DW
9.5.13
The Local Fauna
This morning as we drove into town we came across several Elephants, of which this is one.
8.5.13
What do you call a Frog Around here?
I think you might have guessed the answer to that question already. Around here a Frog might easily be called ... dinner!
Take a look at these specimens, though: eyes are gorgeous and their skin is smooth but LOOKS like sand ... camouflage.
You'll also see the Frogs before and after. You'll know what i mean when you see the photos :(
DW
Take a look at these specimens, though: eyes are gorgeous and their skin is smooth but LOOKS like sand ... camouflage.
You'll also see the Frogs before and after. You'll know what i mean when you see the photos :(
DW
Insects
Sitting outside next to a light anywhere in the world that i know brings insects to it.
I didn't take very good photos but this is what i got.
DW
I didn't take very good photos but this is what i got.
DW
I go for a walk and the dogs go for a Marathon
I have been taking a walk every evening here and one or more of the three household dogs go with me.
I walk for about an hour and the dogs run all over the place: even just one dog on its own will cover 5-10 times the distance i do i think.
In one place today, one of the dogs picked up the scent of something. That sent the two bigger dogs off on a digging frenzy. The Terrier idled its life away at the time!!
DW
I walk for about an hour and the dogs run all over the place: even just one dog on its own will cover 5-10 times the distance i do i think.
In one place today, one of the dogs picked up the scent of something. That sent the two bigger dogs off on a digging frenzy. The Terrier idled its life away at the time!!
DW
The 30,000,000 Baht Folly
Someone has been building a very grand house near here. I believe it's not finished yet. So we went to have a look at the thing which, it turns out, is for sale.
I will not mention the nationality of the man who masterminded this folly but take a look at the flag in one of the photos below ... it contains a clue.
DW
I will not mention the nationality of the man who masterminded this folly but take a look at the flag in one of the photos below ... it contains a clue.
DW
7.5.13
Rain ... it knows how to rain
It's a long time since i lived in the tropics. I last lived tropically in Malawi although i have travelled tropically a lot since rhen.
Two nigjts ago i was woken up by the loudest rain i have ever heard. It lashed it down.
At the moment it's happening again: a veritable downpour. A deluge. Torrential.
The electricity has gone with the storm too: i don't know for how long.
Mental note to self: don't forget to buy a generator for the rainy season.
DE
Two nigjts ago i was woken up by the loudest rain i have ever heard. It lashed it down.
At the moment it's happening again: a veritable downpour. A deluge. Torrential.
The electricity has gone with the storm too: i don't know for how long.
Mental note to self: don't forget to buy a generator for the rainy season.
DE
1.5.13
Farewell Dinner!
Chimichanga in Halifax: au revoir they said but don't come back!
Joking I am!
Snaps ...
DW
Joking I am!
Snaps ...
DW
Almost Ready!
Packing, shifting, hanging ... waiting, driving, forgetting!
Let's look at the last of these:
wanted to renew my international driving licence ... carefully put my UK driving licence in the glove compartment before going to the Post Office. How daft is that? Had to go back to get it.
earmarked so many books to donate to charity: all thought through. I waited and waited for the men to come and clear my stuff and that made me fretful as i needed to do other things too. So when the men came i completely forgot the books in my office. Aaaaggghhhh! Have to do that myself now!
I had made lists of everything else and so far so good.
I leave tomorrow.
DW
Let's look at the last of these:
wanted to renew my international driving licence ... carefully put my UK driving licence in the glove compartment before going to the Post Office. How daft is that? Had to go back to get it.
earmarked so many books to donate to charity: all thought through. I waited and waited for the men to come and clear my stuff and that made me fretful as i needed to do other things too. So when the men came i completely forgot the books in my office. Aaaaggghhhh! Have to do that myself now!
I had made lists of everything else and so far so good.
I leave tomorrow.
DW
30.4.13
Lads' Army
You've heard of Dad's Army well here's Lads' Army.
I'm not in this one but my nephew David is: centre, front.
DW
I'm not in this one but my nephew David is: centre, front.
