Good news for Keir. Biden shows what is possible with a bit of optimism.
You cannot be serious. KS can't do optimism. He is just plain dull. He knows his limits.
Agreed. Starmer is counting on competence being the key battle ground (not necessarily a bad tactic). I do think part of Corbyn's "success" in 2017 was that they were quite positive and set the running in terms of what they'd do. Sure, the Tory manifesto helped them, but the Labour campaign was very positive.
And May's was the worst ever, promising to screw every Tory the Country.. and anyone who had a bit of dosh saved up.
Her mistake was failing to appreciate the lack of knowledge of the current system unless you directly encounter it. By drawing up a new system and making people aware that under the new system their glorious inheritance was not going to the children, people were appalled. Whether it was better or worse than the existing system wasnt important because by the time you find out about the new system granny is half way to the home and there's little else you can do about it.
May's issue was (as you say) that she announced it without spending a year before hand emphasising how unfair the current system is.
Care does need to be sorted out but there are zero votes to be gained from doing so (and a lot to be lost) so until someone finds a means of removing the politics from it nothing is going to be done.
I think this is a genuine case for a Royal Commission with clout. It would be amusing if both trading arrangements with EU and social care ended up along the lines pushed by Theresa May, the world's worst sales person...
I think there's a case for incentivising care by families.
At the moment there is. The potential inheritance pays for the nursing home until £26 000 is left.
My MiL is in a nice nursing home on the Isle of Wight, paid for by the sale of her bungalow. Her money runs out in about 9 months. She is well looked after, and personally, I do not have a problem with how it works. In effect it is paid for via her lifetime of savings.
The family home remains exempt from being liable for at home care costs however, it is only liable for residential carehome costs
It’s early days. There will come a time when not being Trump and having his limitations isn’t enough.
In politics, one has to look ahead. For example, if one's child is ever to become President of the USA, it needs to be born there, AIUI. In these uncertain days of pandemic, a pregnant woman would need to think carefully about leaving the US in case she couldn't get back in time for the birth.
Good afternoon, everyone.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be born there, it just has to be a ‘natural born citizen.’ McCain wasn’t born in America, for example.
What might have complicated matters in this case is of course if born in Britain the child would automatically be entitled to British citizenship through Harry.
It’s pretty hard to imagine Americans voting in the *nephew* of the King of England (as he will be once William is King) as their President.
True, and bluntly if s/he turns out like their parents I’m not sure they would make a good Head of State, but I was only considering the exact constitutional point as a theoretical exercise.
I believe a requirement of naturalising as a US citizen is to renounce any foreign titles and peerages. For this is reason I think it unlikely Harry will ever become a US citizen.
Doesn’t matter if Markle is a US citizen.
Nope, @not_on_fire is correct. To naturalize as an American citizen by any qualification you have to a) renounce your "allegiance" to any foreign "prince or state" and b) renounce any title of nobility you may have. There are specific questions on the N-400 application form as to whether you possess a title of nobility and whether you are willing to renounce it.
Renouncing the foreign allegiance is covered by the naturalization oath, and the US government does not care whether or not the foreign country regards the American naturalization oath as constituting a renunciation of citizenship under its laws (the UK does not, but some countries would), and so does not require naturalized citizens to go through any further steps to renounce their original citizenship under that country's laws. Note that the US oath talks about "allegiance" which is not necessarily the same as citizenship, although many countries would consider it to be the same.
I can attest to the above from experience, having naturalized as an American citizen. I understand that if you do have a title of nobility, the US does require you to do whatever is necessary to formally renounce your title and that you must provide evidence of having done so before you can be swear the American naturalization oath.
I’m not talking about Harry! My point is, it doesn’t affect their children’s citizenship status!
Apologies! Yes, you are correct that a natural-born American citizen (which Harry and Meghan's children are) could legally inherit a foreign title. There was a constitutional amendment proposed as part of the Bill of Rights which would have prevented American citizens from holding a foreign title of nobility without the consent of Congress on pain of losing their American citizenship. This was never ratified by the states but was never subject to a time limit for ratification so could theoreticaly be revived (the other "missing" amendment from original Bill of Rights limiting the power of Congress to give itself payrises was successfully revived and ratified after two centuries a few years back). Sometimes there are calls to ratify the "Titles of Nobility amendment" due to a weird conspiracy theory that it would somehow make being a lawyer illegal, because in the US lawyers traditionally use the description of "esquire" which is supposedly a title of nobility.
“Esquire” is the son of a Squire.
