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Edited by Dynamic Dave on 15/12/2008 at 12:48
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We're considering buying a cat flap but we're wondering what the risk is that the cat might not use it. Have you ever known a cat not use a cat flap? Do cats need to be taught/encouraged/bribed to use cat flaps?
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The problem can be too many cats using it, particularly if your cat's dinner is lying on the other side.
Worth getting a flap with a 'key thingy' to go around your cat's neck, so only he/she can open it.
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It will use the flap. You could temporarily hold it open to "show it the way", or stuff the aminal through the thing a few times. There can be notable disadvantages to cat flaps - the opening ought not to be too big, consider these things can enhance access by certain people. Also, you may find that other cats come in and eat your cat's food, fight, spray piddle all over the place, etc. You can always block the hole up for a while if this happens, or take the incomers "on their holidays".
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One of my offspring has a genuinely large cat, who is well able to get through the standard size cat flap...:-)
Cats very quickly get used to using a cat flap once they get the message; it is their outlet to the exciting world outside once they have got to the age of about three months...:-)
As suggested, buying a cat flap which is activated by a gadget on the cat's collar will keep out other cats.
You should also position the cat flap so that it is not possible for anyone to reach the door lock by hand through it.
Edited by Stuartli on 10/12/2008 at 10:20
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"position the cat flap so that it is not possible for anyone to reach the door lock by hand through it"
My security-conscious old man cut a maze of cat flaps through the brick work. The first is in the little WC built onto the garage. The next goes into the garage. In the garage there is a cat flap that leads into the house under the stairs where there is a cupboard door through which they enter the actual house. By closing this door he can limit their access to the garage only so that he can set the burglar alarm and the boiler is in there so it's nice and toasty.
It's quite to shock when having a "sit down" in the WC to suddenly have two cats shoot through in rapid succession.
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I used to live in a very old house. The kitchen had flagstones on the floor. I used to clean them once in a while by first chucking some neat bleach on them, brushing that in and then washing it off with clean water.
One day I was doing stage one when my two cats came hurtling through the cat flap straight across the wet bleached floor. The rest of the house had a reasonably expensive plain dark burgundy coloured carpet..........
Well, I had wellies on, because of the bleach. The cats were obviously not enjoying the experience of bleach on their paws and were running amok around the house. My first though was to catch the cats and get them in a bath before their feet got burned.
A chase ensued. Me in bleach soaked wellies, the cats with bleach soaked paws, bath running, cats not cooperating. Every room visited, many curtains climbed.
Upshot, cats eventually caught and bathed. Arms savaged, but duty done. No harm to cats.
The house however........
:-(
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 10/12/2008 at 11:23
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Cats eh? Who'd 'ave 'em?
How to give a pill to a cat.
1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm, as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat?s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop in the pill. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor, and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw away soggy pill.
4. Take new pill from foil wrapper. Cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force open the jaws and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl, and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees. Hold front and rear paws, ignoring low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand, while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat?s throat vigourously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, and get another pill from foil wrapper. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth, and set aside for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel, and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat?s mouth open with pencil, and blow down straw.
9. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans. Drink one beer to take awy taste of pill. Apply Band-Aid to spouse?s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10. Retrieve cat from neighbour?s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage, and replace cupboard door on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot and drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check medical records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw away tee-shirt and fetch another one from bedroom.
12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrapper.
13. Tie the little sod?s front paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Fetch heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth, followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash down pill.
14. Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm, and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call in at furniture shop on the way home, to order new dining table.
15. Place ?Free Mutant Cat from Hell? ad in local newspaper and ring local pet shop to see if they have any bunnies.
Edited by Webmaster on 11/12/2008 at 00:37
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Brilliant Dipstick, and so true !
By way of a motoring link there is of course the scenario when taking a cat to the vet.
It inevitably escapes from the basket in the car on the way.
Cats know about vets.
You have to stop the car to re-capture the cat.
You can't open the door because the cat will make a bid for freedom and you are in a lay-by at the side of a busy dual carriageway in the dark and its raining.
So you attempt to catch the cat while staying in the car with all the doors and windows closed.
It is of course a large estate car with plenty of room for the cat to keep you at a distance.
