Post a good thing that happened in your life today

[Keith Burdett]

3 hours ago, Bryan said:

while the pine needles provided a mulch for the garden.

 

Good if you have acid loving plants like azaleas, not so much for others that like a base rich or neutral soil... That's assuming Juniper is acidic like other conifers. As an aside, maybe you should've got some gin on the go!

[Allan Bell]

On 06/01/2023 at 00:37, gvallee said:

yes yes yes yes !!!!!!!!!!

 

Just looked and see your residency application has been approved.

 

Well done and could not happen to a nicer couple.

 

Allan

 

[Betty LaRue]

On 06/01/2023 at 02:06, gvallee said:

 

Careful Edo, they're known as drop bears!

What do you mean by drop bears? Do they drop out of trees & attack people?

[Betty LaRue]

This, on making mulch from Junipers:

Fresh wood chips, and to some extent needles, can tie up nitrogen in garden soil, as well as lower the pH of the soil. While the changes are not profound, you can add amendments to the garden prior to mulching. Slightly increase the amount of manure, blood meal or other nitrogen fertilizer you would have used when preparing beds. In addition, a light scattering of limestone or wood ash on the soil's surface before mulching can counteract any acidifying effects of the juniper material.

[Michael Ventura]

9 minutes ago, Betty LaRue said:

What do you mean by drop bears? Do they drop out of trees & attack people?

 

I think they are an urban legend.

[Mr Standfast]

7 hours ago, Bryan said:

This is both a good and a bad thing. Years ago we planted a Juniper tree, variety Skyrocket, in front of our house. Now this is a civilised evergreen, unlike those crazy Leylandi that grow like a wild thing and blot out the light, but, even so, it had got to be too big. So big that it started to shade the solar panels on our house roof. I noticed this, when, after a snowfall, a section failed to melt on our south facing roof due to the tree. So we reluctantly decided to take it out, and now, with no birds nesting, is the time.

 

Armed with a bow saw, a small axe, loppers and a set of secateurs, we tackled the tree at a height of about 4 feet. Unlike deciduous trees the Juniper grows on multiple tight packed vertical stems, each of which you can nibble through with effort and patience. We had some spectacular chunks of tree falling down across our garden, but no damage done. Sawn to a manageable size we gave the wood to friends with wood burning stoves. The soft growth required two trips to the council dump in our trusty Yeti, while the pine needles provided a mulch for the garden

 

We're now left with a stump and I am hatching plans for its removal, probably involving excavation of the roots and the use of a hired reciprocating saw.

My inner 6 year old is smiling at the thought of a trusty yeti 😀

[Mr Standfast]

On 06/01/2023 at 00:37, gvallee said:

yes yes yes yes !!!!!!!!!!

Yippeeee!

[Steve F]

On 06/01/2023 at 00:37, gvallee said:

yes yes yes yes

 

I'll have what she's having...

 

many congrats Gen!

[Ed Rooney]

3 hours ago, Betty LaRue said:

What do you mean by drop bears? Do they drop out of trees & attack people?

 

Betty, the one I held Downunder was young and a sweetie. They do have serious claws, but the drop bear thing is a myth. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_bear

 

 

Edited January 7, 2023 by Ed Rooney

[Steve F]

I could moan about not selling any licenses since 23rd December, but first sale dropped in today for 2023. Onwards and upwards!

[gvallee]

9 hours ago, Allan Bell said:

 

Just looked and see your residency application has been approved.

 

Well done and could not happen to a nicer couple.

 

Allan

 

 

Aww thank you. I wish it was permanent residency but it's only for another 4 more years. Anyway, more than happy to take it.

[gvallee]

7 hours ago, Betty LaRue said:

What do you mean by drop bears? Do they drop out of trees & attack people?

 

It's an urban myth used to scare tourists 😉

[gvallee]

5 hours ago, Steve F said:

 

I'll have what she's having...

 

many congrats Gen!

 

🤣🤣🤣 We actually had a couple of frozen margaritas to celebrate.

[Rebecca Ore]

4 hours ago, gvallee said:

 

Aww thank you. I wish it was permanent residency but it's only for another 4 more years. Anyway, more than happy to take it.

 

At what point can you apply for permanent residency?   Here, it's after the first five years as a legal resident.  Technically, unless we're married to Nicaraguans, we have to renounce previous citizenship in a Nicaraguan legal gazette.   The US said only official renunciations at an American consulate really count.   It's $500 to apply.   I haven't done this since I figure either country could decide to change the rules on renunciation, but I knew two people who did it.   The advantage is not having to go to Managua every six months and pay $53 US for address verification and a new residency card, also not having to have health certificates every five years.   And it's $500 and done, not $500 plus every five years.

 

US charges $600 for permanent residency visa applications, I've heard recently.   It's $160 for a tourist visa to the US.   Fifty percent of Nicaraguans applying for tourist visas get turned down and the money is non-refundable.

