Pick My Postcode’s Stackpot Draws

Thank you Em, it does tend to trigger a migraine but why do we need the flashing? Surely people can wait a couple of seconds for the postcodes to show as they have done since 2011.

Another migraine trigger is the flashing adverts - Snip and Virgin are the worst - but I can cover those up if I'm quick enough.

Thanks Em, Just increased my font size and it is a lot easier on my eyes now. 👍🙂

our internet (talktalk) is very unreliable. We don't have a smartphone, just an elderly basic mobile. I also hear that Freeview is to be taken away as well as our landline. Again we don't have a tv with internet access so will feel completely cut off

If the power went out we could use 112 = the recognised emergency number for mobiles .

Been with Talktalk for years and had voip for 3, free calls where part of the deal.

The issue is, if there is a power cut when Emergency services cannot be contacted on the landline, you can buy a UPS adapter, which is basically a battery back up.

They have said anyone without Broadband will be accommodated into the new system.

My opinion is it is not the best but not the end of the world.

When Simon & I moved in to our house in 2019, we decided that we didn't need a landline. We have a package with Toob which is internet only, full-fibre broadband, originally for £25 per month but increased to £29 a couple of months ago. Still a decent price, we feel.

We changed over at home last year when we got full fibre and it's OK but of course you can't use it if the broadband or power goes out. We already had it at our business premises and we have the full digital handset there too but I wouldn't recommend that as it was driving us mad. It kept disconnecting from the base unit but there was no indication that it was off until someone tried to call and it wouldn't go through! It seems to have gotten sorted but we still have to check it every day, so at home we opted for the adapter to use a regular phone with.

You can make 999 calls over VOIP. There is the power issue and also location cannot be derived simply when using VOIP as you could be anywhere.

One of the main issues with it is that you need to have broadband and it plugged in to work, which means in a power cut it wouldn't be available. I assume this is when 999 wouldn't work? It can't be all of the time.

Been on VoIP for 3 years now. At the moment you have to have a mobile in case of emergencies as 999 doesn't work on VoIP. I don't know if that will change sometime.

None of that pulsing stuff on my laptop but some of the surveys have a circular thing turning round. Always has.

We bought new Nokias when the signal was upgraded and I've often called 999 by mistake until I blocked it.

We 've also got new home phones that kept our number.

All good now - just getting used to the new Yahoo email and wish I'd done it a long time ago.

My old mobile sim card was binned by Tesco Mobile but after a month without my number they condecended to replace it on another sim.

I don’t like the pulsing. It’s the exact thing that the light does when I get migraines. Horrible.

It is not flashing, more pulsing. All of the draw pages pulse to show that it is loading. We needed something to show that the site is working as it should be, when there are natural seconds of delay with that page.

Tea bag placed in a mug, add boiling water, then milk, leave to brew or steep for a minute or so (perhaps longer depending on how tired I am feeling), then remove the teabag with a gentle squeeze more to reduce drips than anything. I also leave decaf teabags to steep for a minute because I like the flavour.

Agree with leaving T bag in cup Kat, and I find that putting bag in cup with a little milk before boiling water helps to mix it up a bit better.

Don't particularly care. I often ask folk to leave the teabag in because non tea drinkers often use Tetley & serve 'Maiden's Water'. I wouldn't put it in with the teabag before the water though, scalded milk tastes like sterilised milk to me.😝 Mr Tom puts milk first if the tea is in a teapot.

Real leaf tea is more expensive but I think I'm going to buy some Co-op 99 & see if it's as grand as I remember from 60 years ago. I suppose I'm setting myself up for disappointment.

Milk in first was to stop the hot tea breaking expensive china cups & I did see a brand new china mug shatter when the boiling water was poured in so the reason is valid. Think it was Queen somebody or other made it part of the etiquette?

There I go again, a mine of useless information!🤣

I don't have milk in tea. Nor sugar/sweeteners.

We enjoy a builder's brew, hence teabag gets dunked and squeezed several times in boiling water, before adding just a touch of milk.

Leave teabag in for 4 minutes, remove, then milk. It really annoys me when you buy tea at a cafe and they put milk in at the same time as teabag. No hope of it brewing that way

Before teabag, as a non tea drinker it's the only way I can work out the strength of the tea. ( Takes cover with tin hat on 😉 )

Tea in pot, milk in cup, brew, then strain tea into cup - if I ever had to use a teabag in a cup I'd have a glass of water instead. :-)

Definitely take the teabag out before putting the milk in!

