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Edited by Dynamic Dave on 07/03/2009 at 03:06
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Out of the blue my 13 year old son as asked me that he would like to buy some shares!
He knows what companies he wants to invest in and we are only talking about small amounts that he has saved up.
So my questions would be...
Is it possible for a 13 year old to buy shares? and if so how would he go about it?
Obviously I would keep a close eye on what he was doing but I don't what to squash a potential millionaire ;-)
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I would relieve him of all of his pocket money, tell him repeatedly that his investments are doing well, then in a year or two mutter something about some guy in a string vest in Alabama defaulting on his mortgage and I hope this will be a lesson for you etc etc.
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Children under 18 cannot hold shares in their own name. However, under such circumstances it is perfectly possible for you to hold them in your name as a "bare trust" for the child - i.e. the child is absolutely and entirely entitled to them.
Beware, just as with bank accounts, the income is NOT tax free for children if the original cash has come from parents. Under such circumstances any income is taxable on the parents.
Remember that dealing costs are a flat rate - typically 1% with a minimum £15 charge through a low-cost dealing system; this makes dealing in small quantities horribly expensive.
Equally, setting up a "proper" bare trust will prove expensive. tinyurl.com/b3atol On the grounds that the sums are (presumably) small, I suggest not bothering, and writing a two line trust agreement...
There are plenty of online mock share portfolio trading games. Might be a better solution for you...
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Is it possible for a 13 year old to buy shares?
Simple answer is "No". You have to be over 18 [iirc] to own "stuff" in your own right. For under 18s, parents or grandparents can hold shares for children in trust by registering them in "own name" plus "a/c child's name".
we are only talking about small amounts
For small amounts, best bet IMO is something like
www.iii.co.uk/sharedealing/?type=portfolio
www.halifax.co.uk/sharedealing/products/halifax_sh...p
and if so how would he go about it?
If above method is unsuitable for whatever reason, then consider my reply here re. investing for children:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=67...9
Edited by jbif on 03/03/2009 at 16:35
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Thanks for the replies, looks like I'll have to do a bit of reading up on this because it doesn't seem as straight forward as he thought it would be, which is a shame as he is really enthusiastic about it.
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Sounds an enterprising nipper Rudedog. Obviously you or another trusted adult could buy them and hold them for him. If I were you I would be strongly tempted to do this.
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How much and how long does he want to invest?
You could run a dummy portfolio, let him "buy" the shares and put the money in a savings acount. track the share value and pay him out or not as the case may be when he cashes in shares.
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They say a child with a pin can do a better job of picking stocks so I'd buy them for real. More exciting for both of you when some green is at risk
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You can get execution-only online dealing services for around £10 a deal plus 0.5% stamp duty. If you deal a lot, that can drop to around £7.50.
A good time to buy certain shares IMHO. In every crash/depression/recession including the Wall St Crash, shares regained 80% of their pre-crash value within two years.
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As nick says, there are some very reasonable online share dealing services around.
If you go ahead, the MOST important thing is to set up a stop loss system, move it up accordingly (hopefully) and USE it when the occasion demands!
Good luck..
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Depending on which bank you have your current a/c with, they may well offer the most convenient route.
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Yes, I use my bank, First Direct. It saved all the hassle of proving identity etc. that you get when setting up with a third party.
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What about one of those virtual stock exchange things which are knocking around on t'internet?
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Set up a Bullbarings (I think) account to play at it.
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From elsewhere on the internet, haven't checked to see if it's true or not. NB no ISA for the under 18s (cash ISA when you reach 16).
The share centre, online account www.share.com , based in aylesbury where i live. Well known and good value for money. Brilliant online dealing website, very few calls to make, can run 100% over the web once set up, and you can deal the shares in your yearly ISA allowance tax free.
Dealing fees are 1% buy / sell min £7.50 per trade for instant trades, batch buys are cheaper @ £2 per buy trade at three set times a day (9am , 1pm and 4pm).
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I'm going to buy a black 3/4 length overcoat or mac for use over a black suit at a formal funeral. If the weather wasn't particularly cold would it be acceptable to dispense with the jacket of the suit? Also, is a white shirt de rigeur?
