Your phone is good- just dont drop this one overboard like the last one. Pop a circular polarising filter on the lens which will cut down the glare especially from the water and maybe brighten up any blue sky ( I'm an optimist) - I would buy that in preference to a hood. GoPro is good - maybe splash out on a Dji Spark drone. You could take some overhead shots and then when you get bored you can dive bomb neighbouring boats like a pesky giant wasp

That's why I don't like to use my phone. Booze, slippery phones and oceans don't mix.

I'll go a get a filter tomorrow, hopefully it'll help.

Can you dangle a line from one? Fish by drone sorta thing?

Ha...and I thought I was being silly

Usually when cars are being loaded on a plane it's a high end car worth a lot.

Today I saw a Ford being loaded onto a flight. Run of the mill white Ford.

Seems like an expensive way to ship a Ford. Lol

Depends what's hidden it it.

We used to ship cars back from Cyprus on the military planes that had spare capacity, my micro came back that way.

Eeeww....

Security stuff companies use for online accounts is making using such accounts a total pain in the rear.

Why do companies assume everyone has a cell phone and can receive a verification text?

I've experienced a couple wanting mobile/cell number but it's not been an issue to ignore it.

13 years ago, the 10th, I did my last day at work finishing around 4.00 pm.

13 years ago on the morning of the 12th I got the Bristol-Gatwick coach for my flight to Montreal.

I heard sirens then smelled smoke, thought our building was on fire. Thankfully our building wasn't, but an old apartment block across the street is on fire.

I hope everyone got out safely.

I know you've mentioned your early retirement before, and it kinda fascinates me. What made you want to retire so young, and do you have any regrets career-wise? Do you think you got the balance about right between needing to earn and having the days to yourself? Have you ever thought about a bit of part-time work for extra spends, or indeed company?

Tell me to mind my own business if you like, but I am intrigued. The thought of retirement actually scares me a bit.

I've decided not to retire. At least not until I'm old. I can't imagine myself going to knitting clubs and bridge clubs... I might just take some extra holidays!

How long have you got?
There was much to like about my old job (DWP) - depending on what role I had at any particular time (as with anyone's job I suppose) but we were becoming increasingly undervalued.

I saw an article about property in Spain and realised how affordable some of it was compared to the equity in my house. A rough calculation suggested that a reduced pension for going early plus left over money from selling in Bristol and buying in Spain might present an alternative. Lower income but lower expenses and a rental potential if my mother got involved. Could have each had our own place but rented one out for part of the year.

I even had in mind doing Spanish at evening classes in preparation.

So I got into the frame of mind that there was an escape route before it became really bad and it meant living in Spain.
(another job was really out of the question for my lack of 'paper' qualifications and age - 40s by then )

Longer story shortened, stroke of luck, I met a Canadian woman a relationship developed and the escape route changed to Canada with everything else much the same - even the rental income.
None at all. I hated what I was expected to do at work over the last couple of years and there was a lot more distasteful stuff to come.

The stuff I hear about now...I would never have been able to live with myself.

Yes. Although the rental suffered problematic tenants causingunwanted stresses and interruptions at home.
The only way it really went wrong was my wife's health worsening to the point it cleared out remaining capital. Then she died.

But for that, we had a manageable income and assets that would have paid for enough home comforts and travel. But not cruises

Yes, some feel like that. I guess it depends on what your work is like. I had a wonderful job from 95-99, still for DWP but working in an advice centre with other agencies. It was my perfect job and I wouldn't have wanted it to end.

I have known one or two people retire and die soon after and my dad died at 52. The idea of working then dying doesn't appeal. I could drop dead tomorrow and if I had advance notice of it I would think "well at least I had 13 years of not having to work" and that would likely be more than if I'd worked to 65.

Early retirement...or not? Sounds like a good idea for a new thread.