Memories of Going Solo

Advantages: Wonderfully written, some fantastic stories
Disadvantages: Not quite as charming or memorable as its predecessor

...make out the characters and moments that went on to inspire his much-loved children's fiction. Where Boy was full of odious, fearsome adults who quite clearly shaped the antagonists of his later books, Going Solo deals with a different kind of material; especially where he relates his time flying in the RAF in World War Two, these villainous caricatures are absent, replaced by a harder reality. Dahl's stories here are no less entertaining, but he does not attempt to make light or draw comedy from the wartime he experienced. Rather, the author lays open his younger self's naive mindset and thought processes in a lightly self-deprecating manner which gives the narrative a faintly romantic, uplifting edge that sits well alongside the death and destruction the stories explore. Dahl certainly has an impressive story to tell. As a pilot...

Puggers 26.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Going Solo - Roald Dahl

Going Solo

Advantages: Can't get into debt, lots of shops take it, from 11 with some banks,
Disadvantages: Woolies don't take it!

...The Solo card is a debit card aimed at young people that works like a Switch except you can’t get overdrawn – in other words in debt. It’s a great idea and allows young people to shop through mail-order and on the internet without using their parents credit card. Though some adults also have it if they’re not too hot with money-management! The Solo card is accepted widely and most shops accept it, though it is not accepted as widely as Switch. Woolworth’s don’t take it which seems rather stupid considering many of their customers are young people. Though the Solo is accepted far more than the Visa Electron, which only a small minority of shops seem to take. Solo offers a cashback feature which you can use at all shops taking Solo. Most places won’t charge you, but smaller shops might. I was...

Disillusioned 18.06.2001 · Read review
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Review of Solo

Let's go SOLO

Advantages: More independance for younger generations, V. Useful
Disadvantages: Not accepted everywhere, but still widely accepted

..., but also have some authority over it. With NatWest, should someone’s SOLO account go overdrawn, they will write a letter to their parents informing them of this, and also stop any other transaction to make the account overdrawn, so to save the poor soul from getting into debt. I think this is for all who are under 16 though, but this is also a reason for the parents to let their children open a bank account. SOLO can be used just like the Switch card or like a credit card, except that you have to type in the issue number and sometimes a valid from date. I said “type” because I have used the SOLO card for a lot of online purchases. I shall describe some experiences later. The SOLO is now widely accepted, and the website (www.solocard.co.uk) says there are now 5.02 million SOLO users. I don’t think it is as...

robertliu84 22.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Solo

  Flying Solo

Advantages: Almost universally accepted, makes you more financially aware
Disadvantages: Can't write cheques, not a lot really!

...Ah, the sweet smell of financial independence! When I?m older, I?m going to be an internet millionaire; I?ve decided that. Joining Ciao was to be part of the grand plan, but alas .. ah well, I still have my Solo card. ?What? You?re fifteen and you have your own credit card? Now I know you?re entrepreneurial Matt, but this..? Well, almost. You see, Solo shares many of the features of other debit cards such as Switch. The differences are that it?s been adapted for people who may not be eligible for a 'proper' credit card. Typically these groups are the under-18s, those not in employment, and those whose credit history doesn't merit a credit card in the opinion of the banks. So what is Solo? Well, Solo is an offshoot of Switch, the worldwide standard for debit card transactions. Essentially, a Solo card is just like a Switch debit...

mattwood 11.05.2003 (09.07.2003) · Read review
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Review of Solo

Going Solo- The fantastic story of Dahl's life

Advantages: Funny, entertaining and a good read
Disadvantages: Not good for those without a sense of humour

..."Going Solo", is the continuation of Roald Dahl's autobiography of when he was a youth picking up where "Boy" left off. Dahl informs his readers of what happened to him since he left school. Beginning with him joining the Shell company to sell oil abroad. He was offered a position in Egypt, (which was considered an important placement) but refused it on account of it being "too dusty" !!!! So instead off he went to Africa. Where he crossed paths with the dreaded Black Mamba!!!!! Dahl tells us of the local tribes he encountered and of a bloodfeud which existed between a couple of them, involving one of his servants killing members of another tribe!!!!! Dahl then tells us of his training as a pilot and of his part in the fighting of WW2!! A part of his life which was riddled with danger... even more so when Dahl is injured and is...

