Member Info for QueenElvis

Pee I owe you an apology. It does say on the front of the discount vouchers that they can be used in connection with the purchase of gift vouchers but Lord only knows if that will include gift cards if gift vouchers are to be phased out like I was told. I see there are 4 conditons on the reverse and I don't know if that is the same or more or less than last year's. It doesn't sound as if your house needs too many more modifications to accommodate your mil. The council give grants don't they for ramps and stair rails and the like. At least, she has flashes of thinking rationally and has acknowledged that she cannot live without full support rather than just visits from carers. We will all be old ourselves one day. My son has already told me that he will be putting me in a home when my turn comes. Let's hope my daughter is a bit less heartless towards her poor old mother. Will be a real Happy Families scene for you down there like the Little House on the Prairie with your own mum and sis next door and the kids back from uni for the Christmas hols LOL. Iam off to iron the school uniforms for the morning. Night

Shareholder discount vouchers have now arrived. Only one strip this year how about you! The wording has changed I think to include can be used in franchises etc. Was there not a mention of can be used to buy gift vouchers on last year's. If there was then it has been omitted from this year's. I'll try to buy some gift cards soon assuming they are now available and let you know. That cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount offers might be new too. I have none of last year's left to check. Very sad to see the Kilmarnock branch to let and closing in February. Very efficient staff - one with 23 years' service - and the Irvine branch apparently to go too. I am lucky that I still have East Kilbride, Silverburn, Ayr, Newton Mearns, Braehead and Glasgows and others all reasonably close to hand. However, R S McColl and Tesco etc. just wont stock anything like the range offered in a branch. I wonder if any new franchises have been opened yet. Weather still very nice here on both the east and west sides of the country so that's a relief. You have the notorious distinction of having your username Bonz included in the heading of a thread on iii. Soz that was my fault LOL ATB

sparkle in retail shares http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/seasonal-shoppers-can-put-the-sparkle-in-retail-shares-6257401.html

Both Kilmarnock and Irvine to go apparently in the New Year when leases expire. Let's hope the supermarkets can carry a few more lines eh.

tree in the last post should have read tea in case you are baffled. If work placements hit the skids for any reason , most courses will have a project option instead. Very hard to get companies to agree to offer work placements to students in my opinion unless there is some obvious benefit to the firm as opposed to the student.

Well if the shareholder discount vouchers can't be used on-line, for gift cards (if that turns out to be the case) or to buy 3 for 2 or other in store promotions then they are not much of a perk but better than nothing I suppose. LOL the Tesco fuel discount vouchers. I thought you would buy your fuel at a BP garage. I ended up with several big jars of coffee cluttering up my larder just to qualify for that in Tesco. I only drink tree really and the coffee will be out of date before I can use it up. The Dream song things can only get better was that not Tony Blair's 1997 song in the way that the Mac's Don't Stop thinking about tomorrow was Clinton's (not cards). ATB Should there be a rash of Thorntons news, you can rely on me to post it. Bye for now.

I'll need to check the wording on the next batch of shareholder discount vouchers but I was in too much of a hurry today to get my son back from hospital to school with a bite of lunch before the afternoon school session started. I got him a couple of secondhand games in HMV too. All's well that ends well as the Thorntons assistant gave me the strawbs and hot melted choc for free as I had been waiting a while whilst she checked out the position with Customer Services. I do understand her position. The branch manager had issued the insturction to her at the weekend and she was worried about going against that order which is perfectly understandable. Both the assistants were pleasant ladies and a credit to Thorntons. And customer services said yet I could use the discount vouchers and still get my 3 for 2s today but I don't want to be embarrassed in the future so will check out the wording on the next batch of vouchers when they arrive. I hope my greedy brokers staff are not keeping my vouchers for themselves. LOL I set a trading plan today for a food share which did not trigger at the stipulated price despite the share price being achieved so I cancelled the plan when I got home and paid the penalty or admin charge for absolutely nothing which was annoying as I could have executed the deal several time myself on more favourable terms in real time. However, I am bl**** minded like you at times and decided not to bother selling the shares at all after all. Having a fund night here for Halloween. It is celebrated on the Friday here but still enough kids at the door and some Thorntons treats to give away. Tesco lol don't you get asked for proof of your age like me when you buy alcohol. But you must have seen some small corner shop owners stocking up on stuff at Tesco no. I do have the one elderly person to care for too but given my life, so far, this is me time for me now that the kids are getting a bit older. I guess that sounds a bit selfish but I gave up the well paid career for the kids and like the youngest female in most families took on the full responsibility for my mum's wellbeing. So time fo snatch a few years enjoyment now for myself before it's too late. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GemKqzILV4w

