The Retirement Thread

[Dave7]

Seriously 24 hours later and the schedules are still being changed? What's on instead Dave? I'm interested to know.

So far I've managed to avoid all the media coverage bar about ten minutes when I had a brew yesterday afternoon. Looked at the TV guide and four of the five main channels were doing live DoE stuff and the fifth was "A Place in the Sun."

I did think the BBC 1 live reporter was doing a good job. I was a bit gobsmacked to turn to BBC 2 and find the channel had a separate live broadcast. That was ridiculous.

A very sad time for HRH and the immediate family.

BBC radio 2.
Instead of SoTS they are playing what I assume is more appropriate music with presenters that can sound sanctimonious.
They have just played Whitney Houston. Wonderful voice BUT a smackhead person with dubious traits married to a smackhead as against 60s music which I guess Phillip would have enjoyed.

 

[BoldonLad]

I received an email from Waitrose, complete with a black edged photo of Prince Philip in all his Military regalia. The email was to tell me that Waitrose were deeply saddened by his death. 🤔
It’s all getting a bit Princess Di with the press and other media trying to outdo each other.

Yes, very sad etc etc, but, coverage etc definitely OTT. I am beginning to crave a Covid update

 

[PaulSB]

Good day to you all. A very hard frost last night. 0⁰ in the sheltered backyard so I suspect it's around -2⁰ to -3⁰ in the open. Glorious sunshine, clear sky and breathless.

@Mo1959 how is the wrist? @dave r @Dave7 how are the Mrs Ds?

Nothing urgent to do. The new systems put in place for club rides seem to be working. I might look at a few tweaks people have suggested but only those which can be automated. It's been nice to get a few thank you messages on this as it confirms people are happy.

Need to change the seat post on my Kinesis. Might clean the bikes, their not dirty, just for pleasure. I do need to do a full chain, cassette and rings degrease. I've bought some Squirt lube to try.

A word of warning. If you're ever doing a Google search to find a supplier of Squirt lube be sure to include "bike" in your search term............either that or spend ages clearing your search and browsing history.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Good day to you all. A very hard frost last night. 0⁰ in the sheltered backyard so I suspect it's around -2⁰ to -3⁰ in the open. Glorious sunshine, clear sky and breathless.

@Mo1959 how is the wrist? @dave r @Dave7 how are the Mrs Ds?

Nothing urgent to do. The new systems put in place for club rides seem to be working. I might look at a few tweaks people have suggested but only those which can be automated. It's been nice to get a few thank you messages on this as it confirms people are happy.

Need to change the seat post on my Kinesis. Might clean the bikes, their not dirty, just for pleasure. I do need to do a full chain, cassette and rings degrease. I've bought some Squirt lube to try.

A word of warning. If you're ever doing a Google search to find a supplier of Squirt lube be sure to include "bike" in your search term............either that or spend ages clearing your search and browsing history.

My good lady is doing OK , phoned me at quarter past six this morning to come down and help her with the commode, currently having breakfast whilst waiting for her carer to arrive, the carers late this morning.

 

[PaulSB]

I received an email from Waitrose, complete with a black edged photo of Prince Philip in all his Military regalia. The email was to tell me that Waitrose were deeply saddened by his death. 🤔
It’s all getting a bit Princess Di with the press and other media trying to outdo each other.

I haven't had one of those but my FA's company, of which she is a director, posted of their sadness on FB. Frankly I was p****d off but that one.

I agree with @BoldonLad this is going way over the top. Very, very sad for the family as are all deaths. I understand there are many people who will be sad at his passing. It has no impact on me. As Mrs P said he was 99.

 

[Paulus]

Good morning all.
The weather is cloudy and is forecast to remain so.

At least I can get out with the dog for a few hours and get away from the syncophantic hangers on, on the radio and tv news for a while.

Think of the fuss that will be made when Her Maj pops her clogs.

Stay safe everyone

 

[PaulSB]

@Tenkaykev thanks for your comments re tax yesterday. It actually mirrors what we do except neither of us need to transfer personal allowance. I know what to do though it shouldn't need doing and wouldn't if four different parties had done their work correctly.

HMRC are being especially awkward. I'll return to that later in the day when I've tried again.

It's left a very bitter taste which disappoints me as I genuinely like the young woman who is my FA.

 

[welsh dragon]

Morning. It's a cold and frosty Morning here . -2 but sunny so hopefully it will warm up a bit later on.

Stay safe folks.

 

[Dirk]

Morning all

Best mates are coming over today from Minehead, for beer and pizza in the garden.
Weather's looking good today - so all should be well.

 

[Dirk]

I would prefer what yall call crisps to scoop up that bitchin guacamole.

