Early Risers.

[jjb1970]

15 minutes ago, pH said:

I know for sure that you’re not allowed to hold Australian and Canadian dual citizenship, though I can’t remember which country doesn’t allow it.

 

An originally Australian friend of ours married a Canadian, took Canadian citizenship and gave up his Australian citizenship. The week after he’d done that, his mother was killed in a traffic accident in Australia. So there he was, having given up his right to his Australian passport, not yet with a Canadian passport, and needing a visa (which he obviously didn’t have) to get into Australia. He said the Canadian citizenship and immigration staff were superb - expedited all the processes he had to go through on the Canadian side and basically did all the processing he had to do on the Australian side for him.

 

About 20 years ago I was on a big anchor handler/light construction vessel based in Abu Qir outside Alexandria. One of the crew was seriously ill so the Master called the British consulate for a recommendation for a doctor/hospital to send him to (not all medical services in Egypt are equal and the agent was considered more likely to recommend one he had a, ahem.....commercial relationship with). He was basically told off and told not to waste their time. Since the ship was painted blue and owned by a well known company starting with 'M' he tried the Danish consulate. Their response was to immediately send one of their cars to collect the guy and take him to their local medical practice. 

[grandadbob]

43 minutes ago, BSW01 said:

I’m firmly with Phil and Peter, there’s no way I’d go back to work again, my mental health just would not cope with the way the company was heading. Bailing out when I did, has certainly done me good mental health wise, although there are some people who might well disagree with that last statement. 

 

Me too, with bells on!  Retired 19 years ago at 55 and it was the best decision I ever made even though my pension took a big hit because I went early.  My health had suffered in the last three of four years at work and I was fed up to the back teeth  because although I was a manager in the end I wasn't allowed to manage!  Higher management decreed that every  decision, even minor stuff,  had to go through somebody else,  which became, shall we say, somewhat frustrating especially when HR got involved......and then there were the meetings.  We ended up having meetings to decide when to have meetings or so it seemed instead of getting on with the job.  If I went back to work (which I won't) I'd end up getting fired within the first 5 minutes because I wouldn't take the crap that I hear many people have to put up with these days.

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by grandadbob

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, polybear said:

 

Oh well.  I guess I'll just have to console myself with another Pizza.  Such is life......

Why am I doubting that it’s an artisanal pizza, made with real San Marzano tomato sauce, real mozzarella, funghi porcini, prosciutto cotto, cooked in a wood fired oven? 🤣
 

I think you may have had a lucky and narrow escape there, @Winslow Boy

 

2 hours ago, polybear said:

C'mon Puppers @PupCam - can you turn your back, Your Country Needs You.....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64083802

 

Just think - instead of shivering away in that draughty 'ol Garage you too could be stackin' shelves in a nice warm large store nearby.....

As our American cousins might say NFW!

 

Why would I, after having finished my career as a “senior consultant”, return to a workplace where I would (a) earn less and/or (b) report to some young and clueless “manager”* whose business acumen is based around bizness-spik buzzwords? And that’s before taking into account the cost of getting to/from work and/or the taxman meddling in carefully crafted retirement plans…

 

Not to mention how I’d be in hot water with HR from the start, due to my “robust response to the pressing issues of today’s multi-everything workplace” 😇

 

Nope, unless you absolutely have to, returning to the workforce once retired isn’t the smartest of strategies (except if you can dictate your own terms and conditions and even then…..)

 

* it doesn’t happen too often, but sometimes clients have someone clueless on a team - this often means I am required to do things the slow, complicated and roundabout way. Intellectually annoying, but my wallet thanks me “for my patience” 🤑

[iL Dottore]

47 minutes ago, pH said:

I know for sure that you’re not allowed to hold Australian and Canadian dual citizenship, though I can’t remember which country doesn’t allow it.

 

An originally Australian friend of ours married a Canadian, took Canadian citizenship and gave up his Australian citizenship. The week after he’d done that, his mother was killed in a traffic accident in Australia. So there he was, having given up his right to his Australian passport, not yet with a Canadian passport, and needing a visa (which he obviously didn’t have) to get into Australia. He said the Canadian citizenship and immigration staff were superb - expedited all the processes he had to go through on the Canadian side and basically did all the processing he had to do on the Australian side for him.

