Wealth is often not earned whilst earnings by definition are. Inheritance could be considered the most egregious from of wealth accumulation as it is not based on merit or effort and entrenches social disparities and inequality.

As a society we tax income far more than wealth. Taxing the wealth of someone who has passed away would seem the most just form of taxation especially if it avoids the lottery of losing all your assets to pay for social care if your unlucky enough to need it.

The fairest way would be to tax wealth and not earnings and as has been mentioned earlier a higher rate of inheritance tax would achieve this in the fairest way possible.

Recently stayed at Ashurst campsite which ticked all the box’s for us!

If my constituency were voting (which it isn’t!) I would be voting Liberal …. and not as a protest vote. I would vote Liberal as they have the best candidate and policies for our area.

This liberal bashing is quite simply pathetic. All parties make mistakes and on balance coalition was a relatively good government. That not to say they didn’t make some howling mistakes. How much are we to blame for squandering the opportunity of AV which would have led to more representative governance?

Politics is polarised at the moment which is just not healthy, it invites a winner takes all attitude (i.e. Brexit). I don’t believe that the Conservatives or Labour are fit to govern at the moment. If anything I am dissapointed that the Liberals have failed to seize the center ground. Many people may have complained that in the past their was little difference between the Tories and Labour; the reality is that this is healthy in a first past the post system. Its a symptom that government is governing for the country and not the narrow interests of their party members!

I really don’t like the political situation where we have a hard left Labour party with an autocratic leader that wishes to turn back the clock to failed socialist politics and a hard right Tory party that want’s to shut our borders and turn back the clock in a different way. Maybe we do need a new party – one that is forward thinking and looking. The only thing is …we would need an electorate brave enough to take a risk.

Is it just me or was JC’s response just totally pathetic?

…sticking my neck out, how much is too much?

14 Government Recommended
21 Old Government Recommended
30 Not recommended but not high risk and relatively normal for regular drinkers.
40 Increasing risk.
50+ High risk you will probably suffer ill health with time?

So ….in a similar position. I’ve been doing Stoptober to give my liver a rest and its mostly working (I have one lapse a week!) ….but its hard.

As others have said just record what you drink …it can be frightening! I use the drinkaware app which is great. Apparently your only allowed 14 units a week which could be one night! I try not to exceed 7 in a night which is a beer and half a bottle of wine.

Overall I’m sleeping better, feel more alert and after a the second week I don’t always feel like a beer/wine at dinner time.

Nanny State is ok as well as this German beer (not becks) that Tesco sell. Non-alcoholic wine … just don’t go there! (Although Tesco/Co-op do do quite a nice non-alcoholic sparkling Muskat).

Keep it up!

Ebay! Done it twice and got a good price both times (one without an MOT!)

🙂

Samwise was getting grumpy at one point being used to always being the first up!

Its a 500w battery. Even with my buggered knee Eco is normally fine for moderate climbs and if I go for sport mode I’m too fast for my riding buddy!

I have rarely used the turbo mode (apart from the prerequisite showing off!)

Replacing ours which is also playing up with an undercounter fridge. More room as you do’t have the recess for the skirting and cheaper too!

You know what Dave wasn’t so bad…

I read this yesterday and it got me thinking..

Linky

despite hating most of what she writes …got a point?

So what kind of terrain can you do with it. We have been on moderately rough tracks with a trailer.

Ta for the advice.

OK so I’ve been cycling with my Son since he was 6 months old and he generally loves it (or sleeps).

I have a relatively value end of the spectrum Weeride Deluxe trailer.

It says that is only suitable for children over 12 months old so we lash in the car seat with some slings, its secure and works a treat. Trailer has a boot too (useful for nappies, milk, toys etc!)

We have done all sorts in the trailer. Relatively long trails like the High Peak Trail and more local rides over bumpy stuff (landrover tracks). I wouldn’t necessarily recommend singletrack or really bumpy stuff as you don’t have the ground clearance or suspension! Also watch for deep puddles (I flooded ours with baby inside!)

We did the Tissington Trail on Sunday and all in all a great day out and 4 hours in the saddle!

Live on the edge of the Peak and have three bikes.

1. Full Suss (Orange 5)
2. Hardtail (On-One 456)
3. Cyclocross (Orange RX9)

I have to say I love them all and they get almost identical usage.

Its probably £5k of bikes in total.

Jonathon – well I’m in the market so send me some details if your keen to get rid.

Great video, Croozer now in pole position!

