A nearly two-centuries-old farm machinery business faces tough times — their £10-million yearly turn-over cant protect them from new budget hits. Anthony Bone‚ the companys chairman points out that a £50‚000 yearly cost increase is forcing them to freeze new equipment investments
The farming community shares deep-rooted worries: a fifth-generation farmer explains how UK agricultures future looks shaky. Land brings less than 2% return which makes farmers property-rich but money-poor (while dealing with weather issues fuel costs and endless paper-work)
Natural landscape care remains farmers key role. One land-owner describes creating wild-life friendly spaces:
- Three lakes for water-birds
- New woodland areas
- Re-built old hedgerows
- Special grazing spots for cattle
The governments new value-for-money office sparked debate when David Goldstone got a £247‚000 per-year job for one-day-a-week work; his track record with the 2012 Olympics budget raises eye-brows
BBC programming quality shows concerning signs — arts coverage keeps shrinking. The Leeds Piano Competition got squeezed into a two-hour show; while BBC4 fills time with old sit-coms instead of fresh content
British Airways service standards keep dropping: business-class passengers point out bad seat layout and weak customer support. One reader mentions making 18 calls to their help-line with no real help
A heart-warming story closes todays letters: during a plane emergency about 50 years ago a father rushed back into smoke-filled aircraft to save his kids teddy bear — that toy still stays with its owner today