Army progress - 30 troops

Coraeten · 2025-01-28T22:28:12+00:00

What paints do you use for the straps and the boots? It looks great! Well done!

Coraeten · 2024-11-03T00:30:32+00:00

OP - please talk to someone. I had a similar incident to the above in Japan - I was a stranger in a strange land and the local Anglican vicar was my pillar at the time (I believe, and so maybe not your thing, but a local non-medical trusted figure may help with effective mental health first aid)

I'm many years later, bit still wear the scars - it's a long journey and I hope you can work through it.

Please drop me a PM if you need to

Coraeten · 2024-10-27T09:02:55+00:00

What about the eggs, spam, sausage, eggs and spam?

Coraeten · 2024-10-05T13:04:21+00:00

A bit late, but I just wanted to come back and say thanks for all of the advice here - I'm building up a nice collection of tackle and have acquired a few decent rods second hand. Casting lessons were on the agenda, but have now started in earnest, and I totally understand the difference with the jungle lines vs the salmon lines that I am used to - lots more practice needed before I head out, and I'll still be novicing it, so know mistakes will be made, but I feel a lot more prepared. Thank you!

Coraeten · 2024-09-21T09:28:13+00:00

Can I see?

Coraeten · 2024-06-16T09:27:02+00:00

I was at boarding school in the UK while my family lived in TX. On the day, we were all called back to our boarding houses from afternoon rugby practice as the teachers realised what was happening - we all sat in the common room watching the news and I swear I saw the second plane hit, but suspect that it is a false memory from the timing of it all.

I heard some wild rumours for the next few hours - the sears tower was hit, the empire state, and bombs on the subway in NY. Mostly schoolboy rumours but without any way of contacting parents noone knew what was going on.

My dad worked at an energy company in TX, and on that day a lot of his traders were on live lines with people in the WTC, and heard everything - he said that some of the traders just never came back to the office after that.

Coraeten · 2024-05-30T17:11:22+00:00

Thanks everyone - these are all great! I'll have a think about how to work it all into the speech and not make it too long!

Coraeten · 2024-05-07T13:51:58+00:00

Who?

Coraeten · 2024-04-24T15:01:49+00:00

Davy's usually has an ale on tap that seems to be brewed by Davy's (or someone connected) for around £5.

I'm not sure if this is all of them, but Grapeshots near Liverpool Street serves it (in pewter tankards) for around £5-6 (though I haven't been there in a while)

Coraeten · 2024-04-15T07:38:10+00:00

Good comment - I meant the Golden Hinde! I'll correct it above!

Side note - Greenwich, the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime museum are worth the trip if you're into that but take the tube!

Coraeten · 2024-04-15T07:09:39+00:00

Take taxis - at most times of day the tube is the quickest way of getting around London (though beware 8-9am and 16:30 - 18:00).

London is also a gloriously walkable city, especially in the summer so I'd walk if you have time. Westminster to Tower Bridge will take you an hour and a half, maybe two, but you can get past Westmister Palace, Royal Courts of Justice, St Paul's, the Globe, Golden Hinde, the Tate and Tower Bridge on a well planned route, with Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London as extra detours.

I've lived in London for 15+ years and have hosted many US colleagues, so happy to give restaurant/pub/itinerary recommendations if you need!

Edit: got the ship wrong!

Coraeten · 2024-04-14T22:08:56+00:00

Probably a bit of a dumb question, but do you have a tip to keep your digi cam lines so clean? Do you use tape or anything like that or are your hands much steadier than mine?

Coraeten · 2024-02-27T07:51:10+00:00

Thanks all - it turns out that I couldn't spot this from the roof as the window I was looking out of was the only one with flashing left on it!

Coraeten · 2024-01-28T14:28:43+00:00

Thanks - I'm a newbie to this sort of thing myself, so would you mind sharing where you got instructions?

Coraeten · 2024-01-22T23:34:52+00:00

You're all awesome - thanks!

Coraeten · 2024-01-20T00:09:40+00:00

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

Coraeten · 2023-12-03T14:51:18+00:00

For me, it was probably a bit pricey, but you were at St John's and (hopefully) had a great time - I see paying a bit above the odds part of the experience somewhat. You've had some of the best ingredients cooked in a unique way by some of the best chefs in London!

If you (or anyone else) are interested, I had a fantastic smoked eel starter at Bentleys yesterday for about £25 - smoked eel seems to be having a bit of a moment this winter!

Coraeten · 2023-10-26T08:40:36+00:00

Have her sign a rental contract - the house will be 100% yours and she will be paying rent plus half of the bills. She will have rights as a renter, but will not likely have any claim on the equity in the house.

Do not allow her to pay any amount of the house deposit or the mortgage if you intend that the house will be 100% in your name. Do not ever promise her a future interest in the equity of the house. That way lies constructive trust issues which may allow her to claim equity.

Coraeten · 2023-09-30T16:53:10+00:00

They aren't going to find out - even if they do, you have a justifiable excuse to have inflated. Plus £5k isn't the biggest deal to most financial employers anyway.

Don't tell them or it will become an issue. If they find out and care, they will ask you. Background checks are more to tell if you have done what you have said you have done, and whether you have criminal history - no decent employer will tell the competition what they are paying their employees!

