Today I'm angry about.....

[thebish]

I think probably you DID owe them if it's what you signed up for and is what it sounds like... before the current - much better - gift aid schemes - charities could get people to sign covenants on which tax could be reclaimed - they lasted four years - and - yes - you signed up to pay an amount each week/month - and as the charity was claiming the tax (and you were able to claim tax relief on it) - you really should have been paying it as you signed up to... of course - there are ways of asking/reminding you!

Ha, might have known you'd sail in on the side of the angels.

fair enough - just trying to help - what you described sounded very much like the old charities covenant scheme. I don't believe I took any sides whatever you might choose to claim. as you were.

easily amused, fellah!

(you DID actually write that you signed-up, though - then immediately denied that you signed anything... it can't be both... if as you originally stated - you signed up for a scheme where you would pay an amount to a charity every week - and they had some kind of record that they could then follow up - then that was very likely - as i described - the old charities covenant scheme. It was very common back then - before it was replaced with the much more flexible Gift Aid scheme.)

[Hoboh]

Quite.

I'm also not sure how representations can be "quiet" and still bear the name "representations".

I for one am interested in what someone with Richard Wright's experience has to say about cases like this.

So you back losers then

[TANGODANCER]

easily amused, fellah!

(you DID actually write that you signed-up, though - then immediately denied that you signed anything... it can't be both... if as you originally stated - you signed up for a scheme where you would pay an amount to a charity every week - and they had some kind of record that they could then follow up - then that was very likely - as i described - the old charities covenant scheme. It was very common back then - before it was replaced with the much more flexible Gift Aid scheme.)

I'm losing the will to live. I'm certainly losing the desire to post anything without a lecture, be corrected or get a reprimand. I give up. feck's sake, it was only a lightweight comment in the first place, not really world shattering.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Took the kids to see the illuminations today. Got there at 5pm when they switched on the lights and it still took fecking 2 hrs 15mins to drive from Bispham through to the pleasure beach with 3 kids taking it in turn to tell me how utterly bored they were and how long was left, with me replying that we've queued for an hour and I wasn't giving up now..... fecking ridiculous

Are they up to date, the lights? Are they now a laser-guided kaleidoscope of tropical array, or do they still comprise internally illuminated plastic fascias of Bet Lynch?

Unfortunately the latter, Bruce. In fact it was exactly the same fecking ones as last year (which my 5 yr old daughter pointed out) which really pissed me off even more. Especially the Voluntary donation booths that "suggest" a donation of £5 per car!!!!

You'd think they'd make some effort, wouldn't you?! Used to love being taken to the lights as a kid, then of course we get a little older and see them for the tat that they are.

For some reason (probably because I was incarcerated at boarding school in the relevant months) I never saw the illuminations during my formative years in Lancs, other than on tv. After reading this I don't feel cheated.

[Gary the Enfield]

Took the kids to see the illuminations today. Got there at 5pm when they switched on the lights and it still took fecking 2 hrs 15mins to drive from Bispham through to the pleasure beach with 3 kids taking it in turn to tell me how utterly bored they were and how long was left, with me replying that we've queued for an hour and I wasn't giving up now..... fecking ridiculous

Are they up to date, the lights? Are they now a laser-guided kaleidoscope of tropical array, or do they still comprise internally illuminated plastic fascias of Bet Lynch?

Unfortunately the latter, Bruce. In fact it was exactly the same fecking ones as last year (which my 5 yr old daughter pointed out) which really pissed me off even more. Especially the Voluntary donation booths that "suggest" a donation of £5 per car!!!!

You'd think they'd make some effort, wouldn't you?! Used to love being taken to the lights as a kid, then of course we get a little older and see them for the tat that they are.

For some reason (probably because I was incarcerated at boarding school in the relevant months) I never saw the illuminations during my formative years in Lancs, other than on tv. After reading this I don't feel cheated.

I've driven through the lights once. When I go I now walk from North Pier to South then get a tram back to the car. Haven't been for a couple of years though.

[Lord Kangana]

We always (ok, once every few years) go from Bispham and walk down through them, then tram it back. Bispham Kitchen either before or after. We were made to do it as kids, now I rather enjoy it. My sister now makes our nieces to do the same. I think its great.

[Worthy4England]

I've just about engineered a stop to having to do the annual trip, now that the kids are both in double figures. I haven't missed it. Not once.