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A white shirt is formal, and would have been expected by my parents (born in the '20's), but I am not sure people stick rigorously to this now. White does look good with the black suit and tie!
The problem with discarding your jacket would be if you were invited on afterwards, which invitation is often given out at the funeral. If you cannot find a black overcoat you like, then a dark navy or grey would be okay .
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If it was my funeral you could wear anything! But I would be VERY upset if you were spending good money on a one time wear item. Donate the money you would have spent to a charity - and stand there in the cold! It does not matter what other people think, - the same goes for for flowers and other examples of 'wasted' money on transient items.
p
Edited by pmh2 on 04/03/2009 at 08:38
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I'm at an age where you tend to go to far more funerals than you would like - in general the trend is for less formal, but still darkish clothing with, of course, a black tie.
There has also been a noticeable swing in recent years towards celebrating a person's life in a more upbeat and joyous mode, rather than the sombre ceremonies of the past.
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It's a funeral. Wear a jacket and tie. Black or very dark grey suit, black tie white shirt.
Shine your shoes.
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Why would you want to wear an overcoat but take off your jacket?
BTW snails never take their jackets off.
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Unless you're immediate family black tie is considered a bit "not right" these days.
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Wear what you want and feel comfortable in. I, too , am an age where funerals are becoming frequent. I wore a red tie to my mother's and my late step-fathers EEPTU badge to reflect her previous status as a shop steward. A black roll neck jumper under a sports jacket seems popular in our family. I havn't worn a tie since. 14 yrs.
Ted
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I'm youngish still and sadly funerals are becoming more frequent than weddings and christianings but that is because my generation seem to hold of getting married till at least 35 and I have a couple of grand parents approaching 90 so funerals will just get more and more common. I have a black suite I use my funerals still seemed to be forced by the elders to wear a tie though.
I also find funerals always seem to be next to each other, I don't want to sound depressing but if you have to go one, make sure you keep that funeral outfit near by. I found that when my grandad died I was just starting to get over it, then my uncle died (grandads oldest son) just three months later (we think the stress of my grandad passing away contributed to my uncles death).
Just wear what you want but be respectful I know from personal experience people can be very upset, something really upset me about my grandads funeral (behaviour of a distant relatie) and to this day I will not speak about him or have his name mentioned). It was not dress related I might add
So before thinking you're cool going in a pink tie just think how the deased closest relatives may think.
I think that was probably the most depressing post I have ever made on a forum.
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But I would be VERY upset if you were spending good money on a one time wear item.
Take a chill pill, pmh2. Getting upset at something so trivial done by someone you don't even know is a sure way to hasten the arrival of your own funeral!
In any case, it's unlikely to be a "one time wear" because when you get to my age funeral invitations become increasingly frequent.
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M. le Snail,
No need to chill - you should quote me in full, not selectively.
>>If it was my funeral you could wear anything! But I would be VERY upset if you were spending good money on a one time wear item. <<
The important elements are 'my funeral' and 'would' ....... no room for a misunderstanding?
p
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My parents (born in the 50's) insist I wear a tie for funerals.
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Has anybody else had this sort of experience? I won't name bank but they are owned by a very large Southern European bank which narrows it down a bit.
I am in credit with my bank by about £400 atm but now my bank have suddenly withdrawn my overdraft without any written communication. This sort of thing has been going on for months now, I keep writing to them and they just ignore all my letters. My statements don't show the overdraft so when I did go into a few months back it looks like it unauthorised and its not. I keep writing to bank to get them to rectifiy it.
Now most months I usualy pay in between £700 and £1000 depending on how much money I earn and have been in credit since at November (I did once owe £1500 but I have been paying quickly) and I never once had a problem with the bank when I was overdrawn.
Now I owe them nothing they are taking my overdraft facilities of me, I know legally can do this but I am disgusted at the way they are treating me, they have offered me no explanation at all other than my account does not have an overdraft facility.
When I called the bank before they put me through to debt management it is very patronising when I owe them nothing. I have a meeting with a customer service jobsworth tomorrow and I intend to close my account down after 22 years of banking with them.