DW
Who Wears Short Shorts?
Not me, that's a fact.
Here i am ... how many years ago??
Which one is me?
DW
Here i am ... how many years ago??
Which one is me?
DW
Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright!
Here he is, tiger. My friend and companion for several years. He went to a new home today.
I gave him a hug and wished him well!!
😥
DW
I gave him a hug and wished him well!!
😥
DW
24.4.13
Are you Listening? ... what? ... who?
It was new mobile telephone evening. Very interesting couple of hours, great to see the features of phones I had never seen before.
In the middle of the evening I asked
Mr X ... have you seen the Samsung Galaxy wifi camera?
Mr X, waving his own phone, This has a really good camera ...
Me, No it's a camera with wifi and 3G and some fantastic features ...
Mr X XXX's phone has a really good camera
Me, fair enough
A conversation should be a dialogue or a multilogue and not two separate monologues!
DW
In the middle of the evening I asked
Mr X ... have you seen the Samsung Galaxy wifi camera?
Mr X, waving his own phone, This has a really good camera ...
Me, No it's a camera with wifi and 3G and some fantastic features ...
Mr X XXX's phone has a really good camera
Me, fair enough
A conversation should be a dialogue or a multilogue and not two separate monologues!
DW
22.4.13
This is Where I Walked this Afternoon
Nice looking photos I think. And why on earth are those nags wearing coats?
DW
DW
19.4.13
Apple Good News
I am very pleased to see that my apple tree has survived last summer's soaking and our crappy winter.
I took the photo here with my iphone hence the blur!
DW
I took the photo here with my iphone hence the blur!
DW
14.4.13
Coffee Survey ... what would you do?
They brought round a survey questionnaire at breakfast: what did i think of the tea/coffee?
I completed it and answered the truth: today's coffee was too cold and far too strong.
They took my questionnaire and then hurried back to apologise, offering me a fresh cup ... hotter and not so strong.
The waiter then put my questionnaire back on the table and said, maybe you want to change?
...
What would you do now?
DW
I completed it and answered the truth: today's coffee was too cold and far too strong.
They took my questionnaire and then hurried back to apologise, offering me a fresh cup ... hotter and not so strong.
The waiter then put my questionnaire back on the table and said, maybe you want to change?
...
What would you do now?
DW
13.4.13
Veteran Cars on Display in the Karan Hotel Jubail
I am working here this week and thought you'd like to see the great cars they've got on display!
The video file is big ...
DW
The video file is big ...
DW
12.4.13
Arrived Jubail
But my luggage didn't!
Last time this happened I waited one week for my case to arrive. I went to Khartoum and because of bad weather I changed from BA to KLM ... This time from KLM to Egypt Air.
Clearly Schipol cannot manage airline changes as all of us who were affected suffered the same fate.
I should get it tonight.
DW
Last time this happened I waited one week for my case to arrive. I went to Khartoum and because of bad weather I changed from BA to KLM ... This time from KLM to Egypt Air.
Clearly Schipol cannot manage airline changes as all of us who were affected suffered the same fate.
I should get it tonight.
DW
O2 Porky Pie
After yet another delayed flight I have been rerouted so I have spent more time at Schipol Airport than I should have.
On landing at Schipol I got an sms from O2. You will understand what has happened from the following.
U said £1.99 per DAY for data so i switched it on so that i could send and receive emails to/from the office; chat on whatsapp, read the news and so on. After about two hours, a minute ago, u sent me a message telling me i had used up my data allowance. Did u tell me a lie or make a mistake?
I will follow up on this when i get a wifi signal.
DW
On landing at Schipol I got an sms from O2. You will understand what has happened from the following.
U said £1.99 per DAY for data so i switched it on so that i could send and receive emails to/from the office; chat on whatsapp, read the news and so on. After about two hours, a minute ago, u sent me a message telling me i had used up my data allowance. Did u tell me a lie or make a mistake?
I will follow up on this when i get a wifi signal.
