I'm interested in how long you've owned it, not how old it is. Not family heirlooms, something you've bought or collected.

Mine is a wool poncho I've owned since I was 13. I'm now 30. Still use it.

With all the talk of a flagging economy and in particular the high street, why do I never hear anything about expanding Sunday trading hours in England? I don’t think they are the same in Scotland and I’m unsure about Wales.

For people who work all week, we often rely on sundays for shopping etc, but can be hamstrung by restricted hours.

Edit. Just to answer all the assumptions that I have never worked in retail. I have worked in retail for years (not currently). This was in a country without regulations on Sunday hours and I used to work Sundays there. I understand this wouldnt suit all staff however I actually found it ok in what my circumstances were, I used to be more annoyed working on Saturdays.

I find Anthony Hopkins's career trajectory fascinating. He was born in 1937. He got his first acting credit in 1960 then did a bit of work in 1965 before getting regular TV roles from 1967 all the way through the 1990s.

Gene Hackman owned the rights to Thomas Harris's novel The Silence of the Lambs and Hackman was going to direct and star in the movie adaptation but the screenwriter pulled out because his daughter thought it was too violent so Hackman walked away too and then Jonathan Demme stepped in as director. Demme offered the role of Hannibal Lecter to Sean Connery but the Scot found the story "disgusting" so said no. Then Demme remembered seeing another British actor in David Lynch's The Elephant Man - Anthony Hopkins.

Hopkins loved the script and jumped at the chance so became a global film star in his mid-50s, has worked in countless major movies in the three decades since, won two Oscars and been nominated for four others. It really shows you that you can achieve great things later in life.

How much would an emergency locksmith be at this time 20:53.

Key was spinning in the lock. Told we have an “old style lock” which we probably do.

But charging £1k for it?!

Does seem quite an extensive job.

Had to have a whole new metal strip up the door.

Is this a fair price? I am only going off what I am being told by my mum.

So second hand info.

I just don’t want her being taken advantage of.

The number of people I’ve seen lose everything to gambling is crazy. It can happen over hours, days, months or years, but it’s frightening how far things can go.

I don’t think adults should be stopped from having a bet, but I do question how heavily it’s promoted and how easy it is to keep depositing money until you’ve got nothing

I’m not anti-gambling by any means. I’m partial to a little accumulator on the footy here and there or maybe a go on the horses or UFC occasionally too but I can’t help but notice the amount of people who suffer because of how deep they get into it

Do you think the current balance is right, or should there be tighter restrictions? Is it their fault and should they be free to make their own choices? Where would you draw the line?

I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant. I have worked for the NHS since 2018. I have confirmed I qualify for both OMP and SMP when starting my new job.
I have to work a 6 week notice period which starts from next week. So I am due to start my new job on the 14th of Dec and I will be 27 weeks pregnant. My new boss just phoned me and said the contract will be sent in next 2 days and that’s when I’ll hand in my notice at my current job.
I have now spoke to my new boss twice on the phone and not mentioned I’m pregnant. HR advised I waited until I signed my contract… now I’m in a really really difficult situation. I know legally they can’t do anything but social it is very awkward. My new boss made it clear that it’s a busy team and that everyone is looking forward to me starting… advice??? Am I right to wait till the contract comes through? How should I approach? I feel terrible.

I’m currently nannying for a family with two children aged two and six, and I’m unsure whether the conditions I’ve encountered would be considered a safeguarding concern.

I’ve worked in childcare for several years, but I’ve never encountered a household quite like this.
The house is generally very unclean, with dirty carpets, rubbish and food debris scattered across the floors. I found a used nappy on the floor of the children’s bedroom, along with a detached vape mouthpiece in the room where the children sleep.
The bathroom is also in a particularly poor condition, with significant grime and staining around the sink, bathtub and shower. This is the only bathroom in the property.

I wasn’t given a proper handover when I arrived, despite having contacted the father beforehand. The mother went upstairs to work without explaining the children’s routines, allergies or where essential supplies were kept. I’ve had to ask the six-year-old for basic information about the household.
I want to emphasise that both children appear clean, appropriately dressed and fed. They seem happy and comfortable, and I haven’t observed anything concerning about their physical appearance or behaviour.

I’m conscious that families can have difficult periods, and I don’t want to judge someone simply because their home doesn’t meet my personal cleaning standards.

However, I’m concerned about the potential hygiene and safety risks, particularly for the two-year-old.
I’ve raised my concerns with my agency, but I’m interested in hearing other perspectives.
Would you consider this a safeguarding concern, or simply a household struggling to maintain cleanliness?

