View Full Version : Smile of the day - What is yours?
Luckypants
24-09-22, 09:44 AM
By way of a qualifying statement, I have to say also, that I would really rather not be in this position of having to claim stuff like housing benefit/council tax assistance, but I am at a loss to know how else to deal with the situation in which I find myself.
Dont feel you need qualify anything. You have paid into the system and now its time for the system to pay back. I'm happy for the country's wealth to help people who need it.
By way of a qualifying statement, I have to say also, that I would really rather not be in this position of having to claim stuff like housing benefit/council tax assistance, but I am at a loss to know how else to deal with the situation in which I find myself.
To me, this is the whole point of people banding together to form a society. If we are not going to provide help for those who need it, what's the point?
garynortheast
24-09-22, 10:51 AM
That's appreciated Mike. We have had so much of the "benefit scrounger/skiver - striver/people living lives of luxury on benefits" message fed to us by successive Westmonster governments for the last 40 odd years, that I now feel permanently guilty and undignified about being in this position.
garynortheast
24-09-22, 10:57 AM
To me, this is the whole point of people banding together to form a society. If we are not going to provide help for those who need it, what's the point?
This would seem obvious to many of us Seeker, but it's an idea which was ditched by Thatcher and her cronies in the 80s.
That's appreciated Mike. We have had so much of the "benefit scrounger/skiver - striver/people living lives of luxury on benefits" message fed to us by successive Westmonster governments for the last 40 odd years, that I now feel permanently guilty and undignified about being in this position.That's our wonderful press for you. Funny how they never mention how much money is lost on tax avoidance by those that already have plenty.
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redtrummy
24-09-22, 12:57 PM
That's our wonderful press for you. Funny how they never mention how much money is lost on tax avoidance by those that already have plenty.
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And about to get even more.
RAF Luton
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05/raf-luton-parody-twitter-account/
garynortheast
26-09-22, 07:09 AM
RAF Luton
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05/raf-luton-parody-twitter-account/
Very good. :D
garynortheast
26-09-22, 08:46 AM
This is now starting to amuse me just by the sheer ridiculousness of the situation.
This from last Friday.
Just had a letter today from the DWP telling me they "have located a private pension that I may have some entitlement from" (sic). It's apparently with.......Powys County Council!
I do recall doing some work for them in a couple of different guises in the 90s so I can only imagine it's from that. I'll phone them on Monday and see what it's about.
So I phoned the PCC Pensions section today and spoke to a very pleasant chap who had a look for me. Apparently, because I worked for the council for fewer than 11 months I have what is called a "frozen refund" of the contributions I paid back in 1993. The amount is about £500 - plus 30 years of interest!!
The chap there is going to run the calculation through the system, while earnestly praying that it works and he doesn't have to do a manual calculation (I'm with him on that!), and then he'll send me the amount I'm due and the refund application form.
Hopefully this will be enough to cover the tax bill I have had from HMRC for my final year of self - employment.
In one hand and out of the other........
Sir Trev
26-09-22, 02:27 PM
RAF Luton
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05/raf-luton-parody-twitter-account/
Absolutely hillarious. Loved number 4
Photo of the Day: A team of Super Army Soldiers aka The SAS take out Wolf and Rhino on The Travelator for a special charity edition of hit TV show Gladiators! #Awooga
Lady Poppy loved that show and even dragged me to Wembley Arena to watch their tour (we were the oldest people there without kids in tow!) so I may just show her that one.
Sir Trev
26-09-22, 02:29 PM
In one hand and out of the other........
I can understand the refund bit as you paid in for less than a year - that's fairly standard. Shame you were not there for just over the 12 months or you'd probably get a bit more, but at least it'll help with the tax bill.
garynortheast
26-09-22, 03:11 PM
I can understand the refund bit as you paid in for less than a year - that's fairly standard. Shame you were not there for just over the 12 months or you'd probably get a bit more, but at least it'll help with the tax bill.
Yep, certainly not going to grumble about it Trevor, it was an unexpected bonus.
It's looking like DWP may possibly take another look at my pension credits application as they could have been under the misapprehension that this pension money was a monthly payment rather than a single refund payment.
Small steps. I feel sorry for anyone not quite as on the ball as they have no chance of navigating this maze of bureaucracy.
UK health minister and deputy PM. (from reddit.com).
https://i.redd.it/bcoevqhhd5t91.png
Surprisingly (or maybe not), she has accepted hospitality from the tobacco industry and is against anti-smoking legislation in general (including smoking in cars with children). Good grief.
