Love them and yes I have worked with some of them .

I had a colleague who would say, "I came in late so I'll leave early to make up for it" - he left in the first round of redundancies.

Brilliant. I also knew several of them when I was working.

@Poppy: I currently work with several people who fit most of your categories - and Poppy's Aunt's too!! 🙄🤭

I have had that happen a lot , being the only non smoker!

My lady friend worked temp in a local OAP home, other foreign staff were always taking smoke & coffee breaks leaving her to do all the work, with the OAP's spitting at her swearing at her or scratching & biting her.

She got the sack eventually when they all ganged up on her & said she did no work.

Funny thing is, her neice is now the person in charge.

My Latvian friend did most of the work at Tesco warehouse while the rest hid behind pallets & cages of stuff on their mobiles unless the supervisor appeared.

All workers (inc politicians) should be put on individual productivity payments instead of an hourly rate.

@poppy.... 😂😂

@ Jenkins... Ditto 🤦🤦

Very good Poppy, I have worked with a few Kitkats and Seaweeds!!!!

Could I add my favourite -

HAJ - Half a job

I've never heard these before.

None of my PMP colleagues deserve these nicknames. We all love our jobs and work hard. But you can imagine finding some of these people in large office settings.

May I please clarify which bit, MickmeDad? Then I can add it to the article to make it clearer.

The bit about checking all pages but you only need to check once a day?

Thanks. FAQ, did not explain the last bit , which Em's reply did.

👍

The £5 Flash Draw happens once a day and it is only displayed to those accounts who are randomly chosen as Flash Draw winners that day. It could be in any ad slot on any page. So you should check all pages but you only need to do so once a day.

Please do read the FAQ article which Choc provided above. (Thanks Choc)

It's answered in the FAQ

https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/12-what-is-the-5-flash-draw

Worth a smile.

:-) :-)

😆😆

🤣🤣

More frayed nerves.😵‍💫

He was fantastic. I enjoyed watching that as well as the football. 2 quarter finals to look forward to now 🙂

Forget football ... didn't Metallica do well at the London Stadium last night!

He certainly did!

Enver, did you tell her "on your bike"?

I suppose if no-one wins, they can re-cycle it.

I bet there is no bike.

There was a Google Advert to win an £930 electric bicycle for free on there too, I entered my details last night, then it wanted me to enter some other comps "to complete registration", I jumped out at that point.

Today I got a call on my mobile, she said I was entered for the bike, if I win they'll email me end of July, but wanted me to enter a Euromillions syndicate of 150 people for £9/month. No chance as money is too tight & any winnings are shared between150 people.

:-)

😂

🤣🤣

Right now I am drinking tea from a mug given to me by one of my students when I retired in 2011. I use it every day.

My favourite gift was probably from one of my students who lived on a farm….a dozen fresh eggs.

When I was at primary school I gave my teacher a box of eggs (we kept chickens) or a packet of biros (my Mum was a teacher and knew they would be appreciated). When I was a primary school teacher it was the small personal gifts that showed that the children and parents appreciated me that meant the most. I still use mugs that were gifts from years ago.

Its not a new thing, my grandsons took presents for their teachers at primary school, and they're 20 now...

@Little Owl - agreed. It’s all marketing, the same as many other things. Many “days” and invented celebrations come to mind. It’s not anything any teacher would expect. @ various contributors- please criticise the right people and not the teachers.

When people are struggling financially, they don't need the added pressure of being asked to donate £5 towards a present for the teacher. Every shop in the area has a special "Thank you, Teacher" aisle - it is just a racket - we had nowt like that when I was at school.

When I was a teacher I never expected anything, just like I don't expect anyone to get me anything for my birthday or christmas.

I'd say a thank you card would be enough.

When it becomes expected. It is no longer a gift. A gift is something freely given not asked for

I'm with Chris. If you want to give someone a gift a taken of appreciation, fine, but when it becomes expected as an obligation, it's all wrong.

My daughter is 35 and we bought gifts for Christmas for her primary school teachers and for her form teacher in secondary school. The gifts were no more than a fiver. As an ex teacher albeit of adults, it's nothing to do with what you're being paid, it's an appreciation that you made a difference and supported the students through difficult times. I don't see it as an issue, and I think the £150 you are quoting Chris is a exception.

There are different teachers for different subjects taking the class, so which teacher gets a present?