 

27 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

 

About 20 years ago I was on a big anchor handler/light construction vessel based in Abu Qir outside Alexandria. One of the crew was seriously ill so the Master called the British consulate for a recommendation for a doctor/hospital to send him to (not all medical services in Egypt are equal and the agent was considered more likely to recommend one he had a, ahem.....commercial relationship with). He was basically told off and told not to waste their time. Since the ship was painted blue and owned by a well known company starting with 'M' he tried the Danish consulate. Their response was to immediately send one of their cars to collect the guy and take him to their local medical practice. 

I have heard, from acquaintances, that the British FO doesn’t have a stellar reputation for the speed, alacrity and efficiency with which they assist distressed Britons abroad.

 

Some unkind British expats have vouchsafed that British embassies, consulates and missions remain firmly entrenched in the age of the White £5 Note…

[Gwiwer]

2 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

For government jobs you need Australian citizenship but most nationalities  can hold dual citizenship if you don't want to give up your natural one, plus you get a certificate that says you are Australian which is more than born-here Australians have and you also  get a free wattle.

Boy can they make it hard though.

 

I considered becoming a dual-nat at one stage. Only Australians may vote but under their mandatory system they also must vote.  On penalty of being fined for not doing so. Then they wonder why so many ballot papers are decorated with, typically, hastily-drawn representations of male genitalia. 
 

Government (including police and defence) positions are often only open to citizens but most government-funded posts where the employer is not directly a government department are open to all. 
 

I would have had to jump through a lot of hoops, answer to someone elses’s satisfaction why I was unwilling to relinquish British citizenship (it’s too valuable, to me, to give away) and the gains would have been more jobs being open to me (I was already happily employed) and becoming enfranchised (and adding to the donkey-vote quota because I disagree with democracy-by-force and have no idea about who is who across Aussie politics).

 

So I never did. 
 

 

[jamie92208]

Just got back from a very convivial coffee with Denyse. She's been a widow for 25 years and is 92. Beth played guitar and we sang a couple of carols. Then it was coffee plus alcohol along with Beth's mince pies. We were then forced to have a Bistoi which is coffee with a large shot of Rum.  A good time has been had.  She was evacuated to England from her native Belgium in 1940 and spent the war in Folkestone.  She's more life in her than many people 30 years younger.

 

As to Engineer status.  As far as I know it's reserved for professionally qualified engineets in France.  Skilled tradesmen are classed as artisans. This latter word has status and earns respect.

 

As to working after retirement I'm firmly with Peter BB and others.  No Way.  After 20 years of retirement I have no desire to go out to work for money. I did do quite a bit of voluntary work and enjoyed it.  Here there is a distinct disadvantage  to going out to work for money.  We are classed as economically  inactive and thus do not pay the 9% Social Charges  (National Insurance or something close).  If I started earning we would be hit by having to pay the Social Charge for the rest of our lives.  NFW.

 

Jamie

Edited December 24, 2022 by jamie92208

[Erichill16]

Early afternoon,

Sat in Hampsons PlantWorld. Mil and Swmbo looking at wool. 
Next stop ASDA, great. Last minute sprouts anyone?

 

[grandadbob]

We took a walk to Asda as The Boss suddenly decided that there were a couple of "extras" that we needed.  I decided I "needed" a bottle of Three Barrels brandy that was being offered for £13.  It's not Remy or Hennessy but at that price it's not "Three" bad especially if drunk with a mixer.    Horse's Neck anyone? 

Edited December 24, 2022 by grandadbob

[Erichill16]

Hmmmmm, tempting, very tempting!

[monkeysarefun]

1 hour ago, Gwiwer said:

I disagree with democracy-by-force and have no idea about who is who across Aussie politics).

 

So I never did. 

But... You have the chance of a  free native plant!!

 

 

 

Gotta say I can see the point  in compulsory voting. (Or to split hares, compulsorily getting your name crossed off the list at the polling booth)

 

But anyway, Santa is just half an  hour away so

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[grandadbob]

1 hour ago, Erichill16 said:

Hmmmmm, tempting, very tempting!

 

 

Snap!  😂

Edited December 24, 2022 by grandadbob

[Gwiwer]

20 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said:

You have the chance of a  free native plant!!

As SWMBO in her pre-doctoral days held a senior role with Botanic Gardens Victoria we were never short of those. 
 

