Mungler

It’s another ham fisted way of trying to ascertain suitability. The questions are bleeding obvious with yes / no answers and if you are coercively controlling your partner you’ll no doubt have some practice and be one step ahead of making sure to check the wife’s replies to any questionnaire, and if you apply you’ll know she’ll be receiving a questionnaire. I can’t see the list of questions on the questionnaire but if they’re along lines as discussed above, it’s pretty clear what the answers should be 😆 I don’t know what the answers are, but stuff like this just makes me laugh in its naivety.

Here’s a table for the EU luvvies and who normally (and automatically) happen to be US haters (because the US is seen as culturally inferior). The table is from today’s Telegraph. Long story short the EU was formed as a protection against war in Europe and NATO as a protection against Soviet aggression. That’s a double fail right there. The Germans have finally woken up and are worried but their nato contributions have only just slightly edged upwards following Ukraine. But look at the French effort. Google and look at the French military contribution to Ukraine - it’s non existent. And it was Macron / the French who wanted to be left in charge of an EU army. Anyone wonder why the yanks have had enough of NATO (and they are NATO in essence) and have had enough of Europe (5000 miles from US soil) and are going to pull stumps? Indeed, I see a world where the US retreats to focus on itself and trade within the Canada to Argentina /Chile block (enormous and controllable that that region is). There is a massive problem coming for the rest of the world (policing shipping lanes in particular) and with a failed Europe a collective in name only (where competing individual country interests will always win out) as good as over and in economic decline, it’s all going to end up topsy turvy. History eh? We shouldn’t forget the great empires and civilisations of the past - Mongols, Egyptians, Myans, Greek, Roman etc and where are they all now? Our heyday was under Victoria and the Commonwealth and it’s all been downhill, imperialist and racist ever since 😆

The bit I find hilarious is how the Putin apologists still attempt to punt the ‘it’s all NATO and the West’s fault and forced a Russian invasion’ cough, I mean SMO. Absolute nonsense of the highest order. That and ‘Russia isn’t hurting but getting bigger, better, badder stronger’. We’ll see. Interesting that the Ukrainians have worked out to take out the central catalytic components of the Russian refineries - those sanctioned replacement parts only available from Western suppliers. Oh and Ukraine have turned their grain market back on having decimated the black sea fleet. Ah but there’s no point arguing with people who still insist on referring to this as an SMO having previously backed everything being as over by tea time 😆

Just out of interest is this still a ‘special military operation’ rooting out cocaine dealing Nazis and over by tea time? 😆 When either side digs in it’s drawn out and bloody and that’s where we are. Modern wars are not meant to be won. I dismay at European countries and their ineffective leaders. All the left leaning intelligentsia bleating about how Trump has undermined Nato but Trump isn’t even president and they give no credence to the US population not giving two monkeys about a European conflict 6000 miles away. Indeed, I reckon the yanks are not unreasonably sick of being the world’s police force (expensive and thankless task that is) and whilst they’re still on the hook for looking after Taiwan and keeping North Korea and China at bay. The EU has failed in its single primary purpose and the EU member nations have all mooched on their nato subs and used that money saved to boost their own economies. Those pigeons are now coming home to Roost. The French grandstanding is laughable in the face of their delivering f-all in terms of actual military support. The Germans are a couple of years behind the curve but are slowly waking up despite still being dependant on Russian energy which they now buy rebadged through Indian intermediaries. Those neighbouring Russia are doubling military aid and production, rightly concerned they’ll be next and hence the scramble to join NATO. Putin is a murderous invading despot and Europe is run by cretins. Lastly, the left’s claims that Putin is swaying popular opinion within Europe towards nationalism and the right is just nauseating- how deliberately blind to the effects of failed liberal policies and uncontrolled mass immigration and all the joys that has brought.

I saw this mentioned in the Telegraph. Was this the one where the wife ran a prison or some such?

