***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 194 *****
In this thread you may ask any question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
It does not need to be motoring related. In fact, in this thread it should not be.
No Questions About PCs. Please use the current "computer Related Questions" thread instead.
No politics
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which we think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details
www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
However, as has been said a couple of times, there is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 193. Previous Volumes will not be deleted,
A list of previous volumes can be found here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=18847
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
|
I have had a new PAYE Coding notice today and my tax code has been reduced.
Aged in the 65 to 74 group my allowance should be £7550 before tax. This was the case in my notice earlier in the year but in this one just arrived the tax code has dropped considerably.
Took quite a while to figure out why but eventually found the answer in the ?Understanding your Tax Code?was that for every £2.00 your income goes over £20100 your allowance drops by £1.00.
My circumstances haven?t changed and as most of my assets are in either a PEP or ISA which I believed were protected from all tax, (apart from dividends taxed at source) I would have been under that limit.
However having searched the web I can find no reference to whether your income includes PEPs and ISAs. for the purpose of calculating Personal allowance tax codes.
My question only relates to personal Allowances for persons aged 65 and over.
Any advice would be welcome before ringing the tax office and talking myself into having to fill in a new tax return.
wemyss
|
PEPs and ISAs are exempt and therefore the income should not be reflected in your code.
As you are a pensioner do you have a pension/annuity other than the state pension? If so the rules are being changed in which case there may be a restriction in the code for either the state pension or if you have more than one non-state pension/annuity that other pension.
Despite the 'horror stories' I usually find that HMRC get most things right.
Stands back and waits for brickbats ....
|
|
|
Any advice would be welcome before ringing the tax office and talking myself into having to fill in a new tax return.
If in doubt fill in a new tax return ~ the paper version is simplicity itself. I fill one in every year just to make sure my occupational pension provider has deducted the right amount of tax. I've just had a letter to say I am £19.38 overpaid, so it pays to be vigilant.
--
L\'escargot.
|
hxj, Yes I have a state pension and also a Civil Service one. All tax is deducted by the Civil Service.
I feel sure you are correct that ISAs and Peps should not be included in the gross income. The IR site seems to confirm this.
I think they have somehow included it however as the gross figure they state on the tax form is uncannily correct if they had done.
L'escargot. Also on my tax code notice they tell me that I have underpaid by £70.00. However I will certainly fill in a form if a telephone query confirms that ISAs and Peps are ignored.
Having already had a tax code form in Feb which gave me the correct £7550.00 the one just arrived dropping it by quite a large number would suggest they have some knowledge which supports this.
It certainly isnt a Swiss bank account so can't imagine what has rattled their cage unless Uncle Gorden pulled some stroke in his last budget.
Will wait until Monday when I can give them a call.
Thanks for your help.
wemyss
|
Did you receive a form from HMRC sometime in April and send it back to them?
If so you possibly included the PEP/ISA income on there?
That would be the source fo information.
PS No feeling, no thinking - PEP/ISA income is exempt - if you are UK resident.
|
wemyss,
Read the Tax Return Guide for Question 10 (Did you receive any income from UK savings and investments?) to find out what income should not be included in your tax return. You should not declare income from ISAs and PEPs.
--
L\'escargot.
|
I haven't filled in a tax return for many years and probably even well before I retired early, which is now 11 years. So it isnt something I have instigated.
I do recall it was similar to writing a book at the time.
Will ask them on Monday and report their answer.
Thanks again.
wemyss
|
wemyss,
Unless your circumstances are very complicated it's a doddle. Once complete, I keep a photo copy with explanatory notes as to where the various bits of income originate so as to make it even easier for the next time. Incidentally, when you get a notice of coding it's worth checking that the estimated income for the relevant year (on which your personal allowance is based) is realistic.
--
L\'escargot.
|
L?Escargot, I rang the tax office and unfortunately they are correct. As they stated for every £2.00 over £20100 your allowance drops by £1.00.
