Saturday 8 March 2014

Another sad happening.

Our dear old sheep-dog, Tip, died suddenly yesterday afternoon.   He had been for his usual walk with the farmer and Tess in the morning, come back and eaten his breakfast and seemed fine, although he has been a bit arthritic in recent months.   When the farmer went in to take him for the evening walk he had died - presumably from either a heart attack or a stroke.  This morning he has been buried in our row of loved pets, alongside my pug, Algy, and my Pointer, Oscar - right outside the kitchen window and under the apple tree.   Rest in peace dear old Tip.

Now to the subject of today's blog - Money.  Is there any other topic in the world?  Does the whole world revolve around it?   I fear it does.   I pick three stories out of today's Times - three stories which I find absolutely appalling - I despair of the way things are going.

First the price of milk and how here in the UK the big Supermarkets have decided to have a price war and to target milk as a Loss Leader, because every customer buys milk.   Four pints of milk for £1 - or 25p a pint.   No loss to the farmers say the other supermarkets, who of course have all followed suit.   For how long I wonder?
It is no coincidence that Dairy Farmers are going out of business rapidly - the reason is that they cannot make it pay, they are not given enough for their milk.  This devalues the product in the eyes of the customers and there will be a knock on effect on farmers - mark my words.

Secondly - a headline in the Times financial pages which literally made me gasp.  "What the Crimea Crisis means for your Portfolio".
Has anyone thought to ask what the Crimea crisis, and the crisis in the Ukraine means to the people of the area - civil unrest and uncertainty, bloodshed,  people in Ukraine feeling Crimean and vice versa.  I would guess that the Portfolios of folk in the West is the least of the worries of the ordinary man and woman in the street.

Thirdly - are you a coffee drinker or a tea drinker?   If the answer to that is a coffee drinker then it looks as though it is going to cost you far more in the near future because much of the coffee crop in Brazil, where most of the world's finest Arabica coffee comes from, has failed because of the weather.   Will the industry absorb the cost - of course not - the customer will pay more for the coffee (and I understand sugar too) - and I will bet you a pound to a penny that the producer doesn't suffer much - it will be the pickers over there and the buyers over here who will pay the price

End of rant for today.   
Cheer up and look at my two Spring pictures for today - I am sure that, like me, you need a bit of cheering up. The first celandines on the side of the beck and the first Tete a tete daffodils outside the back door.   Spring.


28 comments:

jinxxxygirl said...

My dear i 'am so sorry to hear about Tip. The loss of dog/friend is difficult to bear. We have lost several of ours over the years and it never gets any easier. Even harder since you weren't expecting it....

I think the world in general could use some cheering up. :) And your flowers fit the bill! I live in California and my flowers on the porch survived the mild winter and are really putting on a show. I have geraniums and petunia and allyssum. I just bought some ice plant and impatiens....

I'am a coffee drinker so i will be moaning about the prices soon then. :)Ah well i like tea too... might just have to drink more of it. :) Hugs! deb

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

I am truly sorry to hear of your old dog's death. I am truly sorry at the appalling state of this old world. I certainly do need cheering up. The hope inherent in Spring is just the ticket.

Sue in Suffolk said...

So sorry to hear about Tip, burying an animal friend is the worst thing.

I have 3 pots of tete a tete daffs - all leaves with no sign of a flower bud!

Hadn't heard about the Brazilian coffee and sugar crop failure. So more price rises in store - That's all we need and the problems in Ukraine are very worrying I dread to think what will happen next

Rachel Phillips said...

What the Crimea means for your portfolio was in the financial pages as you say and this is what they write about, finance. Life goes on. For the brave buy a Russian investment trust while prices dip and take a profit on a bounce but not for the risk averse.

Dartford Warbler said...

Oh Pat, I am so sorry. A shock to lose Tip so suddenly. You and the Farmer must both be feeling bereft tonight. A good Border Collie is such a true, intelligent friend.

Acornmoon said...

I am so sorry to hear of your recent losses mentioned in this post and the last. I know how much my dog means to me, we all know they don't live forever but nothing softens the blow. As for your neighbour, that is so tragic, a young life lost in an accident. I am sure you are all heartbroken.

