The advice thread for random problems

[Snippysnips]

Thank you! That’s useful to know. It’s actually because I want these people to have a successful sale (as do many people on my street as they’re not the easiest neighbours ). When I saw the sign had gone, I thought I had jinxed myself and they’d taken it off the market (because they have done so before) but it’s still sold stc on the website

Fingers crossed for you then, yeah it could be they just don't want the sign anymore in the garden or the new owners don't want to deal with it an have asked them to take care of it before they move since when you want rid of it you have to go through the bother of getting someone out to take it an honestly it can take forever lol

 

[shadowcat5]

I'm quite an introverted person, have smallish group of friends and supportive family who I enjoy spending time with. But at work very much quiet person focus on head down, get job done and out of door etc, I don't share much of my personal life with colleagues. Anyway, i get message from colleague i only ever say pleasantries to in work, we don't have much work interaction, asking for weekend plans, then basically inviting himself along. How do I politely say no?

can you say you don’t have plans this weekend and you just want a chilled weekend at home?
Or say you’re having a close family gathering so you are not free?

 

[Fearne]

I need advice on how to deter a cat from using my front garden as a litter tray.

I have a flower bed and gravel driveway.

A cat was using the flower bed as a litter tray so I was clearing it up and tried every trick in the book but nothing worked. Eventually bought some cat scatter spray and followed the instructions and it seemed to stop, until we went away for a week and couldn't keep up the spraying.

We came back to the flower bed literally covered in cat shit.

Cleared it up and started the process with cat scatter again but now it is shitting on the gravel too!!

I am at the end of my tether with it.

I would get one of them things that makes noise but the reviews are all bad. I can't see the cat from my office so I also can't spray it with water or whatever to scare it off.

But I am fed up of the front of my house being covered in shit, any advice appreciated. Thank you.

Oh gosh we had the same issue. In the end, the only thing that worked was those sensor things which do a high pitched beep. We just got ours from Amazon and no more litter tray!

 

[Snippysnips]

You could make extra of the meal at the time and reheat it 2 days later.
Otherwise check the jar, usually keep refrigerated and use within 3 days.
But I hate to say it, a jar of bolognaise is processed food. There’s no difference in a jar of dolmio added to pasta to a good quality ready meal

I checked an it says to keep them refrigerated an use within 3 days so it's fine, am going make 3 different meals using them like a lasanga, spaghetti bolognaise an pasta bake an then there's no waste, am not really a huge fan of eating the exact same thing every few days, I prefer having a good week or two between eating the same thing

I know the jars are processed, it's the actual ready meals I can't eat, not sure what they use in them but they make me feel a bit sick, I think it might be the meat an whatever they use to prolong the life of it, the sauce jars though I can handle

 

[littlepup]

Has anyone ever sent alcohol to US from UK? A couple of friends want to try some local whisky, it's just the little tiny size I'd be sending that you get in those gift packs

US customs says 1L is the max I can send but royal mail says it can't be that size or over 24% alcohol, these little bottles have 40%

Would I be able to get them over with using another service?

Honestly, unless they’re very expensive, I’d just send them. I think they’re more concerned about the tax and masses of flammable liquid. I shouldn’t think they’ll be interested in tiny bottles.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Does anyone have any tips for settling into a new job? I’m really enjoying it so far but starting to feel a little overwhelmed as obviously being new, I’m still learning all the routines and how things are done. I’ve learnt things pretty quickly so far, but have been picked up on a few minor mistakes today which although my boss was really nice about it, it has knocked my confidence a bit and I’m doubting myself, I think it’s my anxiety. I know starting a new job is difficult, I want to keep a positive mind set and not let my personal issues ruin this for me, it’s only been a week so I guess I need to not be so hard on myself. It’s gone a lot better than I originally imagined.

It takes a good 6 to 12 months to really settle in to
Most jobs and feel completely comfortable. You’ve only been there 1 week!!!!! Give yourself a break. Take the pressure off. The things you were picked up on today - stop viewing that as “mistakes” - you are new, and you are learning the ropes. Don’t over think it.