There is much commentary about the general lack of brain power within both parties these days. Since Thatcher’s cabinet everything and everyone has been dumbed down - it’s everywhere; the way people speak, what’s on national television, what’s taught in schools. It’s now unfashionable to be posh or to have gone to Eton or Harrow etc. I watched a Sky documentary at the weekend about Led Zepplin - the world wide rock act of the 70’s. Their interviews were as though they were from a different planet to now - educated, articulate, intelligent and coherent. Only 50 years ago. Now watch an interview with any grime act or from the modern entertainment industry. Everyone has just got thicker.

No one knows what the Reform party stands for. It doesn't matter though, every conservative I speak to wants the mechanism to show how manifestly unhappy they are with the current lot and that means voting Reform. Many say a vote for Reform is just a vote that hastens Labour's victory, however, we are way beyond that and Labour are coming, like it or not. The only chance the Torys have is some wholesale night of the long knives clear out, but the party is now stuffed full of liberal left leaning tory elite types, there's not enough conservatives to go around to re-stock the conservative party with err actual conservatives. It's so frustrating - no one sane actually wants a Labour government, they are just so angry and want the current lot out at all costs.

The Covid debacle and release of the text messages lifted the veil on our masters and betters - they are all incompetent buffoons who play at politics like a game. I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t as clever, organised or methodical as I had hoped but I was shocked at just how thick and reactionary they all were - especially the SNP. Alas the political system needs a rethink but the people in charge will never do it because that’s turkeys voting for Xmas - most are PPE / law degree at university, into the party or some non job round the commons and off they head into the world of politics, never having done a proper days work, or ever having run a business, nicked out the VAT account one month for cash flow, risked their house for their business, broken up a fight at work etc. They are all so far removed from the real world it hurts. The reality is that anyone of quality or calibre who would be worthwhile in the work of politics or worthy of a position of power, doesn’t actually want it and couldn’t afford the pay cut - most will be earning way more in the real world and an MP’s salary wouldn’t cover the tax on their current earnings. You look past the Labour front bench and it’s obvious Ming vase Kier is holding back a sea of loonies in waiting. Labour will get in and the next 5 years are going to be awful for anyone in work, earning money or with aspirations to hold onto any of what they have or have worked for - that’s socialism for you. It’s going to be a spend fest of our own money, but we will get no value. Let’s hope the Conservative Party use the next 5 years to re-stock the party with actual conservatives.

Do you get our there much or do you air b n b / owners abroad it?

It seems that everyone I know is currently looking at buying property in rural Portugal. I am not sure if it's the tax regime, the weather, the locals / way of life but whereas it used to be France and Spain, it now appears to be Portugal. I always had it in the back of my mind that an ideal retirement would be a bolt hole no more than 4 hours away on a plane from my local airport (Stansted or Southend) to somewhere half civilized that's not all football shirts /all day breakfasts, and where there was consistent sunshine from 1st January to 31st March. Indeed, if I had my wish I would never spend another January, February or March in this Country ever again. Looking at the jet stream that's probably Maderia, Cape Verde (although I understand this is still "developing" and it's some distance away) or Gran Canaria. I'm a big fan of Italy for the grub but the bits that stay hot all year round are nose bleed expensive. I do wonder what the cost benefit analysis is though of owning foreign property - I've watched dozens of people go through the foreign property cycle and it's never worked out the way they wanted it to in terms of dosh or benefit. I think it may work if you speak the local lingo and spend half the year in your foreign gaff but in all other cases you'd be better parking your money in BAE shares and spending the return on an air b n b. I digress....

Can you pm me a link?

You got a webby shop / flog any?

Outstanding

I know every generation looks back with rose tinted glasses…. and IMHO the sweet spot was 1988-1998 and in particular the 90’s until Tony Blair’s various and disastrous policies took effect / came home to roost. My face book feeds have old video clips of high street and club life back in the 1990’s. It wasn’t that long ago but my oh my how the country has changed and demonstrably for the worse. Anyone here vote for what and where we are now?