DW
6.4.13
Read the article then read this
I tried to respond to what i think is a crass article in today's FT. The FT engine says my response contains suspected profanity.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0e8b2180-9bf4-11e2-8485-00144feabdc0.html
Well, i can't see any and here is what i said anyway.
Isn't this just about the most ill thought out example of setting out
to prove a point and, by goodness, finding it?
This is a travesty: this is NOT what Amsterdam is like at all.
Yes, you will find a large and organised red_light district.
Yes, you will find drugs there.
Yes you will find the other things that Ms Birchill has written about
after her TWO visits in a decade there.
It's a lot like the Sherlock Holmes' dog that didn't bark. What Ms
Birchill has left out is far more representative of Amsterdam that the
lurid bits she's put in.
Are we meant to snigger and tut tut at the suggestion, not so clever
and not so hidden, that Ms Birchill goes to Amsterdam to partake of
noxious substances? Do we really need to know that? No, I for one do
not. Had I been the editor of this piece I would have struck that out
and reprimanded the woman.
I think Ms Birchill is also misrepresenting the availability of
cannabis for foreigners too: I think I am right in saying that they
recently tightened up the laws on the clots who are allowed to go and
smoke themselves silly. I am prepared to stand corrected but I am sure
I am right.
Ms Birchill's representation of the red_light district is misinformed
too. A couple of years ago I worked in Amsterdam with a woman, yes a
woman, who is a red_light district guide and my goodness I am sure she
would love to get her red pen to this article. Yes the red light
district was tightly controlled. Yes there were freeloaders and other
problems. Yes parts of it were closed down. However, what remains is
nothing like the mess that Ms Birchill is claiming. That Julie
Blindell would do well to talk to the red_light district guide too
because what she has apparently written sounds more like feminist
angst than hard reality.
Go to Amsterdam, I recommend it. You could even stay within a street
or two of the red_light district and not know it was there. There is
so much more to do than snigger about cannabis, noxious mushrooms and
alcohol. Oh! and if you do go, talk to someone who knows what they're
talking about.
DW
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0e8b2180-9bf4-11e2-8485-00144feabdc0.html
Well, i can't see any and here is what i said anyway.
Isn't this just about the most ill thought out example of setting out
to prove a point and, by goodness, finding it?
This is a travesty: this is NOT what Amsterdam is like at all.
Yes, you will find a large and organised red_light district.
Yes, you will find drugs there.
Yes you will find the other things that Ms Birchill has written about
after her TWO visits in a decade there.
It's a lot like the Sherlock Holmes' dog that didn't bark. What Ms
Birchill has left out is far more representative of Amsterdam that the
lurid bits she's put in.
Are we meant to snigger and tut tut at the suggestion, not so clever
and not so hidden, that Ms Birchill goes to Amsterdam to partake of
noxious substances? Do we really need to know that? No, I for one do
not. Had I been the editor of this piece I would have struck that out
and reprimanded the woman.
I think Ms Birchill is also misrepresenting the availability of
cannabis for foreigners too: I think I am right in saying that they
recently tightened up the laws on the clots who are allowed to go and
smoke themselves silly. I am prepared to stand corrected but I am sure
I am right.
Ms Birchill's representation of the red_light district is misinformed
too. A couple of years ago I worked in Amsterdam with a woman, yes a
woman, who is a red_light district guide and my goodness I am sure she
would love to get her red pen to this article. Yes the red light
district was tightly controlled. Yes there were freeloaders and other
problems. Yes parts of it were closed down. However, what remains is
nothing like the mess that Ms Birchill is claiming. That Julie
Blindell would do well to talk to the red_light district guide too
because what she has apparently written sounds more like feminist
angst than hard reality.
Go to Amsterdam, I recommend it. You could even stay within a street
or two of the red_light district and not know it was there. There is
so much more to do than snigger about cannabis, noxious mushrooms and
alcohol. Oh! and if you do go, talk to someone who knows what they're
talking about.
DW
Answers on a Post Card
Well, what do you think these two bits of rope represent, then?
UPDATE ...
Come on, have a go! Make a suggestion!!
DW
UPDATE ...
