It must be the Festive Season

Well with that heading it think it is obvious, I am getting excited!


Welcome to this special festive edition of the CIOBS blog. It is not just the fact that Christmas is only three days away that excites me, it is the fact that we appear to have colour available - Very festive.

Or on the other hand maybe not!!!


In fact let's try for a picture instead!












Gosh it has worked! What a wonderful way to end the year.


Who are these people I hear you ask?


Well from left to right : Alan Swankie, John Ross, Irene Swankie, two very handsome young men! and Colin Watson!


I am sure that these names if not the faces are familiar to many of you as they are Chartered Banker tutors and in Irene's case a stalwart of the FEP.



This picture would have made a lovely Christmas card, oh well, maybe next year.


As the year draws to a close, may I take the opportunity on behalf of myself and Raymond and indeed everyone here at CIOBS to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2009.


Feliz Navidad


Nadolig Llawen


Nollaig chridheil huibh


Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia


Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa


Joyeux Noel


Michael (One of two very handsome young men!)

Please help me I'm falling

Welcome to the CIOBS blog. I have chosen the title carefully this week as I was just looking at some of the headlines today and they do not make good reading:


US house building slump continues

Russia's industrial output slumps

Oil falls despite Opec's threats

UK house prices 'to fall by 30%'

IMF sees world slowdown

Slump in Japan firms' confidence

US industrial output falls 0.6%

Pound continues fall against euro

Pound in fifth day of euro lows

US sales and producer prices fall

London finance status threatened



At the beginning of 2008 we were told that we were living in interesting times, then it became extraordinary times - what will be the next description? Who knows!


Today's favourite words seem to be "slump" and "falling."


Surely things must get better in the next year or so.


I do apologise for being so downbeat this week, but hey the festive season is just around the corner and on that theme our old friend Mr. Peter Moir is having trouble with his black bun! I kid you not.











The evidence is shown here.

The experts amongst you and Gordon Ramsay will notice there is a crack on the top.

If anyone knows how to get round this culinary issue, then please contact the blog and we will pass on your suggestions to Peter.

Keep it clean please.

What no Raymond?I hear you cry. He is around and he has been in a meeting since about 9.30 this morning, in fact he has just come out.

I am sure he could do with a nice slice of black bun.


Michael (Falling into a plate of black bun)

Move Over Raymond

Hi to all CIOBS bloggees and welcome to the return of superblogger.

At least I think that's what Raymond called me!

I was off for one week, yes, one week only and Mr.Raymond Brown manages to do two blogs in that time!

And he accuses me of hogging this blog! Indeed!

Well done Raymond. Two very informative blogs and with a touch of colour too!!!

He certainly had a busy week when I was not around and this week continues on the busy theme.

As we head towards the Festive break and the shortest day of the year, no doubt you will be in the same situation saying" let's get this done by the year end and that should be finished too"

The weather here in Scotland has been very cold this week, in fact I do not think the frost has lifted since the weekend.

Contrast this with the student from The British Virgin Islands that I was talking to this week who said"Yes, it is a bit chilly here too Michael, today the temperature is only 22 degrees Celsius"

Yes, indeed!!

Raymond was telling us all about low interest rates last week and this week it is the turn of the Pound in relation to the Euro, with the Pound continuing its sharp decline against the Euro, reaching a new record low of 1.1238 Euros this afternoon.

It is now at the lowest level since the Euro was launched in 1999.

Before anyone points it out, I know that Euro notes and coins did not appear until 2002, but the Euro existed as a trading currency from 1999 when it replaced the ECU!

As I am sure all Chartered Banker students and particular those of you studying International Business know, lower interest rates make it less attractive for foreigners to hold pounds.

A weaker pound is better for the UK exporters but is bad news for British holidaymakers who plan to go abroad during the Christmas season, and also makes imported goods more expensive.

However, the pound gained one cent against the US dollar, reaching USD1.4924 this afternoon.

Well I must go now someone is about to start drilling a hole in the wall where I am today. I have been waiting for this for a while, so drill away I say!

Michael (An International Blogger or is that Hogger?)

What a week that was!

Hi again,

I know it's almost too good to be true, but today I'm doing two in a row!! With Michael still on some totally undeserved holidays, I can click my keyboard till my heart's content.

So another week draws to a close. A week that's seen another bank go to the wall, a week that produced the lowest base interest rate since 1951 and what a year that was.

You probably weren't around then (and neither was I - I just look like I was!!) but in that grand year, the Conservatives won a general election, the average house cost £2,100 and a loaf of bread cost 6d (2.5 p). And in sport, Celtic beat Motherwell 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final. Did you like the colour-coordinated team names? No? Well you should try getting claret and amber on this system, mate!

Talking about systems, the final version of the website is due to be produced in January (what we have is interim - it may be other things too, but that's another story!). The new one is supposed to have this blog within it, which will mean that we will be able to allow reader comments. As you know, all the best blogs have this facility - no, don't say it - this one's an exception!!

Anyway I digress, but who cares?

As mentioned last week, we had six delegates at the revision course for ApEx 1 on Monday and Tuesday. From memory, at least two have already sat their exams, or may be doing so as I write! Eek! I hope they pass - they deserve to.

As for the rest of the week, it's really been about keeping things moving what with Mr D being away.

Next week, we have our quarterly Education Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon. That's when all the chosen representatives from the various banks, etc. make sure we are staying on track with our objectives, etc. But that's a veritable lifetime away, old bean(s).

Anyway, I have to go, but I'll finish off in the style of someone we know and love!

Have a good weekend.

Raymond (In the pink!!!)