mean that dark chocolate, which is supposed to be good for us ,will now be cheaper than a milky bar? Why stop at chocolate? Potato Crisps are just as calorie dense and just as instant.
At the same time, developing countries such as the cocoa growing ones in West Africa, are coming around to the concept of 'value added'. Why export your cocoa to Cadburys then import it back again as a finished highly taxed chocolate bar when you can manufacture your own? Why doesn't Africa make its own chocolate and export it to Britain to replace the tourists who can't afford to grace Africa's beaches but are now sitting at home eating chocolate bars? Good for the developing world, not good for the credit crunchie.
If I was a politician in Africa I would put a lot of effort into encouraging manufacturing instead of sending all my raw materials out.

Who is on your Board of Directors?

I have a friend who has an imaginary board of directors and the Chairman is Oprah Winfrey. I wonder who would be on your board of directors?
Mine would be a very small board, not because I dont like to take advice, it's just that I don't meet or hear of many people that inspire me. Perhaps i'm not getting out and about enough.
Lucy Kellaway would definately be the Chairman. In control, humorous, intelligent with an ability sift through all the management twaddle.
I know it's fashionable to like Barack Obama and he's highly sought after right now but he certainly talks a lot of sense and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. This morning I heard him say to the American people, now's the time for us to work on our foundations, not on our home decor, drawing the analogy with the economy- how cool is that. It is also the Chinese New Year of the Ox, the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Apparently Obama was born in the year of the Ox- no wonder he is inspiring me with confidence.
Meryl Streep would have to be on there- so graceful, serene, a calming influence for my boardroom, infinite wisdom and experience. A multi-tasker.
Robert Plant would be there to make sure everyone carries through on their decisions and sticks to their moral values.
Honorary members would be a famous architect I know for his ability to give silent approval and quiet constructive criticism. Mary Poppins for her way with children, networking abilities, for good advice and encouragement.

Virgo and Taurus

Virgos find Taurus the bull patient and loving. Taureans find Virgins peaceful and composed. The bull likes to luxuriate in the bath for hours at a time, lights off and candles flickering- the Virgo too likes to lazily watch the last shades of twighlight on the living-room wall. Taurus loves to plan and cook sumptuous feasts whilst the Virgo likes to pick the herbs and chop the garlic (crush it more like). Virgos and Taurus both love attention to detail. They understand each other. I wonder why I haven't bumped into many Taureans in my lifetime?
From a tiny book on starsigns by Stephanie Russell

Mona on high-tech gadgets

Lucy Kellaway hits the nail on the head every time. She is the business reporter in the Financial Times and also talks on BBC world service. She has a friendly voice- the type of person I would have liked to have been friends with if I went to her school at the same time as her. She talks a lot of sense and has the confidence to put her point of view across in a business world dominated by men.
Recently she talked about the pen being mightier than high-tech gadgets. She was glad that there was still such a thing as customer service when it came to pens- Cross replaced her pen lid when it broke (even though it was a conference give away in the pre credit crunch days). I have had a similar experience with the valve in a Prestige pressure cooker, although I was told that next time I would have to pay for the replacement- a tiny little rubber thing. (Who uses a pressure cooker these days anyway?)
High tech gadgets such as ipods and Sony Vaio laptops, Canon printers and Sony Eriksson cell phones on the other hand are a different kettle of fish. Lucy is right when she says there is always a Genius Bar in the retail outlets where we try to return the product just when it has reached its warranty expiry date. The genius always explains that it cannot be fixed, “nah, it’ll be cheaper to buy a new one…Have you seen our latest model…that one is obsolete now anyway… this new one has much higher spec than the old one.”. If you wait a couple of weeks, we will have a new delivery of the Canon IP4750.999”. Of course the new model requires completely different print cartridges which Game (where they always win) haven’t got in stock and the difference in quality? You have to buy 5 print cartridges instead of 4.
I have never been a Gerty gadget market leader. I’m what’s described as a 'late adopter'.
Remember that fish that sang “Take me to the river”? I Only just discovered it 2 years after it first hit the shops (thank god). I’m still using my Panasonic Digital (In 1990, digital was a modern word) portable stereo CD system RX-DS303 MASH. It has a depth of sound no ipod nano could ever match. Never been able to work out the MASH aspect of it though.
The $1,400 Sony Vaio does not come with Microsoft office the genius tells me, you can’t get that sort of spec at that sort of price with Microsoft Office thrown in, he says (but not at the point of sale). Couldn’t even give me a Sony Vaio bag to go with it but he could throw in this cheapo one for free.
Did you know also that the new ipod nano cannot be recharged on the Bose docking station? Why? So you have to buy a new updated version of the docking station or yet another adaptor to add to the cupboard full of redundant adaptors, leads, connectors and USB cables. These are what are known as 'late adaptors'.
What needs to be tackled is this constant updating of gadgets- I’m all for technology, R&D but only if it improves my life. At the moment, my life is too complicated, very expensive and the sound hasn't improved. I’m all for the recession if it is going to stop this supply of marginally updated this season's must-haves that already my children think are "so one second ago”.
I have bought them a fountain pen each; perhaps they will be new market leaders and provide a tipping point for an epidemic of quality, longevity and customer service.

Further additions on the postal service

I have just received a Christmas card form an old friend. It was posted in Chelmsford on the 10th December 2008. it is now 16th February. This means it takes 2 months for an air mail letter to get from England to Malawi. Where has it been this Christmas card? Must do some research......

Don't take anything personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you wont be the victim of needless suffering. If people tell you how wonderful you are, they are not saying it because of you. Humans are addicted to suffering and we support each other in maintaining these addictions. Humans agree to help each other suffer. If you have the need to be abused you will find it easy to be abused by others. It is as if they have a note on their back that says "please kick me". Wherever you go you will find people lying to you, and you also lie to yourself. Do not expect people to tell you the truth bacause they also lie to themselves.
If someone is not treating you with love or respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesnt walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal.
From 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz

Mona on getting older

It crossed my mind earlier that there would be nothing better than to sit in my new wing back chair and put my feet up on a foot stool and just enjoy the moment, the solitude, the serenity, the pictures on the wall and read a book in the comfort of my surroundings, with no guilt, in the knowledge that the clock is ticking anyway whether I do something about it or not. I then imagined an elderly person in a care home who was doing just that. A theory came into my head that perhaps elderly people don't mind sitting in a wing back chair with their feet up, just thinking, in solitude, watching time pass in the comfort of their familiar things. The clock ticking, the moment continuing on and on with no interruptions, nothing to take you away from your train of thought, staring and smiling knowingly when someone asks you a question. "You what dear?", "isn't she lovely?", "what have you been doing since I last saw you Agnes?" "Now't fresh" will be your reply. How irritating the interruption when you had just got thinking about something. "Time for your bath Agnes!", "What's for dinner Mum?". "It's tea time pet, up we come", "where's my sports kit Mum?". You deserve to sit and think and stare and not recognise anyone, you've earned it, you've been on your feet and worked your fingers to the bone for a long time.