'supporting each other through really tough times'

nuttyp

Hmmmm maybe i should look at the OU courses. Havent studied for what seams like ages. That would be quite a fun thing to do. I would ike to do a new subject but if the cost was too muchmaybe i would have to leave it, we have a budding uni person in the house now. I am rather scared of the additional cost to us, but if she wants to do it then she can. Never thought i would have child wanting to go if im honest.

Have put a few bits of said auction site, going to try and make a few pounds a month. Have had a few questions, some are rather random!!

We are at minus 3 now, so will be leaving in a bit for work. Have to get some de icer on the way in for tonight. It is starting to fog and the sky is pure white.

have a great night tonight popperwell, enjoy your show!!!

take care everyone x

meme30

Fuddle:- you are so right, lots of these programmes are full of smug, very well paid people who have no idea how the real world lives.:(

Missmucksmum:-Fuddle is right help is out there.
http://www.stepchange.org/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=200001&gclid=CJDr0vvs7LQCFe_MtAodhk4AXw
This was formerly CCCS. They are a free service who can talk to your creditors and can ask them to take smaller payments and stop charging you interest until you are on your feet again. I'm so sorry you have been attacked on another thread, there is no need for it and it's downright nasty! :mad:

Blazing sunshine here and it's still -2! :rotfl: House is lovely and warm though because I am batch cooking. My stomach is growling at the smells!

maryb

Well for one thing, I don't expect horsemeat! Though I have eaten horsemeat in Europe and it's perfectly edible if a bit tough. I don't think by itself I would be any more concerned than if I found it contained lamb instead of beef.

It will probably turn out that it was processed meat meant for other parts of Europe where they do eat horsemeat . I think they have rules everywhere to stop meat that is not meant for human consumption being processed in the same plants as human food so it is most unlikely that you've been unknowingly eating dog food

katieowl_2

maryb wrote: »

Well for one thing, I don't expect horsemeat! Though I have eaten horsemeat in Europe and it's perfectly edible if a bit tough. I don't think by itself I would be any more concerned than if I found it contained lamb instead of beef.

It will probably turn out that it was processed meat meant for other parts of Europe where they do eat horsemeat . I think they have rules everywhere to stop meat that is not meant for human consumption being processed in the same plants as human food so it is most unlikely that you've been unknowingly eating dog food

It would definitely be a labelling issue if that were the case... It must be terribly difficult if you buy in meat for burgers to avoid being passed off chunks of anything though by an unscrupulous trader. I might be able to tell the difference between pork and beef, but beef and horse, beef and venison, beef and whatever herd animal the last 'this is not beef' alarm was (wildebeest or something it was...) I don't think you could. Not defending the supermarkets though, as the bottom line will have been that they switched suppliers to save even more money on their disgusting food.

Kate

JKJ

Brrrr freezing here again today. Just been out for a walk and was so cold when I got back my fingers couldn't unfasten my coat.

Just phoned the pension centre helpline and a very nice man filled in the form over the phone (I dont have a printer so unable to download one), says my forecast will be with me in 10 days. I want a point of reference before the changes take place. Also my youngest is 17 and I am unlikely to work again, so now seems like a good time to get an update. Phone number is 0191 218 3600 if anyone needs it.

I've been given ajar of green Thai curry paste and and want to use it tonight with leftover chicken, but it says is hot on jar and I like mild curry. Suggested amount is a third of a jar to one tin coconut milk, does anyone have any idea how much I should use to make it milder - will a tablespoon be enough?

juliettet

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/pension-calculator

If this helps anyone, I got this link from the BBC news website yesterday.

fuddle

I clicked on a link via gov site. I've paid 15 years of contributions with another 15 still to make. I retire at 68 so have 34 years left to do it. It's stored away but I suspect the goal posts will change so many times before I get there.

Legally do you have to retire at a certain age?

maryb

Posting this in case it helps anyone else.

If you are registered with the Government Gateway and have a User ID and password, this can be used to access all government services online. So if you have registered to do a tax return online you can use the same log-in to access the pension service and get an online statement of what your current entitlement is under the current system

HOWEVER, it is not compatible with Google Chrome. If you try and enter your password it won't register some of the characters. This only seems to be a problem with the DWP, it works with HMRC's system fine.

Easy solution - use Internet Explorer or Firefox. I have just done this and got an online statement in under a minute showing me what my current entitlement is. It's really very easy.

It does however only show that I have got 30 years NI contributions and I know I have more. The online system ignores anything over the current maximum. So I phoned them up and they are sending me a detailed statement of my contribution years so I can confirm I will have the full 35.

It's just as well I do - the idea that I could easily go out and get a job to get the extra years' contributions at 59 in my field is just ludicrous

westcoastscot

I did a pension forecast a couple of years ago - should probably see if the new rules will change it or if it's fixed.

I'm very concerned about the burger issues - not particularly that it has horse in it but the fact that it isn't labelled as such - we have serious food allergies in our house and the few processed items we buy need to be accurately labelled for safety.

Meant to say we have a few snow flurries here but its chucking down over the corryvrecken - just had a text from youngest and he says it's really amazing!

Possession

I have just seen this on Pinterest.
Can I just publicly admit to monumental thickness in never even considering the possibility of doing this?
http://ajourneytoadream.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/helpful-yet-simple-diy-for-spring.html?showComment=1332868588728

I don't buy burgers except maybe twice a year from the local butchers, but I have eaten horse sashimi once when living in Japan. I didn't like it but then I doubt I'd have liked sheep sashimi either. In my own personal opinion we're a bit silly in this country about the 'hierarchy' of animals we will and won't eat.