'From his reply to me: “Highly paid labor is highly educated, well-housed, healthy and high-productivity labor”. Very true – but that is exactly why Latvian labour is not high-paid. It is not very productive'

That’s what I told him (though I have trouble understanding him – a piece of dirol took the last of his teeth with it) – all those years making gravestones – not productive – now you hobble to work when you can and rely on your landlord’s good will to forego income because you can’t pay him. Good job you don’t believe in doctors (his work-related flesh wounds are going a funny colour) because you wouldn’t be able to afford it and you can’t expect me to bail you out – I’m also unproductive – OK, must be going – work, you understand? – you hobble too slowly, old chap – Ata!