Fish n Chips 56

Cheers I cant tell you the amount of times Ive been to the Abbey road cam since you gave us the link months ago, I love it, Ive seen many pose in the Beatles position, As I type a bunch of teenagers have been there ten minutes taking pics, I see so many drivers pull up and then the pedestrians wave them past, that would get old quick LOL.

I checked it out on Google Earth and its not far from Lords cricket ground and Regents park / London Zoo.

Thanks again for the link.

islandwoman120

Klein Creek Farm, West Chicago, Dupage county! http://www.dupageforest.com/page.aspx?id=228
I worked in Wheaton, for two lady attorneys: Watson & Brown, plc. The office was located above a store called 'A Woman', supplying reconstructed garments to women after mastectomies - swim wear etc. Interesting town - I had some lovely times walking about, going into the twee stores, and having my lunch next to the old Railway building. Or in the nearby park. Did my paralegal training at night school, in the Wheaton College buildings! The law firm is no longer there - the ladies went their own way eventually - one is in Glen Ellyn, the other is located in another building in Wheaton. I loved the area, but eventually moved away to Wisconsin and loved that more. Still maintain connections in the Bloomingdale area. How our lives cross and recross on this thread.

islandwoman120

Good! You need to laugh - I will see what else I can dredge up from the recesses of my brain. Let's see - we already had the curry smell, the teeth picking, the rain, the laundry. Today may be short on interest as I am spending a few hours working on some photographs, trying to cull the worse ones and do something with the best ones. So I will jump on and off (not literally) the site all day long. Oh, in my ear I am listening to the rubbish on Wifeswap USA - I cannot belive the way people think that materialistic issues are all important, and that their kids must be the best, and the biggest and the glitziest in school. What a waste of space. Story: I worked at a Food Bank in the west Chicago suburbs and one of the high schools had a graduation requirement of community service. Some of the students worked at my place, sorting cans of food. Some of the students also were on sports teams. One evening a father phoned me to say his son was at football, and was not coming in to do his shift, and could I just sign the time sheet to say he had been in. I refused, and he told me that I was going to cause his son to fail school, to which I replied that his son was going to make himself fail school. He asked to speak to the center Director, hoping to get me in trouble and get what he wanted, but the Director backed me up. Cheeky sod, and tough luck/love.

islandwoman120

I have to interject: even though I still have administrative issues to sort out here, I have relaxed for the first time in 24 years. Like Rodney said, I don't feel excited at being back, just comfortable. Of course, if I had been met at Heathrow by the T mobile group, I may have felt excited then!
Every day that I leave my flat, and walk about in town, I chance on someone interesting to talk to - even about the (proverbial topic) weather. I spent a couple of hours in the laundry yesterday and had multiple conversations going - many people to talk to, and everyone was chatty.

Beedubya

Just in case anybody has forgotten about the T Mobile ad, here it is, Rosie please book the arrival group in advance for Jackie, Don, Poppycat and me in that order I believe.........



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo

cheers

I think we could start a thread on this webcam.
Some observations.
In a very few cases I see drivers driving far too fast for conditions. Conditions being too many people and cars around at an intersection.

Motorcycle riders taking chances by passing on the right when there is oncoming traffic.

Pedestrians who step off the curb without looking (the go ahead hit me I need the money crowd).

Drivers who patiently wait while tourists just pose on the crossing while having their picture taken. I think if that happened in some places in the US there would be some blood spilt.

Lots of expensive cars. Mercedes, Porsche and BMWs

cheers

Rosie,
Have you taken any new photos in the last ten days? I wish there was some of the rain. (don't throw anything)
I know you are busy with projects.
Cheers

sallysimmons

I did try to say it wasn't true The wealthy are taxed 50% - but only on any amount over £150K.

The 60% tax rate is a Fox News myth that took hold all over the place - now half the Americans I talk to seem convinced that the UK has 60% tax rates.

windsong

And I think I read here in one of the forums just the other day that most are only taxed at 20% but that's the tax rate, I think - they would take home much less after all the other deductions.

sallysimmons

Oh dear, reading this thread it seems I have no idea how to eat anymore.

I have no idea what is right in which country anymore and honestly, I find it hard to care. I eat however I eat - if someone looks down on me because I'm holding my fork the British or American way (Lord, knows what I picked up in Canada!) well, that's their problem. Seems very unimportant to me. It reminds me of the worst of Britain - those social mores that separate one 'class' from another and allow one group of people to feel superior to another.

I prefer to judge people by their character. A kind, friendly, funny person can eat their peas with both hands for all I care, just as long as they take care of the people they love and live a good life.

sallysimmons

Yes, here are the rates for 2011:

Starting savings rate: 10% £0-£2,440

Basic rate: 20% - £0-£37,400

Higher rate: 40% - Over £37,400

Additional rate: 50% - over £150,000

So if you made less than £35,000 your tax rate would be 20%, but if you made £50,000, you would pay 20% on the first £35,000 and then 40% on the additional £15,000. (Assuming there's some kind of deductible too but don't know).

Fox News just added 40% to 20% and voila it equals a 60% tax rate!!

windsong

Thanks, Sally. So would it be true to say, for example, that after taxes AND all the other deductions, people take home about 60% of gross on average?

windsong

I agree, Sally. Life can be so hard these days and, no matter how anyone eats, it is what's inside that counts. That matters far more than how they eat.

dunroving

Probably more than that, I'd say. I'm taxed as a single person, and pay income tax, National Insurance (which isn't cheap!) and a "company" pension, and I take home about 67% of my gross earnings. If I were to not include my company pension deduction, it comes to about 74%.

I have an above-average salary so considering that everyone has the same personal tax-free allowance, people on lower salaries would take home proportionally higher % of their gross salary.

FYI, My national insurance deduction is about one third of the amount of income tax deducted.

dunroving

Remember also that the personal tax allowance for 2011-2012 will be £7,475 - so income tax doesn't begin to kick in except for amounts earned above and beyond that amount (or maybe I'm misreading your post?)

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm

So, here's what you'd pay in income tax, approximately (not sure if it is after or before NI is deducted):

£0-£7,475 - free of income tax (taxed at 0%)
£7,475 to £42,475 - taxed at 20%
£42,476 to £157,475 - taxed at 40% (the upper limit for this tax rate has been reduced since last year)
Anything over £157,475 - taxed at 50%

- the first of your rates is for income on savings only, so isn't associated with salary (I think).
- and these calculations and figures are for a single person - married couples will be a bit different
- and personal tax allowance is higher if you are over 64 (£9,940), and highertill if you are over 74 (£10,090)