EDIT: Just to clarify a few things following the comments.

Firstly, I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their opinions, whether they agree with me or not.

I want to make it clear that I am not judging these parents for having a messy home. I’m a very compassionate and understanding individual, and I recognise that parents can go through difficult days, weeks or even months. I understand that household chores sometimes take a back seat, particularly when you’re raising young children, working or dealing with personal difficulties.

I grew up in a household with four children and two full-time working parents. We never had a cleaner, yet our home was always kept clean. Naturally, this has influenced my own expectations of cleanliness, but I also recognise that every family’s circumstances and capabilities are different.

My concern was never about toys being scattered around or a home not being spotless. It was about the overall hygiene conditions and potential safety hazards. Finding a soiled nappy in the children’s sleeping area was concerning, but discovering a vape mouthpiece in a child’s bed was what particularly heightened my concerns, given the potential choking risk.

I’ve repeatedly acknowledged that the children appeared happy, clean, healthy and well-fed. I have never accused the parents of neglect, nor have I suggested that they don’t love their children.
Regarding those asking why I didn’t approach the parents directly, I’ve previously experienced a situation where raising concerns with a parent escalated and became unsafe. For that reason, I chose to document my observations and report them through the appropriate professional channels rather than confront the family myself.

My agency has been informed, and I have also submitted my concerns to the local authority. It is not my responsibility to investigate the parents or determine whether neglect has occurred. That is for the relevant professionals to assess.

Safeguarding isn’t about judging parents or expecting perfection. It’s about recognising potential risks and taking appropriate action when necessary.
I genuinely hope that, if this family is struggling, they receive any support they may need.

Ultimately, I would rather raise a concern in good faith and have professionals determine that no further action is necessary than ignore something that could potentially affect a child’s safety.
Thank you again to everyone who has contributed constructively.

I am a young male and have recently became homeless. Every emergency contact number is just an ai that tells u it’ll call me back within two hours and by the time i’ve heard from them housing is closed.

I’ve reached the grand old age in life where I’m asking for a really decent towel set for Christmas. Don’t judge me, I’ve wanted decent towels for ages but it isn’t something I’d usually invest in for myself so Christmas seems like a good opportunity!

So where are we buying good towel sets from? I want BIG but I don’t want mega soft and fluffy. I’m a weirdo and I don’t like it when towels are so fluffy they just shed all their fluffiness all over you whenever you use them. I’m looking for thick and soft ish but ones that actually dry you.

I have had a look around online, but every semi decent looking set advertises how soft the towels are!

Many thanks!

Booked a package holiday with TUI to Mallorca. Specifically chose later inbound flights as my two kids are 1 & 4 and wanted to avoid waking them in the middle of the night for an early flight. Outbound was TUI, inbound easyJet, all booked through TUI in same package.

I went to check in this morning as we are due to fly home tomorrow, all correspondence emails say we are due to fly at 18:00 back to Newcastle, even the TUI app still has it down for 18:00, but when I went to check in on the easyJet site the flight has been changed to 06:05, a 12 hour change.

Spoke to the TUI rep at the hotel desk who didn’t have a clue. She had no record of a 06:05 flight and didn’t have any transfer info for an early flight (hotel is 1hr from Palma so paid for transfer to be included). I then rang the TUI office who confirmed that the flight had been changed but they hadn’t been informed by easyJet so didn’t inform us. I’ve spoke to easyJet customer service who said they changed the flight in June and TUI should have been notified!

If I didn’t decide to check in this morning and waited until tomorrow we would have missed our flight. We should be entitled to €400 per person compensation as the flight was essentially cancelled. TUI are saying to claim through easyJet but easyJet are saying we aren’t entitled as they notified TUI of the change back in June. Absolute shambles. Anyone know where we stand with this?

The TUI app still literally says 18:00 when we’re due to fly in 18 hours.

how are they so consistent? What actually are these lines? Are they tracks from the tractors?

I moved to a village of around 1000 people just over 3 years ago.

I always visioned a village being such a fun and interesting community to be part of but turns out, I was so wrong in my case.

The village has a school, small shop and a village hall and located 5 minutes drive from nearest town.

Everyone seems to know each other but I just feel that it could have so much to it. The village does absolutely nothing as a community. Even decorated houses at Christmas and Halloween are sparse.

I’m interested to hear what others experiences are of living in a village? Had considered setting up some sort of community group to try boosting the community life but then I think maybe it’s something that’s not really wanted or someone one would have done it a long time ago.