8yrs ago, when my GD was leaving junior school, one of the mums suggested everyone 'pool' £5 so the teacher could treat themselves to something they'd really like rather than getting multiple 'best teacher' nik naks or chocolates.

Being a teacher is not an easy job. My daughter is a primary school teacher and with all the special needs children she has to cope with, including children still in nappies and children who kick and bite her, and buying resources herself because the school can't afford things I think she does deserve a gift at the end of the year although I agree that it shouldn't be a lot of money , a small token of appreciation, she is happy to get a hand drawn thank you card.

I missed out on all this. As a shelf stacker in a local supermarket on nights I never remember all the customers clubbing together to get me a present. Unless of course the Leo Sayer tape on a loop all night long was their present for me.

I don’t think £150 is the norm at all, nor are they solicited. My daughter is a teacher and her gifts, from those parents who choose to give, are a box of chocolates/ bunch of flowers or occasionally a bottle of wine. None of which she expects but does appreciate. I know at some schools some parents arrange a collection and the teacher may then be presented with a gift of greater value from the whole class. My children are all in their 30s and we gave a small gift at the end of school year so it’s not so new to do this

If I had kids at school the teachers would get nothing from me. Like you said Chris, it’s their job.

It’s still a small box of chocolates here!

I totally agree Chris. Times are tough, parents may be struggling to afford essential items, without added pressure to buy presents for teachers, who may well be earning more than the parents.

Congratulations , enjoy spending 😊 x

Congratulations..👍!

LLAP 🖖!

Congratulations on your win! 🎉

Enjoy your winnings AnnieM. Lovely to read your good news post.

£208, how tedious!

You're welcome, Annie! 🎉

Nice one AnnieM - Enjoy your winnings!

Congratz AnnieM enjoy your win.

🎉 Congrats 🎉

Congrats AnnieM, spend it wisely. Will you tell your friend how much money they missed, & do you think they will they start checking again?

🎵Tomorrow, tomorrow,

You could win again tomorrow,

It's only........a day........a.........way🎵

Good for you!

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉🎉

AnnieM - congrats on a nice win. Good luck for the next one…with an even higher bonus. 😊

Congrats AnnieM 🥂🍾 Thanks for posting, gives us all hope.

Well done Annie, here's to the next win

Congratulations on getting a win.👍😄💰

Well spotted.

🥳🥳🥳

Congratulations! 🥳

Great result AnnieM. Enjoy your winnings :-)

Well done AnnieM, I always worry that I'm on autopilot when checking and will miss it. 😀

Congrats AnnieM enjoy your winnings!

You don't often get the chance to win something for free in life. But if you don't the chance to win for free, that's fine.

Feel free to check out

He’s not gone yet! 😆

Bye Docsy. Don't slam the ... (BANG!) .. door. Too late!

Docsy, we're definitely not a scam! We've been running since 2011, are funded by advertising and now have over 62% of the UK's postcodes registered! We can't be a scam as we do not take a penny from our members.

Feel free to check out:

Our Trustpilot reviews https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/pickmypostcode.com (We have a 4.8 out of 5 star rating)

A review from Money Saving Expert https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/pick-my-postcode/. Martin Lewis features and independently reviews us. He wouldn't do that if we were a scam.

I'm sorry you think the prizes we offer are "pathetic". We actually think they are quite generous given the fact that we are completely free to enter. You don't have to answer any questions for the chance to win (apart from on the Survey Draw to reveal that particular postcode).

Of course, you are always free to leave if you wish you had never started. This FAQ explains what you need to do: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/26-i-dont-want-to-be-a-member-anymore

Sorry you are fed up Docsy but loads of us love the site for chat jokes and support if needed at times.The idea of a win is just the icing on the cake wether it happens or not.I hope you stay on.

How to publicly advertise one’s ignorance.

My retort would be..you don’t have to answer a single question to win. The surveys aren’t connected to the draws.

And, the winner who took away over £11,000 didn’t think his prize was pathetic, he thought it was rather grand!

Of course if Docsy had read how the site works , as required when he was signing up, he’d have decided it was beyond him and not bothered.

As it is he’s calling a fab site with a brilliant reputation a “scam” as he doesn’t understand.

ooow! Are you Mexican by any chance, and feeling a bit miffed?