UK health minister and deputy PM. (from reddit.com).
https://i.redd.it/bcoevqhhd5t91.png
Surprisingly (or maybe not), she has accepted hospitality from the tobacco industry and is against anti-smoking legislation in general (including smoking in cars with children). Good grief.
ROFL
but like most politicians they do not specialise in their field of study which i think is complete bonkers. this makes them reliant on advisers.
she might be a right laugh and actually care about what she does.... never judge a book by its cover.
Not very exciting, but I got my passport back from renewals in only six days. Was expecting it to take ages.
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Sir Trev
14-10-22, 03:08 PM
Not very exciting, but I got my passport back from renewals in only six days. Was expecting it to take ages.
Nice.
Contains swearing, lots of swearing ...... you have been warned!!!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rj5OlUMWGs4
garynortheast
15-10-22, 06:33 AM
Contains swearing, lots of swearing ...... you have been warned!!!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rj5OlUMWGs4
:smt046
The Muppet Show (2022)
https://tinyurl.com/5wrnyszx
(a link to twitter)
garynortheast
17-10-22, 08:07 AM
Ha ha, that is about where we are, only not so funny!
Sir Trev
19-10-22, 06:25 PM
I had a nostalgic smile today. We've been having a bit of a tidy up and came across two one piece waterproof coveralls from Lewis. I have vague memories of getting them at the BMF show in Peterboghorror at least 25 years ago with one medium and one large, so probably for Lady Poppy and me respectively. I know Poppy could not get on with it so has probably never used it in anger and the larger one looks equally tidy, so I cannot have used kine much either. The smile was trying to remember how to get them back into their pouches after unpacking them to take pics for Ebay. What a faff! :smt119 So glad I moved to a textile jacket and don't have to do that any more.
Presumably today's news raised a smile for Gary, given his recent post in GOTD (http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php?p=3138496&postcount=10827)? The thought of that made me smile anyway - cheers! :)
According to her resignation letter, she mistakenly sent an official document via her personal email and now feels she must resign. Ooo, such an ethical champion - or could it perhaps be the most thinly veiled excuse ever in self interest, so she can get herself out before the whole thing tumbles like a house of cards, perhaps trying to distance herself in the hope she can ride out the storm by being out of the limelight? It's crazier than a Spitting Image script!!! :smt046
garynortheast
19-10-22, 10:39 PM
Bloody hell, I'm almost out of popcorn. Can't the whole tory party just take themselves out of sight and die quietly, so that the rest of us don't have to put up with this thoroughly unedifying spectacle.
You genuinely couldn't make this s**t up.
The UK has been made a total laughing stock. It's not funny.
Craig380
20-10-22, 08:07 AM
I recently rewatched a couple of episodes of The Thiick Of It. It seemed quite tame in comparison to recent events.
Bloody hell, I'm almost out of popcorn. ...
Looks like you'd better re-stock based on today's news!:nomore:
At least we now know the answer to the Daily Star's question: Which would last longer, a lettuce or Liz Truss as PM?
The lettuce won.
garynortheast
20-10-22, 06:10 PM
OK.
zqx5j-FuqeI
Craig380
20-10-22, 07:52 PM
Can never have too much SAHB, in my view.
Craig380
30-10-22, 04:34 PM
The clock on my bike is now showing the correct time again :)
I leave mine on bst.
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Cooking/baking failures:
https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2020/10/30/simply-17-times-the-recipe-didnt-go-entirely-to-plan/
Luckypants
14-11-22, 09:21 AM
We've just had a lovely long weekend in a friends cottage on Ynys Mon (Anglesey). The dogs have had a whale of a time and it was so nice to see our little Staffie running about having fun with her brother after being very ill a couple of months ago. She'll never fully recover, but she's enjoying her life again and it puts a smile on my face.
We met up with friends we've not seen in a while yesterday, on the way home. We had a wonderful time catching up and just smiling with friends.
Sir Trev
14-11-22, 06:15 PM
Nice.
garynortheast
14-11-22, 08:41 PM
That sounds like a brilliant weekend Mike.
Took the VFR out for a spin yesterday, lured out by the sunshine, which promptly disappeared. My lack of riding time is apparent these days, I seem to ride like a newby for the first 30 minutes while I tune myself back in. It doesn't help that both tyres are at the end of their life and nicely squared off.
My destination was Grindley Brook canal locks just outside Whitchurch. I thought I might get some interesting photos. I haven't edited them yet but I might have a couple of keepers.
I'll probably SORN the bike next week and get some tax money back.
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Craig380
20-11-22, 04:18 PM
I've never stopped there, if I'm around Whitchurch I usually go to the Raven on the road to Shrewsbury. I'll have to try there next time.
