 YOUR SAY
New from this issue we will be bringing you a National topic and asking you to let us
have your opinions on how it effects you or how you would solve it.
TOPIC: LATEST BUDGET
The headlines were all about the cut in basic rate income tax by 2p from April 2008. How
has the latest budget effected your circumstances?
Income tax: the basic rate is cut from 22p to 20p from April 2008.
Income tax: the top-rate threshold will rise to £43,000 from April 2009.
National Insurance: the upper earnings limit will rise to bring it in line with the 40 per
cent income tax threshold; so high earners will pay more NI.
Corporation tax: cut from 30p to 28p from April next year.
Small companies: the tax rate to be raised in three stages to 22p in 2009.
Fuel: duty rises are set at 2p per litre for 2008, and 1.8p for 2009.
Alcohol: beer will rise by 1p a pint, cider by 1p a litre, wine 5p a bottle. Duty on
spirits is frozen.
Cigarettes: duty to rise by 11p.
Are you going to be better off when all the changes come in or worse off? The budget
appears to have hit those on the least money the hardest once again. Is this the case.
What do you think?
Readers Email
I believe that ID cards are a good idea, but they don't go far enough. They should also
record DNA for everybody, which would help in clearing up crime.
If you have nothing to hide, then you should have nothing to fear. Let's face it,
everything about us is already recorded on one database or another, from who we call or
text on our mobiles to how much we earn, where it gets paid into and how little we have
left at the end!
Readers Letter
I refer to the letter from the young Sales Assistant complaining that people were not
very friendly or polite.
I like to be both to sales assistants, having been one myself, but the thing I hate and
find more prevalent is the assistants carrying on a conversation with someone else when I
am being served. So you see it's not always the customer who have the wrong attitude! I
have had situations where the assistant has not been aware of my ''Good morning'' or
''Thank you.''
Name Withheld.
Sheringham Country Market
Join Sheringham Country Market as a Seller/Producer
Are you a mum looking for work to fit in with school hours?
Have you recently retired and are looking for something to do with your spare time?
Do you enjoy cooking and baking?
At Sheringham Country Market we are looking for new cooks to join our friendly,
co-operative venture:
All goods are offered for sale collectively, no one has preferential treatment. There are
no minimum quantities to produce, just produce the amounts that suit you. Country Markets
have a formula to help producers work out a fair selling price that also gives a good
return for their hard work. A small commission (currently 12%) is taken from the selling
price of goods to cover market running expenses, and the remainder is paid to the producer
monthly.
If you would like more information then why not pop along to our weekly market at the St
John Hall, Wyndham Street, Sheringham between 10.30 and 11.30 on a Thursday, or ring the
Market Manager on 01263 824993 |
Readers Letter
How I sympathised with the person who holds 11 GCSEs and has chosen to work in the
retail trade (March issue). I myself worked in this trade back in the 1970s and 80s and
can relate in part to their experiences.
I personally think that the situation has worsened for several reasons, not least, of
which has been the dearth of excellent retail and customer care training I enjoyed back
then, paid for by my employer. First names were not used and our badges, worn on the left
lapel of our uniform stated only Mr/Mrs or Miss and your surname. During our training, we
were even taught how to stand comfortably and smartly! (Actually this turned out to be
very good advice!). It was said that this smart and alert appearance would encourage good
customer response. Well - as you can imagine, this met with mixed responses as all walks
of life have a different take! Though I still stand with my feet 20cm apart, I reckon the
overall advise would be laughed out of the classroom these days.
I often notice how people with mobiles will bare their very soul in a public place, but
respond with suspicion should you smile or say good morning! I find I never really know
whether to speak or not! Without wanting to politicise this subject, I understand that
research found a trend towards a more selfish and greedy society has developed over the
last ten years. I think we need to value people and not possessions and learn to live
'among' each other without the 'elitism' connected to houses, cars and occupations.
Everyone has their own story - everyone fits in somewhere, however insignificant someone
may seem, they deserve a chance. My advice to the retailing person is:- you enjoy it, work
to live, don't live to work and be glad you recognise the differences between what you
like and what you don't!
Janet Humphreys (Mrs)
CAMELS RAISE CASH FOR CHARITY IN AYLSHAM
The Rotary Club of Aylsham held its second camel race at Aylsham High School on
Saturday the 24th February. Organised by Rotarians Bill Cain and Dennis Hopkins the
evening was an outstanding success with 140 people attending and £1,700 being raised for
Rotary and local charities. The admission price included a jacket potato and chilli supper
supplied by Porkies of Red Lion Street and this was well received.
The wooden camels are pulled along the floor of the school hall by a long
length of string attached to a small wooden pole, the camel 'jockeys' sit with their back
to the camel and once the race starts the jockey has to turn the pole as quickly as
possible to wind in the length of string to pull the camel along the length of the hall.
This attracts great excitement and audience participation with 'punters' standing near to
their jockey and cheering him or her on. The evening climaxed with the winning jockeys of
the six races held throughout the evening having a play-off race at the very end to decide
the overall winner. This race was won by Rotary Vice-President Philip Green and the trophy
was presented to him by current President Mike Downes. Many people who attended wore arab
clothing and this added to the entire flavour of the evening. |
