Early Risers.

[AndyID]

1 hour ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Separately from UPS, one aspect of US salaries to consider is retirement planning.

 

For most salaried employees, a company sponsored "pension" is a thing of the long-ago past.

 

The US Federal Government manages "Social Security" which is a pay-as-you-go system. Money is automatically withheld from your paycheque and goes to the Federal Government every payday. The more you make, the more is taken out (up to a limit). Depending on the age at which you retire this produces a monthly payment - but often not much more than minimum wage in some places.

 

Most moderate-to-large companies offer employees optional participation in what is called a 401-K investment portfolio. The employer usually matches 3% of the first 6% of contributions (tax exempt) from employee salary. It is up to the employee to decide which allocation of funds (usually a collection of externally managed mutual funds) in which to invest.  This is intended as the primary retirement plan and can be carried over to a new employer if people change jobs.

 

Both of these are taken 'off the top' of every paycheque along with all the applicable, Federal, state and local taxes.

 

 

It's not a bad arrangement. It allows people to have some control over where and how much of the money is going. The amounts are tax free until they are withdrawn by which time the recipient is likely in a much lower tax bracket. The other advantage is the gross amount invested is a good bit greater than it would be if the investment had already been taxed.

 

The net effect of all of this is that those in the US, despite what they might say, pay a lot less tax during their lifetime than those in other nations.

 

I do receive a small pension from a US corporation. It was one of the last but thanks to inflation it's not worth writing home about now.

[Gwiwer]

16 hours ago, PupCam said:

Flippin' Heck, turn your back for five minutes and there's pages of ERs to sail through!

I know 🤦‍♂️

 

There’s no way I can hope to back-track. 
 

It’s been a busy few days.  On Saturday we drove the 320 miles to the new cottage in order to collect keys and measure up. We had planned to go by train but a combination of industrial action, weather warnings and a friend’s car (which would have been our “last miles” shuttle) breaking down determined that we rose at 03.30 and set off at 04.30 in the Little Red Driving Box. 
 

The prospect of tackling the A303-A30 route on a summer Saturday was not one to be relished. In the end we were ahead of the traffic and found no delays anywhere. The weather was indifferent but we really hit the storm as we crossed Bodmin Moor. Caravans swayed crazily. A motorcyclist looked very wet but was also riding with great skill in dreadful conditions. 
 

And then we were there. And we have the keys. We own a cottage in Cornwall. 

 

[Barry O]

Ey up!

 

Congratulations! Long may you enjoy your new home!

 

Baz

[AndyID]

18 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

I know 🤦‍♂️

 

There’s no way I can hope to back-track. 
 

It’s been a busy few days.  On Saturday we drove the 320 miles to the new cottage in order to collect keys and measure up. We had planned to go by train but a combination of industrial action, weather warnings and a friend’s car (which would have been our “last miles” shuttle) breaking down determined that we rose at 03.30 and set off at 04.30 in the Little Red Driving Box. 
 

The prospect of tackling the A303-A30 route on a summer Saturday was not one to be relished. In the end we were ahead of the traffic and found no delays anywhere. The weather was indifferent but we really hit the storm as we crossed Bodmin Moor. Caravans swayed crazily. A motorcyclist looked very wet but was also riding with great skill in dreadful conditions. 
 

And then we were there. And we have the keys. We own a cottage in Cornwall. 

 

 

Well done! We require demand extensive reports.

 

Will it be available for rent next August? 😄

Edited August 9, 2023 by AndyID

[jamie92208]

@Barry O, mea culpa, I forgot to add my fervent hope that nothing sinister is discovered duri g the investigations that your good lady is going to have.

 

Jamie

[TheQ]

Mooring Awl,

3 hours sleep, 3.5 hours sleep. Could do with more.

 

Ben the I've hurt my dew claw again Collie,  was hobbling badly with the bandage on on patrol, so I took it off. He's a bit happier now. He's currently lying on the floor hiding his front paws as SWMBO is threatening a less tight bandage to protect the claw.

 

Slightly overcast at the moment, heavy dew in the short grass.

 

I wonder which management idiot decided dark brown vehicles would be a good idea in a country which often hits the current temperatures , though not as often as this year.

 

SWMBO is up and around with visitors due in in 2.5 hours.

 

Time to go cook breakfast.

 

 

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Lots of blue sky,  it is sunny and should be a fine and dry day.   14°C rising to 24°C.

