Targets for 2022 and beyond

As we have just received confirmation of our signatory status to the UK Stewardship code, and I have booked my first exam for 25 years, ESG is taking a major role in our 2022 development both as a firm and as individuals. Also, as I have started to look for a potential mate for Lyla, there are positive and negatives already but I am glad that I have started the process a year out. We all know how fast time goes and we need to act quickly to combat climate change, especially with all the new challenges thrown up by the current conflict in the Ukraine.

PENSIONS

Pension Scheme data has never been more important, especially with the need to equalise GMP's and the imminent introduction of the dashboard. These issues and more were covered in the PP data forum this week that Capita sponsored and took part in.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/capita-pensions-solutions_betteroutcomes-data-pensions-activity-6907307740671426560-U40S

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/capita-pensions-solutions_were-looking-forward-to-being-at-the-professional-activity-6906562116031967232-qd9n

The conflict in Ukraine is throwing up many issues that corporates and pension schemes need to consider and here is one of the updates that we posted https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/capita-pensions-solutions_an-update-on-ukraine-from-capita-https-activity-6905531906289729537-39Kb

Capita's results were announced this week and it was a welcome return to growth https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/capita_capitas-2021-full-year-results-https-activity-6907586392785043456-wMXw

I have now taken the plunge and registered for my first professional exam in over 25 years!

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/bobbysbanter_wecreatebetteroutcomes-bobbysbants-capitapensions-activity-6907619186915581952-4yAU

We got confirmation of our signatory status to the UK Stewardship code this week https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/bobbysbanter_wecreatebetteroutcomes-bobbysbants-capitapensions-activity-6907679049205039106-I0K9

Finally, in my latest funding update, the decline in 2022 has slowed, but schemes are still in a worse position than at the start of 2022

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/funding-still-falling-slowing-down-bobby-riddaway

PLANTS

The Poinsettia are still going strong. Getting so much satisfaction from the work I put in last year - investing time in nurturing plants definitely gives back multiple times when the result is successful and small wins like this are great for your mental health.

The lime plants are also going to the next stage. The big limes have survived the winter and started to ripen more. The small ones have started to swell up. I just need the risk of frost to pass and then can take the poly frame off and also look to see if the vines are starting to bud. I have also trimmed the lemon back and it will be interesting to see if can produce fruit this year.

I think we may not need to buy compost this year. We composted a lot of plants last year and we have already started to use some of it. This is the first year of using our own compost and we will only know when we start using a lot of it how much we have. If we have enough for this year then we could now be self sustaining for future years compost wise.

Finally, the fence is up and the lawn is starting to recover. No more dogs digging up the plants and/ or using the lawn as a toilet!

PUPPIES

Lyla's appetite is fully back, following her 3rd season. I have started to look for a mate and now know it will take a bit of time to find a suitable one. It is not easy to find a local mate , as we want a Golden Labrador and it needs to be KC registered. As Lyla is KC registered we want to keep the family line there.

I have found a number of studs online, but they don't tend to be local. So I am going to have to spend a bit of time looking both online, and asking around at local kennels etc as I want to try to introduce her to her potential mate a good time before we actually mate them. I have also seen the fees for studs and I am pleasantly surprised. The fees are about 1/3rd of the cost of a pup. However, that makes sense as fees for pups are inflated and the stud cost is more like the actually fee pups should be getting sold for. We are not intending to sell our pups - we are hoping they go to friends and family for a small fee to cover the fixed costs of breeding the pups. If we do have to sell any we will sell at market price as otherwise you run the risk of getting poor owners.

Now we have fenced off the garden, she really is a grown up young dog now and not a puppy anymore. We can let her out in the garden without any worry and she tells us when she wants to come back in. She is great on walks and she has got into a lovely family routine. We often stay up to watch tv together, although sometimes she gets too tired and sends me to bed! Here is a picture this week when we were both watching the latest episode of Power - although I do have to remove my glasses when she is this close!

With that I will say take care and have a great weekend. Also all our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this sad time.