Early Risers.

[jjb1970]

On spending money, I think there is a lot of Friedman's four ways to spend money.

[Winslow Boy]

What really rattled my cage was that to the accountants we were depriving them of funds when in actual fact all we were doing was our job.

 

It got so bad at one place I worked that no orders could be placed unless it was a health and safety issue.

 

One of the noticeable things that did change over the years was the amount of paperwork required.

[jjb1970]

One of the nice things about working for a small, private, outfit is we are mercifully free of all this stuff with purchasing, playing with budgets etc.

 

My credit card spend is reviewed by my boss who will I am sure let me know if he is not happy. I have a budget which is agreed each year and am explicitly told if I need more then let him know and he can consider an increase, if I underspend do not just start spending for the sake of exhausting my allocation

[PeterBB]

Why is it that businesses seek higher profits when things 'go wrong'.  

 

Seems that quote  (ITPro) "As recession bites, more firms are expected to engage in cuts of this kind.from big tech layoffs, including unsustainable business models and a drive for greater profit at the expense of employee security".  

 

These things come in waves, although currently the 'wave' is both more severe and longer, but when things get better they cannot get the staff - who  those who complain most - the 'big cats' at the top rather than the small guys at the base who need the monies to survive.

Edited February 1, 2023 by PeterBB

[DaveF]

This morning once again started bright and breezy, cloud is slowly building now.

 

Yesterday was as I expected was an expensive day.  I went to a local firm and ordered a new Bosch washer/drier to replace my current washing machine which is 11 years old and a tumble drier which is a bit over 20 years old.  Having looked at reviews the one I chose seems very good, the lady who sold it me agreed.  It comes with free delivery, free installation and free recycling of the two old appliances, all being well it comes on Monday.  It is the same price as Currys but they don't do the freebies.  The local firm also do repairs with their own staff should they prove necessary in the future.

 

After that I went to the local station in Cramlington and took a few photos.   

 

Later in the day I did a final set of accounts for Mum's estate, they came to within a few £ of what I expected.  As far as I know there are no more bills/refunds.  In a few days all the paperwork will be put away, some probably for ever, other things where I can get at them if I need to - death certificates etc.  At least I no longer have a pile of stuff in the living room behind the sofa, it is all in the spare room.  I am very glad I sold the flat with its relatively short (57 years) lease, it meant it had to be a cash sale but extending the lease would have taken several months - probably until the Spring at least.  There would have been an uplift in value but that would be offest by the cost of the lease extension and solicitors fees and that property is now much harder to sell than it was in the summer.  It would have been a lot of work and worry for very little money.

 

A bit of research into the paperweight I bought suggests it is Chinese made and probably came from IKEA who used to sell them with a lamp base to provide a glow inside the glass.  Most coming on the market now are sold simply as paperweights, presumably the light bit wears out.  They are worth a little bit more than I paid.

 

David

 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by DaveF

[Tony_S]

Fortunately I am  an honest and trustworthy person as one year we had an unexpected large amount of year end money transferred. I actually worked for two managers. The one at the centre I wasn’t based at was the recipient for the funding. He was busy so handed me (not really supposed to) a pad of pre signed local authority order forms and told me to spend it and get them in the post that day. I did ask my colleagues for suggestions. Most of them were sensible but there were a few “ooh, where are going then?”  It wasn’t really that difficult as I had been putting together a list for the following years budget anyway, so quite a few schools got their extra printers and disc drives a bit early. 
When I worked in Essex lots of school stuff came from Essex County Supplies. There was no problem ordering from them, they must have been an enormous concern with huge bulk purchasing power. They sold to other smaller local authorities too. Some items were marked “not for sale to such and such County or Borough. In those days usually because some places boycotted Soviet Union made products, things like microscopes were the one example, I recall.

 

[iL Dottore]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

One of my pet hates is leaving offences in statute books but ceasing enforcement..... It creates the possibility for authorities to pull out a long list of nefarious deeds to bring people to heel (or destroy them) should they ever say or do the wrong thing down the line.

But that's the whole point - if they can't get you under modern law and your tax affairs are squeaky clean (taxes is how the Feds "got" Al Capone), then they'll "get" you with some (almost) long forgotten law.

