Breaking Through, Travelling On

Karmacat

Those are probably the ones, yep my only excuse is that I did actually buy it in Zimbabwe, for the little 4 day safari met Ian Smith in the shop, too, and my auntie insisted on introducing us :eek:

[Deleted User]

Wow, what a claim to fame:T. A good friend of ours used to teach in Zimbabwe when it was still Rhodesia. He was a member of a Morris Minor Club, there were lots of Brits living and working there then, and he was forever asking us to scour scrap yards to find spare parts which were in very short supply there and send them out to him. I think he had a lucrative little business going on;)

My hat was actually bought in Australia but our exploring plans had to be shelved and we didn't venture far from the south and east coasts:(. . Not exactly fashionable in Melbourne;). I kept the hat for our next visit but sadly we never went again.

Karmacat

It was a weird visit, absolutely fascinating though. Sending spare parts out is interesting too! I'd have loved a good excuse to root about in scrap yards there's an architectural salvage yard close to a local train station and I go there a couple of times a year with no excuse at all, other than enjoyment :j

Oz! I never made it out to Oz - I'd love to go to NZ. When I make my million

rtandon27

Christmas Prep?!?

Yikes KC your thread is getting scary!!!:eek:

Karmacat

rtandon27 wrote: »

Christmas Prep?!?

Yikes KC your thread is getting scary!!!:eek:

Oi you! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: You know perfectly well wot I mean


And there's some Pension Prep (:D) today too: a little while ago, I applied to the DWPensions for a pension statement, and it came back today. As of *last* tax year, I have 42 qualifying years _pale__pale__pale_:dance::dance::dance: so I'll get the full rate. I was sure I had *enough*, but I'd taken off 3 - 4 months 3 times to go travelling and whatnot, and even at my advanced age, to get to **42** means they're counting my holiday jobs when I was a student, and possibly being at college as well, for all I know.

Of course, the answer to the universe is 42 I should have known.

rtandon27

Karmacat wrote: »

...Of course, the answer to the universe is 42 I should have known...

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Perfect! - Just utterly perfect!

beanielou

Great news on pension :j :j

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

Oi you! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: You know perfectly well wot I mean


And there's some Pension Prep (:D) today too: a little while ago, I applied to the DWPensions for a pension statement, and it came back today. As of *last* tax year, I have 42 qualifying years _pale__pale__pale_:dance::dance::dance: so I'll get the full rate. I was sure I had *enough*, but I'd taken off 3 - 4 months 3 times to go travelling and whatnot, and even at my advanced age, to get to **42** means they're counting my holiday jobs when I was a student, and possibly being at college as well, for all I know.

Of course, the answer to the universe is 42 I should have known.

That's good news regarding the pension. When I got my statement, they say I had 39 years, which I agreed with. I'm glad, as otherwise, I think it'd be very difficult to check. I've still got some work to do on the state pension front, as I was contracted out for many years, so I'll be paying some voluntary NI premiums, to bring me up to the new 'single tier' rate. I've got 10 years to do this in, so it should be fine

smallholdingsister

LOL at prepping.
I have had to challenge my "years in" a couple of times.
The longer you leave it the harder it gets...not that you would.

Karmacat

Thanks all

Goldiegirl wrote: »

That's good news regarding the pension. When I got my statement, they say I had 39 years, which I agreed with. I'm glad, as otherwise, I think it'd be very difficult to check. I've still got some work to do on the state pension front, as I was contracted out for many years, so I'll be paying some voluntary NI premiums, to bring me up to the new 'single tier' rate. I've got 10 years to do this in, so it should be fine

Goldie, we only need 35, and if you've got 39, I'm not sure why you need to pay more premiums?

smallholdingsister wrote: »

LOL at prepping.
I have had to challenge my "years in" a couple of times.
The longer you leave it the harder it gets...not that you would.

'sgood, innit I got a statement about 20 years ago, and they told me to pay in about £600 - next year, they told me I had a £602 surplus, they were really useless at the time! Still, this seems pretty certain.

Right, a few bits of my list half done: a few more cards, prepared my brother's present for the post, started to collect the dead leaves so they can happily turn into leaf mould next year, as well as cleaning the counselling room. Think I'm just going to finish cleaning the room, and have a Harry Potter fest so I can finish writing the cat blog ...