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…

Oh dear. The CPA have looked at the figures and reckon that the construction industry is going to see the biggest fall for 30 years this year, with housing starts their lowest point ever - or since 1924 which for most of us comes to the same thing.

Here we go again. As if it's not hard enough, trying to stay in business when all around you is news of yet more redundancies, administrations and high street woes, firms will now have to be extra, extra careful when it comes to health and safety practice.

So that nice Lord Mandelson has reached into his (our, actually) pockets and brought out a little something to help the poor beleaguered car industry out.