The advice thread for random problems #2

[DCICassieStuart]

Does anybody know a way to get mildew/mould spots off fabric garden cushions?. We had a cover on them but they have little spots on!!. I have tried white vinegar and vanish!. Also cannot machine wash them.

Thanks!

This stuff is excellent, but test it on an inconspicuous area first just to make sure it's safe on the cushions. I normally pick it up in one of the pound shops for a couple of quid.

 

[littlepup]

It's external and it's brick straight under a roof. It's one of those loft rooms where it's like a slanted ceiling from the roof (does that make sense?) There is plenty of air flow getting to it because my bed doesn't reach the wall due to the roof

Oh I see, sounds like your bed is up against the gable end. I wondering if a blocked gutter was causing water to constantly run down the outside wall. If you’re in the attic room I guess there’s no roof space so you’d think if the roof was faulty it’d be coming through the ceiling.
Is there a velux you can see out of to the gutter. Or maybe shine a torch up the side of the house in the dark to see if it’s damp.

Now my dilemma is, do I keep them or return for a size 12 () and use them as motivation to slim into?!

Keep them, otherwise you’re never rewarding yourself and where will you stop returning for the next size?
---

Update on the landlord and the dripping wall. Just condensation and they aren't doing anything about it

Edit: just seen this, sounds like bollocks. You can buy a damp seal paint. If your walls are white, it might be worth a try.

 

[Milktray]

Hi all, I couldn’t figure out how to start a new thread so thought it best to post in here!

A bit of a tricky one but my other half and I live in a flat which is quite old and has terrible sound proofing. Our neighbours seem like nice people who keep themselves to themselves. We just have one awkward issue. They have a baby, who based on when I first saw the baby as a newborn must now be about 18 months old. Our bedroom is on the other side of their bedroom. We’d rarely hear the baby crying through the walls even as a newborn but for the past 3 months or so, we’ve been woken up on a regular basis around 2 or 3AM by the baby squealing and crying. It’s so loud that we feel like the baby is in the same room as us. Even with earplugs in we sometimes wake up. We can hear the parents talking quite loudly too. We live in 2 bedroom flats so I am not sure if the baby sleeps in their other room and then when she wakes, they bring her into their bedroom. We don’t have children ourselves but I do sympathise if they are suffering with broken sleep. Is it awkward if I raise the issue with the neighbours however? I’m not sure if they realise how loud their baby is - it doesn’t even sound like crying, more squealing. I just don’t want to come across as unsympathetic and cause them stress but it’s really really annoying me now!

Oh I've been there...my baby screamed for the best part of a year. Every night without fail. We were shattered. We had been to the GP, the health visitor and tried every method in the book.
We lived in a terraced house and every night, I was paranoid that my baby had woke the neighbours.

One morning, I bumped into my neighbour...we smiled, said hello and very light heartedly he said 'you must be shattered...she's gorgeous but she's got a good pair of lungs on her at night'

We laughed but I was mortified. It made me even more paranoid, so I resorted to driving her around in the car at 2am, to get her back to sleep.

There's not many options unfortunately, but the end will be insight. I had party people living next door after my neighbour left.

 

[CoffeeMamma]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this, but I don't think it needs its own thread, so I'm going to ask here.
Do Premier Inn ever ask for ID?
My friend's daughter and her friend want to go on a trip somewhere in the UK next year, but they're only 17, meaning that they can't stay in a premier inn. However, it seems nowhere will take them under 18, so as they're both very sensible and mature, we wondered whether the best bet was for them to turn up and hope for the best? If they dress respectably and behave well, surely they won't ask for ID as they will look over 18? They just don't want to be turned away as they'll have nowhere to go and will be stuck.

Unfortunately they can ask, and might do. Then again, they might not! But the risk is there. Can someone over 18 chaperone them? You don’t have to share with them, just be in the same hotel

 

[Snowjoke]

I've been ill for the past couple of weeks and it's scaring me. I had a blood test about 2 months ago and nothing was wrong except low iron. Would long Covid show up on a blood test? I've been feeling increased tiredness since having Covid in January.

Right now I feel drugged more than tired - you know that feeling where your eyes are closing? I can sleep for 12+ hours and am still unable to function during the day. I'm dizzy and my legs feel shaky when I walk across the room. I haven't washed my hair for about 2 weeks! I can't cook anything. I feel out of it & have brain fog. Have also been feeling sick in the evenings for some reason. I thought it might be PMS but it seems a bit extreme for PMS. I have no other symptoms of a virus. I don't want to bother the GP again after nothing showed on the blood test, but I can't think what these symptoms might be?

