Bonus leaderboard

Hugs from me.🤗🤗

Very good Barrie🙃 the oddities of the English language.

Well done and keep going!

I think it will take me quite a while to get anywhere near the top guys, though. I get kicked out of all the high-paying ones.

Excellent 👍

👍

Hehe

Go that Lady!

Ditto what Jaffa said.

Never apologise and I hope things get better for you.🤗🤗

Thank you all, It’s been a combination of things but can’t discuss, having coping issues but trying to take my mind off things by doing this, sorry it’s going to be really late.

Edit- maddadof, Mr FP was happy to oblige 🤗

Yes take it easy today Flower.Sip water frequently it could be a bit of dehydration?🤗🤗

I hope you're feeling better today, FP.

2 paracetamol and a cuddle from Mr FP, will put you right FlowerPower ;-)

I hope he rewards your efforts by singing to you.We have one that sits on our ridge tiles singing its heart out every evening.

Sounds like you've had a nice day FP. I managed to get a bit of gardening and housework done today as it was a sensible temperature.. around 25-26 today. We've had a juvenile blackbird visiting in our little conservatory...I called him Bob cos he doesn't seem to be able to fly, have fed and watered him... let's see what happens 🤞

Everything that happens to me tends to be random lately.

If they wear souwesters they'll be soaking wet from sweating.

Hope the weather isn’t too bad in Falmouth Jaffa, though I don’t suppose Mr J. & friends will get too wet if they’re in a theatre, though it might affect audience numbers.

As long as you use the gentle setting…🤣🤣

Jaffa, Would that work on the WIFI. I've noticed recently that she is getting a bit wrinkly ;-)

Wow, that certainly a bit of a scorcher, mine never gets to that kind of temperature.

Take care collecting them, hope you’ve got a nice stable ladder, if you can’t reach them all, don’t stretch, leave them for the birds👍

I'll ripen them in the house as the greenhouse is far too hot. Even with the door open and 4 automatic windows and 2 side vents its about 45C Great for the cacti & succulents - too hot for anything else

We rarely ever got any when we had a cherry tree, all we ever got were rogue trees popping up here & there from the stones dropped by the marauding hoards.

Good luck with the crop Bruce8, we never thought about taking them off & ripening indoors? Or in the greenhouse?

I had a bit of a spurt but have now slowed down so we seem similar in our failures🤨

I really envy you cherries and hope the birds cannot get to them.

Well after the excitement of being mentioned on FP's list 3 days running the weekend slowdown has arrived.

Cooler today. Worked on preparations for planting on the raised beds and put my 3 surviving cucumbers into a deep planter. Have removed veg plants (died or alive) from greenhouse. Foxes been at some pots after worms, I guess. In preparing bed 3 I had an unexpected small crop of potatoes. Clearly hadn't cleared the bed as well as I expected in 2025.

Cherries: I think there are over a 100 - I'll have to pick many before the end of the week and slowly ripen them as I'm away the following week.

On Tuesday there is an 80% chance of rain. Would be my luck if my neighbours 2 doors each side got rain and I didn't

I think aches happen when the weather is about to do a change for the worse, it's something to do with the lower pressure.

It’s sympathetic back pain I expect.Do take care though Flower.

😂 always welcome...

Can I come next Sunday?

I cooked roast pork and all the trimmings today, guess what? I did all the clearing up too! 😂

🤣 I wonder how many of them would bother if they had to do all of it!

Jaffa.... good one! 😂

FP... don't be silly,.I am still clearing up the prep before we eat...and doing the washing up after...but he is a tremendous cook, I can't do it!

What is it with men & BBQ’s? Does he do the washing up & cleaning the thing afterwards, or do you end up having to do it?

Is he cooking on the bonnet?🤣🤣

It certainly looks like it Jax!

Thanks FP, looks like I need to be worried about awl more than Ralphypoodled.

I've done well survey wise for a Saturday already and it is only 8.30am. Still hot down here and the sun is shining. The forecast showers are now going to happen on Monday.

A few surveys but dumped from them all and only 5p so slow for me.

Don’t overdo the cleaning Flower.

Good luck to everyone.

I've tried a couple of surveys without success. Not many showing up.

