If you don't laugh, you'll cry. WFA

If you needed to, though, you would.
Just because you personally have kept healthy, doesn't mean others have.

ronib. If you read what I wrote, I said that transition arrangements should have been put in place for those just above PC level. I have said that many times

As for the single persons council tax rebate. What has that got to do with pensioners, in particular? Yes, there are people of pension age living alone, but there are also many people below retirement age living alone and claiming it. DD has been claiming it since she was 23, she is now over 50.

I have never offered an opinion on it, I didn't even realise it was being discussed. Personally, I was always in favour of poll-tax. Local taxes being paid by all inhabitants individually. The current system unjustly favours households with more than two adults.

i think an easy and much fairer way of reducing the WFPs, would have been to take it away from pensioners who are higher rate tax-payers.
it ought to be a simple matter of codes for DWP and HMRC computers.
then again, given the difficulties i've had with both recently, each telling me that they couldn't pay me what they otherwise would have done, because the other agency had paid me something.
i pointed out to each of them that this was logically impossible.
it's like being told by dad, i can't give you pocket money because your mother has given you it.
but she hasn't!
well you need to speak to her about that.
she says, ask your father.
and so it goes on.
HMRC sent me 5 letters in a month, telling me i owed more tax, more with each letter.
then they said i was due a refund as i has paid too much. and i needed to claim it. on ringing the number automated voice says if it's about rebate, you will have to wait, no point ringing.

by the way, re foil behind radiators, how do you get it to attach to the wall ?
the radiators are v close to the wall paper, and on long brackets.
i don't think i can access it.
i am currently sitting eating, wearing thick workmen's socks, heavy trous, vest, t-shirt, velour hoody, fleece cardigan, and another thick hoody on top.
feet are a bit chilly, will have to go out walk about.
was 54 fahrenheit in bedroom night before last.
managed to keep warm enough to sleep, well wrapped, but having to get up to go loo is a bother, and loses heat.

Bump

welbeck

by the way, re foil behind radiators, how do you get it to attach to the wall ?
the radiators are v close to the wall paper, and on long brackets.
i don't think i can access it.
i am currently sitting eating, wearing thick workmen's socks, heavy trous, vest, t-shirt, velour hoody, fleece cardigan, and another thick hoody on top.
feet are a bit chilly, will have to go out walk about.
was 54 fahrenheit in bedroom night before last.
managed to keep warm enough to sleep, well wrapped, but having to get up to go loo is a bother, and loses heat.

It's warm today, sitting outside in a t shirt (it's warmer out than inside!).

Apparently you use double sided sticky tape to stick the foil in place.

However, looking at my disastrous efforts at present-wrapping, I'd probably catch the sticky tape to the wall somewhere else. Luckily we don't have wallpaper or else it would rip it off.

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

I cannot open the link, but mention of crisp packets makes me groan.

Many many many moons ago, as a social worker I was trying very hard (and failing) to help a lady with mental health problems who had taken to her bed years before and lived on packets of crisps brought in by a neighbour. I soon discovered that she also used the empty packets to defaecate in and stowed them under the bed - until the floor boards rotted and the bed started to sink towards the room underneath.

Poor woman - not sectionable so there was little we could do. It was seriously grim.

Ooooh urghhh!

welbeck

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

With a bamboo plant cane or something similar, long handled wooden spoon, stair rod, short bit of curtain rail.

welbeck

but given that foil is so thin, and flexible, how do i urge it into the dark recess, so v narrow, between radiator and wall?

You talk to it very very nicely.

Threaten to replace it with crisp packets if it doesn't behave.

Allira

M0nica

I have just found a flaw in all this. If we, oldies, are too strapped for cash to pay our fuel bills, we wont be able to afford to buy crisps either!

I made a suggestion earlier in the thread M0nica, a cunning plan!
A crisp packet bank where everyone can donate their used crisp packets 😃

It will be so useful for those of us who don't like crisps, can't afford them or are worried about the salt content affecting our blood pressure.
Our blood pressure is at risk of going up anyway with helpful suggestions like Mr McShane's.

Nor the double sided tape to patch it all together!!

I've a better idea.

We could all be issued with a survival blanket, so much easier to wrap ourselves up than faff around trying to push crisp packets behind radiators.

For those nifty with needle and thread, we could make ourselves survival outfits so we can wear them when we move around our chilly homes and go to scrape the ice from the inside of the windows.

This assumes everyone eats crisps! I do not.

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

M0nica

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

Brilliant.

M0nica

Good point. How about recycling cooking foil? Specifically for a survival blaanket, then you can supplement your diet by nibbling at all the burnt on food bits.

😁

Allira

I've a better idea.

We could all be issued with a survival blanket, so much easier to wrap ourselves up than faff around trying to push crisp packets behind radiators.

For those nifty with needle and thread, we could make ourselves survival outfits so we can wear them when we move around our chilly homes and go to scrape the ice from the inside of the windows.

Good idea, but they’d probably be means tested- that means you can only get one if you live in a one bedroom house and can’t afford crisps.

Oh no, Mollygo!

So those of us rattling around selfishly in our over-sized mansions when we should have downsized to a one-bedroomed flat will be deprived of government-issued survival blankets?

Sorry. If you can afford two bedrooms, you are deemed to be able to afford crisps

But I don't like crisps ☹

Gone are the days when chocolate was wrapped in silver paper.

I’ve just remembered from 20 odd years ago. My dear old dad was living in sheltered accommodation in his 90s. There was a flurry of excitement when the warden informed the residents that she would be delivering a little gift package to them from the local council and it would include a blanket.

Poor Dad had pictured a nice tartan rug for his armchair. The gift package was a foil survival blanket, a room thermometer and a small wind up torch to use in a power cut.

I live on my own in a 3 bedroom house. I assume I should be looking for a bedsit and I may as well give the house sale money to Keith and Rachel as they will be taking it anyway eventually.

Are some crisp bags better than others,
this maybe of help, to know which crisps to buy for efficiency.

Weaty

Are some crisp bags better than others,
this maybe of help, to know which crisps to buy for efficiency.

I think Kettle crisps are the best. Nicer crisps but more importantly the bag itself is strong, doesn't tear easily and has a more restrained colour palette for those of us who prefer a refined blanket.