Why is this country going so backward when it comes to customer service?
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It may be something simple that the account you have isn't the correct one for the variable desposits. For example you may be on a £1,000+ a month minimum deposit account - if you fail to deposit this you will get a lower rating and may be unable to have an overdraft.
I am also with said bank and have had a problem with fraudulent transactions. I have found the best way of sorting anything out is to go to my local small branch and see someone there.
It's very difficult for a member of staff to fob you off when you are sat in front of them.
I'd also recommend their on line banking service so you can keep track of the overdraft situation as the balance on this does show the overdraft.
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I have a meeting with a customer service jobsworth tomorrow and I intend to close my account down after 22 years of banking with them.
22 years or 2 years? Perhaps you're not as young as you'd like us to believe!
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... I have a meeting with a customer service jobsworth tomorrow and I intend to close my account down after 22 years of banking with them. ... >>
That may suit them down to the ground, because it is probably what they are trying to achieve.
This sort of thing usually happens when Banks find that someone is using a Personal account for Business banking, although obviously you are not doing it - obvious as the subject heading of your post makes it clear that you are honest.
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I have a seperate business account for business transactions but I do pay lot of cash into my current account, as soon as the cheques clear I tend to pay the cash into my current account but only in the same way somebody might have paid in their weekly wages 20 years ago.
And yes I did mean 22 years, I opened the account in 1987 well my dad did, it was one of them savings accounts for kids.
I have realised this morning thinking about it that their debt management call centre has just told me a pack of lies everytime I have spoken to them. I will try not to looser my temper this afternoon but my branch know I am very annoyed with head office for not responding to any of my letters or complaints.
Once I get them to sort out the paper work to show that I had an overdraft I will simply switch banks. I have my business account with them too so I shall be moving that as well.
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Has anybody else had this sort of experience? I won't name bank but they are owned by a very large Southern European bank which narrows it down a bit.
I have a current account with the Halifax. I have an overdraft limit of £500. I have never had an overdraft in 20 yrs with them and they have never varied the amount I could use.
I have a few savings accounts with the same branch of the Abbey as Rattle. My only gripe with them was two lads they employed behind the counter who greeted me with 'You all right there, mate ?'...the manager heard one day. Next trip I was greeted..'Can I help you, sir ?' much better.
Ted
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My only gripe with them was two lads they employed behind the counter who greeted me with 'You all right there, mate ?'...the manager heard one day. Next trip I was greeted..'Can I help you, sir ?' much better.
so before you got a genuine question, interest and an offer of assistance, and now you get trotted at you parrot fashion the banks standard greeting or they get a threat of discipline.
I haven't been knighted so I dont need the "sir" - a genuine "mate" is ok by me.
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I agree with Ted. A 19ish-year-old in the local shop used to greet me with "Yes, mate?"
He is no longer there.
I have to say though that some of the customers are just as bad, as in (Without a hello or a good morning, or a please) "Can I get 20 Rothmans." Note the lack of question mark.
If I were serving I might have replied "Well, yes you could, if you were to ask for them."
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I was in the bank for an hour as they were 20 minutes late seeing me. I have to do now put in an official complaint in order to get them to fix the paper work. It is all do with the fact my overdraft is tempory but nobody ever once told me this, as far as I was concerned I had a £500 overdraft.
One my neighbours also came in she was telling me that £500 of her money has gone missing during a transfer she has written and phoned them up, everything has been ignored so it seems to be a common theme.
The company has also bought out another British bank so soon all our banks will either be owned by the Spannish or the British government.
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Please do not discuss bank ownership and credit crunch or similar here if anyone was thinking of replying to Rattle.
So Rattle is sounds like this may be easily fixed. For all the hassle it might be easier staying with them. Why they could not have told you this over the phone though....