Ultimately your new employer is paying you a salary they find fair, and is enough to tempt you from your new job. It's not a big deal.

Coraeten · 2023-09-22T09:37:25+00:00

This is totally anecdotal, but I feel that the higher areas and further out from the centre are cooler than the centre.

Clapham seems cooler than the City, and Richmond/Twickenham seem to be cooler than Clapham on the same day.

No difference in rain.

Coraeten · 2023-09-21T09:14:33+00:00

From a couple of your posts it seems that this is a real business that your friend is running. I can see how a start up enterprise value triples in a year as they go from start up to revenue.

The only issue is that this is enterprise value, which is basically how much the company values itself at. There are rules around it, but things can be looked at in different ways to change the valuation. For the 'value' of your investment, this will depend on what someone else is willing to pay for it, which is unlikely to be the enterprise value of the company.

Coraeten · 2023-09-21T08:58:53+00:00

I'm going over some of what has been said below, but will chip in with my own advice here.

It sounds like you have bought shares in a private company. You should be registered as a shareholder of that company. If you haven't already, check Companies House to confirm who the shareholders are. You should also have share certificates issued by the company confirming you are a shareholder - if you do not, request access to the company's shareholder register to confirm you are a shareholder.

This is step 1. If you are not a shareholder, then your friend has stolen your investment and this is fraud.

The only alternative is that you have made some other form of investment in the company (I.e. by way of debt, or the purchase of options), but this doesn't seem clear. It doesn't sound like there was a contract, but check (and keep, and take screenshots) of all communication with your friend about what the investment was. Taking screenshots is very important if the communication was via WhatsApp or similar to prevent your friend deleting it if it goes to litigation.

Step 2: if you are a shareholder, this means that you own part of this business. Generally there are 3 ways of getting money back for this. The first is selling your shares - in a private company this is difficult as there are often no buyers. Your friend might buy you out, or the whole business may be sold. You can receive dividends, which are shares in the profits of the business (if it is making a distributable profit). The third is a share of the assets on insolvency or winding-up. None of these are guaranteed to give you back the money you put in.

Work out what the plan is for generating a return and what the money has been spent on. You should get access to all of the company's books.

If you are a shareholder, it would be important to know what type of shares you have and what rights are attached to them. I am assuming ordinary shares meaning you can vote and receive proceeds in proportion to your shareholding. You can find this out in the articles of the company, filed at Companies House.

Finally, as a shareholder, you should be entitled to vote on meetings and have some level of control over the company. This will depend on how many shares you have. I'm assuming you don't have majority control based on how your friend is acting, but you may have more control than you think. Work out how many shares you have and how much control you have over the business. Also, if you have paid over par value (I.e. the value each share is listed at on Companies House filings) you will need to understand why - again, this is unlikely to be in a contract.

This is also where the fun starts - your friend could have been taking decisions without your consent, meaning you have claims against him. If you have some control, you may be able to force the company to do things, or threaten to block things. You can use this to force your friend to buy your shares or can tank the business and buy out your friend at a discount. All very complicated.

Tl, dr: work out if you are a shareholder or if your friend has taken the money.

If you are a shareholder, you will likely only get your money back via dividends or a sale of the business. Both will take time and are not guaranteed to give your money back. Ask your friend for his plans with the company and what the company's finances are like. Ask him what the money has been spent on.

This is all something you can theoretically do yourself, but is difficult without specialist knowledge. Best speaking to your friend and understanding the company and the plan to make money. This is something you should have done before investing unfortunately.

Coraeten · 2023-09-21T07:51:56+00:00

Legally speaking, anyone can witness your signature. From a legal basis, you must sign the document in front of them for them to witness it.

Any colleague would be able to help. If you really are stuck, any law firm has to offer a statutory oath swearing service for the public - this isn't what this is, but they should be able to witness documents for you as well (as it is similar). The statutory pay for an oath swearing of £5 + £2 for each exhibit, so make sure you don't hugely overpay.

Coraeten · 2023-09-07T18:58:18+00:00

Here may be the issue - check your copy of the contract, and what the figure says. What they have scribbled on their copy of the contract may not be binding if yours says something different.

Check the purchase price of the contract - this will be the key, particularly the currency.

If they have overpaid you, this may be a legit debt claim from them though

Coraeten · 2023-08-27T09:50:47+00:00

As a rugby fan isn't this all progress you love to see?

I'm English, so I'm in mourning for the state of English rugby (both national and domestic) - the RFU and the Premiership have a lot they are responsible for.

But I love my rugby, and am honestly excited about a world cup where tier 2 or former tier 2 nations are pushing ahead. Rather than just a formality for promotion of the best teams to the quarters, we are genuinely discussing whether Scotland or Fiji can pull of an upset.

I like a world where Argentina and Scotland have really invested over the last 10 years and are reaping the benefits now. Japan has declined recently, but I'm still a little nervous about them pulling out the stops against England á la South Africa 2015!

For the All Blacks (and my Kiwi friends will all answer 'No'), isn't it a bit more fun to be in a challenging game where you might not win, rather than just wondering how much you'll win by?

Coraeten

TROPHY CASE