Even as she was talking I suddenly realised I had been taking my Civil Service figures from last years statements and not the recent one which would take me above the limit, so it wasn?t ISAs and Peps. I have always been careful in keeping the tax down by utilising the wifes tax allowance but there?s no escape route when your paymaster is the state.
Talking about getting my arithmetic wrong I?m not the only one. Have been in the process of changing all my Insurances over to one Company who cater for older persons including cars and house etc.
In the process of reading the payment schedules by direct debit I checked their one payment of one of xxx and 11 by xxx.
They were all well out and gave them a call. ?Its about your arithmetic on my quotes? I said. ?I know what you?re going to say? he replied. ?Its not just yours, we have sent out countless ones which don?t add up.? So even the mighty??.
wemyss
|
|
|
|
|
Off to Leeds this week on a shopping trip with my dearly beloved (oh joy!). I've never been before so where is the best place to park in the centre? I'll be coming on the M62 from the east.
Thanks in advance.
|
Nick, am afraid there is no such thing as parking in Leeds so I am afraid you will just need to drop her off and arrange to pick her up later in the day.
Really really sorry bout that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
[Dotted line shows where you need to cut this out once you have printed it for her !] :)
--
2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS
|
|
Not sure I'll get away with that but a good try!
|
Park up at a railway station on the periphery. This does not work if you anticipate carrying lots of shopping bags...sneak off for a few beers after buying her something nice & unexpected, leaving SWMBO quality time to shop on her own in the afternoon. I can recommend several excellent city centre pubs, good beer and food, and hopefully you will also be contentedly chauffered home.
Good luck
|
Parking at one of the periphery stations is a good suggestion, except you need to be at most of them before commuters get there.
For parking in the centre we always use 'The Light'. Not the cheapest, but it's patrolled and very central. www.thelightleeds.co.uk
|
|
As mentioned, The Light is excellent and there's a rather nice cinema with comfy seats and big screens right next to the car park.
|
|
Looks like the Light it is. Many thanks for the ideas.
|
|
|
|
Spotted this thread in IHAQ 192.
FWIW I had something put on the dish that feeds 4 receivers. I have a feed to the front of the downstairs of the house where the telly used to be, a feed to the rear of downstairs where the telly is, and a feed to the kids playroom upstairs.
The receiver downstairs is on contract, the one receiver upstairs just receives free view channels but with a lovely clear signal. It is possible to get a receiver off eBay for not much and get freeview without worrying about cards and phonelines and all that.
The thing on the dish cost £100 fitted. No doubt you could buy a lot cheaper from Maplins or something, but i wouldn't know how to fit it.
|
>>and get freeview without worrying about cards and phonelines and all that.>>
You can't get Freeview on satellite - it's a digital terrestial service.
Freesat is the satellite FTA offered by Sky.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
You'll get free channels from Sky though, you may need a card plenty on e-bay.
|
Freesat is free satellite - despite sky doing their best to make everyone think that you need sky to get anything off satellite that isnt the case.
You get free channels without SKy. All sky do is rent space on a particular satellite. You can pick up the un-encrypted signals with other receivers.
But as has been said freeview is only terrestrial.
|
|
|
|
Does anybody know of an effective insect repellant please. I am having trouble with my flies!
VBR.......MD
|
I use Bayer's 'Autan', which seems to repel horse-flies and other small beasties OK.
ISTR some talk of an Avon skin care product that's very good against mossies. If I find out what it is, I'll add it on here.
|
|
Avon Skin so Soft is supposed to be good - a walking colleague swears by it. For Indian and Far Eastern trips we have always used Mosquito Milk and never had a bite. It's not cheap - about £6 for a roll on deodorant size, but it lasts ages. We had trouble finding it last time we needed some, but Boots online had it.
|
I was advised by a medical man to use anything containing 'deet' (diethyltoluamide - I think), although I was warned that deet is carcinogenic (cancer causing). He says it's effective in this country, and the only recommendation for other countries.
