WHERE in the UK has breathtakingly beautiful countryside, increasingly smart and cosmopolitan cities and people whose native charm and renowned wit are finally being given free rein after a troubled period in its history? Northern Ireland, of course, where five successive interest rate rises have barely dented house price inflation, which now stands at 51.9% compared to 54.1% a year ago. This knocks London’s feeble 14.5% into a cockney hat, as do natural wonders like the mountains of Mourne that sweep down to the sea. Better than old warehouses that sweep down to the Thames any day.

MORTGAGE companies have come in for plenty of stick by raising their ‘arrangement fees’ for homloans by over 600% in some cases. Intelligent Finance, for example, charges up to £2,999, an increase of 601% on its maximum fee of two years ago. To me these charges seem like bus drivers charging you an attendance fee on top of the fare.