Most definitely not noble - although often more influential than the junior nobles. A friend of mine’s ancestor once turned down an Earldom because he said he “would rather be the Premier Squire of England than the most junior Earl”
Sadly, I will be as busy as a bee next week. But, I am planning a haircut on Wednesday, inbetween meetings, and a pub lunch on Friday if I can get away.
At the weekend? I have a trip booked on a steam railway for me, my wife and daughter. Can't wait.
Nice week planned! I've got Saturday at the pub with my mates and then Sunday with my parents for outdoor lunch. Trying to get Thursday after work with a couple of work colleagues plus WAGs who live locally sorted but we're struggling to find a beer garden who will have us as they're all booked up.
You looking in town?
Out in the Shires it's a bit better.
If I'm feeling energetic, I might take the family shopping in Winchester on Sunday. My wardrobe has also suffered during lockdown.
My wardrobe has barely been opened. The drawer full of T-shirts has seen plenty of use, however.
I had to wear a suit and tie for a virtual court hearing the other day. It felt...weird.
It’s early days. There will come a time when not being Trump and having his limitations isn’t enough.
In politics, one has to look ahead. For example, if one's child is ever to become President of the USA, it needs to be born there, AIUI. In these uncertain days of pandemic, a pregnant woman would need to think carefully about leaving the US in case she couldn't get back in time for the birth.
Good afternoon, everyone.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be born there, it just has to be a ‘natural born citizen.’ McCain wasn’t born in America, for example.
What might have complicated matters in this case is of course if born in Britain the child would automatically be entitled to British citizenship through Harry.
It’s pretty hard to imagine Americans voting in the *nephew* of the King of England (as he will be once William is King) as their President.
True, and bluntly if s/he turns out like their parents I’m not sure they would make a good Head of State, but I was only considering the exact constitutional point as a theoretical exercise.
I believe a requirement of naturalising as a US citizen is to renounce any foreign titles and peerages. For this is reason I think it unlikely Harry will ever become a US citizen.
A relative was an American tax lawyer. He always advised his clients against becoming American citizens unless they were usre they wanted to live there forever, because the US taxes your worldwide income if you're a citizen unles you renounce your citizenship. And if you do that, it's pretty painful to visit or do business in the US again.
So I suppose we'll soon see how motivated Harry is.
When I hear that, I always wonder why we don’t do the same? Free money.
a) it's extremely cumbersome and bureaucratic b) because they allow citizens to deduct foreign taxes from their US tax bill it doesn't raise that much money c) it gives expats a big incentive to renounce their citizenship.
My daughter can’t earn more than $1000 without having to file a tax return
Neither as some of us have to work for a living and I'm far from convinced for all the bravura a hot toddy rather than a beer will be the drink required for al fresco socialising tomorrow.
The de-thatching is booked for the 20th as there's no rush and as there's no hostelry near me with anything approaching an attractive outdoor space, I suspect it will be some while before I set foot in a pub.
May 17th is of course much more significant as I will be able to return to my table at the cafe in the Barking Road and it'll be full social distancing of course - as it always was - the Racing Post and a snarl if anyone comes too close (unless they are bringing food or drink in which case they will be greeted with a sullen "thank you" before returning to the important issues of the day such as the first at Windsor).
Forecast is chilly but sunny. But a lot of pubs have got windbreaks and patio heaters. The April sun is now WARM if you can avoid the breeze. The week after it gets properly warm, supposedly....
I got really, a bit scarily, cold today. I cycled an out and back, 20km in each direction, uphill on the way out, mostly freewheeling on the way back, and christ it was cold on the way back, when I didn't have any physical exertion to keep me warm, even with a jumper and mittens. Took me ages to warm up at home, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and some tea, followed by a hot bath.
Freewheeling downhill is against the rules, you know, unless you spin out your top gear at 60km/h, when adopting an aero-tuck is permitted.
DuraAce would no doubt be able to provide some education on this.
I thought it was pretty reasonable today despite the showers of graupel - the sun was warm when it came out. It is easy to get cold on long descents though, especially if there's nobody to hand you a newspaper at the top. I usually carry some windproof in the back pocket even in summer, as it is very difficult to warm up once cold and the muscles have stopped working properly.
Apparently Prince Harry has arrived in the UK....I presume he won't be doing the 10 days home quarantine.
He will be quarantining this week no doubt.
I will also be interested to see if Philip's nephew, cousin, Prince Michael of Greece and grand nieces and nephews are invited, I would have thought they have a greater claim to be included in the 30 than the Queen's cousins
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Good news for Keir. Biden shows what is possible with a bit of optimism.
You cannot be serious. KS can't do optimism. He is just plain dull. He knows his limits.