Come on, have a go! Make a suggestion!!
DW
4.4.13
More Falang Tripe!
Sitting in a restaurant having a decent meal and behind us is a pony tail wearing foreigner. Fake US accent as he is from Europe somewhere.
He's talking big while his wife/partner sits silently and his audience is a young Thai man.
Maybe he's a genuine big shot, who knows!!
DE
He's talking big while his wife/partner sits silently and his audience is a young Thai man.
Maybe he's a genuine big shot, who knows!!
DE
2.4.13
Great Self Portrait!
I took this photo yesterday on automatic EXCEPT for changing the EV to +1.
I took the photo in RAW too!
Zoom in to see the detail and ignore the Alice Band!!
DW
I took the photo in RAW too!
Zoom in to see the detail and ignore the Alice Band!!
DW
30.3.13
It's Back ... the Moon
I did it again, took a photo of the moon. From my balcony in Bangkok this time.
DW
DW
Waterproof not Sweat Proof
Look at the photo: it says that this watch is waterproof or water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
Zoom in, though, to see the effects of my sweat on the innards of this watch.
A waterproof watch that isn't sweat resistant!
DW
Zoom in, though, to see the effects of my sweat on the innards of this watch.
A waterproof watch that isn't sweat resistant!
DW
29.3.13
Scrambled Eggs err Omelette err Scrambled!
We went for something to eat. I like and eat Thai food then i will eat something more familiar from time to time
I ordered scrambled eggs: it comes with toast and bacon. I give the bacon away.
Namwan ordered her food.
We waited and when the omelette arrived i started eating it. La la la laaaa. Not bad although a bit greasy.
Namwan's Thai food arrived and she tucked in!
Then the scrambled eggs arrived 😳
Me: (confused and guilt ridden) Did you order the omelette for yourself?
Namwan: Yes!
Me: Why did you let me eat it then?
Doh!
Not done that before!!
DW
I ordered scrambled eggs: it comes with toast and bacon. I give the bacon away.
Namwan ordered her food.
We waited and when the omelette arrived i started eating it. La la la laaaa. Not bad although a bit greasy.
Namwan's Thai food arrived and she tucked in!
Then the scrambled eggs arrived 😳
Me: (confused and guilt ridden) Did you order the omelette for yourself?
Namwan: Yes!
Me: Why did you let me eat it then?
Doh!
Not done that before!!
DW
Three Films
In the last three days i have watched
Olympus Has Fallen
GI Joe
A Thai Film ... Pee Mak Phra Khanong*
Pee Mak is a hoot even though i relied on English sub titles. She's a ghost ... no she isn't ... nonsense, hair styles, slap stick, appalling rowing skills, terrible one like jokes ... worth watching!
GI Joe: Bruce Willis is really only a cameo player. Interesting storyline but the script is dreadful. Action packed and there's a ticking clock countdown ... otherwise the world ends NOW! Not the best action film ever but watchable.
Olympus: i enjoyed this. Action film, clicking tock counting down at the end ... otherwise the world ends NOW! One man hero. Couldn't stand the sight if the child wearing a baseball cap. Got sick to death of people constantly asking if the President's alright ... enjoyable action film, better than GI Joe!
DW
*Phra Khanong is my local Sky Train station!
Olympus Has Fallen
GI Joe
A Thai Film ... Pee Mak Phra Khanong*
Pee Mak is a hoot even though i relied on English sub titles. She's a ghost ... no she isn't ... nonsense, hair styles, slap stick, appalling rowing skills, terrible one like jokes ... worth watching!
GI Joe: Bruce Willis is really only a cameo player. Interesting storyline but the script is dreadful. Action packed and there's a ticking clock countdown ... otherwise the world ends NOW! Not the best action film ever but watchable.
Olympus: i enjoyed this. Action film, clicking tock counting down at the end ... otherwise the world ends NOW! One man hero. Couldn't stand the sight if the child wearing a baseball cap. Got sick to death of people constantly asking if the President's alright ... enjoyable action film, better than GI Joe!
DW
*Phra Khanong is my local Sky Train station!