Septuagenarian Susie, how wonderfully kind of you to do all this research for a fellow member.

❤️ how lovely, that's what makes the world go round.

Goodness Susie thank you for all of the work that you have put into this for me.I am so very grateful to you.My husband did after calling several companies find one that had capacity but it had to be done in such a rush your information will be very useful to us.

I wish I was able to give you a big hug but will have to make do with a virtual one from both of us.It can sometimes feel overwhelming as I am sure you know!😘😘🤗🤗😘😘

Hi Jaffa, Though I see you've found a homecare company to call once a day for an hour for Bristol Auntie, I also note the difficulty you have had and doing it all at such short notice. So, given that, I'm not sure if the following will help or is worth you and Mr J looking into.

I've needed homecare myself since end of January last year and have been having a company called Helping Hands (based in Warwickshire about 8 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, with offices all over the country, all registered with the CQC and I've found the one here in the NW - Merseyside - to be excellent) so, I've looked-up Bristol and there are 3 there. Here they are:-

1. Bristol Central (Sea Mills): 80 Shirehampton Road, Sea Mills, Bristol, BS9 2DR.

Overview: This is the primary central Bristol branch, providing both visiting care and live-in care across the city.

Reviews: This branch is highly regarded, scoring a "Good" overall rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Local clients and their families praise the carers for being professional, compassionate, and going "above and beyond" to ensure independence. Across all branches, Helping Hands scores an excellent 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Link:

https://www.homecare.co.uk/homecare/agency.cfm/id/65432222669

2. Chipping Sodbury/Yate: 35 South Parade, Yate Shopping Centre, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS37 4BB.

Overview: Located just northeast of Bristol, this branch serves the immediate surrounding towns and villages (such as Westerleigh, Thornbury, and Badminton).

Reviews: Families consistently describe the team here as cheerful, flexible, and responsive to urgent needs. While the vast majority of families highlight the carers' kindness and reliability, a small handful of reviews mention occasional communication hiccups with the office regarding specific care plan updates.

Link to Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHandsChippingSodbury/

3. South Bristol (Keynsham): Flexioffices, Unit 11, Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1SX.

This was a bit of a strange one, because it came up with the above address from a general google search of Helping Hands under the second of 3 in AI. Then when I added "and what are the reviews on each of them?" to this and searched again it came up with as the above - i.e. No 3, now became number 2, and this one (previously number 2) was nowhere to be seen - and was replaced with this at the end: "You can arrange care, read more testimonials, or find contact numbers for these offices directly on the official Helping Hands Locations portal." with the Helping Hands Locations underlined that takes you to the portal and a map!

On that map, I then put in Bristol and searched within 25 miles and it came up with loads of purple markers and an address for the keynsham branch as:

Helping Hands Keynsham, Station House West

Ashley Avenue

Bath BA1 3DS

So, not sure what to make of that!...AI gone Awol?!

So here's the link to their locations portal:

https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/our-locations/

Main Bristol Link:

https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/our-locations/bristol/

Trustpilot Link:

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/helpinghandshomecare.co.uk

Finally, one of the really good things about Helping Hands apart from the fact they're a long established company (established in 1989) is that, relatives can have access to their portal to view the rota each week and I think any notes the carer makes each time (they'll give you more details if you contact them), which is ideal for anyone like yourselves with relatives living at a distance.

I think I've given you more than enough to think about and wade through Jaffa and I just hope this helps as I really do empathise with your plight having been through this 26 years ago with 2 elderly parents (father in his 90's who'd gone blind over the previous 10 years as a result of glaucoma but, apart from a bit of cognitive decline after being hospitalised with a triple whammy - urine+chest infection+dehydrated - that meant he used to repeat himself sometimes and have a bit of a 'forgettery', he never lost his spark; and mother - an ex-headteacher - with dementia who was 'old school', always a stickler for it being her way or the highway and could very much be a 'battleaxe', particularly if she didn't like you! lol) but, both still living at home, fiercely independent, hadn't made any provision for their care as didn't want to be a 'burden', let alone to their 3 daughters!...I still remember the process we went through with them in those last few years but, we got there in the end and that was before the nightmare that negotiating the system has become now :-(

So, again, I hope this helps and leads towards you and Mr Jaffa being able to find more peace of mind with at least one of your respective Aunties, if not both (Devon seems to be bit more sparse with Helping Hands branches).

