Peckris 2

Yes, good point - I'd forgotten the meter / vending machine factor, which made things a LOT easier for businesses during the changeover. Of course, the 50p presented its own problems in 1969 but at least it wasn't replacing '10 bob note' machines. As for phone boxes, I can't remember what the upgrade was for them - it was 4d pre-decimalisation, so I think they were gradually upgraded to take 2p instead, though I'm not sure what the timescale was : the 2p didn't come into effect until February 71 and the 1d was demonetised in August 71, so I'm guessing the GPO (or perhaps BT already by then?) went round like mad things upgrading phone boxes in those few months.

I wonder if anyone has heard of tinyurl?

That is truly scary.

I think "most" is a loose interpretation of the facts! A few, certainly. Van Dijk is the main man though - and someone would have got him (City? Barcelona?) if we hadn't got there first.

Not so. They put 65m ahead of 17m and that's their duty.

True.

Just hoping we don't draw either Manchester in the quarters.

I understand, but this is all in hindsight. We forget the mammoth task involved in getting the public used to decimalisation after a lifetime with £sd. The whole point - really, the WHOLE POINT! - of having 5p and 10p the same size as shillings and florins was to introduce the first two decimal denominations seamlessly, so people could get used to them side by side with their £sd equivalents. The weight-to-value principle was abandoned in the early 90s, so the only real argument is whether it should have been done before then? "The retention of the pre-decimal coins long after their system's demise gave the impression of a complacent and inefficient Britain" Has the author given a source for this? Speaking for myself, I have never ever heard that argument before.

Lucky you! I'm listening on 5Live Extra!

Not so. A number of Remain supporters have said they would nevertheless stand by the result of the first referendum. Those would presumably vote for May's deal. Any voting split is a complete unknown. At any rate, they've just voted to reject No Deal, thank goodness - which should hopefully silence many of those who simply hate the EU so much they are willing to pay ANY price to leave. I don't think the EU would exact a heavy price - I simply cannot understand the people who think the EU are headed by petty malevolents who aim to punish us. In any case, an extension has to be agreed by all the other 27 member states. The EU doesn't want No Deal, but looking at it from their point of view, they've fixed up a deal after WE decided to leave and now that Parliament has rejected it (twice) they have no option but to throw it back at us and ask us "Well, what DO you want? When you decide then come back and let us know."

The EU have given as much as they can. After all, it was us who voted to leave, what were they going to do? Yes, business is suffering, but Labour's proposal for Brexit was accepted in principle by the EU, but May just refused to listen to anyone. So, it's all come back to bite her. Tomorrow Parliament will probably vote to reject No Deal, and where we go from there is anyone's guess. We will leave, that much is clear, though we will suffer as a nation as a result. But how, when, and on what basis, is all to play for. It's no use blaming the EU though - they don't want No Deal any more than we do, but have offered as much as they can. The Irish backstop was always going to be trickiest part of the whole thing.

That's where we must disagree. May's deal was never going to satisfy the ERG/DUP (who want a hard Brexit, come what may), or Remainers who see it's worse than not leaving at all. Therefore it was voted down - that's (our) democracy!

It's the only way I can prevent myself screaming out loud.

Like this... or this?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/11/former-australian-pm-kevin-rudd-calls-brexit-trade-plan-utter-bollocks?CMP=fb_gu&fbclid=IwAR3FJGzyPyRGO_VJzLzY2CY2VNfJyJrUhUbIUugudJuiNPOeUgHAk0qqqlk

Still can't believe that London Coins example...

A dealer I know paid £200 for a large mixed lot at Warwick in the 90s - just to get that farthing. He then took it out, and sold me the rest of the lot ... for £200! Nice work if you can get it, or meet a mug like me..

If you pay 50% or more of the original sale price on the secondary market, you've been done.

If he's not a member of the best coin site in the UK, then he's nobody.

That would be Henry VII ?

Lycia Faith? I wish...

I offered £5. That was not "silly" for a repro. Amazingly it was declined immediately.

and Steve Bannon, Vladimir Putin, Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, Arron Banks, and all the rest of them.

My reply above deals with this.