You pretend not to be bothered for a while to lull it into a false sense of security and then throw yourself over the back seat into the boot in one move while getting one hand on the cat.
This also does not work.......
and so on......
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 10/12/2008 at 11:47
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Not mine, Humph, pasted in from one of those "all over the internet" things, but amusing nonetheless.
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It's quite to shock when having a "sit down" in the WC to suddenly have two cats shoot through in rapid succession.
That mental image made me spit me sandwich out from laughing! Thank you for that :-)
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My young niece drained her bank account to -£0.14p. For this 14p, she's apparently being charged £90, with an extra charge if that one's not paid by the end of the month.
Is there any way of getting the bank to waive this, or an organisation to complain to?
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Ask the bank, they often will in cases like this. Remember these charges are computer generated. If your niece is an otherwise good customer they may well waive the charges as you could certainly make a case to the ombudsman that the charges were unreasonable.
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A visit to a branch to speak to a manager face to face and highlight its a minor transgression and the charges are OTT.
Any appeal to the Ombudsman will be put on hold until the current investigation into bank charges is completed.
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How fine was the print that told her how much she would be charged if she went overdrawn? Was she aware of the size of the charge and just miscalculated, or wasn't aware so didn't think it would be such a big deal?
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I'm sorry, I don't know. I would *guess* that she was not aware of the size of the charge, not having read the pages of legalese normally issued, and I *think* she went "overdrawn" to the tune of 14p by mistake.
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£90 for being 14p overdrawn? Ridiculous. Close the account. Not even the Mafia would have the neck to charge that
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£90 for being 14p overdrawn? Ridiculous.
It does seem excessive- I thought it would be more like £20, which of course would still be worth trying to get back.
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£20 - maybe 15+ years ago.
I suggest you read your account small print.
£30 minimum for being overdrawn
£30 minimum for allowing the transaction which put you overdrawn
£30 minimum for the letter to advise you of the £60 charges you have incurred
Total £90.
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Been there, done that.
An amusing letter taking the wee out of her own stupidity and pointing out that while she realises that the bank are perfectly within their rights, would they on this occassion be prepared to reconsider as the amount was trivial and as they could see she normally kept her account in good order should do the trick.
It worked for me, but I would point out that was in the days when banks were embarrassed by the size of their profits. If her particular bank were jumping with joy at the prospect of an extra £90 towards their multi trillion pound profit shortfall it might be different, however.
Worth a try though.
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I suggest you read your account small print.
Good idea:
"Unauthorised overdraft charge (as well as the unauthorised overdraft interest): £20 per month
Charge for an unpaid Direct Debit, standing order, bill payment, cheque or regular transfer when you do not have enough cleared funds: £30"
Does 'regular transfer' include normal payment for things in shops using debit card?
F
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Thanks to AE and daveyjp for their comments on Australia and Malaysia.
I will look forward to drinking beer in midis, but will I be able to swallow the actual fluid? I don't think my favourite tipple draught Leffe blonde will be easy to find there. I will have to think of it as partial rehab.
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You will get no sympathy here Lud........smugly sipping any kind of cold beer in the antipodean sun while the rest of us suffer strictly-come-soap-factorinthejungle-on-ice-greatblinkinescape and a trip to Auntie Masie's as the highlights of our festive fun.........
Have a great trip !
;-)
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I did Christmas in aus once. We had turkey and all the trimmings outside in the 33c sun. Most weird, surreal almost.
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>>Does 'regular transfer' include normal payment for things in shops using debit card?>>
if you go into an overdraft situation, then yes.
I had the problem of not having enough funds to pay a standing order a few years ago with the Halifax - the rather prim letter arrived whilst I was on holiday.
It came as a bit of a shock, until I eventually realised that the standing order referred to the then need to pay a sum annually towards a Tessa.
In fact the standing order (of which I had kept a copy) was not relevant as the Tessa had matured, so I rang the bank and spoke to a member of staff.
When I pointed out the error, she was very apologetic and said she would cancel the £20 fee demanded; I told her that I expected a similar sum being paid to me for the time, trouble and worry I had been caused. This was willingly accepted, with an invitation to reinvest the Tessa with the bank.