Agreed. Starmer is counting on competence being the key battle ground (not necessarily a bad tactic). I do think part of Corbyn's "success" in 2017 was that they were quite positive and set the running in terms of what they'd do. Sure, the Tory manifesto helped them, but the Labour campaign was very positive.
And May's was the worst ever, promising to screw every Tory the Country.. and anyone who had a bit of dosh saved up.
Her mistake was failing to appreciate the lack of knowledge of the current system unless you directly encounter it. By drawing up a new system and making people aware that under the new system their glorious inheritance was not going to the children, people were appalled. Whether it was better or worse than the existing system wasnt important because by the time you find out about the new system granny is half way to the home and there's little else you can do about it.
May's issue was (as you say) that she announced it without spending a year before hand emphasising how unfair the current system is.
Care does need to be sorted out but there are zero votes to be gained from doing so (and a lot to be lost) so until someone finds a means of removing the politics from it nothing is going to be done.
I think this is a genuine case for a Royal Commission with clout. It would be amusing if both trading arrangements with EU and social care ended up along the lines pushed by Theresa May, the world's worst sales person...
I think there's a case for incentivising care by families.
At the moment there is. The potential inheritance pays for the nursing home until £26 000 is left.
My MiL is in a nice nursing home on the Isle of Wight, paid for by the sale of her bungalow. Her money runs out in about 9 months. She is well looked after, and personally, I do not have a problem with how it works. In effect it is paid for via her lifetime of savings.
The family home remains exempt from being liable for at home care costs however, it is only liable for residential carehome costs
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
Neither as some of us have to work for a living and I'm far from convinced for all the bravura a hot toddy rather than a beer will be the drink required for al fresco socialising tomorrow.
The de-thatching is booked for the 20th as there's no rush and as there's no hostelry near me with anything approaching an attractive outdoor space, I suspect it will be some while before I set foot in a pub.
May 17th is of course much more significant as I will be able to return to my table at the cafe in the Barking Road and it'll be full social distancing of course - as it always was - the Racing Post and a snarl if anyone comes too close (unless they are bringing food or drink in which case they will be greeted with a sullen "thank you" before returning to the important issues of the day such as the first at Windsor).
Forecast is chilly but sunny. But a lot of pubs have got windbreaks and patio heaters. The April sun is now WARM if you can avoid the breeze. The week after it gets properly warm, supposedly....
I got really, a bit scarily, cold today. I cycled an out and back, 20km in each direction, uphill on the way out, mostly freewheeling on the way back, and christ it was cold on the way back, when I didn't have any physical exertion to keep me warm, even with a jumper and mittens. Took me ages to warm up at home, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and some tea, followed by a hot bath.
Freewheeling downhill is against the rules, you know, unless you spin out your top gear at 60km/h, when adopting an aero-tuck is permitted.
DuraAce would no doubt be able to provide some education on this.
I thought it was pretty reasonable today despite the showers of graupel - the sun was warm when it came out. It is easy to get cold on long descents though, especially if there's nobody to hand you a newspaper at the top. I usually carry some windproof in the back pocket even in summer, as it is very difficult to warm up once cold and the muscles have stopped working properly.
I spin out of top gear on my handcycle at about 45km/h; I spin out of courage a few clicks below that.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
Weird experience just now when I looked up my thesis supervisor of 50 years ago on Wiki to discover that he passed away earlier today. RIP John H Williamson.
Neither as some of us have to work for a living and I'm far from convinced for all the bravura a hot toddy rather than a beer will be the drink required for al fresco socialising tomorrow.
The de-thatching is booked for the 20th as there's no rush and as there's no hostelry near me with anything approaching an attractive outdoor space, I suspect it will be some while before I set foot in a pub.
May 17th is of course much more significant as I will be able to return to my table at the cafe in the Barking Road and it'll be full social distancing of course - as it always was - the Racing Post and a snarl if anyone comes too close (unless they are bringing food or drink in which case they will be greeted with a sullen "thank you" before returning to the important issues of the day such as the first at Windsor).
Forecast is chilly but sunny. But a lot of pubs have got windbreaks and patio heaters. The April sun is now WARM if you can avoid the breeze. The week after it gets properly warm, supposedly....
I got really, a bit scarily, cold today. I cycled an out and back, 20km in each direction, uphill on the way out, mostly freewheeling on the way back, and christ it was cold on the way back, when I didn't have any physical exertion to keep me warm, even with a jumper and mittens. Took me ages to warm up at home, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and some tea, followed by a hot bath.
I was in the garden most of this afternoon. Temp was 6C.
My recommendation for the bike is one of those superflasks that stays tea-hot all day, perhaps with soup. Being Tyoe I D, I need to pay attention to this when on the bike.
