I never new that we were the highest spenders per household in Europe for Christmas. Absolutely amazing. According to businessetc.ie, Irish households will spend "€965.80 with an average €499.60 spend on gifts". Brilliant - Whilst everyone else in the EU dines on water and a side order of misery, I'll be live-skyping myself devouring Turkey stuffed with pheaseant, stuffed with foiegras, chestnusts and some IOUs into the spartan dining rooms of Berlin and Athens.
Another interesting fact from this report was that the average socializing spend this year will amount to €177.90. The average punter in 2006 would have taken that out as 'just in case money' going up and down Wexford Street, whilst Bertie smirked at us benevolently from every street corner. I once ordered a €6 pint of Guinness - it was not, as you'd imagine for the price, poured personally by Arthur Guinness, as the Rolling Stones did an acoustic set just for little me. It was in fact bought in a crowded city center boozer, where everyone was hammered and the music was awful. The only thing impressive was that it didn't kill me: It was the worst pint I ever drank and tiny Euro symbols got lodged in my windpipe.
It leads me to wonder about other numerical figures that came out today and what they say about Ireland; the pay of some IRBC executives tipping the half million mark being one, the greatest irony being that Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath asked the question to get the answer. FF as the 'bFF' of probity and prudence? I even spotted a Tamworth outside wearing a bomber jacket and goggles, reading a well-thumbed copy of 'Biggles'.
Another startling stat was in education. 90% of the total secondary school population now goes to complete their schooling. Fifteen years ago it was just over 80%. The worst performing areas are Limerick and Dublin cities. In other news, bears seen sensationally walking towards forest with bumper pack of Charmin loo-roll to prove a point. So poor is the state of Irish education that the question has to be asked, how many students could actually spell 'Biggles' at a push? Answers on a postcard to Enda. He's not in the office today, so be patient.
The fact that more kids are staying in school comes from the welcome realization that education is important, even with catastrophic stats in student retention, literacy and numeracy, science, languages and a child health and nutrition time-bomb ticking louder by the day; not to mention that we have the lowest rate of investment in education of any EU country. We're a country with fabulous petrol stations and shabby looking outhouses for kids to learn in.
All our problems, however, are about to be solved! We've got a referendum on children on Saturday. If the turnout's high enough for a No vote, then children will be abolished. We'll use the freed up cash to develop a time machine, so uncle Arthur can pull me a decent pint. Alternatively, though more realistically, we could plump up the IRBC's executive wage bill.
It's all about priorities.
Another interesting fact from this report was that the average socializing spend this year will amount to €177.90. The average punter in 2006 would have taken that out as 'just in case money' going up and down Wexford Street, whilst Bertie smirked at us benevolently from every street corner. I once ordered a €6 pint of Guinness - it was not, as you'd imagine for the price, poured personally by Arthur Guinness, as the Rolling Stones did an acoustic set just for little me. It was in fact bought in a crowded city center boozer, where everyone was hammered and the music was awful. The only thing impressive was that it didn't kill me: It was the worst pint I ever drank and tiny Euro symbols got lodged in my windpipe.
It leads me to wonder about other numerical figures that came out today and what they say about Ireland; the pay of some IRBC executives tipping the half million mark being one, the greatest irony being that Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath asked the question to get the answer. FF as the 'bFF' of probity and prudence? I even spotted a Tamworth outside wearing a bomber jacket and goggles, reading a well-thumbed copy of 'Biggles'.
Another startling stat was in education. 90% of the total secondary school population now goes to complete their schooling. Fifteen years ago it was just over 80%. The worst performing areas are Limerick and Dublin cities. In other news, bears seen sensationally walking towards forest with bumper pack of Charmin loo-roll to prove a point. So poor is the state of Irish education that the question has to be asked, how many students could actually spell 'Biggles' at a push? Answers on a postcard to Enda. He's not in the office today, so be patient.
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| Ready for Take Off... |
All our problems, however, are about to be solved! We've got a referendum on children on Saturday. If the turnout's high enough for a No vote, then children will be abolished. We'll use the freed up cash to develop a time machine, so uncle Arthur can pull me a decent pint. Alternatively, though more realistically, we could plump up the IRBC's executive wage bill.
It's all about priorities.
