It is that strange time of year when there is absolutely nothing to look forward to and things seem depressing whichever way you look at it.

People kind of have that glum look about them and the only certain thing is that most people are skint.

Now, some pundits may be thinking there is an economic recovery on the way but I think we are quite a way off from that yet.

I tend to judge this from how much traditional customs have been affected.

Forget the economic indicators – you can judge most of what the future holds just by watching folk.

I was once told there is a distinct difference between ‘us and them’.

‘Where as we are willing to pay for the full meal without any questions asked – the other lot get their calculators out,’ I was told.

I recently went to dinner with a bunch of gentlemen and it was suggested the bill was split.

Now, anyone who has been to dinner with a large bunch of Asian men will realise that the last thing you do is split the bill.

It is up to the fellow who invited everyone to dinner to foot the bill.

It was like that in the village and it is like that in the twenty-first century. It can be troublesome for certain people but somewhere down the line you will get the favour returned.

So, over the year things kind of even themselves out.

Unfortunately, on this occasion an almighty argument broke out concerning how and why the bill should be split nine ways.

Maybe, this guy wanted to make a stand. Maybe, the food just wasn’t up to standard. It may have been the state of the economy after all.

The fact of the matter is this never happens. It was unheard of to actually want to ask everyone to pay a share.

Even to suggest to spilt the bill was shameful to say the least.

It was like benefiting from several rounds and then legging it when it was your turn.

But these are indeed testing times and the strain was showing on this gentleman’s face as he tried in vain to coax his friends to cough up.

Alas, they were having nothing of it and he was forced to pay the full bill.

Now, the green shoots of recovery may be evident in some quarters but if they still getting their calculators out we have a long way to go yet.