I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
Bet you it was from the Tories for helpfully convincing everyone that the LibDems were solid in their constituencies & therefore no one paid attention to what was happening on the ground...
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
Congratulations on the site Mr Smithson and another year of success.
In my opinion the site lost its way in the last couple of years but since the General Election you seem to have taken back control, the standard of thread headers has improved immeasurably (probably due to the range of intelligent contributors you have managed to find from across the political spectrum) and most of the posters manage to discuss the topics rather than bore the thread with personal drivel.
I don't always agree with the content, but they are well written and worth reading.
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
Let's go through those: For tweeting - clearly a joke, but you don't joke when it comes to immigration For writing a research paper on drugs - admitted taking drugs, therefore inadmissible For offending Obama - offending the President of the country you are going to, very clever. For being well travelled - probably a combination of countries that flagged him. An embassy interview would clear that up For depression - You are inadmissible if you have a physical or mental disorder that may pose, or has posed, a threat to the property, safety, or welfare of the alien or others. An interview with an embassy-appointed doctor should clear it up For playing the guitar - Officials thought he was going to seek employment. For being Yusuf Islam - Fair enough For criticising the Government? - See "For offending Obama" For relying on Bitcoin - I think the regulations don't consider Bitcoin a currency. Suprised he didn't have any other options. For a 24-year-old conviction - Any conviction is enough to bar entry.
Let's go through those: For tweeting - clearly a joke, but you don't joke when it comes to immigration For writing a research paper on drugs - admitted taking drugs, therefore inadmissible For offending Obama - offending the President of the country you are going to, very clever. For being well travelled - probably a combination of countries that flagged him. An embassy interview would clear that up For depression - You are inadmissible if you have a physical or mental disorder that may pose, or has posed, a threat to the property, safety, or welfare of the alien or others. An interview with an embassy-appointed doctor should clear it up For playing the guitar - Officials thought he was going to seek employment. For being Yusuf Islam - Fair enough For criticising the Government? - See "For offending Obama" For relying on Bitcoin - I think the regulations don't consider Bitcoin a currency. Suprised he didn't have any other options. For a 24-year-old conviction - Any conviction is enough to bar entry.
Point is you don't need much to be barred from the states and suspicion is enough for them to bring the shutters down e.g. bloke with the guitar. Any criminal record, any admission of really minor things, etc etc etc.
Our friend has been ejected from Israel and has somebody with the same name as one of his party with a facebook page registered to the same address with extremist material....
Amir Khan has been rejected on a number of occasions and it isn't because he is a Muslim, it is things like being investigated for being involved in a brawl (in which he was attacked), not doing the paperwork correctly, etc etc etc.
Point is you don't need much to be barred from the states.
Yeah, as Nigella found out. Still, the reason the recent case is still in the news is because bits about the story keep surfacing, such as the links to extremist material, the fact none of the mothers were going etc.
Point is you don't need much to be barred from the states.
Yeah, as Nigella found out. Still, the reason the recent case is still in the news is because bits about the story keep surfacing, such as the links to extremist material, the fact none of the mothers were going etc.
Well I would love to agree, but I don't hear much about those bits when the BBC give him the sympathetic treatment and Stella Creasy goes into bat for him.
But then the BBC weren't too keen to report the full facts of Guantanamo Garry.
Well, it's Xmas Eve and I have my first glass of Prosecco at hand. So time to sign out for a bit.
What a year it has been: book-ended, sadly, by tragedies in Paris and a reminder, if reminder were needed, of the importance of freedom of thought and speech. A year of an unexpected election result, of the unfathomable idiocy of the Labour Party electing Corbyn and resurrecting the worst examples of its past, of the destruction of Palmyra and other centres of civilisation, of a Benn making a speech reminding all of us, whether we are Labour or not, of why a decent Labour Party mattered once and could matter again, of the incomprehensible - to me anyway - return of Star Wars.
A year - on a personal level - which has ended for me more positively than I dared hope. A year when my eldest two finally started to fly the nest, a year when my team at work did me proud and provided me with friendship and support and work of impeccable professionalism.
A year of wonderfully stimulating debates on PB. I have learnt many things, the most memorable being TSE teaching me what Baker Street meant in a non-Metropolitan line context.
