What's made you grumpy today?

[Thenop]

I ordered a Mica Paris CD as an upgrade to the vinyl copy I've had since 1990. Amazon sent me Beethoven's Concerto no. 5, performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

On the plus side, when I initiated the return process to get a refund, they said I could keep it.

See? Should've stuck to vinyl after all.

[Thenop]

Wife fell off her horse, literally 
Fortunately she has an AirVest, so she's OK, except for a sore bum.

It happens, I know, it's part of the game, I know. I have done enough stupid stuff that was way more dangerous than this. So be it.

[Nickslikk2112]

Spending the rest of the year's gig ticket budget on David Gilmour at the RAH

I suppose I'd spend that much on a Michelin starred meal out though and what do you really get for that? I suppose I might get a T-Shirt now...

[The Picnic Wasp]

Being told by the double glazing salesman on his follow up phone call that the door installation I require isn't available "on this planet". One phone call this morning to a company in Cheshire and looks like it's not a problem. Good old Englandshire.

[Matt2112]

Slightly annoyed seeing all the spectacular pictures taken barely two miles from my village of last night's Aurora Borealis.

From the field I viewed it from I could see only a silver, ghostly glow emanating from Bootes - none of the other colours of the spectrum. 

Maybe I'll have more luck tonight.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Slightly annoyed seeing all the spectacular pictures taken barely two miles from my village of last night's Aurora Borealis.

From the field I viewed it from I could see only a silver, ghostly glow emanating from Bootes - none of the other colours of the spectrum. 

Maybe I'll have more luck tonight.

My neighbour went to Loch Lomond last night to escape light pollution to an extent. He said most of it appeared just as a wavy glow, but his iPhone photos on night mode display all the colours. Wish I knew how to post them here, they are excellent.

[Slim]

My neighbour went to Loch Lomond last night to escape light pollution to an extent. He said most of it appeared just as a wavy glow, but his iPhone photos on night mode display all the colours. Wish I knew how to post them here, they are excellent.

Email a couple to me if you like, I'll sort it out. Let me know and I'll PM you an email address.

I went outside but couldn't see much. Too much light pollution to the north I think. I did take a couple of pics myself and you can see the effect, but it's very faint.

[Slim]

Slightly annoyed seeing all the spectacular pictures taken barely two miles from my village of last night's Aurora Borealis.

From the field I viewed it from I could see only a silver, ghostly glow emanating from Bootes - none of the other colours of the spectrum. 

Maybe I'll have more luck tonight.

My neighbour went to Loch Lomond last night to escape light pollution to an extent. He said most of it appeared just as a wavy glow, but his iPhone photos on night mode display all the colours. Wish I knew how to post them here, they are excellent.

Posted here

[Nickslikk2112]

Travelling from Norwich to Birmingham by train. Stuck on Peterborough Station now.
Train which I should have changed to hit someone in track, now got long delays.
Might make the Riverside encore tonight.

[pxr5]

Oh mate I hope you make in on time - bummer.

[Nickslikk2112]

Oh mate I hope you make in on time - bummer.

Thanks,now an hour and a half from Brum, hope next connection works...

[captainkurtz]

Good luck, Nick...the pressure to get there on time and to get a good spot will be the death of me one day, I'm sure.

[David L]

Just received the renewal notice for home insurance - increased by 44% 

[pxr5]

I have a 1 part-year shortfall of National Insurance contributions to get the full state pension at 67. I thought I'd pay it as it's only £205 (for an extra £3 a week woohoo). Should be easy right? Nope it's virtually impossible. To pay you need an 18 digit payment request number that you can only get from HMRC. Except there is absolutely no way to get through the automated questions on the help line to even get into a queue. I tried every combination of answers I could think of but it always ended the call due to one reason or other. So I looked on the MSE forums and a lady there had described over 30 attempts to get into a queue. So, the automated call kept directing me to on online chat (yeah, we all know about those). Again whatever I put in the chat would ended with a redirection to the online tools - aaahhh. Anyway after about the 100th attempt I eventually got a reply saying an advisor would be required - click here - YAY. Erm no, no advisors are available - end chat. Fuck. So I just kept asking that same question over and over again, clicking on the advisor required. Holy shit I eventually got onto an advisor queue. After that it took a few minutes to get the 18 digit code and pay the £205. It really should be easier than this to pay money TO HMRC - it took me 2 hours and I think I was very lucky in the end.

It seems the whole system was to be rejigged to make it easier to pay any shortfalls and the tool was to launch 01 April 24. I can't seem to find out when it's going to go live though. Anyone needing to do this give me a shout and I'll give you my tips to get to a human at HMRC.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6430325/how-do-i-actually-pay-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-for-a-shortfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdCxCExS_NU

[Nickslikk2112]

Finished the seconds half of my Riverside tour and now I've come down with a cold. I knew mingling with people would do me no good.