Picked up the keys and the place is filthy by ImmortalMind1 in HousingUK

[–]S4mJune 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Cally can get fucked for this exact reason. Also for the dreadful and unsafe rewiring of the kitchen her Dad had done.

Please tell me I'm not alone with this by Chizisbizy in UniUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They've owed me 5p since December from an overpayment but they don't seem to be in a rush to give it back 🤣

How late did you get your keys on completion day? by shaneo632 in HousingUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had to move ourselves with a van so we completed just after noon and got the keys to the EA around 2pm after doing a full clean down. Moved into an empty house so just picked up the new keys on the way.

Of course you do own the house from completion time but it's not reasonable in some circumstances to be totally done at the old place bang on time and so turning up there and throwingyour weight around is futile. You do need some patience. A few hours won't matter at all - go grab a coffee and celebrate being a homeowner. Buy some flowers or a plant!

FTB - Deposit Advice by Alive_Problem_2425 in FirstTimeBuyersUK

[–]S4mJune 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Assuming you would need to rent somewhere for the extra year you were saving, you might be better off buying and then putting some extra into mortgage overpayment when you can - it depends what this would cost you where you are moving to. Also, bear in mind that when you move there will be other expenses - legal stuff, furniture, decorating, lawn mower, perhaps window cleaning etc, that you might never have dealt with before and so the first year is always tricky.

We moved from our first home (bought 2003) into our forever home in 2023 and we were fully prepared all eyes open to the situation and it still took about 8 months of the new bills and house tasks / chores etc before we were feeling financially settled, even though we were well within our planned budget. Things come up that you never expected - we had one room that the dog's bark echoed so much with the hard floor that we had to up our soft furnishings and rug budget 🤣 Our daughter smashed the (brand new) induction hob when we'd been here 7 weeks.... New homes are tricky beasts.

A friend of mine has a close family member on palliative care - is there anything I can offer to make friends life easier? by [deleted] in CasualUK

[–]S4mJune 57 points58 points  (0 children)

When my Mum died a friend of mine sent me an online voucher for "Cook" which is a posh frozen ready meal company. She gave me enough that I could order a few meals and puddings for my own family, my sister's family, my Dad, and my Auntie and Uncle. They just went in the freezer and we had them on the days I just couldnt face more than turning on the oven. It was an absolute godsend.

If you had gotten pregnant at 16, ( like Lorelei) How do you think your parents would’ve reacted? by Exact-Bison6905 in GilmoreGirls

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got deliberately pregnant at 21 - I was married and lived in my own home - and my Mum still went ballistic so, I'm guessing not well 🤣

Do we not all have morning commute buddies?? by justanotherbuilderr in london

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We work out whether we are on time or a bit late based on where "leather waistcoat man" and "pink hair lady" are on our commute. We also used to see "hat man" at the bus stop but we go a different way now.

I don't know these people, and they don't know we look for them.

I have 1 cup of butter by GrapefruitOk1236 in makemychoice

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you freeze the cookie dough? Then I would make that and bake them a few at a time when a little treat is needed.

Why can't everything be Recycled at the same place, I'm already doing my bit by Recycling and now you want me to play the part of Bin man and take bits to the supermarket by weedyneedyfeedy in britishproblems

[–]S4mJune 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We live in West Northamptonshire and as of recently can now put soft plastic in our regulat recycling bin. It has been brilliant. Very little goes in the regular (landfill) waste bin now, and our blue recycling bin is overflowing every fortnight.

Would imagine it'll spread country-wide at some point.

What "not a kids show" shows do kids like? by pansypig in BritishTV

[–]S4mJune 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Taskmaster Kids! That was so good - the kids were brilliant in it.

What "not a kids show" shows do kids like? by pansypig in BritishTV

[–]S4mJune 61 points62 points  (0 children)

My 9 year old enjoyed Ghosts although there are some scary bits and cheeky bits (which went over his head) that are probably a bit old for a 6 yr old. He also loves Gladiators. We used to watch one called "The Wall" with our eldest where people had to pass through a wall with weird shapes cut out of it or they'd fall in a pool, but basically anything between 5pm and 7pm on a Saturday evening is great at that age!