A blood test is only really as good as what they are testing for. Do you know what all they ran the tests for 2 months ago? I would ring back and ask them if you don’t as sometimes they just run the basics. I would also ask them to do a repeat to check that your iron levels have been able to increase again naturally. Get your ferritin level and b12 checked also. Low iron can really cause a lot of havoc.

Also, you are never bothering a Gp. It’s their job and more importantly it’s your health

Hope you feel loads better soon

 

[Carapop]

The very strong ones just make me irritated and itchy. If you know one that’s not irritating please do share.
Re Wild, just my personal experience obvs. If you did want to try, I got a trial pack, 3 lipstick size, only pay p&p so £4ish. I can’t see it now, probably limited offer, but keep an eye, they may do it again.

On the itchy, did you use it on shaved pits? I use the intensive Sure one sometimes and, first time I used it, it almost killed me with burning and itching, felt like I was on fire. But I had used it on freshly shaved skin. Waiting a day made all the difference. But it’s not that practical in summer if one is a hairy beast like I am and could shave twice a day

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Thanks for the comments.
It’s a hall party for a 3 year old with bouncy castle & soft play. They’re not in nursery so don’t have ‘friends’ beyond family and friends children but there are plenty of a similar age. The idea is not to invite children over around 6 because they’ll take over the activities and be too boisterous for the little ones (going by last year). I think that’s understandable, or at least not unacceptable.

If it’s your party invite who you want. And just say 5 and under only. I would think even 6 is a bit big for the littles. Unless your ither child is 6!

 

[Kim Mild]

I know. It's the silly teens ruining it for the rest of them. You can ride a motorbike at 17, but can't stay in a hotel. I think statistically riding a motorbike is more dangerous than staying in a hotel? It makes no sense.

Is that a recent thing ? I went away for the weekend and stopped in a hotel when I was 17 but people rarely got asked for I.d in those days

 

[becca7721]

I’m literally experiencing this right down to no one being interested. I collapsed one month and a&e just said it’s probably my age, so I can’t advise but hope you get some helpful advice; as I’m going to steal it! Ha!!

 

[littlepup]

Poor pooch isn't eating her dinner and has been bad at eating for a few days now. We travelled a lot in the car the last 3 days which makes her ill sometimes, and she had a course of antibiotics just before which made her nauseous as well.

I'm pretty sure she's thinking that food == feeling ill which is a bad bad thing. I feel so sorry for her and I will take her to the vet if she isn't eating by Tuesday - but how do I manage my anxiety over her being unwell? I'm sure it isn't helping

Agree with snippy. Offer plain chicken and rice and see if they’ll take that

 

[petitspois]

I think, being completely honest, I’d do whatever I could to get them both home. Say anything. Then I’d sneakily drive him to the opposite end of the country without her knowing. Steal his phone etc…
Not very moral I grant you but that’s my approach.

 

[Jerry Garcia]

Would anyone have any ideas on how I could get a stain out of a suede trainer?

Once the stain is dry, get some Fuller's Earth powder from the chemist and sprinkle it on the stain. Leave it for a few minutes, then go in with your suede brush, (as a previous poster said, go gently) and voila, stain gone

 

[Cheapseats]

The advice about appealing DWP pip is good. I used to work volunteer for a rights group in 90s. Appeal the decision. I have also claimed these extra benefits in the latter half of the 2000s. I was knocked back for long term sick and appealed and got it. They backdated payments.

In more recent years the local councils took over the delivery of many rights clinics. If you pop into your housing office and ask about welfare rights advice they may sort you out with an appointment where someone should assist you to complete forms. When filling in the forms base how you cope on your worst day not when you feeling more able. As people do tend to up talk their level of coping.

Scratchy noises could be anything.

Bin situation in flats ..the councils can be dismissive I'd get citizen advice to write to council on your behalf. Or your local councillor. If you email them and explain they may help. Pester them if need be.

Finally if after a month your bin situation isnt sorted write to council and say you are notifying them of the bin issue and that it is impacting your mental health and you require them to find a solution immediately. Even if they have to send someone out to collect bagged refuse they should as this is not acceptable that you suffer because of selfish neighbours.

 

[Milktray]

Thanks for your response! This is exactly what I don’t want to do, I don’t want to cause them more stress. I think we just need to resort to some better earplugs … and tbh I would actually rather be woken by a crying baby than someone playing loud music or having parties at all hours.

Unfortunately it's price you pay for having shared walls. I've had a fair few neighbours in my time.

Party animals, builders, TV surround sound lovers, instrument players, feisty, gobby....

AND I know I'm that neighbour with the noisy kids.

I'd take a crying baby (with an end in sight) over the middle aged party animals.

All lovely neighbours but never a quiet one. Some make noise at night, some in the day... I've accepted now, that the only time that I will have silence is when I move to a detached house in the country (minus the kids)...I just need to win the lottery!