Take care and all the best, SS (SusieQ until recently!)

That’s another problem although we have it in reverse.Both aunties are unpleasant to anyone who is not family.

When I went to visit mum in a care home, I heard the way staff were talking to another resident.....I was overwhelmed with anger.

I'm glad you've managed to find a solution for now.

Well we have found a company that can do once a day homecare for an hour .That was not easy.Bristol Auntie is registered blind so she is terrified of having to leave her home but once she is permanently bed bound I hope that will be easier.

Poor Mr J was away in Belgium with friends and spent so much time dealing with issues as he is the one with POA.

Anyway another crisis temporarily averted .

You are right re care homes.When we were working I used to visit local ones for training of staff and although they often did not have en suite rooms which bearing in mind a lot of residents could not use due to infirmity they were happy and well run.

Now profit is the top line and help with residential care fees so hard to access it’s just cruel.

Rant over….

Barrie :-) :-) :-)

🤣🤣 Barrie

I had a girlfriend like that.

We had incredibly loud thunder and lightning with torrential rain for about half an hour, and then it was like it never happened!

Just the odd few pence FP i think, but i don't really keep a check on it. Good job i have you to keep me up to date, i do appreciate it..

Thought we'd get some heavy rain here too, literally felt 3 heavy drops on my arm and that was it. Extremely warm and muggy too now.

We had lightning for two & a half hours, some of the rain sounded like waterfalls.

We had epic thunder and lightening coming over the Severn from Wales.I got very little sleep as it was very noisy.Thankfully no hail.Its a bit cooler as now we have issues with Bristol Auntie and have to find private care within 72 hrs as that’s all social services can do.😳

We have the celery too, just like a nice mixed salad, with as much fresh crunchiness as possible, radishes, cucumber, etc nice & refreshing especially in this sort of weather. Tend to make different versions everyday, with variations on dressings & accompaniments.

Celery?

Very true Barrie but it’s the crunch we’re after at the moment, strange that there are no other lettuce at all, just the flabby ones, tried everywhere available, perhaps there was a glut of the flat ones 🤔 seems farmers etc are having lots of problems due to the degree of heat at the moment.

Anything has got more flavour than iceberg lettuce.

We’re taking care of the donuts, it’s hard work but someone has to do it.😇

Little gem lettuce for me as I think it’s got more flavour.Icebergs still about in my part of the world.

Hope the doughnuts don’t become scarce!

32 c here today.

I would have gladly helped out with the jam donut consumption, sadly a little far away from TN8 methinks. 😉

Thank you - I am on a mission now :) I love a challenge. :)

That’s a nice jump Mrs.West5, keep up the momentum 👍

I have gone up 48 places in the last few days. woohoo.

Thankfully it's a bit cooler here today.

Ah yes, when I was married and we lived in the big house (1860) 18" walls was great for keeping it cool. Took ages to warm up in winter.

Just to be clear the house was built in 1860, it wasn't when I lived in it

I am lucky as my property was built in 1720 and has 2ft thick walls it is very cool apart from an extension.

Was supposed to be 33 in Cambridgeshire and 34 back here. However the outside temperature monitor in the car reached 36 on the return, thank goodness for aircon

29 degrees today, same yesterday. Haven't been out of the flat since Saturday morning. Last couple of days with the fan on the whole day. Got a blood test Thursday, so probably won't go out till then.

That sounds more plausible, think you’d have them all over if bugs were involved, hope it soon disappears.

Don't panic guys, don't think it's bed bugs. The red itchy spots had disappeared when I woke up, only surfaced a little as I moved around and warmed up. I think it's some kind of contact dermatitis (no.1 suspect... leaking washing up gloves!!)

Barrie they are becoming much more invasive, councils are having to spray regularly especially in communal properties, I was speaking to someone recently, they said it was partly people with old clothes, blankets etc travelling from other countries- where the problem is rife & a general increase in warm & comfortable living conditions.

