Gareth James
@garethjames18.bsky.social
Watch too much sport, particularly the NFL. Listen to bands my friends have never heard of. Read history and pensions content. Don’t play enough chess.
As a non-American who watches plenty of American Football-related content on YouTube, I’d say it’s about 80/20 stitch/sheesh. I absolutely, definitely have not got into the habit of commenting under any of those videos about my annoyance at use of the stitch pronunciation. Definitely not me….
November 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
As a non-American who watches plenty of American Football-related content on YouTube, I’d say it’s about 80/20 stitch/sheesh. I absolutely, definitely have not got into the habit of commenting under any of those videos about my annoyance at use of the stitch pronunciation. Definitely not me….
Not sure this is that new. Moved into a private house share in Leeds in April 1990. Only space we shared was a fungus infested bathroom and a kitchen. No lounge in my first house share in Manchester in 1997 either. More shocking to me is the rent now charged for a room in a house share.
November 1, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Not sure this is that new. Moved into a private house share in Leeds in April 1990. Only space we shared was a fungus infested bathroom and a kitchen. No lounge in my first house share in Manchester in 1997 either. More shocking to me is the rent now charged for a room in a house share.
Just pleased the commentators didn’t refer to it as being like a rugby scrum. Appreciate the battle is lost on this, but it’s the equivalent of a move called a maul in rugby, not a scrum.
October 19, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Just pleased the commentators didn’t refer to it as being like a rugby scrum. Appreciate the battle is lost on this, but it’s the equivalent of a move called a maul in rugby, not a scrum.
Struggling today. How does tomorrow look. Will mention I don’t have DM functionality in operation yet, but should be able to access later.
October 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Struggling today. How does tomorrow look. Will mention I don’t have DM functionality in operation yet, but should be able to access later.
Not at the Pensions UK event, but now back working literally around the corner in central Manchester if you fancied a pre, post or during conference catch-up.
October 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Not at the Pensions UK event, but now back working literally around the corner in central Manchester if you fancied a pre, post or during conference catch-up.
Requires a bit of flexibility in how rules are applied, but one option might have been to elect to receive the death benefits as a pension, not a lump sum, and then transfer to a different scheme from which death benefits drawdown could be paid. Taxed, but as income, so more manageable.
October 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Requires a bit of flexibility in how rules are applied, but one option might have been to elect to receive the death benefits as a pension, not a lump sum, and then transfer to a different scheme from which death benefits drawdown could be paid. Taxed, but as income, so more manageable.
Likewise last weekend. Not sure I even had to stop walking at any time, let alone sit down. Pointed in the direction of a room, the needle was in as soon as I got through the door and I was directed to the exit.
October 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Likewise last weekend. Not sure I even had to stop walking at any time, let alone sit down. Pointed in the direction of a room, the needle was in as soon as I got through the door and I was directed to the exit.
Let’s Dance - David Bowie 10/10
Let’s Dance - Chris Montez 9/10
The former is on the first album I bought.
Owned the latter on a 45rpm single when I took my mum’s collection of singles off to uni with me.
Let’s Dance - Chris Montez 9/10
The former is on the first album I bought.
Owned the latter on a 45rpm single when I took my mum’s collection of singles off to uni with me.
October 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Let’s Dance - David Bowie 10/10
Let’s Dance - Chris Montez 9/10
The former is on the first album I bought.
Owned the latter on a 45rpm single when I took my mum’s collection of singles off to uni with me.
Let’s Dance - Chris Montez 9/10
The former is on the first album I bought.
Owned the latter on a 45rpm single when I took my mum’s collection of singles off to uni with me.
Even if the only cost was my time, no.
September 30, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Even if the only cost was my time, no.
It isn’t taxpayers’ money. It’s scammers pretending to be the DWP. I got one of the texts as well and immediately deleted it.
September 26, 2025 at 3:47 PM
It isn’t taxpayers’ money. It’s scammers pretending to be the DWP. I got one of the texts as well and immediately deleted it.