She also advised me that the Tessa would continue to attract interest until any action was taken. However, the lady forgot to mention that that interest would attract income tax...:-)
So I rang again and pointed out the loss of income due to the tax; it was agreed that this would be refunded. I also insisted on another £20 because of the time, trouble and worry I'd been caused, again agreed...
It was then that I found out that the Bradford and Bingley was offering a higher interest rate on a reinvested Tessa, so I switched the sum involved; about two years later B and B went public and I got 250 windfall shares. These were worth quite a substantial sum of money until the financial world's explosion earlier this year...:-(
When I found out
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Is there any way of getting the bank to waive this, or an organisation to complain to?
All you want to know about reclaiming unfair charges:
www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges
www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/oft-bank-charges
Edited by jbif on 10/12/2008 at 14:59
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don't get me started on unfair charges! - just got my BT bill this morning, and find that because i won't let them help themselves to the money from my bank account (DD) and because i wont pay them via CC online, they are "punishing" me for making them send me a paper bill, to the tune of £4.50!!! Grr! - one strong letter of complaint is on its way!
Billy
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It won't make any difference. It amounts to theft, along with a high level of arrogance.
Switch to TalkTalk, get free AnyTime phone calls here and to 36 overseas countries on its top package and with free broadband thrown in...:-)
Costs me just £21.49 a month including the £10.50 line rental on the AnyTime International3 Package. The Evening and Weekend free calls version is even cheaper.
Enjoyed the staggering financial savings since April 2006.
Edited by Stuartli on 10/12/2008 at 15:39
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Don't Talk Talk insist on the account being tied to DD?
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I've paid TalkTalk by Direct Debit for nearly three years - the itemised bills are readily available by monthly e-mail and on the website and, to date, all have been spot on.
The difference is that I chose to pay by this method originally and with no threat of a charge by any other method of payment.
This is also the case for utility services such as United Utilities - I can pay by cheque if I wish, but normally do it online.
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don't get me started on unfair charges! - just got my BT bill this morning and find that because i won't let them help themselves to the money from my bank account (DD) and because i wont pay them via CC online they are "punishing" me for making them send me a paper bill to the tune of £4.50!
Quite right too. Why should my bill be higher because you insist on more expensive methods of paying bills.
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>>because you insist on more expensive methods of paying bills<<
Simply, it is my "right" to insist on receiving a bill.
just as it is thier "right" to bill me for receiving thier service.
It is not thier "right" to demand the right to access to my Bank Acount to withdraw payment, niether is it thier "right" to demand that I pay via cc online. These were introduced only as "options" to simplify payment for people. Now, (that they've discovered that its also easier for them), they are demanding that we either pay them this way or get punished!
I reserve the "right" to keep my bank account "private" and my credit card personal, and it is not for them to dictate how I should use either, or charge Me (or you) extra! - outrageous!
Billy
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And i deserve the "right" to get a discount over you. Which I do. Which is fine by me.
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Exactly my point AE!! - you used to be rewarded for making thier life easier, by them offering you discounts if you paid that way, The difference is, it WAS your choice".
Now they have gotten "greedy and bullying" by DEMANDING "pay that way" or we will charge you for not doing! - and its STILL outrageous!!
Billy ;-)
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But Billy, I am paying less than you? I don't see a problem.
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A supplementary faffing question for AE if you are listening: I assume my small plastic photo licence is all I need to take, not the bit of bumf one is supposed to keep with it? It's only got three grubby thumbprints on it for running a red light three years ago.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/12/2008 at 18:45
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I assume you mean for Aus and NZ?
You should take your grubby bit of paper as well, but I have only ever handed over the plastic photo card bit and never been asked to produce it at the hire desk*, or by the local gendarmes. TBH most of them think the photo card is the license and that's all there is.
As sure as Eggs is Eggs tho if you dont have your grubby bit of paper you will be asked for
it.
