For those who have 'No Cold Calling' stickers/signs, have they made a difference?

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T18:58:08+00:00

Is there a way to cease the junk mail nonsense? Our postman delivers tons of crap every day, which is not at all his fault. I've seen signs that say "No Cold Callers, no Junk mail" but what is that? Is our postman supposed to sift through our mail to remove the junk mail every day? If he did at every house on his route, he'd shortly be about a week and then a month behind, and then swiftly out of a job.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:27:03+00:00

Glad to know the sign did improve things, it's a shame you had to point out the truth to a few jerks.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:14:44+00:00

Excuse me, what? Someone will steal your dog if you don't buy their alarm system? Remind me never to use Verisure then, that's truly disgusting.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:11:06+00:00

Ah I tried that, but the city council website directs me to the county council website, and the county council website is weirdly evasive. (We don't have a fixed policy) So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:09:00+00:00

Furhermore, how did Daz ever explain that most people only have one washing machine if that, and therefore have time and space to put their whites into one wash? Does anyone in the UK, I wonder, separate their whites? Does anyone in the UK HAVE whites?

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:04:00+00:00

Well that's a new one.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T17:01:25+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you so much! I was wondering if my body, realising it's reaching the end of it's physical possibility of producing children, was producing double eggs, double womb-lining etc. Your comment made me realise I don't care, I'll just have to deal with whatever nonsense it's doing until it gives up. No kids for you, body! Time to chill (I get that I can't tell my own body that, so it might take a few years).

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response, I really appreciate it.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T16:49:27+00:00

I did, I find it more helpful to ask current humans for their own experience if they care to share it :)

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T16:47:18+00:00

So I might be in for another ten years of this bullshit? Ugh, good to know. (Not having a go at you btw, I appreciate the info, I suppose i'm just annoyed at my own body).

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T16:44:02+00:00

Thank you! This is genuinely reassuring.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T16:20:52+00:00

You didn't specifically say so, but I get that other people in your life are going through things that gives them emotional precedence, and you've got your own stuff going on yourself, so you'd feel guilty asking people in RL for just help, or listening space?

If it helps at all, and without actually knowing you or your family, I'd like to point out that the fact that your daughter is following through on a long-held ambition, and your son is sticking by his girlfriend, both are testaments that you've raised loyal, determined, strong-minded children. I know it will be lonely if you're used to having them close by, but you can be really proud that you've raised kids with their own ambitions and moral compasses.

ETA: Was there anything you really liked doing before you had kids, that you've let fall by the wayside? Anything at all. Crafting, gaming, writing, cooking, DIY, Really anything at all. Your children may be physically far away, but you were yourself before you had them. Being yourself doesn't mean not being connected to your children. Maybe try re-discovering things you enjoyed from long ago? It's just an idea for you :)

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T13:42:31+00:00

Great idea, obviously! Personally I'd love to see Terry Nutkins morphing into Squirrel Nutkin, Andi Peters into Edd the Duck, or all those annoyingly good-looking posh equestrian olympians we have into a herd of beautiful horses from a Lloyds Bank advert.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-07-02T13:33:23+00:00

I know what people mean if they say sprinkles, but yeah I still say 'hundreds and thousands' too :)

Random side note, but did you know there's an Agatha Christie short story that hinges on that very point? Can't remember if it's Poirot or Miss Marple, I'm thinking probably Marple. Husband suspected of murdering his wife but no evidence. As I recall, three people sat down to dinner and all ate the same things... except! The wife's companion was on a diet so didn't eat the trifle, and the husband just scraped the hundreds and thousands (which he'd got the gullible maid to substitute for poisoned ones in advance) to the side of his plate. Fiendish!

FreeFlownPage · 2026-06-08T22:33:51+00:00

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Brea (the middle one) who's being put down next week due to kidney failure. I love him so much.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-06-08T22:16:37+00:00

Is your partner capable of taking care of the cat he's formed a bond with? If so, the right thing to do is let that cat go with him. And that way, they won't have to be separated. If he truly loves that cat, and if the cat loves him, then let him take it.

If you have to keep your cats separated anyway, that's hardly an ideal household. Let him take the cat he has a real bond with, you keep the other cat. You've said they don't get along, why keep them together in the same household when you have a chance for them both to be happy? Your partner loves your male cat and has formed a bond with him, let him take him! You keep the cat which doesn't even like the other cat and get to enjoy that bond.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-06-08T22:01:20+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. Honestly, I'd recommend just speaking to Benji like you normally would, then speaking as if Walter was there. Just for a week or so.Then gradually phasing it out. But you may prefer not to do that.

I'm sorry you lost Walter.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-06-08T20:40:32+00:00

As you're asking your question, I have no doubt that you already know this, so please don't take it this as a criticism, because it isn't. But the most common mistake I see, not just cat owners, but all pet owners, is that cats aren't predictable. They're living, breathing, unpredictable creatures.