If you had still been in employment ATB

Couldn't get a gift voucher today at Silverburn as they are apparently moving towards gift cards. Let's hope they arrive before the main Christmas buzz starts as I wasn't able to buy one of them today.. Makes sense as the gift card will mean people can spend £20 etc. in a couple of visits rather than having to use up the whole value of a gift voucher on the one day. I tried to buy some of the 3 for 2 range and for the very first time was told that I couldn't do that if I was using a shareholder discount voucher. Haven't got my new batch of discount vouchers yet and I am having to chase them up from the nominee holders. Are things tightening up maybe since your little expose on here about how to get "best value" from the dicount vouchers i.e. buy a gift voucher/gift card with them in order to get a little bit more chocolate. . Would like it if the shareholder discount vouchers could be used on line. Got our free chocolate smiles. Anyhow, the nice assistant phoned customer services and they let me have my 3 for 2 and use up my last discount vouchers. I should think so too as it can't be everybody spends nearly £50 in one visit. Given the vast reduction in the divi it is the least they could do for me. However, their customer services are excellent and have twice taken a common sensical approach with me. They did so previously with my first on-line order when a code had expired. I like common sense can do replies. So do customers and they are more likely to return when that's the philosophy. . Tesco and M & S in my experience have very cannot do customer service people. Left a few things with them for the names to be iced so will be back by the end of the week. Trying Scicilan lemon cookies (no chocolate covering) for the first time. Anyhow son got his choc fountain with fudge and marshmallows and I got the strawbs in hot melted choc - not a sauce flavour worth trying and that branch still has its ice cream. Your Mil. Well as you know, I lost my parents when I was young but I did take my mum with me to the first property I bought when I was single. We were very close. No real knowledge or expeience therefore of dementia. Your biggest worry imo must be the chances of hypothermia now the nights are getting colder when she goes walk abouts. Would she know if you took her to Devon? I think you said she enjoys her Thorntons in any case so God Bless her. My late hubby's parents are in their seveties. Some health issues now but they still drive out here twice a year to celebrate the kids' birthdays. And I visit them too on key occasions like Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays etc. Absolutely horrible for them to have a child predecease them. I think a lot more affectionately of them now as a result of that ordeal. Oh well at least your wife and yourself have taken early retirement so it wont be the same strain on you looking after your elderly parents as it would have been if you

An error in that last post. It should have read there was a buy of EO shares not a sell after hours last night at plus 79 p. I can't remeber what happened with Cadbury's price but I remember Northern Foods price being more or less static at around the to price for a while. LOL More Thorntons. LOL I'd need to check it but it would probably mean putting in 3 times or more in here in money terms but just think of all the extra shares I'd get for that kind of money now. God if I put it in HMV that magic breakeven there gets even nearer or might even be reached. Must get the thinking cap on and the calculator out. ATB

I haven't been ignoring you since I returned from my holdiay but until the next quarter there is not going to be a whole lot to talk about. Don't even see Bartie was it showing up this year for the divi "fun". Let's hope the skeleton and pumpkin lollies have been selling well. I am in at the hospital with my son on Monday for his post op check and I can cut off the M77 into the Silverburn branch (probably on the site of my old school) to use up the last of my two big discount vouchers the £5 ones which I think expire on Halloween. I'll get him an ice cream or a chocolate fountain as his wee sis got that the last time we were out on our own together and I'll go for the choc drizzled strawbs for myself. Think I'll buy a gift voucher with one of the discount vouchers as it will be a handy thing to have in the house in the case of sudden or forgotten event. Might even donate it as a raffle prize to the local amateur dramatic group since I've won my fair share of boxes of Thorntons and other things in recent years. I have scripted this year's panto but will stop short at playing a role - prefer selling the drinks on the bar. Did toy with the idea of playing Widow Tw ankey (quite apt) but the dame should be a male. Haven't checked through all my "junk" mail yet to see if this year's batch of shareholders discount vouchers have arrived yet. as promised by the nominee holders. As somebody who has been through a lot of takeovers, I was wondering what you would do if you had Encore. 70p cash or roughly that in shares in pmo based on the pmo price the day before the to announcement subject to acceptance by EO shareholders. Apparently no sign of a counter bid but after hours sale last night of EO shares at 79p plus. Question is do I sell EO now and get nearly 80p for them which I can put in pmo straight away (granted I'd have dealing charges and stamp duty) or anywhere else of my choosing more Thorntons perhaps or tough it out to see if a rival bid arrives. Decisions decisions. I shared a taxi/minibus type vehicle with folk from Bournville to get to Cliff Richard's vineyard. Yes chocolate was the topic under discussion. His wines Vida Nova are nothing special imo well not worth risking a smashed bottle in luggage the way it gets thrown around. Signed bottles pricey as you would expect. No water or soft drink alterantive for the kids yet charged full price entry and I didn't even get offered the eight samples the pair of them should have had i.e. a red, white, rosie and reserve. Can't remember if you golf but 130euros to play one course without clubs. Am I nearly out of character spaces LOL Speak soon ATB

Just had to come on here and rave about the Silverburn store tonight. It's a small branch but my goodness they seem to make the best use of the space. Still have ice cream and the indoor mall is quite warm but also the chocolate fountain, the strawberries and choc sauce and Halloween stuff . I even got a toffee cake in there. Only drawback is the best before date was 19 October so it had to be eaten tonight before the holiday. So impressed that I forgot to ask for my choc smile but I didn't spot any on the counter. ATB

Don't head on holiday till tomorrow but will check out these smiles in store later this afternoon. Funnily enough, I had a call only this week about government incentives to insert a solar panel system. EO the one t/o company in the running at the moment might itself be a takeover target in the not too distant future. Quite happy to take the shares there with no stamp duty or commission charges. LOL did I see an after hours buy of Thorntons this week. ATB I'll speak to you when I return home.