Spot on. He didn’t. As ever, he was quoted out of context (the context being a 1 hour state based campaign speech) for political capital.

That’s a deflection. The bottom line is that the groovy liberal elite put far too much store in these Unions, alliances and pacts. History has taught us that when push comes to shove, national interests come to the fore everything else gets ripped up / abandoned. In short, every country needs to constantly and consistently be able to feed itself and arm itself. Each and every European country has become complacent having got far too used to peace and having reappropriates defence budgets elsewhere. A European army is an interesting concept but is nothing to be relied upon. Moreover, say Finland gets invaded by Russia - who in the UK will send their children to the defence Finnish borders? Indeed, the reality is that all of the countries immediately surrounding Finland should be sending their men first and should be spending on military budgets like there’s no tomorrow. Then look at immigration levels into Europe and ask who will be fighting what country? What is your country to defend and fight for when you and your family are from Albania, Yemen, Somalia etc? This brings us to case in point and Ukraine. Each and every European country surrounding Russian territory and the Ukraine should immediately be reappropriating 10% of GDP into defence budgeting and moaning less about the US pulling stumps. But that’s not going to happen.

Look at the level of French support for Ukraine and ask yourself if they are to head up and be in charge of a European army? They don’t even make the page. Indeed, I’d also be intrigued to see how language barriers are overcome in that the French are particularly frothy about their language and culture as too their hatred of all things American - I’ll have a fiver on the European army, at some point in the future, being required to communicate in French. The events to hand have shown that arrangements made decades ago don’t necessarily stand the test of time.

The left hate Trump with a passion. The current one doing the rounds is that Trump is a Putin asset and he’s going to wreck NATO, choke funding to Ukraine and all on Putin’s orders, all the while over looking that it’s sleepy Joe at the helm and Trump but a mere candidate in the running. What we are witnessing is Trump tapping into US voter discontent. After Iraq and Afghanistan the average US citizen no longer wants the US to be the world’s police force, expensive and thankless task that is. The US is a country that can isolate itself and grow strong just trading in a block with Canada and South America. Currently imports to the US make up but 15% of GDP and only 30% of the US population hold a current passport - explain to this country’s population why the US is responsible for something 6000 miles away and on the doorstop of Germany, France and all those other so clever mainland European nations who have run down their armies and mooched on their nato subs. The yanks are on the hook for managing Israel and Taiwan and they see Russia as an entirely European problem to resolve - not an entirely unreasonable position to adopt when looking at the physical geography. All nato members (especially Germany and France) have been freeloading. The yanks have worked out that (1) they are nato and if they pull stumps they will be no worse off and (2) the money that Germany and France have otherwise avoided putting into nato has been spent growing their economies over the last couple of decades. Well, that and cheap dirty energy from Putin. And the yanks have had enough. Throughout all the railing at Trump the liberal elites can’t muster any criticism of the democrats, being the only people in a position to stop Trump. The democrats are fronted by a corpse that can now barely walk or talk and get none of the left establishments or media outlets feel able to jump in with two feet and call out the disaster that is Joe Biden. It’s dystopian emperors clothes stuff. Biden shuffling off will just leave the democrats to put forward a god awful plan B - the usual approach is to roll out another Clinton. A great choice for the US electorate. edit And as for a European army, well the farce that is European support for Ukraine ought to open our eyes that there is no European unity when the brown stuff hits the fan; it’s every country for itself. Two things that leapt off the page was (1) germanys Barmy green agenda kept them dependent on cheap energy from the Russian gangster run petrol station meaning at the height of conflict, Germany was paying $1 billion a day to Russia for energy and (2) the continued lack of military support provided by France to Ukraine - I don’t think they make the 3rd page of league table. I always wondered how deep in hock French banks were to Russia and I think we can all join the dots. Anyway, anyone still for Macron’s European army, headed up by the French? There is no European cohesion when push comes to shove. No individual country can be trusted to put European interests over national interests. Lastly, have a ponder as to who will fill any European army or any individual country national army? Nationalism has been so badly eroded by immigration and downgrading of national interests and values. Europe is in a sorry mess. Last days of Rome stuff.