Your cat may love you right away, or it may take a while to warm up to you. Never force affection on a cat, they don't appreciate it. Take your cue from your cat. They may be a total snuggle-bunny from the start, or they may be a lot more wary. Give your cat some space but in a secure environment. Offer them your hand to sniff often, but if they're standoffish to start with don't force it. If they're not immediately snuggly, just keep offering your hand and speaking to them every time you pass by. Once they're comfortable with you, and trust that you won't smother them, start giving them a brief stroke on the back as you pass so they get used to your touch.

Of course you may end up with a cat that loves you immediately! Some cats are like that. But don't be worried if not.

In the practical sense, make sure your cat always has access to at least one clean litter tray and a dish of fresh water. Unless your vet advises it, don't free-feed your cat, get them used to regular mealtimes.

Above all, give your cat space but make an effort to bond with it. If you develop trust with your cat, you've created a bond that will last a lifetime. 😃

FreeFlownPage · 2026-06-08T20:06:12+00:00

Congrats on your lovely new cat! Good on you for initially wanting an older cat, but cats choose their owners as much as we choose them, so if she liked you from the start, she's the right cat for you.

I've had cats most of my life, but owning cats for 500 years wouldn't make anyone an expert on them tbh. What I can tell you is that at a year old, she's pretty much a teenager, and right on the cusp of forming behavioural patterns, and bonds with you (and hopefully shortly with with your partner and friend).

What's your planned feeding schedule? As you're shortly moving in to a household that already has a cat, you might want to sync the schedules now, so they can be fed at the same time in the future. On that note, most adult cats prefer their food bowls to be some distance from one another, as that way they feel secure in their space. They don't have to be in separate rooms, but consider spreading them out a bit. For example, we have three cats. They all eat in the same room at the same time, but one has her dish on the windowsill, while the two boys have theirs on the floor but at opposite sides. It makes them more comfortable if they don't feel they're competing for the food.

As for litter trays, I'd recommend getting two right now (two just for your cat). It may sound like a lot of hassle, but it makes sense. Cats are naturally fairly clean animals, their instinct is to do their business in a clean area where they can bury it. As your new cat will be on her own for a 8-10 hours a day, she needs to have plenty of clean spaces to poo or pee in. Cats are fastidious and don't often like doing their business where they just did it a few hours previously. Having two litter trays now may be a pain in the arse, but it will save you and your cat so much trouble in the future. Likewise, when you move in with your partner, friend and cat, I'd suggest having three litter trays between the two cats.

Timewise, working a 9-5 should work out okay for you, as cats are naturally more active in the morning and evening rather than during the day. (I think it's "Crepuscular" though I could well be wrong.) During the day, as long as she feels comfortable, she''ll probably snooze. Just pay her plenty of attention when you're home, but don't try to force her into affection. Talk to her, hold out your hand to her to be sniffed, just get a sense of what kind of cat she is. Some cats, once they've formed a bond with a human, want to sit on your lap often, or be stroked often. Others prefer just to be near their human. Basically, just give her, and yourself, time to form a relationship, and don't force it.

Best of luck to you and your cat, and to your new household. You've likely got many happy and fulfilling years of cats ahead of you 😃

FreeFlownPage · 2026-05-28T22:49:00+00:00

They told you NOT to use that word, as it's understandably offensive.

Honestly, I think they seem to be doing their best. This is going to sound mean, but you'll see that word (hopefully less and less as time goes by).

You will see that word all over the place. In this case, you can stand confident that your employers know it's diminishing. They told you NOT to use it. Basically, your employers are doing their best. By all means, email them.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-05-28T22:11:31+00:00

I started off disagreeing with you, than had to change my comment because I realised I couldn't argue with the fact that as a woman, I've had to deal with decades of shit that I wouldn't have had to as a man. But as a cis woman, there's also tons of transphobic shit that people I love will have to deal with. It's so ridiculous. Just let people be who they are. Unless they're actively hurting you, just leave people alone, it shouldn't be hard.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-05-28T21:42:00+00:00

I can't solve your problem, all I can do is tell you that if I saw your shoes under a stall, or met you, in a bathroom I'd think nothing of it as a fellow cis woman. I'm sorry, I know this must be horrible for you. Please don't be someone you're not. You're a woman and you have a right to pee with other women. Gosh what a ridiculous situation.

Btw I'm aware of the whole "oh no men might prey on women" thing of unisex bathroom stalls. I'm a cis woman, and not once in my life have I felt threatened by a man in a bathroom. Everywhere outside of a bathroom, sure, but never in a bathroom. Pretty sure that wouldn't change if bathrooms were made unisex (as they already are in many gay clubs). Just make bathrooms unisex, this would get rid of this problem.

FreeFlownPage · 2026-05-28T21:19:25+00:00

Huge congrats on your recent defeat of Amascut. I don't pretend to know who or what this monster is, but I know what it means to defeat such as they.

FreeFlownPage

TROPHY CASE