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Monday August 18th


TomGlassey

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Its 9.55 and at present it is not raining, however, the forecast indicated that very soon, it will be pelting down. We are told to expect at least an inch of rain today. When I was a youngster, my elders always used to tell me to make sure I saved a few bob for a rainy day. Well I would have had to amassed a considerable fortune to see me through this lot. When I worked at the bank, I got lots of advice on pension schemes and investment plans for when I grew older. Well we all know what happened to the pension schemes and now it’s tricky trying to select a good investment plan. 20 years ago t I was also getting oodles of advice on the best mortgage plan as well. The island is awash with financial advisors. Indeed so many are advice and sometimes conflicting because there is so much of it, I think you might as well chuck all their names and schemes into a hat and just pull one out and go for it. I actually used to work in the bank and had access to mortgage, and financial advisors; if I found it difficult to select what was best for me, then Heaven only knows how some of the customers coped. At one point I simply found the whole investment lark so confusing, I just invested the few quid I had at that time into premium bonds and didn’t regret it. Now I am quite a bit closer to retirement than I was then. I can’t say that I am worried about it, because just arriving there has now become my goal. 20 years ago, retirement seemed a long way off, and now I will be simply grateful to reach it. What is much more likely to effect my retirement plans than my financial affairs is what George Bush might get up to, or Iran, Russia, Georgia, China and of course the UK. At least today it will only be rain that falls from the sky. If our so-called God fearing politicians don’t sort themselves out soon, it will be bombs that are falling.

 

Alistair Cook the brilliant BBC journalist, once described the role of Britain and Argentina during the Falklands war, as two bald men fighting over a comb. What a shame that over 500 people had to die in order to determine the ownership of the comb.

 

Well now, back to retirement, and where else would you go to for good retirement advice that Port St.Mary. The story goes that two brothers who lived in the village, both grew to a ripe old age. One of the brothers was diligent all his life, and spent his money wisely. He saved accordingly, and had plenty of money put by to meet the costs of old age. The other brother blew all his money in the pub, saved nothing and sailed through life having a wonderful time. When the rich brother grew old, he moved into a retirement home. He had his own room, was fed well, and was well looked after. The cost was high, but he had saved enough to more than meet the costs of the home. One day a new resident was admitted to the home. He had no money and his costs would have to be met by the state. The following morning, the rich brother woke up to find his wayward brother lying in a bed on the other side of the room. “How the heck did you end up here!” he gasped. “Sorry to disappoint you,” said the wayward brother, “but tell me this! Does my presence here make you any worse off?”

 

We all travel along different roads in life, but yet it is possible that we will end up in the same place.

 

This is Tom Glassey, on the banks of the Silverburn.

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