I've been using it now for several years to great effect. I've previously had some very curious effects of insect bites, once being put on anti-biotics for suspected blood poisoning, so I'm prepared to accept the carcinogen risk.
The last time I bought any was 'Jungle formula' brand, a liquid in a small, rectangular, white plastic bottle, with green lettering. I haven't seen it around lately, but have been told it (or other deet based products) may be available in specialist camping shops.
|
Deet is excellent but pretty powerful. One holiday in Africa I used it and it destroyed the plastic face of the Swatch watch I was wearing. Hugely effective though, I've been through some pretty nasty trips in terms of flies and Deet has kept me pretty much bite free. Make sure you read the instructions and follow them carefully. iirc, it's so nasty it's banned in the states.
Same goes for anti-malarial stuff, give me Lariam everytime over the two pill regime. Again, Lariam is a bit more agressive (can send you loopy apparently) but I'd go for the stronger path everytime, considering the damage malaria will do to you.
Actually, you didn't ask about Malaria, but I've typed all that now and don't want to delete it!!
(SWMBO took the avon stuff to Greece last year, it was useless. The packaging says nothing about being a repellant, mainly because it isn't).
My (uninformed) opinions only, your mileage may vary
-- Biggedy biggedy bong
|
|
|
|
A close relative has been diagnosed with this very unpleasant 'syndrome'. While there is plenty of information on the Web, a lot of it conflicting, I would be grateful if anyone with close personal knowledge of treatments and recovery times etc, would either post here or e mail me - see profile. On the basis that it only affects 2 people per 100,000 of the population I am thinking that I won't get many replies which is good, in a way, as it is very unpleasant and debilitating. Thanks in advance.
|
Thank you Buzbee - that was very informative. Relative is 4 days in hospital with no firm diagnosis, yet, one way or the other.
|
|
|
|
We bought a rug in the middle of June, and to our annoyance it is still moulting.
Like new carpet, we expected a bit of malting but after nearly two months it's still moulting like brand new.
Any ideas on how to stop it?
Thanks
----------------------------------------------
Aim low, expect nothing & don't be disappointed
Spelling altered in subject line and OP's edit edited in IYKWIM - PI
|
You need to consult the place from where it was bought. Seek their advice and register your concerns. It may have a problem and this is the first steps for resolution.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
|
|
|
Some time ago, I was sent a link to a site where there was a puzzle that needed to be solved. It involved a bunch of stick men, who would fire balls, arrows, etc around the screen and who needed to be placed in the right spot and carry out orders in sequence to solve the problem.
If you've seen it you'll know what I'm talking about and may be able to help me find it again. Anyone?
V
|
Vin,
I know the game that you're refering to, but cannot remember the name either. Last time I saw it was on a website called www.whowantsabalti.co.uk in either the games or links section (deliberately made non clickable because of adult content on that website - you have been warned) Had I not been using my work pc, I would have looked up the name of it for you.
|
Vin,
I think the game you're refering to was called Hapland. A google locates many hits, eg:-
hapland.freeonlinegames.com/
There are 2 other versions as well.
hapland-2.freeonlinegames.com/
www.vectorfun.com/game/hapland_3_3068.htm
|
|
|
|
|
Not sure if it has your game, but it is a good starting place to look - and waste lots of time! tinyurl.com/2vddvc
|
Thank you all - that's an evening well wasted!
V
|
|
|
|
|
Would anyone have any idea where I can get hold of a 20 metre retractable washing line? Wherever I look I can only find 15 metre ones, which are not long enough for the gap between two trees in our garden!
Many thanks,
DB
|
Just done a quick Google but 15M seems to be the limit.
Why not buy two retractables (one 15M and one 5M or 10M), fasten one to each tree and join them up as necessary?
