Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

Pyxis

zagubov wrote: »

I think as late as the 50s or 60s you could cross over to the Irish republic and buy a driving license the same way we'd buy a TV or dog license over here.

As for ANPR, how do they deal with cars with foreign plates? Presumably it deals with Northern Ireland plates nowadays, but Isle of man, Channel Islands?

Perhaps those areas share info?

ukmaggie45

My Auntie (Mum's *elder* sister) had a driving licence from before you needed to pass the test. She got the stuff like joining the tennis club and dancing lessons too... Mum as the younger daughter was prob expected to stay at home to look after her parents in their dotage, so she didn't learn to drive until she was in her 40s and Dad got his first car since he married.

silvercar

Advice nice people. Ignore the fact I sound like I've landed from outer space!

DS2 is shortly moving in with his GF, they are renting a flat together. I didn't really think of this as a significant step, but it seems that various members of her family are gifting generous amounts of money to help them get started.

I don't really see that they need much as the flat is (a) tiny and (b) furnished plus she has been renting with others for the last year, so will have gathered general bits and bobs.

Is this a thing? Even hallmark don't seem to have caught on to it if it is. No "moving in together" cards in the shops.

SingleSue

We got given plates, bowls, cutlery and odd bits of furniture people didn't want.

My sister got her TV and licence paid for plus bits and bobs, my brother got bits and bobs and some money.

Personally I don't see the need for generous cash gifts, better to leave that until they are thinking of buying to boost their savings/cover the cost of fees.

Pyxis

I agree with Sue.

Ok, you could ask if there's anything they are missing, that you could give from any of your surplus stuff, but I don't see the need to go overboard at this stage.

After all, it could all go pear-shaped in six months!

No, I agree, best to keep resources until such time as they want to buy a place.

One thing that does rather annoy me is the need to have everything, like, NOW!
Whatever happened to saving up and buying stuff bit by bit?
Giving them everything up front, before they are even committed as a couple, is giving out the wrong signals.

Having to wait for stuff really makes you appreciate it when you finally get it. Otherwise, the risk is that they just feel 'entitled', which never bodes well for the next generation.

SingleSue

I had to wait 17 years for a new sofa! Our first one was from a friend who brought it to our flat on the roof of his mini, all we could see was this massive sofa gliding down the road, almost like it was on skates, our second one was from a second hand shop, as was our third.

Our bed was ex's nan's old one, we replaced it with the one I currently have...a £50 special frame only 4 poster in the classifieds in the local paper. My current bedroom wardrobes was given to ex's grandparents as a wedding present, I want new ones but can't bear the thought of throwing these ones away due to their history (and age, they are from the 1920's)

The only new thing we purchased when we moved into our flat was a fridge with a freezer compartment as no-one had one of those to give away and we couldn't get one quickly enough/of the right size second hand.

vivatifosi

When I moved out to an unfurnished house, I was given cast offs from various family members. Given that DS had already left home to go to uni, wouldn't you have sorted out what he needed then? I'm trying to imagine what else he would need. It's certainly not a tradition in my family.

Pyxis

Listening to the news just now, they were talking about text-driving and the need for a campaign like the drink-driving ones, as the message isn't getting across; 70% of AA members say that they see drivers using their phones on every journey.y

Apparently, new drivers, ie within two years of passing their test, if they are caught using the phone while driving, will lose their licence, and will have to retake their test before they can get it back, as well as being fined £200. (Other drivers get 6points and the fine).

It will be part of every driving lesson that on entering the car, the pupil will be required to turn their phone off and/or put it in the glove compartment, which is being rebranded as 'the phone box'.

I was told by a policeman that you could be done for using a phone even if the car is parked, if you are in the driiving seat. He said the best way to prove the engine is off, is to remove the keys and put them on the dashboard before using the phone. That way, if a police car cruises by, they will see the keys are out of the ignition, and will leave you alone.

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

Apparently, new drivers, ie within two years of passing their test, if they are caught using the phone while driving, will lose their licence, and will have to retake their test before they can get it back, as well as being fined £200. (Other drivers get 6points and the fine).

I think that's simply because new drivers are only allowed 6 points, so it's not specifically for using a phone but that the new penalty takes them to their limit immediately.

Pyxis

chris_m wrote: »

I think that's simply because new drivers are only allowed 6 points, so it's not specifically for using a phone but that the new penalty takes them to their limit immediately.

I see. I didn't know that new drivers were only allowed six points.

Would you normally have to retake your test after losing your licence due to maximum points?