I rarely deal with banks in person. I used telephone banking from graduating and as soon as my bank (not owned by the Spanish or British apart from shares of individuals) offered Internet banking over 10 years ago I started using it. Brilliant it is to do this sort of stuff online 24/7. Bills, direct debits, standing orders, etc. But it must put people in branches out of work :-(
Edited by rtj70 on 05/03/2009 at 20:35
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I was told I should have a fixed overdraft of £500 but the software declined it but I was told that was common (I am not bothered about that anyway), RBS said I could have a £750 limit but I only need a £250 one. I am not annoyed about the overdraft it is the lies from debt management and the lack of communication I am annoyed about.
The only reason I visit branches now is to pay cash in from when my business cheques clear or even just cash. I told the person today that I know I do use this account for business in the sense that cash I get from jobs goes straight into my personal account but I explained it would be pointless putting into my business account only to then transfer it into my personal account and he agreed. He said once a week is no problem at all they are only bothered about it if somebody was paying money into the accoutn three or four times a day.
I've used online banking since 2001 and do most stuff on it. A lot of older people won't touch it though even though its much more secure than telephone banking.
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>>'Can I help you, sir ?' much better.>>
My late mother always used to say: "You can if you may."
In other words, "May I help you, sir?"
I would also suggest that you should have stated: "with them were two lads they employed..." - was is singular...:-)
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I would also suggest that you should have stated: "with them were two lads they employed..." - was is singular...:-)
If you're going to correct other posters' English in quite so patronising a fashion, may I suggest you take more care with your own English.
1. The first person singular of the verb expressing condition is "I should", the equivalent second or third person is "you/he would".
2. Was is indeed singular. This is because our poster had only the one gripe, which is the subject of the sentence.
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Why is this country going so backward when it comes to customer service?
Is your own customer service completely in order? Your bank is staffed by fallible human beings just like any other business. Just calmly and rationally sort the problem out with them and stop moaning.
Edited by L'escargot on 06/03/2009 at 06:53
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When I first installed my new Vistron TV (from e-buyer, recommended by a Backroomer), I got a lot of digital channels, including ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, E4, 5 US, etc.
Now I've lost most of them, including ITV and Channel 4 and Channel 5, and re-installing doesn't get them back. This is despite an aerial booster on the landlord's lousy loft aerial.
So my question is, should I succumb to SKY and buy its £16.50 a month package. (There's already a Sky dish growing like a fungus on the front of the house.)
Or is there a better way to get all the Freeview Channels?
(Note that I can't stick a 20' pole aerial on the house.)
HJ
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My BIL has Freesat which is a one off payment and gets loads of digital channels, including the BBC and ITV HD channels.
But you may need a new dish..........
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They are still changing the transmit frequencies on several TV transmitters in the ongoing digital switchover, so it is possible that the aerial was just about good enough before, but isn't now, although I'd be tempted to borrow / buy a cheapo Freeview box to make sure it isn't the TV set.
Plan B would be to use Sky's pay once watch forever service, which effectively gives you a digibox + viewing card + dish install for 70 odd quid. Not sure how this works on a rented property though, even if you already have a dish. You need to remember to cancel the subscription before the end of the 4 month trial.
Plan C would be to buy a Freesat box as already suggested.
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Whoops, forgot to add on plan B that the TV channel selection on Sky without a subscription will be similar to Freeview, but with loads of extra shopping channels etc.( whoop) and maybe more usefully 80 or so radio channels.
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> But you may need a new dish..........
You shouldn't need to, Sky and Freesat use the same signals from the same satellite(s), it's only the EPG that's different.
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If you already have the dish, you can have both Sky and Freesat - you may need to swap the LNB for a quad type and run the extra cables from it. Or just change the cables over as required to the receiver.
Freeview transmissions and channels are constantly being revised, along with the type of signals (QAM 16 and QAM64); most use the former but ITV related companies use the latter.
Some of the missing channels may be due to the aerial booster - you can have problems with too much or too little signal strength.
Freesat channels here:
www.freesat.co.uk/index.php?page=whatson.Main
(note ITV states its HD content will never be shown on Sky, only Freesat; however its profits news may just bring a rethink)
Sky free to air channels:
packages.sky.com/see/FreeAirChannels.aspx
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As others have said, for free satellite you need either
1. free sky, something like
www.hotukdeals.com/item/347601/sky-pay-once-4-mont.../
or
2. freesat, something like one of these
www.hotukdeals.com/search?action=search&keywords=h...t
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The Humax range of PVRs is superb - probably the best you can get. Same for its Freeview and Freesat set top box receivers.
