It's all about belt tightening in Ireland these days. Whatever vague talk there was a few years ago about
spending our way out of the economy has been forgotten about. Cutbacks and increased taxes are
the order of the day, and when I get my pay cheque tomorrow, I'll discover just how much extra tax
I'm paying thanks to the Budget at the end of 2010. So it was probably just as well that I loosened
my purse strings and bought a few items, including this belt, in the sales today.
At long last, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) has announced the date for the General Election:
March 11th. There is a feeling that people want real change this time round but, unless the
whole political system is changed to create a more caring society, where people not profit matter, I don't think they'll get it.
There might be new faces in power but there probably won't be any major differences in policy. I'll still have to pull my
belt a bit tighter.