It's Mushy Peas, not guacamole............whatever that is.

 

[Tenkaykev]

@Tenkaykev thanks for your comments re tax yesterday. It actually mirrors what we do except neither of us need to transfer personal allowance. I know what to do though it shouldn't need doing and wouldn't if four different parties had done their work correctly.

HMRC are being especially awkward. I'll return to that later in the day when I've tried again.

It's left a very bitter taste which disappoints me as I genuinely like the young woman who is my FA.

I lost a fair bit of my pension many years ago in the Equitable Life debacle.
Following that, several years later I went to college for a couple of years in my spare time and eventually took and passed the exams that meant I could work as a Financial Advisor ( I never did, it was more a " Know your enemy" exercise 😉)
Everyone else on the course worked in the Financial Industry, as did the Lecturers. I was the odd one out in that I worked in Engineering. In the very first class we had to do the usual " Getting to know each other " by each taking it in turn to stand up before the class, tell them your name and a the reason for joining the course.
There were the usual " I'm John, I want to improve my career prospects " etc . When it got to me I stood up and said something along the lines of " My names Kevin, I work in Electrical Engineering, not in Finance. The reason I am here is that I believe you all to be a bunch of crooks and I'm here to learn how to best sort out my finances for my benefit, not the benefit of your industry"
As you can imagine, that went down really well 😁 I was sort of adopted by the younger members of the class and there ended up a cabal of four of us " Bad Boys ( and girls) who would meet up in the Pub to go over coursework and exam preparation.
As I said earlier, I never did Practice as a FA, but I learned a fair bit that has helped over the years.

 

[PaulSB]

It's Mushy Peas, not guacamole............whatever that is.

Oh I do love spending some time in here.......😂😂😂

Now I must tidy the kitchen, no one could be arsed last night, too distraught, as we had to watch back to back recordings of The Intruder.

 

[PaulSB]

I lost a fair bit of my pension many years ago in the Equitable Life debacle.
Following that, several years later I went to college for a couple of years in my spare time and eventually took and passed the exams that meant I could work as a Financial Advisor ( I never did, it was more a " Know your enemy" exercise 😉)
Everyone else on the course worked in the Financial Industry, as did the Lecturers. I was the odd one out in that I worked in Engineering. In the very first class we had to do the usual " Getting to know each other " by each taking it in turn to stand up before the class, tell them your name and a the reason for joining the course.
There were the usual " I'm John, I want to improve my career prospects " etc . When it got to me I stood up and said something along the lines of " My names Kevin, I work in Electrical Engineering, not in Finance. The reason I am here is that I believe you all to be a bunch of crooks and I'm here to learn how to best sort out my finances for my benefit, not the benefit of your industry"
As you can imagine, that went down really well 😁 I was sort of adopted by the younger members of the class and there ended up a cabal of four of us " Bad Boys ( and girls) who would meet up in the Pub to go over coursework and exam preparation.
As I said earlier, I never did Practice as a FA, but I learned a fair bit that has helped over the years.

Interesting. For years I had a deep, deep mistrust of anyone involved in selling any sort of financial services - insurance, mortgages, pensions, the works. The young woman, she's 40ish now, slowly but surely overcame this and I've become used to regarding her as a friend who gives sound financial advice. Her advice over the years has been proved good.

This incident, which revolves around the incorrect deduction of £400 tax, has created a situation where all involved give a slightly different answer to my queries. I've also found communication sadly lacking.

It's left me wondering if I've been fooled for the last 16/17 years or if I'm being unreasonable. Neither make me feel good. I've heard a result of lockdown is people have underlying frustrations and lash out at the stupidest things when stuff goes wrong. I don't like the thought I might be doing the same.

 

[Mo1959]

@Mo1959 how is the wrist?

Odd twinge but nearly there. About bloody time. It's nearly two and a half months!

Chilly walk done but so peaceful. Will be a different scenario later in the day so best avoided.


The buildings on the hill towards the left is the water treatment plant for the water coming from Glen Turret Reservoir which sits at the foot of Ben Chonzie. The big house on the right is Ochtertyre now owned by Brian Souter one of the Stagecoach directors.

 

[oldwheels]

Bright sunny morning but a coating of frost on the cars.
Need to empty a couple of compost bins into the remains of the polytunnel beds as I am going to stick some tatties in there.
I said this last year as well but this is the last year of the veg garden as I find the work interferes with my cycling.
My neighbour got his lawnmower and strimmer out last night for checking over so he did my front grass which was getting a bit of a disgrace.
Perhaps the roofing guy will finally get my shed done but I am not holing my breath.