Bonus leaderboard

Was only 35c today. Opened windows and doors, also put the big fan on. Went into the garden at about 19:00 to pick the ripe soft fruit from the blueberry, red, black & white currants and the gooseberry plants.

Am going to lift a couple of the potato plants soon as they are clearly struggling and near end of life. Still using the last of last year's onions so I might make it to this year's crop again. Apart from buying sets, haven't needed to buy an onion for 3 years now.

Having had the windows replaced, I'm going to have another quote for shutters and will probably stop and make a choice rather than go on for more quotes.

It’s hotter for me this evening and 50% chance of rain.I do hope so both I and my garden need it.

I think I will soon be leapfrogged too, JulesM is having a good run.

8.20pm and still at 29 degrees and 23 forecast overnight. Been indoors since Tuesday morning but have an eye test tomorrow.

Hope it cools down soon for you Susiewoo2 - you do seem to be in 1 of the hottest areas.

Not coping too well, Boss saw me in the corridor today and very kindly told me I could go home early, many parents have kept their children at home, the ones that have to work are very grateful for the school staying open. Too much for me...still 30 degrees here 6.50 p.m

There’s always a downside but at least you are cool 🥶

Hi Everyone, how is everyone coping with the heat? I've been able to WFH since Tuesday and after the Met Office extended the extreme heat warning for London and the South East tomorrow Himself has agreed that I can WFH again tomorrow. Dreading the next electricity bill, my fan has been on pretty much 24*7.

Good news on your family member, FP. You must be so relieved.

Ditto what Jaffa said.

I hope the Mr at least wore a hat, better still if he wore a wet towel as well.

That’s good news Flower so pleased.🤗🤗

Hope you’ve managed to get it fixed Jax🤞

Poor you hope it’s sorted

Yesterday was horrendous. Unfortunately whilst WFH I discovered my Mac wasn't charging. It was identifying that the charger was connected to the laptop just wasn't charging. While trying various things to make it work it went from 40 to 22%. This ex-Queenslander princess had to suck it up and leave the house.

Knew I wouldn't make it alive on the bus to the Apple Store on Regent Street, so instead caught the bus around the corner to go to our local market. 35C with a real feel of 39. I was barely gone from home 15 mins. Had to have a cold shower as soon as I walked in the door.

Glad you both had a good journey home.

Yes got back, quite a good journey - just over 4 hours.

Couldn't believe how hot and clammy it was when I got out of the car. Reminded me of Hong Kong. It was 38c when I got back, watered the plants.

Its "cooled" down to 36 now at 18:00.

Yea! I got a mention above. I feel really important now. 🤓. Thanks, FP.

Shyboy my MG seats were/are leather but just as bad! Especially for young ladies in short skirts!😳

Safe travels to both Bruce and Jaffa.

I think the seats would have melted in this heat!

Bruce let’s hope there are fewer cars out so we get a quick journey home.Safe travels.

Not forgetting the vinyl seats.

Definitely Bruce8, how on earth did we manage- I suppose we had all the windows open & covered the interior in dust, grit & dead insects!

Have a safe journey back.

Been back to 3p a day.

its not ideal, I'm driving back on Wednesday. Thank goodness for aircon.

Thanks Jaffa. I work in admin, not too bad work wise today but just way too hot in my office!

I hope whatever you do you get a quiet day Poppy.

Hope you get some sleep tonight Susiewoo2.

It's 27 degrees here at the moment, my bedroom is 31degrees. I only work 3 days a week, starting from tomorrow, really not looking forward to it.

Happy belated birthday to Auntie, Jaffa. She certainly had a nice day for it.

Aunties Birthday treat sounds lovely Jaffa, glad you all enjoyed it.

Thank you, there has been a little improvement- keeping🤞

Whew! Not too sure what it’s been here but too much for me, hope you have a good journey home, thank goodness for aircon.

Jaffa, being a good friend to her is all you can do and I'm sure she will appreciate it.

Very sad for you Jaffa but at least she has you, hope you’re near enough to visit regularly.

Sadly I doubt it but I will do my best to be a good friend.

😢

Hopefully there is treatment that will get her better.

I'm also sorry to hear that. Like you say always the good and nicest people. She's lucky that she has got you as a friend who will give any help that she needs.

🙏

Sorry to hear that, Jaffa. I hope she is able to have treatment for it.