I've never stopped there, if I'm around Whitchurch I usually go to the Raven on the road to Shrewsbury. I'll have to try there next time.You'll see a sign for the Lock Cafe. There's a small car park. There are road works right on top of it at the moment which made access interesting.
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garynortheast
21-12-22, 06:51 PM
Had a cracking morning busking in Machynlleth with daughter Eleri. Did very well there even before the CDs we sold, met lots of lovely people, caught up with an old friend, and had some excellent coffee and cake.
As a bonus, the rain held off until we packed up!
Day off tomorrow then we're heading for Whitchurch on Friday, and Wellington on Saturday.
Luckypants
21-12-22, 08:13 PM
Brilliant, glad you had a good day ��
Sir Trev
22-12-22, 05:33 PM
The Monkey and her boyfriend have arrived for a ten night Chrimbo visit. Happy mum and dad!
redtrummy
28-12-22, 06:58 PM
The bas-----, a bachelor, long acquaintance, came and had Christmas dinner with us, as per most years. When he got home he found his patio door swinging in the breeze. He rang here, hence at 11.45pm I was levering his door back into something like the correct position to get his house water tight once again. Fortunately I had only had a couple of glasses of wine early afternoon so possible breath test not a problem
Sir Trev
29-12-22, 05:00 PM
I hope it wasn't burglary damage RT. As a victim in 1995 it is not something I'd wish on anyone.
redtrummy
29-12-22, 09:07 PM
Whoops smile of the day - i think not. Must wear my glasses more! Yes wreaked the patio door
Craig380
30-12-22, 09:40 AM
The latest in the ongoing Greta Thunberg / Andrew Tate socials beef. Her kiss-off tweet after he got arrested in Romania on counts of human trafficking, rape etc:
https://www.bobpitch.org/anon/flotskybruce_pizza.png
garynortheast
30-12-22, 11:52 AM
The latest in the ongoing Greta Thunberg / Andrew Tate socials beef. Her kiss-off tweet after he got arrested in Romania on counts of human trafficking, rape etc:
https://www.bobpitch.org/anon/flotskybruce_pizza.png
Haha! That's brilliant.
Tate is an unpleasant knobhead and gormless to boot. If any one was going to dox themselves it had to be him. Greta pushed all the right buttons there.
redtrummy
01-01-23, 06:22 PM
Glory be, New Laptop up and running courtesy of my son. Been on a wing and a prayer using the old laptop that intermittently would not charge, a mobile which was difficult to read, and a steam powered PC which needed switching on 30 min before use. Back in the modern world!
garynortheast
03-01-23, 08:06 PM
SotD is some brilliant customer service from Garmin. Yesterday I couldn't get my Forerunner 735xt watch to connect to the pc via the lead. Computer just kept saying that the usb device I had plugged in had malfunctioned and wasn't being recognised. It wouldn't connect to my phone via bluetooth either, so after faffing about trying to make it work for an hour or so I called Garmin live chat customer service. Very pleasant chap called Benjamin came on line and spent some time going through a few things with me, including a reset, but none of it worked.
He came to the conclusion fairly quickly that it was a problem with the device and asked me how long I'd had the watch. I said about a year, but that it was second hand when I bought it. He said that normally in these circumstances Garmin would charge for a replacement, but as I'd been "a good sport" and had the patience to go through the tests and recovery attempts with him, he was going to do the goodwill thing and arrange to send me a replacement free of charge!
Five minutes later I had the return label in my email inbox and this morning I dropped the package off at a UPS collection point. replacement watch should be with me by next week.
That is a great response from a company, especially one as big as Garmin. One happy chappie here.
SotD is some brilliant customer service from Garmin. Yesterday I couldn't get my Forerunner 735xt watch to connect to the pc via the lead. Computer just kept saying that the usb device I had plugged in had malfunctioned and wasn't being recognised. It wouldn't connect to my phone via bluetooth either, so after faffing about trying to make it work for an hour or so I called Garmin live chat customer service. Very pleasant chap called Benjamin came on line and spent some time going through a few things with me, including a reset, but none of it worked.
He came to the conclusion fairly quickly that it was a problem with the device and asked me how long I'd had the watch. I said about a year, but that it was second hand when I bought it. He said that normally in these circumstances Garmin would charge for a replacement, but as I'd been "a good sport" and had the patience to go through the tests and recovery attempts with him, he was going to do the goodwill thing and arrange to send me a replacement free of charge!
Five minutes later I had the return label in my email inbox and this morning I dropped the package off at a UPS collection point. replacement watch should be with me by next week.