No competitions for Tipsters of the Year? Pah! I nominate Alistair Meeks/ Antifrank for his thoughts on Scotland and his recent thread headers. But really so many people have contributed.
A big thank you to Mr Smithson and the moderators and the kindness of PB'ers.
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
It may be OGH that you have converged to a possible solution. It may be from someone who is good at finding where people live, who enjoys fine wine, and it came from London. Perhaps we'll never know. Enjoy it.
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
We have panels and were left with a neat little pile of tiles - and when I queried them was told they were replaced by flashings. Our roof remains watertight. Merry Christmas.
Mike - judging by the location of the wine merchant from whom the Champagne was purchased, it would seem that your grateful (and rich) fan is a City of London based punter who has benefited from your various betting tips during this election year. If so, that narrows the field somewhat, although it could of course be from an anonymous non-poster.
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
We have panels and were left with a neat little pile of tiles - and when I queried them was told they were replaced by flashings. Our roof remains watertight. Merry Christmas.
I've just been reading online (I know...), and there are many different ways of fitting the panels. And the problem is not one of immediate leakage, but in the future. Like blown cavity-wall insulation, I'd be concerned of storing up problems in the future.
It's just something to consider when getting them. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
We have panels and were left with a neat little pile of tiles - and when I queried them was told they were replaced by flashings. Our roof remains watertight. Merry Christmas.
I've just been reading online (I know...), and there are many different ways of fitting the panels. And the problem is not one of immediate leakage, but in the future. Like blown cavity-wall insulation, I'd be concerned of storing up problems in the future.
It's just something to consider when getting them. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Oh I agree. Most cavity insulation is board not sprayed (I agree it would be on 'aftermarket' for older properties).
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Taking into account your particular concerns as well as the adverse impact in terms of aesthetics, I'd also be concerned as regards the possible negative aspect on the value of a property fitted with solar panels, which might easily match or even exceed the energy savings/grants received therefrom. Definitely not for me ..... I could never understand why don't people fit them at ground level, where the they can be tilted at precisely the optimum angle towards the sun?
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
We have panels and were left with a neat little pile of tiles - and when I queried them was told they were replaced by flashings. Our roof remains watertight. Merry Christmas.
I've just been reading online (I know...), and there are many different ways of fitting the panels. And the problem is not one of immediate leakage, but in the future. Like blown cavity-wall insulation, I'd be concerned of storing up problems in the future.
It's just something to consider when getting them. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Oh I agree. Most cavity insulation is board not sprayed (I agree it would be on 'aftermarket' for older properties).
On cavity-wall insulation, someone's just told me (*) that new houses have to have filled cavity-wall insulation. Usually not blown, but boarded. But some houses have had trouble with boards falling and allowing damp through.
(*) We have this sort of riveting Christmas Eve conversations in our family
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
We have panels and were left with a neat little pile of tiles - and when I queried them was told they were replaced by flashings. Our roof remains watertight. Merry Christmas.
I've just been reading online (I know...), and there are many different ways of fitting the panels. And the problem is not one of immediate leakage, but in the future. Like blown cavity-wall insulation, I'd be concerned of storing up problems in the future.
It's just something to consider when getting them. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Oh I agree. Most cavity insulation is board not sprayed (I agree it would be on 'aftermarket' for older properties).
On cavity-wall insulation, someone's just told me (*) that new houses have to have filled cavity-wall insulation. Usually not blown, but boarded. But some houses have had trouble with boards falling and allowing damp through.
(*) We have this sort of riveting Christmas Eve conversations in our family
Cavity ties have a twist in them so that any damp that may soak through on them will drip to the bottom of the cavity.
Re Solar panels - I had mine installed in February following a full structural and detailed engineering report of the roof costing over £300. The installer would not proceed without the reports approval and I watched the installation from the scaffolding and can say that it is fully watertight, has strengthened the roof and resists the present storm force winds better than before. The return of nearly 10% is far greater than I expected, this is index linked and guaranteed tax free for 20 years. There is no better investment at present even with the reduced tariffs in 2016. I also understand that they enhance the saleability of the property and do not attract a higher insurance premium. And by the way for clarification I am not a solar panel installer or have any connection with the Industry.