Thank you both

Sorry Jaffa, Sad news

Jaffa, so sorry to hear your news 🙁

Many thanks to all for your good wishes, a slight improvement today.

Love the keeping cool ideas, we do use the cold hotwater bottle with some ice in & the ice packs wrapped in a tea towel but Susiewoo2’s advice is a new 1 to me. 😊 aren’t they a bit lumpy?

Love your idea Susie.🥵🥵🥵

FORGIVE CAPS PMP.

FOR INDOORS TRY A BOWL OF ICE IN FRONT OF YOUR TOWER FAN WHILE USING.

COOLING TOWELS ARE QUITE GOOD TOO - RE-WET IT, WRING IT & SNAP IT!

STAY CHILL & KEEP HYDRATED.

Barrie, that's what I'm using today as the hot water bottle with cold water got warm too quickly! 🥵

The larger ice packs that we use in cool boxes wrapped in a tea towel act as a reverse hot water bottle.

Cue Barrie comment!

Small cold packs in your bra😮 it works and no one can tell 😉

I've heard about filling the hot water bottle too. You can also put cold water in and freeze it (not filling it so that there is room for the water to expand as it turns to ice) and then put it on the mattress.

Best wishes to your family member, FP.

I need to buy one then!

Hope your relative has recovered.

I read today to fill a hot water bottle with cold water (from the fridge or with ice added) to keep you cooler at night. I'm trying it tonight, and so far it's working well!

I hope your relative is feeling better now. I'm a proud Londoner but I can't stand that kind of heat. Thank goodness I emigrated to Scotland in 2021. Warm and sunny here in Ullapool today, sun sets at 10.26pm.

Fans blinds closed and extra water are the order of the day for us all.

We had rain this afternoon in Brixham but going home on Wednesday to 36c.

I hope your relative is ok after some tlc Flower.

Oh Marie, that is so kind, I have learned my lesson and will take more notice next time. it was getting late and the survey was so long I was half asleep. Thank you so much, promise I'll do better!!

Bisto Kid, as you can't remember the details of the survey, I've added an average amount for you now.

Can you remember the amount and survey company?If so Marie might be able to pay you.

Hmmm, I did a survey yesterday on skin care. It went on for 45 minutes and like you FlowerP, I lost the will to live. However, I soldiered on and finished it. I got the congratulation notice with balloons and confetti then .... nothing! A notice appeared at the top of the page saying something like "not allowed". Needless to say no payment neither yesterday nor today. It isn't the lack of payment I grizzle about but the time wasted, 45minutes I will never get back. I cannot remember the originator of the survey or even how much it was for (well it was quite late!) so cannot email Marie but my point is that some survey companies just don't play fair. Yes I know....it is what it is and it's all in a days work for survey doers. Anyway, I'll put up and shut up now!

Sorry for your bad news FlowerPower, hope all gets better.

Sorry news not good for you hope today is better.

I do hope everything's OK, FP. Sending love and best wishes for the positive outcome.

FP. That must have been the one I had yesterday afternoon. I was only doing it whilst having a coffee before going into the garden. It went on and on ..... until the end Guess what? Screened out. An email has made its way to Marie. Just completed one about technology. As you all know, I am absolutely useless with it and kept answering no or don't know. Surprised to reach the end.

ThankYou Kiwi Shel 🥝 🤗

Big hugs sent FP🌻! My dear papa went to his resting place 24 years ago so I enjoyed a long evening walk and a vino tonight. Hope we sleep well despite the heat. Sweet dreams 🌸🌻

It took me a while too!

That took me a while Barrie.

He was wrong. Cygnets are neither ugly nor ducklings.

Thanks for the update Marie. I do hope he is keeping well...

I can say that his account is not active at the moment.

Ha ha .Mr.FP sounds like my kind of chap!

I think it’s a bit longer than that maddadof. We’ll probably never find out, if he has passed, would anyone bother to check what he did on the internet?

There are others who have simply ceased to post, some quite ill- you have to assume they aren’t with us anymore.

Has anyone of us asked a loved one to pass on the news if we were affected?? I have actually instructed MR FP, so you’ll all know if I’ve given up the ghost.

He isn’t very loquacious, so don’t expect much of an explanation.

I have not seen any comments from him for a few months.

Is your school closing due to the heat Susie?

Stay safe in the heat this week (for those who have it, that is)!