*Hired cars in Aus, Spain, Italy, Greece, States, and only ever shown the card part.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/12/2008 at 18:45
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Thanks AE. I will try to find the damn thing in the huge, random heaps of paper among which I spend so much time.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/12/2008 at 18:45
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.. random heaps of paper
;-) Seems you are doing the same here, with putting your questions/replies randomly within the IHAQ thread, as you did in the previous IHAQ
see
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=69708&...e
"{Moves to correct place as per the 'Please Note' message at the start of the thread}
Last edited by: Dynamic Dave on Tue 9 Dec 08 at 00:27"
{now corrected once more. I should point out that moving stuff around in threads can result in things getting accidentally deleted because of the faffing about that's involved}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/12/2008 at 18:47
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{now corrected once more .... }
though you missed three of the "random" posts at 13.56 today. ;-)
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Hi
Ive set my signiture on the forum because ive changed my username as i didnt realy like my original one - however although I clicked "Save Changes" it still dosnt display
should i have clicked anything or does my profile take while to update
Thanks
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Dave the moderator disabled signatures because he hates them, so they don't work.
Not that I am accusing him of being a power mad megalomaniac or anything you understand.
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Dave the moderator disabled signatures
Not quite, I asked Stephen to disable the tickbox.
Not that I am accusing him of being a power mad megalomaniac or anything you understand.
Slap!
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>> Dave the moderator disabled signatures Not quite I asked Stephen to disable the tickbox.
Well Done! Very well done. Thank you.
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Cheers, thanks for getting back, now I know why it dosent work lol
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If you mean "signature" as at the end of each post, we are not allowed to use them anymore!. The best you can do is type your name like i do ;-) .. but i've just noticed that i'm now in the minority that do that as well ;-)
Billy
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I know I've seen instructions on how to get effects such as bold and italics in posts before, but I can't find where. I've looked in the sticky threads and the forum help - what have I missed?
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I remember posting that, but i can't find it either!
so, for bold test prefix the text with and suffix it with
without he underscores, I've just used them to avoid confusing the forum software.
For italic replace the 'b's above with 'i's
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<i> italics </i>
<b> bold </b>
<s> strikethrough </s>
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Thanks. Shouldn't this info be in either a sticky thread or the forum help (if it isn't already)?
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Thanks. Shouldn't this info be in either a sticky thread or the forum help (if it isn't already)?
If you click on "Reply to this message" and then click on the "Quote Original Post" button of a post that has font effects you'll see how it's been achieved. That's how I learned how to do it.
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....... effects such as bold and italics
To get accents see tinyurl.com/5n8mfp
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>> ....... effects such as bold and italics To get accents see tinyurl.com/5n8mfp
Accents are fair enough, but italics, bold, underlines, different fonts etc mixed together have no impact, look untidy and should never be used.
Don't believe me? Look at professionally typeset text in a novel or magazine.
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......... italics bold underlines different fonts etc mixed together have no impact ........
I find that italics plus bold helps to stress/highlight a word or phrase. I'd rather do that than use asterisks like some people do ~ where on earth did that craze come from?
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I'm not going to rise to the bait, l'escargot, I' m really not.
But if there's a snail on my garden path when I go out shortly....
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But if there's a snail on my garden path when I go out shortly....
As Roy Jay said/says "Slither, you'll all be doing it tomorrow!"
Edited by L'escargot on 13/12/2008 at 07:48
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I find that italics plus bold helps to stress/highlight a word or phrase. I'd rather do that than use asterisks like some people do ~ where on earth did that craze come from?
It comes from way back in the early 1990s and beyond, before html and the Web, before browser-crashing ads, when the Internet was just text displayed in green on a black background. Great days in many ways. Asterisks are also quicker to type.
Edited by Baskerville on 13/12/2008 at 11:13
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*Curses*, the allure of the Back Room, visiting of which is inimicable with cooking. My eyes are starting to water.
How is it best to remove smoky smells from the atmosphere, and the general interior of buildings? In this case, for what it's worth, it's the smell of highly carbonised brussels sprouts and cabbage.
All the windows and doors are open, and there's a saucepan with an annealed bottom on the kitchen window sill.
I may be forced to go to the pub in a minute.
Hang on, I've already got my duffle coat on, because of the cold. I think I will go.
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"Chef's candle" from Lakeland
www.lakeland.co.uk/F/keyword/cook's+candle
Phil
Or just go to the pub for a few hours
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burn half a dozen slices of bread! it may not get rid of the smoke, but its bound to smell better than Sprouts 'n'Cabbage! - Yuk!"
