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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Troubador" data-source="post: 3250390" data-attributes="member: 109211">Thanks Jerry and happy birthday to you too, hope you had a nice one.An unexpected set of circumstances involving 2 pensions from company I worked for in the 1970's (and from which I thought I had taken out all the money) and generous friends and family resulted in the Canon Lens, the bins, a bottle of expensive Cologne, a bottle of Australian Shiraz and a bottle of Bollinger champagne (now gone :king<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />. Hang on, there was a B&W filter for the Canon as well.I don't know how it works in the States or other countries but in the UK for people of my generation, 65 is the most important official milestone birthday because it is the official retirement age. This age is changing for younger folks but for me it still applies. On your 65th birthday you start receiving your State Pension and can gain access to your company pension(s), Self-Invested Personal Pensions and Personal Pension Plans. Under new rules you don't necessarily have to take these funds as a weekly/monthly/annual payment, you can take some or all as lump sums although you have to watch out for the income tax payable in any single tax year.  I have taken advantage of this and have taken funds out of the company pension that I had forgotten still had money in it, and friends and family pitched in too.Some of the funds will go towards our annual expedition to the Western Isles due in about 6 weeks but unfortunately some will also have to go towards re-furbishing our bathroom which has holes in the ceiling.  This is not very exciting but we can't avoid it any longer.Gonna tell us which milestone you have recently passed??Lee</blockquote>

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