Still cost under about £12.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
I was going to suggest the same. Two 12m ones (some on eBay) with a climbers quick-release carabiner to connect them together. Outdoors shops sometimes sell cheap carabiners for a couple of quid...
|
|
My experience of a retractable clothes line is they are rubbish! Ours is very thin and stretches with the weight of clothes.
|
|
|
|
hmm! if you fasten one to each tree, when you're pullin them out of the reel, and you reach the end of either the 5m one or the 10m one it would be rather interesting to see how you reach the end of the other one to join them up!! i've googled e-bay but cant find anyone selling either 5m or 10m arms to help you! ;-)
|
Don't they have string round your way?
|
|
|
|
I'd assumed a ratchet mech locks in positions but don't have one. I'll be amused as well if that is not the case.
|
I though of this too, but then realised they have a kind of cleat. You pull your line out and wrap it round the cleat. So you can pull out 10 metres and wrap round the cleat to keep it out, then got the other one
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
|
|
|
|
|
|
A fully utilised 20 metre retractable will be under plenty of strain with damp washing. Maybe this is why they do not sell one.
Having worked in the retail pet trade for many years, I use a 20 metre dog tie out cable (NOT tie out chain) as my washing line. These are very strong, can be wiped clean and have a strong trigger hook at each end. I simply clip on to 2 large hooks which are securely screwed onto my home and garage walls...and if I need longer I clip onto the rain gutter above the back door of my Defender (yes honestly).Works a treat....and no I have never driven off with the washing attached.
|
The seemingly obvious answer would be to have a 20m stretch of clothes line between the two trees...:-)
Our garden isn't all that long, but we have three lines arranged in a triangle and it's almost certainly a lot more than 20m in total.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
Thanks Stuart, however I did think of this. The only problem is as the trees are more than 15 metres apart I would need long arms, or an additional person....
Maybe a variation of your idea, ie tagging another bit of line on to the end of the 15m retractable, would work...
DB
|
>>ie tagging another bit of line on to the end of the 15m retractable, would work...ie tagging another bit of line on to the end of the 15m retractable, would work...>>
I did think of that as well, but reckoned it would defeat the object of being retractable if you still have 5M or so left over...:-)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
|
in Signatures.
Now I know this may be trivial, but the forum options - signature - doesn't allow quote marks ' . Can't think it's much more than two minutes coding to fix it (replace ' with {slash} {slash} ' can someone point this query towards Stephen at Khoosys?
Thanks
Lee.
-- Biggedy biggedy bong
|
|
|
After the instant success of my last question above, I thought I'd try this one.
I've found a ring for SWMBO. Unfortunately, as we were impecunious young rascals when we married, the wedding ring is 9ct. The ring I'd like to get her is 14ct.
One of those "everyone says" bits of advice is "Don't mix different grades of gold on the same finger, one'll wear the other one out". I've had a brief look round the web and found little in the way of good hard advice.
Does anyone on here have the expert knowledge to know whether these two grades could be mixed?
V
|
9ct gold is harder than 14ct because it is less pure, but once on the finger the amount of movement between the two rings that would cause abrasion, and hence "wearing" would be so miniscule as to be irrelevent. Certainly no worse than a gold ring next to an "other" metal engagement/eternity ring, which most women seem to routinly wear for years with no problems.
|
According to 'er indoors, gold migrates from the purer ring to the less pure ring. No scientific proof was offered so I reckon it's just an old wife's tale!
--
L\'escargot.
|
According to 'er indoors gold migrates from the purer ring to the less pure ring. No scientific proof was offered
It probably does diffuse from the purer into the less pure. But so what? She is unlikely to wear it out in your lifetime, I'd guess.
|
|
|
|
|
It will make no difference over a whole lifetime of "normal" wear. If a ring is of so-called "white gold", which I'd avoid, there's a vague chance that dirt on the rings will spead up the wearing of the plating, but I wouldn't even worry about that. N.B. even your 14ct. gold ring has only just over half gold content!
|
If a ring is of so-called "white gold" which I'd avoid there's a vague chance that dirt on the rings will spead up the wearing of the plating
White gold is an alloy. It is white all the way through. It is not plated.
