IlonaM

Energy price cap to fall to £1,690 from April, its lowest in two years https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/feb/23/energy-price-cap-great-britain-april-gas And, an article in the Independent for Martin Lewis update: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ofgem-price-cap-energy-bills-2024-latest-b2501154.html

Mixed article in Independent with a couple of well-worn tips as well as a reminder of help available re: energy costs: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/government-help-with-energy-heating-bills-col-b2483795.html

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-ukrainian-families-together?source=rawlink&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=rawlink&share=9ba34e64-c7a8-4358-a9ac-3e98165af449 'BREAKING: The UK Home Office closed the Ukrainian Family Scheme at 3pm today. Reverse the decision to scrap the Ukrainian family reunification scheme Why is this important? This cruel decision, that was implemented with no warning, will leave families in limbo with no other option of being reunited with their family in the UK. With Russia’s war on Ukraine about to reach its two year mark, Ukranians need a continued safe passage to join family members who have already taken sanctuary here in the UK. Family reunification is a human right. Families who were in the middle of gathering the necessary information to apply are now left in limbo with no other options to be reunited. But if hundreds and thousands of us show that we won’t stand for families being torn apart, we can force the Home Office to reverse the decision.'

A few years ago (pre-covid) I'm sure I paid £80/90 on a Sunday. Certainly not over £100.

https://www.theneighbourhoodvet.co.uk/about-us/prices God, the emergency charge has gone up since I last had to go in on a Sunday a few years ago!

See Guardian article re Certificate of Application issued under the EU settlement scheme and travel abroad & problems of re-entry: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/08/italian-man-removed-from-uk-despite-post-brexit-home-office-certificate In particular: 'Luke Piper, a lawyer with the Work Rights Centre and an EU settlement scheme specialist, said the rights of EU citizens were guaranteed under the withdrawal agreement, including during an application process. “The Home Office appears to be overstepping its powers and allowing Border Force to pre-judge the case before the appeal has been concluded. These appeals should be reviewed, processed and concluded before there can be a decision on entry to the country by Border Force. “What happens at the border appears to be down to the officer who sees you on the day. The whole point of the certificate of application is to demonstrate that you are in an application process that has not been concluded. Confusingly it tells recipients they can travel but also says they shouldn’t. It’s Kafkaesque.” In response, the Home Office suggested it was key for all those travelling with a CoA to also carry proof of living in the country before Brexit. A spokesperson said: “A Certificate of Application issued under the EU settlement scheme advises the holder that, if they travel overseas, they may be asked for evidence that they qualify under the scheme in order to re-enter the UK. “Border Force officers may stop any arriving passenger for the purposes of further examination where they are not immediately satisfied that they qualify for entry.”'

Thanks Spartacus, you've made me smile. Fridge unusable and rather fed up ...

Thanks Alice. I knew you could via the App (which I don't have), but will check my online account to see if it has caught up!!

Can you pay cheques in?

'Energy bills in Great Britain forecast to fall by 16% in April Charges will plunge by equivalent of more than £300 a year as price cap drops to £1,620, say consultants' https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/jan/22/energy-bills-great-britain-fall-price-cap-cornwall-insight

You might be surprised how clever they are ... 😉 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/michigan-dog-rescue-ice-lake-b2481910.html

MaryT - I'm very pleased that's she's none the worse for her experience. Very clever girl to get to the island! Many years ago (back in the '70s) my cousin's very new puppy chased a stick thrown by someone on the otherside of a lake near West Malling onto the ice and fell through. My uncle waded out to rescue her and luckily all was well and she lived to a ripe old age. I posted the story remembering that incident as things could easily have been so different. I think the emergency services attend animals in distress to avoid owners or other potential rescuers getting into trouble effecting a rescue, but FOUR fire crews!! Must have been a sight to behold.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/dulwich-frozen-lake-dog-animals-rescued-london-fire-brigade-b1133548.html

