Never catch me drinking that....

I like a steaming cup of black coffee in the morning, but I'd draw the line at these coffee beans, which hails from Indonesia.
World's most expensive coffee at £50 a cup

Kopi Luwak is touted as the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 per pound, and is sold mainly in Japan and the United States. However in April 2008, the brasserie of Peter Jones department store in London's Sloane Square started selling a blend of Kopi Luwak peanut and Blue Mountain called Caffe Raro for £50 ($70.00) a cup. It has also recently become available at Selfridges, London, as part of their "Edible" range of exotic foods.
(Source: Wikipedia).

What makes Kopi Luwak coffee so unique is that the beans are extracted from the droppings of the Asian Palm Civet, a cat-sized mammal. The civets eat the soft coffee cherries, digest the fruit pulp and excrete the beans on the forest floor, because they cannot digest the beans. Plantation workers then collect the beans, which are sold as Luwak coffee.

Gives a new meaning to having one lump or two....

It never rains, but it pours...

Lloyds Banking Group says its subsidiary HBOS made a pre-tax loss of £10.8bn in 2008, while profits at Lloyds fell 80%.

Shares in Lloyds, which is 43% government-owned, fell sharply after a trading update revealed larger-than-expected losses at its subsidiary HBOS.

Lloyds are also in talks with the Treasury in order to reaching an agreement on placing about £250bn of its "toxic assets" in the government's new asset protection insurance scheme.

On Thursday Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) announced the largest annual loss in UK corporate history
Lloyds sees HBOS loss of £10.8bn

The collapse of our banks is shaping up to be one of the biggest shambles in corporate history.
To the British public, many of these so-called banking executives are no better than bank robbers, with the best scam in town - fuelling growth on massive lending and allowing people to borrow beyond their means in the good times. Then, when everything goes horribly Pete Tong, get our government to bail them out...

Unfortunately our banks are vital to the economy. We simply cannot allow them to fail. We can only hope that lessons are learnt from this debacle, and that it's never, EVER allowed to happen again (but somehow I doubt it)...

Staring into the abyss (continued)...

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has announced the largest annual loss in UK corporate history.

RBS, which had to be bailed out by the government last year, said that its 2008 loss totalled £24.1bn ($34.2bn).

The bank is also under fire over the estimated £693,000-a-year ($992,000) pension of former boss Sir Fred Goodwin. Mr Goodwin has rejected calls from the Chancellor Alistair Darling to hand back some of the money, which he is already receiving at the age of 50 (under an early retirement deal agreed with the RBS board when Mr Goodwin was forced out late last year).
Prime Minister Gordon Brown "demanded action" on the issue, saying pension payments on such a scale could not be justified when the company was losing so much money and cutting thousands of jobs.

RBS will also put £325 billion of toxic assets into a taxpayer-backed protection scheme, while the Government extends its 70% stake in the institution by a further £13 billion.

And there will be further gloom for the sector, as Lloyds Banking Group is expected to announce significant losses incurred by HBOS.
RBS reports record corporate loss

Sir Fred Goodwin has written a letter to Treasury minister Lord Myners, claiming that the government had been aware of his pension for months, so all the wailing and lamentation from our Prime Minister & Chancellor is a bit like bolting the stable door long after the horse has scarpered.

But when one considers that just over a year ago, RBS was involved in the £49 billion deal to capture Dutch rival ABN Amro, its fall from grace has been dramatic.
The British taxpayer (including me) now effectively own RBS. My concern is not so much Goodwin looking after number one, but the fact that we're now saddled with the financial equivalent of Monty Python's "Norwegian Blue" parrot!

Meanwhile....more grim news:

The United States will rack up a $1.75 trillion budget deficit this year, the biggest since World War Two. The White House budget announcement came as data showed the number of U.S. workers filing for jobless benefits jumped to a record high of 5.1 million.

Europe and Asia were also struggling, with economic sentiment in the euro zone slumping and Japan's finance minister declaring a "very bleak" outlook for first quarter GDP.

According to the World Bank, the global financial and economic crisis will trap 53 million more people in developing countries on less than $2 (£1.4o) a day this year. That's on top of the 130-155 million pushed into poverty in 2008 by soaring food and fuel prices.