If you are a no-baggage cyclist, these or similar are around to use for non-standard containers:
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
It wasn't as it made the family home liable for social care at home costs, that did not outweigh the raising of the limit of savings you can exempt from liability for care costs from £26,000 to £100,000 given the average UK house price is over double that.
What is needed is the encouragement of more insurance for long-term care costs as in Japan or the Netherlands
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Time to stick a 100% stamp duty rate for foreign owners. Might as well pay for this COVID shite by taxing foreigners from Russia, China and the Middle East.
We should confiscate the assets of all Russians in the UK. Mason Mount must be worth a fair bit at the moment.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
It wasn't as it made the home liable for at home care costs, that did not outweigh the raising of the limit of savings you can exempt from liability for care costs from £26,000 to £100,000.
What is needed is the encouragement of more insurance for long-term care costs as in Japan or the Netherlands
Well, I reckon it was a step in the right direction. Care has to be paid for, and is costly. It is absurd for the state to tax working people so the rich can inherit. The wealth transfer should be the other way.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
No one seems to be able to come up with a decent reason to not just get Dilnot out of the bin and implement it. It is only in the bin because an election loomed.
There was a cap of costs, above which the state paid iirc. This would stimulate an insurance market for people to buy to cover the costs up to the cap if they didn't want to risk losing their house from the inheritance they planned to pass on. Those with little or nothing would be paid by the state as they are now.
There may be all sorts of merits in some kind of universal social insurance that everyone over 40 has to pay, but it will never fly. Always too close to the next election and we don't want to scare the voters do we etc etc...
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
Neither as some of us have to work for a living and I'm far from convinced for all the bravura a hot toddy rather than a beer will be the drink required for al fresco socialising tomorrow.
The de-thatching is booked for the 20th as there's no rush and as there's no hostelry near me with anything approaching an attractive outdoor space, I suspect it will be some while before I set foot in a pub.
May 17th is of course much more significant as I will be able to return to my table at the cafe in the Barking Road and it'll be full social distancing of course - as it always was - the Racing Post and a snarl if anyone comes too close (unless they are bringing food or drink in which case they will be greeted with a sullen "thank you" before returning to the important issues of the day such as the first at Windsor).
Forecast is chilly but sunny. But a lot of pubs have got windbreaks and patio heaters. The April sun is now WARM if you can avoid the breeze. The week after it gets properly warm, supposedly....
I got really, a bit scarily, cold today. I cycled an out and back, 20km in each direction, uphill on the way out, mostly freewheeling on the way back, and christ it was cold on the way back, when I didn't have any physical exertion to keep me warm, even with a jumper and mittens. Took me ages to warm up at home, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and some tea, followed by a hot bath.
Freewheeling downhill is against the rules, you know, unless you spin out your top gear at 60km/h, when adopting an aero-tuck is permitted.
DuraAce would no doubt be able to provide some education on this.
I thought it was pretty reasonable today despite the showers of graupel - the sun was warm when it came out. It is easy to get cold on long descents though, especially if there's nobody to hand you a newspaper at the top. I usually carry some windproof in the back pocket even in summer, as it is very difficult to warm up once cold and the muscles have stopped working properly.
I spin out of top gear on my handcycle at about 45km/h; I spin out of courage a few clicks below that.
I assume you are bit lower down on a hand-cycle? Things definitely seem faster the lower down you are, so I wouldn't blame you at all.
Personally I start pulling the brakes at about 50km/h these days (as I'm also not rule-compliant). I got a speed wobble at 65km/h descending into Hawes once which was definitely a brown trouser moment and has rather put me off bombing descents. [The trick here is to grip the top bar with your knees to damp the oscillations]
Sick when you realise that the professionals average a higher speed than that in flat time trials...
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Neither as some of us have to work for a living and I'm far from convinced for all the bravura a hot toddy rather than a beer will be the drink required for al fresco socialising tomorrow.
The de-thatching is booked for the 20th as there's no rush and as there's no hostelry near me with anything approaching an attractive outdoor space, I suspect it will be some while before I set foot in a pub.
May 17th is of course much more significant as I will be able to return to my table at the cafe in the Barking Road and it'll be full social distancing of course - as it always was - the Racing Post and a snarl if anyone comes too close (unless they are bringing food or drink in which case they will be greeted with a sullen "thank you" before returning to the important issues of the day such as the first at Windsor).
Forecast is chilly but sunny. But a lot of pubs have got windbreaks and patio heaters. The April sun is now WARM if you can avoid the breeze. The week after it gets properly warm, supposedly....