You have to take the teabag out first! You can't possibly put milk in with it still in there.

Just give the bag 5 mins (Yorkshire Gold, currently), remove bag, then add milk

I was wondering if any one still used loose tea I used to drink it when I bought loose tea. Had to be in a China cup

Milk in first then remove tea bag

Tea bag in, hot water next, then milk. These days I leave the teabag in 😱 I sometimes use a teapot but I can't cope with loose tea even though I know it's better for the planet.

Usually milk and teabag in first. Yes I know it’s not the proper way but hard water area means it forms a scummy layer if you put milk in last. At least the milk has a chance to blend and warm up if you pour water over it. We’ve got a water filter jug now so will try milk in last and see if any difference.

I never drink tea.

Milk in after taking the teabag out. Partner does that, I can't stand the smell of tea!

Hubby makes my 'gnat's pee' hot water with one hermesetas, one squidge and out then add red top milk. Tesco give us teapots and enough milk for 3 cups with 3 sugars, for me. Hubby has oat milk and no sugar.

Er... I think we must be "posh". We use a teapot - lol!

Milk in teabag out after a gentle squeeze

Definitely tea bag out followed by milk in. Unless I’m making it for my daughter, when it’s milk in and leave the tea bag in while she drinks it!

Milk in once the teabag has been squeezed and removed, just a tiny drop, I like strong tea.

🥳🥳🥳 I hope you had a good bonus when you won Taz108am.

I've actually won, have had about 8 'anyone you know' to my first half of my postcode being drawn. No idea (without looking up) where they are.

That has happened to me twice

😄

😂

Thanks A Nick Name, made me grin after an awful day! x

Not advised if you have mdf laminate flooring 🤣

Unless you don't have carpet, then you will discover how slippery your floor is when wet

🤣

Thank you A.N.N. As one of my teachers used to say. "Helpful, but not necessarily very." 🙂

It makes me laugh when people keep responding to a new thread as if it is the original one, even after someone has pointed out how to actually reply to a thread WITHOUT starting a new one :-))

In student days we called or 'yes please' - it was served in response to getting such an answer from someone who was asked 'coffee or tea?'.

I have found a T bag in my cafe coffee also. I noted it tasted different at the first sip, but not in a bad way. As I got further down the tea taste became stronger.

I've had worse...

That will never be a problem for me as I can't stand Tea or Coffee so don't care how it's made

Always the Collagen in the cuppa first, apparently it tastes just like tea.

I ordered coffee on a railyway station in India and they brought a pot of tea - I told them I wanted coffee and they took away the pot and a short while later brought it back - they had added coffee to the pot of chai (spiced Indian tea). Recently I discovered that they call it dirty chai.

The only time I had tea and coffee it was at a cafe in Halifax and I suspect they put the teabag in first, then poured coffee into the mug. As soon as I tasted it I took it back, told them, and left never to return. You should never have both tea and coffee. That is a true story.

Definitely tea or coffee first

For future reference: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/109-how-do-i-reply-to-a-comment

I discovered that on my first trip to USA too Lol63, had to remember to ask for hot tea, then on the plane home without thinking I asked for hot tea and the stewardess must have misunderstood my Scottish accent and gave me coffee which I didn't realise until I'd sipped some, almost spat it out!🤮

@Help me! - This is true. Some years ago we went to Walt Disney in Florida. While I can happily drink tea or coffee, Mrs Lol63 can't stand coffee and insists on tea.

First of all, in the USA you must specify "hot tea" otherwise they assume you want iced tea. Even then they look at you like you've got an eyeball hanging out.

Secondly, they bring you a cup of hot(ish) water, disappear for ten minutes and then return with a big wooden box of fruity infusions for you to choose from. If you're lucky there might be a couple of Lipton's breakfast teas in there. By which time the hot water is barely tepid.

Meanwhile, I've finished my coffee and had 2 refills.

But do you compost or landfill bin your teabag, or use some other method of disposal? We only drink instant coffee, and I am sure it is partly because we hate waste!

I don't like coffee, I only like tea and I only use teabags, not leaves. I don't own a teapot. My mum once bought me a heart shaped tea infuser and tea leaves, but I didn't get into the habit of using it. Bags are much easier. Bag goes in an empty mug and I add the boiling water first.

