You can never have enough...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

The reality is taxes are not specifically put towards super. It is not a pension scheme. Funds are allocated from general taxation, so my lovely husband who paid huge taxes because he had that kind of work never got to benefit from them. But I did. So this contribution argument is total rubbish.

Super is a benefit like all the others. Sure, some of us worked all our lives and others just raised kids to do that in the future, or were limited in their opportunities to earn big money for various reasons. All contributed. No one in this society gets away without doing so. We each have a role, we each contribute.

Some of us were able to provide for our old age without help. We were blessed to have that privilege. Others faced different challenges and are forced to rely on help. They are blessed to be able to access that help.

When I hear people proudly pronounce they use the Winter Energy Payment for beer money, my eyebrows go up, because I know people who use it to buy firewood, and when that runs out they just go to bed early on a Winter evening. To stay warm.

Need is a variable feast it seems, one man's need is not like anothers. But really, we are the luckiest people on the planet. About time we were grateful don't you think?

Sorry. Rant over...

[Lilith7]

The reality is taxes are not specifically put towards super. It is not a pension scheme. Funds are allocated from general taxation, so my lovely husband who paid huge taxes because he had that kind of work never got to benefit from them. But I did. So this contribution argument is total rubbish.

Super is a benefit like all the others. Sure, some of us worked all our lives and others just raised kids to do that in the future, or were limited in their opportunities to earn big money for various reasons. All contributed. No one in this society gets away without doing so. We each have a role, we each contribute.

Some of us were able to provide for our old age without help. We were blessed to have that privilege. Others faced different challenges and are forced to rely on help. They are blessed to be able to access that help.

When I hear people proudly pronounce they use the Winter Energy Payment for beer money, my eyebrows go up, because I know people who use it to buy firewood, and when that runs out they just go to bed early on a Winter evening. To stay warm.

Need is a variable feast it seems, one man's need is not like anothers. But really, we are the luckiest people on the planet. About time we were grateful don't you think?

Sorry. Rant over...

NO need to apologise; the rant was deserved. As well as right.

[Olive]

The reality is taxes are not specifically put towards super. It is not a pension scheme. Funds are allocated from general taxation, so my lovely husband who paid huge taxes because he had that kind of work never got to benefit from them. But I did. So this contribution argument is total rubbish.

Super is a benefit like all the others. Sure, some of us worked all our lives and others just raised kids to do that in the future, or were limited in their opportunities to earn big money for various reasons. All contributed. No one in this society gets away without doing so. We each have a role, we each contribute.

Some of us were able to provide for our old age without help. We were blessed to have that privilege. Others faced different challenges and are forced to rely on help. They are blessed to be able to access that help.

When I hear people proudly pronounce they use the Winter Energy Payment for beer money, my eyebrows go up, because I know people who use it to buy firewood, and when that runs out they just go to bed early on a Winter evening. To stay warm.

Need is a variable feast it seems, one man's need is not like anothers. But really, we are the luckiest people on the planet. About time we were grateful don't you think?

Sorry. Rant over...

Another excellent rant.   Thank you, it needs to be said again and again because so many  people just don't get it, and many others find it politically convenient to not get it.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies   A gorgeous autum day on the cards here, I must turn the hose onto the garden today.  Omg it was cold last night!  We had the duvet on for the first time since the beginning of summer.  And MrK has 'officially' reset the heat pump to warm and the the ceiling fan to spin in the opposite direction to push the warmth down.

A lively, spirited debate about pensions going on here!  It's great we have differences, it would be a boring world if we didn't.  I for one, am very grateful for the winter energy payment and use it for what it was intended for.  We pay our power bill fortnightly and top it up to clear it when the bill comes in.  I increase that fortnightly payment by the amount of the winter energy payment and it makes a huge difference.  And now the low user 'discounts' are being discontinued, our power bill be up even more.  No wonder we looked around for a cheaper company.

Yesterday I gave my body a damed good workout in the garden.  MrK put the old corn husker onto a new post and it's now in it's permanent position.  The last spot it was in was supposed to be temporary but 10 years later... lol.  Anyhoo, I dug some more holes and and am using the old post as well as some old totara fence post as tall as me to support the bossy dahlias.  They look like totem poles lol but with the dahlias growing so tall, they needed something solid to support them.  And now I have a 'new' garden to play around with I can spread plants out more.  I'm going to  shuffle things around to see what space I really have.  Two more posts to put in today and a couple of smallish plants to move and some annuals to pull out.

The Furry One 'did his business' yesterday so we are hoping *crosses fingers* everything is OK.  He seems happy enough and was happy to hunt out a rat in the shed under the rainwater water tank yesterday.  Now I know where the buggar is camping I can set bait safely in there.  The only way the Furry One can get in there is if we open the door.

