Mandy Lifeboats

Mrs Lifeboats just asked me why I was looking at sextoys on my tablet. 

It was actually a car vacuum. 

Skyfaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllll.  

When you scrumble....

We will standul. 

Altumtall.

At Skyfall.  

4 hours ago, Phil Silvers said:

I've been in a similar spot, i wanted a Sub 126610LN but my dilemma was that I can afford to buy one but I can't afford to too, if that makes sense, hard to find in the first place but will just appreciate in value and I'd end up never wearing it.

I looked at all the Tudor Black Bay divers as a real world usable alternative and chose to go with that. I bought the one from ebay I linked on here, should get it midweek, will keep you posted.

 

 

The Sub 126610LN is  lovely watch.  If you could get one new they are a bargain at £7500.  You could sell it the following day for £12,000.  

Do you mind me asking how much you paid for the Black Bay on Ebay?  If you got it for around £2k and its as described you have got a great deal.  

Let me know your thoughts on the Ebay verification process.  They seem capable of spotting most fakes.  They also have a good record on new watches.   Their weakness seems to be verifying older watches with less obvious problems.  A mate of mine got a Rolex at  decent price that passed verification.  But it was clearly a frankenstein watch.  Several of the parts were non-Rolex or from the wrong model.  He got his money back but it was a tortuous process.  I think they will be able to verify the Tudor with undue difficulty.  

3 minutes ago, Phil Silvers said:

 

When you say 1970, do you actually mean 1970 specifically, as in a significant year, some collectors go crazy for a piece from their birth year for instance?

 

1970 is my birth year. 

But its hard with some brands to establish exact dates of manufacture.  Some only give you a range  of dates.  I would happily take a watch that could have been made in 1970.  But I wouldn't want one that was definitely 1969 or 1971.  I like the idea of having something "as old as me".  

That's one of the reasons I like the Silver Snoopy.  It commemorates the Apollo 13 mission, the part that watch played in bringing the crew back to earth and NASA awarding a Silver Snoopy award to Omega.  That took place in 1970.  

The price of watches has gone crazy in the last few years.   But I have a watch shaped gap that needs filling and permission from Mrs Lifeboats to spend.   I am not sure I will.  Some of the prices people are paying are ridiculous and out of principle I can’t buy a watch that costs the same amount as a decent car.  But I am on the lookout for:

 A watch from 1970.   £1000 - £2000.   

I am always on the lookout for these watches.  They need to be a model I like, a decent condition but also have that patina that shows its lived.  I thought I’d found a Rolex that fitted the bill in my local jewellers.   There were 2 problems.   At some stage non-standard parts had been used.  It had a very specific and deep engraving on the case back.     

A watch that looks like it’s from 1970 but isn’t. 

I am sure some people who post in this topic will go mad when I mention fake patina watches.  I don’t see any problem with them.  But it has to be well done.  I thought I had found it when I came across the Steinhart Ocean 39 Vintage for £700.  But when I took delivery it didn’t look as good as the pictures.  What looked like a lovely creamy colour on the dial and bezel was much browner under natural light.  I was terribly disappointed because it looked perfect. 

 Tudor Black Bay.  £2800

I love these watches but there are so many models to choose from.  I’d buy one today but I still hope to stumble upon that 1970 watch. 

 Tudor Black Bay Bronze £3100

This is the model that’s looking most likely. 

Omega Seamaster James Bond.  £7000

This watch is causing me anguish.  I love the watch.  It’s the right model.  It’s the right colour.  It’s got that vintage look.  But I hate the connection to James Bond.  Whenever I see anyone wearing one I always think they jump around the house pretending to be Bond.  How much do I love the watch compared to how much do I hate the Bond connection?  At the moment the Bond connection is too strong.  

Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy.  New £8500.  Realistic price £25,000.   

I know this isn’t going to happen but I can dream.  I have mentioned it several times before in this thread.  

8 hours ago, av1 said:

I need a new watch, I’ve got a much smaller budget than some of the beauties on here. I’ve so far narrowed it down to the below 3. Of the 3 I think I prefer the Seiko but unlike the other 2, it isn’t sapphire glass which I’ve read is much more scratch resistant?

 

Anyone have any of the below?

 

Hamilton -  H70515137 - £520 -Here

SEIKO 5 SPORTS SRPE51K1 - £190 - Here

Rotary GB05249/04  - £275 - Here

 

All 3 look good buys to me.  They are decent brands and the prices are good for an automatic watch.  Enjoy! 

Here's a few bits of information that might help you decide @Phil Silvers

You can get that model brand new for £2840  without difficulty.  The identical model is available on chrono24 at £2295 from a reputable seller.  I would guess you would get it for slightly less.  The condition isn't as good as the one on ebay.  

The ebay seller has good feedback but he has only sold 1 watch and does not normally sell high value items.  The condition is said to be good.  But the photographs prove nothing.  The seller says he purchased it new 3 months ago.  But paperwork is easy to produce.  

If its genuine and in the condition described and you get it for £2000 - it's a great buy. 

Personally,  I wouldn't buy it unless it came from a seller with a proven history in watches OR I could open it up and check its real.  

2 minutes ago, Phil Silvers said:

Thanks Mandy, can you see my reply to Risso above with a link to an ebay listing, I'm not sure its.been posted correctly?

I can't see any link. 

6 hours ago, Phil Silvers said:

Hey watch geeks, what would u be willing to pay for the following, I'm watching a few on ebay and might pull the trigger, 

Tudor Black Bay 41mm, in house calibre 2021, steel strap, box and papers incl.