26.3.13
Lebanese Food Excellent. Falang Chat Tripe!
Lebanese restaurant today in Ploenchit Centre: excellent food. Sat near two expats, they were at the next table. Firstly, they bought enough food for a week.
Secondly, they spoke loudly. They spoke drivel. And they clearly weren't listening to each other!!
DW
Secondly, they spoke loudly. They spoke drivel. And they clearly weren't listening to each other!!
DW
24.3.13
Analysis of Second Hand Car Prices in Bangkok
Take a look at my latest post on my Excel blog ... It's a combination of Excel, depreciation and other things ... http://excel2007master.wordpress.com/analysis-of-second-hand-car-prices-in-bangkok/
Duncan Williamson
Duncan Williamson
23.3.13
18.3.13
Phoooooone ... The Phone's Ringing
Some years ago i was in a railway station or airport and, surprise, surprise, i had my phone in my pocket. I was minding my own business when a man. a complete stranger, near me said to me, Your phone's ringing!
He was right! I was shocked but i hadn't heard a thing.
The same happened again yesterday. Phone in my pocket. Walking along ... phoooooone!
It happened again ... phoooooone!
It happened five or six times and even though my senses were heightened after the first two calls, i never heard the thing ring. It even vibrated as it rang too but that made no difference!
UPDATE 7th April 2013
I was walking around, minding my own business when i walked past a rucksack and inside it ... a phone was ringing. I heard it. Ta daa!
UPDATE 11th April
I was walking along, minding my own business, when i heard a familiar sound. The phone in my pocket was ringing and i heard it! Suave!!
DW
He was right! I was shocked but i hadn't heard a thing.
The same happened again yesterday. Phone in my pocket. Walking along ... phoooooone!
It happened again ... phoooooone!
It happened five or six times and even though my senses were heightened after the first two calls, i never heard the thing ring. It even vibrated as it rang too but that made no difference!
UPDATE 7th April 2013
I was walking around, minding my own business when i walked past a rucksack and inside it ... a phone was ringing. I heard it. Ta daa!
UPDATE 11th April
I was walking along, minding my own business, when i heard a familiar sound. The phone in my pocket was ringing and i heard it! Suave!!
DW
15.3.13
Subscribe to The Times ... hahahaha!
This post contains the text of s summary of my run in with The Times subscription and customer services departments.
Dear Sirs,
Please read this message and do something about it this time.
I posted this on your Facebook page just now as you have been impossible to deal with. Since you have taken money from me under false pretences, you have made this a serious matter now, not just an inconvenience.
"In The Times tomorrow ... how would I know? Try subscribing online and this is what you get. Sign up and complete the direct debit details. Finished? No, they will write and say your email is not registered on their system. They advise you to call them or try again. I wrote and said I am abroad for several weeks so cannot call ... why not call me on +... ... Ignored. I tried to sign up again this time as I typed my email address it said, are you XXX, in that case we'll fill in your details for you and they did. Was I now a happy subscriber? NO! They wrote and said my attempt to subscribe had failed and they had looked through their entire database and my email address is not registered. Call them or try again they repeated. In the end I subscribed for a month on the iPhone from the Apple Store. Happy now? NO! the App keeps crashing and yesterday after a crash, a deletion and reinstallation I am now "enjoying" a 30 day free trial ... I am getting no service for my money. Anything else? YES! I found out yesterday that they have taken money out of my bank account via the direct debit that couldn't possibly exist in their database. Is that the end then? NO! I wrote to them yesterday and asked for action. They ignored me. I wrote again and suggested that since I have received no services for my money AND they are seemingly misleading me, they might be guilty of fraud or theft. So that worried them then? Not a bit of it. I have heard nothing. So, this message comes with the clear warning that The Times has the worst customer service people I have ever come across: no exaggeration. This comment will probably be deleted but I will put it here and there and on my blog so that it can be seen for eternity!"
DW
Dear Sirs,
Please read this message and do something about it this time.
I posted this on your Facebook page just now as you have been impossible to deal with. Since you have taken money from me under false pretences, you have made this a serious matter now, not just an inconvenience.
