Then a few days later the out of touch pompous ass attends the Olympic Games in China . Surely he should have left the very able and excellent Lord Coe to deal with all this and babbler Gordon should have been in his bunker under Downing Street working out ways to prevent Great Britain falling into recession.

Despite the shameful greed of the Amercian sub-prime bankers, instead of Great Britain getting a cold when the USA sneezes, due to the total inadequacies of Blair, Brown and their cronies, it looks like we might get pneumonia. Let me explain.

About five years ago, a close friend of mine was diagnosed with a terminal blood illness. He scoffed at the doctors, checked himself in immediately to a leading leukaemia clinic and subjected himself to months of exhaustive chemotherapy. He was at deaths door, only his wife and children were allowed to visit him and then the miracle happened. Slowly he began to regain his strength. After a few weeks he was walking around the ward and becoming impatient, as he wanted to leave hospital.

The original doctors concluded that a miracle had taken place but it would not have happened but for my friends life style. He did not smoke, drink and worked out five days a week at the David Lloyd. The doctors concluded that his healthy regime had kicked in and acted as a final barrier to fend off my friend's death.

Well I have news for you. This country has been economically sick for a very long time. We have been collectively encouraged to live very unhealthy financial lifestyles. The worst culprits are the moneylenders. I remember applying on line for a credit card two years ago and was given £20,000 instant credit to hang myself on. Greed is good said Gordon Gecko. It's not. Businesses were encouraged to expand by greedier bankers lending to all and sundry.

Some agencies have been hit hard

Look at my industry. Estate agency branch offices opening (and now closing) on every street corner making hard working ordinary people out of work in one fell swoop.

Forget the USA , until about 18 months ago a first time buyer in this country could get a 110% mortgage. The ratio of earnings to borrowings flew off the Richter scale. Why did the government not intervene? An artificial property boom can only end in potential disaster.

The unemployed numbers are rising and yet it is well publicised that in many cases a person is better off collecting unemployment benefit than working. At this time why can't the government keep their greedy hands off petrol prices? Yes, I accept that we need money in the Chancery. But let's apply higher tax rates to the BP's Tesco's and other top performing companies.

Let's also ensure that the so called "tax exiles" who have the majority of their business interests in this country are also pursued more vigorously. The people who paid at one time 99p in the £ under Harold Wilson didn't seem to have stopped Sir Paul McCartney being worth £750,000,000 + today!!

I'm not an economist, but nothing is more depressing and de-motivating than to see honest hardworking middleclass families see the value of their own homes dipping weekly.

Unless we want wholesale immigration to Australia , New Zealand and Canada this government must really work overtime in the "gym" to arrest the rot and get the economy on it's feet. Then, and only then, will the confidence return to the residential (and commercial) property markets and the economy in general.

At Barry Allsuch & Co it has been a very frustrating few months. I remember talking to another long established agent last Autumn and he prophetically said to me "Barry, the next 12 months will sort out the men from the boys." Well, in terms of Estate Agencies, Radlett has always had an over supply, but three offices have left the village in the last six months. I observed others desperately trying to establish rentals departments in five minutes, leaving scrawled notes on closed office doors, back in 20 minutes and of more concern not really knowing enough about the rentals and management market to advise landlords.

It seemed so easy two or three years ago to open an Estate Agency on a rising market where deals could quite easily fall on your lap, but now experience, or lack of it, is telling.

Wild claims on the Internet fail to impress anyone and I feel certain agencies locally will have a long tough Autumn.

At the end of the day, however, whilst I need to be mindful of the opposition, if I keep my own act professional and pro-active, deals will fall into place.

Progress still in Radlett

Just sold in The Ridgway

In Radlett we have just completed the sale of a stunning Tudor style home in The Ridgeway at a substantial seven-figure sum. We had nearly 30 viewings before a sale was tied up and leading to exchange we had two pretty desperate buyers as potential reserves. Interesting during a depressed market! In Radlett we have a mouth-watering portfolio of properties for sale in all price ranges. In many cases, our clients are extremely negotiable, but until you make an offer, clients will understandably keep their cards close to their chests.

I've recently taken on a stunning five bedroomed character detached property in about 1/3 acre close to Porters Park Golf course, which is a real favourite and keenly priced at £1,395,000.

At the top end of the scale, we've been asked to market a unique Tudor style residence adjacent to The Warren with an unequalled greenbelt aspect. This property is perfect for a larger family and is simply ideal for entertaining. Price guide is £2,750,000.

Our Elstree office has been equally busy. We've just sold a charming four bed roomed detached house in Links Drive Elstree, but the main activity in August has been selling the remaining properties at Kennedy Place in Elstree Village. The developers, Banner Homes, really know how to build a mouth watering new home and there are many extras too numerous to mention here. Banner Homes have also set the prices extremely keenly and there are part-exchange and stamp duty offers.

Rentals department performing brilliantly

I now come to the Jewel of the Crown, which has been consistently over performing during the last few months, our rental division run by my business partner Martin and his manager Miriam Gold.

Between them they have nearly 30 years experience in the industry and their figures improve each month. Again, it's a combination of work ethic, professionalism and experience in difficult times. Rentals involves a considerable amount of important paperwork and there is new legislation coming into force all the time.

It's the task of Martin and Miriam to ensure that landlords remain within the law and equally important that we always provide good tenants. Miriam has forged close links with many business relocation companies and prides herself checking out references before recommending a tenant. We also put in place special insurance policies which guarantee to pay the rent should there be a hiccup with a tenant.

Our rentals department now covers a wide area. We cover as far a field as Stanmore, Mill Hill, Edgware, Bushey, Bushey Heath. Elstree and Borehamwood, Napsbury, Shenley , Porters Park , Radlett, Letchmore Heath. Aldenham. Park Street and Bricket Wood.