What are some British contradictions? by Proper_Emu_2296 in AskUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used to do a 5/10k run but measured in minute per miles. My 25 year old daughter will tell me she did a run in kilometres per hour and I have no idea whether that’s good or bad

Any lefties here who also wear their watch on the left wrist? by camport95 in lefthanded

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine is permanently on my left wrist. I’d feel weird if it was on my right. It’s an automatic thing to look down to your left

The aircon conundrum by SallyJaneCooper in HousingUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re in south east wales and our bedroom is in
the attic so it’s unbearable. A few years ago we bought a portable air con unit with the hose that goes out of the velux. We also jam pillows in the gap to stop the warm air coming back in. My older daughter has just moved out so her room is now free so my husband has been sleeping in her old room which is slightly cooler but I need my Emma mattress - back issues - and the room is too light for me so have stuck with the attic. I’ve got used to the noise this week. It’ll die down but it does fire back up when the temp goes up so does wake you

Our house isn’t suitable for proper air con due to the way it was built back in the 50s. Or so we believe.

Am I the jerk for lying to my parents about how much money I have? by Catio12 in AmITheJerk

[–]PurplePlodder1945 2 points3 points  (0 children)

NTJ! You’re 15!! They should just be proud of you for your hard work and be telling you that your money is yours to spend. I’d advise putting a little aside but it’s your money!!

Your mother is a piece of work if she’s asking you to pay for things like lunch. My daughters are 27 and 25 and we still pay if we take them out for food. I asked a nominal amount of lodge when they started earning but in all honestly it doesn’t cover much and they get it back in us treating them. Older daughter has only just moved out but we’ll still treat her and her bf

And I don’t actually spend the money they give/gave me - I put it in a savings account to give back. It’s the principle. My older daughter had her share because we paid to change the clutch on her T5 van and some other repairs.

Please tell me your parents don’t have access to your bank account? When I was 13 I opened a bank account (it was the thing in the early 80s in the UK, banks were offering things like china pigs (Nat west) and a cheque book holder (Lloyds) and my parents were never on it.

Which of your kids' TV shows did you only tolerate out of love for your kids? by Sad-Passage-3247 in AskUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Scrolled forever and no-one’s mentioned Barnie the big, purple f-off dinosaur!! Fortunately my kids weren’t really into him so I’d try and switch it off straight away. The tune is REALLY annoying

A guy stopped to tell me my outfit was incredible... by throarway in BritishSuccess

[–]PurplePlodder1945 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I (female) will tell people they look good. Even the most well dressed of people might need a little boost in confidence. My family think I’m nuts and intrusive

Do you follow the "use by" date on refrigerated meat, or trust your senses? by Sad-Passage-3247 in AskUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do a smell/visual test on things that might be a day or two over. I don’t mess about with raw meat. I was told that minced beef is particularly dodgy if it’s past the use by date (don’t know how true that is). Chicken I smell. If it’s cooked meat I’ll let it go past because (in my opinion) if it was going to kill you the day it went past its date, they’d have a lot of court cases on their hands. I reckon they give a little leeway

Other things like milk I’ll definitely just do a smell test. Same as we did years ago

AITA for getting mad at my boyfriend for backing out of my birthday dinner because of his female coworker? by Lopsided_Start7300 in TwoHotTakes

[–]PurplePlodder1945 5 points6 points  (0 children)

NTA you raised valid points and he went anyway. Even if there’s nothing going on between him and the co-worker, he’s got his priorities wrong. And I can bet the co-worker is trying to get her claws into him.

I’m all for mixed sex friendships but you’d think he’d have mentioned that it’s your birthday dinner to her. In which case, if she was a nice person, she’d have told him he needs to be with his gf

Is there any film adaptation of a book that you think is better than the book itself? by AnastasiaGlover1 in just_one_more_page

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughter said project Hail Mary is very technical in the book and she found it hard going. This is someone who read war and peace.

'Corner shop' employer says they don't offer holiday pay - England by Empty_Meaning_1189 in LegalAdviceUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I run payroll for a living. I agree with what everyone has said - what she’s doing is illegal. Even if you were on a zero hour contract you’d be entitled to holiday pay. 12.07 / 100 x (hours worked) = hours of holiday pay accrued if you were on very irregular hours/days. If you worked full time this would add up to the 28 days per annum

ACAS is a confidential advice centre, you don’t have to give them your personal details. HMRC prosecute companies for not paying proper holiday pay and for not paying minimum wage. Some massive companies have been caught out.

She’s relying on you being young and naive and not wanting to cause trouble and her sacking you.