 

For political matters: Let's say I am a vocal, visible and popular up and coming politician with my own political party and BIG thorn-in-the-side to the powers-that-be and I have a big following: I have been very careful not to even skirt the edges of what is legally permissible (paying particular attention to not running afoul of the various "you said something nasty to someone and their feelings are hurt" types of law), my financial affairs are above board, publicly transparent and not only do I not owe back-taxes I am actually in credit with the taxman. Then either the powers-that-be will invite me to join them (on the basis it is better to have me on the inside ******* out , than the other way around)* OR I will be arrested and tried under some obscure law that's never been rescinded (perhaps something like "using foul language in front of a Vicar's donkey"). Now the case may or may not be thrown out of court - but it would serve to derail my political ambitions: Mud sticks.

 

And if I was a criminal kingpin, the powers-that-be's job would be even easier

 

* in some authoritarian regimes, some of the regime's bitterest enemies are often highly placed officials within that regime. Such outspoken critics having been effectively been neutralised by being given grand titles and roles (no matter how powerless they actually are. It's incredibly difficult to effectively and credibly attack Generalissimo iL Dottore's rotten regime when you are seen to be supping at the same table...

Edited February 1, 2023 by iL Dottore
Typo

[TheSignalEngineer]

23 minutes ago, Tony_S said:

Fortunately I am  an honest and trustworthy person as one year we had an unexpected large amount of year end money transferred. I actually worked for two managers. The one at the centre I wasn’t based at was the recipient for the funding. He was busy so handed me (not really supposed to) a pad of pre signed local authority order forms and told me to spend it and get them in the post that day. I did ask my colleagues for suggestions. Most of them were sensible but there were a few “ooh, where are going then?”  It wasn’t really that difficult as I had been putting together a list for the following years budget anyway, so quite a few schools got their extra printers and disc drives a bit early. 

I was lead Project Engineer for an upgrade being funded by a local authority. There was a council organisation coming up and the one in charge was being merged. They didn't want Phase 2 to be scrapped and had some cash to dispose of before they disappeared. The Project Manager called me and asked if there was anything I could do to help them. I bought 3000 tons of ballast and 4 miles of concrete troughing and had ot all delivered to the site earmarked for the workd depot on Phase 2. No-one on the new council dared cancel Phase 2.

[BR traction instructor]

More etched underframe construction today…this rebuilt 21T mineral is nearing the glueing stage…most of the soldering done…

 

BeRTIe

Edited February 1, 2023 by BR traction instructor

[Tony_S]

Aditi went to an outdoor meeting of her French group. They met at a local wildlife centre and sat outside the cafe talking in French. Discussion topics included one chap’s description of visiting a German Christmas market, bit of a disaster it seems, taxi at airport didn’t arrive, hotel had given away prepaid rooms. Apparently they will go to French markets next time!  Another person (a vet) told them about the unfortunate demise of Nelson the seal who was living in a local lake until a couple of days ago when the “rescue” team drowned him after shooting with a tranquilliser dart. 
I don’t know if the fish lake story inspires Aditi but she said  she was going to buy fish and chips,on the way home. We haven’t been to a fish and chip shop since the outbreak of Covid. She sent me a photo 

She was probably well ahead of the lunchtime rush!

Tony

Edited February 1, 2023 by Tony_S

[NGT6 1315]

That’s rad, man!

 

 

😂

[Ian Abel]

Morning...

 

Back home after a week vacation in Arizona. Haven't, and probably won't, manage to go back and see all the posts for a WEEK!!!

More on the trip with some pictures once I get some time, suffice to say, some enjoyable hikes, a visit to a railroad/model museum, and a wine festival. 😃

Weather was fine, for us, though the entire AZ population was moaning about it since it was below average, you'd have thought it was even approaching "cold" <sigh>.

Most of the time was in the low to mid 12c - 18c, but they expect 20c - 24c so were all kids of fretting about the weather!

 

Now needing to get busy with some work as the "client" has found some things for me to do in my absence.

 

Weather here is COLD with a CAPITAL C!! -19c and sunny first thing, high of -6c expected THEN, -22c overnight with tomorrow a high of only -11c.

 

Carry on.

[Winslow Boy]

5 hours ago, PeterBB said:

Why is it that businesses seek higher profits when things 'go wrong'.  

 

Seems that quote  (ITPro) "As recession bites, more firms are expected to engage in cuts of this kind.from big tech layoffs, including unsustainable business models and a drive for greater profit at the expense of employee security".  

 

These things come in waves, although currently the 'wave' is both more severe and longer, but when things get better they cannot get the staff - who  those who complain most - the 'big cats' at the top rather than the small guys at the base who need the monies to survive.

 

It is far easier to get rid of a few hundred/thousand minions than to 'let go' a gru.