Initial estimates for 2009 to 2015 indicate an average 200,000 to 400,000 more children may die each year if the crisis persists.
Also the effects of the crisis can been seen in various protests across Europe.
FACTBOX - Financial crisis sparks unrest in Europe

No light at the end of this particular tunnel, then...

Is the fat lady ready to sing at Old Trafford?

Liverpool's title hopes are dealt a severe blow as they are held to a 1-1 draw by Man City at Anfield.
Liverpool 1-1 Man City

Today was a bad result for Liverpool. They really needed to win, but could only draw at home instead.
Well, unless something completely unforeseen happens, it's starting to look like one of the easiest Premiership title achievements for Fergie & Manchester United. Say what you like about this United team, they have been consistent, and though it's hard to admit, they deserve to be labelled champions....again.

For the rest of the Premiership so-called "Big Four" - this season has been all rather disappointing, really:

• Chelski's players revolted and "Big Phil" Scolari promptly got the boot.
  
• Liverpool have stalled since Rafa's rant and have serious boardroom issues to resolve.


• As for Arsenal? Unpredictable - one week losing to Stoke, but then beating Man Utd the week after. Wenger needs to give the team an overhaul, because some of these Gunners don't deserve to wear the red 'n white.

Meanwhile Aston Villa are looking a strong bet to end Arsenal's membership as one of the Premiership elite, and I'm not going to underestimate Everton either.

Still there's always next season, eh?

Sweetie Sorrow...

The "last" bag of Woolworths pic'n'mix has sold for more than £14,500 at an Internet auction.

The souvenir from the collapsed retail chain received 115 bids before finally being sold to the highest bidder on eBay at midday on Saturday.
The 800gram bag contains fizzy cola bottles, rhubarb and custards, straw-berry bonbons, Turkish delight, pineapple cubes, white mice, and many other children’s favourites once sold at Woolworths, before the store chain became a recent victim of the worldwide economic slowdown with the loss of 27,000 jobs at some 800 branches across Britain.

Ed Adams, a Woolworths store manager, filled the pic'n'mix just before his shop in Petts Wood, Bromley, south London, closed for the final time. The bag has been officially certified by Woolworths' administrators, Deloitte, as the last one.

The auction proceeds will go to the Retail Trust, a charity for retail industry workers.
'Last' pic'n'mix fetches £14,500

I wonder what the winning bidder intends to do with these sweets?

Musical interlude...

I was going to make a comment about the perilous state of the economy - but I think we're all aware how bad things are...

So instead here's a musical trip back to the polyester days of DISCO!




Wayyy back in 1978, Penthouse Magazine (no less) released a Disco album for a group known as The Love Symphony Orchestra.
This song, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" was the most popular track and became an underground classic.
The album cover is also rather unique: a tri-fold containing a nude centerfold and several other photos of Penthouse's finest...

For more information on this gem, I recommend the Disco Delivery blog (respect due to Disco Delivery for the album covers, by the way)....

Yippee! Eduardo's back...

Almost a year ago, after Eduardo broke his leg while playing against Birmingham, I wrote in this blog:

"I really hope that he can still play football after this setback, but I'm not feeling optimistic."

Happily, it looks as if I was way too pessimistic (sorry).
Eduardo announced his return to football in some style on Monday night, by netting a brace against Cardiff City at the Emirates.
Nicklas Bendtner and Robin Van Persie also scored for Arsenal, and if it wasn't for the heroics of goalkeeper Tom Heaton, Cardiff would have suffered more than the 4-0 trouncing from the Gunners.
But the night was made for Eduardo Alves da Silva - indeed, for the first time in months, Arsenal looked like...well, Arsenal. Obviously well pleased with the result, doubly pleased for Eduardo (and judging by his hugs with the Arsenal medical staff, hats off to them as well).

One just couldn't have scripted a better comeback for the lad than Monday night...
Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff

Staring into the abyss (continued)...

Lloyds Banking Group has defended plans to reward staff with bonuses even through its subsidiary HBOS is expected to record a loss of nearly £11bn. The banking group says its employees deserve "financial recognition" for hitting targets.

