WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Stanley]

The fact that the gate fairy came during the night and I have a new back yard gate. I shall post a pic when it's daylight but Ian has done a good job. Not only does it look good but it hangs and swings properly and once more it's the only gate on the back street that closes like that!

[PanBiker]

The aircraft that has just done a low pass over Barlick sounded suspiciously like it was powered by a Merlin. I wasn't fast enough to catch the profile as he had just pulled out of a bank and I could only see the tail view as it headed away over Whitemoor. Nothing on flight radar. Could be one of the BBMF in transit, they often overfly the Rolls factories in Barlick if they are in the vicinity.

[Whyperion]

A piece in Private Eye detailing the enormous salaries being paid to the CEOs of the major water companies. Even the ones dropping sewage in our rivers. They should get no bonuses at all until that practice is stopped.
No sooner had I written that when I heard about to fines Offwat is imposing on some water companies.
THIS BBC article gives the details......

£40m for Thames Water works out at £4 off the bill per household. roughly ( assumes 10million households which may be a bit much but add in business hotels etc and its not far off )

[Stanley]

Ian. I heard it and thought the same thing.....

[Stanley]

See THIS report of the reduction in output by OPEC which supports Russia. This is not good news....
Also, Fitch have followed Standard and poor and downgraded UK credit rating. They say it is because of the damaging economic policies proposed by Truss and Kwarteng. (Does this mean they are also anti-Growth?)
(LINK)

[Whyperion]

A rather unflattering tory party photograph of Liz Truss on the front of "The Times" today. And why did she wear red ?

[plaques]

Also, Fitch have followed Standard and poor and downgraded UK credit rating. They say it is because of the damaging economic policies proposed by Truss and Kwarteng. (Does this mean they are also anti-Growth?)

Selecting the paragraph on growth it doesn't sound too promising.

Weaker Growth Prospects: We forecast the economy to contract in 2023 despite the energy tariff support and the proposed tax cuts. In addition to the energy crisis and weaker external demand (including contraction in the eurozone), the likely tighter domestic financing conditions will lead to a contraction of 1.0% in 2023 before growth recovers to 1.8% in 2024. Although the government seeks to lift growth to 2.5% over the medium term, it has yet to fully outline how and in what timeframe it plans to directly address structural challenges related to low investment, labour supply and continued uncertainty over the implementation and evolution of the Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU.

[Tizer]

The last of the present series of More or Less was broadcast yesterday (and I think repeated tomorrow at 14.30). As usual it was very good.... LINK
More or Less: Teens and antidepressants, stamp duty savings and earthquake probabilities
A survey from a mental health charity suggested that more than a third of British teenagers had been prescribed antidepressants. We debunk the figure. Also we investigate a tweet from the UK Treasury about how much homebuyers will save in stamp duty. Plus how Mexico has been hit by earthquakes three times on the same day of the year - what are the chances? And how incorrect figures from the government have given a false picture of the number of cars on Britain’s minor roads.

[Stanley]

The fact that both my kids in Earby are poorly again and only four weeks before they are due to go to a wedding in Oz..... If it was me I'd be worried.
In case you were wondering, no, I'm too old to be jetting off to the far corners of the world!

[Wendyf]

Is it covid again Stanley?

Nick Livsey posted about this coin on our history society Facebook page. It is one of the many coins found in Salterforth this summer by a metal detecting group.
Hope you can see it!

Screenshot_20221007-071241_Opera.jpg

Here's a link to the auction house page:

https://live.spink.com/lots/view/4-7GOMSW/charle

[Stanley]

They are testing negative Wendy and to me it sounds like flu symptoms but that's only an opinion. The sooner they throw it off the better.

[Stanley]

The ridiculous cost Susan's Mick will have to pay for his new dental plate with three teeth on it. This is an army pensioner unable to work because of illness. What happened to free at the point of use. Future images of the working classes will be like those done in the late 19th century where everyone looked twice their age because all their teeth had dropped out!

[Stanley]

I couldn't help overhearing Suella Braverman giving her advice to farmers about migrant labour. She calls it 'cheap' migrant labour which shows she knows nothing about the very high piece-work wages that skilled pickers can attain. I found myself wondering if she knows anything at all about farming. On the evidence I think it unlikely so it's probably a touch arrogant to lecture the farmers.
(She also repeated her call for 'more automation'. She evidently knows nothing about the millions that are being spent on robots, drones and monitoring systems.)
If you are thinking that this lady doesn't enjoy my support or confidence, you're dead right!