(White gold is white because of the alloying elements. Put a lot of copper in, and it comes out pink. Keep the copper out, and it comes out white. It's all about electrons.)
|
|
Gold is pretty durable and doesn't corrode by combining with oxygen or indeed with almost anything else. The only thing that will eat rapidly into it is mercury, which also dissolves silver and platinum. Used to be used in gold extraction and for all I know still is, although it is forbidden by h&s wonks these days being rather poisonous. So there's no need to advise yr wife against washing her hands in the stuff.
|
I wear a 22ct indian gold wedding ring and a (i think) 9ct ring on adjacent fingers have done for the last 10 years with no ill effects for either.
The only thing that might be of concern is the difference in colour between the two.
Nothings gonna happen to them in your lifetime.
----------------------------------------------
Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
|
|
|
|
White gold is an alloy. It is white all the way through. It is not plated.
Much of it *is* plated, especially at the "cheaper" end. See:
www.gold.org/jewellery/technology/colours/white.ht...l (etc.)
or any proper jeweller.
|
|
Vin, have sent you an email re gold.
|
Just been told of this usefull cheap trick for re-shaping bent, damaged or mis-shapen rings!
Go into a public house, buy a pint, and have a game of pool or snooker, whilst you are waiting to take your turn, slide the damaged ring over the tip of the cue, and slide it down the cue until it is a tight fit all around, the cue acts as a "mandrel" and when the ring is removed it will be perfectly circular!!!
|
|
When I was in engineering I used the shank of a taper shank drill through my wedding ring and into a morse taper sleeve, quick tap with a Brummigum screwdriver, job done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have a cheap old electric coolbox which isn't very efficient and needs replacing, does anyone have any recommendations? I don't need heating, just efficient cooling. Would be useful if it ran off the mains as well as 12v, but not critical.
|
Just over 2 years ago I bought a large chest cool box from Halfords (their own brand) for about £50 plus £20 for a mains transformer. It continues to work well. I found out that the cigarette lighter socket in my car only works with the ignition on, so thats why I bought the mains charger to cool it before putting it in the car.
However it has now been consigned to my utility room as a permanent cool box to store fresh greens for my daughter's rabbits. It has been used continuously for over 18 months in this mode and is probably causing more wear than intended. When it finally packs up I will buy a proper fridge.
--
Roger
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
|
How about this:
www.bullnet.co.uk/shops/test/peltier.htm
Lots more if you google peltier.
|
|
|
|
My BIL has just about finished building his steam lorry. He has to move it up a slope of about 15/20 degrees to put it away after shows/exhibitions etc.
He intends to install an electric winch to pull it up this slope and into the garage, but the question is how powerfull a winch does he need?
The lorry weighs about 500Kg
It is fitted with original Mini hubs and bearings.
It has "road" style pneumatic tyres fitted, approximately 12 inches in diameter.
I cannot find a suitable equation on the net to help solve the problem.
No, he cannot drive it up, it will not be in steam!
|
Stretching back to A-level maths....2 elements to consider (well 3, but I'll get to that!). First: the weight (ok, it's strictly force, but weight will do!) of the model acting down the slope: this is 500 x cos (90-n) where n is the angle of the slope to the horizontal. For a 20° slope this is 500 cos70 which gives approx 170kg. Second: the force required to overcome the friction in the model. More difficult to calculate, but you could estimate by trying to pull it along a level floor using a force gauge, or pushing it using the bathroom scales - probably greater in a wet field at the end of a show though! Add the 2 together and you will find the effective weight the winch needs to pull. I don't know how winches are sized - possibly in watts? Which is where the 3rd element comes in - how fast does it need to move? Faster = more watts (but the same pull in kg or N).
Could all be rubbish though - just buy one big enough to pull a car and away you go!