That is a great response from a company, especially one as big as Garmin. One happy chappie here.
now that is good customer service. bets that if you were the whinge'n type you would have got nothing. it does pay to be nice, well done.
garynortheast
09-01-23, 10:08 AM
Several smiles of the day.
Just had notification that the replacement Garmin watch is now on it's way.
New running gloves from Alpkit arrived this morning so no more cold fingers on runs.
And the group of us who did the multiday canihike in the mountains last year have now got another two expeditions planned, with some more in the pipeline.
Craig380
09-01-23, 10:12 AM
I belong to the icanthike group ;)
i belong to the mindyesbodyno group :(
garynortheast
09-01-23, 11:17 AM
I belong to the letsDoItAndNotGetOldAndLardy group! :-D
Craig380
09-01-23, 02:28 PM
Eat lard - exercise - rinse & repeat :)
Sir Trev
10-01-23, 06:02 PM
After finally getting through to OpenReach via BT, I was treated to a proper OR engineer turning up at my house yesterday. He took one look at the shoddy half-arsed job their contractors did on my fibre to to premisis installation in December and he visibly sagged, muttering "not again"... He came back today, in the daylight, and fixed it all. The line no longer sags dreadfully between pole and the house, the line is now clipped to the brickwork, the hole throug the bricks for the incoming cable is now sealed, and crucially the connection is now solid. Previously if a passing squirrel had coughed loudly the cable would likely have fallen out of the junction box. The contractors have been reported for being rubbish and I can stop worrying about my connection dropping out as soon as the wind gets about a mild breeze.
Sir Trev
13-01-23, 07:18 PM
Lady Poppy and I spontaneously went to the pub half way round a walk this evening. Haven't done that for ages.
using a pyrex jug to make my porridge in the microwave. no more burnt fingers :-)
broadband. 100mbs £52 now 350mbs £28.... oohhh yeah.
Craig380
17-01-23, 08:02 PM
Cor, 350MB? That's 10x what we get in our house. Envious!
DarrenSV650S
17-01-23, 10:26 PM
Is that with Virgin? I'm with them paying £40 for 130MB. Looks like only new customers can get the 350MB for £27
yup virgin. i have been with them since cableinet then blueyonder now virgin. i signed up when cableinet introduced the £10 dialup deal. it took a bit of haggling to get the deal but i got there in the end. about time as well. my contract ended years and years ago and i guess i just got the right customer agent. i dont need 350mbs but hey i'm not complaining.
they offered me the 130 for £25 but i wanted more lol
redtrummy
18-01-23, 04:47 PM
Why do you need those kind of speeds? Mine is 40mb and does everything we need. I must admit we do not down load films but other than that all works ok and is perfectly stable. With the phone line its £22 and thats too much!
Chris_SVS
18-01-23, 06:36 PM
Heavy streamers of 4k and 8k quality videos + many gamers downloading 100gb game updates would chew up a lot of the throughput of a baby connection <100mb.
I ditched proper fibre a couple years ago and currently paying £14mo for a 4g setup with 3. Speedtests around 55down/15up and am a month or two away from 5g in the area which will give me 4g+, they were testing installs about 6 months ago and I was temporarily speedtesting well over 100mb for no extra £
DarrenSV650S
18-01-23, 07:44 PM
I'll need to give Virgin a phone see if I can get a deal.
A 4K film or even a decent quality 1080 series can be 70 or 80GB easy.
130MB does me fine, but if I can get it faster why not.
Luckypants
20-01-23, 01:36 PM
The bins were not collected on Wednesday due to snow and many took theirs in. I left mine out in hope and hey presto, collected today. Maybe not a SoTD but definitely a smug grin :smt040
Another Rosie Holt parody (tinyurl of a tweet)
https://tinyurl.com/52dbh2jx
I love this line (about Sunak): "We, the government, we are transparent when we break the law. The Prime Minister was so transparent, he got filmed doing it.”
and this one (in reference to Zahari): "We've been very clear about cutting taxes, just not from who..."
Sir Trev
29-01-23, 07:50 PM
The Monkey paid for Lady Poppy and I to go on a Hidden London tour of Picadilly Circus today, which was nice of her. We met up with her and her boyfriend for lunch and a natter first and found ourselves in a group of 20 people on the tour going into disused corridors, stairwells and lift shafts that have not been used for 90 years. Fascinating tour with lots of history that was very well researched and presented. Had a pint of Sam Smiths at a nearby pub and another natter afterwards before heading back to our respective termini for the trip home. Marylebone for us, Liverpool Street for the youngsters. I am cream crackered now but but it was a lovely day .
Sounds like a fab day.