In most cases staff bonuses would amount to £1,000 or less for employees earning about £17,000 per year.

There has been speculation that the government, which has already poured £17bn into the group, may be forced to take a majority stake in Lloyds, or even nationalise it. Lloyds is currently 43% taxpayer-owned.
Lloyds defends staff bonus plan

I must admit to being annoyed about the recent clamour to punish all "fat cat" bankers - first of all: not everyone who works in the City of London or Canary Wharf is a "fat cat".

Yes, our economy is in serious trouble thanks to the irresponsibility of our financial institutions. However LloydsTSB was doing fine, prior to its shotgun marriage with HBOS (arranged by Prime Minister Gordon Brown & Chancellor Alistair Darling). Overall the Lloyds side of the business is expected to make a profit of £1.3bn for 2008. Therefore I have no objections if Lloyds are paying bonuses to staff based on their own performance as Lloyds employees before the merger.
One the other hand, those executives and high level management responsible for the HBOS horror show that is their expected £10 billion loss shouldn't receive, or accept, any bonus. Simple as that.

And if we're talking about not rewarding failure, why should those executives and high level management of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), who failed to recognise the increased risks in the banking system get their bonus? The FSA are supposed to be supervising our banks, yet thus far, five out of the big 10 banks have crashed.

Some people in the FSA, as well as the Bank of England and the Treasury - our so-called Tripartite - should be hanging their collective heads in shame over this shambles.
As for Gordon Brown & Alistair Darling? The nation will deliver its verdict at the next election...

If I could have just one wish...

If I could have just one wish,

I would wish to wake up everyday to the sound of your breath on my neck,

the warmth of your lips on my cheek,

the touch of your fingers on my skin,

and the feel of your heart beating with mine...

Knowing that I could never find that feeling

with anyone other than you.

- Courtney Kuchta -

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone...

Happy birthday, Nilli Wills...

Respect due to ron2k7 for the first pic.

A "Happy Birthday" to former tabloid Page Three girl and retired adult actress Nilli Willis, who will be 37 years old today (she was born on 14th February 1972).

Nilli was born and raised in Israel before moving to England in the early 1980's. She posed in numerous photo shoots for UK & US magazines, followed by a brief foray into the world of adult films, where she starred in a handful of features in the early 1990's.

Nilli retired from the adult industry in the late 1990's, supposedly to pursue religion, and hasn't been heard from since.

She's Alive!

The Frankenstein legend meets the 1980s. The result: Weird Science (currently on TV)!

A pair of nerdy teenagers, Wyatt (Ilan-Mitchell Smith) and Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) use their computer (hacked into a government super-computer), with the assistance of a Barbie doll and a bizarre electrical storm to create their perfect woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock).
Lisa, armed with mystical powers, turn Wyatt & Gary into the most popular kids on the block.

A fun movie back then that's still a fun movie now....
Weird Science (1985) on the Internet Movie Database

Freedom of speech...

Right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who planned to show his controversial film - which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords, has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK. The 45 year-old Freedom Party MP was asked to show the film "Fitna" at the House of Lords by UK Independence Party peer Lord Pearson.
Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, had been denied entry by the Home Office.
Lord Pearson said he disagreed with Mr Wilders' call to ban the Koran, but accused the Home Office of "appeasing violent Islam".

The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but does not include the right to 'hate speech'.
Dutch MP banned from entering UK

Whether I agree with Geert Wilders or not is immaterial (I don't, by the way). Of greater concern is whether our government was right to ban him and to be honest, I'm not sure.

On one hand, thanks to the publicity generated by the government's ban, many people will now seek out his film on the Internet, thus providing more potential supporters for Wilders' beliefs and turning an obscure Dutch MP into an unlikely (and in my opinion undeserved) champion of free speech. Furthermore, banning Wilders could prove counterproductive towards an intelligent debate on Islam and its coexistence with Western civilization, instead providing ammunition for extremists on both sides of the argument.

However, what price free speech if it comes attached with hatred and prejudice? Does free speech include the right to make provocative comments designed to antagonise people and encourage religious intolerance? I think not. Inciting others to commit criminal acts is a crime in itself, and freedom of speech doesn't include freedom from responsibility.

