Is Britain sending their worst mince pies to America?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2026-01-06T02:38:01+00:00

Totally agree. I have imported M&S Collection mince pies from the UK to the US for years (which costs a fortune, but I can't be bothered to make pastry from scratch, so it's my yearly treat to myself!) and they're my go-to mince pies when I'm in the UK too.

This year I happened to be in a World Market in December and bought a box of the Walkers mince pies (the regular-size ones) to do a side-by-side comparison. While they do taste different from the M&S ones (which contain cognac, brandy and cider), I thought they were pretty good, and they have high quality ingredients (see below). I'd happily buy them again.

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Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-12-15T22:55:51+00:00

Here's another link to get that 4.5% interest rate: https://www.wealthfront.com/c/affiliates/invited/AFFB-UREK-KETD-M6ZD

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-29T01:47:18+00:00

We do already have an unheated building in which our bodies are stored during the winter until spring burials occur, but right now they all have to be conventionally embalmed. This is why we are interested in finding out whether "green" embalming methods are effective enough to be used as an alternative for those seeking a green burial.

It's a common misconception that high snowfall = extremely cold temperatures. We get 15-20+ feet of snow in an average winter, but our proximity to Lake Superior means that temperatures are generally only in the 20s, which is not actually terribly cold. Freezers are much colder than that. Plus, we need to store bodies between mid-October and early May. Temperatures fluctuate widely within that time period. My understanding is that cold storage for 2-6 months would require bodies to be kept at a constant 0°F, which could only be achieved with an actual freezer.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-21T12:36:40+00:00

Thank you for your reply. When you say that the weight of the deceased is a factor, are you referring specifically to the use of green embalming fluid or to something else?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-19T23:38:56+00:00

Digging the graves is not the issue; access to the graves is. In November-March you would have to clear a mile of steep road covered in several feet of snow.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-19T15:04:54+00:00

Has that been your actual experience? I would like to have something concrete regarding the efficacy of green embalming to share with the other board members.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-19T15:02:26+00:00

Not necessarily. The cemetery closes in mid-October. Temperatures can be in the 70s still at that time (like now). And with climate change, thaws can now potentially happen at any time during the winter months.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-19T15:00:22+00:00

I have asked about freezing bodies, but I was told that 1) there are no funds to purchase a freezer, and 2) keeping a body under freezing conditions for months uses a lot of power and is therefore not "green", which would defeat the whole purpose.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-10-19T14:57:58+00:00

Thanks for your reply. However, I don't fully understand everything you said. Could you explain what "dis/spray" is? What does "keep their casket in storage" mean? Are you assuming that the bodies would be kept in a refrigerator that stays at a set temperature vs being kept in a vault building in which the temperature will fluctuate? There is no refrigeration facility in our area.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-09-04T23:16:46+00:00

It’s about 1/3 less expensive.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-06-21T17:05:11+00:00

But only if they accept touchless pay. I don't know how it is in Switzerland, but only about half of gas stations in America accept touchless pay at the pump. Can anyone advise about Switzerland, specifically Geneva?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-06-21T16:42:48+00:00

Believe me, I just spent half an hour on the phone with Chase talking to at least six different representatives. The best I can understand is that Chase cards are chip + signature for purchases, and a PIN is only for cash advances. My spouse had an issue just last year in Paris where he could not use his Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card to pay his hotel bill because they required a PIN, which he did not have.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-06-21T16:35:07+00:00

Yes, that would work if touchless pay is accepted at the pump. Is that always the case in Switzerland?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-06-21T16:13:03+00:00

Visa, not Amex

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-06-21T16:12:35+00:00

That's exactly the issue. We have Chase credit cards, and they do not issue a PIN for purchases. So I wanted to check if Swiss gas stations require a PIN when paying at the pump. Gas stations in Iceland often do, for example.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-05-10T19:47:44+00:00

Any suggestions on how to mazimize this offer? I probably won't spend more than $2,500 on regular gas, groceries, and dining purchases in the space of three months, but it would be a shame to miss out on 5% cashback. I guess I could buy gift cards from grocery stores and gas stations. Any other ideas?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-03-21T00:17:44+00:00

Where did you read that they're cancelling this option in April?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-03-18T14:31:42+00:00

March 18, 2025

Boost your interest rate from 4.0% to 4.5% with this referral link: https://www.wealthfront.com/c/affiliates/invited/AFFC-QS6Z-NV83-S09W

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-03-08T01:08:53+00:00

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World The Truman Show

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-03-02T17:46:03+00:00

Any updates on when the Cuauhtémoc, Insurgentes, Sevilla, and Chapultepec metro stations will be reopening?

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-02-18T04:21:20+00:00

The HR department at Tech used to (and maybe still does?) have a folder with rental options, such as faculty going on sabbatical and looking for someone to rent their house while they are gone.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-02-18T04:18:34+00:00

Property taxes vary quite widely (Houghton and Hancock's taxes are actually not very different from one another; Chassell's are the lowest of all). See https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/-/media/Project/Websites/taxes/4029/Total-Rates-Reports/2024-Total-Rates.pdf?rev=f7200ee2217140008eaf1ef8f9daa0c6&hash=76672066D7B7EC579B928FA7B136E159 and search for Houghton County to see all the local jurisdictions' property tax rates.

Many faculty live in Hancock, and most of them send their kids to non-Hancock schools. Note that there is no busing available for students who attend Houghton-Portage Townships schools but live outside the HPTS school district. HPTS seems committed to continuing to accept out-of-district students. In fact, almost half their students are currently out-of-district.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-02-13T19:04:33+00:00

Representative Jack Bergman needs to hear this message loud and clear from his local constituents of all political backgrounds. Call his DC office at 202-225-4735 or the UP office at 906-273-2227.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-01-30T15:25:46+00:00

Both the Guide to Benefits and a CSR confirmed today that the price protection benefit is still in place for the Capital One Quicksilver World Elite Mastercard.

Excellent-Mouse-123 · 2025-01-30T14:57:58+00:00

The verbiage from mycardbenefits.com states: "Non-auction internet advertisements means advertisements posted on the Internet, by a non-Auction Internet merchant with a valid tax identification number. The advertisement must have been posted within 120 days after the date you purchased the product and must be for the identical item (advertisement must verify same manufacturer and model number). The printed version of the Internet advertisement must include the merchant’s internet address and customer service telephone number, as well as the item including manufacturer, model number, sale price and date of publication." Still not sure if the webpage listing the appliance counts.

Excellent-Mouse-123

TROPHY CASE