I see the BBC pushing the "interesting" family trip to Disney land that got stopped. I don't remember hearing the same level of outcry over a white single mum of two, who has never convicted of any crime, who got the same treatment....
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Taking into account your particular concerns as well as the adverse impact in terms of aesthetics, I'd also be concerned as regards the possible negative aspect on the value of a property fitted with solar panels, which might easily match or even exceed the energy savings/grants received therefrom. Definitely not for me ..... I could never understand why don't people fit them at ground level, where the they can be tilted at precisely the optimum angle towards the sun?
In a typical garden even if there was enough spare space they would be overhung and in shadow for too much time I would have thought.
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
You'd think their computer would have a list of passport issuers. Fair enough if they were traveling on a Knights Hospitaller passport, but Malta?
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Imagine if he had come from Gozo instead...
Not Gonzo, that's a muppet...GOOOZOOO....
Who you calling a muppet...SECURITY SECURITY take this man away...
Power generation. I think that direct sunlight carries about one kilowatt per square yard, but you can't of course convert it at perfect efficiency. On a turbo trainer in my old age I can deliver maybe 230 watts for half an hour or more. At about 25 percent efficiency that means I'm generating about a kilowatt of heat. This guy keeps up about 700 watts output for a few minutes. He's a monster.
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Malta was awarded the George Cross after ww2.
I think the US doesn't approve of titles of nobility/chivalry. Isn't there a proposed constitutional amendment saying as much?
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
You'd think their computer would have a list of passport issuers. Fair enough if they were traveling on a Knights Hospitaller passport, but Malta?
Power generation. I think that direct sunlight carries about one kilowatt, but you can't of course convert it at perfect efficiency. On a turbo trainer in my old age I can deliver maybe 230 watts for half an hour or more. At about 25 percent efficiency that means I'm generating about a kilowatt of heat. This guy keeps up about 700 watts output for a few minutes. He's a monster.
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Malta was awarded the George Cross after ww2.
I think the US doesn't approve of titles of nobility/chivalry. Isn't there a proposed constitutional amendment saying as much?
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Big News on Christmas Eve is that Dimbleby is been given one last election to cover, namely the referendum. Oh dear this is hardly an encouraging bit of news to come out of the BBC, until ... you realise that it has apparently upset Huw Edwards who had previously been promised what I believe young people call the 'gig'. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
Now: go buy Japanese government bonds. There's about a 50 year pay back on those. And I trust the sun to keep shining more than I trust the Japanese government to pay back it debts.
Big News on Christmas Eve is that Dimbleby is been given one last election to cover, namely the referendum. Oh dear this is hardly an encouraging bit of news to come out of the BBC, until ... you realise that it has apparently upset Huw Edwards who had previously been promised what I believe young people call the 'gig'. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I never understand why Andrew Neil is not the person to do these. He after all is the person who covers politics for the BBC on a daily basis and actually knows what is going on. Instead he gets banished to do interviews on the likes of the cruise of the doomed in 2010.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
You'd think their computer would have a list of passport issuers. Fair enough if they were traveling on a Knights Hospitaller passport, but Malta?
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
What kind of investment gives a 2/3 years pay back ? Legal, of course.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
Output from solar panels - assuming they are cleaned from time to time - drops 0.15-0.20% per year. (Mostly due to oxidation).
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
What kind of investment gives a 2/3 years pay back ? Legal, of course.
Quite a few energy efficiency projects have that sort of payback. They are the only ones that get implemented.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Cavity ties have a twist in them so that any damp that may soak through on them will drip to the bottom of the cavity.
Indeed. A problem during construction can be snots (*) of mortar getting on the ties and preventing that happening, allowing water across the tie. Corrosion of ties in older cavity-walled houses can also be a problem, and ISTR some insurance companies are asking for inspection of samples ties, which means you need to break bricks out ...
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
From a physical point of view, so long as the coating remains intact, then the actual panels are pretty hard to destroy.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
So write them down over 20 years and set that against revenue to determine NPV etc. I still don't see them as a good deal.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
So write them down over 20 years and set that against revenue to determine NPV etc. I still don't see them as a good deal.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
From a physical point of view, so long as the coating remains intact, then the actual panels are pretty hard to destroy.