I am thinking of you Pat and sending my love. xxx

Reader Wil said...

The loss of a pet is so painful, that's the reason that I don't want to have an other pet again. Every time one of my cats died I was heartbroken.
Everything is getting more and more expensive but as long as it is about tea or coffee we'll manage, as we did in the war.
Thanks for the cheerful spring photos!

MorningAJ said...

So sorry to hear about Tip. We've had our fair share of sad losses in the pet department in the last year. We understand completely what it's like.

As for the price of milk - the supermarkets are only selling four pints at once cheaply. Those of us with small fridges that won't take a four pint bottle can't benefit from this either! It's a stupid trick. And it's not helping anybody. The average family will be saving a pound a week at most.

And I totally agree about the Crimea. Sadly, the world today is more about bankers and less about real people.

Unknown said...

Sorry about Tip. Am sure you will miss him but am also sure he was loved in this life.

Heather said...

So sorry to hear about Tip. I was shocked to read that milk was to be sold for 4 pints for £1. We'll end up having to import the stuff when all the dairy farmers have been put out of business.
The situation in the Ukraine and Crimea is very worrying and I can't think how it can be resolved.
I don't drink coffee but have sympathy for those whose livelihood depends on it's production.
Lovely spring images - I love those little daffs.

Robin Mac said...

I am also feeling sad for you over losing Tip, but at least he got to enjoy that last walk.
Our two supermarket giants reduced the price of milk to $1 a litre several years ago and it is still not much more for the store brand - which I refuse to buy. The dairy industry is being killed here but the governments don't seem to care.
Love your cheery flowers. Cheers

Anonymous said...

Vale Tip.
My condolences at the passing of a dearly loved animal.
That he was well enough to enjoy a last walk, and then to die so quietly and peacefully is something to be grateful for, but still hard for you.
Kate in Australia

A Heron's View said...

The headline that has really disturbed me is this one
"Starved & evicted: Britain’s poor now treated worse than animals "

As I find it so dreadful, that it makes me ashamed of my birth country.

Frances said...

Best wishes to you on the passing away of Tip.

And thanks to you and lots of agreement with you on the international produce/economic front.

I just keep hoping that at some point, with all the information that continues to be available to all of us, we might realize that we are, after all, living on that same sphere called Earth.

So far it would seem that various "local" interests have kept competing or even warring to be top of the mountain.

Now I am drifting into rant mode. It was really learning of your loss of Tip that prompted me to leave you this message.

xo

angryparsnip said...

Such sad news about Tip. It is so hard to lose a much loved dog.

cheers, parsnip

Cro Magnon said...

Firstly I am very sorry to hear about your dog. I dread the day any of our animals leaves us.

Yes, this business of the price of milk is disgraceful. Personally I would pay TWICE the price that they normally ask, not HALF!!!

ArtPropelled said...

So sorry to read about your sheep-dog.Rest in peace dear Tip.

Helsie said...

Nothing hurts like losing a beloved pet but for him it sounds like a great way to go. No lingering old age and painful arthritis for him. It seems we are of an age to lose our pets to old age. Very sad.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the comments and for visiting. Chat makes the world go round!

Barbara said...

So sorry to read of your loss!
Hope Spring will bring some cheer.

Linda Metcalf said...

So sorry for the kiss if Tip...after all our pets are family.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Sorry about Tip, always so sad to lose an animal companion

I always think we should pay the true value of our food and drink, the price was over bananas is another one with major repercussions that supermarkets ignore.

Cloudia said...

Dear Tip. Life is for REAL! Glad to visit with you, Dear. Aloha to you♥




Canadian Chickadee said...

It is so sad to lose a pet. When I lost my beloved Barney II, (beagle mix), I cried for a week. I still think of him, and though I've loved all the dogs since then, I think he really was special.

Mary said...

Such sad news, however dear old Tip did live a wonderful life with you as his people, and apparently did not suffer with a long painful illness.

May he RIP in doggie heaven.

Hugs -Mary

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I'm so very sorry about Tip. I know he will be missed. We are looking for Spring here, though Edward and Apple do so prefer the winter temps!
xoxo

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

I am truly sorry to hear about your Tip. I know he will be missed.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to you all for your sympathy - gratefully received.