Hard times

1. The recession is here and is beating the middle classes like a Category 5 hurricane. At least, that's the take of one hotelier, who said that over the Easter holidays there was a case of far more guests parcelling and leaving his property with 'care-packages' from the buffet line than before.

East worry

2. They came, they saw and they, too, fleeced, leaving many in the East a little more than out of pocket money, as they had gone into the establishment promising attractive prices and even more attractive lay-away plans, and made several millions of dollars worth of deposits on high-end electrical appliances, only to turn up one morning to find the place shuttered!

A licence

3. Seems like the lease has been interpreted as a licence.

National interest

4. When the indebted one went in search of new capital recently, he had a new, some thought, interesting selling point, the business was vital and in the national interest! Only problem is, other investors were also sold that line and they swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Now they are sinking as they cannot collect the millions owed to them.

Credit bridging

5. As the financial squeeze tightens, some businesses operators believe they are, in truth, being used as unofficial credit-bridging facilities, as it is now taking them upwards of 90 days and way more to collect for goods and services delivered, and endangering their own survival in the process!

Latest casualty

6. When the mighty fall, they do so hard! Seems like the latest casualty fell without a Golden Parachute.