GOGS...Grumpy Old Gits Society..

OK so let me add a little to this pile. My wife has been severely ill since early December of 2016. There were times where I could not leave her side and she was sometimes acting like a totally different person.

She is doing better now but still not 100%.

We all talk about being healthy and happy and all that but when it hits you like it did me it borders on the level of panic soldiers must feel when a battle breaks out.

Part of you wants to flee, part says you have to stay.

The point is you know you found the right one when you literally will go through hell and high water for her (or him...whatever's your pleasure...)

It's when she is having bad days I realize how much I love her and how much that love grows every day regardless of how she is feeling...

I know she didn't marry me for looks, my smooth buttery voice (I sound like mickey mouse after drinking chocolate milk) or my intelligence ( ) so I see it a privilege to take care of her and the family as best I can...

I remember back around 2008 I think price for milk here on the continent tripled because of Chinese demand... seemed totally stupid considering that many Asians are lactose intolerant... it all settled down after a few months.

As far as your vanilla extract friends are concerned I figure it is that same as winning the lottery... they got lucky... speculated well.

When the Icelandic banks went bust I know a lot of people were freaked out. When I talked to others I was shocked at the lack of sympathy. One guy even said "hey, you mess with the bull you get the horns..." where in my mind people were simply putting money in a bank with the best interest.. it should not have been more risky than the local bank...

Anyhoo... the whole profiteering thing though will always be around especially as long as we have publicly traded companies. Their number one success indicator is profit.

I think I have said this before.. I can actually taste bile when I see the statement "we have to produce in China/India/Mild Slave Labor Country so that we can offer <insert product> at a price people are willing to pay."

I mean, really, does it really hurt someone to pay 6.99€ instead of 4.99€ for a t-shirt? The rules of economics means that you can pass that money on and everyone will still be happy and "profitable".

Carrera for example produces in China and yes they invest thousands in development but I know that retailers make less than 10% profit on new cars. Cars that have been around for yonks must provide Carrera with a 30-40% margin. This is why I totally understand Hornby's current approach of making the same car with different liveries.

I think Hornby's fiscal year is now over. I sure hope the board agrees with their approach as it would be a huge loss to the industry and hobby if we lose them.