THERE is nothing new. Norman Tebbit, in Maggie Thatcher’s government, told out-of-work people to get on their bikes and look for work like his dad did.

That was the support they got then. Today, they are offered a lot of support – which isn’t there.

Now, like other depressions, people are buying repossessed properties and doing them up for profit. It is a profitable career path.

Back in the 60s to 80s, we bought and sold houses at a profit, but not at somebody else’s misfortune.

We moved up and down the country to take on new challenges in my work.

Whenever an attractive opportunity arose, invariably it meant moving house. Every sale made a profit and reduced the mortgage.

The most successful, a fourbedroomed, six-year-old house in Birmingham, was bought for £6,125 when it had been on offer for six months. We worked on it for 20 months, sold it to doctors for £12,500, and moved to Reading.

Wife Sylvia walked into a house and knew exactly where our furniture would go, and necessary improvements to house and garden within minutes, when it felt right.

I can only dream about the sort of money she could be earning today if only we were younger.

George Appleby, Clifton, York.