Preparedness for when

Perplexed_Pineapple

Frugalsod, I can't disagree, but I think the divide is no longer between left and right in a conventional sense. Politics is now a game played between people of very similar background, certainly in terms of their post-school careers - student politics, internships, party researcher, MP or similar. Their allegiance, and that of their core voters to their parties is no more than the allegiance of football fans to the team that wears the red or blue shirts. If the teams swapped shirts at half-time no-one would notice the difference in most cases.
Am feeling the winter blues now -looking forward to spring. I think hibernation has a lot to recommend it. Looks like another couple of weeks of bad weather on it's way.
1tonsil, any updates from Greece? I have the impression from the reports that their is a real feeling of excitement and expectation in the air, I hope it isn't crushed too quickly by reality and that the new regime can make good on at least some of their promises.

thriftwizard

I think this might be the calm before the storm, Euro-wise. Totally inexpert, mind you.

And I'm another one who's had enough of winter now, despite living in one of the (overall) warmest & driest bits of these islands. The bulbs are popping up, and there are leaves breaking out on the cherry plums down on the industrial estate by the river (excellent tasty little plums - it's a good spot for foraging as there's a huge & prolific elder bush there too, and garlic mustard & a very nice nettle patch) and some of the brambles have never lost theirs. But the lawn's still crunchy underfoot when I let the chickens out, and my washing's just not drying without a spot of electrickery. Can't be doing with it any longer!

moneyistooshorttomention

...and just when you thought the powers-that-be couldn't get up to anything else:

https:/wikileaks.org/tisa-financial/

I've duly done my bit and signed up to the Avaaz petition that has been started on this.

EDIT; Don't know why link isn't working, but it is correct, so just type it in.

daz378

my dad finally rang to get his tv fixed ....what we didnt realise that the warranty had a depreciation clause in it..... my dad has been paying 7 and later 10 pound a month for the last 15 years for this tv ... yet after 7 years a depreciation policy kicks where you have to pay 70% of a replacement tv ... if they cant fix it......dad was so angry he told me to cancel the policy..... not wanting to claim . the company was happy to let him renew each year for a useless product....... so beware i doubt anyone on here would have fallen for it

DawnW

daz378 wrote: »

my dad finally rang to get his tv fixed ....what we didnt realise that the warranty had a depreciation clause in it..... my dad has been paying 7 and later 10 pound a month for the last 15 years for this tv ... yet after 7 years a depreciation policy kicks where you have to pay 70% of a replacement tv ... if they cant fix it......dad was so angry he told me to cancel the policy..... not wanting to claim . the company was happy to let him renew each year for a useless product....... so beware i doubt anyone on here would have fallen for it

It is generally vulnerable, older folk whom these thieves prey upon

Might be worth complaining?

jk0

daz378 wrote: »

my dad finally rang to get his tv fixed ....what we didnt realise that the warranty had a depreciation clause in it..... my dad has been paying 7 and later 10 pound a month for the last 15 years for this tv ... yet after 7 years a depreciation policy kicks where you have to pay 70% of a replacement tv ... if they cant fix it......dad was so angry he told me to cancel the policy..... not wanting to claim . the company was happy to let him renew each year for a useless product....... so beware i doubt anyone on here would have fallen for it

It's similar for British Gas boiler cover.

Up to 7 years old they say will replace your boiler if they can't fix it. (Of course this never happens as they just keep coming back replacing part after part until the thing works.)

After 7 years old, every service visit gets cautionary advice that 'they don't make the parts for these any more, so would you like a quote for a replacement.'

I only have this for a rental, as at least it gives some peace of mind.

vivatifosi

Greeting folks. As an infrequent poster, I've popped back in case nobody mentioned that the free online Coursera course on disaster recovery started yesterday, so good time to join up if interested...
https://www.coursera.org/course/disasterprep

There's also one that I'm taking at the moment on understanding terrorism. Very interesting and not too late to join that either..

1Tonsil

I have just started that course on Coursera, it looks good to me. There is still time to sign up if you wish to. I will not be taking them up on the paid option of getting my marks sent to my boss.

Speaking of bosses , I have parted company with mine. She asked me to add some material to her site which was someone else' copyright. I refused and decided not to continue. I asked her to donate my due wages to a local charity and that is what she did. Even now, she cannot understand why I refused to do it and why I was annoyed about it. Hmmmmm :mad:

Never mind, I have a new boss and I will be doing the therapies I want to do. I take another exam next week in Shiatsu .;)

Someone asked for updates, well I don't know where to start. The changes are being made thick and fast and it is hard to keep up with them all as they happen. Basically, the EU guvners and the rest of the world have seriously underestimated the Syriza party and our new leader.

It was strangely quiet on the day he won the election, but the air is full of hope for the future. For the first time in years the man on the street feels optimistic. The last prime minister was so miffed that he left the keys of the house under the mat and refused to meet the new prime minister face to face.

It is obvious now Tsipras has been in negotiation with useful allies, before he got voted in by the Greeks who suddenly saw sense. He has been offered deals with both Russia and China for billions, selling food and goodness knows what else...maybe the oil and gold and gas that was found in the country.

He has stopped the sale of all the ports and the power corp and says they will be sold only in the interest of the Greek people. He has also stopped the licenses for All inclusive hotels and will control the quality of others carefully, or even close them down . This will be so good for local businesses . He has made some changes to education as well today. A useless exam was removed so students can leave and continue their education outside the country if they wish.

The changes in the health service have begun, and it means that once again the old folks and terminally ill will have access to medicine they can afford, or for free.

They have removed the security fences and gates around parliament,as in their words ...they no longer need to be afraid of the citizens...:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Deleted User]

There are days when I despair of the human race, I know I'm an old bird now but I've just had the most surreal conversation in a village shop. Given we're likely to have some wet and cold weather I went to get milk, bread and potatoes. The potatoes were a 2kg bag reduced to 90p from £1.79, still perfect, not green, not sprouting so I thought Great, bargain! At the checkout the young lady on the till scanned then and said 'Oh dear, these are yesterdays potatoes, it says use by the 27th, I don't think you can use them today' to which I replied' But they're potatoes, they are fine, they are safe to use, they aren't green and that's the only reason I don't use potatoes for, I'm happy with them, really!'she said ' But the use by date is the 27th, they might make you ill!' I said ' When you grow potatoes to eat in the garden they don't come with a use by date, you use them as long as they are sound, these are fine, really' she said 'Oh well, I'll reduce then further for you' and charged me 25p! Oh what a monster we have created with our litigious society and health and safety rules, I really worry for humanity should there ever be a SHTF situation for real, they will all be running round like headless chickens and probably if that conversation is anything to go by will very quickly starve to death!!!

RAS

MrsL

I know what you mean. I am forever trying to explain to people that potatoes, onions, curcubits, root veggies and many tree fruit keep well in their skins. No need to process and risk losing the lot in a power failure. Just keep sound fruit and veggie cool, dark and moist or dry as required.

Save time, power consumption and risk!