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Arkwright - The Independent Voice
Like many, the time of getting all my year end figures together has coincided with all the publicity surrounding MPs claims for questionable items on their expenses and it has caused me, and perhaps others, to realise we're being a little bit dim. Naturally, my accounting books include the costs involved with running the business but I realised that I had been very modest in my claims and there was a lot more in my life that could be related to running a sports shop that should, if I am to follow the inspirational behaviour of our elected parliamentarians, in future be included. I must just be more creative in what I call things. I thought I went on a skiing holiday in March but I realise now it was a research trip.
Falling asleep in front of the telly watching dreary details of the Budget on Newsnight I hazily recognised I need to be constantly in touch with the media world in order to run my small business (SMEs so vital to the economy of this country according to Mr B) so the next day went off to buy a neat flat screen TV for the bedroom (then I can drift off in comfort) and whilst in the store decided what the hell let's have one for both the bathroom and kitchen too - all justifiably chargeable I'm assuming and well within that famous department store price bracket. We're off to Venice at the end of the month, it was to have been a birthday treat but will now have to be designated a EU small business comparison training expedition, life can be hard.
I'm always concerned when a supplier has resorted to factoring as often, before too much longer, the news comes through that they have gone into administration. This was exactly the case with one of our suppliers but once some streamlining had been completed and some debts washed from their liabilities (wonderful thing this administration!) they were up and continuing to trade. However, the factoring went on and with it my money disappeared into that marvellous and upright system called the banking world. Six weeks later the factoring bank suddenly credited my supplier with my payment and then the supplier asked me why I'd taken the prompt payment settlement as to him it appeared I had only just paid! "It's that factor at the bank you want to sort out," I said. "Get him to pay you the lost discount." He laughed at my not pronouncing the t in factor and agreed, he thought he was a little facor too!
Business Link are at it again dishing out "expert" advice on how we should all run our businesses when many of the individuals working there are quite unlikely to be able to run a drinks party at an off licence. This month's missive boasts of an event offered FREE by the Government. This is so misleading, nothing is free that the Government administers because we have all paid for it in our taxes. Healthcare is not free, education is not free, bus passes for the over 60s are not free we have paid for everything including the PM's cleaner. What would the Trades Description Act make of this "free"? Perhaps everyone's eye would be more sharply focused on the ball if any expenditure was expressed as "the Government, after careful consideration, has authorised tax payers' money to be spent on X, Yand Z" as it is not their money to waste or do with as they fancy.
Out of most things bad there can come some things good and I think with all these MPs being forced to step down, aside or out of the public eye there is an opportunity for me to seriously consider making preparations to stand at the next general election. While the brakes are being applied to the gravy train, the more-thangenerous salary and long summer recess still have a real appeal when compared with the current challenges of retail, daily takings seem guaranteed in parliament while they are currently extremely haphazard in my till. With this career change in mind I'm signing up for a course at a fancy new college in our area describing itself as a dynamic place to study. This course, according to the prospectus, will examine what is holding me back and release me from self-imposed chains so I can face life with freedom and choice - doesn't that sound absolutely idyllic and suitable for the fantasy world of politics? Part II of the course is called Delude Yourself and All Those Around You, the description for which concludes bookkeeping and memory skills not necessary - perfect!
