Steven P

Got to look at the numbers, I reckon it would be pointless adding in if I was about to retire in a couple of years and had the spare cash - keep that cash and take less cash out the private pensions. Not sure though if I had the cash whether topping up the private pension or state pension would pay off better - would need to guess how long I'll to for, and if all the private stuff will go on till the end like the stat pension will. Tricky!!

Read it again Gareth and put your understanding head on. For charity and altruistic works we are at opposite ends of the spectrum, your 'home' that charity begins in is a lot smaller than my 'home', that is OK. That is not the point I was making. I didn't go on to the long period of peace we are enjoying... but having a strong financial interest in another country is one of the best peace making tools there is. The EU and no major conflicts within that group - strong financial interests, the US, no conflicts between states cause the finances are intertwined. To a more modern take, Trump whether he realises it or not is offering to invest heavily in The Ukraine but in doing so is offering to invest militarily to protect those assets he wants to control. Look at Israel (as a well publicised example), 4 billion in trade within the middle east, out of about 70 billion in exports - small amount of trade to their nearest neighbours... and coincidentally little incentive to hold a ceasefire. Finances rule and control the world and as above hard cash flows, yes, but the softer side, the no conflicts flows the other way

Gareth, while the sentiment is good, look out for yourself - which is the American way, unlike the European way of helping all in society. Trumps process for doing so is fundamentally flawed. There is nothing wrong with helping others. There is probably a moral duty in fact if you have a lot to help those with not a lot. The worlds tax systems intentions are this, tax the richest more and that is passed down to the poorest. The US as a nation has a lot, as do a lot of European countries. The richest in the world have been showing the way morally for the last 80 to 100 years now. The rest of the world, rightly or wrongly, have benefitted and indeed rely on this help - pretty sure you have said the same before and know all this. Bear with me though as the point is coming up next. So Trumps process of - without warning and suddenly - turning off the tap is going to lead to millions around the world suffering great hardship, driving them into poverty. It is going to stall the economic development, and democratic development that these funds have helped promote. Not just the odd one or 2 families but millions, and suddenly. In countries where there is great hardship you get great migrations as the populations move onwards to find better lives - humans do it, all the animals do it, a basic need in life to look after your young. So don't whinge here in 12 months time when there are a lot of Nigerians knocking on the door asking for help... and housing within the UK. Similarly from the US southern borders, suddenly turning off the money tap will increase pressure on border crossings. Don't whinge, it is a natural consequence of suddenly turning off that tap. But back to the top again, this sudden stop of all aid.... if it was done more slow and in a controlled manner these hardships can be mitigated to some extent. The US can use its power and knowledge to put in infrastructure to help these countries be self sufficient, to reduce their reliance. It hasn't always been done so before, and Trumps first administration was no better than any other in this respect. Sure you are going to be able to pull up headlines of odd cases, and sure you are going to ignore all the good works to make a political point, that's what political commenters do well, and why 'fact checking' websites are flourishing - we know the political commenters out to make a point are generally heavily biased - including the press and the linkedin they read. But point to take from these few words, the biggest problem is that this assistance stopping suddenly and without warning will cause great hardship. With great hardship will create great migration. Don't whinge at that.

ooh, political joke from Birmingham at Farage's expense: (high power projector from an office opposite at Refoms rally)

Do the sums on the yard, our 3 bed semi- that £200 a month yard rental would pretty much cover our entire electric bill (no gas, benefits of living out of town), and then you have the cost of the wood as well, and your time to cut, split, stack, dry, deliver to yours. Probably for that it is cheaper to buy it in. If you are not to fussy I'd look at the local tree surgeons like Mark says - get a random mix of wood depending on whether the original tree owner wants it left (trees cut up in the back garden are valuable you know, pay back the cost of the tree surgeon selling the wood....). If that doesn't work out, then talk to the tree surgeons again, I am quite happy to pay for 'petrol' (a reasonable amount) to get fresh unsplit logs delivered. Buying a some loads in during the year might be cheaper than yard rental. Not too sure about a farmers field unless you have a decent vehicle able to go off road or they have hard standing for you. Bloke round the corner has spit a couple of tonnes, the field isn't fenced off and anyone could walk off with his hard work - so make sure your logs are out of sight, especially the split ones. Might be possible to deal with the farmer in the same way as a tree surgeon, they take a cut off the logs and you get barn space which might be win-win. However do the sums,

I see today the Vance is accompanying his Mrs Vance to Greenland, only a day visit of about 10,000 miles. Better talk to Musk because I am sure there are better ways to spend the millions especially when Zoom exists.

He is slow by about 3 years but eventually his words are echoing the thoughts in the constituency that he represents. Not sure if he went over to see Trumpy whether he would come back saying the same, a feeling that he'd to the Putin lie

Your numbers, 62 days milling and stuff. 300 days not used for the business, sitting in the yard doing nothing.... or being used for a personal vehicle. Your numbers.

