The totally off-topic thread

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm not so sure about this. Foreigners may pay different taxes which may be higher or lower than Swiss residents, but that's nothing to do with rents as such.

This was the case for some friends of mine. Their apartment was rented from a large corporation that also owned rent-controlled housing. Their rent was extraordinary... I mean it was a lovely place with great views... but apparently it was part of a portfolio where the rents charged were off-setting lower income from rent-control properties. Granted, maybe this is the case for any property outside the rent-control sphere.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sacked from being a CEO of an accounting group but gets $4.9 million from the departures lounge. Something is crazy.

Thanks for the heads up on this - I missed it. Probably cheaper than keeping him on ..,. certainly reputationally, the way he appears to have been taking the organisation.

 

[Hvr]

Sacked from being a CEO of an accounting group but gets $4.9 million from the departures lounge. Something is crazy.

He would have to be de-certified if he didn't insert a good payout in his package.

 

[whatmeworry]

Sacked from being a CEO of an accounting group but gets $4.9 million from the departures lounge. Something is crazy.

Haven't been following the CPA story, but seems quite a few with their snouts in the trough.

CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley sacked | afr.com

 

[cove]

Yes this is disturbing news that I received last night. I would have liked to have had a vote on the departures lounge payment as I am still a member. I have been paying since the 1969/70 year.

 

[Denali]

My husband's friend missed his QF SF-SYD flight and now has a 24hr layover. There are worse places to be trapped.

 

[Flashback]

I love the UK. A wee little bit of rain and clouded over and people are wearing jumpers. Ah....!

 

[VPS]

I love the UK. A wee little bit of rain and clouded over and people are wearing jumpers. Ah....!

and now they're complaining about the rain

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I love the UK. A wee little bit of rain and clouded over and people are wearing jumpers. Ah....!

I was just thinking the same thing... was reading a tripadvisor review for a London hotel and the comment was 'the airconditioning worked a treat as it was an uncomfortable 24 degrees outside'

 

[Cossie]

Interesting experience, the room moved for us. 10th floor of hotel in Nara, just after 07:00.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Yes, that has happened to us as well. Westin Tokyo, corner room, high floor, it was a 5 from memory, the room shook for an age, so much so I said to Ron maybe we should go down the fire escape !

 

[Bindibuys]

At Disney's Frozen on Ice show with my 26 year old daughter...... out numbered by under 5's in blue gowns.

 

[Quickstatus]

haha can you sing the tune?

 

[Denali]

There was an earthquake when we were in Chile - I felt it while sleeping but thought it was just me being sensitive/over tired.

Also experienced one in Vanuatu many years ago, we ladies were at the beach bar and decided to keep safe and remain with the wine.

 

[whatmeworry]

There was an earthquake when we were in Chile - I felt it while sleeping but thought it was just me being sensitive/over tired.

Also experienced one in Vanuatu many years ago, we ladies were at the beach bar and decided to keep safe and remain with the wine.

:shock: I would have been thinking about higher ground in case of Tsunami.

 

[Denali]

:shock: I would have been thinking about higher ground in case of Tsunami.

Tiny, tiny island, like you can walk around it in less than 15mins so up to higher ground is very easy to do but not much of it.

 

[Milboo]

I have a fear of earthquakes - they were commonplace growing up where I did in NZ so have had my fair share of them.

I refused to move to Wellington for University, despite it being the best for my subject. Ironically I moved back to Christchurch for that...

Everytime I have to head home they are on my mind.

The main reason Japan is not on my list of places to see is because of the frequency of quakes there. I also do my best to limit my time in LA or SFO too.

I wish I didn't fear them so much

 

[cove]

I don't get too worried in Los Angeles. We were in a 6.8 trembler with our car parked in the underground car park. We ran down quickly and retrieved the hire car. During the earthquake some shop ceiling panels fell so we went out of the store and waited on the median strip in the middle of the road. The ground below us felt hollow during the shaking.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

We experienced the Newcastle earthquake. We had some damage to our home. Nothing major. I was talking on the phone to a friend who lived close by, and we thought it was the mines letting off a charge for the next days mining ! Have felt a few in Japan. I think those are worse because you are in a very high rise hotel !

 

[blackcat20]

Small quake in Japan when we were there last year; was early morning and we were sleeping on a futon on the floor. Once I realised why the floor was shaking I decided it wasnt big enough to worry about.