The advice thread for random problems #4

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Posting here so I have to follow through with it...

I have been provisionally discussing a holiday with a friend in the new year. The trouble is, where they want to go and where I can afford to go right now are very different and I feel like I'm pressuring myself into booking something I can't really afford (they've suggested I just stick it on my credit card which I really don't want to do).

I've been dragging my feet a little and I think I need to just bite the bullet and say it was working out a lot more expensive than I initially thought and that I don't want to limit them. I have suggested a city break to somewhere in Europe but they only want hot sun somewhere far flung and I just can't afford that at such short notice, particularly with Christmas so close.

I've been in knots about it all week and was awake in the night thinking about it. It sounds silly, but I hate having to wick the balloon of someone else's enthusiasm.

I honestly think if it's a good friend they'd be upset to know what anxiety this has caused you. Just be honest and say with Christmas you can't afford a big holiday at the moment. Tell her your budget and then if you do fancy a more expensive holiday just say you could probably do one June/Sept/insert whatever works.

I'd hate it if a friend of mine felt they couldn't tell me something like this. I would never want to cause them anxiety over a holiday

 

[hytuhh]

Hey! Wasn't really sure if there was anywhere more suitable to post this, so thought I'd ask here. I have an 18 month old British Shorthair who is well behaved 90% of the time - 10% being in a morning when she wakes us up at 5/6am by clawing at the carpet. I get up to feed her but she will eat then come back and start clawing at the carpet again. She never does this at any other point in the day, only at that time in the morning. She basically cries until we get up, then once we are up she sits like a little loaf peacefully watching out of the window. I don't know what the issue is because we do feed her but it's getting to the point where it's making holes and pulls in the carpet which naturally is a nightmare.

Was thinking of getting an automatic feeder and setting it at intervals maybe a little earlier, so she stays downstairs and is fed?

 

[Piff paff puff]

For anyone who's used the home collection service for postage items with royal mail.
Is the stamp they attach separate from the address label? Can you have the stamp without the free address label?

 

[Grizzlybear]

Hey! Wasn't really sure if there was anywhere more suitable to post this, so thought I'd ask here. I have an 18 month old British Shorthair who is well behaved 90% of the time - 10% being in a morning when she wakes us up at 5/6am by clawing at the carpet. I get up to feed her but she will eat then come back and start clawing at the carpet again. She never does this at any other point in the day, only at that time in the morning. She basically cries until we get up, then once we are up she sits like a little loaf peacefully watching out of the window. I don't know what the issue is because we do feed her but it's getting to the point where it's making holes and pulls in the carpet which naturally is a nightmare.

Was thinking of getting an automatic feeder and setting it at intervals maybe a little earlier, so she stays downstairs and is fed?

I think they just want you up I read that cats don’t sleep as deeply as humans. So they get concerned when you are unresponsive and do whatever works to get you woken up. Can you pop something over the area or get a “decoy” like a toy or rug/scratching mat?

 

[stargirl23]

For anyone who's used the home collection service for postage items with royal mail.
Is the stamp they attach separate from the address label? Can you have the stamp without the free address label?

When I’ve done it before they’ve just printed off the address label for me and stuck that and this other thing showing I’ve paid postage on it for me when they’ve come to the door to collect

 

[VeryNiceVeryEVIL]

They found a 4mm sessile polyp during my colonoscopy yesterday which was removed entirely using cold snare

It's being sent off as routine to pathology

Does this mean there's a possibility I could have cancer?

 

[hytuhh]

I think they just want you up I read that cats don’t sleep as deeply as humans. So they get concerned when you are unresponsive and do whatever works to get you woken up. Can you pop something over the area or get a “decoy” like a toy or rug/scratching mat?

I fear that yes, they just don't want us to rest
I've tried draught excluders and door stoppers/toys etc. but not had much luck. May look in to a scratching mat, thanks!