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eventually got connected and my new broadband speed is 381Mbs :-)
daktulos
04-02-23, 09:20 PM
First ride since November, largely due to me dislocating my left thumb before Christmas. It was a bit sore at times, but functional. :-)
garynortheast
04-02-23, 09:35 PM
First ride since November, largely due to me dislocating my left thumb before Christmas. It was a bit sore at times, but functional. :-)
Glad you were able to get out on the bike. When I get back on after not having ridden for a while I realise how much I've missed riding.
Craig380
05-02-23, 10:18 AM
When I get back on after not having ridden for a while I realise how much I've missed riding.
Same here. First ride yesterday for 5 weeks and it was fantastic. Did 90 miles and the bike felt like a frisky bulldog straining to be let off the leash, it just wanted to go. So I indulged it :D
garynortheast
05-02-23, 03:48 PM
Same here. First ride yesterday for 5 weeks and it was fantastic. Did 90 miles and the bike felt like a frisky bulldog straining to be let off the leash, it just wanted to go. So I indulged it :D
:smt046 :smt046
Suzuki-Ste
05-02-23, 05:36 PM
Glad to be back on the forum and have the SV again.
Welcome back.
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garynortheast
05-02-23, 06:23 PM
Hey, welcome back!
Suzuki-Ste
06-02-23, 09:50 AM
Thanks for the welcome Guys, just need some nice ride outs now and some sunshine.
conformation of new car today. pick it up on monday. Seat Ateca 1.5 EVO SE Technology DSG.
still keeping (depending on MOT) the gAy class merc for tip runs and stuff.
Needs the Benny Hill theme playing...
https://old.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/comments/10zs3ry/to_break_in/
(what make of door is it?)
Sir Trev
12-02-23, 07:51 PM
conformation of new car today. pick it up on monday. Seat Ateca 1.5 EVO SE Technology DSG.
The Monkey has agreed a deal on her first car today, so not surprisingly she's very happy. Toyota Yaris on PCP from the dealer just up the road from her new flat. As it was a cancelled customer order it was right there on the forecourt, so she can have it next week instead of in six months.
garynortheast
13-02-23, 06:35 PM
Back from B'ham this afternoon, with slightly ringing ears after a going to a superb Palaye Royale gig at KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. Fourth time I've seen them and they just get better every time. The antics with the crowd surfing rubber dinghy were very funny. You'd have to see it!
garynortheast
14-02-23, 09:43 AM
Back over to B'ham on Thursday to see Black Veil Brides. Looking forward to this as it's three years since I last saw them live.
Craig380
14-02-23, 08:31 PM
A bit of a glam-rock / metal week, Gary!
garynortheast
14-02-23, 09:46 PM
It's been good Craig. Neither band is over here that often, so it's great to be able to see them live when they do come over.
I bet I was the oldest person in the audience!
garynortheast
16-02-23, 09:26 AM
Back off to Brum again this morning. No need to drive there this time thankfully as I'm going on the train. Meeting daughter Eleri there when she arrives on the train from Cardiff, then after a coffee we'll head over to Sioned's house. Back into town in the evening for the Black Veil Brides gig. Action packed couple of days.
redtrummy
21-02-23, 04:36 PM
I am now a Grandad!
I am now a Grandad!
:drink: congratz. all the best to the mum and dad :D
gAy Class passed its MOT for another year. it'll get used for tip runs and town runabout.
Luckypants
21-02-23, 05:10 PM
I am now a Grandad!
Congratulations :rave:
All the best to you and your family. I hope mother and baby are both doing well.
garynortheast
21-02-23, 07:37 PM
I am now a Grandad!
Congratulation RT, hope everyone is doing ok.
Sir Trev
21-02-23, 08:52 PM
Congratulation RT, hope everyone is doing ok.
Same from me!
redtrummy
22-02-23, 07:52 AM
Thanks Chaps all seems good .
Geodude
23-02-23, 06:45 AM
Nice one RT :D
redtrummy
23-02-23, 08:04 AM
Thanks both
I am now a Grandad!Congrats. My second grandchild is due to arrive in June. You'll love being a grandparent.
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redtrummy
23-02-23, 09:01 PM
Thank you John - It could take me a while to come to terms with the new arrival but I am sure you are right.
"The Room Next Door", Michael Spicer on Therese Coffey (aka Turnip Lady)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeLXaR8zauw
garynortheast
16-03-23, 07:37 PM
SotD - phoned British Gas today to see why I should be nearly £300 in credit after just a few months in the property. The result is that £275 has been put back in my bank account and my monthly direct debit for gas has been reduced from £111 to £66.
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