Time to get cranked up, loads to do today

happy crafting

[Roma]

Good morning. 

Brrrr, harder to get out of bed this morning but a nice day in store.

After having a fireplace and free firewood (that we had to chop up) we also greatly appreciate the winter supplement as we now run a heat pump. The pension helps us to cope with the cost of living.

Glad the 'furry one' back to normal ... nothing like rodents to keep a JR motivated!

Not sure what's in store today.  The baking never got done yesterday,  so still on the cards. A spot of weeding wouldn't go astray! Oh yes, a flu jab later ... must remember that appt.

Have a good day.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I had a delightful day yesterday, sorting out costings and advice on exterior plywood for a bit of a platform I want to build to let my scooter sit on a level surface. Nothing like requesting the counsel of experience wood supply men of a certain age, lol, they do enjoy helping a lady out! Then I found a wonderfully kind younger male of the species in the local bike hire shop who was willing to not only pump up my rear tyres but checked and did the front ones as well, the ride home was somewhat different to the trip down to the village because of his efforts. I shall take him an Easter egg next week to keep him sweet for future needs!

And I got my flu jab and had a lovely conversation with the nurse, seems she lives on my scooting route and has seen me several times over the past few months and we discovered several things in common - including the widow's appreciation of kind and sweet menfolk! (They do have a certain charm among those of us without the joys of one of those at home!!) So I came home with a grin on my face, a good sprig of pineapple sage for my garden, and a library book I have been waiting for for weeks.

Oh, and two packs of chocolate gingernut fingers. I know, a burst of weakness hit me in the biscuit aisle but I will be good next week, I promise.

Life is good and not just because of that lovely nip in the air...

[Mica]

Morning all,
Nippy outside this morning not sure what's instore for today.

Glad the furry one obliged and normal transmission has resumed. Saw a small rat run across our lawn and disappear into to native grasses. Took the terriers down and they tracked it through the grasses and on in to the drain. 

No sewing yesterday volunteer morning and spent the afternoon having 1.5 hour diagnostic testing. Did finish neck bands on cardi so will press today and sew the buttons on tonight. Binding done on quilt too. Small stuff. DD asked for some knitted socks for DGD so that will be the next thing on my agenda.

OHH hope the installations go without any hitches today

Popeye to add photo I have file on my computer and use the new attachment link that sits above the post clicky links.

Coffee done off to hunt food 

Have a good day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Yes a tad chilly this morning.. I love winter but I know Ill be wrapping up a bit more this year. And yes thank goodness for the energy payment. Ill be able to use the heater a little..

It amazes me that this house doesnt have a fire or heat pump. Its a family sized home . I can only assume it was built to be a rental and the owners just didnt want the added expense.

Glad the Furry one has "been" Kiwimade...

Im taking the picture up to MrP this morning.. He has no idea, I think its going to be emotional.

I missed painting yesterday.

I ended up nipping up to do my shopping as New world had the cheap butter and cheese. Surprising how knowing I have butter in the freezer gives me a massive contented feeling lol.

Im going to finally list some ribbons on TM later... I have to go up to see the cardiologist at the end of the month and will need extra petrol. Im hoping that Gull will have a discount day next week for Easter.

Have a fab day everyone

[Lilith7]

Good to hear that the furry one is back to normal

There are a couple of spuds coming up out there, must remember to go out & hill them up - maybe they'll survive, maybe they won't. It was really cold here last night & this morning, even the dog was none too keen on being out there this morning - a couple of throws of her ball & she'd had enough for today.

Have a had a busy morning & went to Postie plus on a scouting mission to see if I could find anything for great granddaughter's birthday next month; nothing exactly right so will need to look further afield at some point. but I did come out with a new long sleeves top to replace one which is getting beyond wearable so not entirely wasted time.
Coming back, the puppy on the corner spotted me & rushed over to the corner of the fence, waiting for a pat so had to get off the bike & do that, & later when taking dog for her walk, we saw puppy again & stopped so they could say hello.

I sometimes suspect that the dog's interest might just have bit to do with being told she's a good dog & being given a biscuit after being nice to the puppy.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Well, the fans are in at last. The rangehood is so noisy I can't see me using it very often. I doubt the housing is insulated at all, it is certainly a lot noisier than the ones I have had before. Forewarned by that racket I haven't dared to try the bathroom one yet! But the healthy homes box is now ticked and the budget version will suit the bottom line if not the actual users!

I'll bet both of them suck power too...