Get your point about statistical significance and low numbers of voters, 500 starts to become significant I think though. However, assuming they are the same voters in both, it doesn't look right that they want a blue local candidate but a red president (OK, orange for the semantics), particularly in an election where Trump was polarising the electorate the way he was. Compared to the national result, doesn't ring true either... though of course I don't know the area where this result was

However the one who is getting most narky about a bit of extra tax on his vanity van company perk is the one whose tuck is not used day in day out, but is apparently sat in a yard for 300 days of the year gathering dust.

The same idea then as Christmas trees in the sand dunes? The wood - sticks are there to let the silt build up inside and provide support as opposed to being the new river bank? (The Christmas trees capture the sand to reduce dune erosion)

But there is no fraud, and nothing wrong with the process because the right guy won.

Can't keep up sometimes! The other week it was dead hedges (had another go, circular around an old trampoline base, boys did fire pit in the middle and mallows off that)... so Fascines next then.

That's what I said too..... whatsapps does not comply with government record keeping... as Boris Johnsons parties enquiry showed. You're a couple of days late with that one.

The tax in question is because it is a perk of the employment, you get to use it as your own and the business picks up the tab for lease / purchase, insurance, maintenance, tax, new tyres, whatever, (and I am sure 'some' fuel). So the HGV example doesn't really equate, it is in the same bracket as a mill, chainsaw or chipper - you are highly unlikely to pop down to the beach in your Scania when it is sunny. No perk, tax doesn't apply.

I think this comes down to me basically not believing that the double cab in this instance is going to be sat in the yard for 300 days of the year and never get taken out the yard unless there is work to do. Double cab and I'd be very much inclined to believe that it is also used as a general run around, taking the family out and so on, as such having the business provide for such is a perk. In the case of much of the equipment we use it would be tricky to work out how it could b used for anything other than business use. Hardly likely to pop down to the shops with chainsaw as a fashion accessory (though that might be just me). Day trip to the beach? Take the sawmill out, will make a great base for the BBQ.

Not at all Gareth, If the argument is that you don't like the tax on double cabs because they are not a perk then the business case behind the business owning one has to be solid. This includes financially. To have it sat in the yard for 300 days of the year, not moving, then the finances don't add up. If the van is used on those the 300 days outside of business use then it is a perk and should be taxed as such, the same as we all pay for other work perks we might get

It was you that mentioned emissions, I never considered that as a consideration here. My argument here is do you actually need the double cab vehicle sat in the yard, costing the business money and not moving or making money for 300 days of the year. For a financial business case get a single cab, avoid this tax (which is written off against profits anyway) and cheaper to run. For the (guess here) 20 or so days you take your both your mates onto a job use the savings to get them a taxi, hire car, or own vehicle use plus paid expenses for the day. Business makes more money which is after all why we work. A different case of course if said van was being used for the full 220-ish day working year taking a team of 3 or 4 to site and back, then the finances say it is better to own or lease it.

See he is getting some stick today for not being briefed about 4 missing solders in Lithuania - might not be his fault but you'd have thought someone in his team would be aware what the press are going to ask him. I get the feeling more and more that he is the 'Emperor' in the 'Emperors New Clothes' where no one wants to tell him bad stuff (also see Stalin, China and North Korea for similar leaders). Of course my mind also goes back to his comments a few years ago that solders who get killed or injured are 'losers' and he only like 'winners'. A nice compassionate man

Emissions, could get an electric one? Old Trumpy, the US president (and hero of The JohnsonD) is flogging them now.

Still no answer. Simples. How many times does JohnsonD use his vanity van as a necessity for his work? We should have a poll I think.

That is why I am asking you, the expert on these things for clarity. Still ignorant an why this is hitting you so hard when your salary, 3 or 4 times every elses should cover this easily, yet the guys out there grafting are not whinging.

So your lack of clarity leads me to believe that you need to use your van for 20 days a year for a business vehicle, the rest of the time a taxi to the airport would be sufficient ? Noting that your need this vehicle for its 3 1/2 ton towing capacity (previous posts, another thread if anyone missed that) - very doubtful you take that much kit with you swimming

Fairly clear that shouldn't be on a META owned platform and someone should have verified the audience.

JohnsonD, you are taking particular exception to these business vehicles being taxed more. Just to give us an understanding, how much of your £120k salary do you earn using one, how many days business use does it get? Correct me if I am wrong but they are not submersible and useless when you are out swimming? The reason I ask is that most of the guys I see round here - granted more tree surgeons than forest operations - are using tipper vans for preference - I'd be guessing that they don't appreciate the level of your hardship given this thread isn't a 50 pages long rant. More the occasional 1 or 2 venting and that is it really.