Inheritance Tax

Why is it so hard to spend your own money within your life time?  There is a generous tax free threshold to allow for generational wealth, why is that not enough?

Last of all, discharge your asset and estate management can ensure your asset is distribute according to your wish, before and after your death, why not just do better planning?

Dynamic Pricing in Sale

I am observing the current November sale.  I think some dynamic pricing is in play which absolutely makes all of us thinking we bagged a bargain feeling conned.  Doesn't it defeat the purpose of a sale: building good wills?

Leicestershire Biker Down

I came across a Biker Down on Eventbrite, so I signed up to it.  It was 8.5 years since I last did Biker Down.  The content has slightly changed since then, it was a good refresher and I learnt something new.  I even downloaded what3words.

Black Friday Haggling

Black Friday deals in England is not really any good.  But don't let a sale stop you from haggling.  I managed to get a new internet deal cheaper than my current deal, cheaper than their published deal, cheaper than their opening offer.  Success!

Wonton Bowl Noodles

I had a wonton bowl noodles from the other day. The seasonings had two tiny dried shrimp.  It was edible but nothing to write home about.  I suppose that is true for all instant noodles.

Christmas Wrapping

Our Christmas shopping starts in January, but now the wrapping season has started.  We spent a few hours confirming allocation and wrapping.  

Can't we all just abandon wrapping in the name of the environment and just wrap everything in newspaper without tapes?

Motorcycle Live 2024

We have not been to a Motorcycle Live since 2017.  I hadn't really looked at going to Motorcycle Live since 2021, when we decided not to go, but entered all the competitions and actually won something.

Some of the people from the bike clubs were going, so I roped Sarah with me again.

This time I was adamant to get on some test rides, therefore we were at the gate at 9:45.  I still did not manage to get onto a morning test ride.

After we test drove the Microlino, we went to meet the bikers for a coffee.  Then we went back into the queue, finally I got a test ride booked.  That was our very unproductive morning.

The lunch was very disappointing, it is possible to be worse than expected.

We finally started walking around the show before the test ride.  There weren't actually that many freebies, unless you want to sign up with the insurance companies.  Power Bronze 25% off offer is good, but I gave up the idea as there would be new exposed metal works.  We sat on a few bikes, talked to a few stalls.

HD stall was pretty good, we got some snoods, played some table footballs and posed for some pictures.

When it comes to my test ride, it was raining, the route was a little muddy.  I was test riding a Speed Twin 400, I am not used to the twin's power band, so I was overrevving everywhere, and the vibration was horrible.  The bike next to me was a Norton, it was so loud, I couldn't even hear myself think.  Let just say, the best thing about the test ride was that, I was wearing their gear, and I don't have to deal with the mud and sweat.

When we took the train back to Hampton in Arden, it was delayed due to a wartime bomb near track... A long eventful day.

I made sure I entered all the competitions, let see Santa comes this year.

Black Friday in Grocery Store

You don't normally see Black Friday sale in grocery store.  This oriental store in Nottingham is having one.  It is essentially a stock clearance sale in the name of Black Friday.  I got some noodles from the sale, only to know they only for one month date on them.  I guess I will be working on them these few weeks!

Infrared Thermometer

We take temperature with our hands, and of course it is not very scientific, we could probably detect if something is a few degrees difference, but nothing accurate.  

Between our hands and a calibrated thermal imaging camera, there is something in between, surface temperature probe.  You can even plot your own thermal image, by taking temperate in a fixed grid and colouring in a sketch of the room.

I think an infrared thermometer is the perfect economical tools to identify the worst offending cold spots, and we tackle one heat sink at a time...

Smoking Cable

I thought my car USB adaptor failed.  As I stopped and checked, one of the cable started smoking!  It was really scary.  And I did the dramatic thing to throw the cable out of the car, and the adaptor is working again without the dodgy cable.  Mystery solved.  Dodgy cable in the bin.

Plebs

Since I signed up itvX, I am watching some TV programmes, one of which is Plebs, a period comedy based in ancient Rome.  So much historic inaccuracy...  Afterall it is a comedy.

Heating is On

We were in a cold rental property, and we had multiple electric heaters on and tripped the breaker!

And one year and a day ago, we turned on the heating in the house on for the first time last Winter, so we are quite consistent.

Free Chocolate

Cadbury Secret Santa is on again.  These days, the posters aren't really poster, they are rolling on the reel on the screens, we just missed it, so we stood and waited!!

Let see if the chocolates turn up!

North Yorkshire Loop

I have done this loop many times on my motorcycle, but this time I took Sarah in my car.

We first went to Heck, then Thirsk, up Sutton Bank, down to Rievaulx.  Onwards to Clay Bank and Mount Grace.

Lovely and scenic, but definitely less fun than being on the bike.

Cycle The Solar System II

We went back to the solar trail with our folding bikes.  Last time we had a Brompton and a big electric bike, this time two elementary folding bike, it took a lot longer to cycle those 15 miles... 

And I reckon the houses between Mars and Jupiter is totally the astroid belt!

Spurn Cycling

We took the folding bikes to Spurn Discovery Centre.  After learning we could cycle to Spurn Point, we did.

Except when we say cycle, there was 25% of the distance = 50% of the time = 75% of the effort pushing the bikes across the sandy causeway.

Not again....

Beverley Shopping

We went to Beverley for lunch, but before our lunch, we were preoccupied by all the Christmas charity shop shopping.

We had a quick look at the Minster and ended up in Blue Bird Bakery Cafe, except we couldn't get a seat.  

I also had a sausage roll from Rose Cottage, I cannot believe they actually have a shop.

Bulky Folding Bike

My Apollo folding bike is really bulky, making it hard to transport!  Let that be a lesson for people thinking about folding bikes, think about the folded dimensions and if it serves your need.

Eufy Maintenance

Eufy was not happy.  I chatted to the customer service on the app, they don't seem to be recommending much apart from sending me links from their FAQ..

Pretty Dim Sum

We went to Joy's Kitchen the second time.  This time we tried their platter, which contains two new inventions.  One of them was supposed to be hot, except they were not hot.  They were all very neat.

Leeds Bread Wonky

When I was at Leeds Bread Coop, I was very tempted by the malthouse, but they had some wonky.  In the spirit of saving food waste, I went with a wonky.  It is more dense, and less holey than the normal, otherwise it tastes just as good.

Commuting on Train

The bus fare is rising next year, so I am practicing to take a train to work.  I can buy train tickets on specific trains and that will be cheaper than buses.  

I tried it for two days.  Between the train stations are fast, but the walking and getting on and off from the platform are triple the times required on the train itself. 

It is doable, let see how it works out.

Fancy Dress Trick or Treat

I saw a lot of kids no costumes, but they are not necessary the scary type...  Cows and dinosaurs...