Try reading AnnieM's post above. She obviously knows how this site works.

You sure you're on the right site ??

I heard that the Mexican team hadn't lost a match at the Azteca since it was built in 1966, so whether we progress any further or not, the England team have achieved something no other team has in fifty years - that's worth a bit of respect, even from non-fans of the game. Considering they probably had less sleep than we did, with those unsportsmanlike antics of the Mexican fans who played loud 'music' (so-called) and hooted horns, banged drums, chanted etc all through the preceding night outside the England team's hotel to try and stop them getting any rest, I think they played better than any England team for many years.

Nick, itwas an hour late. If you have iPlayer, you can watch the entire match on the BBC's special World Cup channel.

No, I didn't watch it - I'm not a football fan. But my late husband was, so for the best part of forty years I had the choice of watching matches on TV with him or finding something else to do in another room. Then I got a tablet that would let me watch my TV shows (with headphones) while he watched the footie.

But I certainly don't begrudge others enjoying football - its a lot better than having them rioting on the streets!

I set it to tape...heard it had possibly started an hour late and wondered if I'd get the end. Got up in the morning and noticed it on the 'program check' which is a list of what's been set, and it showed it hadn't taped. Then realized something was recording and found they put it on from about 7-9am and it was recording it. What's gone on there I've no idea as I'd assume it must have been on around midnight or 1am as well?

If you don't enjoy football, then fine, but do you have to be so scathing about it. I enjoy it (especially this season as my team - Coventry - have been promoted). I watched the game last night and enjoyed it. The team came together to produce a terrific win in difficult circumstances. The country came together in support and it's all good fun. I can understand that some people get fed up with too much of it on TV at the moment, but it's only a few weeks every few years.

@Lol 63 - They don't use animal bladders any longer, haven't done for decades. It's all eco-friendly plastic now.

"Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win." - as defined by Gary Lineker, abd in those days it was true!

22 overpaid grown men assemble on a field to kick an animal's inflated bladder about.

No,sorry footballs not my thing. But had a great weekend with all the Silverstone coverage on Ch 4 🏎️

I watched (but I'm a night owl anyway). It was a good match.

I watched the highlights 1st thing this morning without knowing the score.

Well done England.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Great win in difficult circumstances.

From what I gather it was a good match against a very good team on their home ground so well done and it’s made lots of folk have a smile on their face today.

I watched something else until just before 3am, then turned over, thinking it would be nearly over (advertised as 1am kick-off, plus 90mins, plus 15 mins half-time… very pleasantly surprised to see were in the lead and watched it to the end. 11 mins extra time! The ref really gave the Mexicans every chance to equalise. What with putting termites outside afterwards (had to drag them off the bed), then Shadow lay down on the path and went to sleep and had to be hauled up to go for a widdle, then hunting round the garden to find Storm, who had gone to sleep under the conifer hedge, I was wide awake again and only dozed off until 6.30, when I had to get up for dog-walker at 7am.

I thought it was on tonight so surprised to hear on the radio this morning that we had won😁

I was going to then, when it was delayed, I decided not to. Then I thought I would watch the first half. That would be my normal bedtime anyway. Switched the tv off but followed the text commentary on my phone while I was getting ready for bed. When it said it was “all kicking off” my finger found itself on the “watch live” button. So I watched the second half on my phone in bed. Strangely, just as I was turning my phone off my husband woke up and said, did we win? Yes. What was the score? Then he went back to sleep. 🤷‍♀️

I was in bed by 10pm and fast asleep soon after. Husband wasn't sure if he would stay up but in the end he couldn't be bothered and didn't see any of it.

Nice to see you back Em.

I am not the least interested in football so no I didn't stay up.

I can prove my disinterest as one of the best days of my life was when my Son told me he didn't want to play football any more. Happy days.

So, so good to have you back Em.

No, I didn't stay up but have watched it this morning, just to show some patriotism while sewing a hem up, and have to say, England were brilliant and didn't rise to the dirty tricks Mexico were trying on!

I didn’t had appointments this morning . Glad they won but not into football .

Definitely not, I wouldn't waste my time watching grown men fighting over a ball 😀

Welcome back Em! I was up but I can't stand football so I watched something decent.

I didn't stay up. The dog wanted to go outside at about 1.30. She decided to stay outside under the hedge where she has a nice, cool den. My neighbours are big football fans and I heard them at what must have been half time, but then went back to sleep.