"In The Times tomorrow ... how would I know? Try subscribing online and this is what you get. Sign up and complete the direct debit details. Finished? No, they will write and say your email is not registered on their system. They advise you to call them or try again. I wrote and said I am abroad for several weeks so cannot call ... why not call me on +... ... Ignored. I tried to sign up again this time as I typed my email address it said, are you XXX, in that case we'll fill in your details for you and they did. Was I now a happy subscriber? NO! They wrote and said my attempt to subscribe had failed and they had looked through their entire database and my email address is not registered. Call them or try again they repeated. In the end I subscribed for a month on the iPhone from the Apple Store. Happy now? NO! the App keeps crashing and yesterday after a crash, a deletion and reinstallation I am now "enjoying" a 30 day free trial ... I am getting no service for my money. Anything else? YES! I found out yesterday that they have taken money out of my bank account via the direct debit that couldn't possibly exist in their database. Is that the end then? NO! I wrote to them yesterday and asked for action. They ignored me. I wrote again and suggested that since I have received no services for my money AND they are seemingly misleading me, they might be guilty of fraud or theft. So that worried them then? Not a bit of it. I have heard nothing. So, this message comes with the clear warning that The Times has the worst customer service people I have ever come across: no exaggeration. This comment will probably be deleted but I will put it here and there and on my blog so that it can be seen for eternity!"
DW
14.3.13
Ants in my Pants!
After the shower last night i came out in blotches. It turns out that our local ant colony had taken up residence in my towel.
These ants are small but they bite. Here is a photo to prove it all ... my skin today!
DW
These ants are small but they bite. Here is a photo to prove it all ... my skin today!
DW
Chatuchak Park Bangkok
This is a really nice place. You could enjoy a good picnic here, just a few metres from Mo Chit Skytrain station.
DW
DW
Aw Poo!
In The lovely Chatuchak Park today i sat on some bird poo! Here's the proof AND is this the bird what done it?
DW
DW
12.3.13
10.3.13
Graduation Ceremony
We went to the Ramkhanhaeng University graduation ceremony this morning: outside, not in the congregation.
Here are just a few snaps from the dozens we took.
The young man on his own is the lad we went to see: graduating in mass communications. The other people I do not know, they are random snaps. The nodding dog ... I can assure you all that i did not buy that!!!
DW
Here are just a few snaps from the dozens we took.
The young man on his own is the lad we went to see: graduating in mass communications. The other people I do not know, they are random snaps. The nodding dog ... I can assure you all that i did not buy that!!!
DW
8.3.13
MArvellous News
Daughter Fran has just got news that her MA degree dissertation has been awarded a distinction. So once the congregation has been held, it'll be Fran Williamson MA.
Very happy for the young lady!
DW
Very happy for the young lady!
DW
5.3.13
The Plot ... That's it, The Plot!
Watch the video here of the Tamarind tree being felled to make way for a new house ... then see the photo of the plot 24 hours or so later!
DW
DW
4.3.13
Rattus Cowardum
They are clearing the plot of land where my house is going to be built. They found a rat and despatched it. The young girl's mother thought it would be a hoot if they brought it for me to hold!
No thanks! Rats alive are bad enough .,.
DW
No thanks! Rats alive are bad enough .,.
DW
2.3.13
Deadly!
This is probably the deadliest thing i have come across ... this evening. With no photo to show, it beats the very large frog in the toilet this morning .., and i mean IN the toilet!!
UPDATE
So the Scorpion might not be so deadly after all!! I think it's an Asian Forest Scorpion. Rest assured, it was jet black and big! Scary to look at!
DW
UPDATE
So the Scorpion might not be so deadly after all!! I think it's an Asian Forest Scorpion. Rest assured, it was jet black and big! Scary to look at!
DW
27.2.13
Land Registry ... Land Fantasy!
I went to the UK Land Registry site to check a couple of things. I foubd
A) they had got the buying price of my house wrong by a factor of 55%. Two other houses in my street were equally wrongly recorded.