Also said “Stay away from any companies who offer to remove your old bed/ mattress, when they deliver the new 1, cross contamination is a frequent spreader of Bedbugs!”

Bedbugs? Years ago I knew a woman who had to call the council because she had been invaded by them.

You may have come into contact with something that has caused a histamine response.Have you been in the garden?

Thanks both, I think you might be right Bruce8. It's calming down a bit now as I am resting. I believe it was around 35 here today. So with a cooler temperature tomorrow I hope it'll clear. English weather is bonkers 🤯🥵👍

Can't help either Susiewoo2. I do have the same problem with ichy red spots on the back of my left hand. I've tended to think of them simply as heat spots. I get them when it gets very hot, like now and they disappear when it gets a little cooler.

Can’t help Susiewoo2’s, despite 1 diagnosis of rheumatoid, mine is still classed as osteo. My finger joints are swollen up too as are my toes, I found the compression gloves too warm to wear at the moment

Do you have an anti inflammatory cream you could use? the ibuprofen 1 is quite good, just a bit sticky in the heat. I’ve got a Flexall 454 gel which is quite good too, though a bit on the expensive side.

No idea about the red spots, maybe too strong a cleaning product. Hope it soon clears up, if possible maybe a GP appointment would be a good idea, while you’re off at the moment.

North side 84.2F, i blame the weather ;-)

Maddadof - I'd stick with the North face 29F is just below freezing !

One of the rare times since moving from Australia I walked into the house and headed straight for a cold shower. Feeling much better....for now.

So am I 🥵 head under a cold tap every couple of hours works! I am SO grateful that I am not in the classroom today.

Do hope they can sort out your meds. NokeyBlokey it’s bad enough being ill without all the things that are supposed to help, making it worse.

I was lucky with my brush with cancer, quite fit & healthy & younger of course, been ok since the op.

It seems to be everyone you know nowadays, let’s hope the research will help those with rare kinds too.

Take care, we’ll be thinking of you, you don’t need to reply, just concentrate on getting better.😘

Really good to hear from you, NokeyBlokey. I do hope things get easier for you.

Glad to have you back N B, just take it steady...

I do hope being yourself gets easier as time goes on Nokey.🤗🤗

Thank you Flower, for yesterday’s mensh - I have been out of circulation recently so, sorry, haven’t made any contact. My medications are fighting each other and I'm the one in the middle getting beaten up by them. I was so out of touch that I only learned, earlier today, of Simon's battle coming to an end. I have left what I hope are appropriate sentiments on their memorial tribute page, but I am not very good at this sort of thing and didn’t really know what to say to Emma. Meanwhile, I am still hanging on and wishing I was someone else - anyone would do! Thank you for still thinking of me, and yes it is hotter than I am comfortable with, particularly with my low immunity reminding me with everything I do. Let's hope this beautiful weather continues - I need Vitamin D more than ever right now!

Thanks FP, our water supply wasn't affected. Incredibly hot here though. We got a few jobs done, I decided to clean all the window rims/edges...ended up looking like a beetroot so sat with my feet in a bucket of cold water for 10 minutes....that cooled me down 😂 it's way too hot for me.

P.s.we know who to call when our washing machine breaks down!

Glad to hear you’re safely home Shyboy, hope you had a good time.👍

Barrie can I send you round to sort her out?😤

Stand by that decision Jaffa or she will drive you nuts. If necessary bar her calls.

Yes agreed as she had started calling in the early hours as well .

This is the last time I will arrange care next time it’s her.

Did you agree to cancel them? Maybe should have told her she’d need to do it herself! Big breath, big 🍷 whatever works! 🤗

I really wonder how you manage Jaffa. Do none of your Aunties have children? don't you have siblings to share the load or at least take some of it? It is not a problem that I've had to deal with as there never have been any aunts & uncles.

Before I left I fixed dates for my next visit. It will be in July.

She has enjoyed the freedom, if only for a few hours, of not worrying

I agree with Jaffa, Bruce8- it’s absolutely the best thing you can do to help. Just being able to relax & know everything is safe & sound is a huge gift!💝

Hope you all enjoyed the BBQ & dog walking later on.😘

You are doing a lovely thing Bruce.If you read any of my posts you will know I have an almost daily issue now and it’s tough on all concerned.