Same as Happy

🤣MickMeDad🤣

Hello Em, welcome back

Did not stay up as like my sleep too much for that , also I am Scottish so saw the result this morning . I do have an English Brother In Law , so really pleased they won 🫶

Who stayed up for what ?

😁

Welcome back, Em. I was up late, but went to bed early because I was worried about the team playing at altitude and having to cope with the antics of the people outside their hotel. Hearing the news about Donald Trump's latest antics was the final straw. In the end, I think the late Queen sent some rain down to cool the players and I am glad they won - it looked like a great match (even though I don't follow football).

Way past my bedtime.

Nope, didn't watch the overhyped divas.

Got to agree with you Em. I see the orange one poked his nose in ??. You take care of yourself Em and it's good to have you back,lots of hugs.. xx

Coincidence is a mathematical fact.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

ENVER, BETH,

THE GROUP WAS CALLED - ‘ABC’.

BETH YOU’RE THINKING OF DUSTY.

Don't believe in coincidence either Redz so what can I say?

Great minds? 🤣

The look of love is in your eyes…🎶

Was that Diana Ross? My memory is much better for male singers than female, for some reason.

Was it the E Ross band? (see what I done .... Eros👼🏹💗).

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

KENNY,

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCES. I WAS JUST TELLING MY FRIEND ABOUT THAT JOKE & THIS 1 -

CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THIS QUIZ I'M DOING?

WHICH 80S BAND SANG THESE SONGS?

A - THE LOOK OF LOVE

B - POISON ARROW

C - ALL OF MY HEART

As my surname initial is early in the alphabet, I was top of a friend's contact list. I was called fairly often from her handbag.

Perhaps Indi was trying to check on her police puppy Beth.

A friend of mine used to throw his phone into the car as he was getting in. As I was top of his quick call list it used to phone me. He was very surprised when I told him later what day he had a person in his car, who it was and what they were chatting about.

If you call them accidentally they ask you to stay on the line and let them know it’s a ‘butt call’ as our colonial cousins so politely call it. If you ring off they have to ring back to confirm if you are injured, at risk etc, so you save them time if you let them know. Indi rang them once when she carried my phone and pressed the side button several times. It was quite a shock to hear a voice saying, ‘Hallo, this is the Police…. Can you hear me…’

That's odd, I don't get those popups since the site revamp. There have been several winners recently sharing the first part of my postcode and the first number following, but no "... do you know them?" popup like I used to get.

It was originally there to try to stop the hundreds of unsubstantiated claims that “nobody ever wins from my postcode area” posts/emails/complaints.

Don’t be alarmed, it wasn’t designed to personally annoy you, although, clearly it has!🤔

What an odd thing to be annoyed about! 😂 Pops up and goes with the change of page, only a few seconds.

That's the spirit maddadof, keep it up.

Indi thinks that’s a very good idea! The dustmen are her favourite callers each week, and pups are learning fast.

Someone who I grew up with is a delivery driver and he keeps a bag of treats in his pocket to share with the dogs on his route. With the owner's permission.

I was once selling door to door round London & Home Counties, came across a 4 foot 6inch high solid wooden gate with no handle on the outside, the only latch was halfway down the inside & a Jack Russell loose in the garden that would jump up & snap your nose off if you tried to reach it, No warning signs.

There are dogs and dogs.

There again, there are owners and owners.

None taken, Val1101 - I just thought amusing that the postie, who you might expect to be wary of the black termites who rocket out to the gate en masse, has bought their brother. Woody is doing very well, apparently.

I have seen the same. Our little dog greets everyone nearby with excited barking. We have a wire basket hanging on the inside of our fence for milk delivery (saves her barking in the night as the gate no longer clicks when the milk arrives) and we invite the postie and couriers to use it when we and the dog are outside.

Our friends have a similar dog who was rescued and he did bite a postman which had repercussions. They have a postbox on their gate.

Unfortunately, not everyone lives in an area where they have responsible dog owners. The drug dealer types usually have unregistered dogs which cause problems.

I only wished to show you , what the Royal Mail is now using so as not to deliver some people’s mail . No malice intended at all 😊

Don’t think this applies to me - postie bought one of my puppies! The delivery drivers for Evri, DHL and Royal Mail all love the pups - one stops to play with them, another chats about the spaniel in his cab… only one is scared of them and I think putting a sign up would scare him even more!

