Great news on the little firecracker. 😁

Good luck finishing your essay Beth. 🤞

I am really chuffed - there are only 30-odd victim recovery dogs (cadaver dogs!💀🦴) in the country so she has reached a high threshold just to be considered. I told him she was the one they needed - trying to get him to take Storm now. He has a better nose than Lexi had but is not as manic or energetic at fetching toys, which is what they use to train them. I told him that Storm doesn't bother fetching - he races Shadow to the ball, lets him bring it back then demands his biscuit. Delegating!

Nice to get an update on how Saffie/Lexi is doing, she sounds like she will be a very useful police dog.

See what you did there, Beth. :-)

I like Lexi - easier to call than Saffie. Thank goodness Indi only had 6 puppies - she could have been Lexi' leven

That's so good to hear. Well done to Saffie (or Lexi)!

The eighties band Kajagoogoo originally wanted to call themselves Gagagoogoo. Their lead singer went to my middle school and used to turn up occasionally during Geography lessons.

😂

💕

Thank you on behalf of Em for your kind words.

So sorry for your loss Emma sending condolences to you and all the family xxx

If you don't accept you could be lonesome tonight.

You'd cut a dash rushing in with Blue Suede shoes on!

Think about it carefully before making your decision. As any wise man would tell you, only fools rush in.

Is the concert in Heartbreak Hotel or the Jailhouse?

🧙‍♂️🧑‍🦯🤣

🤣😂🤣

Very good! 😀

love it !!!

So are you going to get ready and go, go, go?

Giggle did i :-) :-) :-)

😅

😂

🤣🤣

🤪🤣

Keep checking and you never know when it might happen.

Good luck! 🤞

💕

I tried to get something similar going a couple of years ago - if there are 60 million people, say 50% under age or not working (ties up with your 34.5m) and everyone contributed £1 that would be £34.5m. The problem was that the collection companies - just giving etc - wanted about 60p so it really wasn't worth doing. It needs a big organisation, already set up, like the BBC or similar, and it would happen, I'm sure.

There are about 34.5 million working adults in the UK.

If every one of those donated a penny a day to charity, that would be £12.5 million over a year. For an outlay of less than £5 a year each.

Just saying.

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

THERE'S A WAY TO GO BEFORE ANYONE BECOMES A TRILLIONAIRE.

WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT SOME WEALTHY PEOPLE ONLY GIVE TO CHARITY AS A TAX WRITE-OFF, MANY OTHERS DONATE MASSIVE SUMS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUSLY ASWELL AS THEIR TIME - WE DON'T TRULY KNOW THEIR HEARTS.

IT’S A GOOD MIRROR FOR US HERE ON THE FORUM, I WOULD IMAGINE NO ONE ON HERE IS ANYWHERE NEAR THE RICH & FAMOUS IN WEALTH (I COULD BE WRONG), YET WHEN THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF SOME SORT OF A PAID LOTTERY, MANY LIKED IT EXACTLY AS IT WAS BECAUSE IT'S ‘£ FOR NOTHING’ & MANY LIKED THE FACT THAT THEIR BONUS DOESN’T RESET TO ZERO AFTER A WIN.

IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE RIGHT & FAIR THING TO DO IS, BEFORE POLICING OTHERS, IT STARTS WITH OUR OWN HABITS. TRUE CHARITY IS ABOUT THE HEART NOT JUST ABOUT MONETARY DONATIONS.

IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING TEST OF CHARACTER TO SEE WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR WINS TO CHARITY OR A LARGE PORTION?

BEFORE ANYONE ASKS I ALREADY MENTIONED ON A PREVIOUS POST I WOULD BE DONATING ALL OF MINE.

As has already been said, there are many with health problems of one type or another and I'm sure we've all lost people, so I'm one that as much as I'll help others I won't be browbeaten into giving to anyone, whether that's charity or beggars, which are often the same. I was brought up to help others but it's interesting that many that beg for money need it much less than some others. It's always been the case that the louder you shout the more you seem to get, which in my opinion really is not a fair system.

With you Beth. ❤️

I wouldn't want to ban them, just wish they would do a bit more good with it than just hand it down.

Agree Beth8it!

