The totally off-topic thread

[Flashback]

I recently started going through my family history to find out more about my ancestors. My grandpa (dad's side) did extensive research on his side so I have a somewhat complete set of names going back to 1620. So far I discovered that my great x3 grandfather fought in the French Revolutionary War! He was on the HMS Mars for this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Raz_de_Sein
It's not clear if he was on the same ship when it was involved in the Spithead mutiny the year before or whether he was on the same ship at the Battle of Trafalgar a few years later. Wow, crazy stuff.


Info about my dad's mum's side and my mum's mum's side will require some digging. My mum's dad's side is interesting though (also a naval background).

I guess a lot of Australians may have some form of "sea related" background, whether that be naval or having just ridden a long journey on a ship

 

[Warks]

If you have ancestors here since the 1800s you won't be happy until you find the convict.

 

[JessicaTam]

If you have ancestors here since the 1800s you won't be happy until you find the convict.

Or landed gentry in the case of us crow eaters. We have standards to keep!

 

[JohnK]

Just booked a hire car for $50 for 2 days. Couldn't believe the price so checked 1 day and the rate was $60 for 1 day. Added on infant car seat and total just over $80. Have confirmation with total amount to pay. Is this likely to stick? Am I evil for not reporting the bug?

 

[Quickstatus]

Can't give blood, spent too long in the UK, BSE and all that.

Some may recall the tainted plasma scandal that engulfed the UK in the 1980s.
The NHS could not make enough plasma products like Factor VIII for hemophiliacs so these were imported from the US where donors were paid to regularly give blood to make these factors. At one time a particular prison population was used as a source.
its not illegal to be paid for your blood in the US - I think blood had to be marked as such ("this blood is from a paid donor). However plasma did not have to be marked as such.

Actually Not BSE but the related vCJD

 

[love_the_life]

If you have ancestors here since the 1800s you won't be happy until you find the convict.

Or landed gentry in the case of us crow eaters. We have standards to keep!

No convicts in my family, nor landed gentry. Both sides arrived in the early 1850s, one lot from South Petherton, Somerset and my father's side from Tain, Scotland. I always had a secret envy of those with convict forebears

 

[Major]

Or landed gentry in the case of us crow eaters. We have standards to keep!

Quite right. My Mother was a Torrens and is related to Sir Robert

 

[love_the_life]

Funny that genealogy should come up as I have just spent quite a few hours trawling through the Trove site downloading newspaper articles about family members. It was lucky that my grandparents settled outside a small town in Gippsland where every little 'coming and going' was published in the town paper. I did have most of the clippings from earlier hunts but it is fun to read articles mentioning my mother in the town youth group, tennis club and school concerts, making her debut etc. My aunt from Perth will be visiting her in a couple of weeks so I want to print some of the ones off - those that mention my aunt in particular. I haven't been on Trove for a while and forgot how good it is.

 

[Pushka]

Well, my cousin knew Carlos the Jackal and was required to give evidence at his trial in Paris. She shared a flat with his girlfriend

 

[love_the_life]

A brush with fame there

 

[Denali]

Got another offer on house and will be accepting in the morning.

Listed 26hrs ago.

Which also means I won't be washing the house with a gernie on Friday for Saturday's open house.

 

[Pushka]

Got another offer on house and will be accepting in the morning.

Listed 26hrs ago.

Which also means I won't be washing the house with a gernie on Friday for Saturday's open house.

No inspection. That is fabulous.

 

[AisleSeat]

Well, my cousin knew Carlos the Jackal and was required to give evidence at his trial in Paris. She shared a flat with his girlfriend

My uncle got pulled in as a suspect for questioning during the Yorkshire Ripper murders. He was from the area, came and and went a lot, and fit the description. That was enough for the coppers to come knocking.

 

[Cynicor]

Makes you think you aren't charging enough for the place?!

Got another offer on house and will be accepting in the morning.

Listed 26hrs ago.

Which also means I won't be washing the house with a gernie on Friday for Saturday's open house.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just booked a hire car for $50 for 2 days. Couldn't believe the price so checked 1 day and the rate was $60 for 1 day. Added on infant car seat and total just over $80. Have confirmation with total amount to pay. Is this likely to stick? Am I evil for not reporting the bug?

It may be a two day deal? Who knows. A friend of mine has Accor Club (paid) membership. They get Aussie car hire for as little as $23 a day. Unbelievable price and good sized cars.

 

[Denali]

No inspection. That is fabulous.

Basically sold to knockdown and develop.

Makes you think you aren't charging enough for the place?!

I think we were over slightly overpriced as we were priced the same as a house that sold last week and it had more to offer. Ultimately, $10K less than asking price but we're OK with that as again, we were slightly overpriced.

Plus, we don't have to redo kitchen, bathroom and paint. Which we would have to do to keep it and rent or sell as home or investment.

 

[Flashback]

Basically sold to knockdown and develop.

I think we were over slightly overpriced as we were priced the same as a house that sold last week and it had more to offer. Ultimately, $10K less than asking price but we're OK with that as again, we were slightly overpriced.

Plus, we don't have to redo kitchen, bathroom and paint. Which we would have to do to keep it and rent or sell as home or investment.

Oh how different the property market is there compared to London......

 

[Pushka]

Makes you think you aren't charging enough for the place?!

I didn't dare go there.....

 

[Denali]

The house we saw last Saturday, contracts exchanged on Sunday. When we compare area prices for the past couple of months, we seemed to be on target and honestly, not interested in drawing out a bidding war that could scare off buyers.

Hubby emotionally exhausted and sleep by 8.

 

[Denali]

Did I mention we're also not paying to have the old asbestos dunny removed

Which was on the new kitchen, bathroom, paint, carpet list.

And there are a couple of housing commission homes on the street, guy a couple of houses down OD two weeks ago and still got a crazy Sydney price offer.