B) i downloaded house prices for Calderdale for all types of property for the period Jan 1995 to Dec 2012 and found the prices all correlated with each other PERFECTLY.
I wrote to them on both counts!
UPDATE
Here is their response to the perfect correlation issue:
Dear Mr Williamson,
Thank you for your query.
There are natural limitations, due to sample size, in the provision of local indices. Unfortunately it is not possible to create a reliable quality adjusted monthly price index at a level of granularity much beyond London Borough level. Indeed, the Land Registry HPI is the only index that provides quality adjusted price appreciation data beyond the ten Government Office Regions. Land Registry are able to achieve this because of Land Registry's comprehensive datasets and the application of the repeat-sales regression method.
The household type breakdown on London Borough/County/Regional level is provided to enable reference to absolute levels rather than to explore differential movements. The absolute values simply represents an indexation of the initial geometric mean (a type of average) price by the appropriate London Borough/County/Regional index because a more granular index would lack sufficient sample size to provide meaningful results.
I hope this helps answer your question as to why, as you rightly noted, the appreciation rates are identical for all types of properties within the granular indices.
Kind Regards
CK
I have to say, i got very little from that response!
DW
A) they had got the buying price of my house wrong by a factor of 55%. Two other houses in my street were equally wrongly recorded.
B) i downloaded house prices for Calderdale for all types of property for the period Jan 1995 to Dec 2012 and found the prices all correlated with each other PERFECTLY.
I wrote to them on both counts!
UPDATE
Here is their response to the perfect correlation issue:
Dear Mr Williamson,
Thank you for your query.
There are natural limitations, due to sample size, in the provision of local indices. Unfortunately it is not possible to create a reliable quality adjusted monthly price index at a level of granularity much beyond London Borough level. Indeed, the Land Registry HPI is the only index that provides quality adjusted price appreciation data beyond the ten Government Office Regions. Land Registry are able to achieve this because of Land Registry's comprehensive datasets and the application of the repeat-sales regression method.
The household type breakdown on London Borough/County/Regional level is provided to enable reference to absolute levels rather than to explore differential movements. The absolute values simply represents an indexation of the initial geometric mean (a type of average) price by the appropriate London Borough/County/Regional index because a more granular index would lack sufficient sample size to provide meaningful results.
I hope this helps answer your question as to why, as you rightly noted, the appreciation rates are identical for all types of properties within the granular indices.
Kind Regards
CK
I have to say, i got very little from that response!
DW
25.2.13
Fiennes' not Fine!
I read the Ranulph Fiennes has had to abandon some escapade in Antarctica because of frostbite.
If ever i were to trek across and around Antarctica i would ask the Eskimo how they keep dry and frost free!
Simple really
DW
If ever i were to trek across and around Antarctica i would ask the Eskimo how they keep dry and frost free!
Simple really
DW
24.2.13
All Aboard the Skylark!
I posted the following comment in response to an article in today’s Financial Times on the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer saying he will not change course in spite of just about everything going against him.
I am very far from being a Tory but the spend it now and spend it again policies of Messrs Blair and Brown left me flabbergasted. How they got away with it for so long is a mystery but they did. I like the idea of politicians being made truly accountable for their actions: rather than being appointed to major world positions of influence and/or authority. Blair and Brown are both doing rather nicely now aren't they?
There are still Stocks in various villages around the country that could be brought back into use.
If only there were mechanisms that could tell us which of the policies and procedures a Chancellor and his team are taking are hurting rather than helping us then it would make my quest more simple. The reality is, of course, that at any time Mr Osborne can leave or be ejected and all he needs to say, as he dons his Ermine, is that he did his best under difficult conditions. He could even utter that awful phrase, that he was making tough choices and taking tough decisions. As if!
When one lives in the cloudless atmosphere of Government, no choice is tough, no decision is tough. One just takes a decision and some minion will write a speech to smooth it all away.