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The odour neutralisers such as Neutradol (the original), Oust and similar aerosol products will probably be the best bet.
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perc some coffee.
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;-) look what i've found!
>>Temperature records (and measurements of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere) go back hundreds of thousands of years, not mere hundreds.
And guess what. <<
not only have you burnt and lost your tea, you've made a considerable Carbon deposit to help keep you warm! - with all your doors open! ;-)
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>>carbonised brussels sprouts and cabbage.
We put the sprouts on weeks ago for Christmas ;>)
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a considerable Carbon deposit
Humph. I'll be buying a Stanley (car) next - although ISTR these ran on paraffin. I could've put the remains on the Rayburn, I suppose. The place *still* smells. I will try out "Oust".
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>>I will try out "Oust". >>
Will be about half the price of the supermarkets at your local discount stores or Wilkinsons...:-)
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I managed to deodorise a microwave which had had stuff catch fire in it, by boiling a container full of water and the juice of a lemon. May be something on a bigger scale (saucepan and and juice of 4 lemons) would do for a kitchen. Won't be easy to get the whiff out of soft furnishings curtains etc - may have to try dry cleaning. Good Luck
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I managed to deodorise a microwave which had had stuff catch fire in
That's a coincidence, I also had a cat called Stuff.
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Simmering some vinegar will help, do a solution of about one third vinegar to water. Do a dual job and simmer the vinegar in the kettle as it will descale it for you! The leave it around in a bowl afterwards.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on soft furnishings like carpets, then vacuum well.
Use above mentioned Oust or Neutro whatever - we get it in Poundland.
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Grill some kippers and the grill pan/cooker will smell nice, too.
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In punctuation our 12 years old grandson says "dot" instead of "full stop" to terminate a sentence. In arithmetic he says "take" instead of "take away" or "minus". For example instead of three take away (or minus) two equals one he says three take two equals one.
Are these examples of modern teaching? Am I behind the times (again!)?
Edited by L'escargot on 12/12/2008 at 09:24
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I assume something's been lost in the translation - my experience is that full "take away" and "minus" are very much alive, "full stop".
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I think it's an education thing. I certainly recall my hearing "take" used decades ago; never used it myself though.
Your grandchildren need to get out of the state system, and then you'll give us some peace on here...! ;)
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Am I behind the times (again!)?
yes yes and thrice yes.
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As an older father with a 2.5 year old I'm considering doing a maths course to know what to expect - my sister tried to explain maths howework her 8 year old nephew was doing and this sent me into a spin.
It's only adding two numbers, but the 'modern' technique seems to involve about four steps to achieve the same answer as adding columns and carrying over.
A 20+ year old grade A at O level may not be of much use now!
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.... my sister tried to explain maths howework her 8 year old nephew was doing and this sent me into a spin. It's only adding two numbers but the 'modern' technique seems to involve about four steps to achieve the same answer as adding columns and carrying over.
To me, adding two numbers together is merely arithmetic, not mathematics. Teachers these days obviously like bigging up their jobs!
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my sister tried to explain maths howework her 8 year old nephew was doing and this sent me into a spin.
Up to age 7, it seems to be just "number". Adding up, taking away, just getting to learning times tables (but only up to 10x, for some reason). It shouldn't be difficult for any numerate adult.
It's only adding two numbers but the 'modern' technique seems to involve about four steps to achieve the same answer as adding columns and carrying over.
Some of the weirdness comes from trying to show how things work - although there're many ways of getting the answer. Explaining things in diffrerent ways can be helpful.
A 20+ year old grade A at O level may not be of much use now!
If it's a real "O" level, it's well on the way to an "A" level as taught now.
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Yes a real O level - shame it's now nearly an A level as I'd probably pass now rather than fail miserably as I did first time round.
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My other half gained eight A levels in the late 1950s when they were "real" A levels...:-)
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It's only adding two numbers, but the 'modern' technique seems to involve about four steps to achieve the same answer as adding columns and carrying over.