Living in an area with horrible water the milk always goes in the cup first for both tea and coffee otherwise a scum floats on the top and you don't want to drink the stuff.

First is, always milk so I can judge the strength. I'm not a tea drinker, so if making for other people, I always put milk in first so I have a better guide to colour and strength. Same for coffee, always milk first

Coffee - water (drink black)

Tea - green tea - just water

Tea (normal) water into teapot, milk into cup then pour!

Don't like tea or coffee so I don't care

Apparently in American diners you can't get a decent cup of tea (I wouldn't know; I've never been Stateside and don't plan to go for at least another three years, and then 'it depends'). The reason for this is all the water heaters are set to the temperature for coffee, which isn't hot enough for tea.

As to milk: for tea I would put it in first as I was raised to do but I tend to drink weak black tea nowadays anyway. For instant coffee I put the milk in first and dissolve the granules before adding the water (no, I don't think it was a wind up). For ground coffee, always water. I don't see myself putting hot milk in my percolator.

Tea, in a mug, always water first, then soya milk. In the teapot, I still generally pour the tea first , then add milk. I don't drink coffee.

Yes. Coffee is better made with hot milk and no water.

if made in a mug, put in the teabag then boiling water, then add milk after its brewed a while. If made i m ateapot, I would put the milk into the cup before pout=ring the tea. Also, I agree, don't make coffee with boiling water. I Europe in cafes they tend to bring the cup along with a tea bag and a jug of hot water, and often need to ask for milk

When making Tea the tea goes in first then water and milk but when making a coffee for my brother he puts the coffee, sugar and milk in before the hot water. I don't usually drink coffee, as I am not that keen on it, but on occasion I will drink a milky coffee. I do like a hot chocolate though.

Coffee shouldn't be made with boiling water, but with some of the rubbish that's sold these days I don't think it would make much difference. There are machines that boil water to the correct temperature for coffee.

Water before milk for coffee and tea

I rarely have any milk, make both in a big mug.

When I served drinks in a hospital ward most patients liked coffee made with boiling milk, no water, just a skin on top.

For me it's plenty of milk in both and always put the milk in first. My husband agrees with milk first but doesn't have as much of it as I do.

Tea; tea bag with a spot of milk, then the boiling water.

Coffee; granules and a bit of sugar, boiling water then milk, unless I have a milky, where I heat the milk first then add sugar/coffee before water.

Easy to confuse people, spot of milk in tea. Lot of milk in coffee !

Easy ? 😂

Put milk in first both tea and coffee. For years my other half wanted milk in last then found it didn’t stain the cup putting it in first I don’t drink tea only instant coffee @ Lol 63 this is right you should not make coffee with boiling water

I never drink tea and if I have to drink coffee, it is always black.

Tea must be made in a teapot. Milk in cup first. If you prefer to add it later you need a teaspoon to stir it otherwise the fat from the milk goes to the top and makes the tea greasy.

Same as Lol 63, for the same reasons.

Tea (in the cup/mug) - must be water first or it doesn't brew properly.

Coffee (Instant) - Milk first so the hot water doesn't burn the granules. (I was told 45 years ago by a first work colleague, of course he could have been just winding me up.)

When making a cuppa in a mug, water first, brew, remove bag & then add milk. When making it in a pot, milk in cup first then pour in tea (no need for a stir then).

Water of coarse

I have won twice now, the first time was many years ago when my bonus was only in the £20s but last year I won again and my bonus was £491+ so I won just over £500 with the £10 Stackpot. I am still hoping for a third win.

getting close to £100 and never won a penny, but the bonus will make it worth the wait if I ever win. At 3 pence a day ... how many days to make £99 bonus? Closing on ten years I think

I love it when people make up bonkers reasons for not winning yet! I wonder if they realise that they're actually accusing the site of being criminals?

U and me both wondering if im gonna win with £120 in my account

Having won previously or not at all has no bearing on your chances of winning (again). Each member’s entry has the exact same chance of being selected in a draw. 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.

Of course not! For inspiration, check out the Bonus Leaderboard.

https://pickmypostcode.com/leaderboard/

Or uninstall and reinstall. That usually works

Or try a Hard Refresh: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/87-im-having-trouble-loading-the-site

Suggestion ... try logging out and in again, it might just work.

Send make, model, browser etc details to admin@pickmypostcode.com so they can investigate.

