HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Tripps]

File under 'should have known better.

When you find, much to your amazement, that there are plenty of delivery slots from Morrisons available next Tuesday in Christmas week, and they're free under your scheme - don't say to yourself "I'll have quick spot of lunch, a cup of tea, then do a shop" - because when you come back they will all have gone. . . .

In the words of the song

Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Those were the days my friend

[Stanley]

Sod's Law at work David.... Surprising how many of these things come under the general heading of 'don't push your luck'. That's probably one of the basic rules of life but I can't remember them teaching it to me at school!

[Stanley]

Don't forget that one of the best defences against Covid-19 or any other ailment is to eat good basic food home cooked and free from added 'enhancers'.
Remember what your mother told you, feed a cold and starve a fever. They knew what they were talking about.....

[Tizer]

Reports say that an increasing number of people are being caught out by the scam where you get a message from a relative or friend asking for help. When you reply they have a plausible excuse for needing some money urgently and ask for you to transfer it to their bank account. We all think `I'd never fall for that' but the scammers have become very proficient and do their homework first by finding out your contacts etc. A favourite one is a message from one of your children or grandchildren. The basic scam has been around for a long time but they've now become very sophisticated. Watch out!

[Stanley]

I've heard of an attempt at that very close to home Peter. Luckily the recipient of the attention was more savvy than most and rejected the plea.
You're right about the scammers Peter, they are cunning buggers and I haven't forgotten almost getting caught. I was saved by Firefox who flagged up a warning. I would never have marked myself as gullible but they almost got me!
Today's tip, if you start getting vertigo try drinking half a pint of water every time you feel like a pee. That almost always cures it after a few days.

[Stanley]

Don't leave Xmas food shopping until the last minute. Coded signals are coming out of supermarkets that point to delivery problems particularly for fresh food. Thursday looks like a good day.

[Tizer]

We still see familiar products missing from supermarket shelves, even without the effects of Christmas.

[Stanley]

Same here Peter. Greengrocery seems particularly susceptible.

[PanBiker]

Barlick Aldi has a fantastic selection of fresh fruit and veg.

[Whyperion]

Mums local supermarket has the big bulky packs or loose , but small amounts are missing. Anyone seen any Satsumas this year ?

[Stanley]

Never take OG for granted....

[Stanley]

There is much to be said for eating less than usual on Xmas day.......

[Stanley]

If you want to light a fire but have no wood for kindling, rolled up newspapers twisted into plaits make good firelighters if you have good coal.

[Wendyf]

If you want to light a fire but have no wood for kindling, rolled up newspapers twisted into plaits make good firelighters if you have good coal.

Good advice if you can get a supply of newspapers! We don't buy them anymore and neither do our friends, Col gets Private Eye but the pages are too small and thin to make a good twist. I have just been given a pile of newspapers from the neighbour of a friend and lighting the fire has become a pleasure again, it takes me ages to get the job done though as I am aghast and agape reading pages of the Daily Mail and Daily Star!!

[Stanley]

Very true Ma'am! That did strike me when I wrote it. We had the full size Manchester Guardian in those days, acres of firelighter material.
I use plastic gloves every day in the shed and have run into most of the traps including the Covid profiteers. I have found that a firm called JustGloves (LINK) sell gloves hat are better then most, certainly better and cheaper than any on Amazon. So if you want gloves, go to them with confidence.

[Stanley]

A good tip when chopping logs.... Stack the logs to be chopped inside an old motor tyre until they can't move. Then split them all with your axe before tipping them out. The tyre will hold them while you work.

[Tizer]

And any extra spare tyres can be filled with soil and turned into small raised gardens.

[Stanley]

Reading Sue's account of refurbishing her old Singer Sewing machine I am reminded that they and others like them such as the Jones machines, were so well made that with only moderate care they are still serviceable today for plain sewing which is all many people want. It's noticeable how many cobblers and leather workers still use heavy duty machines of that vintage on a daily basis. Nothing better has ever been made.
The moral is, just because a thing is old doesn't mean it has no utility.

[Stanley]

I see it as a mark of respect for the crafts people of the past that we take time to respect and refurbish old machinery like sewing machines. The quality of build has never been bettered...

[Big Kev]

Always read the small print on insurance policies. I bought a single trip travel policy for an upcoming cruise and currently, if one of you has a positive covid test whilst in Spanish waters, the authorities require you to leave the ship, isolate in a 'quarantine' hotel and then arrange flights home. This isolation includes anyone else who is in your cabin, whether they test positive or not. Upon checking the policy, and speaking directly with the insurance company, they would only cover the isolation and repatriation of the person who tested positive. As this off ship isolation wasn't a requirement when I bought the policy it made it unfit for purpose so I asked to cancel it and have a refund, the insurance company have refused as I could only cancel within a 14 day 'cooling off' period (I bought it in August 2021). I disagree with them as there is a legitimate reason to cancel (not just changing my mind) so I've set my credit card company on them.
I have since got a new policy, which does cover both regardless of who tests positive. The actual risk is minimal so I have no concerns about going.

[PanBiker]

I disagree with them as there is a legitimate reason to cancel (not just changing my mind) so I've set my credit card company on them.

When I was pick pocketed in Italy a number of years ago I found the credit card company extremely helpful in dealing with the £2,500 of fraudulent transactions they made on my card, all within 15 minutes! Different loss but they are generally very helpful and of course they have very big legal guns backing them up.

[Big Kev]

I disagree with them as there is a legitimate reason to cancel (not just changing my mind) so I've set my credit card company on them.

When I was pick pocketed in Italy a number of years ago I found the credit card company extremely helpful in dealing with the £2,500 of fraudulent transactions they made on my card, all within 15 minutes! Different loss but they are generally very helpful and of course they have very big legal guns backing them up.

They have been very helpful in the past, I ordered some basketball kit, a few years ago, which never arrived. The supplier fobbed me off with 'it's been despatched' a couple of times, the cc company had the money back on the card in a couple of days.

[Stanley]

I think I must be becoming a wimp as I get older Kev. A trip on a cruise ship would frighten me to death!

[Tizer]

Me too, Stanley, too many people - even when there isn't a pandemic!
Mrs Tiz's sister and husband have just gone to Jamaica for a month. That's not for me either - and anyway, I'd miss all my books and collections of various stuff!

[Big Kev]

I always thought that until I first went on one in 2012. This one will feel even more spacious as it's only running at 60% capacity.