(1109) Happy elevenses, folks. (1125)

 

11. DAD announces

My visitors have arrived. Do not worry if there is radio silence until Thursday.

10. Moo corner

9. TPA today

New TPA research has found that British holidaymakers paid an estimated £4.8 billion in holiday taxes in 2024. That’s around £55 added to the cost of an overseas holiday and £53 to a domestic overnight break.

Flying abroad? Air Passenger Duty alone raised an estimated £1.2 billion from UK residents’ holiday flights. Then there’s VAT on all the things you buy before you go: suncream, suitcases, swimwear, flip-flops and the rest of it. That brought in another £1.7 billion. For a family of four heading to Florida, holiday-related taxes can total up to £300 before the fun has even begun.

And don’t think staying in Britain gets you off the hook. Domestic holidays come packed with tax too, from VAT on accommodation, food and attractions to fuel duty on the drive there. A family of four taking a week-long self-catering break in Cornwall could face over £300 in taxes through VAT and fuel duties alone.

8. You may recall this also from an earlier post

Data Republican herself (I think it’s her, maybe not):

Who is this Data Republican anyway? Obviously someone inside, maybe the opposite number to Laura Loomer … but certainly someone privy … and a govt dept has tried to take him/her down, terminally.

7. DAD comments on this from the other day

In 1891, The Salvation Army opened a model match factory in the Bow/Old Ford district of East London. Led by William Booth, the factory produced “Darkest England Matches” using safe red phosphorus to protest sweatshop labour and eliminate the fatal occupational disease “phossy jaw” caused by yellow phosphorus.

They used harmless red phosphorus instead of toxic white/yellow phosphorus.Fair They Paid workers double the wages of major competitors like Bryant & May; the Salvation Army’s matches were more expensive and faced stiff competition, the model forced major rivals to phase out toxic white phosphorus.