Thanks for the clips el, I didn't know much about nanette before but she seems to have been quite a star

When I was watching the first clip, I kept thinking of "Santa Claus is coming to town".

Been watching DOI then CBB - reality show overload.

Night night all, see you tomorrow,

Summer, hug if you're still around. Sweet dreams.

Oh I forgot about the ice skating, was it good yogi? Hope you sleep well night night

Good morning everyone

 

No snow overnight here. Very overcast, damp and rain rather than snow forecast during today.

 

The state pension changes I mentioned the other day seem to be as I thought.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20989050

At the bottom of the article are readers comments - the first of these is the same as what I was saying.

Good morning We've had a little snow overnight, not enough to cause any problems. More is forecast though El, I heard the pensions story on the news this morning. If I spend my life paying in more n.i. Contributions than joe average, will it mean I'll still get the same pension as everyone else? My mum retires in just under 18 months time, what will it mean for her? The new system does seem awfully unfair on those who should have had a higher rate

Summer, the actual details of the pension changes haven't yet been laid out and things could change as parliament will have its say when the bill is discussed in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

But I think you would get the same pension as Joe Average. (though as self employed people pay less NI than employed people, the long term self employed will benefit from the change as under the current scheme they do not get the additional state pension).

Your mum is in the same position as me. The new scheme will only apply to people who reach state pension age after 5 April 2017. Someone who reaches state pension age on 5 April 2017 gets a basic state pension of £107-45 (depending on having paid NI for sufficient years). Someone who reaches state pension age on 6 April 2017 gets the flate rate of something like £142.

Good morning everyone, rainy here but so far no sign of any snow.  I do really feel for those who are caught out by the new pensions cut off point but it does sound really good news for those who retire after the date when the new higher pensions come in.  EL is there any chance you could delay your retirement by a few months?

I thought I might end up paying more in the long term el, with my regular stamp + 9% annually. Just out of interest I'll have to compare it when my year end happens Not that I'm expecting to retire of course, but it would be nice if I could one day. My mum of course has been watching her financial situation closely these last few years. It's just started to snow here, but at the moment the ground is too wet for it to settle. Everyone I know is keeping in contact to let each other know what the weather is doing throughout the region. I've got a spade & a bag of grit in my car and I'll charge my phone fully this afternoon

Summer, although self employed pay the Class 2 NI £2-65 a week at present + Class 4 NI at 9% on profit over £7,605 a year, employed people pay Class 1 NI at 12% on pay over £7,605 a year. Employed people pay 10.6% at present if they are in a pension scheme but that lower rate will end when the new scheme comes in.

So the majority of self employed people pay less NI as they aren't entitled to as many benefits as employed people. The government may decide to increase the self employed rate a bit as those affected will get a higher pension but they shouldn't increase it to the 12% rate as self employed people tend not to qualify for unemployment benefit.

Squiggle, the news I've read refers to the state retirement age rather than when people choose to retire so I'm not hopeful that delaying retirement would have any effect. It's unlikely that I will retire when I get to 65 in any case regardless of what happens to the state pension as by and large I like what I do and it keeps my brain active. It's some years away so I may change my mind, but I'm lucky in that to a reasonable extent I can control the level of work I do. An accountant who used to be a partner in the firm I worked for still works as a part time consultant in another practice. I don't know his age but he's many many years past the retirement age. On that practice's website he is described as:

"Old Father Ted - qualified before the quill pen - has forgotten more about accountancy than anyone will ever know. No quips or foibles on this one - generates great respect and loyalty from colleagues, associates and family!!"

Summer, I hope you are not too inconvenienced by the snow - I see the Met Office has an amber warning for your area.

Hi all 

Weather here not too bad, sunny and clear skies today. we had some snow yesterday but it didnt lie. Although some photos of here on Sky news yesterday were puzzling, it looked like we had thick snow and we hadnt 
Take care for those who have heavy snow today x
 

Good morning everyone. No more snow today, in fact it's dry and bright. Wasn't happy with the DOI result, as Anthea is still in there! Loved the Old Father Ted post, El. On the iPad and can't remember the smiley codes, so no smileys this morning. I do have them written down somewhere. Have a good day everyone, see you later.

