Peckris 2

The result of the Gulf Stream sinking further South does in fact mean we will lose its protection. However, you can't compare us with Canada - even without the GS the prevailing tendency will still be westerly winds off the Atlantic so though colder than now in winter, we'll still be milder than 'over there'. However, measures to slow climate change right down are the best thing.

Let's just hope that this is a spur to quickening up the research into energy efficient alternatives - solar panels on roofs are slowly spreading but making them more efficient would be good, and they've only just begun to work out how to make wave energy work. Meantime, I hear Bill Gates is putting investment money into a modern, cleaner, more fuel efficient form of nuclear reactor whose advantage is that it can use the waste fuel from older reactors (whose design is appallingly out of date - 1950s in some cases). If Putin's warmongering hastens sustainable and efficient alternatives to energy, then that's one in the eye for him.

So basically it's the equivalent of a postal auction?

That baffles me too - if they manage to track down an upgrade, you'd think they would be generous enough to make the first example available to other collectors.

What infuriates me is when sites insist you have to have a mobile number when you register with them. Sites like Google and PayPal can send a code via voicemail to your landline - why can't other sites?? Why do they all insist you MUST own a mobile? And has anyone tried to buy a PAYG phone recently?

I don't know how accurate this is, but I once read that there were intended to be two series of The Prisoner (at least). The first series was to be 13 episodes, and they had already filmed the first two episodes of Series 2 - "Living In Harmony" and "The Girl Who Was Death" - which do have a different feel about them to the initial 13. However, for the reasons DaveG says, it wasn't taken up so they broadcast them immediately following the supposed end of Series 1. But they did need to end the show somehow, so McGoohan was instructed to do that, and he is listed as the writer for episodes 16 and 17, for which they also brought back Leo McKern as Number Two. I'm not sure McGoohan even knew how it was all meant to end - if at all - which explains the very psychedelic and confusing final episode which left more balls in the air than they knew what to do with. The very end though, does make you think that he never did escape ... though whether that means The Village or - by analogy - from what society was becoming, the whole show being a metaphor of some kind, is left rather open-ended.

The ending is kind of appropriate, but the original had an ending which was the result of not knowing how to end it, which is why they came up with that totally psychedelic final episode.

Did you ever see the remake, which aired on ITV about ?15 years ago? It got panned, but mostly by fans of the original. Actually it wasn't half bad, and Ruth Wilson gave it her usual edgy glamour. Never even got repeated which is a shame.

Mike should set his computer's clock back 6 months, then send Ingrams an email marked "urgent"

There is one other possibility which you may or may not have already considered: Your contents insurer will have a valuables component which usually has a 100% replacement value attached to it. Coin collections may (or not) be included, but the valuables cover they provide will be inadequate for your needs. However, they may be open to extending the maximum covered considerably at a higher premium cost which you would have to agree with them. Whether or not 'contents' insurance covers valuables which are stored in a bank, is an additional question and I'm not competent to answer it!

Just one more thing: You might want to handle coins only by the edges. With the older and toned coins you're doing, it matters less, but with uncirculated coins it's the best way to put fingerprints on the coin; and do it enough times and you will begin to see slight wear as well.

Nice idea! What might help though, is to understand who you're aiming these at? If new collectors who already know the basics of terminology etc, then it's a potential winner. There are so many iconic coins you could cover: - the 1933 penny story - the Gothic portrait of Victoria - William and Mary > William III - trade tokens pre-1797 - the Great Recoinage of silver in 1816, and how the sizes of silver coins remained constant until decimalisation - Maundy Money - the Edward VII florin - proof sets before decimalisation - the 1951 Festival of Britain crown - the Churchill crown and so on. However, you might also want to do a video for complete beginners, defining such terms as 'obverse' 'reverse' 'legend' 'proof' etc, and emphasizing the importance of condition, rarity, and popularity (the holy trinity of factors affecting coin values). Good luck and I hope to see many more.

Bring birth certificate or other ID - no-one over 18 allowed...

Yes, that's a prominent piece if any are. Does anyone know what the approximate (or exact) mintage was?

I think it also goes to show that - at very high magnifications - no two strikes from the same die are absolutely identical (almost, often, but never quite..)

If you get as close as you can - even with a phone - the resulting jpeg is usually big enough that you can crop down to the desired size.

Perhaps you could just shoot a close up of the dates on each coin, then upload them side by side?

Are you able to post a bigger picture? I'm not seeing any differences that are not accountable by wear.

It's going to need more than luck...

We need to find a way to stop - especially - India and China from emitting so much CO2. Personally I think it would come best from us helping them (in particular India), rather than wagging our fingers and saying "tut tut".

blue or red?

Well, the EU did have complete control over our laws. Oh, apart from ... Pensions and the entire welfare state The NHS and public health generally Transport, including airlines, railways, and road systems Housing, town planning, construction Taxation, including income tax, corporation tax, excise duties Police, criminal justice, and public order The army, navy, and airforce Local authorities and everything they do such as roads, refuse, the fire service, parks and recreation Alternative energy sources, nuclear reactors, power stations and the national grid But those pesky Brussels bureaucrats insisted on meddling in things such as food standards, drinking water quality, health and safety at work, the cleanliness of our beaches, workers rights, etc. I mean, who the hell did they think they were?