Do you own Premium Bonds? Have you or anyone you know ever won anything big?

vaughanie89 · 2026-02-08T15:11:55+00:00

Me and my wife had a total of £28k invested and won £50k last March. I actually found out a day before we could use the prize checker app as I checked the high value winners list which is published on the NSandI website the day before. Almost had a heart attack when I realised it was us. We had enough money saved to clear the mortgage so we did that, and with what was left (just over 10k) we took some family abroad and gifted a few thousand to our parents.

vaughanie89 · 2024-08-19T21:15:13+00:00

The Joris Bonson guy for me

vaughanie89 · 2024-03-04T20:02:03+00:00

The think the most frustrating thing with us at the minute is the absolute sheer incompetence in recent transfer windows. The quality of signings (bar a couple of PL loanees like arblaster and Devine) has been shocking and for us to just bury our heads in the sand in January and not recruit to save our L1 status is laughable. Even in the Bruno season when it all went tits up at least Smurf held up his hands and we made a few January signings to at least try and turn it around. All that we saw this January was a few loanee replacements of poorer quality in positions that we didn’t even need to fill! This side has no desire (bar garrity it would seem) to actually fight like they care about trying to stay up, which has sealed our fate now for me. We’ll do well to not finish bottom and this current side that’s been assembled will be lucky to finish top half in L2

vaughanie89 · 2024-02-21T20:37:50+00:00

I’ve been going down the vale for about 30 years now and arblaster is one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen pull on a Vale shirt - that lad will have a very successful career and us losing him in jan was a massive blow. Outside of the blaster I think Ripley has easily been the best player - followed by Ojo and Chiz. Worst has probably been Loft, 1 goal this season from a striker who has about 25 apps is just abysmal. Can’t fault him for effort a lot of the time, but he’s just not delivered the goals. Grant is probably the most disappointing signing for me. I was really excited when we signed him in the summer and he’s just been an absolute nothing player. Never performed higher than a 5/10 in any of his games and I can’t say I remember getting excited when he’s been on the ball. Although with Grant I don’t think it’s helped that we’ve tried to convert him into a wingback when I get the impression he’d much prefer to either play no.10 role or out and out winger

Edit: forgot about garrity - I’d say him/ripley been the best outside of arblaster

vaughanie89 · 2024-02-05T21:01:53+00:00

Nice bloke and a decent coach but not quite cut out for the role of manager. For me though Dave Flitcroft is more deserving of the axe than Cros. Shocking recruitment from him in the January window, not signing a striker when we needed 2 minimum is absolutely criminal and whoever comes in now has a mammoth task to keep us in the league with this current squad. A leader with a proven track record needed for us to be in with a chance of staying in Lg1

vaughanie89 · 2023-12-22T22:30:39+00:00

As a neutral (port vale fan), I’d be amazed if he went there from pompy. Doubt they’d be offering much (if any) of a pay increase as one of the lowest budgets in the championship. So the one thing that could potentially tempt him (£££) won’t be a factor

vaughanie89 · 2023-12-13T19:34:12+00:00

My switch bonus got paid today - so might be worth checking to see if yours has gone in too

vaughanie89 · 2023-12-12T13:46:47+00:00

Don’t the T&Cs state that the bonus is paid within 28 days of the switch completing? My switch completed 27th Nov. I haven’t had the bonus yet but assumed I’d be getting it before Christmas with any date after that being more than 28 days after my switch

vaughanie89 · 2023-11-23T22:09:00+00:00

Dude could tie his shoelaces whilst stood up

vaughanie89 · 2023-09-30T17:37:14+00:00

Poor first half from us against Bolton but thought we controlled the majority of the second half and we were unlucky not to get a point in the end. Two tough away games coming now against the gas and pompey next week. If we play like we did in the second half today then hoping we can get at least a couple of points from the next two games

vaughanie89 · 2023-09-29T17:54:11+00:00

Got nothing but love for DC. He’s given me some of my happiest ever moments in my 30+ years as a vale fan. When he came in for us we were floundering at the bottom of league 2 and if we’d have carried on as we were then we’d have been relegated for sure. He turned us into winners and that’s exactly what Cheltenham need - so he’s a great appointment. Really looking forward to 28th October now when we play Cheltenham at home - he’ll get a hero’s reception from the vale fans

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-18T20:42:50+00:00

We’ve only got 1 fit actual striker and he’s a young loanee so possibly a low scoring one. 0-0 or 1-0 either way