12.36p.m and it's already 30 degrees in the back garden shade ....oh dear

Whew! 🥵that doesn’t sound good at all! I hope it won’t be quite as bad as you’re both expecting!

I am REALLY not looking forward to the temperature next week...spray bottle and cold flannels at the ready. Was 29.5 in the classroom Friday. 🥵

Yes hugs to both and congrats Shyboy.Its got very hot today but cooler than home not looking forward to 30c on Wednesday.

Someone trying to make us all look more productive for a day or two.

Thanks Bruce8, I was just about to look- can’t remember who it was though 🤔

@Bruse8 - the heat is why I moved to Scotland, it's generally about 7C cooler than London.

Look forward to hearing about your next trip Shyboy.

Bruce at least you were not on the train that crashed but M42 is not great.I hope your mum enjoys your stay,I also do the filing paperwork thing for auntie.Have a good weekend.

Tiring journey up here. More roadworks on M42.

It is cooler here. Watered the beds before I left have to hope plants survive until I return next week.

Worked through most of the papwrwork. Just need to do the filling. Not sure what is on the cards for today, yet.

My next trip is on August bank holiday. Another mystery.

Direct Save 01923 709 709

OH currently watching football so I have been checking to see if there are any surveys…no.I did get two earlier though.Nice to see Bruce back in the game too.

We are going over to Dartmouth for a wander tomorrow as auntie having her hair done in preparation for her 93rd birthday on Tuesday.

Weather here is not so good it’s warmer but misty rain a lot of the day.

I see back home it will be in the 30s on our return phew!

Hugs back to you Flower and I hope you get internet sorted,sorry I can’t help.🤗

I am actually gobsmacked at some of the bonus figures Flower, this is what is egging me on to keep going, haha!

Some people just don’t know when to stop.😂

That's Shyboy, Jaffa he bragged about raiding my shed & he has since left me in the dust.

Except for those who throw down caltrops Barrie…😂😂

Hope you are still progressing ok and not too affected by the heat.

Treat the leader board as a bit of fun Mrs West5. Most posters are happy to congratulate anyone who overtakes them (those that don't probably haven't noticed). Good luck..

Mrs West5, have a look at the ‘Top position ’ button- to the right of ‘Show my position’ above the Leaderboard- some amazing totals, bearing in mind that not everyone is even on the LB.

Good luck with your efforts. I only try for surveys and qualify for very few, but every little helps.

I have a feeling it will slow down at some point Jaffa. Thank you, Flower. I just want to fight for a decent bonus, I didn;t realise you could build it as much as this. :)

Your doing really well, hope you’ll make your target👍

The higher you go the slower it can get so I seldom move up but if I add to my bonus I am happy.

😊

Inherited familial hyocholestralaemia can only be medicated.Mine has risen since the thyroid issue and I am not overweight and eat quite healthily so having cholesterol shots and eating two apples a day to see what that does..

Your diet sounds much more yummy!

There’s quite a lot I could do to diet, Jaffa🤣 I could give up on the donuts 🍩- the chocolate 🍫 & the double cream on the strawberries but then, I’m not sure how much I really need to diet!

High cholesterol doesn’t necessarily mean you’re fat does it, I was told I had it many years ago but that it wasn’t something I could change with diet, just inherited factors.

Currently sat in the garden accompanied by a pair of very noisy pheasants but it’s mild and dry.

Not so hot as home but ok to go out for a breather from aunty who is not too bad and having a memory visit next week.

Hope you sort the phone internet issue.

We use Octopus for both elec and gas and find them very good can’t remember who is our internet provider but loads cheaper than before.

Just had to stop latest cholesterol med as same agonising leg pain so as other meds not ok with nice it’s diet or nothing I expect and not much I can do to diet really.Hey ho.

Bruce8 I think it does probably work out, if you have most or all of your utilities with them but you do have to have smart metering- which we didn’t want.

I hope you have a good journey up to your Mums & manage to get everything sorted for her.

Good luck for your visit Bruce and safe travels.

Hi FP, I have a fixed annual payment for everything that is reviewed once a year. The smart meters mean I no longer have to send them regular readings. At the moment I think I'm over paying on the gas and underpaying on the electricity however nothing changes until October.

Off to Mum's house tomorrow. More appointments, paperwork, meeting with friends and freezer filling.