'Home Office U-turns on rights of EU citizens who were in UK pre-Brexit ‘Lack of awareness’ of EU settled status scheme restored as reasonable grounds for late applications by permanent residence card holders' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/19/home-office-to-allow-eu-citizens-who-missed-residency-deadline-to-stay-in-uk Link to FreeMovement post about change of policy: https://freemovement.org.uk/changes-to-treatment-of-some-late-applications-to-the-eu-settlement-scheme-in-new-guidance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=changes-to-treatment-of-some-late-applications-to-the-eu-settlement-scheme-in-new-guidance&mc_cid=8f304b7b0f&mc_eid=bcf851a85d

John Pilger https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-67853392

You could contact Celia Hammond Lewisham (Rescue and Homing Centre tel no: 020 8694 6545 Rescue centre email: [email protected]) - they might be able to collect when in your area or know of a local volunteer.

Guardian article re: 'Energy price cap in Great Britain to fall by 14% in April, says forecaster: Cheaper oil and gas expected to fuel drop in annual bills by £268 to £1,660' https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/20/ofgem-energy-price-cap-to-fall-by-14-per-cent-in-april-says-forecaster

'Pioneering British writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died, aged 65, after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor' https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/benjamin-zephaniah-dead-poetry-racism-birmingham-b2460061.html https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/07/a-sandy-place-a-recipe-for-a-nation-and-a-christmas-plea-three-poems-by-benjamin-zephaniah Just been looking at his website and found his penultimate blog post, 'I've Cried a Lot Lately', from the beginning of 2020 which contains some wise words, 'In my last post, or blog, (or whatever you want to call it), I said that rather than ranting on about politics I was letting my music speak for me, although I found that I was spending more and more time on demonstrations. This is still true. With courts, (at home and abroad), accepting that the Chagos islanders should have the right to return, but being denied that right by the British government, the West Papuans and Yemenis struggling for their very existence as we arm their oppressors, and the Palestinian people still living under a brutal occupation that just seems to be getting worse, we should be taking to the streets. It’s the least we can do. The so called ‘international community’ are doing very little. At home I am absolutely disgusted the way the Brexit referendum was conducted. I was absolutely disgusted with the scheming and conniving employed during the recent election, and I am horrified by the corruption of many of our politicians. I understand that there are a few that are not corrupt. If you’re not sure who they are, they’re the ones that stand no chance of survival in this cesspit of political iniquity. Also in my last post, or blog, (or whatever you want to call it), I paid tribute to our teachers, nurses, refugee workers, cleaners and doctors, who hold our country together. After all I’ve saw last year I have to extend that to all the volunteers around the country. I have seen them in bookshops, hospitals, hospices, on the streets with the homeless, in shelters with the homeless, in women’s centres, children’s centres, in food banks, soup kitchens, on helplines, in animal rescue centres, and in almost every theatre I performed in on my last tour, there seemed to be an enthusiastic team of volunteers making things happen. Anyone who works in these areas, paid or volunteering, knows that we are heading into dark and difficult times, but verily I say unto you, don’t get disillusioned and downhearted, don’t feel overpowered and defeated. Do what you can. Do the little, (or the big), things that make a difference you can see. The tangible stuff. Or take to the streets to do something for the future. Do anything. Just don’t give up. Don’t let them grind you down. Rise up all ye sisters and brothers who know better. Stand firm in the downturn. Benjamin Zephaniah' [https://benjaminzephaniah.com/ive-cried-a-lot-lately/]

Shane MacGowan of the Pogues https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/30/shane-macgowan-pogues-singer-dies

Guardian 23/11/2023: 'Ofgem energy price cap: what does the new year rise mean for households?' https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/nov/23/ofgem-energy-price-cap-what-does-the-new-year-rise-mean-for-uk-households

Article in today's online Guardian re: digital switchover and vulnerable customers: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/nov/20/as-uk-landlines-go-digital-fears-grow-for-vulnerable-people-whose-home-phone-is-a-lifeline