Hi everyone!

It’s been almost 4 years since I moved to the UK. I come from a country in southeastern Europe where we have all four seasons, including proper winters!

But one thing that genuinely shocked me when I first moved here was how people dress during winter or on cold days.

I came here as a student, and I remember walking around wearing about 10 layers, thermals, wool, everything, while seeing other students in shorts and T-shirts! I still see this all the time, and it amazes me.

And the funny thing is, I wouldn’t even consider myself someone who feels the cold more than the average person. Even people who dress normally for winter seem to wear far fewer layers than I do.

So I’m genuinely curious, is this something British people get used to from childhood? Do you actually not feel the cold as much, or do you just learn to tolerate it?

The reason I’m even more curious now is that I have a baby, and I’m wondering how this whole thing works. Is it something similar to Scandinavian countries, like Denmark, where children are encouraged to spend time outdoors in cold weather from a young age? Or is it completely unrelated?

I’d love to hear your thoughts because after almost 4 years here, I’m still freezing while someone next to me is wearing shorts!

Title says it all, my girlfriend has been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer at 24, and will undergo very extensive chemo and surgery to try combat its rapid growth and continued spread.

We do not live together, she will have to isolate fully whilst undergoing her treatment and thankfully lives rurally with her parents so is safe from contact that could give her flu, cold etc - the current outlier is me.

I’m currently not working, having quit my recent role last month. But I am due to start a new role in January which is 5 days a week in parliament. I’m worried this is going to become an issue and cause me to not be able to see and support her despite vaccinations.

I guess my question is, do I whilst my girlfriend has this treatment move out of London to my parents house rurally and take a remote/part time role that minimises contact to be able to support, or be slightly selfish and continue in this new role and limit contact.

I don’t want anyone telling me off or being nasty please - this is a genuine ask for advice on a new situation that’s difficult for someone who is also 24.

I'm finding it difficult to relax atm. It's that kind of background under-your-skin stress bubbling up. What's the best way to wind down?

I’ve kinda blew up my life and ended a four-year relationship and am currently retraining as an occupational therapist. I’ve lived in London for 10+ years but originally come from Northern Ireland and I love the landscapes, the craic and the benefits of living somewhere thats compact with lots of nature to offer.. and I’m thinking about where to settle or even just try for a year once I qualify.

I’m considering Scotland or Sheffield, but I’m finding the thought of starting again somewhere new quite daunting, especially making friends in my 30s. I have friends in Glasgow, but the housing market seems expensive and I’d ideally love somewhere with a garden. Sheffield looks good and I have visited a few times too!

I’d love to live somewhere I could get out hiking before or after work, have easy access to nature at weekends, but still enjoy the odd gig, pottery class and creative community. Job opportunities will also be a factor so need to have good NHS trusts.

I’ve considered moving back to Belfast, but the OT job market isn’t great and the executive are bloody useless.

Where would you look? Particularly interested in specific areas or neighbourhoods, and would love to hear from anyone who’s moved somewhere new in their 30s and started again! Scotland is appealing but I know some areas can be really anti-outsiders, same with Wales! I love west wales but feels too remote at this stage. I'm also thinking like should I just go try working in Canada or Australia for a bit cus my degree will be accepted there and they have big OT opportunities!

Any advice welcome :)

So, as the title really.

I’ve coasted thru life surviving on minimum wage part time retail jobs, but have always hit a snag one way or another, whether that be needing to borrow money due to a shortfall because of the meagre wage, having shifts all over the place which can be quite the disruption to my body clock etc, battling with the benefits system to top up my income and a plethora of other issues.

Well, I have just this week started my very first slightly above minimum wage not retail full time ‘big girl’ job! I’m now on £24k a year.

I had the foresight to meal prep breakfasts and lunches for the week on Sunday. Have been having my breakfast on the way to work and having my lunch at lunchtime which I can store in a fridge in the staff canteen.

I’ve started going to bed earlier too since my shifts are all the same each day - 6am-4pm.

So I’m just asking really what you guys do to make things easy for yourselves if you work full time? Also anything I should or could be doing money wise now I’m earning a lot more?

Thank you muchly!

About 7 years ago i was in a shop getting a coffee, I had a small cup but without realising I had clicked the option for a large. So as it filled to the top, I was wondering why the heck it kept going and obviously it overfilled.

For some reason I PANICKED. Do you know what my stupid ass did next?

I threw the whole FILLED coffee cup into the BIN. And started pouring myself another coffee????