However, you will pay about three times as much at least for HD versions of such equipment.
As far as I'm aware, the Humax FOXSAT Freesat HD PVR is still the only one available (a Bush re-badged version is due) and initial demand earlier this year far outstripped supplies.
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... the Humax FOXSAT Freesat HD PVR is still the only one available .. >>
New batch has just been released to the market:
www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/05/review_dvr_humax_.../
HJ - you may find this quote from the above link helpful :
"There are currently three types of Freesat receivers. The most basic ones, which Freesat refers to as "Freesat digital boxes", cost about £100 and allow you to view the full range of around 140 Freesat channels and radio stations ? but only in standard definition. Then, at around £150 there are "Freesat HD" boxes, such as Humax?s own, less expensive Foxsat-HD, which can also receive high-definition broadcasts - though it?s worth remembering that Freesat?s subscription-free HD offerings are currently limited to just the BBC?s single HD channel and occasional outbursts of activity on ITV HD. However, neither of these options allows you to record Freesat programmes so that you can watch them at your own convenience.
That?s where the Foxsat-HDR comes in, as this is one of the first top-tier models that can both receive and record Freesat?s full range of SD and HD programmes."
Edited by jbif on 05/03/2009 at 10:58
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Actually, the basic SD Freesat set top boxes are available from just under £50 upwards (Bush model at Argos).
The FOXSAT-HDR is, in fact, the first product of its type.
The younger offspring has one (waited nearly six months for it to actually become available) and the picture and sound quality, both live and recorded, are top class.
Mind you, he has a Panasonic plasma set to show programmes at their very best...:-)
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Mind you he has a Panasonic plasma set to show programmes at their very best...:-)
You mean it hides the compression artefacts inherent in SD broadcasts? ;-)
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>>You mean it hides the compression artefacts inherent in SD broadcasts? ;-)>>
No, I meant it's probably the best brand of television sets available in the UK (LCD or plasma), although I'm told that one or two of the Pioneer models (no dealer in my area to check) can match or even better a Panny. .:-)
Edited by Stuartli on 05/03/2009 at 14:32
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Some of the very expensive Pioneer Kuro plasmas as said to be very good. But they're pulling out of the market apparently.
When choosing an LCD TV in John Lewis before Christmas, looking at the display on all the TVs side-by-side the Panasonic was better. This was on terrestrial and Freeview. Some of the others sets were very poor in my opinion.
The knowledgeable staff in the store also agreed and were very honest etc.
If you saw the same TVs with a true HD source like Blueray or a game console they were fine. It's how they dealt with standard definition. And up-scaling 576 lines to 1080 is a tall order mind - the TV has to guess the content.
But we digress from helping HJ... I think the idea of trying out someone's Freeview box rules out it being the TV or not. Probably due to the frequencies having changed and the aerial is no longer suitable.
Edited by rtj70 on 05/03/2009 at 14:47
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If you saw the same TVs with a true HD source like Blueray or a game console they were fine. It's how they dealt with standard definition. And up-scaling 576 lines to 1080 is a tall order mind - the TV has to guess the content.
Yep, that's where I was coming from with my previous quip.
But we digress from helping HJ... I think the idea of trying out someone's Freeview box rules out it being the TV or not. Probably due to the frequencies having changed and the aerial is no longer suitable.
Yep, any chance of a rough location HJ?; I've recently had to re-tune the Freeview boxes in spamcan towers because Rowridge ( IoW) transmitter changed one of its frequencies a couple of weeks back.
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.. rough location HJ?; >>
Going by his "Police ANPR" thread, away from the rough, not a million away from here ;-)
tinyurl.com/cfcqq7 [maps.live.com]
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Edited by Old Navy on 05/03/2009 at 15:25
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I've recently had to re-tune the Freeview boxes in spamcan towers because Rowridge ( IoW) transmitter changed one of its frequencies a couple of weeks back. >>
It's been happening quite frequently in the Winter Hill area, but we are having the full switchover near the end of this year.