Have been assured my discount vouchers are in the post. This free smile thing - do you need any voucher or just pop in. LOL You could get people will visit every branch in the country to pick up one LOL. I am out and about tomorrow so will go in and ask where's my smile. LOL 10p premium now being fetched on market over EO offer price. Would you like to babysit my on-line shares for me whilst I'm away. LOL I am sure you could do a better job than me. Now I wonder what you would sell ...... The lot probably ATB

LOL I went onto the mary portas site http://www.maryportas.com/secretshopper/best-shops/ to see if I could I could do anything to neuttralise your review of Thorntons after your trip to Barnsley. LOL Nothing on the site at all for Thorntons. Waterstones top of the leaguer and HMV 49th. Tesco in a lowly 99th position LOl no wonder doing away with double clubcard points but like the upping of the redemption value to get it back up to up 4 times value for days out, restuarants etc. No Thorntons discount vouchers yet so will need to chase up like last year though I was told I was being registered for any perks associated with Thorntons. My decision to hold re. the Encore takeover appears to be the right one so far. Currently fetching up to 9p over the offer price re. the proposed takeover and premier oil also on the up. Catch you in a week or two ATB

Not displayed yet on LSE - yet ! but had a peek. A mixed bag but certainly hoping for better from the Christmas quarter.

Will get your tuppence worth re. the EO takeover no doubt after our hols. Speak then. ATB

Well as you know, it's only the tennis that turns me on so you can't wind me up about the rugby. I was thinking about that sales assistant. No wonder she was a bit grumpy if you only head in there with you free this and that vouchers or your gift vouchers and your shareholder discount vouchers. I thought you had overestimated the postal charges for on-line deliveries. Only £2.95 for standard delivery which is okay. Some guy on iii wanting to keep a stock of Thorntons on his boat anchored near New Zealand for his fillies but at Zone 8 postal charges look frightening. LOL when Bartie left us last year he said something like see you lardies next year around the divi time. LOL I don't think we'll be seeing Bartie this year somehow. This is now purely for investors going long. Played this for the guys on iii today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLLSqpYyPD8 Shirley Temple On the Good Ship Lollipop , it's a sweet trip to the candy shop, bonbons, pepperming and chocolate bar landing and all. ATB

Oh you're a very tough man Bonz. I would only identify the branch if it was good service but I am fearful that that poor assistant may be in line for a reprimand! Seasonally high temperatures here today but it is raining so not ice cream weather entirely. That sharp practice you identified in your post at 13.36 today had occurred to me before but I felt sure it would not be allowed i.e. using a discount voucher and a gift voucher for the same transaction. Think I'll write to head office and report you lol. You cannot use the discount vouchers on line and I think you over quoted the delivery charges a while back but I'd need to check. Re. the Lloyds, as you know, I have bought and held because I am that sort of person but always interested to hear of others' trading strategies. Information not voluteered but sought by me would appear to indicate that I am bit silly to buy and hold or buy and sell at a profit and then rebuy lower - either a full complement or tranches of - no apparently some people adopt the strategy of selling at a loss and buying the same or something different to recoup losses. Not long till the holdiays here. Different type this time. Usually somewhere warm in October but less frenetic this year after the two cruises in recent years and son recovering from an op. Heading down to Manchester for the plane (still cheaper even allowing for the two overnight stays and the petrol for the car) so should be able to do the Blackpool Pleasure Beach or zoo and the Lake District on the way down or on the way home. Sir Cliff's vineyard is clue to main destination. Since it's first of October may I wish Thorntons a good trading spell leading up to Hallow'een and be the first ,as last year, to wish you a very merry Christmas. LOL It's been wiped but you were telling me about your attempts to grow mistletoe (and wine) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7lKKNrXUJg but prefer Saviour's Day.

Bonz if you tell me what the amount of your next quarterly BP divi is going to be then the witchy woman will be able to estimate you holding in BP as accurately as I did with your Thorntons LOL. I didn't know that info about selling through the registrars on batch days. I know Hargreaves Lansdown took a lot in commission for buying and selling some Sainsbury I had in paper form fairly recently. LOL you better not tell your missus you were discussing Thorntons chocolate gingers on here as a cure for morning sickness or you might find all your assets get frozen. LOL ATB