skyhuck

Thats not from my post that you quote, when you mentioned pets.🙄

You think farm animals are pets?

Oh dear, you are simple wrong. Having worked for the EU, I would have thought you would know the facts? What were you doing? The EU still does not have a mandatory minimum wage. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2020/658208/IPOL_ATA(2020)658208_EN.pdf We are world leaders on animal welfare, unlike many EU countries. Best Countries for Animal Welfare - WorldAtlas WWW.WORLDATLAS.COM Austria, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are the best countries for animal welfare. Learn more about...

IYO.

Well while I disagree with you, you pretty much make my point for me, leaving the EU will in no way change workers rights, just as being in it did nothing for workers. You really do hate this great country.

Utter nonsense. Do you know the minimum wage rate in many parts of the EU? Plus it was not implemented by the EU. It was brought in by a British government. We opted out of the maximum working hours directive, so what's going to change? We are generally way ahead of most of the EU on workers rights, animal welfare, food standards etc, etc.... The idea that the EU has somehow enforced improvements on the UK is just more remoaner propaganda. You really think Russia wants mutually assured destruction? and if so why now?

I have no obligation to treat my customers well......but if I want them to continue using my services and paying me money, then dealing fairly with them is a good idea. It never ceases to amaze me that people somehow think we owe the EU something? It's a club, you pay for the membership, IF you think the benefits are worth paying for, if not don't. Why would the EU not want to continue selling us far more goods and services than we sell them? They only wish to punish us because they a fearful that other countries will also quit and they will loose their unelected gravy train. I'm just very pleased that Boris (for all his faults) can see through their bluff. Do you really think the French will simply let their fishing industry collapse? and allow Ireland's economy to implode? I never for one second thought Sunday was the end of the road, there will be a deal, nothing surer, IMO. Although part of me wishes we would just go WTO.

That was the "Withdrawal agreement" not Brexit. In the withdrawal agreement both parties agreed to negotiate "in good faith" the EU have unfortunately failed to do so.

When it comes to paying yourself, the important thing to remember is you can only really take your wage from your "profit". In order to do this you first need to have a proper handle on what your actual profit is. Its very easy to confuse turnover with profit, especially if your busy and paying loads into the bank, but its easy to be very busy, turning over loads, but not actually making any money.

Its Flat rate not Fixed rate. You don't simply "pocket the 9%". On the Flat rate scheme you cannot reclaim VAT on everyday business expenditure, such as fuel, repairs etc. You can only claim back VAT capital expenditure over £2k. So you need to look at your business and decide if its beneficial for your business or not.

Comparing it to seat-belts reflects perfectly the lack of understanding from the shiny suited, clipboard holders, who self-appointed themselves as representing OUR industry.

No, they can stop you and even prosecute you. You do have a duty of care even to yourself. However they are very unlikely to know, unless you or someone else tells them. I have had 3 A&E visits for fairly serious injuries, all requiring surgery, I was asked how they happened, I told them at work and never heard a thing from anyone. The first was 25 years ago, the most recent, 18months since. Also had many visits over the years for stuff in my eyes, again not follow up from anyone.

Why did he tell the HSE?................. Oh wait he didn't, you just making up a story to support your theory ?

Exactly! Some folk on here talk some nonsense.

I think genetics must play a huge part in ageing. I’ve just turned 51, had over 25 years climbing and the only slight issue I have is a bit of a stiff back in a morning, which is soon sorted with a bit of stretching. I got into mountain bikeing a bout 3 years ago, having been a keen cyclist in my youth. It took me a while to get fit, but now I reckon I’m fitter now than I was 20 years ago. I ride with 2 mates, one of whom is about to turn 60, the are both very fit. We did Snowdon last year, it was pretty busy and for large parts of the ascent we were the only ones riding , lads half our age were all pushing.

Italian Alder?

Argentinian? Don't why I think that but just seems to ring a bell??

Alder of some sort?

Not at all, I worked right through lockdown. I do believe there has been an over reaction, given the benefit of hindsight and that the damaging affects of the lockdown will be greater than the actual disease. BUT and it's a big BUT, this is no flu. It's dangerous and not yet well understood, its killing some very fit healthy people and leaving many survivors very badly damaged, possibly permanently. We have no way of knowing how bad things would have been without the lockdown. I understand that many, many people are scared and need some reassurance. I'm happy to go along with wearing a face covering it if it helps. If you needed a doctors note to avoid wearing one and people where being fined from video footage etc, then I would buy the "government control" narrative. But you can simply say you have anxiety or some other medical issue and not wear one, hardly draconian. I think the cashless thing is being pushed more by business than the government. Chains and none owner run businesses prefer none cash. It prevents staff pilfering and saves having to go to the bank. I honestly wish I felt the government (of either side) had the competence implement the kinds of social control many appear to think they are attempting.

The way I see it, earlier there was a shortage of PPE, so the government did not want joe pubic buying it. Plus as others have said there a pro’s and con’s to wearing them, improper use, handling etc. Lock down has been eased and still many are nervous about going out. So face coverings may help them feel a little more confident. Nervous people are not likely to want to go to the boozer etc.

I believe that’s to prevent static electric. Sparks can cause the oxygen and other gases to explode.

Reading this thread beggars belief!! Is this really a forum for tree workers?? We spend much of our lives having our nuts squished, when the harness shifts, have sawdust, dead confer bits, insects of all types, down the back of our necks or front of our undies, have pointy bits of conifer, hawthorn etc, poking our ass and all other parts of out bodies, as we endeavour to defy gravity climbing hedges with the tensile strength of a wet fart. We squint our eyes, while they fill with sawdust, felling the head out of an 80ft tree in howling wind and rain. etc, etc. But wearing a face covering while we shop is "uncomfortable" ?? Really?? We need to give people who are venerable, may have been shielding for 4 months, the confidence to come back out and rejoin society. If wearing a mask helps, I'm all for it, I care not if they actually work. As for the "there are gaps round them, they don't stop the virus" clowns! Its not about stopping the virus itself. When you speak you spit, you may not realise but you do. These spit droplets may contain millions of virus molecules. The more virus someone is exposed to the worse the decease may be, that's why bus drivers etc have been so badly hit, often dying. Look up "viral loading" As for panic attacks, that's a shame and they need to find alternative work maybe. But can you imagine the effect of them having to wear a cpap machine, if they become infected? I listed to a radio documentary of a Covid ward. A lady died because she could not go on the cpap, due to panic attacks. Come on lads just man up and wear a face covering. If you don't like masks, just get a buff and pull it up over your mouth and nose when you enter a shop. As for government control. You can self declare an excuse to not wear one, not exactly the SS is it?

Most manual workers eat too much (often the wrong stuff) drink to much and avoid exercise, other than work. And then complain that it’s “work” that’s wrecked their health.

No, not really. Possibly if it's so dark you're putting the lights on in the middle of the day.

Can't tell you mate. I recommended Arborisk on here, they loved it and even used my post in their advertising . I guess this led to loads of clowns moving to them, presumably leading to loads of claims and poorer service, higher premiums etc... I'm keeping the new Co hush, hush ?