Sunday 13 January 2013

Found

in a letter to the Saturday Guardian Money Pages on 12.01.13

"I’ve given up buying any but the most essential clothes . . . . . . . . . . . because I have no reliable income and we’re trying to pay the bills with two small children. . . . . . . ."

Is that allowed?

Maybe this is not a small stone but it made me laugh out loud.


46 comments:

  1. Gosh - I would assume the children are worth quite a lot, but usually it doesn't come to that! (Oh - FRIKO!)

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  2. haha those are def hard times...glad i have 2 kids...just in case...

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  3. HAHAHA! Trust you to pick that out. Scary observant.

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  4. Friko, I had to read and then reread this to get at your humor (I can be a bit slow). Then I had to check out the 'small stone' site...

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  5. well, what else are you going to do with them?

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  6. Maybe they should have another one in case the cost of living goes up?

    XO
    WWW

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  7. Maybe the two small children increase in value as they grow older.

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  8. Recalls the Marx Brothers' "Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas."

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  9. Too funny. It's like the exchange between friends..

    Friend #1: I got a car for my wife.

    Friend #2: That sounds like a good deal.

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  10. I guess it's all in the value of the bills V the value of the children.
    -chuckle-

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  11. Seen on a church noticeboard: "Don't worry yourself to an early grave - let the church help you."

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    1. And, Friko, you can imagine that we never skip the possibility for a laugh when we find "Kinderschnitzel" on a menue. And you know what Baby-Öl is made from...?

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  12. Tsk. How improvident. The best way to use them to pay the bills is to train them to do an amusing song and dance act: that way, there's a potential for reliable income (pushing them up chimneys is sadly no longer economically viable, and in any case tended only to be so until they got big enough to get stuck).

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  13. Hello:
    Clearly the value of children is on the increase. In line with inflation, we wonder? It is such a pity that we have none to off set a rather hefty [and unjust in our opinion] Hungarian tax bill.

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  14. zolang je nog kunt lachen,kan je heel veel aan.

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  15. It is funny....kids aren't worth as much as they used to be!
    Hugs
    SUeAnn

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  16. This small stone clearly was not found in the river and it seems just perfect to trip you up.

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  17. Autolycus had the best response - I have nothing to add. Except that I laughed, too.

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  18. I guess grandchildren would probably be accepted too....

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  19. The way some small children are permitted to behave these days they would probably be regarded as negative equity....

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  20. Good catch. It’s easy to make mistakes in the English language.

    I read your last two posts. You asked how come I read so many books – well for one, I have not been invited to a party here in town for many years. We live in a county, miles from little towns, and on a rural route. I pass the same houses that I have passed for decades and don’t have a clue who lives there – if I went to their doors, they might open the door with a gun – I kid you not. So, better stay indoor and read!

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  21. Auolycus is right . They'd be better off adding value to the product , rather in the way farmers are now being encouraged to do .
    Could the children be certifed as organically reared , for instance ?

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  22. Is a large child more valuable?

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  23. LOL - have to share a little story with you.
    Our telephone/internet provider has added some new services. We can now read the phone message on the screen while we listen to it play. However, there are glitches. I received a message on Monday from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Or as the Comcast readout put it, "The sisters of St. Joseph and Keith." Hmm...he must be one of the newer saints.

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  24. well why not, people have children to increase their benefits allowance, or to get onto the housing register

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  25. Hi Friko - well you've stirred everyone's imaginations here ... what a fun read ... and observant to the core ...

    Loved the story line ... cheers Hilary

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  26. Ha! How much do these children go for?

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  27. I've never paid a bill with a small child.

    A flirtatious smile, maybe. But never a child.

    Pearl

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  28. I also laughed out loud! Thanks for the humor.

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  29. And as a bonus, they'll no longer have to buy clothes for those kids. Money saving all the way around.

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  30. Friko, how good to have children to fall back on in hard times.

    xo

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  31. Oh, I never thought of that! Too funny.

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  32. On the first of the month, I lay my twelve-year-old sideways, so she's a long rectangle, and then scratch the words "Pay to the Order of Minnesota Power Company." After that, on the next line (I use her right arm as a placement guide), I write out that month's amount due. Then I slap a stamp on her right shoulder and shove her into the post.

    Works a charm.

    (oh, and I have to leave my comments with my old blog account, as there's no option in your comment choices for using Name/URL, which is how I do it on other blogs so as to link back to my current blog site)

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  33. Tried to leave a message earlier. Returned to day to say I followed the links to Amazon where I purchased a small book. Also purchased a few more books. Hopefully, I will find a few small stones between times spent in my armchair with books. Thanks Friko

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  34. Thank you for my afternoon smile
    as I am homebound
    because of icy conditions :)
    Have been home 7 days tomorrow
    and hopefully I can go to the market...

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  35. I'm laughing out loud as well!
    When I taught, a note was required for a child to be excused for an absence. Mrs.. . wrote "Please excuse Phyllis for being?. Poor child.

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  36. How did my mind set get in print over in England -- except for the children part! Honestly, I have no great clothes -- but wonderful books and art supplies and dishes!

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  37. And then there are the small children that no one would take as a gift.

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  38. Yes, I don't suppose the utility companies would take two small children in payment. I would have laughed out loud, too. I love things like that.
    I hope all is well at your house.
    Luv, K

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  39. Now was your snowdrops a part of this small stones?

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Comments are good, I like to know what you think of my posts. I know you'll keep it civil.