Energy bills

[torque2me]

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

Several years ago, I was asked to do an urgent Medi Vac from St Petersburg in Russia. I had no time to get a visa, so when I rang up the duty officer at the Foreign Office, he said “you will have to buy your way into the country if you have no visa. He added, whatever you do, don’t fly into Moscow without a visa. If you do, you will be deported”.

His information was spot on. Based on facts and not paranoia.

We used to "provide" porno material for the border guards (land routes) and sell Levi jeans at the destination (Moscow or St. Petersburg). early to mid 70's

Kev

[trikey]

Originally Posted by wraymond

Having no inside info, it's hypothetical. Maybe it's no more than merely my paranoia which has developed in leaps and bounds over the years Phil.

Obviously, there has been no info available of a technical nature so far and I suspect there won't be. There definitely will be many who will be glad of a bit of relief at the time and I sympathise with that predicament.

It’s just that to my eyes, those who get to decide what’s good for us are a curious blend of a travelling Wild West medicine man and Fagin.

As an aside, I wonder why National Assistance was renamed Social Services? A tad too close to the mark, maybe?

A reference from such a person on the inside you mention would be welcome. It’s hypo, until it isn’t.

After many years in the financial world, entirely devoid of any financial investments in the lottery that is the share market, I retain a deep lack of trust in 'the market'. For HMGOV to rely on suspect future growth is irresponsible if not fraudulent. Oh, and I refuse to 'borrow'.

I’ve not heard it called the NAB for many a year 👍

[wraymond]

That's true Andy. I vaguely remember at the time some discussion about the term National 'Assistance' having an ever so slightly derogative connotation about it. Seems it might have been less than a good image of government. Ahem, ahem.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by torque2me

We used to "provide" porno material for the border guards (land routes) and sell Levi jeans at the destination (Moscow or St. Petersburg). early to mid 70's

Kev

That’s really interesting. Who is “we” ?

Have you been to Saudi? I was detained and searched by the religious police in Saudi Arabia on a work trip and released without being harmed because I was not in possession of Playboy or Gay stuff, or the Sun newspaper. I did my best not to show fear and cooperated fully. After that experience, I never returned.

[trikey]

Anyone who buys the sun needs locking up 🤣

[wraymond]

Curious. Do they stop & search nationals?

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by wraymond

Curious. Do they stop & search nationals?

In 2016, the religious police in 2016 were disempowered because of the way they had been treating offenders and suspects (locals included) with detention, punishment beatings and executions.

Before I left the UK, I had been given a tip off not to take any alcohol and not to take any top shelf magazines into Saudi. Apparently the Sun newspaper was considered to be offensive to the religious police. In my medical bag, I was carrying syringes, needles and medication, which were of no interest to them.

Perhaps I would have impressed the police with a copy of The Economist, Horse N Hound, but who knows

[torque2me]

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

That’s really interesting. Who is “we” ?

Have you been to Saudi? I was detained and searched by the religious police in Saudi Arabia on a work trip and released without being harmed because I was not in possession of Playboy or Gay stuff, or the Sun newspaper. I did my best not to show fear and cooperated fully. After that experience, I never returned.

I kept away from the fanatics. A right funny lot over in places like that by "our" standards. We never took "alternative" forms of porno but it proved to be a good grease.

Kev

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by torque2me

I kept away from the fanatics. A right funny lot over in places like that by "our" standards. We never took "alternative" forms of porno but it proved to be a good grease.

Kev

Okay needs must, but who is “we”?

When I worked abroad, a company rule was:

“You are the public face of the company, you will not behave in way which could bring the company into disrepute, you will not smoke, you will not drink alcohol or use any profanity in front of the customer”. Porn was a non starter, but each to their own.

[macafee2]

my goodness the smart meter says we are not buying electric at the moment. the sun is up, the solar panels must be working overtime as the emersion heater is also turned on but I assume water is up to temperature and so has cut out.

With energy prices as they are and set to rise massively, all the more reason why solar panel fitment should be part of the new build planning permission.

macafee2