Where to begin. Some would say at the beginning, but if I start in the middle and move forwards and backwards I think I'll find more to say. (but, who will listen).

 I'll start with the realisation that I was in debt with credit cards to the sum of about 7000 pounds. It all started when we moved to Spain and after we had done our sums and thinking we had enough money we found out there were other things we had to buy.

At this time being skint there was only one way and you've guessed it. Now that was not too bad but my error was to have the bank pay back the minimum amount each month.

Then we decided to travel here and there a drive back to England Twice (not a cheap way to travel) and various other things we paid for and not quite 'all of a sudden' but it dawned on us that we could not carry on this way.

So, we stopped. Literally stopped. No eating out or things like that. We could have cheap days out if we took sandwiches. We were going to start to pay all this money back.

But, along came a spider in the name of the tax man and could he have about 4500 pounds to be paid immediately or he would set the Spanish tax man onto me what ever that would mean. I came to an arrangement with the English tax man that I could pay him off monthly. So, I'd solved that problem but, was still left with the problem of paying off the credit cards. Please don't think that I am complaining, I got myself into this mess and it's me that's going to get me out of it.

While all this was going on, unknown to most ordinary people like me, the banks were being ultra greedy and, investing in products which they now openly admit they did not understand, but the interest payback was supposed to be brilliant. It turned out not to be the case and now we have a recession.

Because my Pension is paid to my bank in Spain and the exchange rate because of the recession dropped rather badly and, my pension in relative terms dropped by nearly 30%

and this at the time when I had just Started to payback the tax man. The credit cards are on hold at minimum payments for the time being.

It's rather a strange that when I think back to what my mother told me once about the way I used to spend money when I was young. She said and it was like a prediction that

“I will never have any money”. Turns out she was right. My twin brother has no money problems but he has health problems which I do not. My younger brother was left quite large sums of money when his business partner Died. Now I'm not envious of these two brothers because the way I see it it is the way it is. My youngest brother who has never been married and therefore does not know the discipline that married life gives one.

He is a gambler. He has had quite a lot of money in his life but he keeps buying the bookmaker a new 'ROLLER' every year. One time he was playing poker on the internet.

It failed. They start you off with so many thousands of dollars virtual money. While he was playing with virtual money he was winning thousands but when he went over to real money he started to lose thousands, Now I wonder why that was????

I read in the Washington post (It comes by Email) yesterday that any bank that has been shored up by the government will have strict limits on bonus payments to execs.

I never got paid for failure and nor did most people, so why bankers. I'd sack the lot of them and start all over again.

       THE PRIVATE BANKERS

DEPOSIT BANKING IN CATALONIA

Deposit banking arose in the Catalonian region of Spain in the early

1200s at about the same time the bank of St. George started in Genoa.

Deposit banking was generally intended to perform safekeeping and

transfer services, not to make loans. But after 1200 in Catalonia:

     "(The)Crown was borrowing considerable sums from Jewish money

lenders and from the Templar's....In 1251 Roman Law, Gothic Laws and

the Decretals of the Church were declared invalid (in the area.)''17

    These banks were private enterprises and ran into typical banking

troubles, as seen from the banking laws enacted in 1300-1301:

    "No money changer shall keep a bank in any place in Catalonia

unless he shall first have given surety (a bond)...

     ''No money changer who may fail, and none who has recently failed

or in times past failed, shall again keep a bank or hold any office under

the Crown'' and ''Until he shall have satisfied all demands, he shall be

detained on a diet of bread and water.''

    An appendix was added in  1321:

    "If no such settlement is made, they shall be proclaimed bankrupt

and disgraced by the public crier in the places in which they failed and

throughout Catalonia. They shall be beheaded and their property shall

be sold for the satisfaction of their creditors by the Court...Neither we

nor the most high heir apparent, nor our successors may pardon any

money changers who have failed or may henceforth fail.'' And,

     ''In  1360 Fracesh Castello was beheaded in front of his bank.''18

17:- Ap Usher “The Early History of Deposit Banking in the Mediterranean”

(Harvard University Press, 1943)pp 237-238

18:- Usher cited above, pp.239-240

From page 158 of “ The Lost Science of Money “,” The Mythology of Money -

  The Story of Power “ By Stephen Zarlenga 2002

1. A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by one or more secretive powers or conspiracies.
2. A "conspiracy theory" is a colloquial term for referring to unconventional theories about current or historical events as unfounded, outlandish, or irrational.

Conspiracy theories in general allege that some particular event — such as an assassination, a revolution, or even the failure of a product — resulted not solely from the visible action of overt political or market forces, but rather from covert manipulation.

But because routine conspiracy theories are often simply allegations of covert action, and because these tend to be based on little or no solid evidence, the expression "conspiracy theory" in common speech is used to refer to allegations of collusion that the speaker considers unproven, unlikely, or false.

from the Film "Conspiracy Theory"   

from The wikpedia encyclopedia

Desiderata

Go placidly among the noise and haste and remember what peace there maybe in silence

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 

Keep interested in your career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.#

Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is
Many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself, you, a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars.

You have the right to be here, and, whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be.

And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its' sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful, Strive to be happy.