Friday, 7 September 2007
Pets and getting to OZ
It's about £1800 for the flights and then a further £500 or so for the months quarantine in Sydeny, but we have to do it. We couldn't leave them behind with someone else. They are part of the family now.
We are just looking into the requirments to make sure there is nothing that can stop us doing this.
more on this one later
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Victorian Theme Park in UK
No, me neither, so it’s hard to sugar-coat the idea of Dickens World, a brand new theme park, where for example one ride acquaints you with the sights and smells of that era’s London sewer system.
The amusement park dedicated to the life and books of Charles Dickens has opened in southeast England and explores themes and characters from the famous British writer.
It offers an interactive experience to visitors - old and young.
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and started his writing career as a journalist. He became one of the foremost novelist of the Victorian era and a social campaigner.
Among his most famous novels are Great Expectations, David Copperfield, The adventures of Oliver Twist, A tale of two cities and many more.
Dickens died in 1870 and is buried in London's Westminster Abbey.
It’s pretty clear the idea of the theme park is to make your kids so damned happy to be living in 2007 that they’ll never complain about anything, ever again.
From the looks of Stefanie McIntyre’s video report, it really works.
If Dickens World is a success, we could be looking at other theme parks like Spanish Inquisition Land and Bubonic Plague World!
As Dickens himself might have written, “It is a far, far, bleaker vacation I go to than I have ever seen
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Heathrow Airport Protests - New Runway Planned
Claire Blatchford, 20, is a full-time protester and has joined the camp
As the tanned, cheerful twenty-somethings set up their tents, you could be forgiven for thinking this was the summer's latest music festival.
But the lines of burly police officers around the site, not to mention the 747s roaring overhead, give a clue as to the true purpose of this gathering.
Flanked by Heathrow Airport on one side and west London's outer suburbs on the other, this is an unlikely setting for an impromptu eco-village.
Environmental campaigners have assembled here not just to oppose a third runway for the airport.
With their compost toilets, wind turbines and leaderless command structure, they are also keen to demonstrate that an alternative, more sustainable way of living is possible.
But despite the inevitable privations they face, not all the protesters conform to the typical eco-warrior stereotype.
Brenda Hatton, 60, says she is protesting for future generations
Brenda Hatton, 60, a retired head teacher from central London, says she woke up to the issue of climate change after her 29-year-old son began studying geography at university.
"I'm not here for me - I'm here for my children and my grandchildren," she said.
"It's all been very good-natured so far. I hope there won't be any trouble, and if there is it won't be because of the people on the camp."
Terrorism Act
The police, however, are not so sanguine.
Some 1,800 officers have been mobilised, almost matching the 2,000 campaigners who are expected over the coming week.
All vehicles approaching the site are searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act and photographs are taken of anyone who enters.
Campaigners - who insist their protest will be peaceful - complain that the police approach is heavy-handed.
"We've had to shuttle all the supplies in here using wheelie bins. It's not exactly high-tech," laughs volunteer Tony Chambers, 35, a forestry worker from Ceredigion, mid-Wales.
Talks will be held on topics like carbon offsetting and wind energy
"But we've managed to set everything up without any problems so far. The attitude of the authorities just smacks of desperation, really."
So far only about 250 activists have gathered at the camp, but organisers are preparing for an influx they expect to join them as the week progresses.
There are clear protocols to follow.
Protesters pitch their tents alongside others from the same area - Oxford, London and Nottingham already have settlements, each with their own kitchen serving vegan, organic food.
They say they are here to learn as well as speak out.
More than 100 workshops are due to be held on subjects like carbon offsetting and building wind turbines.
But despite their leaderless structure - where all decisions are taken by consensus at regular meetings - reporters must follow the protocol of going through a dedicated media team before setting foot on site.
Camaraderie
On Sunday - expected to be one of the airport's busiest days of the year - they plan "mass direct action", although all insist this will be non-violent and there will be no attempt to blockade runways.
I can't tell you what will happen, because we'll decide collectively when everybody gets here, but it will be a peaceful protest
Gary Dwyer, protester
"We have to do something," says Gary Dwyer, 34, a care assistant from Southport, Merseyside.
"Climate change is the biggest issue we face and we haven't got long to act.
