General Chit Chat Thread

[Andrew Walker]

Doing odd jobs around the home I’ve just discovered I really really like painting

[horrie hastings]

Hmmm checked my super last night, down about $12,000 on about 6 weeks ago.

[bondi.boy]

Time for some reflection. You have locked down stayed away from your family friends been unable to travel, unable to attend loved ones funerals or even hold their hands on their death beds, you are unable to see families new borns, attend weddings christenings and travel and so on. All for a virus with a worldwide survival rate of over 99 percent.

You have also been a good compliant little citizen worn your mask and taken your vaccine after being told it was safe and effective and that it has a high rate of stopping transmission only to find out it does nothing of the sort and that taking your vaccine does not stop you getting sick does not stop you from passing your sickness on to others But you have still been a good compliant citizen for the greater good.

What is your reward for being a good compliant citizen. You come out of lockdown see your friends families attend weddings funerals see new borns and go to christenings. All to be then hit with rising inflation across food petrol power. Then because you have been such good compliant citizens you get hit with interest rate rises, if you rent this is passed on to you by your landlord who is paying off a mortgage, and even if they are not they will do so just because they can. Meanwhile the value of your home is decreasing due to rising rates your superannuation is copping a battering ruining your retirement plans before your very eyes. Basically you are poorer in every single financial aspect. Aren’t you just so glad you have been a good little compliant citizen over the last two years and never questioned a thing all in the name of the greater good.

This is what is on my mind.

Reflection indeed...

The Covid pandemic took hold quickly....killed passengers on that cruise ship...deadly virus, no vaccine, people overseas dying in the thousands every day.
Hundreds of thousands died in America.
Our federal and state govts acted responsibly, tried to stop people from dying here.
Jobkeeper payments to employers, Jobseeker payments to those without jobs.
Yes, people suffered.

What reward for being a good compliant citizen?
Still alive.
Still alive to enjoy life in "the best country in the world".
The good times were never going to last forever.
Russia invaded Ukraine...and the low inflation, low interest rates euphoria turned into a nightmare.
Then last Dec the Covid rules were mostly tossed away...resulting in 60,000 new cases of Omicron/Delta Covid every day. Supply chain issues started. 60,000 daily new Covid cases started falling,
7, 805 new cases yesterday, 26 deaths...thousands have died from Covid in nsw this year.
When I had a house built in the 70s the home loan interest rate was 17%.

Financially poorer in every aspect?
Seems to be..
There will likely be much deep thought about family budgets shortly.

[mightyrooster]

Doing odd jobs around the home I’ve just discovered I really really like painting

I find painting really relaxing. Using the roller and a big brush. I’m not so keen on cutting in and intricate work as I’m vision impaired!

[mightyrooster]

Hmmm checked my super last night, down about $12,000 on about 6 weeks ago.

That’s just depressing Horrie. We don’t know the $ damage yet, but have been getting daily updates on the earning rates, or should I say in this case losing rates. So -5 for the past few days and slightly less the previous 5 or so days!

[mightyrooster]

A number of us underpaid and unappreciated public sector workers have to struggle on with our defined benefit super schemes- how will we cope -

Yes we both have those but my husband’s future pension is based on cumulative earnings and its been going backwards now for 6 months, not counting the past two weeks which have seen even bigger losses. He planned to resign in two years and defer his super. Two years is not going to be enough time to get back what he’s lost the past 6 months. Mine is sitting in a deferred fund which I cannot access till I’m 60. It’s also losing money by the day and reducing my pension size.

[horrie hastings]

That’s just depressing Horrie. We don’t know the $ damage yet, but have been getting daily updates on the earning rates, or should I say in this case losing rates. So -5 for the past few days and slightly less the previous 5 or so days!

Yep it is depressing but i remember looking at it about 2 years ago and the same thing happened but it bounced back again, just seems more depressing getting closer to my retirement date.

[Andrew Walker]

I find painting really relaxing. Using the roller and a big brush. I’m not so keen on cutting in and intricate work as I’m vision impaired!

Sorry to hear about your vision. I actually did work on edges and near windows but taped besides the edges. So I didn’t bungle it Got a bit more to do but might leave it for a few days as there is no rush Looks like it will be a very nice snd sunny day So up early do some work then off to beach

[eddie]

Man, this past week has sucked.
Went to the doctors last Tuesday for my flu shot....but it never happened.
I had a bad turn........high fever, irratic heartbeat and very low oxygen stats, so the GP rung an ambulance. At hospital I tested positive for COVID
It was pretty terrible. Spent most the week in bed when they let me home.

All this begs the question...what was all the rules for?
At hospital they told me it was inevitable that everyone will get it eventually .............so why did we cripple the economy with lockdowns? Why did I get all those vaccinations? Why is planet Earth blue?

