h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have almost learned to fetch a ball or a toy that the cats have moved about. Does that count? They have tried very hard to train me.

Wellllll.. some things cannot be trained Oh, and your h'day plans show that you're a natural talent

The tentative schedule of our travels all just came together during a phone call. And then ironed out with a second call ... Now, it's just a matter of finding money. The tax-man cometh, and he bit us deep.

.. the .. tax man .. they seem to be the same all over the world.

So perhaps they should all be lined up first, before the lawyers? When civilization comes to an end, and all of that.

maybe even earlier than that

Our official season for declaring income for tax purposes came to an end at midnight, Monday night. I expect that the assorted tax-persons are even less popular right now than the weather forcaster.

ah! well, the weather forecast here mentioned rain for next week, first drops in well over six weeks, so they have have built up some credits now

and our income tax had to be in 1st of April I expect no surprises from them If there are surprised ... , , or worse

The tax-damage I incurred this season was not the doing of the official demons. I voluntarily over-pay a small sum, each pay day. So that at the end of the cycle, I ought to see about $1,200 to $1,400 returning to me. That was going to be a measure of our pocket-money when we visit the UK.

How-ever, our pay processing moved from an office in Ontario to one in Alberta last year. All in the interests of consolidation business over-hear, you see. In the process, some pertinent details of many of our pay packages were over-looked. So that in the end, many from this locale find themselves paying a small sum to the tax-man, rather than receive a refund. An honest mistake, but no easier to accept when one has been counting on a healthy pocket, eh?

we do the same thing.. over-pay a small amount. more to make sure we don't have to cough up anything at all.. as a sort of safety margin works every year tax offices making mistakes is for some reason always worse than anyone else making mistakes

Murphy's Law kicked in, of course. Every other year, the bonus of money being paid back to us was nice in assisting with flower and shrubbery for the new season. The one year that we actually NEED it ...

*slips away to check the family tree for any seriously old Aunties or Uncles who have LOADS of loot. And might like a mushroom omelette *

.. mmm.. mushroom omelette for auntie ..

did the tax office make a mistake btw? will they correct it?

nice pics! !

It was the pay people in my company that erred. Simply by not extracting as much tax money as they ought to have. So there really is no recourse. Except grumble and mumble a bit.

And indeed, isn't little 'Kenzie a real sweet ?

oh.. the bookkeepers and accountants. best thing to do is shout at them then, and that won't have any results. *sigh* I know..

and s and s for 'Kenzie !! oooooohhh really sweet!!

My book-keepers are a couple of thousand miles away. SO maybe a nasty and anonymous e-mail ...

Has spring truly settled on your kingdom yet? It's here well enough that the lawn-mower will get it's first exercise this week-end.

shout louder!

the lawn mower is fully operational since early April I think.. well over +20C, no rain for the last six weeks though

We are a bit later than usual with the arrival of spring. Oh well, as always, we'll simply meet and deal with what-ever Mother Nature sends our way.

true.. .. however we've had some time to see if the swim suits still fit

Ah yes ... For one of you, the winter months may have redistributed a few grams, and for the other, ... another spurt of growth, eh?