Re Solar panels - I had mine installed in February following a full structural and detailed engineering report of the roof costing over £300. The installer would not proceed without the reports approval and I watched the installation from the scaffolding and can say that it is fully watertight, has strengthened the roof and resists the present storm force winds better than before. The return of nearly 10% is far greater than I expected, this is index linked and guaranteed tax free for 20 years. There is no better investment at present even with the reduced tariffs in 2016. I also understand that they enhance the saleability of the property and do not attract a higher insurance premium. And by the way for clarification I am not a solar panel installer or have any connection with the Industry.
I'm glad you had a positive experience, and were wise enough to get an engineering report done (hopefully by a company not recommended by the installer).
I'd be nervous about the water tightness thing though. Any builder worth his salt knows that water in the UK is a pernicious beast. What might be fully watertight now might not be in ten or twenty years as the elements have their fun.
Perhaps I'm being overly paranoid about it, but it's just an observation from seeing some installed.
Regarding Solar Panels - if I proposed an energy saving measure to a client and it had a 10 year payback on investment they would think I was having a laugh. Anything beyond 2 or maybe 3 and they just aren't interested. Why should I treat my home any differently?
When you are retired like we are a £6,500 investment in cash in solar panels yielding nearly 10% is a no brainer
But what is the life of the panels? If they give up after 9 years you've lost money.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
They are guaranteed for 20 years maintenance included
From a physical point of view, so long as the coating remains intact, then the actual panels are pretty hard to destroy.
What if Santa lands his sleigh on them?
On that festive note, nighty night!
They are insured under the buildings insurance though catching Santa to prove the point may be difficult as we are all supposed to be asleep
"I never understand why Andrew Neil is not the person to do these. He after all is the person who covers politics for the BBC on a daily basis and actually knows what is going on. Instead he gets banished to do interviews on the likes of the cruise of the doomed in 2010."
Completely agree. Andrew Neil is way ahead of the rest in terms of political knowledge, analysis and interviewing ability.
Cavity ties have a twist in them so that any damp that may soak through on them will drip to the bottom of the cavity.
Indeed. A problem during construction can be snots (*) of mortar getting on the ties and preventing that happening, allowing water across the tie. Corrosion of ties in older cavity-walled houses can also be a problem, and ISTR some insurance companies are asking for inspection of samples ties, which means you need to break bricks out ...
(*) Yes, they're really called that.
Bad news that has householders splitting bricks...
Re Solar panels - I had mine installed in February following a full structural and detailed engineering report of the roof costing over £300. The installer would not proceed without the reports approval and I watched the installation from the scaffolding and can say that it is fully watertight, has strengthened the roof and resists the present storm force winds better than before. The return of nearly 10% is far greater than I expected, this is index linked and guaranteed tax free for 20 years. There is no better investment at present even with the reduced tariffs in 2016. I also understand that they enhance the saleability of the property and do not attract a higher insurance premium. And by the way for clarification I am not a solar panel installer or have any connection with the Industry.
I'm glad you had a positive experience, and were wise enough to get an engineering report done (hopefully by a company not recommended by the installer).
I'd be nervous about the water tightness thing though. Any builder worth his salt knows that water in the UK is a pernicious beast. What might be fully watertight now might not be in ten or twenty years as the elements have their fun.
Perhaps I'm being overly paranoid about it, but it's just an observation from seeing some installed.
The report was a requirement of the Installer and was undertaken by a fully qualified independent surveyor with lots of drawings and stress calculations together with a view on the fixing. I also believe that this report is required by the insurer to prove due diligence. The fixings are waterproofed under the tiling and the first line of defence is the panel and then the tile. I spent most of my working life in property and was very satisfied over the waterproof issue. I would recommend you discuss the issue with a fully qualified solar engineer who I am sure will be able to reassure you on this
NORAD showing that Santa's sleigh seems to have safely negotiated the surface to air missile hotspots of Ukraine and the Middle East....
Looking good for UK deliveries. I hope he brings you all you would want - within the parameters of what is legal, decent and in compliance with health and safety and flight restrictions.