Most TVs will tune in any new channels overnight, along with the EPG, if left on standby.
TV transmitter information for Freeview and many other facts at: www.ukfree.tv/txlist.php
Freesat at:
www.freesat.co.uk/
Re Blu-Ray. Yep, the offspring's got that as well, plus the Panny switches to monitor use (via wireless link) to show friends and family the digital photos etc...:-)
Edited by Stuartli on 05/03/2009 at 18:31
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My Panasonic has an SD-Card slot to show photos too.... like a big photo frame ;-)
Our aerial does not pick up Winter Hill properly but we have Virgin Media so not bothered sorting it. Nothing on hundreds of channels either.
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>>My Panasonic has an SD-Card slot to show photos too.... like a big photo frame ;-)>>
Yes, that's also available...:-)
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HJ
Looks like the Vistron has issues with tuning. I've included a link to a review thread from Ebuyer indicating to use the smaller menu key (Blue?) to tune Freeview, NOT the big Menu button
tinyurl.com/bwz3nb
Apparently it's a common problem and it's not intuitive to fix. Easier than spending money on something else though.
Also from an AVForums thread on the TV:
I too have just bought one of these machines and had same problem as Jean Frances, so this thread has been very useful! The handbook is not very well written and it certainly isn't obvious that you have to go to Settings/Installation and do Auto Scan in DVB-T mode before getting digital signal.
Charles
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I have just been rung by the Telegraph to ask me to come to do some market research for them. As a part of the screening process to ascertain whether I was suitable material, they asked me for the meaning of some words. inter alia
Pedant. But the interviewer amusingly pronounced it with the stress on the second syllable.
Decimate. Did this mean (1) to destroy one in ten, or (2) to destroy the greater part.
Aha, said I, this is a much mis-used word, but strictly meaning (1) applies, although it is oft mis-used as meaning (2). Researcher said "not really" and I proceeded to explain what it really means. Poor chap had had previous people giving him exactly the same spiel.
I wonder what muppet came up with the question...
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But did he agree with you in the end?
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I suspect Mapmakers factually correct answers meant that he wasn't in the paper's target audience.
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It's a living language and the meaning of words evolves.
I would say the majority of people who use 'decimate' mean 'destroy a greater part', so that is what the word will come to mean, if it doesn't already.
Anyone who disagrees might like to define the word 'gay' for me.
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define the word 'gay' for me.
In the slang sense or senses? Gay meaning homosexual is quite recent. Used to be applied to prostitutes and other members of the demi-monde perhaps including homosexual individuals but not restricted to them. I don't know without looking it up but wouldn't be surprised it this meaning went back to the 17th century or even earlier.
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When I was a young lad in the late 1950s/early 1960s, the word gay had an entirely different meaning.
It was very common for us to say to our parents, for instance, that we had had a gay night out, but merely in the sense that we had had a fun time.
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Whereas my teenaged daughters use 'gay' to mean naff.
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Can some other pedant tell me what "A big ask" is, please? The spelling of ask is correct BTW!
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If it came from one of my kids (they're in their thirties) I'd presume it meant they wanted a favour - usually involving me opening my wallet!
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A big ask. Not a phrase which I favour but increasingly used.
My understanding is that it is used to describe a request or requirement which will inconvenience or cost the requestee more than might be seen as reasonable.
My wife describes my fondness for and frequency of eating cheese and raw onion sandwiches as a big ask.....
;-)
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.. what "A big ask" is, please? ... >>
tinyurl.com/c55uxe
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That's telling 'em, jbif! Terrific site, that lmgtfy, & one I shall make use of...
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That's telling 'em, jbif! Terrific site, that lmgtfy, & one I shall make use of... >>
I am using it as per the intention/ and in the spirit described here:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/787486...m
".... Instead of turning up a list of URLs you have to troll through for their answer, you are given a single URL to post in reply.
