Early Risers.

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all and special thoughts this morning to Dave and Is.

 

It was Area Group last night and all was not well.  Overhead signs on the M1 heralded a 30 minute delay between junctions 11 and 9.  My decision to go off at J11 and find a way through Dunstable was not the brightest idea and I would probably have been better off sticking with the motorway.  The journey took 80 minutes and is one that I can do in 45 minutes with a clear road.  Then the pub was full of people in lurid costumes staring at large TV screens on which were images of people in shorts cavorting around on grass with lots of other people yelling at them.   They made lots of noise, impeding our serious deliberations, but fell relatively silent when it became apparent that their team had come second.  The logic of dressing up to go out and watch television is one which escapes me.  Then on the way home the overhead signs carried a different message - Junction 13 closed.  How disappointing.  Off, then, at J12 and a corrugated road to get me home in not too bad a time considering.

 

Today I will collect my new glasses, preferably at the time specified by the optician.  Tonight there is a concert at a nearby venue, featuring a duo called Belshazzar's Feast.  I know them of old and expect an entertaining evening.  Between the events I plan to do a bit of missionary work - no, not collecting Christian Aid envelopes but raising awareness of a newly admired musician.  With any luck I am pushing at a half-open door but we shall see.

 

There has been far too much distressing news in our community of late.  May all on the receiving end be given the strength to cope.

 

Chris

Edited May 19, 2016 by chrisf

[Coombe Barton]

Grey

 

Damp

 

Cool

 

(Bit like me, then)

 

Already at the marking - have a deadline to meet.

[Ashcombe]

Thank you for all the birthday greetings, everyone! The celebrations began last night with a meal with the Red Hatters at "The Drum", Cockington, where our wedding reception took place. I've already had a chat with Ian this morning and am about to open my cards, etc. Later I'm meeting two friends from Toads for lunch at Prezzo in Torquay and the sun is shining.... so far!

 

With thoughts for those experiencing distressing times at the moment and wishing you some relief from your suffering.

[Donw]

Morning all

 

Happy Birthday Sherry

 

I seem to have missed a post or something in it from Dave and Is. My best wishes for you both.

 

Regarding pensions the changes to the new pension scheme have put a large workload on the staff so they may not have responded as quickly.  There are two elements one is your contribution record the other is the amount of pension earned. Under both the new and old schemes only those years with a complete contribution count towards your pension. So you could if you worked 6months in the UK and six months abroad each year pay contributions for six months only and end up with no years counting towards a pension. 

There is also a minimum of 10 years contributed to get any pension paid. So Dom would get nothing from the UK for two years worked

 

There is also the fact that the flat rate pension is anything but. If you have been contracted out because you have been paying into a company pension scheme your flat rate under the new scheme will be reduced because your contributions were lower. I believe this might still be the case if the pension is not a good as you expected. Should you have built up a large extra pension under serps you may actually get more than the flat rate.

For women if you have paid a married women's rate you will not have earned a pension in your own right but may get something based on your husbands rate. If you were a wife looking after the home and paying no contribution you will probably get no pension the pension based on your husband appears to have gone. Should you be a stay at home Husband I have no idea what your position may be there are pension credits when looking after children but whether this applies to a husband or needs to be claimed at the time I have no idea. For anyone not paying contributions do consider paying voluntary contributions the sums required for the pension earned look to me to beat most private pension schemes.

Don

[Donw]

Yesterday Marion had an appointment to see the Glaucoma specialist. After the Laser treatment the local consultant had declared the results not good enough and with a haemorrhage affecting the optic nerve an operation was needed. However the specialist in Taunton who would do any such operation ( making a flap in the eye ender an eyelid to let pressure out) gave a much more reassuring verdict. The Laser together with the eye drops is currently keeping the pressure down to normal levels. There I still concern that there could be some loss of vision (even total blindness) but it does seem less imminent. There are also some new operations being developed which may be less invasive and with reduced risks. So she is a lot happier this morning.

Don      

[Andrew P]

Happy Birthday Sherry,   do you want my address for sending some cake? hahhaha   :nono:  

[jamie92208]

Morning all from an overcast village.  

 

Happy birthday Sherry.   I hope that you enjoy it despite being apart from Ian.  

 

Dave and Is, my thoughts are with you but I do admire your courage and attitude.  I just hope that you are able to enjoy life as comfortably as possible.

