Messymascot's faith in humanity and ginger safe haven

[Gwladysover]

Congrats on the recognition that you are getting in your new job @Sassy Colombian, it’s a shame that the financial rewards are not quite what you had hoped. When I read what you have to pay in medical insurances etc I am so grateful for our NHS which is far from perfect but it’s free at the point of use. When I consider the care our family has received over the years there is no way we could have afforded the insurance premiums. Having said that under the present and previous governments it is slowly being dismantled and I fear that further down the line that the NHS as we know it will no longer exist. Rant over. Loved the pics, glad you all enjoyed the play. I studied Midsummer Night’s Dream at school back in the Dark Ages lol

 

[Gwladysover]

Here in Finland nudity is common but only normally within the family group ,as in going to the sauna and swimming afterwards ,of course with the children until puberty .Then we always sunbathe naked -no photos - as there is just the two of us and we have no neighbours and often walk around with just flip flops on . There is a film that was made by a Finnsih woman on the sauna culture and they are all naked ,she said she made it to show there are all different sizes and shapes of people .

There was a skinny dipping session at our Lido yesterday. I didn’t go, I will go when Nelson gets his eye back though. lol

 

[Gwladysover]

Sun just coming out here after a cloudy start. The rain which was forecast overnight passed us by again . Just found some eggs which are going out of date on the 26th and have some bananas on the verge of walking out the fruit basket so am off to make banana bread. Have a good day all.?

 

[jazzy]

It only takes one of us to go first then we all join in.

If it helps , it's hot today and I'm prepared to go top less

 

[jazzy]

Here in Finland nudity is common but only normally within the family group ,as in going to the sauna and swimming afterwards ,of course with the children until puberty .Then we always sunbathe naked -no photos - as there is just the two of us and we have no neighbours and often walk around with just flip flops on . There is a film that was made by a Finnsih woman on the sauna culture and they are all naked ,she said she made it to show there are all different sizes and shapes of people .

A few years ago I had a Dutch friend stay with us and I took him to the gym.

He was incredulous when I pointed out that he would need his trunks for the sauna.

 

[jazzy]

Bright, sunny and warm here but rain forecast this pm so yes , you've guessed it , I'm off to yoga in an hour!

Anyway if it does rain this afternoon and I can't get in the garden there's always the cricket on TV.

Have a lovely day everyone.

 

[jazzy]

Thanks! It was indeed ace! We ended up going for a walk to the botanical gardens instead of the bike ride but it was perfect. The play was great too, my daughter and her friend really enjoyed it, they laughed so much and were entertained the whole time. They made the comment that the English was different, thus it was hard to for them to understand everything but that they had loved it ?

Even the British find it difficult to follow Shakespeare sometimes. You're daughter is in good company.

 

[Billy Dean]

A few years ago I had a Dutch friend stay with us and I took him to the gym.

He was incredulous when I pointed out that he would need his trunks for the sauna.

I live in Germany and the first time I went in the sauna at my local pool I went in with my trunks on. Everyone else was sat around naked looking at me like I was a freak lol

Saunas in Germany are not for me

 

[Barnfred 55]

If it helps , it's hot today and I'm prepared to go top less

It's a bit nippy down here.

Does that count?

 

[Gwladysover]

If it helps , it's hot today and I'm prepared to go top less

Pics or we don’t believe you. lol

 

[Gwladysover]

It's a bit nippy down here.

Does that count?

Only if you’re topless.

 

[Barnfred 55]

There was a skinny dipping session at our Lido yesterday. I didn’t go, I will go when Nelson gets his eye back though. lol

I don't know how to break this to you H but most "Nelsons" only have 1 eye.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Only if you’re topless.

I always have my man boobs on parade H.

 

[Barnfred 55]

No at all, I really dealt with that infestation ?

Thought I'd please the guys in the "Fit birds thread" by giving you a hand with that butterfly infestation Sass. Hope you don't mind.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I probably be like those Spaniards when in my 70s ?

Thanks, Ange. Me too! Unfortunately when it comes to the pay that hasn’t worked as well as I hope. When I got this FT position the salary sounded very appealing. It is the largest salary I have been awarded during my career in higher education. However, given my new salary bumped our family into a new income rate then we no longer qualified for healthcare subsidies and while the college pays for my health insurance, it doesn’t for Sofia or the hubby so we went from paying $250 per month on health insurance on the free market, to paying $650 plus dental another $100 plus vision another $80 so almost a third of my monthly salary is going towards health, vision and dental care. Then as a public employee I’ll actually be given a pension but I have to contribute 24% of my annual salary towards it. That’s in addition to paying for social security, a percentage of gross wages that employees must pay to fund the federal program. Then because I’m supposedly making more money then I’m paying more taxes so after all these deductions I’m only making $600 more than when I was working PT, which is quite rubbish. But at least I do have great vacation and sick day benefits, and I do love my job. But as you know, being a public servant is not kind to the pocket.

What's the state pension benefits like over in the US Sass? I have no idea. The pension contributions may be hard on the purse strings right now, but is something you may be thankful for in 20 plus years.

When you hear stories like this it makes you so grateful for our own National Health service. There may be some genuine gripes about how our NHS is set up and operated, but I thinks it's still the best thing our country has ever done.