The result is a cheeky animation of you typing in the question ... "
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I used to be somewhat of a pedant until I watched a recent edition of Countdown in which it was explained that the meaning of words changes according to the whims and ignorances of the general public. Words which are misused eventually take on a new meaning. My favourite used to be "reiterate" which, according to my 1920s dictionary, means to repeat over and over again. In the 1920s, to repeat once was to "iterate". Nowadays everyone "reiterates", and I accept that.
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Have already done forum search.
Can anyone please advise the Act, its year and the wording to be used, when asking an unauthorized person to leave a property?
Have recently had a " problem family " moved into the local area by the district council, who are causing trouble by entering onto private property without permission. This includes that of elderly neighbours and my own.
A log is being kept of these incidents but would wish to be able to use the correct terminology when challenging these incursions.
Thank you.
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Petel,
Keeping a log is the usual advice, but why do you need the 'correct terminology'?
Plain, simple, English is best.
Trying to sound like a lawyer when you are not one will just make you look like a pompous twit.
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You dont need specific words, tell them to leave and not return.
Call the police and report intruders - every time.
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Quick question for the legal and financial brains on here.
I have an endowment, held jointly with my ex-partner, although all payments into the policy were made by me. After our separation she refused to make any contribution to payments, and not being in a position to make up the payments myself I informed her and the company holding the endowment that no further payments would be made to the policy.
I have tried twice since to persuade her that we should cash in the policy and split it equally between us, but have met with a flat (and abusive) refusal. I have had a valuation for the policy arrive today, and it is now losing value, although wahat's left over will pay for the new central heating system I need.
The question is simply therefore can I force her hand into cashing in the policy without resorting to a protracted and costly legal process - she refuses to work, now lives at her parents' house, and claims benefits, and is therefore entitled to full legal aid while I work full time, care for our children, and have had to pay all my legal expenses up to this point (apologies for the slight edge of bitterness there) - which means that most of the money from the policy will go straight to my solicitor.
I think I know the answer, but any advice will be gratefully received.
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Partner, *that* meaningless word. What was your partner? Girlfriend or wife? That matters.
Also, a bit of advice may go along way - it might be worth lashing out for a 1/2 hr.
Lastly, it was said to be better under some circumstances to sell some sorts of policies - although I don't know what the state is now with the current situation.
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I suspect that no legally qualified bod will give you "advice" on a forum such as this.
IMO, I think you have discovered one of the perils of joint ownership unless covered by a pre-agreement on what to do when one of the owners wishes to resign the partnership.
Your suspicion that it may be cheaper not to go the legal route may be wise. You could lose a lot more than you stand to gain.
How many years left to maturity?
Edited by jbif on 06/03/2009 at 17:56
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Partner - girlfriend, not wife. If there's a next time some form of pre-nuptial agreement will be involved.
There is around 13 years left to run on the policy - current value is < £7000, and declining rapidly. We looked into selling some time back when we were told the policy would not meet expectation, but it is one of the "unsellable" types of endowment.
While my solicitor has been very good, straightforward, and quick to act, my ex's seems determined to delay and question every point possible. We separated nearly three years ago, and the legal machinations are still ongoing, hence my reluctance to add to my bill.
That said, I am still getting occasional letters and calls from debt collection agencies for my ex, who left some very sizeable debts behind when she left - she may have a concern that her half of the endowment payout will be taken by some of these companies. And yes, my address does appear to have been credit blacklisted.
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Odd question, I know, but bear with me.
1) I have noticed that often how warm one feels is not just a function of the air temperature in a room. e.g I generally feel warm in a room where the temperature is 20° in the summer, but if the same room is at 20° in the winter, I will feel chilly.
2) I suspect that this is partly because the floor temperature is lower in the winter, and how cold a person feels is closely related to the floor temperature.
3) I took measurements one cold day last month in a room in my house (which was built in the 19th century) and discovered, to my surprise, that the temperature on the floor was 8.5°, but was 19° on a shelf 5 feet off the ground.
How can I heat the floor? I know that one can install underfloor heating, or pull up the carpet and put down a couple of layers of good underlay underneath it, but I wondered if there was anything that I can do that is cheap and simple that would make a significant difference?
