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Naelifts--another somewhat controversial situation over here concerning free education prompts me to ask about what happens in the U/K? Education in Canada , and the States, is free only up to graduation from High School. After which, as far as I know, you have to have a rich dad or you work as much as possible because it's all fee-paying thereafter if you choose to go on to University. Grants are probably available to students, though, from private institutions and often students who are good at sports can qualify for bursaries in US Campuses if U.S. Universities want them for their sport prowess and the ongoing prestige of the particular University viz-a-viz their prowess in the sports arena. Going to University in Scotland was free when I left the Academy in 1955. Is it still completely free or what? Government sponsored assistance to aspiring students after they leave school is, or should be, a given for all children because it's an investment in the future of the country as well. That's something that I wholeheartedly agree with and in a T.V. documentary that I saw recently it was stressed that some countries are now definitely seeing this expenditure of tax dollars as being vital to their future progress and growth. To me it's a no brainer but unwise expenditures by Governments stymies that common sense idea since they simply then don't have the funds available. e.g. the United States who, just a few years ago, used trillions (that's right not billions but trillions) of tax-payer dollars to bail out the proliferators of the ruinous ponsie schemes pandered through the New York Stock Exchange and the CITY (Wall Street) brokerage houses and banks who defrauded the average citizen right, left and center but completely escaped jail just because the Government panders to the rich and famous and cried crocodile tears into their hankies that "The City is too big to be allowed to fail." Meanwhile, a huge number of people lost their houses and defaulted on their mortgages, house prices fell drastically to absolutely historically low levels together with bankruptcies and misery everywhere in the United States and ,back at the ranch, approximately 85-90% of the overall wealth in America is (i.e. continues to be) owned by a very low percentage of people, perhaps 5-8%. of the total voter population. i.e. Same old, same old. And that's why the brutally frank Donald Trump and down-to-earth barn-stormer slike Bernie Sanders (neither being pro-establishment entities) are looking more and more likely to dump the Hilary Clintons and the Jeb Bush's in favour of a complete sea-change in American politics since anger and resentment has risen to the surface of the volcano politic and is about to explode in a fiery crescendo IMHO. Ops, sorry, guys and mods -a bit off topic but ...watch this space.

Feb 8 and time to remember and celebrate an event that continues to inspire joy around the world... Gong Xi Fa Cai !! Happy Chinese New Year to all!