 

[stargirl23]

They found a 4mm sessile polyp during my colonoscopy yesterday which was removed entirely using cold snare

It's being sent off as routine to pathology

Does this mean there's a possibility I could have cancer?

View attachment 2597466

Possibility, however to reassure you I had the same found and it was a benign polyp very common to find polyps on colonoscopies that don’t turn cancerous

 

[VeryNiceVeryEVIL]

Possibility, however to reassure you I had the same found and it was a benign polyp very common to find polyps on colonoscopies that don’t turn cancerous

If it's a possibility, why are they waiting 6-8 weeks?

If they wait 6-8 weeks and I have cancer, I'm well and truly buggered

 

[stargirl23]

If it's a possibility, why are they waiting 6-8 weeks?

If they wait 6-8 weeks and I have cancer, I'm well and truly buggered

I just meant there’s any possibility that a polyp could be cancerous I wasn’t trying to worry you sorry.

if they believed it was cancer you’d be referred in the 2 week wait pathway and be seen within 2 weeks (I used to work on a cancer ward and all that were thought to be cancer were seen within 2 weeks)

 

[Lollylaylow]

Hey! Wasn't really sure if there was anywhere more suitable to post this, so thought I'd ask here. I have an 18 month old British Shorthair who is well behaved 90% of the time - 10% being in a morning when she wakes us up at 5/6am by clawing at the carpet. I get up to feed her but she will eat then come back and start clawing at the carpet again. She never does this at any other point in the day, only at that time in the morning. She basically cries until we get up, then once we are up she sits like a little loaf peacefully watching out of the window. I don't know what the issue is because we do feed her but it's getting to the point where it's making holes and pulls in the carpet which naturally is a nightmare.

Was thinking of getting an automatic feeder and setting it at intervals maybe a little earlier, so she stays downstairs and is fed?

Try tin foil where she scratches, also a noise she doesn't like every time she does it. My old cat used to click her claws under the door so all you heard was click click click. I just used an aerosol can and sprayed near the door
( not anywhere on her) The worst thing you can do is get up. Once they know you are not moving until a certain time they will adjust

It started when my nephew stayed with me and let her into his room but then she would scratch the door to get out so he stopped her sleeping in there. but she was having none of that and tormented him. He is a long-distance coach driver so needs his sleep

 

[Piff paff puff]

When I’ve done it before they’ve just printed off the address label for me and stuck that and this other thing showing I’ve paid postage on it for me when they’ve come to the door to collect

Ok, sounds like they're separate then

 

[Snippysnips]

Does anyone use amazon music, am trying the free trial but I can't work out how to transfer my playlists into songs (which am assuming is the library) am using my phone, online says to click the + button but there's not one

I don't want to add them one by one an sometimes I like listening to my full library rather than a playlist

 

[Popcornshovel]

Hey! Wasn't really sure if there was anywhere more suitable to post this, so thought I'd ask here. I have an 18 month old British Shorthair who is well behaved 90% of the time - 10% being in a morning when she wakes us up at 5/6am by clawing at the carpet. I get up to feed her but she will eat then come back and start clawing at the carpet again. She never does this at any other point in the day, only at that time in the morning. She basically cries until we get up, then once we are up she sits like a little loaf peacefully watching out of the window. I don't know what the issue is because we do feed her but it's getting to the point where it's making holes and pulls in the carpet which naturally is a nightmare.

Was thinking of getting an automatic feeder and setting it at intervals maybe a little earlier, so she stays downstairs and is fed?

Yeah automatic feeders are great, it stopped my cat from waking us for food. He still wakes us for attention though!

For the pulling on the carpet... You could put a doormat in the hallway and then the cat will naturally do the pulling on that instead of the actual carpet. Or a horizontal scratcher.

 

[TheGlossy]

I’m about to lose my mind!

Back in August, I missed my flight for my summer vacation because I overslept. I was heartbroken but decided to get over it and book a trip to somewhere else for this week.