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I would think that you will need a heat source at floor level, as it will always be warmer the further you are above the floor. If you have high ceilings a ceiling fan would help push warm air down.
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My first property ( a flat ) had electric underfloor heating. Lovely underfoot on a cold morning but ruinously expensive even then. Fortunately for me the lady who lived above me had hers on all the time in winter so my ceiling was always warm ! Not enough stolen heat to completely warm my flat but enough to keep the chill off and allow me to just supplement it with a wee electric fire when required.
Aye....
;-)
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... How can I heat the floor? .. >>
The cheapest solution is NOT to heat the floor, but divert heat from the ceiling level to the floor level. You do this with a very low speed low power fan.
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The underlay idea is also good. Anything that seals up gaps and cracks, and insulates in itself, is good. Even an overlaid parquet or other floor.
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Assuming a suspended wooden floor and y6ou want quick/cheap/effective.
staple a draught barrier to the undersides of the joists - something like the garden weed barrier - it should not be a vapour barrier like poly sheeting - just something that cuts down on the draught - if nothing suitable around then just use some sort of mesh netting.
Fill the space between the joists and above the garden fabric with rockwool type insulation.
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This afternoon I lived up to my self-confessed idiocy and punctured the freezer element in my fridge/freezer with a sharp knife. All manuals tell you NOT to use a sharp knife. Gas escaping and compressor on constantly.
Quick internet search reveals that my f/f is a gonner.
Now switched off, food given away.
Has anyone else suffered the same? If so was a new f/f the solution?
:(
subject line filled out - see my "I wish I hadn't done that" thread a few months ago !
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:45
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Focus driver fridge freezer**
It depends on how the f/f is made and what it is made of. If it is a roll bond (flat painted aluminium with refrigerant channels formed in it then you are on a loser unless the thing can be removed and replaced. If the evaporator is built in, (cold back wall) then it's also a write off. If it is a fin and tube or wire and tube and made of copper or stainless then it can be repared as long as it can be removed or silver soldered in place.
It doesn't look good, does it.
In case it is repairable I would advise turning it off and covering the hole. (Sellotape will do. This will help to keep water and other contaminants out of the system. Some moist air will already have been sucked in but damage limitation is the objective.
I have heard of a process of using an Araldite type filler specifically designed to fill and seal the system. I haven't tried one, though.
** Inserted to clarify answer to question asked, Subject header wrong.
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:46
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Many thanks mjm - from what you say I think it's bye bye £700 (it's a cold wall). I'm more than a little deflated because I'm a modern day Dickensian pauper. My insurers were charming but useless as usual (not being covered for acts of intense stupidity).
I've just been looking on the web at fridge/freezers. So expensive and unutterably dull to boot. They all look the same except some are a slightly different shade of white. Yawn.
Thanks mjm, Humph Backbridge and SpamCan, you've assured me that I'm not chucking out a salvageable item.
This puts my new car back even further...
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:46
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'fraid it's not good FD. My brother in law did the same thing. New one unfortunately......
Old Confucion saying - " A wise man should not defrost a fridge with a sharp knife unless his credit remains uncrunched... "
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:47
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Yes and yes.
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:47
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You said gas was escaping, if so replacement probably cheaper than repair. Unlike car aircon where you can replace components and recharge, the f/f is a one piece system.
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:48
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Yep, looks that way ON! I'm so annoyed because I can't afford this. No-one to blame but myself though. I knew not to use a knife, but this time it was "just a quick scrape" because the freezer draw was catching on ice build-up and I was in the middle of cooking.
Still, looking on the bright side, it's 10 years old, and we're all still alive!
(boohoo)
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:57
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On a serious note, as a temporary measure, take yourself down to the more basic part of your town/city. There will be shops selling second hand fridge freezers.
Edited by Pugugly on 06/03/2009 at 19:58
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Oops, sorry Pug, thanks for your speedy modding! Those people that don't read the rules...ummm
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We had one go at uni after an end-of-term break - we think it was one of the halls' cleaners, and a pipe in the freezer section was split.
Again, unfortunately a new fridge/freezer was required.
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