"I can't tell you what will happen, because we'll decide collectively when everybody gets here, but it will be a peaceful protest."
As they wait for reinforcements to arrive, the campers say they are enjoying the camaraderie of pulling together and setting up their temporary community.
"It's been fun so far - I've been topping up my tan while I work," laughs Claire Blatchford, 20, a "full-time protester" who has spent four months at a peace camp outside Faslane naval base in Scotland.
"I've brought sturdy boots and my waterproofs, though. I'm sure I'll need them after the summer we've had."
Even the most ardent climate change protester, it seems, is forever at the mercy of British weather.
So, what do you think after reading this then?
Monday, 13 August 2007
Priority and Secondary Creditors - Who to Pay?
PRIORITY DEBTS
"A budget is just an orderly way of discovering that
you can't afford to live on what you're earning."
Some debts are more important than others. The law allows different creditors different ways of getting their money back. If you bury your head some creditors could do any of the following:
- Send in bailiffs to take possessions from your home or business.
- Repossess your home.
- Cut off your gas, electricity or water.
- Ask the magistrates court to send you to prison.
These are the types of debts you could have problems with:
Type of debt Action taken against you
Mortgage Repossession
Second mortgage Repossession
Income tax, National Insurance, VAT arrears Distraint/Bankruptcy
Council tax/Community Charge Distraint/imprisonment
TV Licence Fine/Distraint/Imprisonment
Water rates Cut off
Gas/Electric Cut off
Magistrates court fines Distraint/imprisonment
Unpaid Fines Distraint/imprisonment
Maintenance Arrears Distraint/imprisonment
Hire purchase (Essential items) Repossession of goods
Although gas, electricity and water companies have the power to disconnect the service, they normally place you on a repayment programme by way of card meters.
All the above are priority creditors and under no circumstances should you ignore them. It is important you use your available money to pay these creditors first. Do not pay your secondary creditors until you have reached an agreement with all of the above where applicable.
Secondary creditors include:
- Unsecured loans
- Credit Cards
- Unnecessary hire purchase agreements
- Store cards
- Catalogue and mail order
- Mobile phone (disconnected)
- Repossessed house or car loans
We do not wish to make secondary creditors seem less important, but their power to recover the debt are minimal compared with priority debts.
DON'T PANIC
You will always be given a warning and if you act quickly you should be able to come to an arrangement.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
How To Make Money From Nothing - The Government Gives It To You
EU Farming
To: Rt Hon David Milliband MP, Secretary of State, DEFRA
Dear Secretary of State,
My friend, who is in farming at the moment, received a cheque for £3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not rearing pigs. I now want to join the "not rearing pigs" business.
In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on, and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agriculture Policy.
I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers. Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these?
As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven't reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?
My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was £1,422 in 1968. That is - until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any. If he got £3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get £6,000 for not rearing 100?
I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about £240,000 for the first year.
Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I didn't rear?
I am also considering the "not milking cows" business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the Government information on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields?
In view of the above you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will qualify for unemployment benefits.
I shall of course vote for you at the next general election.
Yours faithfully,
I am still awaiting my response.
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Keeping In Touch With Family When Abroad
Keeping in touch with people you love when you are on the other side of the world isn't as hard as it used to be. With the new technology around nowadays it just keeps on getting easier and easier. I have listed a few ways below to help you on your way.
Calling Home
One of the best ways to keep in touch. You are usually able to buy phone cards from post offices and some local shops which can dramatically reduce the cost of your calls home. This can sometimes be a slight problem if you are calling the UK from somewhere like Australia, as the time difference can be a bit too much.
Internet Telephony - the cheapest way to call home
You can now call home for free........ One of the systems is www.skype.com It uses VOIP to route your calls through to another skype user. You can either pre-arrange a time so they know to be switched on, or just have your on all the time so you can see when they come online. You can use this to call landlines as well, but you do have to pay for these, but it is still cheaper than the good old phone.
Internet
Since you're reading this article on the Internet, you are certainly familiar with the benefits of being connected!! Email sent to anywhere can be received almost instantaneously around the globe. Without a doubt Email is the most economical way to keep in close, frequent touch with family and friends at home. The ease of writing short notes whenever someone comes to mind is greatly facilitated by the internet.