If we rid the world of scammers and banned anyone being a trillionaire, the world would surely benefit?

If one footballer and one F1 racing car driver gave one week's pay (even a day's) it would do so much good. I know some do, but honestly, how much does a person need? Musk could probably cover all the charities in the country to the sum of £10k each. Think what that would do. In the meantime, I will keep giving where I can

👍🏻

Biggus Rickus you are of course right: if everyone made a small donation to charitable causes it would make a difference but also remember cancer is not the only disease taking lives. There are many people with diseases or chronic conditions causing serious difficulties, problems and death, many with inherited or genetic conditions which don't attract the same attention and funding as cancer charities. Lets not forget them and make our contributions where we can.

Just waiting for pay day (tomorrow) and then I shall be making my donation to Cancer UK in Simon's name, a charity I have supported for over 40 years, ever since my dad died of liver cancer in 1985. As is rightly pointed out above, even a small donation by many makes a difference. I've already lost way too many people I care about to this awful disease, so what little I can do, I will do.🤗

👏👏👏to both.

Very well said. 😊

I wish the world could get together

If everyone who had an income contributed a tiny amount every year and all the best scientists, researchers and medical experts worked together, surely cancer would be a thing of the past.

I hate to think of the trillions wasted on warfare and greed while lives are unnecessarily cut short. 🥺

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

RED RIDING HOOD,

THANK YOU FOR SHARING SOME VERY THOUGHTFUL ADVICE.

IT IS SO GOOD TO HEAR SOMEONE WITH FAITH WHO KNOWS THAT NO 'CHURCH' OR 'RELIGIOUS SETTING' IS NEEDED TO CONNECT TO YESHUA & OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AFTER ALL ‘HE’ DID TELL US THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.

Luke 17: 20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

SENDING YOU LOVE & LIGHT.

I'm tired just reading this! 😊

I had to do ironing yesterday - the mountain avalanched, and stepson needed his work clothes doing. He would do it, I know, but I agreed to include it when he started paying for his keep. I don't mind ironing, and I shouldn't have let it pile up like this. Just unfortunate weather!

Hope you have a better night tonight Beth! csikijanos that sounds far too energetic for the heatwave but I'm sure you got a sense of achievement from sorting it all out - hope you have a rest tomorrow.

It's a Bank Holiday. Around here, no bins are collected on BH. Routine collections are then generally a day later than usual.

Woke many times (not the dog's fault), got out of bed at 2am and stopped the fan swinging (left it blowing across Csikiedit as she had clearly wanted it). Up at 5 am, out at Csikiedit's shed early. Quietly emptied shed of childminding resources. Then removed (very) old shelves and put together racking (delivered in kit form). She sorted stuff, shed now tidy. Had to choose a 🥵🥵 day of course.

I was laughing while I read that. I guess they are banned from the bed for now but they make great heaters in Winter and you will have at least two.

Maybe they are worried that you are not up often enough for a pee during the night. My cats have a technique of jumping on top of my bladder.

I’m tired out imagining it all! 😆

Maybe the heat is making them more restless….including you!

At 5am is was lovely & cool, broad daylight & not a cloud in the sky, I was sitting outside on my balcony with a cuppa & a toasted sandwich.

🤣🤣🤣

..,and there’s me, never heard a thing and slept right through the night. Good girl tetley. 😂

I get that about survey sites that pay for cashouts,please don't patronise me lol.I get u have to make money,I get that,but the amount amount of unclaimed postcodes which we can see shows that alot of people join then do tasks to get their ballance bigger then dissappear, it's a good way of making making money,I get it

There are dedicated survey sites if you want to complete surveys and cash out the money you earn for doing so.

This FAQ explains that we’re not a cashback site and more about why:

https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/22-how-do-i-withdraw-my-bonus

I think in that situation Barrie, as a regular user, you would be forgiven for getting someone to tell you what the postcodes were. I should hope so, anyway.

Don't forget unforeseen circumstances. I had a week with no internet, days in hospital, people turning up, forgot the time & local outages.

As the reminder email lands you on the main draw page, many still don't know there are other draws despite a link to the next draw right under it.