[gvallee]

12 minutes ago, Rebecca Ore said:

 

At what point can you apply for permanent residency?   Here, it's after the first five years as a legal resident.  Technically, unless we're married to Nicaraguans, we have to renounce previous citizenship in a Nicaraguan legal gazette.   The US said only official renunciations at an American consulate really count.   It's $500 to apply.   I haven't done this since I figure either country could decide to change the rules on renunciation, but I knew two people who did it.   The advantage is not having to go to Managua every six months and pay $53 US for address verification and a new residency card, also not having to have health certificates every five years.   And it's $500 and done, not $500 plus every five years.

 

US charges $600 for permanent residency visa applications, I've heard recently.   It's $160 for a tourist visa to the US.   Fifty percent of Nicaraguans applying for tourist visas get turned down and the money is non-refundable.

 

We cannot apply for permanent residency.

General rule is one can apply for PR after 5 years in Oz, but not if you're older than 52.

In our case, with our particular visa (which does not exist any more), one could apply for PR if the visa had been issue before 8th May 2018. We applied for it on the 31st of May.

 

We've been claiming discrimination and fighting hard, involving our MP who raised our case in Canberra. No luck so far. Next month, with the new government in place, there will be a review of all visas. Let's wait and see if anything comes out of it. 

[Ed Rooney]

 

52? That's not very friendly. 

[Rebecca Ore]

13 hours ago, gvallee said:

 

We cannot apply for permanent residency.

General rule is one can apply for PR after 5 years in Oz, but not if you're older than 52.

In our case, with our particular visa (which does not exist any more), one could apply for PR if the visa had been issue before 8th May 2018. We applied for it on the 31st of May.

 

We've been claiming discrimination and fighting hard, involving our MP who raised our case in Canberra. No luck so far. Next month, with the new government in place, there will be a review of all visas. Let's wait and see if anything comes out of it. 

 

So, like here, but every four years to renew instead of every five without the show up and pay $53 every six months to verify where we live.  Nicaragua has a minimum age of 45 to apply for the retirement visa but I haven't heard of any upper age limit for citizenship. 

 

I can see why countries might prefer not to have their health systems overwhelmed by older foreigners.   Ecuador had a minimum three months pay in to qualify for their health insurance and US citizens moving in swamped the health care systems in some popular expat areas.  Nicaraguan free health care has worked for me, but the optics are not attractive to most US citizens, nor is the food (rice and beans, local cheese, slice of a local squash and oat milk).   And voice activated call people instead of call buttons.   Private care is cheaper than in the US because it's competing with free and low-cost national health and retirement insurance.

[Rebecca Ore]

On 08/01/2023 at 03:40, Ed Rooney said:

 

52? That's not very friendly. 

 

Low cost national health insurance -- younger than 52, you're more likely to pay more into it, or at least not use the health system as much.   China isn't that far away, either, as far as swamping a local health system with older people goes.   Japan also has more older people.   Couple of SE Asian nations are mandating that foreign residents buy private health insurance and/or not stay more than six months of a year.   If your population is under 30 million and you end up with a million or more old foreigners, that can be a problem.   Also, many settle near other foreigners, which can make a mess locally.   One Ecuadorean beach community had a bunch of alcoholic retired US military who needed local handouts to survive.  We had one crazy woman from the US show up in Nicaragua with no money expecting that she could get help from this socialist government or whoever else.  A Nicaraguan foundation for the rescue of indigent foreigners had her on a plane back to the US the day after she showed up without an appointment at the US Embassy asking for help.   She posted to Facebook rather much of this.

 

We are forbidden to get involved in Nicaraguan politics.   I've been handed the leaflet of "what are deportable offenses" twice.   The section on not getting involved in politics is is large bold letters and comes first.   Not getting involved in drugs or sex with minors is in smaller regular type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by Rebecca Ore

[John Mitchell]

In Canada, which has a relatively small population (for such a huge country) of about 40 million, people can apparently apply for Permanent Residency at any age. However, there is a complicated points system based on factors like education and skills, language abilities , adaptability, etc. Also, it gets more difficult to earn enough points as you get older, especially after the age of 47. Those in the 18-36 age bracket have the best chance of getting PR by the sounds of it.

Edited January 9, 2023 by John Mitchell

[geogphotos]

EDIT - Not a good thing, just on the topic of permissions

 

I just had a look at the possibility of a holiday/vacation in USA. They don't make it easy do they! 

 

And NO I am not asking

 

 

 

 

"You must include a contact person's home address, phone number, and valid ID number. This principle also applies if this is your first overnight stay. If you don't have a point of contact or a first overnight stay, it may be more difficult to obtain ESTA travel clearance."

 

So without an ESTA it looks like a face-to-face interview in London and £160 for starters.

 

Gulp!

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2023 by geogphotos

[spacecadet]

4 hours ago, geogphotos said:

EDIT - Not a good thing, just on the topic of permissions

 

I just had a look at the possibility of a holiday/vacation in USA. They don't make it easy do they! 

 

And NO I am not asking

 

 

 

 

"You must include a contact person's home address, phone number, and valid ID number. This principle also applies if this is your first overnight stay. If you don't have a point of contact or a first overnight stay, it may be more difficult to obtain ESTA travel clearance."

 

So without an ESTA it looks like a face-to-face interview in London and £160 for starters.

 

Gulp!