Happy birthday Enver. A wee bit late but to the party but hope you had a good day.

Belated birthday greetings Enver. Hope you had a good day.

Thank you everyone, it was a reasonable day. Would have replied earlier but I was out on the buses at FK/EH all today too.

@Anona, it was a good thing they were there for you. life has its just rewards.

Welcome to the 70 club Enver plenty of time to celebrate 🍾

🍾 I went to Specsavers on my 70th only day I could get in lol then went for a meal but made up for it in the months that followed

P A, thank you for the correction. I was on campus then.

Enver, welcome.

I turned 70 in June 2025 on a Sunday. I returned from a weekend away and, wearing bright clothing, drove the church minibus to transport young people.

The law had changed at the turn of the year so that the minimum age became 21 (a good thing in retrospect). For me this meant five months not driving the vehicle that was quite familiar.

Someone told me 'left here' just as we reached their side road. This it was that, dressed in red yellow and green, I turned around a blue 🚌 marked 'South Street Baptist Church' in Exeter and Devon Cemetery/Crematorium at around midnight.

Belated greetings to Enver and Tracy. 🥳

A bit late - but Happy Birthday Enver!!

Happy belated birthday, Enver. Did you do anything to mark the occasion?

Happy belated wedding anniversary, tracy. It sounds like you had a nice day together.

Hope it's been a good one Enver

Happy Anniversary Tracy & Congrats.

Anona, what ever your "little incident" was, I hope it's well and truly behind you now. Big hugs.

🎂Happy Birthday Enver🎂

🥂Happy Anniversary Tracy🥂

Happy 70th Birthday Enver, hope you enjoyed your day 🥳🎂

@csikijanos -

49 years ago, January 19th was a Wednesday - I only know this because I started keeping a detailed diary at the start of 1977, and I still have it. I just checked to see what I was up to, but I was working nights, so I spent the day mostly in bed...

Thanks tracy & Happy 24th Wedding Anniversary, & IIRC it's your Birthday on 24th?

Thanks Glitter, trying to forget I'm 70 now, maybe still put 69 on surveys..

Happy Wedding Anniversary, Tracy and husband 🥳🍾

Happy Birthday Enver … .?

@ Anona I hope you have made a full recovery. Well done to the staff members who helped you. Not a Blue Monday for me as it is our 24th Wedding Anniversary so we went out for a meal, there is a fantastic buffet all you can eat Indian restaurant not far from us that was recommended by a good friend. The food is excellent and it a good price. @Enver Happy 70th Birthday I hope you had a good celebration as with your 21st.

Anona hope you have fully recovered. How great to hear that everyone stepped up when needed. Well done to those staff members.

Anona, I hope it was nothing too serious and you are feeling better now. It's always nice to hear that staff will be acknowledged for going above and beyond for people like this.

Don't know about Blue Monday, but we all agreed at work today that this week is really dragging. That was at about 10am.

I had a little incident last week while out and about. The store staff saved me and security staff took care of my physical health while trying to make me laugh while we waited for the Paramedics. After I returned from hospital, I emailed the company to tell them what happened and to thank the staff involved for their quick-thinking, teamwork and kindness. I received a cheerful reply (with a smiley face) today from their boss saying they'll be commended for their actions and it'll be put in their files.

Also, I ate a delicious basque cheesecake today.

Enver, to celebrate what I wonder.

Exactly 49 years ago it was Sunday afternoon and I was in or near Exeter - possibly at Clyst St Mary where I lodged in my third year at Uni.

How good is your memory?

Right at this moment exactly 49 years ago I was on a car ferry from Patras, Greece to Brindisi, Italy (for 18.00pm) in bright sun & light breeze on deck eating lasagna & octopus salad for lunch with some american teens, & I bought everyone a wee bottle of red wine to celebrate..

(so hot like crossing the equator on my 21st)

The Wikipedia entry for Blue Monday makes fascinating reading - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date). Apparently it all started with a press release from Sky Travel in 2005.

It's not, it's a marketing gimmick made up by a travel company to encourage people to book holidays!

No, no, it's XJ6, not 6XJ. Classic Jaguar.

That was drawn 17th on the Survey Draw but was unclaimed by the only person eligible. You can't claim retrospectively.

How can we help you?

Keep checking and never give up hope.

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.

You could give your postcode more chances of coming up by referring your neighbours to us: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/20-referral-bonus

Pleading with a computer to draw a particular random number is unlikely to have much effect.