Our front garden was almost 100% Aussie natives - with no grass - including numerous species not in general cultivation to which we had access. 

[jjb1970]

I've never been a supporter of compulsory voting simply because if a society is to be free then it should be the choice of the individual. My own view is that too many people died to preserve our freedom to throwaway our opportunity to sock it to politicians by voting for someone else every few years and so always voted. However, if people fought for our freedom to vote then that freedom presumably also includes the right not to vote. There is always the option to spoil the ballot paper so you are crossed off but that kind of seems to make a mockery from all sides as it still compels people to go and do something while on the other hand I see little point in making people go and spoil a ballot paper. Although I have also always been an advocate that ballot papers should include a box for 'none of the above'. At election time politicians and media pundits always point to turnout and blame electors for being lazy or uninterested. I'm sure a lot of those not voting are indeed lazy or uninterested but a lot of them make a conscious decision that none of the choices are worth voting for and are disenfranchised by the general awfulness of the political establishment. At least a 'none of the above' option would give a voice to those who think all the choices suck. When that idea is put forward journalists tend to defend the establishment and claim it is a form of moral and intellectual cowardice and hiding from a decision, rather than they themselves facing the fact that a large part of the population is completely disengaged from politics and hates all of the options. My own way to square the circle for quite a few election cycles has been to vote for some local no hope candidate, I guess I may as well try and help someone who probably has more genuine interest in the constituency than any of the mainstream candidates get their deposit back.

[Sidecar Racer]

 A quick check in just to say ,

 

[Gwiwer]

Afternoon all.  A Happy Hogswatch to all citizens of Discworld.  
 

Today has seen the expected round of Domestic Engineering. A quest for cream proved unsuccessful; all locations tested positive for Elmlea but negative for the real deal. It’s not a major concern.  Gifts were exchanged at the door with Dr. SWMBO’s employer following our withdrawal from their afternoon tea. 
 

Tomorrow’s events will be in the lap of the Deities of Choice until test results are known. If all seven of us can manage negatives then we are, as planned, off to my sister’s for feeding and watering. Should one of us prove positive then it’s the stand-by roast Upon the Hill of Strawberries which has been pre-emptively catered for.

 

Nephew-the-Youngest is reported “sniffly but negative” which is exactly how both of us were a week ago. Since then Dr. SWMBO has tested positive and I have produced one extremely faint red test line after waiting fully an hour.  Almost everyone would have recorded that as a negative test long before that hour and discarded the stick.  I am honestly not too sure how to regard that one but shall do another test in the morning.  
 

Time will tell. Nothing more we can do except wait. 

 

Despite the industrial unrest it seems that one train is scheduled to run as normal tonight 
 

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by Gwiwer

[Erichill16]

24 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

 

 

Snap!  😂

Snap!  

Just need a tree now!

Edited December 24, 2022 by Erichill16

[Gwiwer]

16 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

I have also always been an advocate that ballot papers should include a box for 'none of the above'

A man after my own mind. 
 

I agree with the sentiments expressed prior to the quote also. The vote has been fought and died for but we are not - in Westernised nations - living under any form of dictatorship. We are at liberty to vote or not asxwe choose. 
 

Having the “None of the Above” option might improve turnout slightly in some cases; it offers the option to reject all candidates in a positive manner rather than by donkey-voting and drawing d1cks on ballot papers. 
 

Should that option gain the greatest number of votes, whether in the British “first past the post” straight majority system or through any form of proportional representation / transferrable voting system then a new poll shall be required with all previius candidates disqualified. 
 

Aussies grow up with compulsory voting. I see it as politics of the big stick and another blatant government revenue-raising stunt. 

[Dave Hunt]

2 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Nope, unless you absolutely have to, returning to the workforce once retired isn’t the smartest of strategies (except if you can dictate your own terms and conditions and even then…..)

 

I thought I'd do my bit for Britain so I went to the local job centre and asked them if I could return to work. They asked what my qualifications are and how old I am. "I'm a fast jet pilot aged 75," said I. Apparently there are no openings at the present time.

 

Happy Christmas to all ERs.

 

Dave

[monkeysarefun]

I'm thinking of the more practical outcomes of compulsory voting.

