Recession
Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008Bullet was at the Metallica gig the other night, and he did well; he even managed to get a pit pass for himself.
Excellent. Well done Bullet. But haven’t the kids got it so easy these days? Christ Almighty, I was well into my eighties before I ever got to attend a major rock gig like that, and growing up, while some kids had no shoes, we were too poor to afford feet.
Bullet, on the other hand, has been to not one, but two winning Heineken Cup Finals. He went skiing in Italy at the beginning of the year and he went to Portugal for most of July. Apart from that, he’s mooching around with a Gibson electric guitar over his shoulder that cost as much as a small helicopter.
And you know what? I still can’t get the ungrateful little fucker to lift a finger.
These kids have grown up in a time of unparallelled prosperity. They don’t know what it’s like to see mass emigration, or dole queues stretching around the block. They don’t know about 16% interest rates or driving around in rusty old bangers held together with string. They don’t know about hunting for a bargain, or haggling with a salesman. They don’t know about fixing the car yourself in the pissing rain because you can’t afford a mechanic. They don’t know about waiting until you have the money before buying something. They presume you’ll pay their college fees. They presume you’ll buy their designer clothes. They just presume you’ll keep on paying because that’s the way it’s always been, and who could blame them?
They have no idea what it is to be flat broke. They’ve never had to choose between buying a tin of beans or getting the bus home.
In fact, they have no idea what’s coming down the tracks and it’s going to shock the hell out of them, but you know, maybe that’s a good thing.
Maybe, along with a little fiscal reality, we might also start to regain some of the courtesies of everyday life. We might stop being so arrogant and self-centred. We might lose some of the vulgar boorishness we’ve adopted since we started pretending to be rich.
We might regain something of our character.
Stumble it!
August 23rd, 2008
So nicely said.Try sardine sandwiches a couple of days in a row or make toast over a dirty coal fire cos the electricity is knocked off.Ah yes,the good times are on the way.
August 23rd, 2008
Or filing down a 2p piece to the shape of a 10p for the gas metre.Well said.
It’ll be a hard fall for a lot of people alright.Best to see to the fundamentals and be sure of those at least.
@Mule Taker.We must have been neighbours…or related.Been there many a time.
August 23rd, 2008
Old bangers were not the only things held together with pieces of string. What about the Irish Press cut up into little squares, suspended from a nail in the wall, in the smallest room in the house (& not always indoors!).
Perhaps an appropriate use for that paper, and others of its ilk, but a sign of domestic economy nevertheless.
August 23rd, 2008
We never tasted meat until I was at least 10, and I was 15 before I realised that my ma’s special steak was in fact liver.
August 23rd, 2008
nice. well said, one of my parents said this week that not only did they have to live through hard times but now they have to watch their children and grand children try to struggle through it too, sad.
August 24th, 2008
Maybe it’s because I’m an asshole but I’m enjoying this recession. Last year was the first time I earned above 20,000 yo-yos. In the meantime I had to watch my stupider classmates rip people off with their extortionate prices. Let’s put it like this: they wouldn’t have passed their multplication tables without my help!!! So I reckon, having experienced somewhat poverty through the Celtic Tiger years I will be able to cope with the shit ahead.
On the other had I’m sick of employer/economist twats harping on about the lack of science, IT and engineering graduates. If they hadn’t fired them all around 2001 they would have plenty!!!! Pricks!!! It doesn’t surprise me that people are looking for secure jobs like teaching.
August 24th, 2008
Tin of beans every time.
August 24th, 2008
John Cleese and Co.did a sketch That sounded just like all of the above,but not as good.
August 24th, 2008
You were in luck if you had the Irish Press cut into rectangles - we had the St.Martin dePorres magazine to contend with!
August 24th, 2008
@Andrew
Once a month mini format. Tricky, unless you had access to Fr. Coffey’s returns.
August 24th, 2008
You know Bock, I was saying this very thing just yesterday.
I have nothing more to add…
August 25th, 2008
Darn fucking tootin’.
A good recession’s what all the new-money needs to cop them the fuck on. Bloke I used to work with had ice-sculptures and a fucking 15 minute firework display at his wedding a few weeks back (among many other, insane expenses). Jesus wept, what’s wrong with a few bottles of Blue Nun and chicken in a basket?
Ok, so I’m exaggerating on the chicken in a basket thing, but not the Blue Nun. Nectar, I tell you, nectar.