Referencing the earlier discussion: I work for a solar panel installer (amongst other technologies, heat pumps, biomass etc). Would be happy to answer any questions 'from the inside'?
Referencing the earlier discussion: I work for a solar panel installer (amongst other technologies, heat pumps, biomass etc). Would be happy to answer any questions 'from the inside'?
You'd be a welcome addition to the PB Brains Trust!
Regarding entry into the US, a Maltese friend of mine - who is a senior neurologist - spent four hours at Seattle airport because the border officer had never heard of Malta and thought it might be a made up country.
Malta almost wasn't a country at all - it came very close to becoming part of an extended United Kingdom, with seats in Westminster.
Comments
"Ms Lawson went to Heathrow on Sunday morning to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. The Daily Mail reported that she was thought to have checked-in and cleared security when she was told she would not be allowed on the flight."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/nigella-lawson-banned-from-entering-united-states-after-the-celebrity-chef-admitted-taking-illegal-9234134.html
Think nothing of it.
Cheers and all the best,
Yours ever ...
Lynton.
Thought PB was magnificent during GE night this year. Let's hope next year provides an event equally as exciting.
Have a fab Christmas everyone.
Ps - Cyclefree PB'er of the Year for me ☺
I know, we're meant to believe that it's hell on Earth to be a Muslim in the West, but I'm not convinced.
If that isn't festive viewing, then nothing is...
In my opinion the site lost its way in the last couple of years but since the General Election you seem to have taken back control, the standard of thread headers has improved immeasurably (probably due to the range of intelligent contributors you have managed to find from across the political spectrum) and most of the posters manage to discuss the topics rather than bore the thread with personal drivel.
I don't always agree with the content, but they are well written and worth reading.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northamerica/usa/10741995/Nigella-Lawson-odd-cases-of-refused-entry-to-the-US.html
Doc Brown "Everybody's Racist"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrK_HVGOnUo
For tweeting - clearly a joke, but you don't joke when it comes to immigration
For writing a research paper on drugs - admitted taking drugs, therefore inadmissible
For offending Obama - offending the President of the country you are going to, very clever.
For being well travelled - probably a combination of countries that flagged him. An embassy interview would clear that up
For depression - You are inadmissible if you have a physical or mental disorder that may pose, or has posed, a threat to the property, safety, or welfare of the alien or others. An interview with an embassy-appointed doctor should clear it up
For playing the guitar - Officials thought he was going to seek employment.
For being Yusuf Islam - Fair enough
For criticising the Government? - See "For offending Obama"
For relying on Bitcoin - I think the regulations don't consider Bitcoin a currency. Suprised he didn't have any other options.
For a 24-year-old conviction - Any conviction is enough to bar entry.
Our friend has been ejected from Israel and has somebody with the same name as one of his party with a facebook page registered to the same address with extremist material....
Amir Khan has been rejected on a number of occasions and it isn't because he is a Muslim, it is things like being investigated for being involved in a brawl (in which he was attacked), not doing the paperwork correctly, etc etc etc.
Silent Night by Fairuz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58t3e3xUWmk
Still, the reason the recent case is still in the news is because bits about the story keep surfacing, such as the links to extremist material, the fact none of the mothers were going etc.
But then the BBC weren't too keen to report the full facts of Guantanamo Garry.
I was caught streaking, very drunk and very naked, aged 19. I spent a lovely, urine-stenched night in the cells, before being fined £90.
It was the night Princess Diana was killed, coincidentally. I haven't had a stitch of trouble since!
What a year it has been: book-ended, sadly, by tragedies in Paris and a reminder, if reminder were needed, of the importance of freedom of thought and speech. A year of an unexpected election result, of the unfathomable idiocy of the Labour Party electing Corbyn and resurrecting the worst examples of its past, of the destruction of Palmyra and other centres of civilisation, of a Benn making a speech reminding all of us, whether we are Labour or not, of why a decent Labour Party mattered once and could matter again, of the incomprehensible - to me anyway - return of Star Wars.
A year - on a personal level - which has ended for me more positively than I dared hope. A year when my eldest two finally started to fly the nest, a year when my team at work did me proud and provided me with friendship and support and work of impeccable professionalism.