 

Plus when was the last time you heard of a boss sacking himself or taking a wage reduction so that his workers didn't have to.

Edited February 1, 2023 by Winslow Boy
More thoughts

[BoD]

2 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

However there is something dishonest and insidious about leaving offences in place but allowing people to ignore them. It creates the possibility for authorities to pull out a long list of nefarious deeds to bring people to heel (or destroy them) should they ever say or do the wrong thing down the line.

I’d best remember to go out and practice my archery on Sunday then.  
Probably no good asking Mrs @New Haven Neil for tips as it has to be with my longbow.  
Now where did I leave it.

[BoD]

2 hours ago, Tony_S said:

When I worked in Essex lots of school stuff came from Essex County Supplies.

We had a similar arrangement through an organisation called ‘Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation’.  Its catalogue was very thick, of considerable weight and covered just about everything that you would ever need to purchase.  You could tell when the budget had become available because H.O.D.s listed heavily to one side or the other depending on which hand they were carrying the catalogue.
 

This was when all schools were Local Education Authority controlled and under no circumstances could you purchase from elsewhere.  The only exception were computer consumables which were purchased, like yours I assume, from the LEA ‘microtechnology centre’.  

[BoD]

Well, after all the angst over blood test results and various tests,  they have decided that I have quite severe vitamin D deficiency and have I been prescribed two vitamin D supplement tablets a week for 7 weeks.  Obviously such things are available over the counter but the G.P. said  he would prescribe something of greater strength than generally available.  He seems to think this could possibly help with the breathing issues.  We shall see.

Edited February 1, 2023 by BoD

[Tony_S]

13 minutes ago, BoD said:

Well, after all the angst over blood test results and various tests,  they have decided that I have quite severe vitamin D deficiency and have I been prescribed two vitamin D supplement tablets a week for 7 weeks.  Obviously such things are available over the counter but the G.P. said  he would prescribe something of greater strength than generally available.  He seems to think this could possibly help with the breathing issues.  We shall see.

I had 2000iu vitamin D3 capsules taken twice a week. A bit stronger than over the counter ones. Don’t need them now, apparently I am ok!

[polybear]

Found it....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64481317

 

Beary Question:

If it's that dangerous then just how the F. did it escape the vehicle transporting it AND escape it's nice, safe transportation box??

[jamie92208]

5 hours ago, BoD said:

I’d best remember to go out and practice my archery on Sunday then.  
Probably no good asking Mrs @New Haven Neil for tips as it has to be with my longbow.  
Now where did I leave it.

However the minimum range is I think 200 feet, or maybe yards.  There are still arrow marks on the base of the church tower in Giggleswick, from where they sharpened thevarrows.  They practised after chirch 9n a Sunday.

 

Jamie

Edited February 1, 2023 by jamie92208

[Tony_S]

34 minutes ago, polybear said:

Found it....

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64481317

 

Beary Question:

If it's that dangerous then just how the F. did it escape the vehicle transporting it AND escape it's nice, safe transportation box??

Probably went over a pothole…

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. Si Attica made a surprise attack just before lunch today. The end result is nothing much done today. Its still grumbling away despite laying on my back for most of the afternoon. I was unable to go to Tess Coes today so I'm running low on bread and milk but I have (just) enough to see me through to the morning.

[PhilJ W]

An odd thing happened while I was typing the above, I suddenly found myself in a new tab ??? How or why it happened I have no idea.

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

have no idea.

Almost certainly fingers or thumbs. Many years ago when Aditi was using a BBC micro to word process her Masters thesis she kept getting cross as the computer kept locking up. In the end I realised that her chest was resting on the space bar and filling the buffer, generating beeps. I suggested she moved the micro a bit further away .

Edited February 1, 2023 by Tony_S

[Ozexpatriate]

18 hours ago, jjb1970 said:

Petrol stations still have pump attendants.

14 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I’m wondering whether or not what you describe is down to the fact that in many Asian cultures catering for what is good for society is more important than catering for individualism.

It remains (mostly*) illegal to pump your own gas/petrol in Oregon (and New Jersey).

 

* There are some exceptions and others in rural areas that are pandemic hangovers.

 

The motivation was to provide gainful employment. So, not exclusively Asian cultures.

 

[Barry O]

Walkabout amounted to 10 miles today. I need to find a weighing machine as my trousers are far too large around my waist.

 

Good win for England cricket and nice to see Joffra getting back into some form.

 

Time to test up before continuing on my walkabout.

 

Stay safe!

 

Baz