Yogi, here's a link to the list of all the smiley codes:

https://www.gagajoyjoy.com/disp...t/210422430109993478

Thanks el, that clears up some curiosity I do have a private pension but don't pay much in to it all, I'm sceptical about whether it'll be worth much in the end. I got talked into setting it up by my bank, when I was living at home, but soon cut my payments because it didn't make sense to be saving for a pension before I was saving for a house It's snowing and about an inch has settled, it's just calmed down a little now. The main roads are currently clear though

We had fun at lunch

Someone is enjoying the snow 

Still none here. Granddaughter went off to nursery with her wellies, she will be disappointed, she wanted to build a snowman!

It's melted off the roads & paths here now skylark, but more is due later. I too will be disappointed if we can't build a snowman! Have you got a hat & scarf ready anyway? You might get some later

Bramble looks as if she was enjoying herself

Hi Summer, yes we are all ready! x

Bramble looks like she's having a great time in the snow. Keira and Harvey will be jealous I've been tidying through some drawers (not before time) and found a £5 stuck in beside a receipt Thanks for the link to the smiley codes, El

Hi Yogi, stick the fiver on the lottery, you never know your luck 

Good idea, Skylark, I might just do that.

   

Annexe E para 57 of the White Paper re the State Pension changes says:

It will not be possible for a person who reaches State Pension age before single tier is implemented to qualify for the single-tier pension by deferring their state pension. The single-tier rules will only apply to those who reach State Pension age on or after the implementation of the single-tier pension.

 

So that confirms that I cannot qualify for the new pension scheme and that I will be about £35 a week worse off than I had been left to believe when the scheme was first proposed. The Labour party has confirmed what I had earlier said that the original intention was that the changes were intended to come in 2016/17 but that David Cameron decided to have another consultation thus delaying the implementation until 6 April 2017.

Re my pension status:

As I have been self employed for many years, and when I was employed I was in the firm's pension scheme any additional state pension would be near non-existent.

My other income and savings mean that I couldn't get any pensioners tax credit.

 

I'm not complaining about not getting the higher pension as such as originally I wasn't expecting it. My complaint is that we were lead to believe a year ago that people like me would get it and that now we find that because of the delay we won't.

I have been trying to get my head around it all El, some are happy some are not, depending on which side of the fence one sits. 
I cant get my head around this Government tbh. Women who have stayed at home bringing up the kids get a pension, but women out now working hard, have lost Child Benefit and Working Tax Credits capped too. It seems lone parents have lost out again, some with no fault of their own. I am confused with it all!  I can say tho, that Alex Salmond hasnt got to do anything to promote 2014 and the breakaway, Cameron will do it by himself.......
I mean no disrespect to stay at home mums/dads , by the way x
End of rant ! 

Goodnight, have to see to family. Have a nice evening all x

This mum has her work cut out

 

Hi popped in for a moment. Oh how sad, what a lot of pups , and isnt her poor coat looking bad 

My previous dog was an Irish Setter.

 

Chanel was number one.

 

A dog in a lifetime  

I built a snowman!

Aw squiggle, who's dogs are they?! I fear those pups will need help feeding or they'll not all survive

velvet, mr summer's family had an Irish setter

Aww, poor mum, that's a lot of pups to feed.

One of our neighbours has had two Irish Setters and they were lovely, gentle-natured dogs.

Goodnight everyone, sweet dreams.

Summer, in case you are night owling, here's a hug.

Night yogi hope you sleep well

Before I sign off for the night I'll tell you a daft story; I just spent half an hour searching in vain for my pj bottoms, gave up and then spent 5 mins deciding on an alternative solution. I got dressed in the alternative choice, only to find my pj bottoms in my bed as I went to climb in it! A very unusual place to find them, I must have still been half asleep when I made the bed this morning Hope you all have a good nights sleep and dream lovely things

Good morning everyone, I would love to have seen your face Summer

 

I don't know whose dog is it, the picture came from my cousin's FB page.  I am sure the owners will help out with the puppies. All the pups look quite healthy though so far.  I bet mum will be pleased when they are weaned though.

 

It's a lovely snowman Summer though it looks more like a snow-woman to me, pink ribbon and pretty hat.