Malc- H -I’ve been checking EE this afternoon but the prices seem to have changed- more expensive now + a list of planned future price rises & can’t seem to get through on the phone no.

I’m going to see if I can contact them tomorrow. There is cashback on TCB from EE but different amounts depending on the contract, which obviously you’d only get if it was done via online application anyway.

BT do seem to be one of the most reliable but also the most expensive- with a list of future price increases ahead.

Bruce8 we used to use UW but because we didn’t want smart meters, they always took vastly over-estimated monthly payments for Gas & Electric- despite us sending the regular correct readings.

They did pay some of it back the following month but it was impossible to work out what we were actually paying & what they would take for the next payment, so moved from them some years ago.

Shyboy, we tried all the comparison sites too, no one is offering home phone-line & calls.

We use the internet all day & evening & often early a.m. too, so are hoping for a more reliable provider. I listen to audio via the library, when I can’t sleep - so often in 24hour use here.

Many thanks to All for all the info.- Enver your DL speed wouldn’t work for us, both using it for different purposes - Mr FP watches Netflix all evening & I mostly read on my iPad -reply to emails & check pmp.

We were with Plusnet for broadband and landline, but they are no longer doing "home phone" after renewal of contract and moved us over to EE who do 150Mbs full fibre for £27.99 + £2 for "home phone". Calls extra of course. You can keep your analogue phone and plug it into the new router they give you. There is no line rental involved with this service so we are saving money. I believe they do packages with inclusive calls, but we have started using the mobiles for calls as they are included with our SIM only packages.

We stopped BT as they were very expensive.

We just use mobiles now but that’s not always easy I know.

I use Utility Warehouse - I have a landline for free calls after 7pm. I could pay more for free calls all day however my mobile is part of a bundled package and I mostly use that. Gas, Electricity & BB are part of the same package so its just a single payment each month.

Have you tried BT, FP? They do landline and calls as part of their packages.

I looked aound and tried the comparison sites but I couldn't find one that would give unlimired landline calls. I don't do data, whatever that is, nor streaming, only have Freeview so I don't need tv through the internet. My contract with Talk Talk ran out long ago. They emailed me with an offer of a 2 year contract. Spoke to a call centre, on the landline of course, and she offered exactly what they are already supplying but £5 a month cheaper which is fixed for two years. Sending a new router as well.

I also get a bad signal at 7am and 7pm. I just avoid those times.

Thanks maddadof I’ve just had a look, can’t see anything about landline though, just fullfibre at £27 odd.

Maybe it’s only available to customers who already have it, I think that’s what Now at Sky are doing, keep upping the price until customers give up & leave! Our’s isn’t even full-fibre, comes via the phone line & it’s £35 at the moment.

So do Direct Save (I get 8Mbps which is only just adequate for £29.47p/month & calls extra), ... & so do TalkTalk (but I won't go back to them),.

I'm thinking of switching to 3, uses an outside signal hub (not a landline) & said to average 150Mbps, but not sure what reception or speed I'll get on it here, it's £14/month till April 2027 when it increases by £3.50p (24 month contract).

(I rarely use my land line - I only get regular insulation spam & scammers on it), .

EE do landline + calls + tinternet..

Very impressive!

Brilliant! Well done to all concerned.

They all did a brilliant job and held it together so well.

We watched last night too, very sad, Em did really well, I’d have been a wreck! The Mums did well too, so moving to hear how loved he was.

Well trying to work out which back of the head was me would be a challenge!

I watched yesterday and was trying to spot a man on their own who might be you Bruce but failed.

Em did very well to lead the service.

💕

I'm glad that Em mentioned that you attended, Bruce. I didn't want to in case you were too modest to want people to know, but it was an incredible gesture from you and I'm glad others now know about it too.

It was a 145 mile round trip. It just seemed the right thing to do. We've all journeyed with Emma and Simon

Well done Bruce8 on behalf of all who live way too far away🤗

Yes that was a lovely thing to do Bruce and thank you for being our presence 🤗🤗

Dropped one more place today as Shaledodger overtook me. Bound to happen with only 3p a day now (except for the political surveys)

Thanks to Bruce8 for representing the community at Simon's funeral today. Also grateful that Chris was able to attend.

Did that today Jaffa, said they hadn’t received the communication from the GP!

Considering that would be an electronic exchange & he rang me last Tuesday to say he’d sent it & I received a text info. the previous day, I find it rather unlikely that they have no record of it.