I got really, a bit scarily, cold today. I cycled an out and back, 20km in each direction, uphill on the way out, mostly freewheeling on the way back, and christ it was cold on the way back, when I didn't have any physical exertion to keep me warm, even with a jumper and mittens. Took me ages to warm up at home, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and some tea, followed by a hot bath.
Freewheeling downhill is against the rules, you know, unless you spin out your top gear at 60km/h, when adopting an aero-tuck is permitted.
DuraAce would no doubt be able to provide some education on this.
I thought it was pretty reasonable today despite the showers of graupel - the sun was warm when it came out. It is easy to get cold on long descents though, especially if there's nobody to hand you a newspaper at the top. I usually carry some windproof in the back pocket even in summer, as it is very difficult to warm up once cold and the muscles have stopped working properly.
I spin out of top gear on my handcycle at about 45km/h; I spin out of courage a few clicks below that.
I assume you are bit lower down on a hand-cycle? Things definitely seem faster the lower down you are, so I wouldn't blame you at all.
Personally I start pulling the brakes at about 50km/h these days (as I'm also not rule-compliant). I got a speed wobble at 65km/h descending into Hawes once which was definitely a brown trouser moment and has rather put me off bombing descents. [The trick here is to grip the top bar with your knees to damp the oscillations]
Sick when you realise that the professionals average a higher speed than that in flat time trials...
You lot are a load of wimps...I've done 100 km/h downhill without freaking out....on Zwift.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
No one seems to be able to come up with a decent reason to not just get Dilnot out of the bin and implement it. It is only in the bin because an election loomed.
There was a cap of costs, above which the state paid iirc. This would stimulate an insurance market for people to buy to cover the costs up to the cap if they didn't want to risk losing their house from the inheritance they planned to pass on. Those with little or nothing would be paid by the state as they are now.
There may be all sorts of merits in some kind of universal social insurance that everyone over 40 has to pay, but it will never fly. Always too close to the next election and we don't want to scare the voters do we etc etc...
It is a shame that National Insurance was never what it says on the tin.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
It wasn't as it made the home liable for at home care costs, that did not outweigh the raising of the limit of savings you can exempt from liability for care costs from £26,000 to £100,000.
What is needed is the encouragement of more insurance for long-term care costs as in Japan or the Netherlands
Well, I reckon it was a step in the right direction. Care has to be paid for, and is costly. It is absurd for the state to tax working people so the rich can inherit. The wealth transfer should be the other way.
It is not just the rich who were hit by the policy, the average UK house price is £251,000 now so most of the homeowning population and their children would have been hit if they only needed social care at home and their house was made liable for those costs and values over £100,000 were liable.
It was a disastrous policy and a major factor in losing May her majority, it went down like a lead balloon on the doorsteps when I was canvassing and was totally contrary to the core Tory value of preserving wealth and assets
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I think the problem with this is that some people don't save for a rainy day and some people do, and those that do are 'punished'. This seems rather unfair.
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
Well pretty much any non-universal benefit penalises the thrifty.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
It wasn't as it made the home liable for at home care costs, that did not outweigh the raising of the limit of savings you can exempt from liability for care costs from £26,000 to £100,000.
What is needed is the encouragement of more insurance for long-term care costs as in Japan or the Netherlands
Well, I reckon it was a step in the right direction. Care has to be paid for, and is costly. It is absurd for the state to tax working people so the rich can inherit. The wealth transfer should be the other way.
It is not just the rich who were hit by the policy, the average UK house price is £251,000 now so most of the homeowning population and their children would have been hit if they only needed social care at home and their house was made liable for those costs and values over £100,000 were liable.
It was a disastrous policy and a major factor in losing May her majority, it went down like a lead balloon on the doorsteps when I was canvassing
Which is why it went down like a lead balloon because the idea appeared from absolutely nowhere.
However, the issue does need to be resolved as social are needs to be paid for and the social care precept that appears on most people's Council tax bills doesn't stop people being presented with bills much to their annoyance.
Statement from David Cameron: "As a former Prime Minister, I accept that communications with government need to be done through only the most formal of channels, so there can be no room for misinterpretation."
Tweet from Chris MasonBBC
No sh!t, Sherlock. So why did he have informal communications with serving ministers, on behalf of a company who was paying him to make representations to government?
Sounds like he’s trying to head off the formal investigation.
It's also rather missing the point. The criticism of him is not that he sent texts rather than letters.
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
Good news for Keir. Biden shows what is possible with a bit of optimism.
You cannot be serious. KS can't do optimism. He is just plain dull. He knows his limits.
