Baldbloke

I kept my oil boiler in situ for a back up, and for when I returned home when I couldn’t be arsed to sort out kindling, logs, and lightning the biomass. Even though I never got a subsidy payment for biomass, I’d reckon on the complete payback on the biomass install over the last seven years. Seven/eight bedroom Scottish manse cost at least 4 k/year to heat previously. 24 k to install. 7X4= 28K + sweat. Still under warranty and wood for free. Subsidy off wind turbine as a domestic consumer = tax free subsidy so win win[emoji1303]

A fill of domestic heating oil in the U.K. usually means you pay 10% vat as against 1999 litres at 5%..... Worth knowing

It was Athol that put in my system. Works well, and nice guy, but no domestic grant, although mine was installed as an early adopter.

Unless you’re already claiming for tax free income on wind generation.... The commercial application is also a major wank. Also, be very careful as I understand Councils are starting to rate commercial set ups after 5 years. Certainly for wind. After nearly seven years there’s still a great lack of absolute detail to rely upon[emoji1304]

I ‘blew’ 25k on a log boiler (including installation costs) through an approved MCS company for a 60Kw log/pellet boiler and 4000ltr buffer in 2013. I get bugger all for it as it’s too big for domestic use in spite of the installer refusing to put in anything smaller as he said it had to match the house requirements. Retrospective consultation stated a max of 40 kw boiler so mines too big.

To back that up, a legal team acting for me was perfectly happy taking 60 k in fees to defend an arbitration award of 25k. Luckily for me it was covered by insurance.

I note no one mentioned my earlier post concerning the SNP justification for a further referendum, and the contradiction that Scotland would have to had to leave the EU had the first result favoured independence. In other words, the SNP would have caused Scotland’s departure had we voted for Independence in 2014, but they’re happy to blame Westminster for us now doing so.

I no longer earn a big wage and am more than happy earning my 22 k gross. I do however appreciate those that earn considerably more and because of that contribute more through tax, insurance contributions and by employing others. Long may the incentive to earn more continue.

So, Mrs Sturgeon now says that a new referendum needs to take place because of Westminster fundamentally changing Scotland’s position in Europe against the people’s will, when the first Scottish referendum would have automatically removed us had the result been to accept independence. You couldn’t fucking make it up.

To get an idea of the dimensions, how long is the handle?

A barrow of logs through our 60 kW Thermimator heats a 4000 ltr thermal buffer tank and fully heats a seven bed house. Just goes to show how efficient a modern biomass boiler is these days. We used more logs in a large stove that did one room previously. The biomass boiler only does hot water and rads though and doesn’t do the cooking!

Happy Christmas all! On a night shift out of the local hospital tonight

Very good summary. Trouble is, the bulk of those that vote SNP wouldn’t begin to understand the implications of a new untested currency, how the markets would rape it, and the effect it would most have on the base SNP voter. By then it would be too late. “In both cases the endgame is the same: Scotland has a new currency which is worth less than sterling, and ordinary households pay the price. Imports and mortgages are more expensive, wages and state pensions are less valuable. The Government is saddled with an Annual Solidarity Payment denominated in pounds sterling. More competitive exports is scant consolation. Anyone lucky enough to be mortgage-free and with significant assets denominated in pounds sterling (such as a private pension) would be quite comfortable. But the average homeowner, or the pensioner reliant on a state pension, would be very badly hurt. This is a point worth remembering the next time someone tells you that Scottish independence is about achieving social justice. An independent Scotland is certainly possible – but it would come at an immense cost.” “That from and after the Union the Coin shall be of the same standard and value throughout the United Kingdom as now in England…” (Act of Union, 1707)”

I think it was pointed out that the majority of the SNP seats won was through a total of about 45% of the Scottish electorate. Their 45% of the vote gave them 80% of the available seats in Scotland. It begs the question whether there’s other voters out there that support independence without being willing to vote for the SNP. If not, it looks like 45% may struggle to attain a majority in a referendum, even if the Greens willingly jump in with them. Also, with Scotland’s fiscal deficiency, would the EU allow it back in as a member? Also whether that hope would encourage adequate Scottish Europhiles (who might normally vote Labour/Green/ Lib Dem or Tory) to add to the vote for independence purely on the chance Scotland might be able to re-join, rather than doing so because of the core SNP reason of wanting independence?