In the end it depends whether you agree with the following quote by Noam Chomsky:

"If you believe in freedom of speech, you believe in freedom of speech for views you don't like. Goebbels was in favor of freedom of speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you're in favor of freedom of speech, that means you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise."

And the next Chelski manager is (cont.)...

Chelsea has confirmed 62-year-old Dutchman Guus Hiddink, currently coach of the Russian national side, will take over as temporary coach until the end of the season.
"The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russian Football Union for their understanding and cooperation," said a statement.
Hiddink, who will continue to coach Russia (he is contracted to Russia until the end of the 2010 World Cup), replaces Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was axed on Monday.
Chelsea confirm Hiddink as coach

Hiddink must be a masochist...yes, he's a world class coach and has had various degrees of success with PSV, South Korea, Australia & Russia. However he also lasted less than a year as coach of Real Madrid before being sacked, so it'll be interesting to see how he'll cope with some of the prima donnas at Chelski.

Lunatics in charge of the asylum..

Chelsea announce the shock dismissal of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari with immediate effect, after just seven months in charge. The club's website revealed the dramatic move had been made "to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for".
World Cup winner Scolari had only been in the job since June 2008, when he became Chelsea's third boss in a year.
Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager

So, despite Chelski being currently fourth in the Premier League, and still in both Champions League and FA Cup competitions, Luiz Felipe Scolari has been shown the exit from Stamford Bridge, before the end of the current season.
The same Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, and was once considered a potential England manager in 2006.
And if you think that sounds incredulous, consider this: one of the candidates on the shortlist for the next Chelski manager is Avram Grant - the same Avram Grant whose sacking by Chelski owner Roman Abramovich set in motion the sequence of events that led to Scolari's appointment last June.

You couldn't make this up.....Chelski doesn't need a new manager, they need a Psychotherapist!

Seriously though, as I stated after Grant's departure, following in Jose Mourinho's footsteps is a tall order...it still is.
But until Abramovich accepts that sometimes you have to bide your time to get results, then Scolari won't be the last Chelski manager making an abrupt exit.


Meanwhile down on the English coast, Portsmouth have dismissed manager Tony Adams and first-team coach John Metgod following a run of poor results.
A club statement said it was a "difficult decision", taken after Pompey won just two out of 16 Premier League games since Adams took charge.
Portsmouth confirm Adams sacking

Obviously I feel for Adams, but he's been through worse than this and I'm sure he'll bounce back - nothing will dim those fond memories of the Arsenal colossus that was Tony Adams in his heyday.
Adams stated he was surprised to have been sacked as manager of Portsmouth. In all honesty, he took over a sinking ship after being forced to sell two of Pompey's best players Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe during the January transfer window and he didn't have any real money to spend.

When you also consider the recent events involving Manchester City's outrageous (and futile) £100m bid for AC Milan's Kaká, it feels as if the lunatics are in charge of the asylum that masquerades as our Premier League.....

Meanwhile in North London (continued)....

Arsenal survives the first-half dismissal of Emmanuel Eboue (shortly after the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor to a hamstring injury), to earn a point against the Spuds in the north London derby at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal

In a previous post I've defended the shortcomings of Emmanuel Eboue. I would like to offer my apologies for doing so. Eboue's immaturity, petulance and lack of discipline made him a liability, and he let his team mates down today. I can't complain about Eboue's sending-off. The man should have his wages docked, followed by a very long spell in the reserves.

Now that I got that off my chest, this match wasn't a classic and neither team will be happy with this result. Arsenal stuck in fifth place and losing ground on Chelsea and Aston Villa, while the Spuds are still mired in the fight to avoid relegation (oh well, every cloud has a silver lining).

Yes Arsenal didn't play very well, but they got a deserved draw with 10 men. Overall though, I can't wait for this season to end. An overhaul of the team by Mr. Wenger is long overdue.

By golly....