One of our Evri drivers was badly bitten last year. I don’t know whether the dog was roaming the gardens or rushed out when the door was opened. There was no indication that a dog was present.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

AAAH, VANCE THE NEVER-TRUMPER! NOW HE'S STRAIGHT OUT OF ‘CENTRAL CASTING’ AS THE ‘CHARACTER’ TRUMP'S RIGHT-HAND MAN.

Bit worried out his potential successor though - Mad Dog Vance was equally vicious and rude to Zelensky and I don't know if he has learned any self-control since then. Maybe he has - he's been fairly quiet recently. He reminds me of a typical junior-school bully - hide behind the one with the power, stick his head out and shout rude things, or throw a stone, then duck back for protection. On the other hand, maybe he has changed, and is now in charge of DT's medication! A bit of judicial doctoring behind the scenes to keep his leader brain-fogged and a laughing stock...?

Yes, Redz, a conspiracy theory!

Everything that comes out of the mouth of the Mango Mussolini is a provable lie. His latest assertion about Iran is a typical example. He is incapable of doing anything that does not enrich himself or his family. One can only hope that the frontotemporal dementia progresses fast enough to persuade those with common sense to invoke the 25th amendment.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

LIKE OR DISLIKE HIM I’M FINE WITH EITHER. I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING CERTAIN POINTS THAT’LL BECOME CLEAR ONCE YOU LOOK PAST THE SURFACE.

DISMISSING HIM AS A STUPID, REACTIVE 'CHARACTER' WHO NEEDS HIS EGO STROKED IS EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS.

HE ACTIVELY WEAPONISES MEDIA PORTRAYALS TO HIS ADVANTAGE. THE MEDIA FEED THE PUBLIC/ADVERSARIES HALF-TRUTHS/CLIPPED EDITIONS & MANY SWALLOW THIS NARRATIVE WHOLE.

WHILE PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE MEDIA NOISE, HE ‘HAS BEEN’ GETTING THE REAL WORK DONE.

WAIT UNTIL IT'S EXPOSED... 🤯

(ALTHOUGH SOME INFO HAS BEEN DRIPPING OUT, I JUST HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE JUBILEE YEAR OF 2033, THE BIBLICAL 49/50 YEAR CYCLE, BUT THEN THIS EVIL HAS BEEN GOIN' ON FOR 100'S OF YEARS!)

Redz, I really don’t think he has the brainpower to be that devious. He’s just plain stupid and nasty. His chickens are coming home to roost, now that he’s about the same age as Biden was, when he was telling Joe he was too old and should go.

He doesn't want to cause controversy ... 😂... the man thrives on it.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

HELP ME,

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU BIDEN WAS ‘NEVER’ POTUS?

LOOK AT THE WEST COLONNADE. THERE’S A PRESIDENTIAL WALKWAY OF FAME (GALLERY). THERE’S NO PICTURE OF BIDEN, JUST THE ‘AUTOPEN’.

IT’S NOT A JOKE… IT’S COMMS.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT THE ‘CHARACTER’ TRUMP HAS ALWAYS WORKED ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF OBAMA, BUSH, CLINTON… & THAT THE PUBLIC NAME-CALLING IS PURELY FOR SHOW?

IMAGINE THEY ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO RID THE WORLD OF THE MOST EVIL & CORRUPT.

AFTER ALL, IF YOUR ‘REAL ENEMY’ BELIEVES YOUR FOE IS THEIR ALLY, THEY’RE MORE LIKELY TO GIVE THEM THE VERY INFORMATION THAT CAN BRING THEM DOWN - RE ART OF WAR PLAYBOOK.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMMS PUT OUT THERE RATHER THAN JUST WATCH EDITED HIGHLIGHTS ON THE NEWS.

#FROMDARKNESSTOLIGHT

EDITED TO ADD -

I’LL QUOTE MARK TWAIN AGAIN - ‘Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.’

Apparently it was a very, very long, rambling political speech about his own greatness, the danger of Communism, something about a third term (I didn’t hear it, just a reference on Laura K this morning). It was not well received - supposed to be a celebration of the country’s 250 years of Independence, not a political rally. He also sounded very stupid with his usual pomposity and exaggeration, saying they were the greatest country there had ever been, the people were the most successful, there was no country ever that had the power and greatness … the Roman Empire springs to mind, Alexander the Great’s conquests?

