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Messages - CiKe

#1
General discussion / Re: TV Show recommendations
November 02, 2023, 09:47:57 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on November 02, 2023, 12:37:05 PM
Quote from: gerrykeegan on October 19, 2023, 12:27:39 PMDear Child is well worth a watch, 6 episodes, you'll find you will binge them. Germany made and will be dubbed on Netflix but if you can get over that I would highly recommend.
4 episodes into this (subtitles, f**k that dubbing shite), it is really excellent so far, I'm hoping the finish doesn't let it down.

Good show alright, well worth a watch.
#2
General discussion / Re: Mortgages - Help!
August 31, 2023, 04:42:22 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 31, 2023, 03:12:17 PM
Quote from: Rois on August 31, 2023, 03:04:46 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 31, 2023, 02:07:42 PM
Spain based, so slightly different but I switched from a variable to a 5 year fixed there last month. Payment has jumped 30 quid a month but now also includes my home insurance, so to all intents and purposes I'm paying the same. I'm at 1.79% instead of 4.9%.
5 year fixed at 1.79%?? That's amazing.
Short term rates are higher because of inflation.. Infation is exppected to disappear within 5 years

Yes but the banks don't tell you that and 99.9% of people won't know what a swap rate or term structure is. But even if you do, then you still have to make a call about whether you think those long term rates are fair or not. If you can afford it well enough, I'd go fixed and know what you are getting. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

Only good investment decision I have made was fixing about 18months ago at 0.7% for 25 years. It's criminal that long-term fixed rates weren't available back home.
#3
Quote from: CiKe on August 22, 2023, 11:33:52 AM
Quote from: JPGJOHNNYG on August 22, 2023, 08:08:44 AM
I'm in Greece at the minute and nearly all the fires here have been started deliberately. It's heartbreaking to see so much destruction caused by a few pricks. The latest fires in the north east have been started by illegal immigrants who are trying to keep the authorities busy. Burn half a county f**k the consequences the death and destruction. Can't understand the mentality

A fireman I know who has been fighting these fires told me that they have feck all to do with a carelessly discarded cigarette butt - they're not sufficient to start a fire. All the major fires are deliberate, either cos someone is just a c*nt or because of some dispute with the neighbour where they try to burn some land and things get out of control (which is apparently WAY more common than you would think, at least here in Spain).

On basis of last few comments about climate deniers (not sure if I got lumped in there), to be clear, I am not denying climate change at all. What I am saying is that a fireman here in Spain has told me that the vast majority of these fires are not being started by climate change or discarded cigarette butts, they are being started by arson. Climate change undeniably makes the impact far worse as everything is bone dry, but if you could eliminate the firestarters, we'd see many less fires.

One fireman, take of that what you will, if other people have heard different am happy to hear what they have been told.
#4
Quote from: JPGJOHNNYG on August 22, 2023, 08:08:44 AM
I'm in Greece at the minute and nearly all the fires here have been started deliberately. It's heartbreaking to see so much destruction caused by a few pricks. The latest fires in the north east have been started by illegal immigrants who are trying to keep the authorities busy. Burn half a county f**k the consequences the death and destruction. Can't understand the mentality

A fireman I know who has been fighting these fires told me that they have feck all to do with a carelessly discarded cigarette butt - they're not sufficient to start a fire. All the major fires are deliberate, either cos someone is just a c*nt or because of some dispute with the neighbour where they try to burn some land and things get out of control (which is apparently WAY more common than you would think, at least here in Spain).
#5
General discussion / Re: Holidays
August 04, 2023, 11:10:39 PM
When are you going to San Sebastian? Week of 14th August is "Semana Grande". Place is packed with "gabachos" (derogatory slang for French) all August, but the place is absolutely bunged that week.

Food on offer in my mother in law"s is top notch so not as clued in on eateries as I would like to be. Bokado above the Acquarium is nice but pricey, Taberna la Jarana above the port is another nice spot. Both more sit down restaurants. Tapas wise, Atari in the old town opposite Santa Maria del Coro cathedral is always bunged, but to be honest I'd try and stay away from the old town/parte vieja (confusingly not to be confused with "El Antiguo"). El Lobo on Calle Raso is decent (another one in Gros, few good places that same street in Gros)

If you are there for a period of time and cash to splash, look beyond SS itself and eat out in Hondarribia, Zarautz and Getaria. "Besugo" (sea bream), "rodaballo" (turbot), "mero" (grouper) and "lubina" (sea bass) be my fish of choice (rodaballo decidedly less so, but is a bit of a speciality there).

Food in the cafes on La Concha itself (La Perla and another one) not particularly good, would avoid them, other than for a coffee or cocktail with nice view. Narru nearby probably a better bet.
#6
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
June 21, 2023, 10:57:30 AM
Sorry to read that, Jim was a gentleman.
#7
General discussion / Re: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
December 10, 2022, 12:05:53 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on December 09, 2022, 11:40:29 PM
The media love in with messi would make you vomit. I really think the guy on the pitch is a wizard but seeing him against Poland initially then tonight it tends to muddy the waters

I would have loved to see him win it, not so sure anymore. Read that it was Weghorst who he made the "what you looking at, fool?" comment to before his interview. Wonder did Weghorst say anything, not very classy in any case, two goal supersub and rolled in his penalty.
#8
General discussion / Re: Barcelona
August 10, 2022, 09:45:33 PM
Quote from: BrotherMore6592 on August 09, 2022, 07:33:02 PM
It's like an episode of Narcos except in footballing terms

Cut from the same cloth as the Mexican cartels those spaniards , Laporta et al

Now now, a lot of those Barca supporters wouldn't take kindly to having you call them Spaniards...and a lot of Spaniards wouldn't take kindly to being lumped in with Barca fans!