Sparkier 28.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Going Solo - Roald Dahl

Want to Go Solo?

Advantages: Accepted in many outlets, convenient, you can only spend what you have!
Disadvantages: Not accpeted everywhere (but many places do), can't write checks.

...Solo is, perhaps, the only choice for young people. It's widely accepted, easy to set up and it saves you from having to carry stacks of cash everywhere. Not long ago Solo was not widely accepted (or certainly not as widely accepted as it is now) and so therefore nowhere near as useful as it is now. However in this day and age you'll find that many outlets accept Solo, you can shop online and if you do want to go out and shop at the highstreet then an advantage of solo is the fact that you don't have to withdraw some money from the bank, just remember to look out for the 'S' logo though, as some shops (e.g. Woolworthes) still don't accept Solo. Not only that, but you can also shop in other countries that display the 'Maestro' or 'Cirrus' logo. But on the flip-side there is a small charge for this. With Solo, you can only...

chrislake 30.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Solo

If you are going Solo-theres no better card UPDATE

Advantages: No need to carry cash
Disadvantages: Not all shops accept it yet

...**UPDATE 26/09/02** It is worth saying that quite a few shops, although they don't advertise it, will actually accept Solo; Argos being an example - My three local stores do not have the symbols up, but will tell you if you ask. Another is currys.co.uk, they have the symbols up instore, but on the website have every symbol BUT Solo. So always ask instore before going to the cash machine! I do now.** I have my Solo Card with HSBC Bank (formerly known as Midland). You can only get this card(as far as I know) with the account for 16-17 year old's. *What is a Solo Card?* A Solo Card is just a Debit card. It is similar to a Switch Card, except that Switch also acts as a cheque guarentee card whereas Solo does not. All you have to do to get one is open the relevant bank account (in this case: Bank...

fords 14.10.2001 (26.08.2002) · Read review
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Review of Solo

ITS A SOLO THING

Advantages: Great advantages and offers
Disadvantages: nothing!

...a mini statement, change your PIN number, request an early statement via the post, take money out and in some places pay money in too, basically all the normal things that you can do on a cash machine. I find this very helpful if I'm about to go shopping and I may want to see how much I have available to spend. Buying products in stores If you see a SOLO sign on the door of the shop or somewhere round the tills area then you can use your card to buy products in the store. Many stores across the country have these advantage but others do not, so make sure that you check! There is no limit to how much you can spend but I always make sure that I NEVER pay for something which is more than what I have in my account, this way I know that I'm NEVER in-debt. I love using my card in shops it makes me feel more independant about my money...

emu128 29.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Solo

Go Solo, but not be on your own

Advantages: Can use them to shop on-line
Disadvantages: Not all highstreet stores accept them!

...the main point, Solo can be used on a majority of sites including amazon.co.uk, 101cd.com, cdwow.com, play247.com and many more, in fact if I wrote them all, you would get bored very quickly! So you can do all of your internet shopping without having a Credit card, and having to go into debt! That leads me to the next point of a Debit card in general, it is very handy knowing that you can use your card nearly everywhere you go, and you can always tell that you will not go into debt, because the idea is, that you can only spend what you have got! I have got my Solo card issued by Natwest, and I know for a fact that Halifax also issue the cards, as for HSBC they do also! But I am not too sure about Nationwide. I know almost for certain that Lloyds TSB do not issue them(let me know if they do, and ill change it), and Barclays do not, due to...

blackbrough 02.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Solo

Flying Solo

Advantages: No worries about carrying cash
Disadvantages: Many well known stores don't accept them

...Switch, Delta, Electron, Solo - they're all basically the same. I used to have a Switch card - accepted by virtually every shop or service - a debit card by any other name. I now have a Solo card, due to recent financial difficulties it was all I could get. This works in much the same way as a Switch card - it's a debit card which you hand over in place of cash for payment and saves time and hassle writing cheques. Funds are normally debited from your bank account within one to two working days and you can also get up to £50 cashback with it where that facility is available. It will not allow you to go overdrawn on your account unless you already have an overdarft facility - unusual with accounts offering a Solo card to begin with. BUT, and it's a big but, not all the expected shops - including large, well-known stores, accept...

blurbubble 05.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Solo