Interesting reading some of the responses to this. Not a particular Oasis fan but was at the LA Rams vs Houston Texans a few hours before one of the gigs and was surprised to see hundreds of fans at the NFL game in Oasis t-shirts.
September 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Interesting reading some of the responses to this. Not a particular Oasis fan but was at the LA Rams vs Houston Texans a few hours before one of the gigs and was surprised to see hundreds of fans at the NFL game in Oasis t-shirts.
My favourite overheard train journey involved an older couple discussing whether they’d packed sufficient food for their holiday. In particular, whether they’d remembered to pack their “emergency tin of tuna”.
August 29, 2025 at 7:36 PM
My favourite overheard train journey involved an older couple discussing whether they’d packed sufficient food for their holiday. In particular, whether they’d remembered to pack their “emergency tin of tuna”.
Edward Woodward would.
August 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Edward Woodward would.
Symbiosis between the financial press and pundits. Papers have column inches to fill and speculation generates clicks. So they ask pundits for speculation-based quotes. A pundit saying “nothing will happen” won’t get a press mention for their organisation (which is their aim), so gives a quote.
August 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Symbiosis between the financial press and pundits. Papers have column inches to fill and speculation generates clicks. So they ask pundits for speculation-based quotes. A pundit saying “nothing will happen” won’t get a press mention for their organisation (which is their aim), so gives a quote.
Remembering that mid 90s period when so many of us were debating which band was better, Sharpen or Desert.
August 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Remembering that mid 90s period when so many of us were debating which band was better, Sharpen or Desert.
Grew up in Wantage. Went to King Alfred’s School. Drank in the King Alfred’s Head. Ate in the Burnt Cake cafe. Gathered by the statue of King Alfred in the town square on many a New Year’s Eve. It’s Alfred for me, and I won’t accept the suggestion I’m biased in any way…
August 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Grew up in Wantage. Went to King Alfred’s School. Drank in the King Alfred’s Head. Ate in the Burnt Cake cafe. Gathered by the statue of King Alfred in the town square on many a New Year’s Eve. It’s Alfred for me, and I won’t accept the suggestion I’m biased in any way…
Found out a couple of weeks ago that the folks in my maternal line of ancestry were based around 10 miles north of Hereford from the late 17th century to the late 19th century. Sadly I haven’t inherited a genetic memory of the area, so no recommendations!
July 11, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Found out a couple of weeks ago that the folks in my maternal line of ancestry were based around 10 miles north of Hereford from the late 17th century to the late 19th century. Sadly I haven’t inherited a genetic memory of the area, so no recommendations!
If they do limit cash ISA subscriptions to £4k it will be interesting to see how many subscribe £20k to a S&S ISA and just leave the funds in cash. I assume they’ll still earn interest on all the cash tax-free in the S&S ISA, just at a lower rate than in a cash ISA. Great outcome!
July 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
If they do limit cash ISA subscriptions to £4k it will be interesting to see how many subscribe £20k to a S&S ISA and just leave the funds in cash. I assume they’ll still earn interest on all the cash tax-free in the S&S ISA, just at a lower rate than in a cash ISA. Great outcome!
Seeing the Charlatans for the first time ever - was a fan back in the 1990 Some Friendly days, but have somehow managed to miss seeing them until now. 24 Jan is a possible as things stand!
July 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Seeing the Charlatans for the first time ever - was a fan back in the 1990 Some Friendly days, but have somehow managed to miss seeing them until now. 24 Jan is a possible as things stand!
Shall be in that neck of the woods a little later for a gig.
July 3, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Shall be in that neck of the woods a little later for a gig.
Might be worth doing a piece on the need to check with your insurer before building work is being carried out on a house? We checked in advance and found our policy wouldn't cover us whilst work was underway so switched to a different insurer who would cover us.
July 2, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Might be worth doing a piece on the need to check with your insurer before building work is being carried out on a house? We checked in advance and found our policy wouldn't cover us whilst work was underway so switched to a different insurer who would cover us.
