Whitey Grandad

It's a sad fact of life that not all hubbies are like me, BTF . My wife and I have always shared everything.

Yes, that sort of thing is disappointing. I try not to correct it because I would never wish to deter anyone from expressing their opinions (I nearly typed 'there' there), but there are occasions where I just cannot help trying to continue an education that should properly have been undertaken at school. I have an enquiring mind and and always open to correction.

Oh dear Sue, I think you've caught 'krillspeak.

The climate has always changed and it always will. That much is obvious. The rest is scientific opinion, nowhere near 'FACT' at the moment. The sun has a far, far greater effect on the climate than you or I ever will.

Yes, the main tax payer had an extra allowance for the children. The 'problem' was said to be that this money went to the husband who could spend it in the pub rather than to the mother who actually needed it for buying food and childrens' clothes. This was a great slur on the poor humble working man but nevertheless the system was changed so that he paid more in tax and the mother got the dosh. Those who did not work received a separate child allowance.

Why??? Isn't 50% tax punitive enough for you?

I will say that most young germans that I have met have been extremely kind and considerate. Something must happen when they go on holiday?

I saw Bournemouth a couple of times last season and I was surprised then that they managed to get promotion. I genuinely thought that they were too lightweight and would struggle this season but maybe they have a worked out a system of play that more often than not beats the type of team that we meet at these levels. I'm not too bothered about other teams' results, though, all that matters is how we get on. I missed the Colchester game but yesterday I felt that there was more shape and purpose about us. Hammond and Schneiderlin seemed to know what their tasks were and there was a lot less hoofball. The long balls were played up to the feet of Barnard, who was superb, and I felt that they were more confident. We need to cut out the silly mistakes or else we could easily have given away a penalty or two. Guly should be given a rollicking for trying to shoot in the last minute when three other players had bust a gut to get up to support him. He only had to roll the ball across goal and miss the one defender and we would have had a third. Next time it might be important.

I remember a quote on the radio from some old fellow many years ago: 'the money Maggie gives you these days doesn't even keep you in beer' and he was serious.

Oh, and another thing.... post it on Tripadvisor so we can all know about it.

Complain to the hotel manager, to the local tourist board, to the local council, the newspapers. Take photographs of the offenders if necessary. Let the whole world know who they are and what they are like. Any proper hotel should have a lounger-monitor who removes possessions if the lounger is not used for 30 minutes. I was on holiday in Tobago once and the same thing was happening there. I was very tempted to get up at 5:00 and put towels, books etc. on every bed I could find. I even had a tug-of-war with a german when I tried to take a sunbed that was in the gardens 30 yards from his patio. I gave him a gobful in his own language and let him know what I thought of him. Not that they are all germans, mind you. We has a problem a cuple of weeks ago with a woman who was hogging two parasols for herself and her absent companion who had not returned even two hours later. These people should be shot. We sometimes have the same problem on cruise ships. The only real solution is for a member of staff to do it.

Perhaps not? http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/fear-of-bananas-bananaphobia.html

If Britain is seeking to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions, then why have we allowed millions of extra people into the country? The government was planning on an extra 2.5 million homes over the next decade which all have to be heated, and an extra 10 million people is at least an extra 17%.

There are two sorts of people in the world: Those who hate clowns... ...and clowns.

I can think of plenty of other uses for us.

You have to sign a form declaring the amount of the assets of the estate. There is even a declaration form for estates which are under, but close to, the exempt threshold. These gifts to your children are part of your 'potentially exempt amount'. Depending on the amounts involved, I would advise you now to consider a 'deed of variation' which effectively changes the terms of the will and passes these gifts direct from your mother to your children. This amounts to re-writing the will and can be done so long as all the beneficiaries agree, and if children are involved in the will, providing they are not disadvantaged. You have (I think) two years from death to do this and these days the deed must be registered and there must be a declaration that this is being done for 'inheritance tax purposes'. This would take these gifts out of your estate when you die. It might be worth your while taking professional advice. Good luck!

Yes, all gifts made 7 years before death are tax-free. After that there is a graduated scale but this does not reduce the amount of tax that must be paid, contrary to what might be implied in the financial columns in the Sunday papers. The graduation only applies to what proportion of the money is claimed from the estate, and how much from the gifts. Gifting a house in instalments would only save tax if the gifts were made before the 7 years.The maximum annual gift is there to avoid small sums being liable, and to stop you giving away a large nest-egg in instalments.

You can also bring forward the previous year's allowance if you haven't used it. Gifts made 7 years before death are also tax free no matter how large. Regular gifts 'out of income' are tax-free provided that they do not affect the donor's standard of living. For example, if your mum always gives you a Ferrari on you birthday and she can still live comfortably, then they are also tax-free.

Good point, but it's only duty free up to a certain threshold, even for first- time buyers.

That would involve two lots of stamp duty, once when she buys it and once again when you do. Better if you buy it with a gift from her. You might have difficulty getting a low-rate mortgage should you need one, it depends on your deposit which needs to be at least 25%.

Only if you actually own the property, not if you're renting.

The tax would be on £20k less here annual allowance. There used to be other indexation allowances as well but I'm out of date.

Please, be our guest and lead the way!

I totally agree, but we must be prepared to accept that it my take some time to get back on course. I'll settle for continuous steady improvement.

It'll only give them false hope before the bottom falls out or their world again. Life can be cruel sometimes.