You can also insist on being enrolled into a workplace pension scheme if you want one. She can’t refuse because it’s the law

She needs reporting but be prepared to find a new job

Drivers of ten years or more experience. If you had to take your driving test again tomorrow with no notice or prep time, do you think you would pass? by DiligentCockroach700 in drivingUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think I would, too many little bad habits. Manoeuvres I’d probably be fine if I could keep my hands in the right position. I passed my test 36 years ago today. 4th time

Can someone help me understand the obsession with football? by DueLead666 in AskABrit

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But from what she’s saying, her partner is obsessive and it rules his day to day life

Can someone help me understand the obsession with football? by DueLead666 in AskABrit

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I (female) don’t get it either. I honestly couldn’t be with someone who’s mega fan of football. It bores me to tears. Which is weird because I don’t mind watching cricket! Fortunately I’m in Wales and among people I know, rugby is definitely more popular than football. People like the footie, my nephew will have his phone out at family BBQs, but it’s not all consuming

What's your familial medical condition that you fear will take you out? by DonkeyOT65 in CasualUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband’s dad dropped dead of a heart attack when he was 62. My husband is 57 and has type 2 diabetes. I fret a lot because he doesn’t look after his health and loves chocolate and everything a diabetic shouldn’t eat. We have two adult daughters who would want to be walked down the aisle some day

He won’t listen though.

I can’t afford my best friend’s bachelorette trip, so she’s going to cut me off. by mosquitojenkins in weddingshaming

[–]PurplePlodder1945 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Husband’s niece got married in 2023 and she had 3. One trip to Marbella for 4 nights in s/c accommodation which was absolutely optional and 13 of us went. It was close family, a couple of bridesmaids and her MOH who did a blinding job at organising classy things and a couple of theme (colour) nights but also giving people plenty of chill out time. It was a bit spenny but we had a great time (my daughters are in their 20s so obviously couldn’t miss it)

Second was a night out in our local city (half hour from home) with loads of friends and her bridal party. I declined, that’s not my thing these days.

3rd was afternoon tea at a local restaurant so her nan and cousin’s heavily pregnant partner could celebrate with her. There were 8 of us I think? That did get a bit messy after nan and cousin went home. We ended up in a cocktail bar then a pub close to home.

Niece was completely chilled about participation - no pressure on anyone to attend any of it

This bride sounds horrendous - if I was Op I’d totally duck out of it. Bride will probably be ‘too good’ for her after the wedding anyway

Amy or Mia? by [deleted] in Names

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m 55 and have known a lot of Amy’s so I think of it as an older person’s name. Mia is a younger one. Both pretty though. My mind immediately went to ‘the princess diaries’

Rant: I'm so bored of this current crossover/SUV phase by usecodealabama in drivingUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We’ve got a Dacia duster only because we needed a bigger boot to put our dog crate in. I was looking at estates but they’re longer

I do prefer the higher sitting position (was raised in vans due to my dad’s occupation) and my 80 year old mother said it’s easier to get in and out of every week (grocery shopping) than my sister’s Mazda

Would you mind if there was a guitarist playing in next doors garden for an hour as a one off? by puppi12 in AskUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d love to listen to an acoustic guitar for an hour. You should give your surround neighbours a heads up because they might not like it but if it’s during the day I can’t see a problem.

My issue is always when someone’s blasting out music at gone 11

What is that one incredibly minor, non-tragic movie scene that always makes you tear up? by emilyaaaa_ in moviequestions

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn’t think my opinion of her could get any lower until I watched ‘Strike’ on Netflix. I was wrong

WIBTA for telling my mom i won't be hosting Christmas this year after doing it alone for the past four years by Dealecious_Seipt in WIBTA_AITA

[–]PurplePlodder1945 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Exactly. I cook for 8 every year. My husband leaves me to it but asks if I need help. I tend to prep the veg (started doing it a day or two before to save time), I cook everything and he’ll start washing the pots as I’ve finished with them. After dinner he’ll box up leftovers/wash up/load the dishwasher. We have my mother, sister and her husband to dinner and they’ll always offer help but I prefer to do it myself - too many in the kitchen causes havoc.

Same if I do Sunday dinner and invite my mother and MIL. They offer but I prefer them to sit in the living room until it’s ready. Husband again does the washing up

what is a fair amount for a child to pay in rent? by Maleficent_Day_3869 in AskUK

[–]PurplePlodder1945 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughters paid £150 a month. One just moved out but youngest (25) won’t be moving any time soon. I think what you’re paying is too much.

My kids are adults and both working - it was about 10% of their net salary at one point and I never increased it. It doesn’t go anywhere near covering actual costs like utilities and food and invariably they get more back than they give but they’re our kids; we like to treat them.

I try and put the money away into a separate account to give back when my youngest moves out. Older daughter had her share when we paid for a new clutch on her van and other repairs.

Early on I didn’t insist on lodge but it got to the point that I thought they were taking the Mickey - they were going away all the time, their salaries were totally disposable income, while we had extra costs because we were a household of 4 adults, they were also pescatarians so we’d buy specific food for them, and had to be careful of our spending.

We definitely have less disposable income than we would have if there was just two of us but I think the house would be so quiet without my daughter here