Chancellor’s pronouncements.

Anticipation had been mounting during the day to hear the Chancellor Mr Osborne's  comments on the economy and additional measures to stimulate it , without actually spending any more money. One of the most critical elements was the bringing forward of the change to retirement at 67 to 2026, which impacts the baby boomers of the 1960s.

The level of impending doom was outlined by the dire news for one young lady interviewed on Television - she had to look forward to another 45 years of Hairdressing!

Another impending change that would only serve to fuel the anger in the public sector strikes and demonstrations tomorrow – the fact that in addition to plans to change their pension plans, their pay rises after the current 2 year freeze would be limited to 1% per year.

No doubt another consequence would be to push public sector employees to leave the area for private employment – helping to achieve the 0.7 million posts that needed shedding to maintain the books.

Other activities today – learning to paint brachiating monkeys and leaping frogs in Chinese brush painting and met up with author Mrs Lowry on progressing her book. Helped Mrs Thomas install a new webcam on her PC – remotely as over 600 miles apart.

Losing a food reputation is all too easy. Spanish elections. Egyptian riots.

Drove to Hereford. Started in sunshine but soon hit the mists in the Midlands. Visibility was quite good, up to a kilometre or so. However, it transformed the autumnal landscape into flat shades of gray like monochrome watercolour layers.

Stopping at the halfway point of Corley service station on the westbound M6, I went for a meal. In the past year, the food and service at the Eat In had been great, contrary to the usual perceptions of a service station eatery. A fortnight ago, stopping there, I already noticed a slight decline in standards.

Today. The food in served was surely below the required minimum temperature, service was listless and indifferent at the till and the knives and the spoon in the cutlery tray were covered with crud. I asked the more positive helpful assistant to look at the cutlery and at least she immediately responded and clean cutlery was replaced.

It is so sad. Someone had previously made such a great effort to change the food quality and the perception of this particular eatery. Now it seems their effort is gradually being eroded away.

Internationally, Spain is now infected with the consequences of the Eurozone crisis. Coinciding with elections, it led to the fall of the socialist Government of Zapatero (who was not up for re-election himself) to the centre right opposition Peoples Party led by Mariano Rajoy. Austerity measures beckon.

The news of Gadaffi's son Saif being captured and likely to be prosecuted within Libya and the current crisis on Syria, on the edge of civil war have both been placed second place in the news by the increasing riots in Egypt’s cities. Major demonstrations are reported in Cairo's Tahir Square, protesting in advance of the coming elections as there seems to be doubt as to whether these will truly introduce democracy.