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Consumer Affairs

Queueing as a form of life

Yesterday (Saturday) I was obliged to go food shopping – not a task I particularly enjoy at this time of year. Earlier in the week I had been to Sainsburys and found myself shocked by the sheer volume of numbers. I am certain this is a feature of growing older – you become gradually less [...]

December 7, 2014 // 0 Comments

Investing in companies: the Tickler test

When it comes to investing in shares you get all manner of recommendations based on varying criteria. Some quote the price earnings ratio formula: the market value divided by the earnings per share. I do not want to get too technical here as I have probably lost the reader already, but the problem [...]

November 26, 2014 // 0 Comments

The test of time

I have  always been a Longines man myself, as was my father. With its classic elegance and large dial, I prefer it to the more ostentatious Rolex or the fussier Tagheuer or Breitling. You are less likely to get mugged with it too. I was chatting about this  to my p/a Polly who has exquisite [...]

November 11, 2014 // 0 Comments

The old ways are the best

Call me old-fashioned if you will but, when it comes to shopping and services, I prefer the personal touch, I get quite a lot of flak as an outdated dinosaur but recent experience proves I am not such a silly old buffer. I wanted four tickets for the two World Cup rugby games at the Amex. This [...]

October 3, 2014 // 0 Comments

Changing times

This new tax disc business on motor vehicles is a bit of a rum thing, don’t you think? I renewed mine about a month ago, so I’m presuming that I can keep it exhibited on my car window until eleven months from now – but is that right? Am I going to be getting a tap on the shoulder from the [...]

October 2, 2014 // 0 Comments

Wealth advice

Typically a wealth advisor charges one to one-and-a-half per cent of the sum you give him or her to manage. He will also be required to identify your risk profile. Most classify themselves as cautious investors which results in a safer though lower return of say 3%.  So if you give them [...]

September 22, 2014 // 0 Comments

An opportunity missed

There is a particular track on the 1986 Van Morrison album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher that resonates with me for entirely personal and sentimental reasons. A couple of months ago I was talking to a lady of about my own age who works in the local travel agents’ shop. Over the course of some [...]

September 20, 2014 // 0 Comments

A visit to the Rolls Royce factory

Yesterday I was invited to a guided tour of Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce is owned by BMW who acquired the name when Volkswagen bought the company as well as Bentley. After a dispute BMW were allowed to manufacture and built a plant on the Goodwood Estate in Sussex. On visiting it, I was immediately [...]

September 17, 2014 // 0 Comments

Brave new audio world

Yesterday I had a Sonos audio system installed. I am very much a Luddite but I started with a simple brief: a system that worked in every room. I have a friend who has moved to Poole who has such a system so I followed his advice. Box after box arrived in advance of the installation on Thursday and [...]

September 13, 2014 // 0 Comments

Fading away

The media is awash today with reports and reviews of the new Apple Smartwatch and iPhone 6 – see here for a typical example on the website of THE GUARDIAN As a senior citizen, I’ve long held the opinion that the relentless march of new technology is a reliable yardstick by which the descent of [...]

September 10, 2014 // 0 Comments

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