I genuinely feel really embarrassed because a worker had obviously seen this and while I was standing rather rudely/sarcasticly (but probably deservedly lol) said something along the lines of "throwing a cup of coffee into the bin whats the sense in that". And i noticed a couple of workers walking by staring at me so they were probably all talking about me.

I couldn't wait to get out of the shop and this memory pops up every now and again. I think to myself why did i not just grab a large cup to catch the rest of the drink still pouring from the machine and then pour my filled smaller coffee cup into the large one? (That makes too much sense!)

Anyway, its got me thinking, has anyone else done something really stupid that they wouldn't usually do when they are panicking or just not thinking clearly? I wonder what the science is behind it.

The obvious answer that we might reasonably jump to is the cost-of-living crisis.

However, having lived in the UK for a decent number of years now, I've noticed a clear pattern in how people approach indoor heating, based on conversations with work colleagues, local friends, acquaintances, and others.

I completely understand the struggle with bills faced by low-income households and the desire to save on utilities. However, the people I've met and spoken to are generally relatively well-off and can afford to splurge on luxuries and non-essentials without having to compromise on necessities or worry too much about budgeting.

Yet they'd rather layer up than even consider turning the heating on for a short while. What's the backstory behind this mentality? Do some people grow up with a sort of parental-induced complex, having been shamed or scolded for wanting a functioning radiator or a warm home as children? Or is it simply stinginess? Or is there more to it?

It seems ironic, given how cold it can get here and how many older homes are built to retain heat.

I was chatting to a bloke at work last week and he mentioned he never returns his shopping trolley to the bay, just leaves it wherever. He said it like it was no big deal but I found myself judging him way harder than I probably should have. It got me thinking about the little things people do that quietly tell you something about them. Maybe it is someone who is rude to waiting staff, or who talks over you constantly, or who never says thank you. Curious what yours is and whether it is something you have always noticed or picked up over time.

I've not watched a soap in years but I was just thinking wich was the better soap back in the day ? Or even today ? Or wich was your favourite? I think i stopped watching soaps when it was the kat & Alfie days on eastenders lol..but my favourite was brookside & still remember the last episode when jimmy Corkhill flooded the estate...my grandma on the other hand is big on corrie and emmerdale wich puts years on me when ever I'm sat round there and shes got it on 🤣 what were the best times for you in soap history best story lines etc ?

Trying to imagine with no internet , phone or power and it’s cold - how do the vulnerable and elderly get help and what can we do in advance to anticipate this other than knowing our neighbours ?

As the title suggests. Injury from the most mundane of tasks.

Hi everyone,

I run a small tree surgery business in the UK and I'm trying to figure out the best way to generate more consistent enquiries and booked jobs.

We've been getting some enquiries through Google, but it's not consistent enough, and I'd really like to grow the business and keep our diary filled with work.

I'm working with a fairly limited marketing budget, so I want to make sure I'm spending money on things that actually bring in customers rather than wasting it.

I'd really appreciate some advice from anyone who has experience with local service businesses, especially tree surgery, landscaping, roofing, plumbing or similar trades.

A few questions:

1. What's been the most effective way you've found to generate consistent leads for a local trade business?
2. Do Google Ads actually work for tree surgery and similar services, or are they too expensive for a small business?
3. If you've used Google Ads, roughly how much did you spend, how many enquiries did you receive, and how many turned into paying customers?
4. Would you focus on improving Google Business Profile rankings and local SEO before spending money on advertising?
5. Have Facebook Ads, leaflets, door knocking or other marketing methods worked well for you?
6. If you were starting again with a small marketing budget, what would you prioritise first?

My main goal is to generate more genuine enquiries that turn into profitable jobs, rather than just getting website visits or phone calls that go nowhere.

I'm happy to put the work into marketing myself and learn how to do things properly. I'm just trying to understand what's actually working for other business owners.

Any genuine advice or personal experiences would be massively appreciated. I'm mainly looking to learn rather than hire an SEO or advertising agency.

Thanks!

I live in the Bradford postcode, so very much specific to here, although other councils may do the same.

We have one large bin and all glass, cardboard, paper and metal goes in together. Which means it's easier for us as Joe public, but I imagine harder at the sorting side.

Is it really all sorted and recycled, or does the majority still end up in landfill?

I know Wales for example has more strict separation for their recycling, but here we just launch it all in one bin and assume it's all being recycled as intended.

What happens if I don't rinse my ketchup bottle properly too, will that spoil it all or do the sorting machines pick up on that and take it out?