Much aching in The Knee today after several hours spent standing in the Shed yesterday.  Still not happy with the progress so am having a day off today.  Instead we are visiting  the NT manor house at Ightham Mote which at least means The Boss is happy.  Whether or not The Knee will be I shall find out later.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Edited August 9, 2023 by grandadbob

[polybear]

34 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

And then we were there. And we have the keys. We own a cottage in Cornwall. 

 

 

Yes - but has it got a Garage?

[Hroth]

26 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Yes - but has it got a Garage?

 

Don't get wound up about garages.  Nature abhors an empty garage!

 

[The Lurker]

47 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Good morning all,

Lots of blue sky,  it is sunny and should be a fine and dry day.   14°C rising to 24°C.

Much aching in The Knee today after several hours spent standing in the Shed yesterday.  Still not happy with the progress so am having a day off today.  Instead we are visiting  the NT manor house at Ightham Mote which at least means The Boss is happy.  Whether or not The Knee will be I shall find out later.

Have a good one,

Bob.

Ightham Mote is reasonably interesting. The grounds were picturesque but not too extensive. We went around 5 or 6 years ago, maybe more, and were surprised to bump into Mr Lifeboat, from over the road. He explained he worked there as a volunteer guide a couple of days a week and a couple more at Chartwell. Sadly he died a couple of years ago, albeit in his armchair on a bank holiday afternoon after a nice lunch out.

[The Lurker]

Congratulations to Rick for the house purchase. It seems to have gone remarkably smoothly.

 

And best wishes to Mrs Baz.

[TheQ]

56 minutes ago, polybear said:

 

Yes - but has it got a Garage?

If not it'll need a very securely attached to the ground, shed. With no doubt a greenhouse attached.. one like this might work.. 

 

The daily wail catches up

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12380239/amp/Villagers-angry-mobile-phone-reception-wiped-02-mast-disconnected-avoid-interfering-new-Ministry-Defence-radar-dome.html

 

The pictures appear to have been taken last week except for the air photos which are old.

I can tell that because the photo of the southern comfort has not got the mast of my little sailing boat showing, so I must have been out sailing.

The newsagents "Tidings " is universally known by the locals as Ralph's, but a manager brought in some years ago when Ralph retired, was accused of doing things with children in the upstairs flat... Ralph returned for a while until he found new managers, It's been under new management for some years, and they not surprisingly push the name of the shop as Tidings.

 

The picture of the mast itself shows the brackets on the side without the O2 aerials that were on it.

In the past from that position you wouldn't have seen the mast, as those electrical units in the foreground are all that remains of the engine shed that contained 6 HST Paxman engines to power the site.

 

The picture of the dome and the sea, the old RAF Trimmingham was between the road and the sea, under the ground is a single story bunker half the size of a football pitch. It's moving, and it's beginning to affect the road and the old dome.

 

The photo of Horning lower street is you go straight on you'd end up in the sailing club car park. The road itself does a 90 right.

 

The story of a 200 ft mast at RAF Trimmingham being swapped for the dome in the 1980s is rubbish , the world war 2 chain home Extra low radar was removed by  1972, and the site sold off, they didn't start building the new dome till the late 1980s.

Edited August 9, 2023 by TheQ

[Winslow Boy]

24 minutes ago, Hroth said:

 

Don't get wound up about garages.  Nature abhors an empty garage!

 

 

He is getting a bit taut isn't he about a garage. Do you think it could be because I've got one and hasn't!

And on that thought I think I know why bears refurbishment program is so slow- I've seen glaciers move quicker. It's because every time he wants to 'go into the woods' he's been having to go to Amsterdam and do it in a canal. What's more he's been banned from do it after 10 pm as it was disturbing the residents.

[grandadbob]

30 minutes ago, The Lurker said:

Ightham Mote is reasonably interesting. The grounds were picturesque but not too extensive. We went around 5 or 6 years ago, maybe more, and were surprised to bump into Mr Lifeboat, from over the road. He explained he worked there as a volunteer guide a couple of days a week and a couple more at Chartwell. Sadly he died a couple of years ago, albeit in his armchair on a bank holiday afternoon after a nice lunch out.

We only found out a few days ago that The Boss's cousin volunteers at Chartwell.  It's on our list to visit again at some stage and will probably arrange to meet him for lunch.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning all, from a dull, still rock that is a mere 15c.  Very overcast, showers possible later.

 

Very best wishes to those under the weather in a less direct sense, as ever our average age here results in these health matters coming to the fore, and congrats to Mrs & Mrs Rick on completing on the cottage.  Another page turns over.