A few people have said they don't bother with the smaller draw prizes, they only check the main draw (whith has the biggest cash sum) cos they don't have much bonus.

Others are waiting mistakenly for someone to tell them they have won, or don't even bother to check regularly..

I was wondering if all the members who rely solely on the one email reminder a day only check once a day, thus missing many draws. This would explain the accounts being active but the huge numbers of missed prizes?

And, of course, only people who log in regularly are actually in the draws, so it's puzzling why so many wins are missed.

But it’s not a cash back site and has never claimed to be. The bonus is what it says - a bonus that doesn’t actually exist unless/ until you win

It puzzles me why anyone would join something with a very successful and original business model, works well and is hugely successful and want to change it. Chris started this from nothing. I’m sure anyone who thinks they could do it better could have a go at setting up something with their own vision.

The reason the site has survived 15 years must be because the business model works.

Cashing out bonuses is totally unsustainable. Instant bankruptcy. Have a look at the Bonus Leaderboard…

There are several thousand members on the Leaderboard and not all members are represented as many of haven’t put ourselves on it.

Even just the top 20 claiming would be £144,000.

Would anyone come back after claiming?

No traffic or surveys completed equals no site income = disaster.

Don't skip your check or walk away,

Your prize might be a day away!

No hate from me you are entitled to your opinion.

I think if it worked that way they would go bankrupt ?

The problem with taking your money out is that the site would not be viable - at the moment there is £x won plus bonuses for the main, survey, video and 3 bonus draws, plus however many stackpot and one mini draw. That’s the maximum per day - if we could withdraw the money there would have to be a lot more given out as many people would do so without winning. It’s a bit like a bank - they rely on people not all wanting to take their funds at once, and a run on the banks would deprive them of operating capital. I think, if withdrawal was allowed, you could look at fewer draws and a minimum applied, and even then it might become impossible to maintain as a free site.

How many would build their bonus if they could cash out at anytime , & at what stage would they cash out, & would they come back as it would have to be zero'd on cashing? Anyone can leave anytime they wish.

Yes, it gets boring doing lots of repetitive surveys, but you can also build your bonus to whatever you would like to win with 3p/day, taking offers & doing referrals (everything is optional), so plod on, keep checking, & your fingers crossed that your postcode appears.

The site relies on revenue from surveys & advertising etc to pay out prizes & bonuses, support its hardware & running expenses, staff wages, etc so it needs the footfall of as many people returning as possible to make it a success.

If everyone could cash out anytime the site would not be able to exist. We also have a great community here on the comment pages with help, info, games & laughs, etc which most of us would hate to lose.

That was very kind of them, I hope it was a good one.

Probably Simon Cowel - he doesn't like accordions.

No, 4 faults and a refusal ....... this one has missed me by a mile 🤷‍♀️

👍🏻😊👍🏻

Worth a smile.

😂

:-)

😊 I'd forgotten that one.

🤣🤣

🤣🤣🤣

The more modern rechargeable ones are easier as you recharge them overnight. The NHS provide rechargeable ones. My hard of hearing relative sings the praises of the local audiology dept. Everthing provided at no extra cost. 😀

I went to Specsavers for my first and only test, and it was so frustrating I haven't been again - bad idea, I know. They say that defective hearing contributes to dementia - that may explain a lot! I had to stand around for ages, not even acknowledged by the staff - they were very busy, but how long does it take to look up, say, 'Be with you shortly'? The 12-yr old foreign girl who tested me spoke in a very quiet voice and I couldn't hear her instructions, particularly when I was told to watch the screen and ... do something...? They did give me a fair number of batteries, and I got more from them a few months later, but that was back in 2016.

I went to a local Boots to be assessed for hearing aids. I had to queue for ages despite being the only one in that queue. When I was finally seen I was told they could make me an appointment but not see me then. I made the appointment having told them I did need hearing aids and returned on the day, to still be kept waiting too long in my opinion. I finally got in and had tests and was told yes I was partially deaf so I'd need an appointment to arrange a further test. I gave up and went to Secsavers, the only problem with that was they needed certain proofs I didn't have on me and I was later taken ill so I've never got them even now. Specsavers are very tight in our area on batteries. They gave a friend a box full at the start but later they're rationing them so you constantly have to return for further appointments just to get new batteries.

