The totally off-topic thread

[Denali]

Dont think Ive used a travel agent since 2011, great agent who I enjoyed working with but she had a baby and on return to work, completely dropped the ball in communication and following through and I felt like I was managing her to get the tasks done.

 

[Quickstatus]

@RooFlyer , Franchise TA?

 

[Quickstatus]

Reminder folks:
Woolies single use plastic bags no longer available from 4 April

My plan is never to use the stores reusable bags in their store - always use the competitors

I use Woolies bags in Aldi and Aldi in Woolies
Same idea with Coles

 

[Denali]

Somebody here was watching Married at First Sight last week? Nasser is currently sitting in my friends living room a few mins away. Apparently this is a big deal to fans (I've not watched the show).

 

[Milboo]

Otago was founded in 1848. As a philatelist, I learned all about such things many years ago. NZ has a history of celebrating their city and provincial anniversaries.

And the captain on one of the founding ships lent his name to Invercargill!

I’m a direct descendent of the Chief Surveyor of Otago shortly after its foundation, who also went on to be NZ’s first Surveyor General.

 

[Hvr]

I use Woolies bags in Aldi and Aldi in Woolies
Same idea with Coles

I use MBK cloth bags.

 

[Milboo]

Like most businesses, we struggle with supplying enough underground parking for all staff.

Boss suggested we pay people to walk/bike/bus to work. I suggested company donates to Charity for each day a person walks/bus/bike instead, we keep a tally and end of month cut a cheque and it frees up much needed parking for those that cant walk/bike/skate ect to work.

I would walk 2 x per week at least if I knew each walk earned $10 for my charity and most live locally.

Now we wait to see response.

Don’t forget to get the charity’s permission to fundraise on their behalf!

 

[Quickstatus]

Don’t forget to get the charity’s permission to fundraise on their behalf!

Small amounts like this I don’t think is an issue.

But intrigued - Why?

 

[Milboo]

I wouldnt think that they do, only one place I've worked as provided parking. Everywhere else I've had to pay.

It becomes a question of employee attraction and retention if you are not centrally located in a CBD or proximity, especially if your competitors are, or are not located on major public transport route.

If I did not have a free parking space I would not have taken the job - to PT it involves a walk, a bus, 2 trains and a further walk. Drive takes me 20 mins on average. PT would take me 70 mins plus.

 

[Milboo]

I would love to be able to walk/ride to work, but distance - 23km is just a bit too far for these old legs. Plus I have a torn meniscus according to last weeks MRI, so surgery needed on my knee. Plenty of acarage for parking.

I have the same diagnosis and after seeing awesome sports surgeon, I am not having surgery. Apparently research is swinging against the benefit of surgery (which is removal not repair by its nature) especially the extent to which it speeds up arthritic changes.

 

[Milboo]

Small amounts like this I don’t think is an issue.

But intrigued - Why?

Dredging the memory here but it’s about the fact the collection of the donation is on behalf of individuals and thus becomes fundraising. And there are laws and regulations over the conduct of fundraising activities - easiest way to work through them is to get a letter authorising fundraising from the charity in question. Checking too they are allowed to accept donation.

You’d also want one with DGR status as your finance people will no doubt want to claim the deduction.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is passing the hat around allowed them?
Somehow I think small informal / private fundraisers like this would not be subject to such red tape?

 

[Bindibuys]

I have the same diagnosis and after seeing awesome sports surgeon, I am not having surgery. Apparently research is swinging against the benefit of surgery (which is removal not repair by its nature) especially the extent to which it speeds up arthritic changes.

Agree, but some days the knee is fine, others like last Thursday in MEL, I just went to cross City Road, made a sudden stop, and bang..... I am in agony, every step was - "don't cry, don't cry" spent my 2 days "shopping" in MEL laid up in bed.
I don't want the same thing to happen while I am on holidays overseas.
Open to anyone's suggestions.

 

[Quickstatus]

Agree, but some days the knee is fine, others like last Thursday in MEL, I just went to cross City Road, made a sudden stop, and bang..... I am in agony, every step was - "don't cry, don't cry" spent my 2 days "shopping" in MEL laid up in bed.
I don't want the same thing to happen while I am on holidays overseas.
Open to anyone's suggestions.

Put in General medical thread?

 

[Milboo]

Agree, but some days the knee is fine, others like last Thursday in MEL, I just went to cross City Road, made a sudden stop, and bang..... I am in agony, every step was - "don't cry, don't cry" spent my 2 days "shopping" in MEL laid up in bed.
I don't want the same thing to happen while I am on holidays overseas.
Open to anyone's suggestions.

My recommendation would be to see a sports medicine specialist as they will find the least invasive approach normally. I’ll PM you the guy I am seeing.

 

[RooFlyer]

@RooFlyer , Franchise TA?

Stand-alone, mid sized in suburban Melbourne, with a shop-front but a decent sized corporate clientele.

I have visited a couple of times to say hello and usually end up having coffee with one of the co-owners .

 

[Quickstatus]

So how to find a good TA?

Standalone - ok
What are the indicators of size of TA business?

 

[RooFlyer]

Reminder folks:
Woolies single use plastic bags no longer available from 4 April

My plan is never to use the stores reusable bags in their store - always use the competitors

I use Woolies bags in Aldi and Aldi in Woolies
Same idea with Coles

I'm pretty sure all stores here in Tas got rid of the so-called single use bags last year or the year before. And I ALWAYS try to take the competitor's bag into a given supermarket .

I started hoarding the old plastic bags before they got phased out (but they weren't really), but still have a drawer stuffed full of them.

Coles Bay, in eastern Tas was the first town in Australia to ban plastic bags, in 2003.

 

[RooFlyer]

What are the indicators of size of TA business?

Pretty much impossible, I think. I know about 7 of their clients, and none of them live in Melbourne. Corporate business entirely over the phone/e-mail. Size of staff in shop gives some indication, but in my case, the best/corporate consultants are upstairs, out of sight.

 

[Pushka]

I'm pretty sure all stores here in Tas got rid of the so-called single use bags last year or the year before. And I ALWAYS try to take the competitor's bag into a given supermarket .

I started hoarding the old plastic bags before they got phased out (but they weren't really), but still have a drawer stuffed full of them.

Coles Bay, in eastern Tas was the first town in Australia to ban plastic bags, in 2003.

SA banned them in 2009. All this means is that you have to pay 15 cents to get one.