[wigan white]

We always (ok, once every few years) go from Bispham and walk down through them, then tram it back. Bispham Kitchen either before or after. We were made to do it as kids, now I rather enjoy it. My sister now makes our nieces to do the same. I think its great.

The queue to get into Bispham Kitchen was almost as big as the queue for the illuminations.
Definitely used to think they were miles better as a kid, especially the big ones at bispham. Too be fair, the Bispham ones are ok, its just the rest that are shite and a complete waste of time.

[Prufrock]

Unfortunately the latter, Bruce. In fact it was exactly the same fecking ones as last year (which my 5 yr old daughter pointed out) which really pissed me off even more. Especially the Voluntary donation booths that "suggest" a donation of £5 per car!!!!

Bit of a sore point with me that, WW. I've never objected to donating to any cause if and when I can afford to, but these "suggested" amounts rile more than a little. I'm sure they'd do far better without specifying amounts that, in many cases draw a " you can fxxx off" response. If there's a charge for something, fair enough, you either pay it or you don't, but this is all a bit "tax-collectin Mafia" style. Amazingly (well, maybe not?) it was the Catholic Church that first planted the seeds of my discontent. Many years ago somebody used to come around every Sunday door-knocking for small amounts (what you could afford), no bother. Then they instituted a system where you "signed up" for a specific amount weekly. That ended abruptly when, after being off out somewhere on a couple of Sundays, I was informed rather archly,"You owe x amount" . Maybe I was wrong, maybe it was their attitude, maybe I was just having a bad day, who knows, but my reply was.."Sorry, could you re-phrase that? This is a voluntary contribution, I don't actually "owe" anything" "Oh, yes you do, ( brandishing an official cash book in my face) three weeks please!:

My reply to that was very un-Christian at the very least. In short: "Then kindly delete me from the Doomsday Book. From now on, I'll contribute what and when I wish, and in the church collection boxes, not to a jobsworth tax collector. I'll wish you good morning".

I've often wondered if that one will be on my black-mark list up at the pearlies.

The catholic church? Never!

I had a similar parallel when out for dinner with some friends a few months ago; we were all paying separately and as always happens in these situations, somehow, we ended up short on the total bill. They came back saying we were short to which we all started scrambling about for some change to avoid the awkward inquisition into which prick hadn't coughed up until we realised they'd come back because we were short on the " discretionary " service charge! Got to be angry at the unknown wanker who'd come up short AND them for their cheek! Double win!

[Athers]

I had a similar parallel when out for dinner with some friends a few months ago; we were all paying separately and as always happens in these situations, somehow, we ended up short on the total bill. They came back saying we were short to which we all started scrambling about for some change to avoid the awkward inquisition into which prick hadn't coughed up until we realised they'd come back because we were short on the " discretionary " service charge! Got to be angry at the unknown wanker who'd come up short AND them for their cheek! Double win!

This pallava when it comes to pay with 12 different debit cards and cash actually makes me reconsider going to such dinners. Well that and you can only talk to about 3 or 4 of the people there anyway.

Anyway today I'm angry the bank as the chap in branch misled us to believe we could borrow more than enough for our mortgage, gave us a nice agreement in principle, only to discover when it came down to the real action that notMrs Athers doesn't qualify as she's not been self employed for long enough. May lose the house if we're not careful, ffs.

[General Mannerheim]

this is why i love the pay as you order places. can walk out the gaff still chewing on your last mouthful!

[Hoboh]

This Ched Evans malarkey.

He may be an odious piece of dung but for crying out loud I find these vindictive woman determined to ruin him for ever launching the usual crappy Facebook/Twitter vendetta quite worrying.

This was one strange case and seemed to hinge on the woman being too intoxicated to give consent, have the prosecution or judge stated what level of intoxication this is to protect men, do we carry breathalysers round just in case the bird in the bar is over the limit? Two pints of lager, a rum and black, Two bottles of Sambuca, what?

The fact Evans is out is not his fault it's the weak justice system in place in the UK that is, would the witch hunters have been so vocal if he'd been a welder at blogs engineering? I doubt it.

Please don't think I'm defending him, just saying it's a strange business all round and why was his 'mate' who picked her up in the first place not charged with assisting/aiding a crime?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

This Ched Evans malarkey.

