UK fraud levels and the cost to ordinary folk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8473167.stm

I read this article with interest this week. Having been aware that in the background, fraud in the UK goes on in many different forms and costs us all quite a bit. Seeing the true extrent revealed for the first time really staggered me and I have a sneaky feeling that the total may be even higher in reality

£621 per person is the cost of this fraud in the UK. Roughly translated this is £1000 annual salary before tax and NI. Compare this with the average yearly salary of around £24000 for UK workers……!

It makes me angry but it also makes me sad that we live in a society that appears to prize personal wealth over welfare of ourselves as people. The element that really gets my goat is the benefit fraud that goes on. People seems to spend lots of energy and enterprise is trying to defraud the government (and thus us the taxpayer) of vast amounts of money rather than working hard in legitimate ways. To some degree though the system helps and indeed encourages people to do this. For example, if a couple with average earnings and say 2 children split up the government will pay around £600-800 a month in extra tax credit benefits (this is before anything else such as council tax reductions and energy bill reductions etc). For those that need it thats a great help but I know that this is being manipulated by quite a few people and I know of at least 2 couples within 1/2 mile of me that are fiddling this to their own end quite brazenly. It just makes me sick

Sorry for the rant, I work very hard and even when times have been tough have not resorted to defrauding (sorry….stealing from)  anyone else inc the government. No wonder I like spending so much time in the hills……when I get the chance of course

Are we there yet?

The past week has been a bit surreal.

 Two big snowfalls in South Wales within the space of a week. Today I am snowed in again. Tried to get the car down the hill I live on this morning but after gliding sideways halfway down it, I gave it up as a bad job and trudged back to the house. The really bizarre thing is that although I have been able to get out and about around local hills, I havent been able to get anywhere near the Brecon Beacons for a bit of full on winter Mountain conditions…..

I have also committed the cardinal sin of forgetting to take my camera out and about this past week so I have nothing to post on here. I’ll try and remember if I get out today. Maybe a bit more sledging this afternoon with the kids. The last time we went out sledging, it was Saturday and I still have a happy memory of my two kids hurtling down a hill on a body board at 30mph squealing with mock fear and delight.

The stuff that childhood memories are made of…….

A Hard Winter?

Even here in South Wales, this winter has been the hardest I can remember and its only the 1st week of January. Its been cold and snowy for what seems like an age. Last night we had the biggest single snowfall I can recall since the early 1990’s and the forecast for next week is very cold with further possible snow.

On the downside, getting to work has been a pain, especially scraping the ice from the inside of the car in the morning. On the plus side, we have had more than a few cold, bright days that are excellent for walking. I have had a couple of chances to get out but not for any overnighters unfortunately. I am hoping to rectify that in the next week or two but we shall see. Further in the future, I have a weekend in the Lake District to look forward to at Black Sail YH

Until then I will take the rough with the smooth and see how this atypical winter pans out. After all its much better than rain…

New Year. New Resolutions

Happy New Year Indeed

Took my son out today to the cinema to watch Avatar. Left the girlies at home to do girly things. For one reason or another I do believe this year will be a defining one. For once I find myself introspective about the year ahead rather than just freewheeling into it in my normal way. I guess that’s a consequence of the year behind me and an awareness of the passage of time. I have hopes and aspirations for this year probably more so than ever.

I want to spend more time with my family but I also want to spend more time out in the hills. I want to grow up a bit more and yet want to be a little more laid back. I guess the difference for me this year is recognising that achieving a balance will be the most important thing.

I think it will be an interesting year

Year’s End

Here it is, the end of the year.

Another strange year to be sure. I started with one job and living in  Staffordshire and ended it with a different job and living back in South Wales. I’ve seen more snow this year than for a very long time (in South Wales). I’ve made an effort and kept my blog up to date and its now 16months old. I’ve done a fair amount of walking but not a huge amount of wilderness camping. A very mixed but nethertheless completely unboring year to be sure.

I just want to say that I hope everyone has a great new year and I hope to see you out there in the hills perhaps. Oh and many thanks to James over at Backpackingbongos . The Buffalo shirt I won in his December competition arrived today and its a perfect fit. Thanks James, much appreciated!

Happy New Year All

Happy Christmas everyone………….

fairly obvious really but happy Christmas all the same. Hoping you all get the presents you want, that those nearest and dearest are well and that your hill-time for the next few days is all planned in!