Suddenly They Had so Much Time on Their Hands

With the current economic situation being what it is, it's not really a surprise to hear that one company or another is planning on cutting the odd thousand jobs or two; after all, times are tough and economies of scale have to be realised.

Nevertheless, despite this sad truth, it's still a bit of a surprise to hear that a number of high-profile firms, operating within the country's manufacturing sector, have wielded the axe against so many employees; after all, although Christmas is a time for giving gifts, these employees probably weren't expecting to find themselves discussing severance packages.

In total, close to 4,000 positions worldwide are being culled from the employee ranks of BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and AstraZeneca; although nearly 2,000 of these job cuts may well be from Rolls-Royce alone. PSA Peugeot Citroen is also planning on cutting a total of 2,700 individual jobs, although this cull is not expected to effect employees in the UK.

This being the case, now more than ever, it's a good time to go thanking those lucky stars that you're alive, and treating yourself to any number of gifts to remind yourself just how special you really are; it's not marketing nonsense, you really are worth it!

While any number of gifts could prove themselves to be incredibly inspirational, the book 101 Things To Do Before You're Old and Boring could be the icing on the cake. The long list of ideas includes little gems such as starting a band, lobbying an MP, or even the suggestion that you should become a spy; although that might actually prove to be just a little bit far-fetched. Other ideas include make a crane out of paper, and making a good job of telling a lie. It's the ideal life list for adults and children alike.

And as the prospect of unemployment for the masses looms closer, what better way to reminisce over the many past economic tragedies in Britain's history than over a bowl of nuts? Aside from the bowl - and the nuts - one of the many gifts appropriate for the occasion could be the Maggie Thatcher Nutcracker. She might not be the most popular politician in Britain's history, but she has successfully crushed a lot of things; this nutcracker is very much in the same mould. Designed to feature Maggie's iconic blue skirt suit, the Maggie Thatcher Nutcracker is one of those gifts that can easily stand the test of time.

But what about those looking to purchase gifts on a budget? Racing Grannies could be the perfect solution to the problem; simply wind them up and watch them race! Featuring moveable arms and two racing positions - upright and bent-double - the Racing Grannies are inspirational, and show just how much can be achieved in the face of so much adversity. Success is, after all, not just for the young and agile!

However, things may not be as bad as first assumed, as there have been reports in the UK press that retail sales in the UK are not nearly as bad as had been predicted. Sure, sales are falling - although this must surely rebound as Christmas draws close, and people inevitably start shopping for gifts - but they're not going down as quickly as had been expected. The confirmation has come directly from the National Audit Office, which has revealed that over the course of October, retail sales declined by 0.1 per cent. And, however bad that sounds, they're still 1.9 per cent higher when considered in annualised terms.

This being the case, perhaps we shouldn't feel so bad about things? Money is clearly still being spent, and gifts are still being bought. The situation could change though, and things could be completely different tomorrow, or even next month.

Perhaps then, it really might be a good idea for us to sit down with the bowl of nuts, take the Maggie Thatcher Nutcracker in hand, and enjoy.