OneGuyFromBarlick

Tripps wrote: ↑26 Apr 2026, 20:23 Did you know that Keter is an Israeli company?
I assume not - but would it have made any difference if you had?

I didn't and it wouldn't. It was a bargain in a B&Q bank holiday sale.

Keter is now 80% owned by a British consortium. My replacement storage comes on Friday.

I am about 75% into dismantling our old pent shed. It's all in the car ready for a skip run on Thursday when they open. Ideally I need to do the last bit tomorrow so I can jet wash the wall behind and get a refresh coat of stone paint on it.

I made an executive decision to skip it rather than disassemble it fully, it took nearly an hour to pull the first door down to individual planks, all machine nailed and screwed together over15 years ago so not easy by any means. I have the roof one side and half the back to deal with yet. Only one winner, it will bend to my big hammer.

THIS caught my eye this morning.....
All Claire's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland have stopped trading after the accessories chain's financial woes saw it fall into administration twice in a year. Administrators Kroll said 154 stores have shut and more than 1,300 staff have been "notified of redundancy", though its 350 concessions will remain open. Known for its colourful shop fronts and racks of jewellery, bracelets and its ear piercing services, the brand's bright purple branding was a familiar sight for millions of teens during a Saturday shop. But it suffered in the face of competition from cheaper, online brands such as Shein and Temu. Changing consumer tastes also spelled the death knell for the retailer, which has struggled like many High Street firms. Kroll said: "As of 27 April, all Claire's standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy." Claire's owners Modella Capital said in January that part of the reason it had to put Claire's into administration was "alarming" low Christmas trading that left it in a "vulnerable" position. It also blamed the climate on the High Street, which it said "remains extremely challenging", adding that government policy had caused a tough trading environment by raising staffing costs such as National Insurance Contributions.
We may hear more bad news from the High Street as the economic impact of Trumps actions hits us.....

Meanwhile..... THIS is our current interaction with Trump....
Updated 38 minutes ago
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the US at the start of a four-day state visit - the first since Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2007. They arrived at Andrews military airbase in Maryland before being greeted at the White House by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Security is extremely tight after the shooting incident in Washington DC at an event attended by the president on Saturday. King Charles will address the US Congress on Tuesday and it is expected that he will express sympathy over the attack. His speech is also expected to say that in times of great international challenges, it is more necessary than ever to stand together to defend democratic values.
At the moment, in economic terms, Trump's actions are the biggest threat to our fragile economy.....

Big Kev wrote: ↑24 Apr 2026, 13:56 My youngest received a penalty charge notice, for not paying the London ULEZ charge, through the post today. Fortunately he has CCTV images of him, and his car, arriving at work in York at the same time. It seems his registration number has been cloned.

report the reg number to the police (online I guess) they are pretty good at finding on CCTV tracking any number being driven around in London these days

Whyperion wrote: ↑28 Apr 2026, 06:22

Big Kev wrote: ↑24 Apr 2026, 13:56 My youngest received a penalty charge notice, for not paying the London ULEZ charge, through the post today. Fortunately he has CCTV images of him, and his car, arriving at work in York at the same time. It seems his registration number has been cloned.

report the reg number to the police (online I guess) they are pretty good at finding on CCTV tracking any number being driven around in London these days

Already done. You then use the crime reference number to advise your insurer and the DVLA (who require it as hard copy, it also takes up to 6 weeks for an acknowledgement). The police also provide a text message explaining the vehicle has been cloned as, once it's added to the police national database, my son is just as likely to be stopped and questioned as the clone. He has a hard copy of this in the car along with a picture of the clone (from the PCN) which has different wheels and a dent in the tailgate.

hat sounds fairly comprehensive Kev.
The thing that got my attention was the effortless 5 hours second sleep I have just had. I think I am getting old!

Vicky and Mick Barritt are coming round to scrap my redundant and leaning shed in the back yard. What a coincidence that they messaged me this morning and Ian's getting rid o hi and Kev has done it as well.... As David would say, spooky!!