Am waiting for a response from 'the system', having been assessed by Boots audiologist as qualifying for aids (i.e. deaf enough). Clearly not a priority, which seems fair enough.

Now you mention it…..I think oor wee local hospital does the same every second Tuesday or Thursday .I’ll have to look into that. Thanks.

Our local Audiology clinic has a drop in session every week. My relative says they recalibrate, repair, tweak etc the aids until they perform correctly. If all else fails, they replace or suggest a different model.

I have an NHS hearing aid. I find I don’t wear it as it irritates my ear. It also works when I put it in then after a few mins stops working until I open and shut the battery compartment. Very annoying so end up not wearing it. Subtitles are a boon. 🙂

Agree Buttercup2, my OH was told the same. He's got the sphere ones , not cheap. I've had to declare them on house insurance as a separate item worth £5k.

His are very good. The TV is now at a sensible 18, rather than 30. He can take calls through Bluetooth directly into the aids. He adjusts via the app depending on location , eg restaurant, crowds etc. So it's been very good and the Boots audiologist is excellent. She's made several adjustments to them. He says it took him 6 months to get used to them. He's due back next month for a retest after having them a year.

@Purple anonymous I was told there was a two year waiting list for NHS ones and I had already put it off too long, and the NHS ones I've seen have all been big clumpy things behind your ears, not smaller neat ones. Also the stories I heard of the time people wasted waiting for appointments etc it just seemed so much easier going into Boots in the shopping mall

There is a scam on the internet from some guy, I think he was supposedly an audiologist who decided to build some himself and he now sells them. Watch out for him. I can't understand why they haven't come up with something better than battery ones that need new batteries every five minutes, or others that recharge when you put them back in the case which last for even less time when in use. I did buy some earbuds that the wife is very happy with for reading in bed which she pops back in the case and they recharge, and the case itself rarely needs to be plugged in, so it works for earbuds but probably not for hearing aids.

If people aren't aware, when you peel the sticker off the back of the battery leave for a few minutes before putting in the aid and the battery will last longer.

Eh?

A bit puzzled as to why people are buying them. The electronic ones are free on the NHS if you have a hearing problem? 2 of my relatives and 2 neighbours have them. They got them from the Audiology Dept at the local hospital.They look the same as sets you buy and they hear very well. Am I missing something?

I got mine from Specsavers free on the NHS. They are pretty good.

Buttercup2, my neighbour bought some, tried them a couple of times, now back in the box. As they say, actions speak louder than words. Perhaps you would be better off getting some actions. Sorry couldn't resist.

Yeah, I spent over £1,000 last year on Boots cheapest private ones, only because I got a 0% option to pay over 2 years, and I'm not impressed with them at all, despite many visits back and forth to the audiologist, I still have to use subtitles on the TV unless it's blaring, and don't always catch conversations if people speak too fast or too low. Has anyone tried the Hidden Hearing ones they rave about on the Internet? You can't always trust the reviews...

🤣

💕

Going up nicely.

£1,836.25 Now. 😀

All that Tiseye said for Em 💞

💞🫂💞

I hope you are doing ok Em.

Thinking of you Em🥀

Em - do they send you a copy of the page, or can you print it off at some point? One day it may be taken down, and you might want to keep the messages and photos.

I just visited Simon's page, the photos are beautiful Em. Sending love and hugs. xxx

Big hugs Em.🤗😘🤗

Tiseye.. I couldn't have said it better x 😢

Yes - mine too.

I agree Tiseye xx

Hi Em

All our thoughts and love are sent to you xxx

❤️

Just in case an ad is inappropriate: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/113-what-to-do-if-you-see-a-dodgy-or-inappropriate-advert

Enver, I used to know a woman who ran a gym and she had the same opinion. Showing me around, she pointed to the cars in the car park and said "I always wonder why they drive all the way here, spend an hour on the exercise machines, then drive home again. They'd get the same amount of exercise if they left their car at home and pedalled a bike around for an hour" "And they'd save money on the gym fees." I piped up. "And I'd be out of business." she shot back. She was happy to take money from fools!

No need to do that - I’ve got a big garden that needs a lot of weeding if anyone wants exercise.