[redwhiteblue]

Man, this past week has sucked.
Went to the doctors last Tuesday for my flu shot....but it never happened.
I had a bad turn........high fever, irratic heartbeat and very low oxygen stats, so the GP rung an ambulance. At hospital I tested positive for COVID
It was pretty terrible. Spent most the week in bed when they let me home.

All this begs the question...what was all the rules for?
At hospital they told me it was inevitable that everyone will get it eventually .............so why did we cripple the economy with lockdowns? Why did I get all those vaccinations? Why is planet Earth blue?

Oh Eddie I am very sorry to hear this. I hope you are being well looked after as we need you on here. Thank you for letting us know how you are as I worry when you are not around.

I do like your planet earth is blue reference. I used to use that line in my old job as I worked with a sales executive who was a big David Bowie fan and every time he tried to circumnavigate compliance (yes fancy me being a compliance officer..) I would say to him that I am not going to break the rules for him and that planet earth is blue and there is nothing I can do. Then he'd retort with well we are all just sitting in a tin can anyway...

[horrie hastings]

Yes we both have those but my husband’s future pension is based on cumulative earnings and its been going backwards now for 6 months, not counting the past two weeks which have seen even bigger losses. He planned to resign in two years and defer his super. Two years is not going to be enough time to get back what he’s lost the past 6 months. Mine is sitting in a deferred fund which I cannot access till I’m 60. It’s also losing money by the day and reducing my pension size.

Yes i'm starting to rethink when i will sign off work wise now, was hoping to be retired by Jan -March next year but not sure now, definitely will cut my hours if i'm going to work well into next year but really want to enjoy my autumn years with quality time with my better half before we are too old, i saw my father just take to the lounge chair when he retired and not do anything at all and now he has so many regrets.

[horrie hastings]

I find painting really relaxing. Using the roller and a big brush. I’m not so keen on cutting in and intricate work as I’m vision impaired!

Just starting to put together a list of things that we are going to do or planning to get done spring time, had planned to get the whole unit repainted but now have just decided to do both bedrooms, the small hallway and the bathroom ceiling. Will leave the lounge room and kitchen for another time as we are thinking of putting in a new kitchen somewhere down the track and the lounge room is still in pretty good condition paint wise. Flipping up whether to paint it again ourselves or get some one in to do it, at least with just the two rooms being done plus a small part of the hall/bathroom it will be less disruptive, do want make the second bedroom which doubles up as computer room, library, general junk room into somewhere where we can dinner parties instead of tying up the lounge room.

There is some major works coming up on our unit blocks soon, the driveway is being dug up and new pipes being laid because all the pipes are in poor condition and after that all the balconies have to redone as they are cracking and crumbling, not looking forward to the chaos and disruption but it has to be done and at least there is enough money in the funds to get all the piping and driveway done and putting away extra for when the balconies are redone, ahh the joys of living in an older unit block.

[mightyrooster]

Sorry to hear about your vision. I actually did work on edges and near windows but taped besides the edges. So I didn’t bungle it Got a bit more to do but might leave it for a few days as there is no rush Looks like it will be a very nice snd sunny day So up early do some work then off to beach

Thanks Andy. Hope the painting is going well. You're so lucky to be close to a beach!

[mightyrooster]

Man, this past week has sucked.
Went to the doctors last Tuesday for my flu shot....but it never happened.
I had a bad turn........high fever, irratic heartbeat and very low oxygen stats, so the GP rung an ambulance. At hospital I tested positive for COVID
It was pretty terrible. Spent most the week in bed when they let me home.

All this begs the question...what was all the rules for?
At hospital they told me it was inevitable that everyone will get it eventually .............so why did we cripple the economy with lockdowns? Why did I get all those vaccinations? Why is planet Earth blue?

Sorry to hear Eddie. I wondered where you had gone. I hope you are feeling much better now. Sadly my 18 year old daughter has just tested positive this morning! So now we're all close contacts and I'm dreading catching it.

[mightyrooster]

Yes i'm starting to rethink when i will sign off work wise now, was hoping to be retired by Jan -March next year but not sure now, definitely will cut my hours if i'm going to work well into next year but really want to enjoy my autumn years with quality time with my better half before we are too old, i saw my father just take to the lounge chair when he retired and not do anything at all and now he has so many regrets.

The economist in me has me constantly budgeting and financial planning our budget. I need to stop but I can't help myself. We will know the damage at the beginning of next month as earnings are always posted at the beginning of each month. I agree with you about doing things while you're still young enough to appreciate it all. I've spent the past 18-20 years spending most of our money on the kids between school fees, piano and guitar lessons, sport, orthodontists and just general everyday basics. Soon it will be our time to spend the money on ourselves!