by saying I am better off than him because he told us all he had lost his life savings and had to start again at 38 years old. There's no schadenfreude here. I would feel sympathy for anyone if they had gone through this.

Thank you, the savings I lost were from my time teaching english in the middle east which is a more lucrative salary than in China, and basically working while supporting myself at uni in the UK (won't reveal which one, there is no need), I am still straddled with student debt as a result of that, I do not come from a wealthy family. Yes you have rightly detected an anti thatcherite mood in my posts, but I would not class myself as a communist or socialist either. I agree with what Arnie Schwarzenegger said about why he moved to the USA. Socialism has destroyed opportunities in europe, in a lot of ways, he is right.It seems noone wants to make stuff or work hard anymore, not when the welfare can be had. I believe you about the sympathy part, thank you.