Not followed it closely but De Jong certainly seems to be wronged, hard to blame it at all if they negotiated and signed a shitty contract in the first place and then could only "delay" rather than reduce payment when no-one else in their right mind would have paid him anywhere close to what he was getting.

Salaries of most of the team, absolutely ridiculous.
#9
Quote from: Franko on July 29, 2022, 12:06:35 PM
Quote from: johnnycool on July 29, 2022, 11:35:24 AM
Quote from: CiKe on July 29, 2022, 11:10:56 AM
It's not semantics. It's two entirely different things. The second of which - the actual policy - you may entirely disagree with.

However what he did was tantamount to insubordination. If Starmer hadn't reacted strongly, he would have basically said "I am a weak leader" and opened himself up to more of same.

Being a strong leader with weak policies isn't a good look and the reason Sam Tarry probably felt he'd to show some sort of solidarity with striking workers is that the Labour party under Starmer is weak in this regard and a few other areas.

Couldn't have put it better.

Starmer hasn't much chance of winning back the old red wall seats with nonsense like this

Actions like this show him to be what a lot suspected he is - a man without the stomach for the big fights (that he should be fighting - IMO) but who'll happily wield the axe when the opposition is weaker

I don't disagree with either of you.
#10
General discussion / Re: Cost Of Living
July 29, 2022, 11:13:08 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on July 29, 2022, 10:56:07 AM
Quote from: CiKe on July 29, 2022, 10:08:09 AM
In relation to talk of heating crises in winter, are we going over the top? Be rare enough in Ireland to go much below 0º.

Now I am not trying to downplay things, it sure as hell aint ideal and won't be comfortable and might be downright uncomfortable for some, particularly OAPs. But I'd say 99% of homes were colder when we were kids and you'd have thrown on thick blankets or another jumper etc to stay warm and you' be more or less grand. What we have come through the last few years, in some ways I'd be a bit surprised if the majority weren't sort of able to take it reasonably in our stride.

I'd say that is true, I grew up in a house that didnt have central heating and when we did get it my mum and dad had more kids so we were put up into a converted attic, now when I say converted I just mean the sides closed off lino put down papered and three beds shoved into whatever space was left, no quilts in those days just your American native bed blankets, winter was freezing so sleeping undercovers was essential or wearing a hat lol!!

Ah the craic was mighty lol

I still remember the itchy bloody blankets from the grandparents place where we were three to a bed. Don't see them much anymore, kept you warm though. Hot water bottles also par for the course.
#11
It's not semantics. It's two entirely different things. The second of which - the actual policy - you may entirely disagree with.

However what he did was tantamount to insubordination. If Starmer hadn't reacted strongly, he would have basically said "I am a weak leader" and opened himself up to more of same.
#12
General discussion / Re: Cost Of Living
July 29, 2022, 10:08:09 AM
In relation to talk of heating crises in winter, are we going over the top? Be rare enough in Ireland to go much below 0º.

Now I am not trying to downplay things, it sure as hell aint ideal and won't be comfortable and might be downright uncomfortable for some, particularly OAPs. But I'd say 99% of homes were colder when we were kids and you'd have thrown on thick blankets or another jumper etc to stay warm and you' be more or less grand. What we have come through the last few years, in some ways I'd be a bit surprised if the majority weren't sort of able to take it reasonably in our stride.
#13
Quote from: seafoid on July 28, 2022, 10:01:18 PM
Quote from: Main Street on July 28, 2022, 12:38:11 AM
Quote from: RedHand88 on July 14, 2022, 01:43:01 PM
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/rail-strike-27-july-network-trains-b2122302.html?amp

Rejecting a 4% pay rise backdated to January may cost them alot of support...
Lose support of a lot of which people and what exactly are you basing that on?
I do accept that supposed neutrals such as  BBC are overly focused on the negative side effects of rail disruptions, applying responsibility for such effects onto Mad Mike  and not onto the various rail bosses and the various tory warts and tumors  who refuse to negotiate a deal with the Unions.
I should add the Labour party are about as effective as a fleabag.
Starmer is a neoliberal. He sacked shadow Transport   Minister Sam Tarry for joining a picket about rail safety .
The UK is in crisis. An Tuaisceart doesn't even have a Parliament that's open

Incorrect. He sacked him for opening his mouth to deviate from agreed shadow cabinet policy when not authorised to do so.
#14
General discussion / Re: Death Notices
July 26, 2022, 10:02:56 AM
"Right until recent days David continued to use his political skill and intellect, most recently in support of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union and in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

As a Nobel laureate, his words carried significant weight and he helped raise awareness of the threat the protocol posed to Northern Ireland, particularly amongst the wider UK audience.

He leaves a huge and lasting legacy to Northern Ireland. He can undoubtedly be said to have shaped history in our country."

Jeffrey would never pass up an opportunity to be self-serving...
#15
General discussion / Re: Tour de France 2022
July 21, 2022, 09:32:50 AM
out of interest, why are the bikes heavier? Change in regulation for some reason?