 

[LaBlonde]

Anyone dealt with sinus pain and runny nose post Covid that won’t go away, any tips?? Lemsip menthol clears me up for a while but if I have to drink any more of the stuff I’ll puke. I don’t feel sick I just sound disgusting and feel rude constantly sniffing all the time.

seconding antihistamines: i didn’t have these symptoms post covid but i have them with hay fever and antihistamines always help.

reassured to see more people talking about post covid affects tbh, my skin has been horrendous after having it in early july. really sensitive and bruising easily, with paresthesia when i lie down to sleep at night (to the point i thought i had bed bugs). i saw that they just added skin issues to the long covid list but i would really like for it to be over now!

 

[Choco88]

The last two days I seem to have developed a really strong sense of smell, smells that don’t usually bother me have really been making me feel sick. My last period was only last week so can’t be pregnant, does anyone know what’s wrong?

 

[Melian]

Maybe a bizarre request but maybe someone can help? I walk a lot during my commute and it is wearing down my decent shoes. I don’t want to wear gym trainers on my way because it looks odd and easily makes holes in my tights by the heel. What other comfy trainer type shoes can I wear? I don’t want something clumpy, but definitely a trainer as opposed to shoe as I feel like my feet aren’t supported and hurt if I wear regular work shoes. I was thinking converses but I was wondering if anyone had any better suggestions.

You can get walking shoes that look like trainers. My current pair are Skechers. Jack Wolfskin are good and so are Merrell.

 

[Snippysnips]

hi guys im new to the thread and would be greatful for any help.

i have social anxiety and have already not attended two presentaion sort of thing and they were part of module assesment but only a small percentage.

i Have debate sort of thing tommorow, give a presentation then debate and im lowkey worried. I cant miss it as its worth a quarter of module grade, my biggest porbelms are my voice breaking when talking and after every presentaion ive done in school college the teachers always tell me to talk louder even though i do try it never works. how can i improve or try to talk louder for tommorow.

Are you in the UK? If so have you tried rescue remedy? I suffer anxiety as well an can stress out alot which causes me to try an withdraw an be quiet, you can get it as a spray or gummies

When you are relaxed you are not as conscious about talking as when your stressing about every one

I'd take water as well, drinking an eating can break the fight or flight mode as when you eat or drink that tells the brain that you are in no danger since naturally you wouldn't be eating or drinking if you were in danger (comes from our ancestors who would need to fight to survive) I use that as well whenever I start to feel the stress coming on, take a drink an it breaks that fight or flight panic we go into, so I'd recommend taking a bottle of water an whenever you feel that little panic come on then take a drink, also as a ex performer the biggest advice I can tell you about speech is what we all used to get told "pretend old grandma is sitting in the back an forgot her hearing aid again" lol its stupid but it helped us project our voices

 

[LaBlonde]

I’m currently filling out the form to renew my provisional driving licence but don’t know which option to tick. It went out of date years ago and as I had given up on the idea of lessons I threw the card license away If I say renew with a new photo I think I need to send my old one with the application, but I don’t have it. It’s not lost or stolen either.
Does anyone know which option to choose before I contact DVLA?

you can tick both options - say it’s lost but also that you’re renewing a new photo, just so that they don’t reply asking for it.

 

[suzuka]

Is it safe to park in London, especially in the evening? Thinking about the Stamford Hill area?

If anyone can provide info I'd be really grateful.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

LOL! I thought you were joking but you are really invested aren’t you?!

I think there’s some confusion here. As you can see from my original post, I just asked what other people would do in that comical situation. I’m sorry it’s triggered you so much! Are you always so serious?

Are you always such a pathetic baby who can’t tell her mother in law you already bought a kitchen appliance?

 

[Carapop]

I wish we had care emojis on here!