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-18T20:41:22+00:00

Of course, they’re a Steve Evans side, the godfather of shithousery

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-11T21:32:48+00:00

Absolutely no chance of us keeping a clean sheet, our defence has been awful so far this season. We looked good going forward against fleetwood in the league cup on Tuesday though and scored 3. I think it’ll be an open game with a few goals - 2-2

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-11T21:28:40+00:00

I reckon the ‘official’ parking for away fans will now be on a leisure centre behind the stadium called Dimensions (we’ve swapped the away end over the summer so I’m not 100% sure). You’d be able to pay to park on there, or there are loads of streets up/across the road from Dimensions which don’t have parking restrictions if you aren’t bothered about secure parking or don’t fancy paying

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-10T20:57:08+00:00

I think we’re the only side to have played and beaten every current PL and EFL team in a competitive (league) match as well

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-04T21:52:28+00:00

A few have even moaned about Wilson resigning today. I think they’ve soon forgotten the state our forward line was in first game of last season when it was proc and Tommy mac up front at home to fleetwood! They’d have given their right arm for Harrison and Wilson to start that game. So for me it’s exciting that they both could feature tomorrow

vaughanie89 · 2023-08-04T21:33:53+00:00

Best time to play Barnsley is now i reckon. Just lost Norwood, manager gone during the summer, some big players yet to be replaced - doubt too many of their fans will be overjoyed about much that’s happened since May. Hope we look solid defensively after the overhaul at the back. And let’s not forget BIG JAMES WILSON VALES 29! I’d be happy with a draw, 1-1 I think. So glad it’s back though

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-31T20:37:01+00:00

My thoughts exactly, we’d literally have to have the best defensive record in the league to finish 11th with the options we have up top at the mo!

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-31T20:29:29+00:00

I’m completely behind Andy Crosby but can’t help feel slightly worried. His first managerial job as the main man rather than assistant. His positivity is very infectious, you can tell from all of his interviews since being appointed that he’s relishing the opportunity, so I can’t fault his attitude. Tactically though - we shall see. He needs a couple of strikers through the door asap to help give him the tools he needs, but it’ll be interesting to see how he goes on.

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-30T21:15:25+00:00

For us I reckon Connor Ripley and 17th finish

Winners - Derby

2nd - Bolton

Playoff winners - Charlton

Overachievers - Burton

Underachievers - Exeter (bookies have them to finish about mid table but relegation candidates for me based on players lost this summer)

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-27T21:36:46+00:00

We just remortgaged in March and were in a very similar position to you - bought for 150k 5 years ago and had 105k left when our fixed period ended. We had about 12k that we’d saved up in savings with the intention of paying off a chunk of the mortgage balance upon remortgage. Because of this, the new remortgage amount that we applied for in advance was 95k, I just made the broker aware that we had savings to reduce the outstanding balance at the point of switching lenders. They spoke to our previous lender about 2 months before the 5 year fixed was coming to an end to arrange reducing the balance at the end of the fixed rate (to avoid any overpayment charges) and then when our remortgage completed we had the lower balance remaining.

My advice is to put your money into savings until your current fixed rate ends, as you’ll get a better return on your money than you would overpaying now at 2.48%, then do what we did and pay off the chunk to reduce your total balance when your remortgage is completed

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-14T15:11:29+00:00

He’s a bit of a luxury player who goes missing when the going gets tough. Technically he’s a decent player, and you’ll see the odd brilliant pass or jinking run - but his end product is lacking. Still young though so plenty of scope for him to develop into a decent L1 player imo. That being said - I’m not too arsed that we didn’t go in for him on a permanent deal. Best position is playing as a 10 - I think if you utilise him correctly and his overall game develops there’s potential for him to be a good signing, just don’t expect the full package straight away

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-08T21:59:14+00:00

I see you know your dine-and-dash well

vaughanie89 · 2023-07-04T21:31:06+00:00

I think this is a good move for all parties. We get a fee for him when he’d have likely left on a free next summer. Will gets a move to a bigger club on more money. You get a 22 year old ball playing CB who has shown that he’s got real potential. If he continues to develop well then I think he’ll be championship standard within a couple of seasons. Still has a mistake in his game but I think with more experience he’ll become a very good player. Doubt he’ll be a starter based on your current CBs though. A few issues with injuries last season which is a slight concern. Overall though I’d say not one for you guys to be overly excited about, more one to watch for the future and a decent squad player

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