Any question answered...

Totally bespoke shape, or just cut to size?
I’ve used mitrorfit.co.uk in the past who worked out to be the best value by quite a margin

I have a small claims hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. What should I wear?

Suit and tie would be conventional, but anything tidy would be fine. I take it you're at Central London in the Thomas More building in front of one of the District Judges?

I take it you're at Central London in the Thomas More building

Correct. It was originally a remote hearing at Bromley County Court last year but the defendant turned up and said he had to go to a funeral and hadn't been advised of the hearing date until the evening before so it was adjourned until next Friday.
They've requested trial bundles be emailed to Bromley still. There is no mention of the judge's name.

Simple rectilinear cut to size. Thank you!

I’m returning a hire car to Hertz tomorrow with some damage (scraped wheel arch and wing mirror) .. I booked through Booking.com and took the ‘Full Insurance’ add-on which appears to be with Zurich.

Do I just return the car, let Hertz charge me for the damage and then file a claim with Zurich? .. or should I be doing something in advance of returning the car?

Where are people buying baskets to put on their racks? Am I to late to this trend? Did everyone pay 50 quid for one!??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196310524531

£22 with an hour or so left if it suits..

👍

Does chalkboard/blackboard paint actually work? I really fancy a chalkboard, but a tin of paint is cheaper.

Yes. :)

Surely it’s just matte black paint isn’t it? Or am I missing something?

I imagine it has to be remarkable in some way at least

Maybe?! It does seem marketed as it's own special thing - I assumed it would be different.

🥁 🥁 💥

That was cryptic crossword-worthy

A client was late on paying my Feb. invoice, and when chased they paid it, then paid it again. Conveniently, my Mar. invoice was for the same amount, so I agreed with them to accept the payment and credit their account.

Now they’ve paid me the same amount yet again with a deposit reference for March . My Apr. invoice isn’t likely to be for the same amount.

I’m concerned that 40% of this mistaken payment would be tax liable. If I return the payment this FY, are HMRC likely to insist that it was income? My partner believes that the truthful explanation will suffice for HMRC, whereas my motto is to avoid doing good deeds that can appear to be bad deeds.

If I return the payment this FY, are HMRC likely to insist that it was income?

This is another one for the tax returns thread, but if you receive the overpayment and then reimburse it in the same accounting period, the income is offset by the expenditure and netts to zero. If the transactions span the end of your accounting period, which year you allocate the transactions to depends on whether your tax return is compiled on a accrual or cash basis.

Many thanks 👍.

Is there something bad going down in the olive oil world? Just went to get a bottle at the supermarket and it’s £8.40 for a litre!

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-olive-oil--extra-virgin-1l

Yes:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/17/olive-oil-industry-in-crisis-europe-heatwave-threatens-another-harvest-spain-prices

https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/production/olive-oil-production-in-europe-expected-to-reach-1-5m-tons-in-2023-24/124730

Given that it's likely not going to resolve soon, what are viable alternatives that aren't cold pressed rapeseed?

I use various different oils depending on process /cuisine but haven't come across something for dressing salads I particularly like that isn't niche as fuck, or for doing Mediterranean cooking with that doesn't affect flavour. I did look at buying bulk on here a few months back but didn't get far as price didn't seem much better direct from supplier and I don't live in London any more so going to that electrician in Soho doesn't seem practical.

Is there something bad going down in the olive oil world?

Yes, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240227-1

All the main producers are well off the 2021/22 peak, in the case of Spain, which is by far the largest producer, by about half.

what are viable alternatives

There aren't any, otherwise people would be engaging in substitution and the price wouldn't have gone up as much. Everybody is just sucking it up, and if you're not literally drinking the stuff even today's price is only accounting for a few pence per serving.

Styrian pumpkin seed oil is nice for salads, but still costs more than most olive oil to start with (and I probably wouldn't try making a vinaigrette with it).

Probably still counts as niche outside Austria though.