This week Carol Thatcher was fired from The One Show for "inappropriate behaviour", according to the BBC.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is believed to have referred to French tennis player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as a "froggy golliwog guy" backstage during filming of the BBC One programme.
Since Miss Thatcher's sacking however, the BBC now faces growing criticism. By last Friday, the number of complaints to the BBC about the dropping of Carol Thatcher over her "golliwog" comments had risen to more than 3,000.
Thatcher axed by BBC's One Show
Thatcher complaints to BBC rise

My first reaction to the Carol Thatcher saga wasn't surprise - after all, her mother once remarked, "people are really rather afraid that this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture".

However, the nature of the complaints to the BBC has left me more angry than the actual incident itself.

Supporters of Miss Thatcher have spoken of political correctness gone mad - excuse me, but if it's now acceptable to make humorous remarks about black people by denigrating the colour of their skin, then one might as well bring back Love Thy Neighbour on British TV.
I find myself agreeing with a comment on the website for BBC's TODAY about a growing racist sentiment disguised as an attempt to redress an overly politically correct landscape.

By the way, having actually been called a "golliwog" while at school, one can appreciate that I find use of the term completely unacceptable - even in "jest".

In my opinion (continued)...

Sylvia Kristel (born 28 September 1952 in Utrecht, Netherlands) is an actress, model and singer, who became internationally famous for playing the title character in the film Emmanuelle, which remains one of the most successful French films ever produced.

However, the picture of Ms Kristel that interests me is (I think) a still from a movie called Frank en Eva (1973). Her eyes are really piercing, almost to the point that she almost stares through you.

To be honest, I know little about this film, so I'm not certain of the picture's origin. But it's a great pic, nonetheless.

The surveillance society (continued)

Electronic surveillance and collection of personal data threaten to undermine democracy, a UK Lords committee has said.
The proliferation of CCTV cameras and the growth of the DNA database were two examples of threats to privacy, the committee in Britain's upper chamber said. Committee chairman Lord Goodlad said the rise in surveillance risked undermining privacy and individual freedom which are vital for democracy.

The government said CCTV and DNA were "essential crime fighting tools" but campaign group Liberty said abuses of power mean "even the innocent have a lot to fear".
Warning over 'surveillance state'

I understand the need to fight those who would seek to commit atrocities in this country on the scale of 7/7 or worse. However I also worry that the same fight against terrorism and crime could also be used as an excuse by our government for excessive surveillance.
While we have the highest rate per capita in the entire world for CCTV cameras (about 4.2million - one for every 14 people) and the largest DNA Database in the world (more than 4million samples), do we have the safest streets in the world?

But surely, one might think - if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about...

Explain that to artist Reuben Powell, who was recently arrested and imprisoned for photographing an old government building. Powell was held for five hours in a cell after police searched him under the Anti-Terrorism Act and seized the lock-blade knife he uses to sharpen his pencils. He was also handcuffed and his genetic material stored permanently on the DNA database.

Then there's Conservative MP Andrew Pelling who was stopped and searched by police under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, on suspicion of being a terrorist after taking photographs of a cycle path on December 30.

Back in 2007, I commented on our seeming descent towards a "surveillance society":

In our rush to protect our democracy and way of life, laws that are supposed to defend us could instead end up destroying what we are trying to protect.

Nothing's changed (sadly)...

Spot the own goal...

The Football Association (FA) has demanded "a full explanation" into how viewers missed a crucial FA Cup goal due to a technical hitch.

Everton's winner against Liverpool in extra time happened as ITV1's coverage abruptly went to advert breaks for Tic Tac mints and Volkswagen cars.

ITV boss Michael Grade has said the glitch, which has prompted 1,000 complaints, was "inexcusable".
FA wants answers over missed goal

ITV's coverage of this competition has been cack-handed (to say the least).
At least on the other side of the pond, they can do a cock-up with style...

US sports fans in Arizona got a surprise when their TV coverage of American football's Super Bowl XLIII was interrupted by 30 seconds of porn.

Tucson-based KVOA-TV said it was "dismayed and disappointed" after some cable viewers had their match coverage disrupted towards the end of the game by a 30-second excerpt from Club Jenna, an adult cable TV channel.
Super Bowl porn hits US viewers



PS: in case you're wondering the identity of the "cheerleader", it's none other than adult actress Brandy Talore, who celebrated her 27th birthday this week (Brandy was born on February 2, 1982 in Toledo, Ohio).

