The Off Topic Topic

[Josquius]

Oh look.
A "castle" within a sane price range.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162024458

Why would something like that have been built in the 18th century  Not very Georgian at all, looks gothic.

Looks cute though just one bathroom? For Americans you need at least 2.5. One for the owner, one for the kids/guests, and a half bath for visitors.

I am always a little worried about upkeep costs for those really old homes though, especially for ones that would have any historical significance and it looks like this is a listed property.

Also I have no idea what kind of place Whitley Bay is.

I'm no architect but looks standard 18th century to me?
There were some worries about Jacobites and the French so I guess the fort look is real rather than ornamental.

Just one bathroom is perfectly standard. If I ended up with a place with two I'd probably end up ripping one out.

It's ridiculously small though and I couldn't live there.  As nice as it is from the outside. Telling it currently seems to be a shop rather than a house

And yes. Listed status would be a pain. A house that size I would need to extend which would be a no go.
Nothing to do with listed but I'd also worry with a house so open to the sea like that quite how much damage the wind and salt would do.

Whitley Bay is a really nice town. 20+ years ago a typical sketchy down at heel seaside down though in recent years it has come on a lot. I was just there the other day raiding an antiquarian book shop (for 40 year old books rather than collectors pieces).
This is in a village a bit north of the town-proper which has its own quiet little beach, good views, the only con is a bit cut off from civilization without a car.

Whitley Bay is somewhere I am seriously considering moving in a few years - negative point of being further from my parents yet remaining in the UK. But the seaside and stuff to do without being in the middle of the city....
But anyway. Not happening any time soon so just idle blah.

Since I'm going on and on selling whitley bay. There was a song about it.

[HVC]

Why would you tear out a bathroom? They're usually too small to make into something else, unless I guess a laundry room. Or do you just really like waiting to use the bathroom in the morning?

[Josquius]

Why would you tear out a bathroom? They're usually too small to make into something else, unless I guess a laundry room. Or do you just really like waiting to use the bathroom in the morning?

A downstairs loo is useful. If I was staying here forever the plan was to build one - instead I just piss in the open drain if I'm too lazy/afraid of waking people to go upstairs

A full extra bathroom is an unnecessary extravagance, the extra space could be better used as a box room, office, or storage.

[Grey Fox]

I have 2 bathrooms. I'm thinking of taking the shower out of the basement one. It doesn't get any use and I keep having to clean it.

I would never get rid of having 2 actual toilets tho. It's wonderful.

[grumbler]

Today is the 90th anniversary of The Greatest 45 Minutes in Sports History: Jesse Owens smashing three world records and tying a fourth between 3:15 and 4:00 PM at the Big Ten Track Championships in Ann Arbor Michigan.

At 3:15 p.m. that Saturday, Owens overcame a slow start in the 100-yard dash to win it easily in 9.4 seconds, tying the world record.

At 3:25 p.m., he took his one and only try in the long jump and smashed the world record by more than half a foot, jumping 26 feet, 8¼ inches. That record would stand for another 25 years.

At 3:34 p.m., he took off in the 220-yard dash final and won it in 20.3 seconds, destroying the old world record of 20.6 seconds.

Then at 4 p.m., he completed his day by running in the finals of the 220-yard low hurdles, running a 22.6 to become the first person ever to break 23 seconds.

We Michigan fans are proud of the fact that he did this on our turf


And also that, for all of his heroics, Michigan still won the championship.

[viper37]

How they present weather in Germany vs how they present it in Greece

I guess it often rains in Germany but it's worthy of attention in Greece?   


(real story was, the Greece channel is not a serious news channel like the German one.  Still a fun comparison ).

[Josquius]

 

[Syt]

Greek girl really, really needs to go to the toilet.

[Habbaku]

Any of us getting ready for retirement? YI maybe?

Lots of chaos in the markets and such, but I am roughly on-track to be done in 5 years. Sooner is possible, but unpredictable at this point.

[Habbaku]

Any of us getting ready for retirement? YI maybe?

2 months and 8 days away.

[crazy canuck]

Any of us getting ready for retirement? YI maybe?

Lots of chaos in the markets and such, but I am roughly on-track to be done in 5 years. Sooner is possible, but unpredictable at this point.

On that topic, just finished with my investment advisor.  Lot's of concern about the American deficit caused by the new bill, increasing American bond yields, and the inability of the US to finance their debt short buying up their own bonds (and the inflation and currency instability that may cause) - long story short, institutionally my advisors are moving their client's away from American stocks.  Not completely, but there will be a reduction in exposure to the American market.  There was a good run, but other places are looking less risky with better upside (they talked about Germany and Japan specifically, along with some other markets).

The currency risks for you, as an American, are obviously different from mine.  It would be very painful for me to hold on to American stocks, or buy more, if the American currency weakens as a result of what is coming.  But I feel for you if what I saw in this meeting is repeated with millions of other foreign investors in American stocks.

[Threviel]

Every stock recommendation I've read the last weeks have recommended to move money out of the US. Eventually the pension funds will follow suit.

[The Minsky Moment]

Unintentional WAD, if such a thing can be imagined.

If foreigners reduce investment in the US, the dollar will be pulled down, and that will cause the current account to tilt more to the US.  If the dollar actually was dethroned as the world's reserve currency, the effect would be accelerated.

Not good for America, or the American economy, but it will help make the trade deficit numbers look better, which is all DJT cares about.

It's like watching a new football coach who has decided the only thing that matters is gross punting yards. The top QB and star pass rushers are all traded for strong punters.  All offensive drives must be halted at midfield because otherwise it will negatively impact punting yard averages.

[Josquius]

I've thought  of it. The issue is where. The US dominates the global economy. Japan is mentioned and I do have some stake there but... Haway.
I do need to shift my pension elsewhere at some point though so it's a consideration.

[Syt]