This is one of the ships I hope to see in two weeks time. Most are Sail Training Ships, some equipped to cater for disabled crew. They come to Liverpool from around the world to take part in the Tall Ships Race.
The first leg of the race begins on Monday 21 July when the ships will head for Norway.
Details can be found here.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers across the Pond, A Great and Enjoyable Fourth of July!
Just be careful, booze and fireworks just do not go together very well. If you drink, don't light!
Most of all, enjoy!!
Today was my meeting with my Immediate Superior with regard to my retirement options.
To re-iterate a previous post, I am employed by Company *A* who have a contract with Company *B*.
My present job is Field Service Engineer, sub contracted to Company *B*.
Today, at my meeting, I was informed that the contract with Company *B* runs out on July 18 2008.
That is 17 days from now and I have only just found out!
Company *A*, along with other external Companies, have put in a Tender for a new contract with Company *B* but are still waiting confirmation of success or failure. Considering that Company *B* is also a large Communications Company, things do not look to rosy!! They haven't been too forthcoming about the result of the Tender!!!
However, I was informed that, should Company *A* lose the contract, then the winning Company may be obligated to transfer me, and the other FSE's, over to their Company on the same Terms and Conditions (or better).
Whether Company *C* would allow me to work after retirement age is unknown.
The way things are at the moment, I may be using up my remaining 2 weeks Annual Leave and retiring on the 18 July!!!
On a brighter note, I am making plans for a visit to Liverpool on Sunday July 20, to see the Tall Ships.
It should be a magnificent spectacle and I hope to have some excellent photos for my Blog!!
I received a letter from the TV Licensing Enforcement Manager.
This is an extract from the letter:
Dear Mr. Bromwich,
Some time ago, we were advised that no TV receiving equipment was being used to receive TV programmes at this address, and therefore no TV licence was required.
Our standard practice is to now visit your address to confirm that no type of television receiver is being used there to watch or record TV programmes as they're being shown on TV. This includes the use of a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, computer or mobile phone. Our visit should take no longer than a few minutes.
If you are still not using TV receiving equipment at this address, you needn't take any action. Just expect a visit from us soon.
*emphasis mine*
Here is my reply:
How many times must I tell you:
Why is it that you people assume that EVERYONE has some kind of receiving equipment?
I DO NOT NEED TV, I HAVE A LIFE!!
If you need to send someone to see me, then you will have to make an appointment, as I am not home 24/7.
I received a phone call today from my boss. I am invited to attend a meeting next Tuesday to review my retirement options.
The official date for my retirement is Friday 1st August. I can then stop working and try to exist on the meagre State Pension.
Or...I could, providing the Company agrees, continue working.
Pros: State pension is deferred and accrues interest.
My tax free allowance rises from £5000 pa to £9000 pa
I stop paying National Insurance which, at the moment is 11% of taxable earnings.
Cons: I have to get up and go to work.
I am definitely not yet ready for pipe and slippers and rocking chair on the porch!!
I will let you know the outcome next Tuesday..
Right now I am gonna have the last couple of drams of Bruichladdich, it's a fine whisky and has lasted well.
I still have a couple of drams of Dalwhinnie and around half a bottle of Laphroaig plus I just bought a bottle of Balvenie Double cask.
The morning started OK. I woke from my slumber, took a shower and sat down to breakfast.
I got ready for work and as I opened the door to my backyard, I saw them!!!!
A platoon of slugs, heading for my border and my precious Strawberries!!
I ran to the kitchen and grabbed hold of the most lethal weapon I had that would be lethal to slugs...............
Table Salt!!!!
I went to the backyard and began to sprinkle the slugs with salt, boy, they soon started to shrivel and die!!!
Ten slugs dead, strawberries saved for a while until reinforcements arrived.
I quickly gathered all the ripe strawberries and put them in the kitchen where they would be safe...at least until I got back from work and devoured them!!!
Baby apple tree is now over 1ft tall.....
Red, Yellow and White roses in bloom...
Strawberries ripening...I ate one, slugs got two!!!
Raspberries have fruit, prob take a month or two to fully ripen.....
Damson tree is doing fine, but won't have any fruit this year as it is too young....
Pear tree is growing well, again, no fruit this year, maybe next as , like the damson it is a young tree.....
Chives and Parsley coming on great.....
Mint I'm growing indoors is flourishing.......I keep chopping fresh leaves and I cut some for drying.......
Now I just have to get those damn slugs before they eat all my Strawberries!!!
7 weeks......
42 days.......
1008 hrs.....
60480 mins.......
3628800 secs.......
Then I will be officially *OLD*..........Senior Citizen.......Pensioner...........
Instead of Eat, Sleep, Work, I can miss the last four letter word!!!!
Now then...... where did I put my pipe and slippers?????
You may have noticed the different piccy on the sidebar.
Well, I was looking at my stats and noticed I'd had a visit from Bruichladdich distillery!!!!
They didn't leave a comment or send an email, but I thought, if I change my piccy they may send me a bottle or two.......well, I can dream, can't I??
Well, I finally got the grill fired up!!!!
Nephew, SWMBO and Little Princess arrived, the weather was better than I expected.
SWMBO liked the Beringer Zin so much, she drank the whole bottle!!!!!
Nephew was driving so he only had one bottle of Beck's.
Little Princess is far too young for alcohol so she drank OJ (Tropicana) of course.
,
I'm just left with cleaning up.
Ohh!! didn't I mention MY drink??
3 bottles of Kroneneberg 1664, 2 drams Dalwhinnie, 2 drams BruichLaddich, 3 drams Laphroaig Cask Strength.
Recent Comments