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
|
Theres a goodly selection here, but I'm not sure if by electric winch you mean 240v, if it is then I think you may find it harder/more expensive to find /buy. Most handy sized winches seem to be 12/24v and will have far more power than you will ever need, We in our boating club often winch boats heading towards the tonne mark up onto thier trailers using manual winches, so a marine/boating outlet may also be another source for you to try.
www.electricwinches.co.uk/newproducts.htm
|
This site has a table of capacities for Superwinch electric winches:
www.winchwarehouse.co.uk/winches/trailer_winches.a...x
A gradient of 20 degrees is about 1:2.75 or 36%, so call it 40% for the tables. (I think 36% is correct isnt it?!)
500kg is approx. 1100lbs.
How long is the slope/ length of pull required? The lighter duty ones have shorter cables. Also according to that link, the winch loses 13% pulling power for each extra row of wire on the drum.
Will he ever need to pull a car up the slope? Like RichardW says, why not get one with plenty of spare capacity to suit other eventualities?
Also how is he going to anchor the winch at the top of the slope?
|
There are probably a few loadcases to consider;
1) Gradient - simply m*g * sin (theta), where theta is the angle of the slope
2) Steps - effectively, you can estimate an equivalent gradient, by considering the geometry of the wheel, and the maximum step size you are likely to encounter
3) Rolling resistance - as per Richard's post, some scales or a force gauge can be used to estimate this
Whatever the worst case load is, you then need to apply a large safety factor. You need at least a factor of 2 to cover any potential sudden application of load, say if the rope takes up suddenly, or the vehicle rocks back. You then need to multiply this by a further factor to account for uncertainty in your loads estimation - typically this will be between 1.1 and 1.5. These factors should be included in the determination of safe working load by the equipment manufacturer, but it's best to check.
You will also need to consider fatigue loading, typically, this can be covered by doing annual proof loadings above the normal working load to ensure there are no cracks growing in the highly stressed parts. A similar regime to boiler tests really.
As far as power goes, that will simply govern how quickly you can move the lorry. Power=force * speed.
On a practical note, I would always suggest that one person controls the winch, and one person is on or by the vehicle and can apply the brake of the winch fails. Yes, I've been there!, and I was lucky to have an apprentice in the car, who yanked the handbrake on PDQ, and prevented a nasty accident.
Number_Cruncher
|
|
|
|
|
Can anyone recommend a good online supplier of cartridges for Canon printers, running low at the moment and have lost the address of my last supplier.
|
Originals at a dicount or compatibles? On the basis that there is a rumour that compatibles can wreck your printer, after a while, many people stick to maker's own. I reckon that if your printer does cease to work properly it can be replaced so cheaply that compatibles are an acceptable risk. I get them from a frim called IJT Direct at www.ijtdirect.com. No Connection other than as a satisfied customer!
|
|
I buy Canon cartridges from www.dabs.com, need to do so today actually.
|
I have used Choicestationery for quite a long time.
I believe they get the best ratings for inkjet suppies from the computer magazines.
tinyurl.com/yowruk
wemyss
|
|
Looking for good compatibles.
|
I've used compatibles for 11 years - the first printer I bought in May 1996 was a Canon BJC600e (cost £360 at Makro) and, apart from the original cartridges, I either refilled the four cartridges or used compatibles.
In November 2005 I bought an Epson R300, like the BJC600e able to do both text and photos (the latter its main design criteria).
Epson genuine cartridges are around £12 each and it takes six in total. The cost is obvious.
Instead, I pay around £4 per set of six compatibles from www.diskdepot.co.uk, buying several sets at a time to make the most of the delivery charge.
These compatible cartridges appear to be exactly the same as sold on e-Bay and some retail outlets at higher prices when compared side by side - the ones from the link given are badged Sumvision, of MP3 players and other computer products fame.