If your parents, siblings or best friends aren't already online, considering convincing them, or assisting them, to get connected prior to your departure. Constant, frequent and instantaneous contact will do much to keep your family close to you, despite your residing on the other side of the world.
In addition to Email, on-line chat rooms are the next best thing to sitting down for a phone chat. You can pre-arrange a time to meet, sign on to the service and await your family member or friend's appearance on-line. All this for the cost of a local phone call, and on the Indonesian end, for the usage of the Internet service. Two widely used services are AOL's Instant Messenger (you don't need to subscribe to AOL to sign on) at http://www.aol.com/and ICQ (I Seek You) at http://www.icq.com/- also at no cost.
Social Networks
There are many more sites appearing nowadays that can help you stay in touch, and many that have brought people back together again. sites like http://www.myspace.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/ are just a couple of examples, but are a great way to stay in touch. You can share your photo albulms with friends and family, and leave notes on what you have been up to. They are able to reply to your pages as well. It's great.
THE TOP TEN DEBT TIPS
1. CommunicationCommunication is the key to successful negotiations with creditors. Do not ignore their letters. Answer them promptly by letter or by telephone. If you promise to contact someone by a certain date, make sure you keep your promise and contact them even if only to tell them when you are going to make a payment to them or advise why there is a delay.
2. Mind Your MannersIt never pays to get angry with anyone, even when you feel justified in doing so. Always be polite and courteous even in the face of being treated rudely. It takes the wind out of their sails. If someone is acting negatively with you and you react negatively, it always makes the situation worse. As a debtor your objective is to persuade someone to be sympathetic to your circumstances.
3. Don't Take Any NonsenseDon't take any nonsense from anyone. 100 years ago we used to have debtors prisons in the UK. If this was the case now we would not have enough prisons to house even a small proportion of debtors. The worst that can happen is that a creditor will obtain a judgment against you and take money from you on an involuntary basis, which you can avoid through several ways explained on this website. If you are being harassed by a creditor or a company employed by a creditor take the name of the individual and report them.
4. Get It In WritingAlways create a paper trail. This starts with your records such as invoices, credit card statements etc. Every telephone call, letter written/received and offers made. Always make a note of the date and time and to whom you have spoken and if necessary confirm all conversations or offers in writing.
5. Don't BluffIf you make an offer, make sure that you can do what you have promised. Don't tell creditors what you think they want to hear. Tell them what you really can do and then follow it through.
6. Don't Threaten Creditors With BankruptcyMost creditors and their agents hear these types of threats every day. It is a form of stonewalling that hinders negotiations. Creditors are likely to become more aggressive and their standard reply is "go ahead and file". There is a way to do this indirectly in the context of portraying adverse financial circumstances, with an inference that bankruptcy is a possible alternative in the event that the creditor does not accept your offer.
7. Make your offer as brief and precise as possibleExplain the reasons for your current financial difficulties and then come to the point and make the offer. Make the terms of the offer precise. Do not leave things open ended such as "things should pick up during Christmas and I will increase my payments if I can".
8. If You Get into TroubleIf you get into trouble after you have negotiated an offer and you can't adhere to the arrangement, contact the creditor in advance. Attempt to send a portion of the funds you promised with a proposal to make up the balance, or renegotiate the entire proposal. Do not wait to contact the creditor until after you have missed a deadline for payment.
9. Protect YourselfIf you receive Court or official papers, protect yourself. Make sure you know how much time you have until a legal response is required to be filed with the Court. This is usually set out on the Court or official papers. Consult with either an insolvency practitioner or a solicitor regarding your rights or the means to resolve the claim without going to Court. If you contact the creditors or their agent and start negotiating the claim, make sure the response deadline is postponed to a date that you can keep to. This postponement must then be confirmed in writing.
10. Be RealisticAlways be realistic with your offer. Only offer what you can actually afford. Ensure you complete your statement of means as accurately as possible, not forgetting expenses such as school expenses, child minding, cigarettes, TV licence etc. Do not however insult your creditor by over estimating your expenses, such as entertainment, dining out etc. The majority of creditors are fair and they will expect realistic payments within your budget.
Above all don't panic, don't bury your head in the sand, face up to your problems and follow our guidance to resolve your financial dilemma.