Agreed. Starmer is counting on competence being the key battle ground (not necessarily a bad tactic). I do think part of Corbyn's "success" in 2017 was that they were quite positive and set the running in terms of what they'd do. Sure, the Tory manifesto helped them, but the Labour campaign was very positive.
And May's was the worst ever, promising to screw every Tory the Country.. and anyone who had a bit of dosh saved up.
Her mistake was failing to appreciate the lack of knowledge of the current system unless you directly encounter it. By drawing up a new system and making people aware that under the new system their glorious inheritance was not going to the children, people were appalled. Whether it was better or worse than the existing system wasnt important because by the time you find out about the new system granny is half way to the home and there's little else you can do about it.
May's issue was (as you say) that she announced it without spending a year before hand emphasising how unfair the current system is.
Care does need to be sorted out but there are zero votes to be gained from doing so (and a lot to be lost) so until someone finds a means of removing the politics from it nothing is going to be done.
I think this is a genuine case for a Royal Commission with clout. It would be amusing if both trading arrangements with EU and social care ended up along the lines pushed by Theresa May, the world's worst sales person...
I think there's a case for incentivising care by families.
At the moment there is. The potential inheritance pays for the nursing home until £26 000 is left.
My MiL is in a nice nursing home on the Isle of Wight, paid for by the sale of her bungalow. Her money runs out in about 9 months. She is well looked after, and personally, I do not have a problem with how it works. In effect it is paid for via her lifetime of savings.
The family home remains exempt from being liable for at home care costs however, it is only liable for residential carehome costs
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I mostly agree.
But.
I am in my thirties. If I had a bad accident tomorrow and needed care would it be free? If so, why is it different?
It’s a bit like my teeth. If I need a new kidney it’s free, but I must pay for my teeth. Not logical, since the former is order of magnitude more expensive than the latter.
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
I can't believe that many are refusing it. I wonder why.
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
I can't believe that many are refusing it. I wonder why.
Trumpets multiplied by the stories of one possible origin of Gulf War Syndrome, I would guess.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
I can't believe that many are refusing it. I wonder why.
I expect that's broadly in line with general US takeup. OTOH We're at 94% takeup amongst over 50s in England here - if our takeup was like the US we'd be open to all ages already.
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
I can't believe that many are refusing it. I wonder why.
I expect that's broadly in line with general US takeup. OTOH We're at 94% takeup amongst over 50s in England here - if our takeup was like the US we'd be open to all ages already.
At 60% of the adult population with 1 dose already, if the UK uptake were like the US South, we'd be done with 1st doses ...
CNN: Nearly 40% of US Marines are declining Covid-19 vaccinations, according to data provided to CNN on Friday by the service, the first branch to disclose service-wide numbers on acceptance and declination.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
I can't believe that many are refusing it. I wonder why.
A history of mandatory anthrax vaccines in the US military might be part of it.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
In the "Gordon Brown Bracket" between 100k and 125k income it is iirc 66%, without NI, which does not apply at that level.
Good news for Keir. Biden shows what is possible with a bit of optimism.
You cannot be serious. KS can't do optimism. He is just plain dull. He knows his limits.
Agreed. Starmer is counting on competence being the key battle ground (not necessarily a bad tactic). I do think part of Corbyn's "success" in 2017 was that they were quite positive and set the running in terms of what they'd do. Sure, the Tory manifesto helped them, but the Labour campaign was very positive.
And May's was the worst ever, promising to screw every Tory the Country.. and anyone who had a bit of dosh saved up.
Her mistake was failing to appreciate the lack of knowledge of the current system unless you directly encounter it. By drawing up a new system and making people aware that under the new system their glorious inheritance was not going to the children, people were appalled. Whether it was better or worse than the existing system wasnt important because by the time you find out about the new system granny is half way to the home and there's little else you can do about it.
May's issue was (as you say) that she announced it without spending a year before hand emphasising how unfair the current system is.
Care does need to be sorted out but there are zero votes to be gained from doing so (and a lot to be lost) so until someone finds a means of removing the politics from it nothing is going to be done.
I think this is a genuine case for a Royal Commission with clout. It would be amusing if both trading arrangements with EU and social care ended up along the lines pushed by Theresa May, the world's worst sales person...
I think there's a case for incentivising care by families.
At the moment there is. The potential inheritance pays for the nursing home until £26 000 is left.
My MiL is in a nice nursing home on the Isle of Wight, paid for by the sale of her bungalow. Her money runs out in about 9 months. She is well looked after, and personally, I do not have a problem with how it works. In effect it is paid for via her lifetime of savings.