His wife will be so grateful for allowing her some time.

My forecast says some cloud on Wednesday, but hot & dry till the weekend when it might drizzle again., Unless there's a strong breeze it's too hot out for me. I have a big & small fan, & my water is always cold as it comes directly from underground mains, no loft tanks.

Well I am spending time looking after the dogs and husband. He can't be left on his own now and he has forgotten how to do some things. I am still remembered, though I have known him for almost 49 years. His wife gets time out to do things, whilst I keep an eye on him.

Far too hot to walk the dogs so staying at the house.

We'll have a bbq early evening and then I can drive all of us to a shady place (trees) so the dogs can get a little exercise.

Will head back to my house on Tuesday afternoon

Thanks Fubsy, just looks like everyone else had better things to do😇

maddadof, not heard anything from him for quite a while now, have seen others asking but no one’s replied.

Well done FP!

On a side note, anyone heard from H.C. do hope he is keeping well....

I think Shyboy must be without a signal but hopefully will update us later.

I think the good weather is set to last until the weekend then it’s showery again but we will all be shrivelled prunes by then.🥵

Thankfully mine doesn’t do BBQ’s!! I’ve not ventured out the door, even covered in sunblock, my skin is too sensitive!

I bet you got all the washing up Susiewoo2!

My husband is the same.

😂 I sat in the shade of a tree to eat mine. I can't believe he stood at a blazing BBQ, in full sun. Must have been about 29-30 degrees. In the colder months, I'm whizzing around the house in a t shirt and he has 2 layers plus a fleece jacket 😂

Jaffa did you mean the cool bath or the BBQ? 🤣

I hope you enjoyed it in a cool place Susiewoo.

Did you leave him to it? 😄

Thanks kindly xx

Good luck- hope it goes well🤞

Hi Flowerpower, this week will be my final week and hope to get more donations but it's hard. There have been days when i have been ill but I will try to make up for those missed days xx

Ooh! Messy!

Ah ha, no worries FP. It was a free for all colour run, all the children ran or walked through a marked route on the field whilst adults threw coloured powder in the air over them.

Hi Dharma,it’s not that impressive, I do make mistakes, missed Susiewoo2 off yesterday’s list! Oops sorry Susiewoo2.

How did your sponsored walk go? I bet you’re glad you aren’t doing it this week!

Sounds like you’ve been busy Jax, I haven’t managed to delete that many of mine either, no sooner do I get rid of a couple of hundred than I’m back to the same amount with new incomings!

Enjoy your weekend Jax, I’m not a footy fan but did used to watch Formula 1 - lost track of them all, now I don’t watch TV anymore.

Think you’ve got a bit of leeway as ralphy seems to have slowed down quite a bit now. Is Freecash any good?

Hi FlowerPower how do you keep track of everyone's bonus progress it is impressive to see? xx

You too Jax

Congrats to all with getting some surveys!

I've been focussing this week on Freecash leading up to pay day and cleaning out my inbox. I failed in getting my inbox to under 15Gb (currently at 39.3Gb). So I've subscribed to the £1.99/mthh plan until i can get it under 15Gb.

Otherwise I've been celebrating Arsenal winning the Premier League and this weekend I've also been watching the Grand Prix (Go Oscar Piastri!).

Have a great bank holiday weekend everyone.

Just because crapple is fashionable does not mean that it's good.

I did an hours gardening before the heat really gets going .

Apart from a quick dash over to my daughters for coffee, we've spent the day indoors. Our flat faces east, we only get sun first thing, so it's relatively cool. Tomorrow and Monday likely to be the same while this heat continues.

It was breezy all day in Northumberland where I am on the coast, so the temperature was bearable, it was nice to go out wearing a dress and sandals to the shops.

Technology Phft ;-)

See 👇 below..

It did Jaffa! Result👍

I hope it paid you

Same here Jaffa - re surveys

Re- Mr FP unfortunately not but hopefully 🤞 He’s stopped the Statins for a few days, to see if it helps.

He’s not on any other blood thinners, Eye Clinic had also said, possibly Statins.

Edit- just had a survey about moisturisers👍