Ha ha Maddadof.🤣

Naughty maddadof.

I have often thought that Enver.

We laugh at them driving to the gym only to pay fees to walk run, cycle or row on a machine, & lift weights, when they could naturally have done all that shopping !

Jaffa, Could you give more detail please ?? ;-)

To go with those adverts I have also been getting one for exercise for men over 50 who haven't been to the gym in a while.

When Outfox's installations lot keep trying to sign me up for a smart meter I tell them that I send in the meter reading anyway (and they do tell you to check it is correct monthly, so what are you saving?) and it tells me whether I am using more or less energy. It won't SAVE me money itself, it will just tell me what I can do to save money - I already know that anything producing heat uses the most power, and LED lights are more economical than halogen, and using a microwave is more economical than using an oven ... I would still check my usage, just as I do the solar power income, so no, thank you very much. After a few more pointless bleatings, they finally gave up - for now.

I recently phoned a meter read in as B.Gas state "send us a reading and we'll correct you bill and send a new one so you don't have to pay more than you should." I then phoned every day for a couple of weeks to check automated balance, no change, and also called and spoke to a person three times. Six week later I finally got the amended bills, gas and electric. One was corrected, the other they had estimated the bill up to the date they finally corrected it all so although using my accurate read from 6 week earlier they'd added units for a further six week. Makes no sense at all.

I usually have two cars marked Morissons Data parked most nights at the motel next to my estate, meter readers - they only read the meters by power company request, gone are the days when they used to go down each & every road reading everyone's meters. . I often get a card through the letterbox saying send the readings in online, even when I was in.

No more “lovely Rita meter maid”..

A lot of younger people won't get the joke because they won't even know what a meter man is 🤣 I haven't had one for about 20 years as we had to submit our own readings, now have had a smart meter for a few years so no need even to do that...

Take a photo next time if you can then forward it to the company.

We keep getting a card through the door saying ‘we called but you were out. We will call again to verify your customer’s own readings, or you can phone in to verify them.’ Logic, anyone? I sat in the window as he walked to the door, pushed the card through and walked away. (No, I didn’t have a red light shining, I was invalided at the time.)

Very funny Kenny.

Anyone still have a Meter man call ?

If maddafof hadn't said it I would have done. Maybe I should talk about the footman I used to have.

The fact that you said that maddadof….says different! 😂

:-) :-) If i was pedantic " 3.28084 ", but i'm not ;-)

Em, so sorry to hear of your sad news. My thoughts are with you and your family x

Thank you all. I really appreciate your kind words.

Beth, I have been trying to find the right words to type that will bring some comfort to Em, and you have succeeded beautifully. I can't think of another word so I won't try, other than to express my sincere condolences to you Em.

This is so sad 😞 he was so brave 🌹 My thoughts are with you Emma 💝

I've just been reading the tributes and donations. Lovely messages. To bear the diagnosis, treatment and final prognosis that Simon did so bravely takes a special person. I only met him briefly but it was obvious how well suited he and Em were. Any disease where someone is taken too early is a cruel theft of a life that had so much to give, but their time together will bring the special memories for Em that she worked so hard to build.

I wonder if those bike couriers manage to do this though? They are riding around all day, even if covering a relatively small area.

You should obviously have pedalled ten times further.

I had a racing bike with a wee wheel rotation counter, it equated to about 1,000 miles a year.

Fair point 😉

Maybe it's to stop people trying to clock up over 10,000 miles on the pavement.

When you think of the price of a car compared to the price of a bike,even a good one it does seem a little unfair ?

I can't see many reps trogging up the A-roads to their next appointment on a bike and arriving all hot and sticky.

Or to look at it another way, 27 miles a day, every day of the year.

That first bit was posted very late at night, but today I have kept them in a lot. We walked early today - out for a widdle at 5.30am, long-ish walk 7am, then just a few wanders round the garden or sitting under the apple tree in the shade until 7pm. That was them - I had to unblock the drains and then clean the pond filters - messy job, not to be recommended when wearing a white shirt.

I work in our village community shop and we were selling doggie ice-cream a lot.

Many owners said they would be walking theirs earlier and later in the heatwave.