Yes, our debt is far too high and yes it has to come down. Yes, there has to be a major reorganisation of the economy to put all of that into effect. Yes, someone has to go through the pain barrier. Our real tragedy is the 9% industry gap: that's the difference between the GDP of Germany that comes from manufacturing and the GDP of the UK that comes from manufacturing ... please correct the figures but I know I am probably not far away. Germany makes and sells real, tangible things that the rest of the world wants to buy. We used to.
It was a long time ago when we were the cradle of the industrial revolution but Thatcher engineered (pun intended) the demolition of much of our manufacturing base with no thought of a replacement except through the service side of the economy. We all know where that went and the UK is constantly being sniped at by the USA, Singapore and others who wish to poach one or more elements of our service and banking sectors.
The current economic crisis is not one of debt levels alone it requires much more of a holistic approach to managing the country. The current crop of Tory politicians, inably assisted by the wettest Lib Dems there are, is probably the worst Administration in my lifetime. I see no spark in any of them. I see no competence in any of them. I see the same mistakes being made over and over again. Health: the NHS is a mess, let's reform it! Education: the exams system is a mess, let's reform it!! Foreign policy: human rights are our focus now, let's take on China!! Same sex marriage is of interest to just a tiny minority of people, let's have a major policy thrust on that!! la la la la la la la laa.
It's mind boggling! But then again, we ought to be grateful that many of these senior politicians were able to study PPE at Oxbridge so that they could help us to face these tough choices and decisions that are eating away at us and that the rest of us probably don't understand anyway. There, there, everyone!
DW
17.2.13
MacBook Woes
My MacBook Pro has been giving me grief over the last few days.
The mouse buttons on the trackpad refused to work and even an external mouse refused to work.
I rebooted the thing but still no mouse available. I was able to find a solution on a discussion forum: press Command, Options, Shift and then the Power button all at the same time: this shuts down the computer and when you start it again the trackpad and external mouse are restored. I lost and regained the mouse a few more times over the next two days!
I then tried to upload some photos from my DSLR camera to be faced with the warning that i had not previously removed the drive properly and that my iPhoto library was no longer available.
This went backwards and forwards for a while and then the thing stabilised. At the moment it is stable but now i believe my MacBook is in GATES! or is that JOBS! mode.
So far i have not tried to open iPhoto again to try to repair it. I daren't, yet!
DW
The mouse buttons on the trackpad refused to work and even an external mouse refused to work.
I rebooted the thing but still no mouse available. I was able to find a solution on a discussion forum: press Command, Options, Shift and then the Power button all at the same time: this shuts down the computer and when you start it again the trackpad and external mouse are restored. I lost and regained the mouse a few more times over the next two days!
I then tried to upload some photos from my DSLR camera to be faced with the warning that i had not previously removed the drive properly and that my iPhoto library was no longer available.
This went backwards and forwards for a while and then the thing stabilised. At the moment it is stable but now i believe my MacBook is in GATES! or is that JOBS! mode.
So far i have not tried to open iPhoto again to try to repair it. I daren't, yet!
DW
Fantastic Microsoft
Gates left MS a long time ago do i suppose it's time to accept that the latest snafus are not his fault.
I was just setting up a simple spreadsheet when it closed. Then i was logged off. Then Windows rebooted.
Was i ready for that? Was i warned about that? Did i agree to that?
No!
No!
No!
I hadn't saved the file but NORMALLY even MS products recover such work. I am using my old HP Tablet and that takes at least 10 minutes to crank itself back to life. I wish i needed a tea or coffee to while away the time!
At the time that this happened Java was being updated in the background. What's the name of the man in charge if Java so that i can exclaim the equivalent of ... GATES!
DW
I was just setting up a simple spreadsheet when it closed. Then i was logged off. Then Windows rebooted.
Was i ready for that? Was i warned about that? Did i agree to that?
No!
No!
No!
I hadn't saved the file but NORMALLY even MS products recover such work. I am using my old HP Tablet and that takes at least 10 minutes to crank itself back to life. I wish i needed a tea or coffee to while away the time!
At the time that this happened Java was being updated in the background. What's the name of the man in charge if Java so that i can exclaim the equivalent of ... GATES!
DW
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