No time for blogging

I've just noticed that yesterday's post was my first since the end of August.

I suspect that many people may have assumed I'd given up blogging again, but this really wasn't the case. There are two main reasons why I've not posted since August.

First of all, I've pretty much said all I need to say about the current economic and political crisis gripping Britain and the west. I think it's fair to say that it has, thus far, unfolded pretty much as I predicted, but that doesn't make me feel any better about it.

Because the other reason I haven't posted is that I have been so busy.

As you know - if you read this blog - I don't like to divulge too much detail about what I do now. I officially retired in March, but opted to start my own business soon after following several requests from friends.

Well, this business has snowballed. What started off as a hobby helping out a couple of mates has turned into a full time, 12 hours a day occupation. I do "business coaching" - helping start ups and struggling businesses to survive and grow.

It's very hard work, but very rewarding - in more than one sense - but I really wish it wasn't necessary.

The trouble is - so many people are losing their jobs and deciding to start their own business I have more work than I can handle. I don't advertise or market my services at all - all my clients have come through recommendations, but because I have so much work, I have very little time for blogging.

But don't get the idea that I've given up. I haven't. When I have something to say I'll still say it - as long as I can find the time to write and post it.

I don't plan to do business coaching for ever. As long as I'm being asked to help and as long as I have the time and enthusiasm to help I'll do what I can - but I don't see it being a long term thing.

Ranting Stan is alive and well - just too bloody busy!

The day democracy died

The 3rd November 2011.

Remember that date - because it is the date when the principle of democracy died in Europe.

Anyone who has read this blog in the past will know what I think of the EU - and that I have been warning about its anti-democratic nature for some years - but even I didn't expect the EU to behave in the way it just has.

That the leaders of some EU nations were so prepared to so completely ride roughshod over the democratic will of another nation is not new. To do it so brazenly and so openly is flabbergasting.

And yet - even as this happens, our media ignore what this means.

They see with their own eyes how the knife in the shape of a "bail out" is wielded by the killers - Sarkozy and Merkel - and thrust into the victim. They watch as the knife is plunged into the beating heart of the democracy and their only concern is that the knife is unharmed.

Incredible. This is truly a day of infamy. A day which, in years to come and in the history books of the future, will be remembered as the day the EU finally did away with any pretence of democracy.

And the biggest irony of all is that the democracy was killed off in the nation which gave birth to the idea over 2000 years ago.