The word bonus: if you take it to its Latin root, it means something good. The OED will tell you it refers to an addition, usually to pay, in consequence of have done something good or exceptional.

Hmm. Tax cuts. So the Prime Minister is thinking about bringing in tax cuts so that we can all start spending again and re-energise the high street, the housing market and the economy in general and get us about of the financial mess we're in (in time for the next election, perhaps?).

Good gracious. The news about Wolseley's 2,000 job cuts in the UK just made the BBC lunchtime news.

In a time where Wolseley have shed thousands of jobs and hundreds of branches, where even Travis Perkins and Grafton are cutting back on acquisition activity and the latter's sales are 14% down after 10 months, and where half the heavyside manufacturers have closed or mothballed plants, it's hardly surprising that something had to give.

Once upon a time there were three little pigs who decide to make their respective ways in the world and build their own houses.

Kids' TV is great. At least it is when it's done well.

Poor old Woolworths. As if they haven't got enough troubles at the moment, they have ended up being fined for exposing their employees to asbestos dust.

Listening to the radio the other day, I heard a 'housing market expert' talking about the current state of the market. He came up with two theories, both of which I have issues with.

The radical student that I used to be was rather horrified to find that I was agreeing with something that David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party said. I guess that's what age and responsibility does for you.

Printing schedules being what they are - and Christmas being what it is - I'm writing this some weeks ahead of publication. Still, I don't think I'm taking too much of a punt in assuming that the financial state of all our affairs will be pretty much the same mid-January as it was mid-December. (Or…