It depends on the model, age and condition.  You can pick up a decent model from a reputable dealer on chrono24 for £2k - £2.5k.  Some dealers on chrono24 also deal on ebay.  But if the ebay listing is from someone who deals exclusively on ebay I would be looking to get it for £2k.  But to be totally honest.....I wouldn't risk it unless you are reasonably competent at spotting fakes or you can verify the seller.  

My advice is to use chrono24 to get an average price of the exact model and work down from there.  

Why is he standing in the open?  He deserves to be shot.  

The actual sculptures over the main doorway are very intricate. I couldn't hope to reproduce them.  But I am happy with this version.  

The Riechstag is progressing.   

The local wildlife are causing havoc in my garden but it's quite amusing.  

Someone in the village is leaving fresh eggs for Mr Fox.  Mr Fox has an excess of food and is burying them in pots on my front drive.  Over the past few weeks I have harvested half a dozen fresh eggs.  Thanks Mr Fox.

Meanwhile........

Mr Squirrel has been busily stripping my tree of beech nuts and burying them in the lawn.  Last week I ran the electric lawn rake over the lawn and removed them all.  Mr Squirrel sat on the fence giving me a death stare.  This morning Mr Squirrel discovered the egg depository and smashed them all over the drive.  

B@#$%D. 

The fear of heights is strange one. 

If you are walking around Brum you are 140m above sea level.  No-one is scared of being at that height. I fly in planes without fear.  I have been in some of the world's tallest buildings without fear. But ask me to stand on the edge of a 20ft drop and legs start to feel like jelly.  

I am not scared of heights.  I am scared of falling.  That seems more like common sense than a phobia.  I'd even say that it's abnormal NOT to have a fear of falling.  

31 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

advice please. found a house on rightmove that looks great which we've booked in a viewing for but it's currently student accommodation and has tenants in situ until April of next year. hypothetically if we love the place, have offer accepted, when would we complete the purchase? normal time frame or next april?

and how does this work regarding mortgage, are we less likely to have one approved?

any help is appreciated

As @Genierightly says there is no generic answer.  Does the tenancy allow for early termination and what sort of notice is required.  

Unlike @GenieI wouldn't discount it straight away.   If the tenants cannot be shifted until  April 2022 and you like the house its not a greatly extended time period.   

But I would make it clear that any offer you make is based upon vacant possession.   You want the present owner to be responsible for evictions if they become necessary.  

9 hours ago, rjw63 said:

I had one (a 128 I think)but got no **** idea how it worked now.

For those who never experienced the joy of a ZX Spectrum - this was the keyboard layout. Every key had 4 or 5 functions.  

1 hour ago, Chindie said:

Clive Sinclair, 81

Doctors could have saved him but he died before they worked out the "on" button for life support was J+Shift+Ctrl+Alt.  

A little joke for all of you who had a ZX Spectrum 16 or 48. 

Now it’s been confirmed as legit there are 3 points that have already been raised in other posts that are (in my opinion) excellent pieces of advice /information.

1.  Query the matter via her local MP.  It will be quicker and easier. As @ferguson1rightly say, an MP enquiry goes to the front of the queue and is looked at by experienced staff. 

2.  It doesn’t matter whose fault it is.  HMRC will hold the tax payer responsible.  There’s not much you can do.  

3.  Any repayments must be at an affordable rate.  No sensible offer will be refused.  
 

There is only 3 more  things I would add. 

Ask the MP to obtain a simple timeline of events that led to the problem.  For instance “April 2019:  the Tax Code used by the employer was……” Stress to the MP  that this needs to be in plain English.  

Ask the MP to obtain the calculation used to raise the debt.  Again, ask for it in plain English. 

MPs do not deal with these matters.  It’s going to be a researcher/aide/secretary at the MPs office.  They spend most of their day dealing with angry and insulting constituents.   Give the MPs office a call and make an effort to be really friendly.  I deal with various MPs offices and the staff are (on the whole) just normal people doing a difficult job.  Get on good terms with the staff and you will have a powerful ally who can help sort this out.  

@Stevo985

First things first, is this a scam? Ignore any emails, websites or phone numbers on the letter.  Contact HMRC and check if they issued the letter. 

6 minutes ago, sidcow said:

I'm sorry but what you're saying there is complete and utter bollocks. 

You only say that because you hate Villa.  You want us to get relegated.  I bet you are Steve Bruce's love child. 

I rarely post On Topic.  Most of the people who post "Off Topic" can discuss some major issues without deriding those who have a different opinion.  I don't  have the same opinion regarding "On Topic".  

I have a viewpoint on a topic.  I am willing to argue with you. 

 Let's start.

My viewpoint is that we need more of this thing.  It should be provided free by the government.  Other countries do this.  That's why their mobile phone reception is better than ours.  If you disagree you are undoubtedly mistaken.  

The Tour Of Britain would be far better if they had to ride Raleigh Choppers. 

I am looking for advice VTers. 

I am a man in my 50s who has collected a large number of collectibles and souvenirs in my lifetime.  Its time for a sort out. I want to sell items that have a value but aren't the top end of the market. 

1. What's the best way to advertise these on line?  There seem so many choices. Ebay, Gumtree, Preloved etc.  

2. What the safest way to receive payments?

If anyone does this sort of thing regularly I would love to hear from you.   

But ANY advice would be appreciated.