 

I got most of my remaining Christian Aid envelopes in last night but have to bob out for the last few tonight.   I've got various things to sort out this morning.  The shed that I've bought needs to be unloaded from the car and then if it's dry enough I'll load some boards to take to the club tomorrow.   Then hopefully some tidying of the modelling room and then some modelling.  Yesterday I was going to do that in the afternoon but the boss went back to bed for a couple of hours so I was allowed to model in the dining room so as not to disturb her.  However noises are being made to day that the dining room needs to be tidied.

 

Regards to all the ailing etc.

 

Jamie

[HeeleyBridge]

Happy Birthday Sherry.

 

Chrisf thanks for reminding me, I must make an appointment with the optician today, I keep forgetting t do it.

 

 

What is the ultimate question of Life, The Universe, and Everything, to which the answer is "42"?

"How many pence did a pint of Ward's Best Bitter cost in the Red House, Sheffield, in 1978", of course!

 

Your lucky fiver should have provided quite a night on Solly Street. As I recall, the Wards was about 18p a pint back then so a good night out, A cheggyburger over at Greasy Vera's probably capped it off?  Last time I went in the Red House it was considerably posher than in the 70s. Played there with the band a few times in the early 2000s.

 

Things to do, places to go, people to see.  I just wish I could remember what, where and who.

 

Thoughts to all sick, injured and missing.

[NGT6 1315]

Morning all, and happy birthday, Sherry!

 

Rainy here but not cold, so typical Irish spring weather, I suppose you could call it. Even so, we'll be out for a bit of a trip before we return to Dublin tomorrow, then to fly home on Saturday. Gee, where did all that time go?

 

Have a good one...

[Tony_S]

Morning all.

Happy Birthday Sherry.

Pensions in the news, the Chief Economist at the Bank of England said he doesn't understand pensions.

I am not sure what I am doing today. Robbie will get a walk, food will be consumed but apart from that...

Weather looks a bit less rainy. Matthew said it was raining most of the day in Utrecht but as he was in the library all day he wasn't too bothered. He seems very busy at the moment writing proposals for doing research abroad (Singapore hopefully).

Tony

[45156]

Oh so sorry that I missed wishing Big Jim well about his mum - that's what comes of trying to remember every post that is made over two days, when reading them then breaking, going back, etc.

 

Check in again when we get back from Skipton and Ilkley.

[roundhouse]

Morning all.

Happy Birthday Sherry.

Pensions in the news, the Chief Economist at the Bank of England said he doesn't understand pensions.

I am not sure what I am doing today. Robbie will get a walk, food will be consumed but apart from that...

Weather looks a bit less rainy. Matthew said it was raining most of the day in Utrecht but as he was in the library all day he wasn't too bothered. He seems very busy at the moment writing proposals for doing research abroad (Singapore hopefully).

Tony

If he doesnt then what chance have many of us understanding pensions!

 

I have various pensions form various companies including one that took the pension down with them before the new law came in many moons ago. I will get a pension but it wont be the full amount we invested. I now have an ISA which I pay far more into than a pension aswell as pension scheme in current company.

 

The Thameslink that I caught home last night during the strike was busy but after East Croydon I had a spare seat next to me which I dont recall ever happening during peak times.

 

Train packed this morning - probably due to all those people who put off travelling yesterday that dont commute every day.

 

Beer and pizza tonight.

 

PS all the best for today Sherry. Wishing Big Jim well re his mum aswell.

Edited May 19, 2016 by roundhouse

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Happy birthday Sherry and many more of them. I'm not sure what exactly I will do today, a trip into town is on the cards but I might head for Tesco's instead.

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

Happy Birthday Sherry - hope Ian remembered to send a card in time

 

Ah, pensions.  Well the state pension used to be very straightforward and Newcastle seemed to be pretty quick at giving an answer about how much you would get but like everything else it has been changed for change's sake although there do seem to be one or two good points in the new arrangement.  I don't know about the new system but under the older system women who were paying their own full NI stamp were allowed 9 years of 'free' contributions if they stopped working following childbirth, and having a subsequent child within the 9 years extended the period by starting again at zero and counting a further nine; but this did not apply to men.  I haven't got a clue how it works in the new system but the politicos saying women would not lose out if they have children was a nonsense as that situation already existed.

 

Like Don I understand the new system simply(??) works on the basis of =total years contributed creating a pension as a percentage of the full pension but with no credit given for SSP (Second State Pension contributions) or Graduated Pension contributions and, rather worse, no credit allowed for the reduced rate paid if you have been contracted out.  Overall it comes over more as money saving rather than improving pensions.

 

Anyway herself is out with the Town Volunteer Gardeners brightening the riverside with bedding plants and the intention is that Waitrose visiting will take place later if she is home at a reasonable time.

