Tag Archives: London

Come Racing at Windsor!

Posted on July 27, 2012 by henry tapper

All summer long we’ve been waiting for some sun, and whew- it’s come! London‘s best kept secret is Windsor races on a Monday night. Whatever racecourse let you arrive by boat? Where else do the stallhandlers bunk off from their … Continue reading →

Posted in Horse racing, Olympics, Olympics 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do not be terrorised by anti-terrorism.

Posted on July 16, 2012 by henry tapper

I feel like a stranger in my own City. This is not my London that I live in, it is a town that has been handed over to the security forces. We are a town under threat of a “known … Continue reading →

Posted in London, Olympics, Olympics 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Born to overrun – Springsteen dancing in the park

Posted on July 14, 2012 by henry tapper

Last night Hyde Park hosted  80,000 mesmerised spectators who stood in the rain and listened to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ,  joined by Sir Paul McCartney – the legend. Here’s the video footage of the two singing “I saw her standing … Continue reading →

Posted in Bankers, Consolation, Greece, happiness, pension playpen, springstee, Springsteen, The Racket of the Lambs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Heard the one about the actuary, the investment consultant, the IFA and the lawyer?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by henry tapper

At precisely the same time, the Pension Play Pen debated the relative value of actuaries, investment consultants, lawyers and financial advisers to Britain’s future pensioners, but in two different towns. These lunches , which have been taking place since 2009, bring … Continue reading →

Posted in actuaries, Financial Education, FSA, pension playpen, Retail Distribution Review, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Immigrant pension taboos

Posted on June 11, 2012 by henry tapper

I live in  West London – Brentford and Eton (lower Slough). If I want to eat, a curry is the natural choice, if I buy groceries, it’s most likely from an Asian grocer. My Grandfather was the Methodist minister for Hounslow, his … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, religion, Retirement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Doctors are pension millionaires – so why are they striking?

Posted on May 30, 2012 by henry tapper

My Dad’s a doctor and in retirement – he has a great pension  and who can begrudge him it? He retired 25 years ago as a senior partner – on about one third of the final salary he’s be on today. Like him, I … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Some law firms don’t geddit- Clyde and Company come up short.

Posted on May 11, 2012 by henry tapper

What a muppet I appear to be! Here is Clyde & Co‘s response to my feedback that I could not find a telephone number for their company on their website Dear Mr Tapper, We are sorry to hear that you … Continue reading →

Posted in clyde & co | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

40,000 Londoners get cold at the Olympic Stadium

Posted on May 6, 2012 by henry tapper

The “London Prepares” events climaxed last night at the opening of the Olympic Stadium in Siberian Stratford last night. We came, we saw and we left early – underwhelmed by the experience. Which is a little  unfair on an event that … Continue reading →

Posted in corporate governance, Occupy London, Olympics 2012, Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Now I speak actuarial

Posted on April 21, 2012 by henry tapper

You can’t laugh out loud in the Institute of Actuaries‘ global HQ in Staple‘s Inn London. You would undoubtedly be ensnared in a giant spreadsheet and gently subsumed by toxic algorithms. Actuaries do not enjoy words, they prefer numbers and when … Continue reading →

Posted in pensions, social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trenton Oldfield – send the plonker home!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by henry tapper

Trenton Oldfield is the fellow who swam in front of the Oxford and Cambridge crews in yesterday’s 158th boat race. Video here. He is Mr Chippy, an Australian intellectual so carried away by his peculiar world view that he put his … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments