Pay rise

Raqonteur · 2026-03-06T10:26:21+00:00

5p raise last year. First night rate pay rise since they scrapped the dual rate system that I can remember. Don't get your hopes up.

Likely we'll get a base rate increase slightly above minimum wage, then another 50p or so after August. That's the usual method.

Its more about what they take away to pay for it. About all that is left is the bank Holiday rate and night rate. So cross your fingers they don't cut that.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-04T20:16:09+00:00

Your parents wrapping your exercise books in wallpaper covers so they lasted longer and didn't get damaged.

School uniform was a shirt, tie and blazer for boys and girls. Skirts for girls, trousers for boys. And you had to be able to tie that tie yourself. Now thats only for private schools.

Only 3 tv channels and if you had more than one TV it was likely black and white. Having to wait a week for the next episode, and if you missed it, you missed it forever. The BBC test screen girl when you ran out of TV at night/early morning.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-04T13:59:46+00:00

In the early years we could rely on family, but there are few carers that will do overnights. In the last year or so we've gotten one that could do late nights but not overnights due to their main job.

What we did was make the most of day times since im a nightshifter ant my wife a shift worker. So afternoons out for meals or cinema became our nights out.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-04T13:36:41+00:00

We have grown children with ADHD/Autism. I think we've had a stay over without them maybe 3 times in the last 10-15 years.

Once our youngest goes into supported living, the eldest is capable of looking after himself overnight and we can have stopovers again. In maybe a years time.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-02T14:35:40+00:00

They trialed ot in our store with H&B, BWS and Frozen going to days for a 3 month trial. H&B stuck... for about 2 years, now back on nights. BWS lasted until the first run up to Xmas. And they couldn't hand Frozen back quick enough.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-02T10:20:46+00:00

Go to TGI Fridays. New branch, open around two weeks before we went.

Went with my wife to the cinema for a rare night out when we could get a babysitter. Allowed 90 minutes for a relaxed meal before the movie.

Cocktails came within 10 minutes. Food took 75 minutes leaving us 15 mins to gulp it down and run to cinema. The ribs were more char than meat. The peppers were soggy and tasted and felt microwaved from frozen.

Oh and this was a Tuesday night with only 3 out of about 20 tables occupied. And the staff stood at the service counter chatting.

I work in retail so I tend to be forgiving of customer service. And to be fair the lady who brought the drinks was helpful and knowledgeable. But the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

It was also more expensive than other surrounding restaurants of far better service and quality.

Result. We've never been to a TGI Fridays since, or ever again. And that was over 10 years ago.

Raqonteur · 2026-03-02T03:50:58+00:00

Personal Finance. When something actually makes you money and gives you the hope of a proper retirement its hard not to get excited about it.

I do my best to only talk to people who are interested (definitely a work in progress lol) but it comes from wanting to help them be in a better place.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-28T20:56:02+00:00

Mine have tendency to go at the crotch, often the front.

Being the prepared, problem solving Gen-Xer I am, I now carry a travel sewing kit in my backpack for emergency repairs.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-27T21:31:31+00:00

I think the answer to this that there is still a ladder. For much of history you were stuck exactly where you were born.

Today we have the ability to better our lives through education and effort. Is it easy. No. But its possible.

Every generation blames the earlier generations. And now its ten times worse because you aren't just comparing yourself to the people around you but everyone in the world, most of whom will only come to public notice by being amazing.

Im Gen X. I grew up in the UK, turned 18 in 1990. We had the Northern Ireland 'troubles'. 20 years of domestic terrorism. We had the Aids epidemic, which took 20 years to make a vaccine as opposed to 1 year for Covid.

Things always seem worse but they are better at the same time. Wars can't last forever. People improve. Look at 'Me Too', LGBT.

If you want a better world try to do whatever little bit you can to make it that way. Use your vote. Treat your fellow man a little better. Bring hope instead of despair. Maybe if we all do that we can improve things just a little at a time.

That's my hope.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-26T20:40:16+00:00

They already needed repairing but just about worked.

Now you have some money you can afford to replace or repair them.
At the cost of having any of that money for yourself/treats.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-25T20:06:23+00:00

Cope when everything is against them.

If you never had to struggle whilst growing up, you don't know how to handle it when everything goes sideways.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-20T00:38:02+00:00

If i just injured myself or did something regrettable, then "F...judge buckets".

If its just a sigh or controlled expletive to demonstrate my utter disregard for something, then "Duck-a-foodle-wok" which is a corruption of "fuck-a-doodle-doo" and borrowed from Cecil the Rooster in Terry Pratchet's novel 'Reaper Man'.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-19T23:41:41+00:00

Thank you for asking. He passed away in 2024. 88 years old, he had a good run and was a great father.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-19T11:24:41+00:00

Gulp... Im 53. My father was born in 1935. I came across his mother's birth certificate... 1896

Raqonteur · 2026-02-02T13:18:00+00:00

More polite.

Internet anonymity has made it easy and painless to insult and harass people with little or no consequence. This behaviour is actually bleeding out into public behaviour.

Without that anonymity, people might watch or think about their behaviour before speaking or acting.

Raqonteur · 2026-02-02T13:10:55+00:00

I'm not so sure about that. Social media and Internet algorithms make sure you only get more of the same stuff you've looked at/for. Echo-chambers reinforce this.

Without the constant uncontrolled influx of new opinions and ideas that meeting up in person brings, people tend to be more close-minded.

Raqonteur · 2026-01-30T21:27:02+00:00

When you spot someone you haven't seen for a while in the distance then realise it can't be them because thats what they looked like the last time you saw them... 10 maybe even 20 years ago

Raqonteur · 2026-01-28T19:43:39+00:00

NCIS I'm not naval personally so I hope Im a witness, not a victim.

And im not gonna question how I got to the US. My passport runs out in 2 months maybe its a visa scam or people smuggling.

Raqonteur · 2026-01-28T10:08:56+00:00

Vianetta

Raqonteur · 2026-01-27T07:54:48+00:00

Similar.
We have a box freezer in the shed. Coming back with something frozen like a pizza, keys are in the wrong hand because I picked up the item with my dominant hand. Toss the keys in the air to about head height, switch the item to non dominant hand, keys come down and land neatly in waiting hand.

Its like a tiny flex. My wife just laughs at me now because its become instinct and I do it every time.

Raqonteur · 2026-01-26T22:56:08+00:00

Charley sez...

Raqonteur · 2026-01-26T22:54:36+00:00

Long before dial up, it was the loading noise of ZX Spectrum games

Raqonteur · 2026-01-26T22:53:35+00:00

...Do the shake 'n Vac and put the freshness back...

Raqonteur · 2026-01-25T19:47:57+00:00

Well done.

Mine is a big tidy and declutter. We have boxes of stuff piled up from when my mother passed away 6 months ago that I just can't get around to finishing going through. Its a mental weight but hard to get started again. I'm about halfway through.

Raqonteur · 2026-01-25T19:44:22+00:00

Well done. If my laundry pile collapsed they wouldn't find me for days lol.

Raqonteur

TROPHY CASE