tonyXIII

Good point. I forgot the tunnels. In my defence, the last time I used a tunnel in the UK was the Tyne tunnel about 25 years ago. I can't even remember if it was tolled, but it probably was.

The AA offers Europe-wide journey planning. Countries with tolls include Greece, Italy and France. I don't think Germany has tolls, but I could be wrong. Switzerland requires you to pay for motorway use as you enter the country (you get a sticker for your windscreen). In the UK, there is a section of the M6 that is a toll road, while the alternative, non-toll route is still open. AFAIK. Other than that, the only UK tolls are on bridges. Again, AFAIK.

Izal, ooh, aah! You could give your itchy bum a right good scratch with that. I miss it. (I also tell lies)

All I can really say is that it varies. I've thought both "Wow! That was expensive." and "Hmm! That didn't cost too much." I do use technology (I'm not absolutely terrified of it!), but 'old' technology. The AA route planner does offer the option of avoiding tolls when you plan your journey. Your journey across Europe is a bit of a trade-off: speed/duration against cost/mileage.

That is a good point. It is all too easy to forget that not everyone is internet savvy, or even connected. In 2015, I had to use the Dartford crossing (QE2 bridge) twice and I was really alarmed about the payment system - and the warnings of dire prognostications if you failed to pay by some mysterious system within a fixed time limit - and I have a Masters in Computer Studies! I managed to work it out using my mobile phone and credit card number, but I wasn't confident about it. How many people are genuinely scared of having to pay by modern, cashless systems? When driving across Europe, I always look for the manned toll-booth so I can pay with cash. So far, there has always been one booth with a human being present. I dread the day the last human toll collector is made redundant and I have to use "technology". I think I might have to smash through the barrier and go "on the run" like Bonnie and Clyde, with the cops chasing me along the autobahns.

It depends, basically, on how old you are. If you're an old git like me, you're stuck with the old state pension (maximum years to qualify is 30). If you're a youngster, you may have a bit of the old state pension, but you will most likely be tied into the new state pension (maximum years to qualify is 35). If you are in your fifties or sixties, check out the implications for you.

Pleased to hear it.

Ah! Other benefits. You mention rent. I don't know if there are "extras" for needy people. For example, housing benefit. I've never claimed it and know nothing about it, but it is possible that some pensioners may get that on top of their pension. After talking to the DWP, I feel like I've been robbed, but I do understand the rationale.

Sorry, Farmduck, I missed your other questions. Too much wine. Minimum pension age for a man is 65, but is rising in stages over the next few decades. I just crept in to the 65 bracket, my brother is two years younger and misses it. I think he has to wait till he's 67, but I'm not sure. Women's pension age is supposed to be the same as men's now, I think! My wife is 71 and she hit state pension age at 60. Occupational pensions are different. I took mine at 55 which was the minimum age for such pensions back in 2008, when I started receiving my occupational pension. I receive a reduced amount because I took it before the age of 65. The name for that is "Actuarially Reduced Benefit". No asset and income tests as far as I know. Many people collect their pension and continue to work, usually in less-demanding jobs. I think I will be able to claim a Greek state pension on top of my UK state pension when I hit 67, which is the minimum qualifying age for Greece. It'll probably net me 5 bob a week!

For the old pension (pre-2016), yes. However, it is index-linked, so will increase slightly every year. Mine is complicated because I paid into an occupational pension and so my benefits are reduced by an amount called COPE (I think it means contracted-out pension equivalence). AFAIK, the old (pre-2016) State Pension was based on 30 years maximum to receive £122 maximum, so every year of contributions gave you 1/30th of £122. The new (post-2016) is based on 35 years maximum to receive £155 maximum, so every year of contributions will give you 1/35th of £155. If you pay into a "contracted-out" occupational pension scheme (eg. teachers), you pay less into the State Pension scheme and receive less in benefits because you wil get an occupational pension. It makes sense, but it is bloody complicated to work out for the ordinary bloke in the street. The guy I spoke to at the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) admitted it was complicated. I believed that I could buy in about five years from 2006 to 2012 and boost my pension by about £5 per week for every year I bought in. I was wrong. Like I said, check it out.

