Your assumption was correct, I just caught a piece on the BBC North West tonight news, lot of people over there not very happy about it. I thought that the BBC North West tonight programme covered the IOM as they often show stories relating to whats going on over there.
Yep, its crap. I believe its a one off top up each year on water and sewerage charges. I don't know why they just didn't incorporate it into the existing "council" taxation here. I will check with some of the natives but it isn't something that has bothered me as I get a heap of good tax breaks here anyway. Having said that, every little helps.
If you are interested in our Toilet Tax On (toilet) paper it is to be a flat payment thus hitting the poorer harder than the rich here. I think that is causing a bit of a stink! Geddit? ( I think I has a bit of deja vu there from Sir Arthur )
But don't you pay the equivalent of Water Rates which includes a sewerage charge, John? I remember that the last time I paid, back in 2006, Dwr Cymru (aka Welsh Water) charged almost twice as much for sewage disposal as they did to supply mains water.
I just went up to Tesco to get my wife some cough medicine. And I had a few lined up but they r gone now. But it does look as if some peoples savings have gone down the pan now, during times when folk are not very flush with money. I think it will wipe a few smiles off peoples faces.
Hmmmm..... and this from someone who, a few short weeks ago, questioned the need for a private messaging facility!
Thanks for the replies everyone, been really busy with uni so haven't been able to respond sooner. To be honest mate, I just thought it would be more different to the Phils than Thailand. I want to take Beth somewhere where she might get a sense of having left the grip of the Philippines (not that she doesn't love it there, but I think it would be exciting for her to get to go somewhere that didn't feel like home, so to speak).
Have you explored countries like Taiwan, Korea, Japan and maybe China? It's still relatively near but you would see a stark difference in culture.
What is your experience of travel in Asia? Why try to take Beth, an inexperienced traveller, to an extreme destination for the sake of it? Look for somewhere where it will be relaxed, enjoyable, decent priced hotels, cheap shopping, good food, and where she can make friends. Not some third world ****hole.