 

Have a good day one & all

[108]

There aren't any of those IÉ autoballasters which Bachmann did some years ago left somewhere? Just wondering...

 

Enjoy your evening!

Hi Dom

You could try Marks Models in Cork city or Dublin, or Graham's Toymaster in Port Laoise. Both have excellent websites.

 

Can't include links as I'm on site today in Cork, Tralee and Galway. It'll be a long day. Then back to Dublin.

 

Watching heavy rain out the window in Cork currently. Enjoy the day. Best wishes to all.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone.

 

Happy birthday Sherry.

 

Currently sat waiting for the train to Liverpool, so I'll be off line mist of the day.

 

Talking of the cost of a pint of beer, I used to pay 11p for a pint of Greenhalls bitter, mind you, I was 16 and still at school then!

 

Back later

[Oldddudders]

 

 

Happy Birthday Sherry - hope Ian remembered to send a card in time

 

 

 

Well, yes I did. And in English despite being bought in Super U! Posted very early in Bonnetable last Saturday, and delivered yesterday. Unlike the flowers. Ordered for 0900 today, which has worked well from that florist in the past. And they id the wedding flowers well, too. So when I enquired a few minutes ago, I was surprised to find Sherry hadn't received them. Rang them, and they were out on the van. The a call back (from the UK - hey) very sorry, van broken down in Paignton, not very close to Sherry. But lady now going out in her own car to rescue Sherry's flowers, hopes to deliver by 11.30, before Sherry goes to lunch-date with two ladies. Good service, sort of. 

[roundhouse]

Good morning everyone.

 

Happy birthday Sherry.

 

Currently sat waiting for the train to Liverpool, so I'll be off line mist of the day.

 

Talking of the cost of a pint of beer, I used to pay 11p for a pint of Greenhalls bitter, mind you, I was 16 and still at school then!

 

Back later

11P!! Thats way to much for their cooking bitter

 

However I did like the mild

[trisonic]

Thank you for all the birthday greetings, everyone! The celebrations began last night with a meal with the Red Hatters at "The Drum", Cockington, where our wedding reception took place. I've already had a chat with Ian this morning and am about to open my cards, etc. Later I'm meeting two friends from Toads for lunch at Prezzo in Torquay and the sun is shining.... so far!

 

With thoughts for those experiencing distressing times at the moment and wishing you some relief from your suffering.

 

Many Happy Returns, darling!

Don’t worry, Ian hardly ever reads my posts..........

 

Best, Pete.

[Smiffy2]

Morning all, happy birthday to Sherry!

Slightly overcast here.

 

Supportive thoughts for Is and Dave, and Big Jim. I wish I had the power...

 

Bit of a slack morning this morning, Ocado have been and gone, and not much to do until I pick Daisy up after school, then Rose, then cooking with D and after that  a Governors' Forum meeting. So a bit of an unbalanced day!

 

Question for the IxPeerienced - Wills' Craftsman kits - are the parts pre-shaped, or do you just get a bunch of texture sheets and details, and cut them to size yourself?

 

Have a good day. You're worth it.

[grandadbob]

I remember in the 50's when we lived in a pub the price of a pint of bitter went up from 11¹/2 d to  a shilling. Dad said the resulting fallout was what he would imagine it would be like if WW3 was declared.

Edited May 19, 2016 by grandadbob

[Purley Oaks]

Happy birthday, Sherry! Hope lunch is wonderful - lobster, champagne, only the best.

 

Thinking of you, Dave and Is. Hope that Is is comfortable and that the op goes well.

 

Thinking of your mum, Jim.

 

Cloudy here today; hoping to finally empty storage facility where we brought a little of my father's stuff to go through. Apparently it took the house clearers 4 weeks to clear the four-bed house and loft of all the hoarded crap - you can tell how bad it must have been.

 

Out for a walk this afternoon from Leith along the front at Portobello.

 

Hope your days go well

 

Mal

[BSW01]

 

Question for the IxPeerienced - Wills' Craftsman kits - are the parts pre-shaped, or do you just get a bunch of texture sheets and details, and cut them to size yourself?

 

Have a good day. You're worth it.

I think you just get textured sheets and paper templates which you use to mark the sheets for cutting, if I've remembered correctly.

[Tony_S]

...

 

Question for the IxPeerienced - Wills' Craftsman kits - are the parts pre-shaped, or do you just get a bunch of texture sheets and details, and cut them to size yourself?

 

...

The latter. I haven't made one for about 25 years but I am sure I could find the scars from slipping while cutting out holes in the rather thick sheet. I have better tools now.

[Smiffy2]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like fun!