A year of wonderfully stimulating debates on PB. I have learnt many things, the most memorable being TSE teaching me what Baker Street meant in a non-Metropolitan line context.
No competitions for Tipsters of the Year? Pah! I nominate Alistair Meeks/ Antifrank for his thoughts on Scotland and his recent thread headers. But really so many people have contributed.
A big thank you to Mr Smithson and the moderators and the kindness of PB'ers.
Merry Xmas all!
On this night, my present to Labour supporters here. I know we are few in here.
Please listen particularly from about 3:05 min onwards.
Merry Christmas to all, Labour or not.
Merry Christmas to all, especially to my unlikely comrades in the Leave camp.
Going to North Korea is easier !
Someone on the previous thread asked about solar panels. I have no direct knowledge of the economics of the panels themselves, but having seen them installed on houses around me. I have two concerns that may prove groundless.
1) Loading concerns. The panels and supports are light, but still weighty. Whilst roofs are designed for wind and snow loadings, I'd be interested to know if any form of structural calculations are done, especially with the lightweight trusses now in common use. (As an example, we are told in our house *not* to board out the loft, as the trusses are not designed for the extra weight. Fortunately that's not an option anyway in our town house).
2) Water. In some houses I've seen them fitted to, the tiles are drilled through and the metal framing for the panels attached through the tiles. One group of men told me this, but did not let me onto the scaffolding to see the work, natch. Waterproofing comes primarily from the panels sitting overhead. However we live in a wet country, and water, like life, will always find a way.
But IANAE. However I would not automatically trust the company you are paying to install them either, especially on water ingress. The problems may occur in a decade as things move through thermal and wind stresses and sealant degrades; the company might well be defunct by then.
But as always, DYOR.
And apologies to iSam for my post on the other thread. I got the wrong end of t'stick.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas.
If so, that narrows the field somewhat, although it could of course be from an anonymous non-poster.
It's just something to consider when getting them. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Happy Christmas to everyone, good health and prosperity for the new year. Hoping for some interesting elections in the new year!
It has been a pleasure debating with you all over the year.
Most cavity insulation is board not sprayed (I agree it would be on 'aftermarket' for older properties).
Definitely not for me ..... I could never understand why don't people fit them at ground level, where the they can be tilted at precisely the optimum angle towards the sun?
(*) We have this sort of riveting Christmas Eve conversations in our family
Not Gonzo, that's a muppet...GOOOZOOO....
Who you calling a muppet...SECURITY SECURITY take this man away...
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Gonzo_3C_200x300px.jpg
I think that direct sunlight carries about one kilowatt per square yard, but you can't of course convert it at perfect efficiency. On a turbo trainer in my old age I can deliver maybe 230 watts for half an hour or more. At about 25 percent efficiency that means I'm generating about a kilowatt of heat.
This guy keeps up about 700 watts output for a few minutes. He's a monster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4O5voOCqAQ
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
You need to depreciate the value of the panels to offset the value of the leccy.
(*) Yes, they're really called that.
On that festive note, nighty night!
I'd be nervous about the water tightness thing though. Any builder worth his salt knows that water in the UK is a pernicious beast. What might be fully watertight now might not be in ten or twenty years as the elements have their fun.
Perhaps I'm being overly paranoid about it, but it's just an observation from seeing some installed.
Edit:
Just found this from four years ago:
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/08/04/solar-panels-brings-flood-of-roof-leaks/
Completely agree. Andrew Neil is way ahead of the rest in terms of political knowledge, analysis and interviewing ability.
UK Christmas Number One from 30 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyHl1tQeaQ
Looking good for UK deliveries. I hope he brings you all you would want - within the parameters of what is legal, decent and in compliance with health and safety and flight restrictions.
Merry Christmas to all.
Santa is on his way - check where he is now......
http://www.noradsanta.org/
A Merry Christmas to all.
2015 was another great prognosticating and betting year for me.
Thanks Dave, thanks Jezza, and all the numpties who voted for you...
But such music...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5n6X9sUznI
Happy Xmas to all.
In 1956, integration with the UK was approved by 77% of voters in a referendum.