The family home remains exempt from being liable for at home care costs however, it is only liable for residential carehome costs
She was no longer safe in her own home, so had to go into a residential home. When the money runs out in 9 months there will be some state funding.
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
I mostly agree.
But.
I am in my thirties. If I had a bad accident tomorrow and needed care would it be free? If so, why is it different?
It’s a bit like my teeth. If I need a new kidney it’s free, but I must pay for my teeth. Not logical, since the former is order of magnitude more expensive than the latter.
Teeth are routine care like hair - and subsidised. Kidneys are not routine care aiui.
I think if your teeth were knocked out by your gearstick it would be covered.
If you are really interested in smoothing out the costs, consider one of the former Saturday Funds, such as Westfield or BHSF (which is where I am since they don't rule out pre-existing conditions).
The divisions (having navigated it) in Home-based, Residential and Nursing care are complex.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
I see (or hear - cannot find an announcement) that the Groups 1-9 goal for April 15th has now been met.
That is, 32m individuals offered at least 1st jab.
Good effort, considering how many 2nd jabs we have been delivering recently.
Anyone still trumpeting the number of EU second jabs as their success metric? No?
Thierry Breton did last week. Said we had taken a huge risk and were totally dependent on the EU now...
However, Thierry Breton is UVDL's "Vaccine Czar" appointed in February, and is the Internal Markets Commissioner, so he knows he's for the high jump anyway in due course unless he is very very lucky.
He'll be maintaining that everything changed in Feb/March.
Just on the dates, they are a week later than I was expecting with the Groups 1-9. Several weeks ago it was looking to me like Apr 5/6. Not bad at all.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
Isn’t that also true at much lower earnings, if you’re talking about removal of benefits ?
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
Isn’t that also true at much lower earnings, if you’re talking about removal of benefits ?
It certainly used to be, I thought universal benefit was designed to eliminate that? The whole tax code is a great big mess.
Happy beer gardens day to everyone in England! Fingers crossed everyone behaves themselves and there’s not a big spike in cases a couple of weeks down the line.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
Yes, but a withdrawal of a benefit is not the same as the government taking more than half your earnings
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
Isn’t that also true at much lower earnings, if you’re talking about removal of benefits ?
It certainly used to be, I thought universal benefit was designed to eliminate that? The whole tax code is a great big mess.
UC has eliminated the steps, whereby working 17 hours instead of 16 hours could cost you £300 in lost benefits, but instead there’s a constant withdrawal rate of 63%. It’s difficult to know how to tweak that, without either a huge increase in total payments or a much lower maximum individual payment.
The FT thinks the reasons are the end of Brexit instability, a lower £ (tho that is changing), the weakening of NYC and Hong Kong, the continued pull of London law and the rest, plus maybe a vaccine boost.
Main buyers came from Russia, China (wonder if that includes HK) - plus France, unexpectedly.
Macron has put a hefty annual tax on expensive properties
Ours is quite chunky for furrriners. Up to 15% iirc plus 1% a year ish.
Only if an enveloped property I thought?
Yes.
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
Tell me about! Largest single tax bill I have ever had to pay!
I am basking in the waves of munificence coming off that reply, and the satisfaction of an appropriate contribution well and willingly made.
The only tax I really think is unjust is income tax >50%. Just instinctively feels wrong that the government would take more than half of proceeds of my work
Income tax + NI current maxes out at 47% surely?
Yes - where there was some talk of increasing to over 50% a few years ago I was surprised at the strength of my reaction
It’s far higher than that at certain thresholds. Removal of child benefit from £50k, tapered loss of personal allowance at £100k.
Isn’t that also true at much lower earnings, if you’re talking about removal of benefits ?
It certainly used to be, I thought universal benefit was designed to eliminate that? The whole tax code is a great big mess.
It was but Osborne saw it as an opportunity to push through cuts and blame it on IDS
April 12th. The day things start to open up. Here in Buckinghamshire I have just opened the curtains to a layer of SNOW on the ground and it is still coming down. Typical Britain.
April 12th. The day things start to open up. Here in Buckinghamshire I have just opened the curtains to a layer of SNOW on the ground and it is still coming down. Typical Britain.
Sunny here, no sign of snow or frost, but my outside thermometer says minus 0.6 deg. C.
Stand-off in our bird-box yesterday; another blue-tit arrived and tried to take ove the nearly-finished nestr. Driven out with much chattering.
Comments
COVID-19 cases in India this week:
4 April: 103,794 (record)
5 April: 96,563
6 April: 115,312 (record)
7 April: 126,276 (record)
8 April: 131,878 (record)
9 April: 144,945 (record)
10 April: 152,565 (record)
11 April: 169,899 (record)
https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1381326125775736835?s=20
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1381350236161998852?s=20
Most definitely not noble - although often more influential than the junior nobles. A friend of mine’s ancestor once turned down an Earldom because he said he “would rather be the Premier Squire of England than the most junior Earl”
DuraAce would no doubt be able to provide some education on this.