Epson printers are known for playing up if using poor quality inks, but mine has never given any trouble. It's an excellent printer but the Canon, build quality wise, was in a higher league.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
|
|
Try here at www.premier-ink.co.uk/acatalog/CANON.htm - use them for my son's iP1500, the black compatibles start at £1.99, genuine at £4.99. 99p delivery, and always arrive next day.
|
I quickly went back to Canon originals when the compatibles I tried did not print photos accurately. I even thought the printer had a problem. Put originals back in and all fine.
I try to watch for deals through PCWorld online. Then order them for store pickup and save. Yes they are more expensive but finding compatibles that were truly comparable could have been costly. Canon cartridges I find are value for money and last ages without chips to trick you into thinking they are empty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Shell (motoring link){nice try --> kicks over to IHAQ - DD} credit card has changed from Visa to Mastercard, I tried to use it today to shop online, it was rejected on the basis of being registered outside of the UK.
Could this be because it is issued by Citi who are, I assume, US based? If so it is a bad move by Shell despite the 1% cash back.
Anyone else had this problem?
|
|
The Halifax has also just changed over to Mastercard and they inform me that they have struck a new business deal with Mastercard. Leaving Visa behind.
|
|
|
|
more likely the card type has been incorrectly set up by whoever configured your on-line's shop EFT.
|
|
A lot of suppliers are changing(some asking if you want to change) from Visa to Mastercard-must be some good deals for them.Just had one asking if I wanted to change to AMERICAN EXPRESS.
|
|
|
|
|
I know nothing about trees.
We have (or used to have) what we think is a twisted hazel in our front garden. For five years it looked unusual and grew very slowly with twisted branches. This year it has suddenly started growing straight branches (why) and going like the clappers, and to our surprise is bearing hazelnuts for the first time. We did not even know it was a hazel until these nuts appeared, my girlfriend has been calling it a twisted willow for years!
We assume these nuts will be edible, or are there edible and non-edible varieties? What time of year will we be able to pick them; they are green at the moment, so will wait for them to go brown, but do you pick them at around the same time you pick chestnuts?
It has increased about a third in size/ bulk just this year (now about 6' tall). If we prune only the straight bits will it encourage the twisted bits to grow a bit quicker?
Yours green-fingeredly,
Rich.
{Moves to correct place in thread, as per the PLEASE NOTE message at the top - DD}
|
You have a contorta. Pretty plants. Found this for you.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gard...l
That article indicates that it is a form of our normal, wild hazel, so yes the nuts should be perfectly edible. NB, this does not constitute advice, or a recommendation to eat them.
It is a very good year for fruit this year, so I guess that is why it is fruiting for the first time ever.
I'd be inclined to blame the rain for the straight branches as it has encouraged vigorous growth. My instinct would be to chop them off.
|
|
|
If it's producing hazelnuts, yes they are edible. We pick ours when they look right.
Just bear in mind that if you let the straight branches grow, they will overwhelm the twisted ones in no time - the plant's just reverting to its natural rather than mutated form. So if you want it twisted, you need to cut out the straight shoots at the base (and so on forever).
V
|
Thats great info., thanks folks.
You're right the straight branches are already overwhelming the twisted bits. Some of the links say prune in late spring, can we not do it sooner, as soon as we've picked the nuts? Will it kill it if we prune in the wrong season (winter)?
|
You are unlikely to kill it by early pruning (again, this does not constitute advice; if you do kill it, well that was unforseen circumstances). However I imagine that it has pretty catkins in the early spring. These grow on last year's wood. So if you prune in the autumn there is not the old wood, so you won't get (as many) catkins next spring.
By the end of the spring, the catkins have finished flowering and so you can prune.
On the other hand, the other attraction of the contorta is the twisted stems during the winter. If you don't prune it this autumn, you won't see them.
Personally, I'd lop them off after collecting the nuts. HOWEVER, I bet you find that there are no nuts on those bits.
The catkins grow on last year's wood. To grow a nut, you must first start with a catkin. So if it is this year's growth.... you can prune it now. In fact, I guess you 'forgot' to prune it in late spring.