 

 

 

 

I think a hotel booking would satisfy that- you've never been able to travel to the US independently (i.e. non-package) without some sort of reference. Fortunately I have an aunt.

The difference is that when you had a visa, or visa waiver, the decision was made at the immigration gate. Now it's made by a computer, apparently.

[CAROL SAUNDERS]

1 hour ago, spacecadet said:

I think a hotel booking would satisfy that- you've never been able to travel to the US independently (i.e. non-package) without some sort of reference. Fortunately I have an aunt.

The difference is that when you had a visa, or visa waiver, the decision was made at the immigration gate. Now it's made by a computer, apparently.

I agree, I would have thought a hotel/address would suffice.  The last time I flew into Fort Launderdale before getting on a big boat was 2018 and all that was needed was hotel name and address and length of stay and the same wherever I went after that.  I don't think an individual person/address is required.   Unless it's changed, you should be fine.  Done the Esta online was $25 at the time and it arrived a few days later. 

 

Carol

[geogphotos]

Thanks to you both for the reasurance. You each have a blue heart!

[Rebecca Ore]

7 hours ago, geogphotos said:

EDIT - Not a good thing, just on the topic of permissions

 

I just had a look at the possibility of a holiday/vacation in USA. They don't make it easy do they! 

 

And NO I am not asking

 

 

 

 

"You must include a contact person's home address, phone number, and valid ID number. This principle also applies if this is your first overnight stay. If you don't have a point of contact or a first overnight stay, it may be more difficult to obtain ESTA travel clearance."

 

So without an ESTA it looks like a face-to-face interview in London and £160 for starters.

 

Gulp!

 

 

 

 

 

My passport country is nasty to visitors, but I thought the UK citizens got in advanced visa free.   The fee for applying for a tourist visa for the US is non-refundable if they turn you down.   The fee for applying for residency is $600, also non-refundable if the US turns you down.  You can normally use a hotel as the overnight stay destination, and most countries, including Nicaragua, ask for that on the immigration form.   Nicaragua also used to not ask for proof of means to have a vacation in Nicaragua, and didn't check at least one person for return or onward travel ticket (crazy lady had neither).   Mexico was lax coming in, but customs was fascinated by the fancy British camera bag going out.

 

50% of Nicaraguans get turned down for US tourist visas.   Mexico uses US standards but doesn't charge for turning a person down.  Brazilian embassy told the person who got turned down by Mexico that he could come in, no problem.   He's also had no problem going to Panama.

 

Basically, what most countries want to know is where are the foreigners in their country.   I didn't keep my address current (now live two blocks from my second house) and had a visit from two official guys, one from Migracion and the other from the National Police.   After the interview, I was approved for renewal.   Some of my fellow US citizens went to the US consulate to complain about similar interviews.    At least one had posts to FB against the current government and apparently got a warning (it's a "Can Deport" offense, not a "Must Deport" offense.)   He shut up.  I assume that all social media is read by the government (one friend's husband had screening social media as his assignment on Christmas Day year before this, so yeah(.

 

In day to day life, I don't have cops asking to see ID, just have to show it when I make a purchase with a bank or credit card or go to a hospital or free clinic or vaccination site.  

 

 

 

 

[spacecadet]

6 minutes ago, Rebecca Ore said:

 

My passport country is nasty to visitors, but I thought the UK citizens got in advanced visa free.   The fee for applying for a tourist visa for the US is non-refundable if they turn you down.   The fee for applying for residency is $600, also non-refundable if the US turns you down.  You can normally use a hotel as the overnight stay destination, and most countries, including Nicaragua, ask for that on the immigration form.   Nicaragua also used to not ask for proof of means to have a vacation in Nicaragua, and didn't check at least one person for return or onward travel ticket (crazy lady had neither).   Mexico was lax coming in, but customs was fascinated by the fancy British camera bag going out.

 

50% of Nicaraguans get turned down for US tourist visas.   Mexico uses US standards but doesn't charge for turning a person down.  Brazilian embassy told the person who got turned down by Mexico that he could come in, no problem.   He's also had no problem going to Panama.

 

Basically, what most countries want to know is where are the foreigners in their country.   I didn't keep my address current (now live two blocks from my second house) and had a visit from two official guys, one from Migracion and the other from the National Police.   After the interview, I was approved for renewal.   Some of my fellow US citizens went to the US consulate to complain about similar interviews.    At least one had posts to FB against the current government and apparently got a warning (it's a "Can Deport" offense, not a "Must Deport" offense.)   He shut up.  I assume that all social media is read by the government (one friend's husband had screening social media as his assignment on Christmas Day year before this, so yeah(.

 

In day to day life, I don't have cops asking to see ID, just have to show it when I make a purchase with a bank or credit card or go to a hospital or free clinic or vaccination site.  

 

 

 

 

US had a visa waiver from about 1992- I remember having a paper B1 from a previous trip and going through a different gate from the family on waivers- I also got a shorter permission to stay!

It now has an advance clearance- ESTA. The EU is getting one this year which will be nice for us (not). Welcome to the Brexit, sir. OH won't pay as she's 70 but still has to get the permit.