John

Well said...........

Gerritt, Most financial institutions will either transfer the existing mortgage or if the new mortgage is higher than the old write a new mortgage and waive any penalties. If the new mortgage is greater you could also check if it makes more sense to take out a new (second) mortgage on the difference as a variable rate open and then when the original becomes due re-write it for the total, hope this makes sense. I would also compare the interest rates then and now. What I did years ago is negotiate a blend of the two rates old v/s new as the new rate was higher than the old. They may also apply a blended rate if the new rate is lower than the old. There are many creative ways to get around this and most places will work with their customers. I wouldn't let it be a showstopper. John...

Great one Pete! Don't worry about the critics around here, they will all be well once the trees turn green. I for one found the detail great. You are to be envied having the bollocks to actually do what a lot of us dream about. Being gainfully unemployed is something that I strive for! John..

Our thoughts are with you Dave. I have been through what you are going through twice in the last couple of years so I know first hand. A positive attitude to the treatment can go a long long way in tipping those scales from 50/50 to much better odds. My Dad knew he was terminal from the get go, however he kept up with his treatment and he continued to be positive. He turned a 6 month diagnosis into 2 years. So I would look at the glass as being half full rather than half empty. John...

We used to tell each other about "the spot" too.........

Well, about 40 years ago I used to fish the UK rivers that flowed from the hills into the sea with a 12 1/2' rod, a centre pin reel, 4# test line, a float and a #16 hook. Go figure.........sound familiar? Mostly worms dug from a farmers manure pile, but sometimes maggots when we had the money to buy them. If we had been caught using roe we would have had our gonads removed by the ministry. Used the same set up to bottom fish except remove the float and add a few extra split shot.

Happy Birthday Bill..........

Visa MC Amex etc will give you the best rate of exchange. It is converted on your bill. Debit cards second although a lot of institutions over there charge a transaction fee., if you must take large amounts of cash shop a few places for best rate. Remember there is always a buy and a sell rate so they will get you coming and going. The less cash you bring back the better. Remember also that banks will not take coin ( UK denominations under 5 pounds sterling is coin).

This would be a good start. I'm not sure if there is an equivalent in Canada.. http://www.abaa.org/books/abaa/index.html

I think that Mark made this post so that he could sell his boat in our classifieds..........too bad he didn't think about what he was posting.

An old retired pilot came back from Thailand with his new bride. Lying in bed, the Thai bride is playing softly with his manhood and the old boy says, "You must be really impressed, you haven't left it alone, since we got back." The bride replied, "Not really, I just miss mine soooo much."

Try this one......... http://www.nadaguides.com/home.aspx?l=1&am...;p=0&f=5000

Glad things worked out well for you and the dogs. Things seem to be heading in the right direction now. Customer service can be a wonderful thing, but in a lot of cases it is lip service buried in some policy manual. Companies create policy, but their employees are the pipeline to you and me. One of the things that I instill in my sales and marketing people is to listen to the "voice of the customer" and then exceed their expectations. Without them we are out of business. Very best wishes............

You organise a MD or PA swill and give me some notice and I will be there.... Prefer MD and then we can do Blue Crabs in Olde Bay and beer instead of wings.........

Very best wishes to you and your family Steve. Not going to wish you luck as knowing you as I do, you will make your own breaks and do well in whatever you choose to do in life. I will have a Bruichladdie or two in your honour. J...

Outstanding Drew, but your killing me!

I spend a lot of time in the Carolinas and got talking to a couple of the guards that are watching the inmates pick up the trash. I asked one if they ever get a runner, he said once in a while. When I asked him what they do to control it he said "we shoot 'em". From anything that I have observed they have two guards per work crew (usually 10-12 inmates) each guard carries a shotgun as well as a sidearm.

It's something that I have never understood Lew. The amount of garbage at the sides of the roads and in the medians, after the "melt", is overwhelming this year. I am in no way condoning the actions of the morons that litter, but we should take a page out of North Carolina's book and put our many inmates to work keeping our highways clean, earning a portion of their keep.

My take on it too. Apologies Wayne......

You forgot the "my outboard is better than yours forum".....

Them's fightin' words Wayne...

You must mean fishing and non-fishing sections.........great idea..

Duck!

OUCH.........