HTH!
|
We have had a small one for a few years growing in a pot.
This is the third year that a few nuts have appeared.
We watched the nuts going brown two years ago and so did a local squirrel.
Much to SWMBO's mirth, the nuts were protected by glass jars which did foil the tree rats.
|
Thanks again Mapmaker. I think I will prune a bit of it this year to improve the appearance, but leave some straight bits for next year. You're right, AFAIK the nuts are only on the straight branches. I'll have a better look at it tonight with my new-found knowledge!
I don't expect to have a squirrel issue we never see them around our area. No doubt they will appear from nowhere when the nuts are ripening nicely.. Having said that we found a small hole dug in the garden a few days ago, looked too big for a squirrel to have done it, but I'll keep an eye out for them.
Cheers,
Rich.
|
The straight stems are growing at the expense of the twisted ones. If you want a twisted hazel, you'll lose it if you don't ruthlessly prune every single straight stem. If you want hazelnuts, why not buy a normal hazelnut bush?
V
|
Rather than just lop-off this new growth and lose the next years Catkins/Nuts, it may be possible to "train" them to twist whilst they are young and supple. Something like they use when training young Bonsai trees such as this?
tinyurl.com/275l3x
|
A twisted hazel (corylus contorta) is a weak strain of genetically inferior hazel. You basically have the choice. Strong growth and plenty of hazelnuts if you let the straight stuff take over or nice looking twisty growth and nice looks in the winter but few, if any, hazelnuts. No amount of twisting the straight growth is going to make it think it's twisted.
V
|
If you get straight bits it's because it's been grafted onto an ordinary rootstock to make it more vigorous. It's possible to get ungrafted versions but they're not so vigorous. (The same principle applies to roses.) The straight bits are suckers off the rootstock and the sooner they are removed the better. If possible remove the straight bits at the point at which they come out of the rootstock ~ if necessary below ground level. You don't need the straight bits to get hazels and nuts ~ they'll form just the same on the twisted bits.
--
L\'escargot.
|
........... hazels and nuts ~ they'll form just the same ........
........catkins and nuts
--
L\'escargot.
|
I had a better look at it last night. There is a central main trunk that is straight but until this year we had not noticed it as it was concealed by the twisted bits; but this has put a spurt on this year and shot out straight branches sideways for the first time.
We're not that bothered about the nuts, its the unexpected appearance of them and the novelty value of having things growing in the garden we can eat!
There are two straight suckers coming up from ground level so I'm going to cut them off tonight, plus any other straight bits without nuts. Then wait till after the nut 'harvest' and prune a lot of the straights off.
Now I've looked at it though, we dont want to get rid of *all* the straight bits as the corkscrew part is such a sorry-looking thing, but I will keep them in check next year.
Some of the links say they like chalky soil and we have sandy clay round our way so that might be why it has grown so slowly up until this year. Presumably its put some better roots down this year so the corkscrew bits might grow better next year.
Cheers,
Rich.
|
>>Presumably its put some better roots down this year
Unlikely. The rain means that it won't have had to bother growing its roots this year. Waste of effort - instead it has put its effort into the top.
|
|
|
I accidently clicked on 305 on the page nos at the top of the page, and it took me back to Aug 2002. Was like a lille timewarp! and was interesting to see the topics of discusion haven't changed much over the last 5 years!. lot of old names no-longer heard from, lot of things br'ers predicted have now come to pass! Just wondered how many Br's now trawl the Archives?
Ah! nostalgia!, I for one am going to spend a bit more time in them reminicing, and to see if things really have changed for the better!
|
|
The official archive goes back to May 02, although longer serving members of the BR may remember the original HJ site around 2000 I think. Can be fun looking at old subjects, particularly the endless debates on car satisfaction surveys etc. but generally I like to look forward. What's in the past is just that.
|
|
|
|