I expect yours were thinking they would stay in and be cool…

😂🥝

LOL indeed 😀 said Lol

@ Maddadof. That was very funny. LOL.

I was a bit slow with that one. Had to read it twice but then made me laugh out loud

😂

🤣🤣

😂😂 nice one !!

😂

🤣🤣

Elephant birds are gigantic extinct flightless birds (like a large ostrich) belonging to the order Aepyornithiformes that were native to the island of Madagascar. They are thought to have gone extinct around 1000 AD, likely as a result of human activity.

"No madam, don't stand behind the... 💩, too late, Fred fetch the shovel & dig madam out" ....

🎵Oh we're off to see the wild west show, ...

the elephant & the wild kangaroo-roo-roo-roo,

never mind the weather, as long as we're together,

we're off to see the wild west show.🎵

🤪

The elephant is a graceful bird

It hops from bough to bough

It lays its eggs in the rhubarb tree

And whistles like a cow

(Or twig to twig and like a pig if you prefer.)

More accurate to say very old but still funny.

Did elephant birds flock?

Sexist? The protagonist has to be a person doesn’t it?

Sexist but still funny.

😂

:-) :-)

PMSL Not herd that before :-)

🤣

By which time SWMBO probably didn’t need them anyway! I think there may be more bed blocking caused by waiting for prescriptions after a hospital stay than from waiting for care packages. I have had to wait 4 hours before now, slowing up discharge time.

SWMBO broke her leg 3 weeks ago.

Once her leg was in plaster, A&E prescribed an anti-coagulant injection and said we could pick up the prescription from our local health centre (it's just across the road). 4 days later and no prescription. Checked with A&E and they hadn't sent it out, so handed it to us!

Boots didn't stock the item and said try hospital pharmacy then stated that the injections would be dangerous because of one of her regular blood thining tablets and refused to issue a repeat prescription!

A&E claimed there was no problem and said to try the hospital pharmacy for the injections. Pharmacy issued prescription and agreed with Boots pharmacist that it could be dangerous to mix the anti-coagulant and blood thinners.

Are you better now? That must have been really worrying.

I had that problem too. I was sent by one specialist to another for some sort of scans. After the scans I asked the nurse what was the result. She said the specialist there would write to the first specialist and they would let me know. The result - nothing. I had to ask my doctor and fortunately he was able to access the hospital records. Only because I asked my doctor did I find out what was causing me to loose 50% of the movement and 90% of the strength in my left arm. Happened overnight so a bit worrying.

I had a call a couple of days ago to give me an appointment for a nerve conductivity test to see why my hand is numb and it’s spreading in extent. I was told I’d get an email confirmation but nothing yet, nothing on the NHS App, and nothing in the post. I don’t know where she was calling from (very thick accent) so will have to do some phoning round next week. Why can’t they update things straight away?

I'm in full agreement with this. But I also think they should be sacked for not accessing medical records. My wife was put on iron tablets due to anaemia caused by other meds she takes. First month or two was okay then tried to get more and it wasn't sent to the chemist. Tried later and was told it had been rejected last time but she'd try. Got the answer today in a text that it was refused and if she wants them she has to buy them over the counter. It's becoming a regular thing around the country that gp's are prescribing meds then someone is refusing them. No tests have been done since to see if they're still needed but with other meds it's likely she would.

Yes, hopefully the hospital in Liverpool will realise how wrong they got it

I really do.

Thank you to everyone who has chosen to donate. Em appreciates it and it is wonderful that so many of you have despite not even knowing Simon personally.

My mother developed it at 78 and was too ill for any intervention and died just before 80.

It’s so sad that Simon developed it so young .

I feel a bit of an attachment to this charity, as it's the trial that my husband took part in once he was diagnosed with his asbestos disease (mesothelioma). The specialists were monitoring how frequently it metastasized into the bile duct, causing the same cancer that Simon had. Really hope they find a cure for it so no one else has to go through what Em and Simon did.

I'm so very grateful to Chris for giving his OK to the blog, May for writing it and to everyone who has donated in Simon's name. I can't believe we have reached £1090.00 and the site has only been live for two days!

Simon would be very pleasantly surprised and also grateful.

💕