Retired Climber
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Everything posted by Retired Climber
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I wasn't aware of anything involving the Queen until I read your opening post. I have apologised, and wish I hadn't posted what I did, but refuse to get dragged into a debate with every serially offended member of the forum. I won't be making another post on this thread.
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To be fair, if I had realised how serious the situation was, I wouldn't have made the comment. I wasn't aware of the fact she was in a bad way, and made a silly off the cuff remark. I don't think that puts me in the same category as those who have made jokes since learning of her demise. To anyone offended by my comment, I am sorry.
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As a representative group, we are an odd bunch. I'd imagine the self employed are over represented on this forum, meaning many more than average have the ability to increase their income fairly easily, and also we are massively over-represented by people who have alternative sources of fuel and heating, the obvious example being logs / burnable arb waste.
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Hold on Charlie; not long now.
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Being able to have a million before IHT seemed like a reasonable deal not so many years ago. Now, with house prices as they are, it's going to be a concern for an awful lot of (normal) people.
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In my experience, such schemes are useful to kick the can down the road, but are unlikely to solve the issue on a permanent basis. My Father in law has a similar scheme set up, but I'm not convinced it's going to help us much. I've been looking into these issues quite a bit recently; amazing how having children can focus your mind on such matters.
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How?
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Don't take my word for it. It was basically a guess based on the colour. Far more knowledgeable minds will give their opinion soon I'm sure.
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Fistulina hepatica? Colour looks 'beefsteaky'.
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I think you have confused your CS units. 30 and 31 are the very basic ones for felling. 38 and 39 can't be optional for a climber. I don't think anyone is going to call themselves a climber without 41 too.
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Well played sir! Well played. 👏
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It's in line with other professions of a similar consultancy based nature. My hourly rate is similar to that of a top barrister or surgeon. My work is based on behavioural economics, psychology, marketing strategy and other related fields. I'm not as well educated as a top QC, and don't have what it takes to be a surgeon, but I do have a very rare set of skills and knowledge that are commercially very valuable. I transitioned from arb by giving it up and pursuing other interests. Nothing more exciting than that really. I do take your point about responsible energy use.
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Oh come on. Whatever I said, you'd have posted the same reply. I'm not trying to be humble, but I'm not trying to brag either. Am I proud of what I earn? Yes. Do I get a bit of perverse satisfaction from being able to tell people about it? Yes. Do I sometimes act like a bit of a c0ck on threads about money? Yes. In my line of work I need to read people, and know how they think, inside out and back to front. That includes knowing myself. I'm not ashamed to admit any of the above, and know every motivation I have for posting. I also know yours, but I'm too much of a gentleman to go into detail. Anyway, before another thread gets ruined, let's just leave it at that. Obviously I'll let you have the last word first.
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It's not a brag; it's pertinent in the context of the thread and my post. The content may be similar, but my reasons for mentioning it are very different to yours.
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And in your retirement, maybe you will regret it. I don't see why government assistance should be offered for your lack of planning. The above isnt a personal 'dig', by the way. I was daft with money in my younger days too, but am happy to take responsibility for myself and my family.
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🙂 Yes, I agree, you've got me there. I suppose there is a point at which even the best contingency plan is going to be stretched to breaking point. I'll be honest, I didn't know anything was on offer. I certainly think it shouldn't be offered to people who simply don't need it.
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Not specifically, but it's madness not to plan a contingency of a few extra grand a year, imo.
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I'm aware of that. I agree it must be tough, and a difficult position in which to find oneself. I'm going to find it very difficult to defend my opinion on such matters without upsetting someone, so I think I'll quit whilst I'm ahead (or only slightly behind).
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I don't agree with the 'poor pensioners' agenda. They have had their entire working lives to prepare for their retirement. If they have failed to prepare, they should expect for their twilight years to be a bit of a struggle. I'm very much a fan of everyone taking responsibility for themselves.
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In all seriousness, if anyone is going to struggle with their monthly outgoings increasing by a few hundred quid, they are living in a pretty precarious position. Personally, I think people need to realise 2 things. 1. Sailing so close to the wind regarding income / expenditure is a recipe for hardship, and 2. Being able to eat whatever you like, whenever you like, whilst sitting in a t-shirt in January with every light on in the house, whilst clutching your new I phone is a luxury, not a basic necessity.
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It's all relative though isn't it. £370 per month is a lot if you take home £2k per month. I don't want to go all 'TriggerAndy' and drag the thread into a conversation about what I earn, but £370 is roughly half my hourly rate. I'll not lose any sleep over our energy bills; I certainly don't think I'm doomed.
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It's not a big house, but we are quite power hungry. The house was built in the 1800's, and still has original windows throughout. There are 3 freezers and 2 fridges running 24 / 7, and my office and workshop are heated to comfortable temperatures all through the winter. We've been running aircon most days for the last few months too. I'm quite happy with what we pay to be honest. I think being so free and easy with energy should be priced as a luxury. I do agree though, on a limited budget it would be getting a bit scary at the moment.
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Just checked, ours is currently £370 per month. Haven't had any notification of what it might go up to. It's always comfortably going to be under 5 % though.
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I have no idea what our energy bills are. They go out by direct debit, and I can't remember the last time I looked. Can't possibly be more than 5 % of income though. We have 2 adults and 2 kids in a small / average sized house.
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Good spot. I've been staring at those bloody photos for ages, and couldn't work out what was wrong.