 

Mrs NHN working from home today, so I'm about to skeedaddle out of the way before I get given something to do.

 

 

[Erichill16]

Morning All,

Just a quick one, @Barry O, hope the missus gets a set of positive ( meaning nothing nasty) test results and @Dave Hunt, you get sorted asap  and the medication takes the edge off the pain.

Better dash.

[Dave Hunt]

First of all, congrats to the Gwiwers and fingers crossed for Mrs. Baz. Today marks completion of the 54th trip round the solar system since Jill and I tied the knot so there will be quaffing and celebrations including a trip to the seaside. The dancing is on hold in due deference to my back but a spot of paddling may be indulged in. First of all, though, is coffee and a bacon butty so I’ll be off now.

 

Dave

Edited August 9, 2023 by Dave Hunt
Skoolboy speling

[polybear]

33 minutes ago, TheQ said:

The daily wail catches up

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12380239/amp/Villagers-angry-mobile-phone-reception-wiped-02-mast-disconnected-avoid-interfering-new-Ministry-Defence-radar-dome.html

 

 

 

The locals in Tring got quite upset a few days back as well:

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tring-internet-outage-down-rats-cables-openreach-bt-hertfordshire-b1098166.html

 

It screwed businesses (their card machines wouldn't work), working from home, phone calls.....

 

In other news.....

Kev the Carpet Fitter has just started nailing gripper rod....

 

Oh yes, and I've just heard from a Neighbour that a Developer has stopped building new homes in the Village (with 50% built on the plot) cos' they can't sell them.  Oh dear, how sad.....🤣

 

BG

 

[jjb1970]

Fingers crossed for Mrs Baz, I hope all goes well!!

 

I just booked our flights to spend Christmas in England, we decided to go for a winter holiday on the basis that the coldness will be a nice break from warm and sunny weather. In all seriousness, it's funny how endless warmth does make you nostalgic for winter. We are flying Air China via Beijing (I also booked them for a business trip to Geneva in November), I don't know about the UK and whether it is only in Asia but they're promoting some very aggressive prices to get people back on-board in Asia and while maybe not the best airline in the world are a perfectly decent full service carrier. Worth a look if anyone is heading East.

[grandadbob]

Sending positive vibes to Mrs. Baz and A Very Happy Anniversary to Dave & Jill.  Chris and I are a year behind you, doesn't time fly when you are having fun?  😂

 

[jjb1970]

Cripes, missed the anniversay, have a good'un Dave, sorry!

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

It’s a little cloudy here, in England’s northwest corner, but at least it’s dry. I’ll be doing no work on the workshop today as Ava is once again spent he day with us. We are collecting here about 10:30 and then heading straight to RHS Bridgewater for a walk round the gardens and a drink and a slice, what’s not to like? After that there are no firm plans, although I set up a fruit tea loaf, so that’ll get the flour added after dinner and then get baked, so that’ll be a nice aroma spreading through the house. 

 

Baz, I hope your other half gets some good results. 
Happy anniversary Dave and Jill.

 

Back later. 
 

Brian

[DaveF]

A late start for me this morning.

 

To begin - Happy Anniversary Dave and Jill and congratulations on the cottage purchase Rick.  My sympathy also to those with current health problems and those awaiting results.  Waiting is not fun.

 

I had a reasonable night's sleep, then woke and decided to go back to sleep.  I though about turning over before doing so but that makes my neck hurt!  Breakfast has been eaten, the kitchen is clean again, e mails dealt with and RMWeb etc caught up with.

 

I won't be going anywhere today, just some gentle reading and perhaps sitting in the sun when (if) it puts in an appearance - it is supposed to be warmer - but a sea breeze is also forecast so it will not be hot.  I have to stay within earshot of the door bell as I am expecting two parcels today, one is a late birthday present and the other is some small things with wheels from a firm in Cornwall.  They are both coming via Royal Mail so it should work OK, I do have a delivery time for one parcel, the other should come on the usual morning round about coffee time.

 

I am hoping that's about it.

 

David

[PhilJ W]

Best wishes to Mrs. Baz, hope everything goes OK. Congratulations to @Dave Hunt on his 54th anniversary and  I hope the move goes well for @Gwiwer and SWMBO.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I won't be visiting the garden railway this afternoon, my friend has a dental appointment and I have things to do. With regard to pensions I've done quite well. I had calculated that I would be better off retiring when I did and I was, by £20 a month, (less tax and no NI and pension contributions). Also not having the expense of the daily commute (not included in the £20 saving).