I recently demonstrated this to my 12 year old , together with a bit of long multiplication. He was amazed at how easy and quick it was compared to the 'new' method, but observed - 'you would use a calculator for this wouldn't you?'.
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- 'you would use a calculator for this wouldn't you?'.
A youngster in our office was musing over what 4.5 divided by 1.5 was, and he finally resorted to using his calculator!
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>> Am I behind the times (again!)? yes yes and thrice yes.
But I'm like making an effort and like trying to like catch up, yeah?
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>>Yeah, But, No But, I'm like making an effort and like trying to like catch up, innit??
EFA
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Using the expression dot could well come from giving out e-mail addresses on radio and TV, such as bbbc @ co (dot) uk or, much earlier, the (dot)com collapse as it was described on the news at the time.
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Using the expression dot could well come from giving out e-mail addresses on radio and TV ...........
I guessed that, but don't teachers correct their pupils when they say "dot" in place of "full stop"? Or is "dot" what they teach them to say?
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Frighteningly you are probably right. We had a statement disclosed to us from a young PCSO - the standard of grammar and spelling was shockingly bad - Looks like a lazy spell check was run in some places. I know that some posters see this as a natural evolution of the language, but precise language and grammar is vital in certain professions.
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It beats the American version though, doesn't it - period.
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Having a good garage clearout (motoring related link :-) ) and found cases of tinned/bottled beer and larger. Sell by date is 2006. How long does this kind of booze really keep?
Or is it down the drain and an addition to the ever growing mountain of recyclable waste that no one wants?
suitable heading inserted - PU
Edited by Pugugly on 14/12/2008 at 20:52
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2006? Get it down you lad.
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All IMHO, no warrantee, or health check implied
If it's been kept cold and dark, and the cans are not rusty, and the caps are in good condition on the bottles... subject to a taste test - cheers!
The dates on things like that are "best before" which isn't a no-no like "use by" on a cream cake.
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Its drinkable. Leave it outside BBD will be round to pick it up.
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"Leave it outside BBD will be round to pick it up."
Indeed. I often can't sleep at night, worrying that in the event of a nuclear holocaust and I'm the only survivor - where will I get my beer from. Good to know it lasts for years.
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but far safer than punching holes in aerosol cans....
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Suppose I ought to try the taste test then :-). Pity its not summer and I could off load it at someones barbie.
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Carol Singers ? - well perhaps not.
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Keep it for next year's Trick or Treaters...
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Alchohol is a preservative! - the "sell- by" date was invented so that "gullible" folk would throw away perfectly good stuff and buy fresh, thereby keeping the manufacturers in profit. According to "some folk" i should have been dead of food-poisoning many times over! all my "friends" re-cycle thier O.O.D provisions via me! Long may it continue, it saves me a fortune, and i'm still here to tell them how much i enjoyed it!
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Just go by the taste and smell. I find the odd yoghurt in the back of my fridge, a month out of date. If it hasn't got blue/grenn fur on it when I open it I eat it! Disclaimer - what works for me might have you in hospital for Xmas! Then you will really know what food poisoning can be!
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2006 was a very good year as I recall.
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>>.. the "sell- by" date was invented so that "gullible" folk would throw away perfectly good stuff and buy fresh, thereby keeping the manufacturers in profit.>>
Balderdash. It's the dictate of the Food Standards Agency and the usual Nanny State's interference.
For some interesting reading on this very subject see:
tinyurl.com/3o9fd4
I pick up Reduced items at the local supermarkets on occasions without any qualms if it happens to be what we need - useful savings..:-)
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It lasts ages. Oddbins sold a range of premium bottled beers (at one point, haven't been in there for ages). They stated "These will carry on improving for between 5 and 10 years. We have a sell by date of two years hence because we have to by law, ignore it, as like a fine wine, these beers will improve".
You may find that your cans have gone slightly flat, bottles should be OK. Tonic water goes flat very quickly owing to plastic bottles.
Even honey (which has been taken out of the Pyramids) has a sell by date.
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I have found that bottles will be fine, the only thing about the cans (assuming they're not widget cans) is they might be a bit flat. I've got some 3 year old barley wine (left over from xmas pudding making) which are flat for drinking but fine for using in casseroles or the next batch of puds.
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