Thanx help me! - the problem is that trumpazees aren't intelligent enough to understand.

I agree about the cap Redz. I assume that's a deliberate attempt to belittle Biden.

If anyone watched or heard about Trump's speech at Mount Rushmore I recommend listening to Bill Clinton's critique (which I assume isn't AI). It's unusual for a previous president to respond but he clearly felt this was too important to ignore. Edited highlights are on YouTube

https://youtu.be/c6wZ4bky3jE

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

BETH,

I WAS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPEECH THE ‘CHARACTER’ TRUMP GAVE LAST NIGHT REGARDING THE NUMBER OF TERMS HE’S SERVED.

DID YOU HEAR HIM MENTION HIS ‘3RD’ TERM, THEN QUICKLY SAY, ‘I DON’T WANT TO CAUSE ANY CONTROVERSY’?

ALSO, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT QUITE A WHILE BACK I MENTIONED TO EITHER YOU OR KAT TO LOOK AT THE CAP HE WEARS.

‘45 - 47’… HYPHENS MATTER!

🎥 🍿

He failed to change the name of the Kennedy Centre so I am hopeful that good sense will prevail.

Today, playing a board game with my family there was a question about a cartoon character who was the richest man in the town (it was Montgomery Burns). My niece said, "Donald Trump" and I said, "Well he is a cartoon character!".

When he was running for his second term and trying to court voters who seldom turned out he told them, "Just vote this once. In four years we'll have fixed it and you won't need to do it again." Scarily it may have worked.

https://youtu.be/gE7xoHJkgvE

He mentioned something today or yesterday about a third term in power - I warned that he would do this! He will try to change the Constitution to make it feasible; if he can’t, I bet he says it’s his idea not to stand, just so he sounds generous. No way will he say ‘I want another term but I’m not able to rig it.’

Some would get you banned from PMP.

There are also many other terms that spring to mind. 🤣

The term Megalomaniac springs to mind.

He's on record as saying he thinks it would be a good idea because of his towering legacy which outstrips any other US president.

I would say that's not how you spell ego.

Fortunately the geologists say another head can't be added as the remaining granite is too fractured.

I would say that's not the grey matter that's too fractured.

I have sent the Short Stories zip folder to the four of you who commented, plus those who emailed in. I'll keep the folder on my laptop for a while in case anyone wants to read them but hasn't had chance to reply or post just yet.

Yes please Em. Would be v interested in reading.

And me, please

Me also Em.

Yes please Em. 😁

Once we're on top of our tasks I can share with anyone who wants to read them.

File forwarded to Admin.

Luckily the coursework has finished now until October, apart from the weekly voluntary session I have started going to, where we just read a piece of our own work for peer-critique. Good fun so far! I am trying to get all last year’s paperwork into order - it’s got really muddled.

I’d say you maybe got an hour of dozing but I’d say no to a good nights sleep! I really don’t know how you do it especially with your studying. I hope they don’t find the gap but I’m not going to hold my breath 🙄🙄

Goodness Beth, you must I shattered.

Very good both.

😂

Good one Redz 👍

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

I HEARD HIS BODY UNDERWENT A SHOCKING TRANSFORMATION WITH LIGHTNING-FAST RESULTS! 😉

😂

Choc, Niall has emailed them and included a screenshot, so the Ad partner knows what it looks like.

thanks. I meant the members but good.

@ Niall, if reporting any ads using 'Contact us' on the Comps site, there's no option to attach a screenshot.

Thanks Liz we have reported it directly to our AD partner, who is trying to track down the advertiser to ban then from bidding.

😄

😂

🤣🤣

The government still gets revenue from selling it though, even if it's not for domestic use...

It would be worth hanging onto Scotland if we could use the oil ourselves, but apparently it’s no good for fuel or heating, just heavy industry.

@Alley1940 - absolutely nothing to stop us bringing him up the Thames by boat and offloading him at the Tower of London? You know the gate to which I refer ...

"A very big gate. A bigly big gate. Despite the media covfefe probably the bigliest gate in the world. "

See also, "Equalizing" (his spelling, not mine!)

Of course, if we decide he's outstayed his welcome, we could deport him to Nambia.