Looks like I’ll have to join the endless queue for the GP surgery!

Hope Devon Auntie will be happy to see you & you can enjoy your visit.🤞

A better day in Falmouth than expected.Shanties over so had a long walk and a final meal together before we go on to Devon and the others back to Bristol.

Not looking forward to the next week but you never know…

We have so little mail now I don’t notice how long it takes.I hope you get your appointment soon Flower if not try calling the dept if you can.

Not too windy today, I expected rain but we didn't get any

It's still windy here.

👍

Susie I am sure all of us could say that with the benefit of hindsight.If we learn from our mistakes that is all we can do.🤗🤗

Don’t beat yourself up Susiewoo2, all of us have made mistakes at some time or another, you’re doing your very best & it certainly doesn’t sound like he’s missing out!

I hope you get to use your passport too & have a lovely summer & you never know, you could have another win in the future🤞Big hugs from me 🤗🤗🤗🤗

F.P. I am so grateful for my win....I would give my right arm to see that my boy gets some chances and experiences in life. Stupidly I made some bad life choices which is why I am in this position now. Live and learn. I am working hard to make things right.

New passport regulations tend to relate to using them rather than getting them.

Additional security for those travelling who are not from the EU. You are required to provide finger prints using their scanner and have a photo taken. These are then compared when you next arrive or leave an EU country. Supposed to be quicker once you've been scanned once however it makes little difference because of the queue of other people having theirs done.

Yes we visited the biggest model railway I'd ever seen. It was the purpose of the visit really. My son told me he would like to see it last year originally got the German city wrong, however remembered it was Hamburg before I booked the plane tickets. We first checked when there was availability, then booked the air plane, found a hotel and booked minitur wonderland.

The other days were so we could see a bit of Hamburg. Its changed a bit since I was last there - though that was almost 40 years ago.

Wow! Susiewoo2 - hope he doesn’t get held up, due to the new passport regs. I think it’s great 👍 especially when they don’t have siblings, my son always went on lots of trips with school & scouts etc.

It makes them more self reliant, well done you for financing them all, hope you still have some left for Christmas. 👍

Good job you had a win then Susie!

I've just used half my winnings on a first passport for little man (who is officially now taller than me) a renewed one for me and 4.. yes 4 school trips for him before the end of July 😮😮😮

Malc_H, you need to be careful there are rumours that they are going to replace our slate passports.

Malc_H. 🤣

You would have to be young to do that Enver.

"Bruce9 - did you visit the worlds biggest model railway?

Many years ago in late 70's I went to Hamburg (20 hour crossing) on the Prins Hamlet car ferry from Harwich (bargain £15 weekend trip) with a schoolfriend, it departs every 2nd day.. & only has 4 hours (8am to midday) turnaround each end to get into & see the city from the Landungsbrucken where the ship docked.

It was nearly time for the return & we wandered back towards the ship, but seeing it in the distance suddenly realised it was about 3 miles away, you never seen us run so fast in our lives along the Reeperbahn in the St. Pauli neighborhood, must have broke the 4 minute mile ... just made it & got onboard as the gangplank & ropes were being cast off, the ship was starting to move but they pulled it back in for a minute till we had out tickets & passports checked by an official standing there & were allowed onboard.

We wondered where another 3 older friends we met on the outward trip were as they did not appear on the ship till later in the afternoon after cruising down the river. They had missed the midday departure, one of them spoke fairly good german, they took the train to Cuxhaven (on the mouth of the river Elbe) & bribed the pilot boat to bring them aboard when it took our river pilot off, before the overnight crossing of the North Sea..

We got into Bournemouth today without any problems, even though we are from Yorkshire.

It seems to be causing lots of problems and the main holiday season is yet to start.

Glad you survived it.

Back from Hamburg - though I did wonder if we were going to make it. Arrived at airport over 3 hours before departure to allow for the additional checks.

Getting through baggage checks was a real scrum and if we hadn't been for our flight being an hour late leaving we'd have still been stuck in passport control as it left (because of these new checks). However when we got through they'd already started boarding.

Thank you.

Today just us and the group went on a restored little passenger ferry up and down the river Fal stopping by jetties and outdoor pub gardens singing a few songs at each one.They have only done it this year but because the weather is glorious it was well received and I had a nice boat trip.

Well done to evveryone concerned.

Great total, congrats to Mr J & his pals👏