Meanwhile in North London (continued)....

Russian international midfielder Andrei Arshavin completes his move from from Zenit St Petersburg to Arsenal on a "long term" deal for an undisclosed fee.

He could now make his debut in Sunday's north London derby. However, given that the Russian domestic season finished in November, the player is more likely to be allowed some time to build up full match fitness.
Arshavin completes Arsenal move

Welcome to Arsenal, Mr. Arshavin. Hopefully he's worth all the last minute fuss and drama. Right now though, I'm just happy that the whole transfer saga is over.

Anyway, onwards to the weekend and the encounter with the Spuds. I'm hoping for a win but wouldn't be suprised if the game ended in a draw.

Still, I'd love it (LOVE IT) to see Arsenal avenge that 4-4 draw at the Emirates, and win by three clear goals on Sunday, but I'm nervous just thinking about it....I really do hate these games.

Come on Arsenal!

Let it snow...again.

The snow had been forecast since last week, and everyone knew Britain was going to encounter bad weather. Well the bad weather came, and heavy snow promptly disrupted travel across large parts of England.

South-east England was hit hardest, and London saw the heaviest snowfall in 18 years, according to weather experts, with an accumulation of 20cm (8in) in some areas.

All London buses were withdrawn from service today after Transport for London (TfL) decided at ten minutes past midnight that it was too dangerous to send them out.

Of the 11 main lines that serves the 250-mile London Underground network, only the Victoria line was running a good service today. The other tube lines are partially suspended, thanks to the inclement weather which froze hundreds of sets of points on the Underground and our mainline railway network for good measure.
Obviously the frozen points meant train services in the South East were also badly affected with many cancellations and reduced services.

Nearly 800 flights were cancelled at Heathrow today due to heavy snowfall and others were subject to long delays. Flights were also cancelled or delayed at other airports including Stansted, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle today. London City, Luton and Southampton airports were closed.

The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and parts of eastern Scotland. More snow is forecast for the coming days.

Today's weather could cost UK businesses about £1.2bn, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), and this is a cautious estimate - the actual cost is likely to be higher.

However London Mayor Boris Johnson said authorities had done "pretty well" under the circumstances. The Mayor also added that it would been too expensive to have fleets of snowploughs on standby for conditions that happened about once every two decades.
Heavy snow disrupts London travel

Well I hate to quibble with our Mayor, but our authorities today were CRAP. As usual snow falls (which was expected), and London promptly grinds to a halt. No planes, trains, or automobiles.
As for the Gritters, where were they? We were warned about heavy snowfall well in advance, yet London can't even organise the gritting of their own streets.
My journey to work took over 2 hours this morning - and it seems we've learned nothing from past experiences.

Oh dear, Gordon (continued)...

From the BBC, November 2007:

Gordon Brown's statement that he wants "British jobs for British workers" has created a political furore.
Opponents have described it as meaningless, illegal under EU law, even racist. But the prime minister's supporters say it is all about equipping the long-term unemployed in Britain to do the jobs needed in an increasingly skills-based economy.
What does 'British jobs' pledge mean?

If Gordon Brown listens closely, he'll hear the sound of chickens coming home to roost. His throwaway, jingoistic soundbite about "British jobs for British workers" has returned to haunt him as hundreds of workers across the UK joined disputes protesting about the use of foreign workers at an oil refinery in Lincolnshire.
Refinery strikes spread across UK

The origins of the workers' resentment centres around a contract to extend the diesel refining capacity at the Lindsey oil refinery near Immingham, which is owned by French oil giant Total. This contract was awarded to the California-based engineering group Jacobs in June 2006 with a completion date of 2009.

Jacobs then subcontracted to an Italian firm, IREM, following a tender process in which five UK and two European contractors responded.
It is understood that the terms of the contract specified that IREM would be using its existing permanent Italian and Portuguese workforce for the job.

An excellent example of globalisation, one might think. Except in these credit crunch days, the sight of foreign workers carrying out such work is proving an anathema to some, who believe that suitably qualified unemployed UK contractors should be used instead.
Hence the recent bout of industrial action.

Over to you, Prime Minister....