Only because the UK government wants to hang on to our oil supplies, which are still plentiful despite what they say, but they're stopping Scotland from utilising them...

Here, don’t start trying to get them back - we haven’t got rid of Scotland yet!

No, certainly don't want those colonies back. Nasty, horrible places at the best of times.

Might accept a contrite Ireland or Malta, but nowhere else.

Some of their beer is perfectly palatable, certainly better than carling, Madri or Fosters..

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS 🎥 'S CREDITS 🤯

‘Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.’

😁

:-D This reminds me, my husband came up with a good joke the other day. He said: I hear they've published a new dog training book in Russia. It's called How to Train Your XL American Bully.

Definitely not having your nasty bully-boy gang-leader here. He can go and stand in the corner and face the wall on his own. His mother did not do a very good job of teaching him to play nicely.

😁

Love it 😀

I agree with all that Chris says and maybe their "leader" would like a nice holiday in the Guantanamo Bay resort.

😂😂

🤣🤣 as long as you don't want to exile the leader here!

🤣🤣

😂😂😂

:-)

😂

Yep, no way you commit a crime and get away with it. Too many fingerprints to compare with. Similarly if the granddaughter decides to become a gang matriarch, remind her you have the evidence!

Very funny Kenny.

No brushmarks or bristles but lots of finger prints Beth.

:-)

At least you didn’t have any brushmarks or bristles in the paint.

No worries at all, good luck with the comps!

Thanks a lot Niall, it nearly scared me off, I'll keep away.

Hi Rambo, these are likely Google ads, whilst the site is new, slightly more spammy ads are likely to be shown. Having said this I'm working with our Ads partners to put bidding floors in place to make it harder for rubbish ads to come through.

I would also like to read anything that came after the first two. The puppy tales have been enthralling so I'd be happy to receive anything else you have written/will write.

I’d love to read these. I did read the first two that were send out around a year ago and still have them on my computer.

If you don’t mind, Em, I have put them all into one folder on the computer, so I will send it over. Just a warning, though - there is another on there, called Tree of Life, which is also not suitable for some people, as it deals with suicide. There is a warning on the beginning of it, but I would hate to upset anyone who may have lost a family member or friend to such a fate. If you think it will affect you, please don’t read it. It was written after a prompt to write about strong emotion.

Afternoon all. Once I had read Beth's writings and PMP members stopped asking for copies, I deleted them from my work laptop I'm afraid. If anyone wants to read anything, Beth will need to email it to me again, which is not a problem for me.

I don't think I read Last Dawn but would like to please and any others you write Beth.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

BETH,

THAT SOUNDS LOVELY, THANK YOU.

I’M GLAD TO HEAR YOU’RE GETTING BACK INTO CREATIVE WRITING, ALTHOUGH, HAVING READ YOUR PUPPY TALES I DON’T THINK YOU EVER REALLY STOPPED. THEY’RE ALWAYS ENJOYABLE TO READ – EXHAUSTING 😁, BUT VERY ENJOYABLE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR STORY.

@Beth8it! - I remember that story, it was very good.

On 22nd December the sun rises and dawn breaks between 8:42am and 8:45am, depending on your exact location in Scotland. .. So Miller was actually hanged BEFORE dawn at 08.12am.

Good one Redz. I wonder if you would like the short story I did that Em sent out to various PMP members? It was set around the Legend of Glastonbury. Anyone who read it, do you think Redz would get on with it? I am currently getting back into the creative writing module now, and just done one complete and one partly finished, plus found one that I don't think I sent out last time. Did anyone read the one about the last prisoner executed at Barlinnie Prison, called Last Dawn? Bit of a sensitive subject, and not suitable for all, but it's there if anyone wants it. I can send it one to admin if there are any takers.

😄 to both

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

DO YOU THINK THE REASON YESHUA APPEARED WAS SO THE MONK COULD ‘SPREAD’ THE WORD THAT ‘MAN CANNOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE’ ?

😉

🤣🤣

🙂 before it all starts, I am not offended.

I've noticed over the last 4 months or so, 2 postcodes streets away from each other come up virtually every day in the draws.

I've never noticed this before or it was very rarely?

