SKI-er or Sk-ater. We know how to enjoy ourselves

pollypenny

Still cold here. Wearing vest to bed under pyjamas.

Hopefully there will be no backlog by time we reach Gatwick, MW. Very glad to hear that you have good neighbours, too.

Merrywidow

Hi Polly - yes its looking good tonight. They have removed the severe weather warning for Kent and they reckon we have had the last of the snow today. Guess if they can keep the runways cleared at Gatwick they can catch up on their backlog quickly. Good Luck. Yes I have great neighbours, sooooo lucky.

sloan

Have managed to get to Manchester Airport ... well in hotel at moment which is absolutely packed as many people have not been able to fly. Have been reliably informed that flights to warmer places are not disrupted. Being picked up at 12 noon to go to Terminal 1... so keeping my fingers crossed.

Best wishes to all of you who have had hold ups or are waiting for friend/relatives. It is all very worrying and stressful. Hope the snow melts soon and everybody can get back to normal.

sloan

How exciting .... I have just checked my bank account and my first state pension payment has come through today! This is it ... I am officially an old age pensioner! Just hope they manage to get my teaching pension sorted out soon!

Merrywidow

Congrats Sloan - You have joined a wonderful club. Be thankful you didn't have a Euro pension. I had to wait till I was 65 for my Dutch State Pension. Men and woman have the same retirement age in Europe.

Bon Voyage - enjoy the sun.

seven-day-weekend

sloan wrote: »

How exciting .... I have just checked my bank account and my first state pension payment has come through today! This is it ... I am officially an old age pensioner! Just hope they manage to get my teaching pension sorted out soon!

Congratulations! can't wait to get mine on February 1st!

donny-gal

Congrats Sloan & 7DW, due to me being one of the babies around here like Mrs DS I have to wait until Jan 2013 when I will be 61.5/8ths.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
DG

sloan

Shame D-G

When they first made the announcement several years ago, that they were bringing female state retirement pensions inline with males for women born after 1950, I thought just my luck, but when they actually brought it in, it is from the start of the financial year in April, so those of us with birthdays between January and the beginning of April are very lucky, still being able to collect it from our 60 birthday! I know it is being phased in, but even so!

Have managed to check in in Manchester with hand luggage (weighing 9.6 kg, when the limit is 10kg), but with pockets that are absolutely bulging (saving me £15.99 .... a trye mse!)

Did everybody manage to catch Martin on breakfast TV this morning?

Merrywidow

No but he was on loose women last week. I don't get organised early enough in the morning to watch breakfast tv. When ONE is a pensioner, ONE stays in bed on the cold mornings until they feel the day is aired sufficiently. ONE no longer has a TV in the bedroom as ONE has been known to watch it till the small hours. Hence ONE is often known to sleep later as a consequence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS - I suppose I could Sky-plus it!!!!!

seven-day-weekend

sloan wrote: »

Shame D-G

When they first made the announcement several years ago, that they were bringing female state retirement pensions inline with males for women born after 1950, I thought just my luck, but when they actually brought it in, it is from the start of the financial year in April, so those of us with birthdays between January and the beginning of April are very lucky, still being able to collect it from our 60 birthday! I know it is being phased in, but even so!

Have managed to check in in Manchester with hand luggage (weighing 9.6 kg, when the limit is 10kg), but with pockets that are absolutely bulging (saving me £15.99 .... a trye mse!)

Did everybody manage to catch Martin on breakfast TV this morning?

Yes, I am glad for once that my birthday is at the end of January. You and I, Sloan, are some of the last to still get our State Pension at 60.

I can also draw my Local Government Pension at 60 , but the retirement age is 65 in the scheme, so I will lose quite a bit if I take it five years early. I'm going to leave it as long as I can. The earliest I can take it without reduction (due to the Rule of 85 -don't ask) is August 7th 2014, when I will be 64 and 7 months. I'll try not to draw it until then.