 

How many anti brexiters didn't bother to go  out to vote because they thought there was no chance of it getting up? How many Hillary voters didn't bother to vote because they believed Trump had no chance? Who knows -  so at least in our elections we know for certain that the genuine majority of the population willed it, however  right or wrong we think  the outcome. That's democracy.

 

Additionally we can not be subject to the introduction of any  sneaky undemocratic voter suppression tactics when by law we have to vote.

Edited December 24, 2022 by monkeysarefun

[The White Rabbit]

44 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

.... I have also always been an advocate that ballot papers should include a box for 'none of the above'. At election time politicians and media pundits always point to turnout and blame electors for being lazy or uninterested. I'm sure a lot of those not voting are indeed lazy or uninterested but a lot of them make a conscious decision that none of the choices are worth voting for and are disenfranchised by the general awfulness of the political establishment. At least a 'none of the above' option would give a voice to those who think all the choices suck. When that idea is put forward journalists tend to defend the establishment and claim it is a form of moral and intellectual cowardice and hiding from a decision, rather than they themselves facing the fact that a large part of the population is completely disengaged from politics and hates all of the options. ....

 

That strikes a chord with me. I recall someone who knew the system fairly well once said if voting changed anything, we wouldn't be allowed to do it. There are many things I could (but not here) say about the British system and my utter disillusionment with it. Suffice to say I am thinking very seriously about emigrating and that's due to the political establishment's behaviour and the harm it has caused my family and I over the last 30 years. Personally, I'd like to see legislation which means if fewer than 50% of eligible voters vote for any of the candidates (rather than spoiling their papers), the election is null and void, with the position remaining vacant until the next election.  

[Tony_S]

3 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

have heard, from acquaintances, that the British FO doesn’t have a stellar reputation for the speed, alacrity and efficiency with which they assist distressed Britons abroad.

The only British embassy I have had to be in contact with were really helpful at a  very difficult time. 

[TheQ]

I'm not going back to work, I haven't yet officially retired till the 31st.

Either way....

 

No chance...

[monkeysarefun]

42 minutes ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

I thought I'd do my bit for Britain so I went to the local job centre and asked them if I could return to work. They asked what my qualifications are and how old I am. "I'm a fast jet pilot aged 75," said I. Apparently there are no openings at the present time.

 

Happy Christmas to all ERs.

 

Dave

Pity, you could have knocked our guy out of the Guinness Book of Records.

 

https://australianaviation.com.au/2018/08/the-worlds-oldest-fighter-pilot-hangs-up-his-flying-boots/

[45156]

Afternoon All,

 

Muck skipping has happened, as this thread is going faster than I can keep up = especially as the laptop keeps getting hijacked to deal with 30747's State Pension claim - on Tuesday, we had the usual phone run around, as she's paid her voluntary contribution, and the cheque has been cashed - we never managed to find a way to pay online - it was there, but wouldn't work - and her extra pension was not showing on her NI account.  So you call the DWP helpline as per the DWP webpages, and after a couple of blind alleys, you get to an option which sounds about right, choose it, and it gives you a contact number for HMRC, and then cuts out without any more options.  RIng that HMRC number, and get 55 minutes of the same boring music, which is only one phrase repeated, punctuated by the please continue to hold, and your call is important ro us.  Eventually, we got an answer, and the guy said "it can take a few weeks to post, but I can sort it now" - and he did - when the call ended, we revisited her pension forecast and it was correct - but the timescale of the process, and the time on hold - if we were paying for the call, it would have cost over six quid.

 

Then went to Cirencester to have a mooch round the antique centre and charity shops, and on Thursday did the same in Shrewsbury, as we put Lily into kennels for a couple of days.  On the trip to the kennels, the fog really came down thick.

 

Then yesterday, the laptop had to be put to use on various items of bookwork - pah.

 

I will be back tomorrow to offer festive greetings to all.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[DaveF]

I am very glad I retired from full time work at 56 some 17.5 years ago, I don't think I'd have the energy to teach or do the other bits of the job now, especially spending several hours a day (2pm till 7pm) working with pupils on the brink of permanent exclusion - though at the time I didn't find it difficult.   

 

I did enjoy the 8 years very part time IT work I did afterwards, especially as I did most of it from home at times of my choosing.  I could probably still do it, as long as it remained one day a week and as well paid.

Edited December 24, 2022 by DaveF