I’m due to be flying to Rome at 7am tomorrow. Everything was fine and dandy today. Then, as I was about tip hop into bed, I hear a huge noise coming from my water pump /boiler. The water pump engine has has been running with a loud noise for 3 hours straight when no water is in use at the moment. I’ve been living in this apartment for years, never experienced this. The pump noise can be heard from outside.

About an hour ago, I checked the pump again and realized there’s a full blown leak under it. I rang the management company of my building who told me they can’t do anything about it. I then rang my landlord’s emergency number and was told they’d look into it tomorrow and that there’s nothing to worry about, I can go on vacation and let someone in to fix it.

I’m honestly not comfortable with this. I’d rather be there and I’m not OK with flying overseas while this water pump / leak nonsense is going on. I live alone.

If I cancel my trip, I’ll lose a good chunk of money. What should I do?

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I’m about to lose my mind!

Back in August, I missed my flight for my summer vacation because I overslept. I was heartbroken but decided to get over it and book a trip to somewhere else for this week.

I’m due to be flying to Rome at 7am tomorrow. Everything was fine and dandy today. Then, as I was about tip hop into bed, I hear a huge noise coming from my water pump /boiler. The water pump engine has has been running with a loud noise for 3 hours straight when no water is in use at the moment. I’ve been living in this apartment for years, never experienced this. The pump noise can be heard from outside.

About an hour ago, I checked the pump again and realized there’s a full blown leak under it. I rang the management company of my building who told me they can’t do anything about it. I then rang my landlord’s emergency number and was told they’d look into it tomorrow and that there’s nothing to worry about, I can go on vacation and let someone in to fix it.

I’m honestly not comfortable with this. I’d rather be there and I’m not OK with flying overseas while this water pump / leak nonsense is going on. I live alone.

If I cancel my trip, I’ll lose a good chunk of money. What should I do?

This is why you should always take out holiday insurance. It’s cheap and would cover a cancelled holiday. Alternatively do you have a trusted person who could deal with the boiler while you are away?

 

[TheGlossy]

This is why you should always take out holiday insurance. It’s cheap and would cover a cancelled holiday. Alternatively do you have a trusted person who could deal with the boiler while you are away?

I booked everything separately and didn’t use an agency. I can change my flights but the hotel might be a write off. I don’t think booking.com provides insurance, unfortunately.

No, I don’t have anyone who can deal with this, otherwise it would have been much easier.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I booked everything separately and didn’t use an agency. I can change my flights but the hotel might be a write off. I don’t think booking.com provides insurance, unfortunately.

No, I don’t have anyone who can deal with this, otherwise it would have been much easier.

Just google holiday insurance for next time saves so much hassle. Also check how you booked with booking.com as there are slightly higher prices to cancel your stay or move it

 

[Pesky Tarian]

I booked everything separately and didn’t use an agency. I can change my flights but the hotel might be a write off. I don’t think booking.com provides insurance, unfortunately.

No, I don’t have anyone who can deal with this, otherwise it would have been much easier.

Some bank accounts come with travel insurance, might be worth checking with whomever you bank with. I had quite a few perks I had no idea about.

I really hope you managed to get sorted.

 

[TheGlossy]

Thank you @OnlyHereForTheLolz and @Pesky Tarian. Very helpful and good to know for the future.

I changed my flights to another date but had to pay a change fee extra. However, the hotel very kindly canceled my booking free of charge.

I’ve now been stuck in my apartment with this loud motor noise taking over the entire place (I can’t even hear my TV). It’s been 15 hours of this noise - I’m about to lose it. I couldn’t even sleep last night because the utility room is right next to my bedroom. It’s like being in a loud factory or construction site. If it doesn’t get sorted today, I’m going to have to stay elsewhere because the noise is far too much.

The maintenance doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get this fixed. The landlord responded to me at 9am saying they’d send someone. No trace of anyone as of now. Really hope this gets resolved soon.