My online home! (soul for sale)

This is a good old test and I would like to check where this post ends up hopefull on abb4.

UK Mortgage market continues to weaken! (June 2008)

Latest figures show that the UK housing market continues to weaken; according to the Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) the UK mortgage market today is still in a depressed state. However the rate of decline has slowed a little from those of recent months.

In April gross lending rose by eight per cent, reaching £26.1 billion. This was after two months of falling figures, down five per cent on April 2007. This compared with the figures for March 2008, which was 24 per cent down on March 2007, suggests a slight rise in confidence.

CML Director general Michael Coogan has said that monthly volumes of house purchase lending are lower than last year and are expected to continue weakening.

Remortgaging has continued to increase its share of the market and stands at 42 per cent of the market in April 2008. In April 2007 it was 38 per cent. A total of 83000 loans for remortgaging in April represent a 14 per cent rise in volume and 11 per cent rise in value since March.

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Total number of loans for home purchase for this period have continued to fall and loans for home purchasing now represent just 30 per cent of the market as opposed to 44 per cent one year ago.

April house purchase loans totalled 50,700 with a total value of£7.7 billion, a nine and ten per cent rise in volume and value respectively since March.

Loans to first time buyers were up four per cent from March totalling 18,500 but this was still 36 per cent lower than April last year.

Loans to Home movers totalled 32,000. This is 38 percent lower than April last year but up 13 per cent on March.

Among borrowers managing to get a mortgage fixed rate lending is becoming more popular as borrowers seek certainty.

In April 59 percent of borrowers took out fixed rate products as opposed to 54 per cent in March

Mr Coogan said that the squeeze on mortgage funding has lead to many lenders tightening their lending criteria and this will make it more difficult for some borrowers to get a mortgage, but it will reduce risk in a slower market.

Looking to give your home a makeover but constrained by your budget? Here’s a list of suggestions for creating a luxurious high end finish without breaking the bank.

Design sales. A lot of retailers offer great bargains on their end of line and ex display items. Researching these deals takes a bit of leg work, but you can save a lot of cash by keeping track of who is offering what.

Likewise, cultivate a good relationship with your local second hand furniture dealer. Second hand furniture often has more character than just buying it new from any old mass produced range or high street. You could end up with something unique, that comes already assembled and it costs less!

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Freebies. It is astonishing what people are willing to give away simply because they’re trying to create a bit of room in their home. Particularly with larger household items, such as furniture etc, people are often grateful to have someone to take it off their hands. Websites like Freecycle and Ebay are a good place to find some great deals, you just have to be willing to collect. It could even be worth hiring a van for a couple of days and spending the time driving around collecting you freebie goodies. They money you spend on petrol and van hire would be considerably less than you’d be paying to buy these items new.

Roping in your friends. Redecorating, DIY jobs, carpet laying. It’s time to call in those favours! While bigger more complex jobs should always be left up to the professionals, there nothing like getting a bit of help from a friendly neighbour in exchange for a few slices of pizza! You’re saving not only money but time. Just remember when it’s your turn to return the favour.

Research outside your budget. Half the battle with decorating is knowing what you want. Don’t be afraid to read designer magazines and browse the top of the line items for inspiration– Once you find a look you love, you are then ready to go out and recreate it for a fraction of the price.

My mates Ed show is definately now going up to the edinburgh fringe festival. Eveyone must go see it. You’ve probable heard about it already but it is called the Karaoke of comedy it’s a show where the audience are the star. Check out the reviews here: bored tonight. It will also be a great place to catch all the other big improvisation groups and have your chance to perform. Group that have agree to perfom include Alcock improv,Oxford imps and the Edinburgh fringe favorite Improverts. So check it out, it should be a new hit Edinburgh fringe show. Get in on it whilst it still new!

My friend and I were discussing politics on the phone the other day. Well, not politics, religion, only loosely though. Just one of those casual things when you chat around the subject and no one really minds what’s being said. Also, this particular friend goes on a bit, lovely guy but a bit “blah blah,” so I tend to zone out a lot of the time when he’s talking.

Anyway, he was saying something about how people should stand by their beliefs even if they’re misguided. “How do you mean John?” I said (John isn’t his real name I am forced to protect his identity)

“Even if you’re beliefs are really extreme and misguided you should stand by them” John repeated. “I have more respect for someone who is completely wrong but stands by what they believe in than people who don’t”

The penny dropped. John was a Nazi. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“John” I said. Are you a Nazi? Do you love the BNP, John, do you hate all foreigners and have misguided military ambitions towards Russia John, do you go Nazi speed dating, is that what you’re saying?”

John then said something about how no he wasn’t a Nazi and no he wasn’t a member of the BNP either, that would be especially tricky considering his Indian heritage, he was just making a point but that’s not what I heard.

What I heard was this, “Yes, definitely Julie. I am definitely a Nazi. How clever of you to have spotted this. Shshshsh don’t tell anyone”

“I can’t believe you are a Nazi!” I said, incredulous. John then said some other stuff but I was too astounded by the revelation that John was a Nazi to listen to John telling me that he wasn’t a Nazi.

I have since told all of John’s friends about it and I am trying to get hold of his mum. I have also taken to writing articles about John’s extreme political beliefs for a web publishing site he works for, knowing he will be reading these articles. It makes me happy, especially since it isn’t true. The best thing is I even now have him believing it! Brilliant. John, if you’re reading this (and I know you are) Seig Heil!

Response:
John has recently responded by asking me why I never questioned the photo of his adopted deceased “father” that he has hanging on his bedroom wall… (see the image at the top of the article)

What better way to promote your own work than to accuse a national institution, not to mention a national treasure of self promotion!  In his outburst that shows such as “I’d Do Anything” were little more than a 13 week promotion for the shows they were casting, Spacey accomplishes the dig at the BBC and Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber, whilst at the same time getting his name and a mention for his play and movies in the media that quote him.  A decent london public relations company couldn't have done better, Smart move Mr Spacey! 

Problem is that whilst cynics may agree with Kevin Spacey, and of course there is some obvious logic in what he is saying, it can’t be overlooked that these shows are extremely entertaining.  They are good old fashioned family TV viewing.  My young sons enjoy them as much as I do – especially this round with the search for Oliver being cast alongside the part of Nancy.  Aren’t these shows that are not about violence, back stabbing or over-exposed (or even under clothed) celebrities more about traditional family values? Aren’t they showing that people who are prepared to work at something they are passionate about can get ahead?  As each contestant is voted out, the criticism they receive is constructive, and something that anyone watching with a yearning for a career on the West End stage can run with. 

The musical theatre is a strong UK tradition, and one that is held dear in the hearts of Brits.  Being involved with the making of a West End star, especially with the backing of such stage legends as Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber and Cameron Mackintosh as guides, is something that will appeal to a great many people – as has been proved by the fact that “I’d Do Anything” is the third such show that the BBC has aired. 

By and large reality shows highlight how not to behave. They often involve people acting in largley unacceptable ways, and promote things like genital surgery as being normal. “I’d Do Anything” is a professional show that gives sound advice without putting people down.  It shows how to treat others respect, even if you’re rejecting them.  Perhaps it does promote the show along the way, but compared with the number of people who watch the show, the box office numbers will testify that the BBC “audition” is as close to the West End that many people in the UK are able to afford. 

The media promoting Kevin Spacey’s sourpuss outlook is just giving him an opportunity to grab the limelight in time for his own upcoming premiere.   Coincidence?  I think not!

Finally we have had progress with the website.Josie has finally re-designed the vending consumables page