[Tizer]

I doubt she knows much about anything!

[Stanley]

Can't anyone else see that having a barrister give business advice to a farmer is ridiculous? Come to think they aren't even competent on the legal side as witness the floundering about over the treatment of migrants.
I have always thought that the best politicians were the ones that came up either the local government or trade union route. They had a broader experience of the world which showed when they were in office. The present method of PPE degrees, internship and nepotism doesn't seem to give well rounded people.

[Stanley]

Going to Bancroft to meet Jill Manning and her family from the Isle of Man. They are related to James Nutter and Jill has read all I have written on him. I was a bit worried in case my knowledge was too recent for them but as it happened it was just right because the Nutter they knew best was Uncle Sidney and I am the only person they have ever met who actually knew him through working with him and Eughtred. They questioned me closely and evidently I didn't disappoint. I was also able to tell them some things about Wilfred Nutter that they didn't know.
It was a very pleasant couple of hours.....

[Stanley]

The fact that my heating has settled down now and I have managed to persuade it to run in economy mode and not on high flame all the time which is what it was doing after the thorough service. I would be a happy bunny if I could get sense out of British Gas.

Later.... See THIS account of the result of the FIA investigation of 2021 spending by F1 teams.
Red Bull have been found guilty of a minor overspend.

[Tizer]

BG are in the business of selling gas so they don't want you using `economy' settings!
On a more serious note, isn't it a bit crazy when we're trying to combat climate change and save energy we have companies who make more money the more energy they sell?

[Whyperion]

The Coronation of King Charles the Third is set for Saturday May 6th, 2023. It appears unclear if the workers May Day Bank Holiday will be moved to Monday 13th , Friday 5th, or additional or no additional Bank Holidays included at that weekend instead or as well as .

Supposedly it will be a cut down cut price one, so I guess the cake is from Aldi and not Fortnums ?

[Stanley]

Peter, the problem is embedded in your answer. We don't 'have# energy companies, they are owned and run by private entities and very badly regulated. It's more than serious it's crazy and we should never have let the levers of power that control them slip out of our hands. (And ask where the profits go, to off shore companies nit taxed in UK and to shareholders.)
What attracted my attention was another energy bill that seems to cover things to date but still does not explain the absence of information and costs on the earlier one. It seems I now owe £212 and it will be taken from my direct debit shortly. I shall still be pursuing the letter I sent on Monday. (I wonder if it is that letter that has triggered this bill?)
I shall not rest until I have a clear account with them......

[PanBiker]

What attracted my attention was another energy bill that seems to cover things to date but still does not explain the absence of information and costs on the earlier one. It seems I now owe £212 and it will be taken from my direct debit shortly. I shall still be pursuing the letter I sent on Monday. (I wonder if it is that letter that has triggered this bill?)
I shall not rest until I have a clear account with them......

Just a small point Stanley. If you get rid of the duffer and swap energy suppliers the new one sorts all that out for you. Completely painless and transparent to the user no letter writing, ringing up, chat lines or angst.

I get two bills a month from my supplier one for gas and one for electric. Fully explained with all current rates and standing charges. I know exactly where we stand, what we owe and how much we are in credit.

[Stanley]

Point taken Ian but I still want the satisfaction of a straight edge and an explanation of why this is such a cock up. I shall move in my own time.....

[Tizer]

Stanley, I'm 100% with Ian on this. Your causing yourself hassle and grief for nothing and chasing them won't change the company, they don't care, that's obvious by now. You're getting the stress and they're carrying on as usual. You're an intelligent bloke, give them the boot!
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A number of small online sellers that I use regularly have closed down their businesses because of the mail problems. Now more will simply give it up...
`Royal Mail workers walk out in first of 19 days of strikes' LINK

[Stanley]

As I said, I shall move in my own time.... (and it's not far away now.....)
Before |I do anything I want to see BG take what they say I owe from the Direct Debit which can then be cancelled.

[Big Kev]

Today is National Dessert Day apparently. Sounds like a good excuse for a low carb apple strudel with some sugar free custard