Was there a property / house in the estate or just bank accounts / investments? What did the Will say about what went where - was it just a straight division of everything between the children in equal / unequal shares or were there specific legacies / gifts in there?

Not futile at all. Depending on the full facts, ie if there’s a valid Will with an entitlement, a year has passed and there’s evidence that the executor is refusing to execute their statutory duties to administer the estate in accordance with the Will or indeed is trying to distribute on a misleading basis (ie under pay a beneficiary / legacy) then why not? Costs are at the discretion of the Court but tend to ‘follow the event’ (ie the loser pays) and if the sister is in for half of the estate under the Will (and the estate contains worthwhile money / a property) then she’s a good litigation target ie she has money / assets to meet any judgment. Moreover, litigation is a staged process - if the sister sees a solicitor upon receipt of a letter before action, she will be advised of her statutory duties, the risks she’s running if she’s in breach and if she has sense it will resolve there - with one letter that won’t cost £15-20k. Indeed if the facts stack up, litigation becomes necessary to resolve the situation and as above the case is a runner / winner plus there’s a pot at the end of the rainbow ( ie a viable litigation) then there’s plenty of specialists that will take it no win no fee or indeed the OP may have legal expenses protection insurance. Obviously if there’s only a couple of grand in the estate it may not be worth the effort, but if there’s a mortgage free property of any sort and the OP is legitimately in for half, then why wouldn’t he be running to a solicitor right now? And as for HMRC, that’s a non starter. Yes write them a letter because it costs nothing but I’ll bet a penny to a pound they won’t give a monkeys unless the value is significant. Indeed, it would require a relatively significant estate of the OP to trigger IHT assuming the death of a survivor who was half of a married couple (if you look at those allowances). Again, if the estate is larger than those allowances, the OP should be running to a solicitor. .

You’re all so far wide of the mark it hurts 😆 The OP needs to see a solicitor with litigation experience in this arena. ‘Cautions’ haven’t been around for over a decade and issuing part of claim (for interest only) gives rise to a whole host of problems ranging from abuse of process to estoppel. Google Henderson v Henderson.

1. Do a search at the probate registry to see if the deceased's Will has been submitted for probate and or if probate has been granted. If there is a property sale involved then a grant of probate will be necessary to provide the executor with the power of sale. 2. Do a search at the land registry for the deceased's property address to see who / how that is showing as currently registered. If it's still in the deceased's name then what is likely to be the principle asset remains "in play". If there has been a recent disposition / sale, the date will show on the office copy entries. Do a historic search to see how the property was held prior and get a copy of any transfer deed. From this you will be able to find out about the property as at the date of death and if it's been sold / moved on in the last 12 months you will see when it was sold, how much for, to whom, who the solicitors involved in the transfer were and who signed the transfer deed. Realistically don't listen to anyone on here, go and see a solicitor to get proper advice and preserve whatever position you are in now - that may mean action against the executor. 1 year has passed and there has been an obvious attempt to mug you off and deprive you of what lawfully should be coming your way. That would probably justify an application to Court to get the executor removed.

I hear you. I know I’m on a clock; firstly with the kids; youngest is 17 oldest 22 and it won’t be long before they peel off for good. Lay on a decent holiday though and they come, for now, but this won’t last. Secondly, I’ve see what happens with age and ill health (principally travel insurance) and there will be a point when going abroad becomes difficult and then impossible.

Did 18 days in Barbados over Christmas / New Year with the family, Cornwall for a long weekend with Mrs and friends in Feb, a week with mate in Umbria in May, fishing in Canada for a week in July with the shooting lot and cruise with family end of August (East Med). That’s the list so far…

He is the resident nutter 😆 He’s very entertaining though.