Got a local firm to install a bespoke wardrobe. Full height (circa 2.8m and 1m deep and full length of wall (4.6m). This included two wardrobes one very tall for the wife’s dresses and a shorter smaller section for me. In between were cubby holes for shoes / clothes and shelving for outdoor gear.

Quotes were approx. £1800 with doors opening outwards and £2500 for full height sliding doors.

We opted for the sliding doors as a bit of thought proved opening doors would have been a right pain.

Expensive yes, but awesome!

There were some other custom features which upped the price but overall it was worth it.

Unfortunately we have moved house now but we really miss the fitted wardrobe.

36 with one on the way, the wife is only 28 though. TBH I was the one pushing as I was worried about bringing up a baby in my 40’s!

Nothing is easy though …Mrs Frodo’s waters broke at 19 weeks and were currently taking one day at a time trying to get to at least 24!

Generally brought up as a conservative believing in a meritocratic system. Have voted conservative, liberal and labour in the past. Still mulling over the next election. There are some real choices this time. Greens – hippies and communists or UKIP – closet racists.

No real change for me then!

After buying some from Superstar that would not stop squealing I’ve given up. Disco brakes are fine though!

One week ago, went down fast and hard.

Lots of blood at the time but that was from superficial injuries. Still got a very painful chest and a dinnner plate size 1″ deep sweelling on my hips filled with Jelly.

Not had it looked at by a Doctor but beggining to think it may be wise?

This is a copy of an email that I have sent to various key people in DCC. Please feel free to use as a basis for future emails if this helps.

I must say as a DCC tax payer I am quite angry at the misuse of the road maintenance budget when I could name many actual roads in need of desperate repair.

Dear Sirs,

I write to you as a concerned Derbyshire Resident regarding the trail resurfacing program currently being undertaken by Derbyshire CC. I have seen a number of ‘repairs’ undertaken on local trails including Stanage Causeway and Wibbly Lane that have destroyed iconic and popular Mountain Bike routes.

Many of the repairs have been incompetently designed and are totally unsympathetic with the previous nature of the trail. I write to you as a Mountain Biker where the surface of the trail is absolutely critical to the technical challenge and enjoyment of riding. Derbyshire and the Peak District are widely seen as one of the best natural areas to ride in the country regularly attracting riders from the surrounding area and further afield such as London and the Home Counties.

This is in part due to the fantastic scenery, rugged terrain and also historical pack horse routes that cut through many of the upland areas.

Despite this Derbyshire CC are undertaking a program of ‘repairs’ that could only be described as wanton ecological vandalism. Rushup Edge is currently undergoing repairs which are totally unnecessary. The current route runs along the exposed Gritstone Bedrock that has been exposed and weathered over the years to form a challenging climb and decent not only for Mountain Bikers but also walkers. This is a safe, durable and popular trail.

This historical track is currently being covered with large boulders as part of an ‘unnecessary’ repair scheme. As not only a historical track but a vitally important section of many classic Mountain Bike routes the repairs will ruin this link make and in previous experience make it more dangerous for cyclists.

This has generated a real anger in the Mountain Biking Community. This anger has been building over the past few years as our voice has simply been ignored by the Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire CC. As a relatively new sport Mountain Biking does not have the historical and influential organisations to lobby for our interests such as the British Mountaineering Council for Climbers and the British Equestrian Federation for Horse riders. We find that often our views are simply ignored.

As you may be aware Peak District MTB was recently established to address this very issue has been consulting with PDNPA and DCC but with little success.

Peak District MTB

Peak District MTB

I am not aware of any consultation that has been forthcoming on the current works.

Whilst I would accept that a national park should seek to make as many of the trails accessible for all this should not be at the cost of destroying historic trails. There are and should be a variety of trails to suit all disciplines and ability. It is the destruction of the key classic mountain bike trails that are of concern as there are limited routes that meet these criteria. If more key trails are lost Mountain Biking as a sport will be severely limited in the Peak District to sanitised family trails. This would be tremendous loss and the reputation as a Mountain Bike destination would be lost.

However it is not just the wanton vandalism that concerns me. I and many others in the local area are outraged that £70k of tax payers money is being used to fund this destruction in a time of austerity where the condition of the local roads would warrant the funding far more.

As a Derbyshire resident I would like an explanation as to why these repairs are necessary and a justification for the type of repairs being undertaken.

Yours Sincerely,

If you get another cat with one already well established there will be a bit of hissing and fighting. Best to introduce slowly and allow each of them their own safe space until they get used to each other.

I’ve done it twice and it always works out in the end.

Two cats are great, just remember slip over the threshold to 3 and its a slippery slope to the crazy cat man/women!!

The 591 looks like it’s in the lead!

Anyone used it with an Orange 5, the geometry isn’t the easisest?

I’m not thinking of second hand as my existing racks are becoming very loose around the rivit connections which is making me nervous.

Ta

The key is not to make additional layers of buraecracy uneccessary. I would see this as an English Parliment made up of powerful regional bodies.

There could be devolution to city regions but the risk in this is the rural regions with specific needs get overlooked.

The first step imho is the creation of an english parliment seperate from Westminster.

We need an English Parliment. If nothing more than to act as a counterbalence to the Welsh, Scottish and NI nationalists and stand up for English matters. Needs to be based outside London to get away from teh London/Westminster bubble – Manchester I would say!

Of course the BBC isn’t impartial. It represents the values of the British people i.e. Democracy = Good. I don’t really see what is wrong with this as it never pretends to be otherwise.

To say that its the mouth piece of Nato is staggeringly ignorant. Go to China (or indeed Russia) and see what the standard of news reporting is like there.

It’s not perfect but its a damm site more reliable than the majority of the worlds other media outlets.

In short …no

It would be horrible, take the hardtail.

So, ive decided I ‘need’ a Cyclocross bike!

The next question is what size frame. Most websites say that for my height 5’7″ to 5’8″ a 54cm frame woudl be about right. Intuitively this seems large (I ride mountain bikes normally). With relativel;y short legs (29″ to 30″ inside leg) is this the right size or would a 52cm be better??

Ta.

Just watched the orange video. The marketing was exceptional. I definitely want one now!

Yes, I definitely would use a cyclecross bike. There are a number of rides that I currently do that are say 50% road that would be great on a faster lighter bike. Currently I use a hardtail for these routes.

There are also loads of great runs that have only a small amount of trail that are not possible with a road bike but hardly worth it on a mountain bike.

Whether I would use it enough to justify the cost is a gamble but one I’m willing to take!

Currently looking at Drossiger CXA3.1 Cyclocross Bike on Merlin Cycles – there are no reviews anywhere on the internet at all for it!

The spec looks good though. My minimum spec would be disc brakes, carbon fork, circa 10kg weight.

Does anyone have one or has seen any reviews?

Just turned the TV off. Fed up of the consistent rude talking over each other. Disappointing really Can’t even hear the valid points made on either side.

Salmond is the worse, can’t believe the sheer arrogance.

celebrating the start of world war one

What tosh – remembering and reflecting would be more appropriate. I don’t remember anyone actually celebrating the anniversary of the great wars.

Your right in one sense wars are horrible events where people get killed. There will always be ‘collateral’ damage and innocents caught in the crossfire. What is different here is Israel’s total disregard for international law.

Does the Israeli state really want to be in the same league as ISIS?

mattsccm – totally agree. Using human shields could also amount to a war crime.

Miserable cyclists = Road cyclists ….simples

I understood the truth about the creation of our country. We did throw the Palestinians out. We did attack them, we did force out civilians from what is now Israel. Then, knowing the reality of it all, I was still glad. I was glad that we had done it, I was glad because the need of us Jews for our country was greater. We needed a state and we took one. The stakes of that war for Israel’s Independence were clear. To the victor would go the spoils. We won, the spoils are ours.

Even if you were to accept this argument (which I do not) the onus must be on the Israel to secure peace, to agree a two state solution and quite frankley to abide by internationla law.

The Israeli state is morally bankrupt.

EBay. I think there is only a £20 list fee so if it doesn’t sell our meet the reserve that’s all you pay. There is also a win fee which makes it more expensive than autotrader but your likely to get more for the car. I sold my 58 plate Passat highline recently for £4556 which was about £300 more than I would have thought listing it in autotrader for!

One thing I would say is be totally honest in the description. It’s an auction so don’t let anybody see the car and unless you add a buy it now price that is met let the auction run to is conclusion.

I made the mistake agreeing to let a bidder see the car. 4 lads turned up with only £2500 in cash wanting to buy the car there and then. Sent them packing.

It’s a bit sad that so few people trust others to work in their home. I’ve always been out due to work commitments. Try to be in and the start of the job and end to ensure they get set up and sort out snagging and payment etc.

Had my plastering done while I was on holiday! Just try to use local honest traders. Never let me down so far.