[Praktica]

We had a rangehood put in our place when our kitchen was replaced as part of the flood repairs, a few years ago. I used to sell kitchen appliances, so I got a hood with plenty of power - you want to shift that moist air. Plenty of power = noisy!

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Parmco....

[Praktica]

Mine is a Parmco - a 1000 cubic metre per hour job, on the highest speed.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

RCAN - 6W 1000L in white that makes my ancient cream kitchen walls and fittings look positively filthy, lol...

I may have to sugar soap and repaint just to keep up!

[Lilith7]

RCAN - 6W 1000L in white that makes my ancient cream kitchen walls and fittings look positively filthy, lol...

I may have to sugar soap and repaint just to keep up!

  You could always paint a  'Muriel' on your walls....

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies A fine day here again Have a look at the RAF site this morning (sorry, no link) as they are doing a fly over the north island today to celebrate their 85th birthday. A spitfire will be one of the planes and they may be flying over you. It would be something to see and hear them, that's for sure. And it looks like it's going to be perfect weather here for it too.

lol OHH, isn't that the way. That's the trouble with having new things lol, the rest of the paintwork looks shabby inspiring you to keep going with the paint. I have one bedroom (ours) left to paint in our home and ommggg you can see the difference in the white ceiling and door frames. Enjoy your extractor, it was a long time coming. There are lots of really 'good guys' out there happy to help out, including younger men. An Easter egg would be appreciated too. My sister 'has a man' who helps out with stuff she can't (or won't) do. He's my husband lol so I know he's a good one

Another 'totem' pole is in for the dahlias, two to go. Thought I had only one left to do but turns out I can't count lol. The garden is going to look interesting over winter with these fence posts sticking out lol. I've dug out some lillies that were trying to take over while I had the spade in my hands.

The Furry One looked at his breakfast this morning and I got a grunt, as if he was saying, where's my special food from the vet? lol.. I don't think so mate, not at $6.40 a can! Back to your raw diet. Hunger won though lol.

I didn't get the lawn mowed yesterday so hi ho, hi ho, it's off to mow I go. It won't take long and the empty (ish) compost bin will love the clippings.

Will put some time aside to work on the falcon. I need to unpick above the eye so am procrastinating.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all
Fine day here

 furry one his idea of gourmet dining  

Pleasant quiet day yesterday food shop, and did get to sewing cave. Pulled out red merino ribbed fabric cut out my tried and true(TNT) cardi. Whizzed it up too big Brain fog didn't allow for the stretch in  the rib so it has beenlabelled and added to the charity sew pile.
I will look for inspiration this afternoon. Probably make some more long sleeved tops for DGD.

Knitted a sock last night I think it might be too big so need to get that tried on before I proceed. Used a lovely hot pink merino 4 ply wool.

Coffee finished and washing machine is playing her tune

Have a good day

[Oh_hunnihunni]

These too bigs make me smile. My best friend for years was a tiny woman and a fiend for any craft with yarn. She was a master weaver and so very talented. She loved knitting socks but often made them slightly too big  by accident- so she said - and they ended up in my sock bag much to my delight. For a long time now arthritis has made putting on socks difficult for me but I discovered handknitted ones were easier, because I could use the rug as an extra hand grip and slide my foot into that lovely soft warmth! So I have a collection of delightfully mad coloured socks that remind me of her kindness to cuff over my new ankle boots and show off. Winter has some great side benefits!

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Going to be a stunner here today.

The bed is stripped and the machine is doing its thang !! lol...

MIssy has just came up from the garage and is sitting by the ranch slider, cooling down from being by the garage door I expect cos it gets sooo hot.

I took the picture up to MrP.. No tears but glassy eyes. He loved it. And forgave me for lying to him lol.. and then gently told me off for making my shoulder hurt .

The rangehood here make a massive sound. I do use it at times tho, like when making soup or steamed puddings.. But the light doesnt work and that annoys me.

Thanks for the warning about the planes Kiwimade. Dont know if they are up here but I hope not. Last time we had army planes etc fly over I had a panic attack. Never had one before and it totally freaked me out. but if I know in advance its not so bad. Silly thing is I used to Love the sound of the power boat racing we used to go to. lol

I may have to go to Pukekohe.. no one in town here has crystal cat litter and Im very low.. Just in the thinking stage tho.

Lol Dogs are sooo clever.. Mind you Missy is too as were our previous furr babies.. I guess it might come down to my skills of teaching and training them I suppose.

Bob cat who was a glorious 8 kilo white and ginger boy knew his left from his right but was a Kleptomaniac which was rather embarrassing. The things he brought home was amazing lol

Haver a fab day everyone

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We had a balinese who stole stuff. He once brought home a soaking wet child's kilt, high stepping down the drive to avoid tripping over the folds...