But yes a podcast is a good idea, it’s not really about listening it’s about keeping your brain occupied for now, you might drop off but that’s not really the point either, just get through to the train, if you haven’t maybe list stuff you might need, maybe a podcast for the train too? Don’t fight tears or emotions, honestly it doesn’t help.

It’s true many won’t care but some people will even if they don’t know what to say. Years ago I sat on a bus for almost twelve hours from London to Edinburgh and the lady next to me was clearly upset, eventually after I’d prattled about me and said IF she wanted she could chat about it if not that was ok too. She chatted and ranted about her situation for a short time. Then fell asleep on me from Birmingham. At Edinburgh (midnight) I woke her and got her to her waiting daughter. We still talk now. I later found out she hadn’t slept in days. I won’t be on a train tomorrow, I’m almost housebound BUT I will be thinking of you.

And, remember, you can post here if you want, what you want and when, or even don’t thats ok too.

Don’t forget trolls who live in their parents basements with no lives (which is what I and others on the Ingham thread are accused of by them) really are nothing if the sort, we joke about, but are here because we care.

I hope this helps in some way.

Take care.

A troll? Tonight, you have been nothing short of an angel.

 

[Kim Mild]

Does anybody have any personal recommendations for online prescription glasses that don’t cost a fortune?

I've used Selectspecs a few times and they are really cheap . They do take a while to arrive in the post .

 

[JoeBloggs]

Anyone know how you can stop the side ads from popping in on every page of Tattle? I have to close them constantly and keep misclicking and ending up on the advertisers site.

I can't read tattle on my laptop, the screen is too small the ads get in the way. On my work computer and phone its fine. Bloody annoying!

 

[Purrrrrrr]

Hi, I don’t really know why I’m posting this I suppose I just want to know I’m not a terrible person even though I feel like I am.

I’ll cut a very long story short, I rent a house from my mother (with hindsight I should never have moved in) she’s done a lot of things over the years & last year it came to light she kept an inheritance that was due to me and because she was called out on it & can’t own up to her actions she said we have to move from the house we’ve been at for 10 years. We (husband & I) have a cat and a dog, our moving date is fast approaching and we have only been able to find a house that will accept our dog but not our cat, the landlord was very strict on the no cats when we viewed the house so it’s not going to possible to take him anyway and hide him. It’s fully carpeted and he is a scratcher so I know he would cause damage that we wouldn’t be able to hide as well. We aren’t in a position to buy a place either.
I know a wonderful charity who have said they will take him, he will go to a foster home until a suitable forever home can be found. I am totally devastated we will have to give him up I feel awful, I never ever thought I would have to give him up but it’s impossible to find a place that will accept him. I will miss him terribly and I feel like such a bad person having to give him up

Please don't feel bad. . Cats are pretty good at adapting. I have had a a few cats that needed rehoming due to owner circumstances and they always settle very nicely in my home. One of my cats has decided he doesn't like my kitten and has left home and moved to a house up the road I thought he loved me dearly but it was just surface love.
Cats are pretty odd things.

You have been lucky to find a place that accepted your dog.

Have you been to the police about your mum?

 

[Purrrrrrr]

How’s it revenge letting the girl know she’s being cheated on? I know if I was in her situation I would want to know what my partner is doing behind my back

but she isn't you and you don't have that right to make the decision for her. I would say differently if you knew her and knew what her reactions would be etc.

 

[rainbowlemon]

We have a Russel hobbs steam iron which can be bought for under £30. We also use ironing water which was £2 for 1L from a Sainsbury’s.

We don’t have an ironing board. Always done it on the floor with a heat mat.

 

[WilmaHun]

@WilmaHun @monga

Thank you both! I have had a message from them now to say that they have a package at the depot after they failed to deliver it. I was 100% it was a scam but I’ve never had any dealings with Evri so I wanted to double check just in case someone had sent me a package that I didn’t know about (my mum has a habit of posting random things to me )

if it was a text like this, yeah it’s a scam. I keep getting loads of them