It's flipping freezing-again!

[erastes]

Day Four of the Advent Calendar. Enjoy!

I have a "Spotlight Spot" up on Jessewave's Blog and she asks me lots of unusual questions.

I've just heard from the Running Press editor of Transgressions - and the copy edits will be with me next week.  I need to get them back as hard copies, which is a problem - so I've just ordered a scanner. This is a desk problem now, the desk I have simply doesn't have the space. I have the screen and a printer on the deskspace -  However there is a space next to the desk on my right about 3'x3' - so I could possibly stick a small table there and put the flatbed on that...  I do need a scanner, and it can double as a photocopier too, so it's an expense I'll have to bear.  I'll really have to ask someone how tax concessions work, because I have NO clue and I'm sure I can get some money back for promotion and hardware? *feels incredibly dim*

It's bloody freezing again, blowing a gale and raining. Really unpleasant and I need to go to the library. I can't even be bothered to get out from under this knee blanket. The cats are all snuggled up warm, and yes, we still have a Lucius! It's a miracle!  He's been scoffing artery clogging fat making stuff such as cream and butter and he's put on all the weight he lost through being ill. If I could get him to put a bit more weight on, I'd be happy, but I'm afraid that he's probably always going to be like his namesake, tall and willowy.

Right. off to stare at the WIP.

 

Comments

[drachenmina]

See the following re tax: HMRC site.

If it's not clear I may be able to answer questions - I'm a bit rusty as I haven't worked in tax for 12 years.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh - thank you! Looks like i need to be self employed then - so I don't need to worry about that until I am.

[clarelondon.livejournal.com]

Except you can be both employed and self-employed at the same time (I am)?! You'd probably need to do a self-assessment return then, if you don't already, but you can claim all your marketing etc expenses against your royalty income and hopefully NOT pay too much more tax.

Obviously I don't know your personal circumstances, but you're welcome to email me if you have any queries, I'm an accountant and do a batch of UK tax returns each year.
*remembering she has her own to do*

[megleigh.livejournal.com]

I just want to say how much I am loving the advent calendar.

Stay warm.

[drachenmina]

See reply from claredivatoo, but also, if you're paying tax on your income as a writer, you should be able to deduct your expenses as a writer. It'd be quite separate from any employment income you may have.

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

I had to replace a printer earlier this year and wound up getting an HP Officejet J4580. It works well, can take a jumbo ink cartridge that prints 700 text pages, and it can be refilled. The thing has a scanner/copier function as well, and was only about $80 in the back-to-school sales. I've got space issues, too, so this meant I could get rid of the scanner that had to be hooked up and sit on my desk chair when I absolutely needed to scan. The multi-purpose machines seem to be the usual these days--you might want to give 'em a look.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I ended up getting a flatbed, it was very cheap - and typically the one you mention is more than twice the price over here - about £80... *sigh* The printer I've got is fairly crappy - does about six letters (or so it seems) - I'll save up and get something more multi-purpose when I can afford it.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks Meg. I'm sitting here with gloves and hat and scarf on right now.

Brrr! Glad you are liking the calendar. Some of it is recycled stuff, but my flist is pretty much new, so hopefully it's all new to them!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm unemployed, so I'd need to sign off first, which - as I'm not actually earning anything writing wise as yet, that would be suicide!But I'll certainly take you up on the question asking when I get to that complicated stage, thank you!

[mongrelheart.livejournal.com]

Nothing like warm snuggly cats when the weather's crappy outside!

Once I had a very thin cat that needed to gain weight & the vet gave me a tube of super high calorie something-or-other, they just lick it and get extra nourishment that way. Also i think it was super yummy to cats. Beef-flavored maybe.

[aunty_marion]

A lot of the multifunction ones have come down enormously in price these days, to well under £50. I have a Lexmark printer/scanner/copier (with slots for memory cards, too!) which was £99 - three or four years ago! An equivalent model (possibly without the memory card slots) is now about £35, I think.

And unless you buy an Epson, most cartridges can be refilled - Epson 'chip' theirs to (supposedly) make them un-refillable, though I believe there are ways round that. And I buy mine from either Tesco (who are convenient and reasonably priced and do their own-brand Lexmark(and other makes)-compatible cartridges), or when I've got the money to spare, three or five at a time from Viking.

[jessewave.livejournal.com]

What do you mean I asked unusual questions? I thought they were "white bread" questions :)

My daughter is going to be so pissed. She just left this evening for the UK with her fiancé and she expects it to be warmer than Toronto *g*