Seriously, mate! That page is misleading. I spent 20 minutes on the phone to the DWP just yesterday. Mine is complicated because I was "opted out" when I was a teacher, so my maximum pension is reduced by something called COPE and this may not apply to you, but.. I have 32 years in the old (£122) pension and I can no longer buy in any extra years from before 2016 even though that page says that I can buy in the remainder of 2006-2007 for £159. Strictly speaking, I can buy in the years, but because I already have more than the 30 year maximum, it won't improve my pension beyond the £128 it currently stands at. Because their records are only complete up to 5 April 2016 as yet, they tell me that I can work or buy in the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 (I hit 65 on 11/4/2018). I live abroad, so I won't be working those years. To buy them in will cost me £733 per year and will net me 2/35 of the new £155 pension (about £9.12pw). Figures from DWP. It's a toss-up whether it's worth it for me. Whatever I do, this baby-boomer cannot access the new State Pension of £155 beyond that £9.12. Note, this is because of the opting out of part of the State Pension when I worked as a teacher. I think, if you look carefully, there is a warning on the Pensions part of GOV.UK that the information provided may not apply in all cases and you should seek independent advice on particular issues. In other words, it's generic and can't cover every possible case. I was convinced after reading those pages that I could buy in 2006-07 for £159 and receive an extra £5 pw on my pension. Not so! Check. Please.

You need to check this out! Seriously! The 30 years ended on 5/4/16 and was replaced by a 35 year qualifying period. I have just been advised that, as I have 32 years in before 2016, I cannot increase my pension, which is based on the old £122 maximum, by buying in extra years before 2016. As I no longer work in the UK, the only way I can improve my pension is to buy in 2 years post 2016, namely 2016-17 and 2017-2018. It's not straightforward because you will have some years entitlement pre-2016 and some years entitlement post-2016. Sorry if you already know all the ins and outs of this but, if you don't, check it out. PS. I'm sure you'll pass any test they set you, including a dope test.?

I bet he works in a gift shop where they sell key rings. Definitely uninteresting.

Ah! The mist sand clears. Thanks, Futtocks. I've never heard of that.

Wow! Those neolithic cave paintings do turn up where you'd least expect them, don't they? I take it that there is at least one rational explanation and about a thousand conspiracy theories?

It's raining. It's August and it's raining! Here in Crete. (It's the first rain for about three months.) edit: I almost forgot. We've no water supply to the house due to a broken pump. Again! Fourth time this year.

When I was in charge of IT provision at my school, I always did what you say. If you buy the latest gear, you are buying all the problems. If you buy the previous generation of gear, all the creases have been ironed out and the stuff works. However, now that cars are pretty much all settled and the technology is known and can be trusted, I buy new. That way, I avoid most of the problems and save on repair costs. Depreciation doesn't bother me as I just run it into the ground over 10-15 years.

Ha, ha! They obviously don't know you like we do!

Life's good here in Bedrock, mate. Sincerely, F.Flintstone

Weeeellllll, yes, but! The last time I used a road atlas, I got lost. Not because I can't read them, but because it was about ten years out of date! Mind you, I've never used satnav and I don't intend ever to use it, either. Nowadays, I use the AA route planner and use it to print maps of any tricky sections.

Good point. My old man used to ridicule the football commentators who tried to sound 'clever' by pronouncing Ajax as Ayax. Sadly for the thickos, they then added "of Amsterdam", so we got "Ayax of Amsterdam". His point was, if you want to be considered seriously, you should say "Ayax von Omsterdom" or the perfectly reasonable "Ajax of Amsterdam". He didn't like football commentators much, my old man.

Since you're asking, mine's a treble, mate! Cheers!

Er, should there be a "not" in there? As in "if they were not killed on purpose"? Or am I missing some other point about shooting birds?

Does he wash his hair?

I wonder what the real locals (the French) make of those bloody Brits who've moved down there to live and spoilt God's own Departement?