You can look up past winning postcodes (or partial postcodes) here: https://pickmypostcode.com/past-winners/ (this is linked at the bottom of every page as ‘Winners Results’)

You can also check winners in your area here: https://pickmypostcode.com/winners-map/

If one postcode is entered more than once it is more likely to be selected (like names in a hat). If a certain postcode area (eg. BA1) appears to not win often that is because there aren't many entries for that area. If a postcode area seems to win more often it must mean that there are more entries from that postcode area. Each postcode area comes up on average in line with its population size and the number of active accounts registered with it. It may be that more populated areas come up more often, but the winners results show that the postcodes are different and not the "same city postcodes".

Where possible we ask members to use their current postcode. This is because some prizes and features on the site are only available to members using their correct address. This includes the golden postcodes referral competition and the survey integrations, but there are likely to be others in future. We strongly prefer that members use their own postcode.

The system completes the draws from a database of active account ID numbers using a random number generator and the parameters of the smallest ID number to the largest. It then displays the postcode on the chosen account number as the winner of the draw. All it ‘sees’ is the account numbers of active members, it is not influenced by any other data or outside factors and is as random as a computer can be.

There is no geographical bias in the selection procedure. The computer doesn't know (or care) where anyone lives! You could give your postcode more chances of coming up by referring your neighbours to us: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/20-referral-bonus

The lottery doesn't choose postcodes from a list; it draws individual member numbers.

Because big cities have huge populations, they naturally have a lot more members than a small village does.

Every single entry has the exact same chance of winning.

But because a big city has thousands of entries in the draw and a village only has a few dozen, you will see a city member win much more often.

You dont need to move there, thats a bit drastic, just change the postcode you have registered if you feel you will win "if it keeps coming up" me personally sees lots of random postcodes coming up.

Why Brighton ? It not like BN1-3 postcodes come up more than any others, and I am looking out for them.

Not that the actual postcodes are used to pick winners as pointed out by others members.

The draw is actually taken from the database of active member's account ID numbers

https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/14-how-are-winning-postcode-selected

Oh don't move, just change your postcode if that's how you think this works 🤔🤔

I would have thought that parents and step-parents were much higher than 43% of suspects - probably in the 90% range. However, they may well be only 44% of those people found guilty. Luckily I was rarely tempted with my four stepchildren! Well, I say rarely, more like ‘not too often’ … or maybe ‘only now and again’ ….or in reality, ‘not more than once a day’…

@Barrie - it's the difference between real and perceived risk. The chances of a child being abducted and abused by a stranger is minute compared to the risk they face from family members, trusted friends and those in authority with legitimate access to the child. But that's an uncomfortable concept for parents and so we teach them 'stranger danger' rather than accept the fact that, when a child goes missing (or worse), it is almost certainly down to someone whom the child and the parents know and trust, or to the parents themselves.

To quote from the ONS website, courtesy of Google: " In England and Wales, parents or step-parents are the most common suspects in the homicides of children under 16, accounting for 43% of cases where a suspect was recorded. A further breakdown shows that for children under 12, roughly 44% of homicides are committed by family members."

No citation offered but many of the other victims were killed by other children, as in the tragic cases of Holly Newton and others.

Too many kids are molly-coddled nowadays. A lot of us lived through the time of the Moors murders & realise that mistreatment of youngsters happens but our parents let us live our lives.

@csikijanos - I did exactly the same with my children, and a whistle was a lot less 'intrusive' in a rural setting than having me shouting their names at the top of my voice. And a whistle (a metal one, not fingers in mouth) carried a lot further and so they had a 'freedom to roam' of anything up to a mile.

My view was that - apart from the small risk of an injury - they were a lot safer on the fells than they would be in a city, even though some people were horrified that I was so willing to allow them out of my sight. When I was a child, I had that freedom, and those were the days long before mobile phones and GPS tracking. Why would I deny my children the same freedom? "They'll come back when they're hungry."

My French penfriend and her mum has a ‘peewit’ call for each other if they got separated, which I think was quite a good idea, and different from the usual.

Years ago I agreed on a two-note whistled recall with my children. Some might say that it was demeaning to 'treat them like dogs' but it worked well when we were outdoors and allowed some freedom to roam.

A whole day without them going in the pond! Poppy did, but I wasn't responsible for her at the time. The boys went out in the stream in the woods on both walks, so maybe they decided that was enough.

Good idea!

I might buy a whistle to call my OH back, then again I’ll save my money 😁