 

[arthur shandy]

JEANS FOR APPLE SHAPED BODY. I haven’t been able to find a pair of jeans that fits me nicely since I was about 17. I’m overweight and a size 18, 5’8 but I have narrow hips, no bum and slim legs with a bigger belly. What style of jeans should I be wearing? Even when I was slim I struggled with this body shape and jeans. I see loads of bigger women wearing jeans who look lovely. If I buy an 18, it fits on my waist but is saggy everywhere else and anything smaller I can’t fasten. Help!!!!! X

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

So, I'm not sure I need advice as such but it isn't a rant either...
I've been separated over a year and am in the process of divorcing. There was abusive behaviour, some physical but mostly mental.

Recently I met someone I found quite attractive. It caught me off guard a bit. I think this person is married anyway so it's a non issue because they are not available.

I also had someone do some DIY this week and found him quite attractive. He is in a similar situation to me, not that it matters.

My issue is that I suddenly don't trust. Even the second guy who has spend some time explain his divorce to my parents who he was also doing some work for.

How can I ever trust what people say? How will I trust that the person I meet is telling the truth? How do I trust my own judgement? It's irrelevant to the two people above because those situations won't develop but I would like to meet someone one day.

 

[Tinker74]

Its your brother's issue to get over. Its a holiday park where people can go do their own thing and I'm sure your son and his partner will be off doing what they like to do, as will your brother. People make a problem where there isn't one. I have no doubt at the end of the holiday your brother will be saying how rude the young couple were by not socialising with the family as mush as he thought they should.

Thanks. Since my breakdown I just don't trust my own judgement anymore lol.. Soi wasn't even sure if my brother was in the right to feel angry. I needed to here others points of view on this. And you are right! I don't feel so bad anymore.

I don't really have any advice about the holiday, but I did want to share sympathy. My brother is similar. He too is home too much and is very isolated (he'd never agree though) and definitely doesn't get enough social/ general contact with other adults. Especially people not-of-his-choosing, yanno? He only sees people occasionally and then they're only people who aren't going to challenge him at all. He's completely lost the skill of biting his tongue/ nodding politely/ etc. He's become a bit controlling - not in ways you'd really notice, but he's used to running the house, kids, weekend plans, general family narrative/agenda etc, so when something pops up that changes that, he definitely does his best to adjust but I do think it throws him quietly.

TBH I think it's extra weird of your brother since he's not sharing a lodge with your son plus he has his own not insignificant family he'll be busy with - I wonder how he was expecting your 28 year old son to fit into his plans or his perception of how the holiday would go?? Was he expecting his nephew to be in the subtropical swimming paradise for hours with his 3?!

Thank you! You know you expressed it so much better than me. I couldn't put my finger on his problem.. But yes.. Its control.. He has lost control of his special holiday as he sees it.. He has full command over everyone and now a new unknown is thrown into the mix. Ik ow he very much sees it as his family holiday and we are all just along for the ride. Which is nonsense as I have been with my own kids to center parcs every year of their lives. He doesn't own the Parc! Part of me wondered if he wS bothered that I added my self on by booking my iwn lodge. I know he has hinted to mum that he doesn't wanting me ruining the holiday vibe if iam still depressed.

 

[no-no]

I’m at my wits end with virgin media, is anyone else having issues? The signal strength is full so they say it’s fine but none of my devices will connect There’s clearly an issue as my hub has been replaced and the devices are all different but having the same issue. It happens all over the house and the hub is out in the open so no issues there. I’m fed up of listening to their shitty hold music for hours on end.

 

[littlepup]

Anyone fly into London a lot? What airport would you recommend for ease with getting into roughly or round about the Russell Square area, the hotel will probably be booked somewhere that's close or close(ish) to Euston train station so I can get out to Watford easy enough, last time I went I took the train to King's Cross an honestly my trust in trains an their service has went downhill so I want to try flights now

Stansted, Gatwick or Heathrow are easy if you use the dedicated airport express which I’ve found to be very reliable.
Tbh they’re all much of a muchness for central London if you’re prepared to hop on the tube. Heathrow tube will take you direct to Russel square or the take the Stansted express to Tottenham Hale. Jump on the tube here to change at Finsbury Park and straight to Russel sq.
For Euston, change at Kings Cross.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Sorry this is happening as I see it there are two options:
- Don’t give her any more money. If she picks the man she can deal with the financial side herself

- let them move in (i know you don’t like him but at least you know that she is safe)

These would be the options I'd have suggested too.

If it were me, based on what you've said and assuming he hasn't/isn't breaking the law, I'd go for option 2 but with conditions and with a trial period.