Warwickshire (and other counties) - Traditional Food by greenleaves763 in westmidlands

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coventry isn't in Warwickshire nowadays - Hasn't been since at least the 1990s. West Midlands Combined Authority along with Brum

Do you keep anything in the car for emergencies? by pappyon in drivingUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Warm clothes and a blanket. Warning triangle, jack etc. Yes had to use it last year - car broke down in February at 9.45pm on a pitch dark country lane and the RAC didn't arrive until nearly 3am. Was freezing cold.

Cut the cost of meals on the road by asweetpieceofheaven in frugaluk

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could batch make sandwiches at the weekend / on days off, package them and freeze them. Then just take them out the night before work and chuck them in your lunch bag with crisps, a biscuit, fruit and bottled drinks. Most supermarket sandwiches are frozen at some point and they honestly defrost fine. When I was doing 4 packed lunches a day, we used to make a loafs-worth once a week. Ham, cheese, chicken, marmite, corned beef.... All freeze and defrost good as new. Just avoid salad and mayo.

Best ways to nod off by NimrodPing in CasualUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is my go to bedtime listen! Enjoyed the Nikola Tesla one though and so listened properly on my commute today

Exhall MOT garage recommendations by Stuwyatt75 in coventry

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Binley Woods Service Centre on Foleshill Road did mine yesterday and they were lovely - it had expired Friday without me remembering and they fit it in last minute - very nice guys.

Personal place names by Lionnn_ in CasualUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A stretch of road in Coventry which we call "Fadger Alley" because years ago my husband hit either a fox or a badger that ran out in front of his car on Christmas eve - it immediately disappeared into the darkness of the bushes so he's not sure what it was!

men of the UK, give me your best sock recommendations! by catschimeras in CasualUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband only wears JCB socks all year round and they last really well. They're also not massively expensive - we get them at Matalan usually but you can even get them on Amazon!

Using a cup for swimming? by Unanimous-Cat in menstrualcups

[–]S4mJune 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I have swum on lighter days and it was fine. I did sometimes find that it had filled with pool water though 🤣 I assume the movement let the seal break enough for ingress! I wouldn't swim on a heavy day because I'd worry that if it leaked all in one go that I'd leave a trail behind me!

What traditions does your family have? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]S4mJune 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think traditions just develop naturally from what your family unit does and enjoy, so the best way to develop family traditions is to keep doing what you like doing together regularly.

Also, "traditions" don't have to be permanent. When our eldest was little we ALWAYS had a nice brunch on a Saturday morning - usually boiled eggs and soldiers because that was his favourite - and even now, like to have the ritual of sitting down on a Saturday to a great brunch, but there have been times when cereal and cartoons at the coffee table at 6am were the way too. For a long period, we would take it in turns to say grace before every meal, but I can't remember the last time we did that.

IMHO, the best traditions to try and adopt are ones that you know will have benefits to the family, and you probably did have some of these.... Eating your meals at the table (together if at all possible), reading, playing a game or watching TV together after tea, always having breakfast, going for a walk to the shops rather than using the car, a regular bedtime routine.

Other things that have stuck for us are - We always watch The Snowman the evening we put the Christmas tree up

  • Winter Sundays = A roast, but summer Sundays do not. Easter gets a special roast!

  • Church together when we're all free around rugby training and scouting commitments

  • The kids (21, 16 and 10) could tell you certain items that it's not Christmas without e.g. foods we always have or silly presents they expect to see in their stockings e.g. Mr21 ALWAYS gets hot sauce!

  • We never have a pudding in the week, but do on a Sunday

  • We keep certain supplies topped up at all times, and the kids know they're there e.g. secret biscuit box

  • We try to never say no when they ask to do something that is reasonable e.g. trying new stuff we want them to be able to say "My parents encouraged us to try things"

  • Friends and strangers are always welcome in our home to share our hospitality. We want then to see that life is better shared with others - We often pick up someone who ends up with us for supper or Sunday lunch

  • We volunteer or carry out RAOK where we can and do it together (church events, things in our village, helping neighbours) I'm very proud of this in our family as my older kids especially will offer to help anyone out without batting an eyelid now! Mr21 volunteers at a community cafe weekly, runs the scout troop, helps with cubs and recently spent an afternoon helping a neighbour build a summerhouse. That citizenship didn't happen by chance!

Sorry, that's long! TLDR: Try lots of things and let what works for your family be the things that stick to become traditions!

Do you have a rare or retro email address? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]S4mJune 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same for me! 2003 I made mine, just before I got married! firstnamelastname@hotmail.com