Now that invites several questions; first how high the bar? Do you have children still at school; what chance do they have?

For me, I had a similar background and some 40 plus years ago as a secondary school leaver managed to get a basic clerking job with a big firm. Earning around the basic wage for the time, we just about managed to buy a small town terraced house. The firm gave me the opportunity to pursue further education successfully to degree level and riding the then IT centric wave, managed a pretty good wage. My own children managed to secure Russell Group degrees, but to exploit them have moved to London and other SE towns where they'd jump at the chance of buying even a small one bed flat for 3 times salary. Most of the firms I had anything to do with are now in foreign hands headquartered overseas. Similarly, the strategic IT part is either outsourced to American consultants and increasingly delivered on by business in the Indian sub continent. Semi retired, I'm fortunate enough to meet business people of all disciplines and with very few exceptions, are just as disillusioned about the future as I am.

Now that invites several questions; first how high the bar? Do you have children still at school; what chance do they have?

For me, I had a similar background and some 40 plus years ago as a secondary school leaver managed to get a basic clerking job with a big firm. Earning around the basic wage for the time, we just about managed to buy a small town terraced house. The firm gave me the opportunity to pursue further education successfully to degree level and riding the then IT centric wave, managed a pretty good wage. My own children managed to secure Russell Group degrees, but to exploit them have moved to London and other SE towns where they'd jump at the chance of buying even a small one bed flat for 3 times salary. Most of the firms I had anything to do with are now in foreign hands headquartered overseas. Similarly, the strategic IT part is either outsourced to American consultants and increasingly delivered on by business in the Indian sub continent. Semi retired, I'm fortunate enough to meet business people of all disciplines and with very few exceptions, are just as disillusioned about the future as I am.

Whilst I own several houses, drive a large Audi and spend a month a year in the south of France.

And me! We must be a very exclusive club! We must get together and roast a peasant one night. 🤣

Owning an Audi isn't all that great unless it's an R8. Is it?

Whilst I own several houses, drive a large Audi and spend a month a year in the south of France.

Good for you and thanks for confirming that the returns in the domestic property market are far better than Investment British industry; just as I thought.

Better than a ford though.

I do get a lot of invites from overseas due to my x++, LCS, VSTS skills etc so I do acknowledge that thw UK has a skills shortage. i am lucky enough (or unlucky sometimes!!) to work for a Company that is not afraid to beta test for MS. A lot is to do with the CEO. A good one like mine has a 96% approval rating on glassdoor. A bad one can destroy a Company.

Yup, it's called intelligent investment.

Any dumb **** could do it. Hardly intelligent.

We've got a Mercedes as well.

Yup, it's called intelligent investment.

My range rover sport trump's your merc 😊

For you. yes it's a good return. Logical yes, and if you think about it, the decision was common sense so relatively little intelligence was needed.

I wonder just how good it stays as your tenants real earnings start to dip and indeed the building industry catch up and provide many more new homes. It's a risk worth taking I'm sure, but it's there nonetheless.

Still, make hay whilst the Sun shines, because as we are seeing from recent Budgets, the treasury wonks don't see this situation as intelligent economics for the Country.

I get the train.😂

We've got a Mercedes as well.

Have you? Hmm?

My range rover sport trump's your merc 😊