He may be an odious piece of dung but for crying out loud I find these vindictive woman determined to ruin him for ever launching the usual crappy Facebook/Twitter vendetta quite worrying.

This was one strange case and seemed to hinge on the woman being too intoxicated to give consent, have the prosecution or judge stated what level of intoxication this is to protect men, do we carry breathalysers round just in case the bird in the bar is over the limit? Two pints of lager, a rum and black, Two bottles of Sambuca, what?

The fact Evans is out is not his fault it's the weak justice system in place in the UK that is, would the witch hunters have been so vocal if he'd been a welder at blogs engineering? I doubt it.

Please don't think I'm defending him, just saying it's a strange business all round and why was his 'mate' who picked her up in the first place not charged with assisting/aiding a crime?

You make a valid point. Not one that would get me angry, but valid nonetheless.

[Hoboh]

This Ched Evans malarkey.

He may be an odious piece of dung but for crying out loud I find these vindictive woman determined to ruin him for ever launching the usual crappy Facebook/Twitter vendetta quite worrying.

This was one strange case and seemed to hinge on the woman being too intoxicated to give consent, have the prosecution or judge stated what level of intoxication this is to protect men, do we carry breathalysers round just in case the bird in the bar is over the limit? Two pints of lager, a rum and black, Two bottles of Sambuca, what?

The fact Evans is out is not his fault it's the weak justice system in place in the UK that is, would the witch hunters have been so vocal if he'd been a welder at blogs engineering? I doubt it.

Please don't think I'm defending him, just saying it's a strange business all round and why was his 'mate' who picked her up in the first place not charged with assisting/aiding a crime?

You make a valid point. Not one that would get me angry, but valid nonetheless.

Sorry the hoboh mask slipped a bit there.

[Bijou Bob]

No, he really doesn't make a valid point. As I understand the case, the victim had consented to sex with Clayton Donald before getting completely drunk. She had no knowledge Evans would turn up at the hotel and have sex with her. By that time, she was incapable of giving her consent in any case.

Donald was a First class **** for still having sex with her. evans is a rapist. Should he be able to play football again? Yes. Should any club take him on? For me, no they shouldn't as a matter of principle. If we signed him, I'd never go again.

[Prufrock]

Spot on!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Spot on!

Surely you. Pru, should believe in the possibility of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Why should his chosen trade be denied him? Should professional athletes be penalized or held to higher standards because they are hero-worshipped by the young, while the plumber hoboh mentioned is free to carry on his trade? Just asking.

[Harry Genshaw]

Spot on!

Surely you. Pru, should believe in the possibility of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Why should his chosen trade be denied him? Should professional athletes be penalized or held to higher standards because they are hero-worshipped by the young, while the plumber hoboh mentioned is free to carry on his trade? Just asking.

I'm with Hoboh on this. You can't, or shouldn't imo, have some professions that are acceptable for rehabilitation and others that aren't, save for the obvious Police, Judiciary examples. Evans continues to maintain his innocence.

Would some folk really stop going, if we signed him? Presumably, they were ok to carry on watching when we continued to employ Dean Holdsworth after his conviction for domestic violence

[bobo the clown]

Everything about what he's been found guilty of is revolting. That he refuses to acknowledge his guilt doesn't change the fact that he was found guilty ... of course miscarriages happen & who knows ?

I understand why people may not with to have him working with or for them .... but analytically there is no justification for not letting him rehabilitate and resume his career. None.

[Worthy4England]

Spot on!

Surely you. Pru, should believe in the possibility of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Why should his chosen trade be denied him? Should professional athletes be penalized or held to higher standards because they are hero-worshipped by the young, while the plumber hoboh mentioned is free to carry on his trade? Just asking.

I'm with Hoboh on this. You can't, or shouldn't imo, have some professions that are acceptable for rehabilitation and others that aren't, save for the obvious Police, Judiciary examples. Evans continues to maintain his innocence.

Would some folk really stop going, if we signed him? Presumably, they were ok to carry on watching when we continued to employ Dean Holdsworth after his conviction for domestic violence

I don't think I'd stop going, but fortunately I don't think the Club would put us in that position. At the rate their Patrons, sponsors, Jessica Ennis etc. are going, I think Sheffield United will probably shy away too...I do think, (and I'm in the "lock 'em up longer, life should mean life" Club), that once you've served your time, you've served your time, but as an employer, I wouldn't take the risk on my customer base voting with their feet...