As Windsor Davis would say in ‘It Ain’t half Hot Mum’, “Dear oh dear, what a pity, what a shame!” I just read that Roman Abramovich is down to his last £7billion! How will the poor soul survive I wonder?

Well, apparently he’s decided to cut back on his spending by not paying the usual Christmas bonus (an extra month’s pay) to the 50 crew of his £72million pound yacht, the 377 foot Pelorus, currently at St Barts in the Caribbean. Although the crew appreciate the fact that he has lost around £3billion because of the credit crunch, and are not averse to standing by him through the bad times, the loss of a Christmas bonus when the likes of Frank Lampard are still on £150,000 per week does make it a little hard to for them to swallow.

£3billion is hell a lot of money to lose, yes, but what about the general population who are struggling with their debts, many of whom could even lose their homes? What about those normal people making sacrifices to free up as much money as possible to make the monthly payments to their creditors through a Debt Management Programme or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement? What about those facing Christmas out on the streets or at a homeless shelter (if they are lucky enough to have one in the area)?

Will he spare a thought for them, I wonder, as he restlessly paces the decks of his floating palace, cries into his Dom Perignon and chews worriedly on his beluga caviar?