While the Scottish Government says it’s desperate to either remain in or rejoin the EU, the Scottish export figures don’t actually back up that argument. England is Scotland’s biggest market at 60%, while the EU took 18%. But the biggest Scottish foreign export market is the USA. The figures are from the Scottish Government. So to suggest that leaving the EU will do untold damage to Scotland is strange when it is Remaining in the E.U. which after our U.K. departure could be Scotland’s most expensive decision. Remaining in the E.U. after England’s departure would not only involve tariffs trading with England, but also our biggest foreign export market. This when leaving shows it would be beneficial in retaining tariff free trade within the U.K. cheaper trade with the USA, and being included in FTAs around the rest of the world. For Scotland to remain an E.U. member it would involve hefty EU contributions and stifling trade barriers with its biggest markets. All just to show Sturgeons dissatisfaction at Westminster. It has been suggested that the Scottish Government has already been in discussions with the EU over a simplified reentry as a member. Also that the EU appears quite keen because it would be giving the U.K. the finger for leaving.

I’ve got a couple that I want to get back in use. Mine have sheared their flexible drives, and Stihl prices have made me pause.

And yet that very same Scottish Parliament is claiming a mandate for Indy Ref 2 because of the seats they won through FPTP. They claim that the majority of Scotland wants independence, but the truth is they didn’t actually get anything like 50% of the vote to do so. Their success was purely through FPTP, and didn’t reflect a majority wish for their most pressing aim. They also ‘designed’ a vote for 16 year olds. Presumably because they envisaged the likelihood of getting their vote. I’m sure if they disallowed the vote to retired voters they really could get a real majority.

Not my agenda, but the one I’m most comfortable with. I do see the counter argument and the reasons for it, but cannot accept the baggage that needs to go with it. A soft Brexit is the absolute worst possible outcome. Tied to regulatory alignment, tax alignment, Customs Union and having to follow laws made by the ECJ is exactly where the EU wants us to be, so we cannot advantageously compete on a world stage. It would totally kill off the benefits of departing, which is why I’m pleased to hear BJ stating that we won’t be aligned. Canada isn’t, has a deal, so why should we be hamstrung in such a fashion?

When I put my cross in the referendum box it was in or out. As you said Andy, there was no deal mentioned, and Remain MPs prior to the referendum even stated we’d be out of the Customs Union. And then when us leavers were stupid enough to say we’d leave, the same Remain MPs changed the game plan by insisting on a deal and remaining in close alignment. So Mull, the Brexit plan to my mind was to walk without any deal and to retrospectively have talks. With Boris stating there will be no EU regulatory alignment I’m as happy as a pig in shit.[emoji1303]

Correct, I’m an optimist[emoji1303]

To be honest, I’ve always resented the various treaties being signed off without public consultation, so have enough faith in our Tory representatives to see us right without a defined deal. The SNP however.....

I’m interested that you’re pro independence, but anti EU. Personally I cannot understand the SNPs present stance suggesting they want to remain as an EU member while stating they need independence. Surely, the two ideals appear as opposites and contrary? This especially when the U.K. is on the cusp of its own independence from the EU. What proportion of the SNP vote do you think follows your thinking? I wouldn’t be anti independence if there was a viable plan in place that was open to adequate scrutiny to support it. However, I’m concerned the SNP ideals and rhetoric are based on emotions rather than common sense.

As a leaver she’s possibly largely what put me off the BBC. All her reporting on Brexit seemed biased against anyone keen on supporting Brexit. Scotland, At the time, didn’t feature in it.

Remain endlessly

Precisely. PR would have seen a continuation of Remain sympathetic MPs stopping what the majority voted on in the referendum 3.5 years ago. Coalitions of different parties hinder decisions, allow minor parties to use blackmail to introduce odd legislation, and never last. The reason why the Tories got in is that the public (including many who usually vote elsewhere) decided that they were being taken aa fools by Remain MPs, and put their cross with the only viable party that was promising to remove us from the EU. Both the referendum, the delay in implementing the result, and the last GE should have taught those that are supposed to represent us, and what we want, a serious lesson. However, because they usually use us in Scotland as the U.K. guinea pigs I wouldn’t be against a trial of PR in Scotland though after being shown how it would reduce the number of SNP seats[emoji3]