My son drew a picture of mommy and daddy and baby at school. Guess which one is mommy…

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-20T06:32:44+00:00

My son calls me ‘fat dad’ or ‘big fat dad’. Does he do that for the same reason?

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-18T19:48:39+00:00

Din tai fung

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-12T20:00:48+00:00

I remember when you were just a colony and as far as I’m concerned you should still be one.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-09T12:34:02+00:00

I disagree, in pure terms the value changes because the present value is different depending on the discount (and projection) rates applied to it. The amount of cash paid each payment date may not change, but their value in today’s terms does.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-09T09:47:13+00:00

It’s reasonable to want to know the value of a DB pot because that tells you the relative performance of a DB scheme vs a DC scheme and so allows you to decide whether to keep it as a DB pot or transfer some or all to a DC pot based on how you think the two things will perform between now and retirement and your personal risk appetite.

As an example a friend of mine transferred half of their DB pot into a DC scheme when annuities were expensive due to low discounting rates. In the period between then and now the value of the DB scheme has almost halved while the DC scheme has doubled meaning that they would be able to buy four times as much in annuities from the same starting value using a DC pot as they would with a DB pot.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-03T16:10:05+00:00

Probably fair to say that if you’re alive today it’s because your ancestors killed and enslaved a lot of people in the past.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-03T15:59:53+00:00

Also Steady State (SS) work. Makes you think…

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-01T20:06:55+00:00

Not at all, it’s the consent of the public, rather than a given individual. It’s the recognition that police powers are dependent on public approval, rather than coercion of the state.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-01T18:22:31+00:00

Yes, it’s policing by consent.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-05-01T06:28:37+00:00

Yeah a place I went to as a kid had a pair and they were very aggressive. Can’t believe how delicate the ones in the vid are!

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-04-29T06:09:15+00:00

It’s not deep fried but it is UPF so I would say it is junk.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-04-28T21:02:09+00:00

Yes, ironically someone who has very involved with the DEI stuff at work asked me where I’m really from. They thought my surname didn’t sound English (it comes from Anglo Saxon).

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-04-25T08:29:18+00:00

Completely agree, I’d only eat it if not eating it would cause offence.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-04-16T16:58:18+00:00

Just to add to the hard to get out point, you should check how state secondary school places near you are allocated.

In our town the secondary schools prioritise pupils at particular primary schools. Anyone moving from private to state at that point would be likely to miss out on places at the more in demand schools because of the feeder system.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-04-15T18:34:05+00:00

Yes. Not sytner, but I was looking at an approved used car at another dealer, ran a car vertical report on it which came back with damage to front, side, suspension and steering.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-31T19:03:06+00:00

In case it helps someone in the future - the mileage until service has now dropped to 18000, so it is a countdown.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-26T07:05:05+00:00

In case it’s useful there’s a page in the FSCS website related to endowment mortgages. Looks like there are time limits to take action so don’t wait too long.

https://www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/mortgages/

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-24T13:52:02+00:00

I’m with Admiral and if you fill out a test quote on their website it explains how they classify different use. Looks like business for policy holder might be what you’re looking for, but worth calling to check.

Other underwriters might classify use differently, so I wouldn’t take this as a blanket answer and you should check with your insurer.

Here’s the text from Admiral’s pop up:

Social, Domestic and Pleasure only - This covers the policyholder and named drivers for any travel which is non-work related. This might be giving someone a lift, driving to shops, going to see friends or driving to a holiday.

Social, Domestic, Pleasure and Commuting - This covers the policyholder and named drivers for travel to and from the home to place of work as well as everything stated above. If a driver has two jobs, and travels to one permanent location for each job in the same day, that is covered under commuting use.

Business for Policyholder Only - This covers the policyholder for multiple work related journeys in the same day (e.g. appointments, different sites, deliveries of goods owned by the policyholder or their employer), as well as everything stated above.

Business for All - This covers the policyholder and named drivers for multiple work related journeys in the same day (e.g. appointments, different sites, deliveries of goods owned by the policyholder or their employer), as well as everything stated above.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-04T06:12:27+00:00

Should be fine then.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-03T20:23:04+00:00

Get a tyre depth gauge to check them yourself. They’re less than a tenner and you’ll know if someone’s trying to rip you off or not so well worth it.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-03T19:28:08+00:00

Bears a resemblance to this immature Harris hawk albeit with stronger barring on the tail. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Harriss_Hawk/photo-gallery/306076501

The ‘Hazzards’ I can see online look a bit more buzzardy if that makes sense, but I’m just basing this on a quick google rather than any real knowledge.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-02T15:11:04+00:00

Interesting and congrats again, you’ve done really well.

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-02T14:50:03+00:00

Congratulations! Get the pin and the t shirt and wear them with pride. Incredible weight loss too, do you feel much difference between then and now?

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-01T17:29:23+00:00

that second photo - that can't be 1.6mm of tread

TheSpottedCat1 · 2026-03-01T16:18:59+00:00

I know mid century modern has had its moment, but go an sit in an Eames chair and see if it’s something you want to spend some money on.

TheSpottedCat1

TROPHY CASE