I thought it was pretty reasonable today despite the showers of graupel - the sun was warm when it came out. It is easy to get cold on long descents though, especially if there's nobody to hand you a newspaper at the top. I usually carry some windproof in the back pocket even in summer, as it is very difficult to warm up once cold and the muscles have stopped working properly.
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/ending-self-isolation-early-through-test-to-release
I will also be interested to see if Philip's nephew, cousin, Prince Michael of Greece and grand nieces and nephews are invited, I would have thought they have a greater claim to be included in the 30 than the Queen's cousins
But surely that is what saving for a rainy day is for?
There needs to be an incentive to save rather than blowing it all on cruises before it gets eaten up by care costs.
https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1381356159148363782
No shit, Sherlock.
I don't think the nation can afford universal "free" Social Care, at least not without much higher taxes, and looking at the demographics, that ain't cheap.
May's Social Care policy was one of the few positives in her 2017 Manifesto. I commented so on here at the time.
RIP John H Williamson.
My recommendation for the bike is one of those superflasks that stays tea-hot all day, perhaps with soup. Being Tyoe I D, I need to pay attention to this when on the bike.
If you are a no-baggage cyclist, these or similar are around to use for non-standard containers:
https://bikepacking.com/index/add-cage-mounts-bike/
What is needed is the encouragement of more insurance for long-term care costs as in Japan or the Netherlands
Mason Mount must be worth a fair bit at the moment.
There was a cap of costs, above which the state paid iirc. This would stimulate an insurance market for people to buy to cover the costs up to the cap if they didn't want to risk losing their house from the inheritance they planned to pass on. Those with little or nothing would be paid by the state as they are now.
There may be all sorts of merits in some kind of universal social insurance that everyone over 40 has to pay, but it will never fly. Always too close to the next election and we don't want to scare the voters do we etc etc...
But the stamp duty is very chunky even if not these days.
But at least it frees up cops to protect statues and arrest annoying demonstrators. 🙄
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/04/hard-choices-emerge-link-between-astrazeneca-vaccine-and-rare-clotting-disorder-becomes
Personally I start pulling the brakes at about 50km/h these days (as I'm also not rule-compliant). I got a speed wobble at 65km/h descending into Hawes once which was definitely a brown trouser moment and has rather put me off bombing descents. [The trick here is to grip the top bar with your knees to damp the oscillations]
Sick when you realise that the professionals average a higher speed than that in flat time trials...
£0 - £125,000 5% £125,000 £6,250.00
£125,000 - £250,000 7% £125,000 £8,750.00
£250,000 - £925,000 10% £675,000 £67,500.00
£925,000 - £1,500,000 15% £575,000 £86,250.00
£1,500,000+ 17% £8,500,000 £1,445,000.00
Similar rates overall to the flat 15% of enveloped purchases
It was a disastrous policy and a major factor in losing May her majority, it went down like a lead balloon on the doorsteps when I was canvassing and was totally contrary to the core Tory value of preserving wealth and assets
However, the issue does need to be resolved as social are needs to be paid for and the social care precept that appears on most people's Council tax bills doesn't stop people being presented with bills much to their annoyance.
As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.
But.
I am in my thirties. If I had a bad accident tomorrow and needed care would it be free? If so, why is it different?
It’s a bit like my teeth. If I need a new kidney it’s free, but I must pay for my teeth. Not logical, since the former is order of magnitude more expensive than the latter.
Alan Duncan's diaries epitomise the emptiness of his generation
BY DOUGLAS MURRAY"
https://unherd.com/2021/04/the-politicians-we-didnt-deserve/
That is, 32m individuals offered at least 1st jab.
Anyone still trumpeting the number of EU second jabs as their success metric? No?
I think if your teeth were knocked out by your gearstick it would be covered.
If you are really interested in smoothing out the costs, consider one of the former Saturday Funds, such as Westfield or BHSF (which is where I am since they don't rule out pre-existing conditions).
The divisions (having navigated it) in Home-based, Residential and Nursing care are complex.
He'll be maintaining that everything changed in Feb/March.
Just on the dates, they are a week later than I was expecting with the Groups 1-9. Several weeks ago it was looking to me like Apr 5/6. Not bad at all.
Stand-off in our bird-box yesterday; another blue-tit arrived and tried to take ove the nearly-finished nestr. Driven out with much chattering.