Any more than shouting "What you you mean, 'Cannot see printer?' It's right there beside you!!!"

Keep your account active and you never know when you might be a winner.

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.

You could give your postcode more chances of coming up by referring your neighbours to us: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/20-referral-bonus

HI

Stop it, Hamster, you've upset all the "biters"

S H, I am sure you exist (but until I check, cannot tell whether you are alive). W K Heisenberg knows where you are, but not where you're heading.

I've got so many people living in my head I haven't got time for any other friends! It's wonderful not knowing who you will wake up as! 🤣🤣🤣

Because you drink and not able to read 😉😄

Not even then, @Enver - I'm just a figment of my imagination 🤪

You don't really know anyone until you have lived all your life with them.

I can tell which people know you and which don't quite easily! 🤔🤭🤣

Gee, perhaps IVe not looked proper, EH ? !! 😜

G I can see one

Your right Museeka, S H can be a bit of a Devil.. ;-)

Believe it was a joke?

Lots of Scottish postcodes. Why are you complaining?

@SH - because all the postcodes were made up by the ENGLISH Royal Mail!

🧙‍♂️🧑‍🦯🤣🤣🤣

AB is prolific.

Tech realised that having the postcode appear without hitting play was having a negative effect on our ad revenue and we need that to remain free. Plus, it’s fairer to the artists/musicians/bands as well. You will need to click/tap the Play button for the postcode to be revealed.

The only one I have an ‘issue’ with is the video draw, I HAVE to click on the video to see the Postcode, whereas previously it would show after a short period of time, apart from that liking the new look

I have exactly the same problem, postcodes take longer to appear and doesn't generally seem to load as well for me on this new format

All of the draw pages pulse to show that it is loading. We needed something to show that the site is working as it should be, when there are natural seconds of delay with that page.

That might be your device or browser issue - mine pop up much faster & I haven't seen any flashing 🤔

They only flash for the briefest of time, not even a second. I really like the effect. If only it had the Doctor Who theme playing as it loads, it would be perfect.

Seriously though, after a few days, you won’t even remember how it used to load. 😊

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.

You could give your postcode more chances of coming up by referring your neighbours to us: https://help.pickmypostcode.com/article/20-referral-bonus

There was a TS27 4RX last November

Done Marie.

Can anyone with issues with the leaderboard showing send us a screenshot and your device make & model and browser details please? It is something that is already on Tech’s snag list, but device and browser details will help them in their investigations.

I don't think we've had any issues with a second comment box reported. As above, if this is happening for you please email us with a screenshot, along with device make & model and browser details, so that we can add it to the snag list.

I’m an iPad user and as Flower says, I get 2 comment boxes. Very easy to cross one out. 🙂

I’m using an iPad Pro. Always in landscape for a full screen. Before the changeover it was perfect. After the changeover it’s perfect.

Maybe looks a little brighter/cleaner?

There are some problems for people who are using iPads, tablets & laptops ie the Leader Board not loading at all & getting 2 comment boxes each time you comment, mostly just little irritating things.

I haven't noticed any difference BUT I wish I knew how to block Temu.

I upgraded my Yahoo email account last week - but there it is everywhere - big and bold. I don't mind other ads.

You'll soon get used to it Dave, it's not a lot different.

I don't think it is that different, just clearer and brighter. The big bonus for me is that the Stackpot doesn't bounce around like it used to, which is a great relief. I have not seen any functional problems at all.

£1008.75 😜

I really wish it would pop up, my first win has already been promised to my favourite small local charity many years ago when & if it does.

I feel really sad to say this but I only have .. drum roll..£40.21 :)

I hope all of you (especially who have a LOT) your postcode comes up tomorrow! :)

Mine Bonus is £492.37

My bonus is 875.59 but last night my clock showed 11:11

Mines 38.02 lol

Maybe 1p ?

Mines £215.58 so I win.

You're welcome, Claire 🎉

Late again sorry, well done Claire...

Congratulations..👍

LLAP 🖖!

🥳🥳🥳

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉🎉

How lovely!🤗

Congratulations Claire!!

Congratulations Claire from The Ghost. 👏👍

Well done Claire.

Congrats Claire! That's a Happy start to your New Year!

Many congratulations.

I hope that you had a nice bonus.

🎉 Congrats 🎉

Just returned from a long snowy journey taking a donated 4x4 car to the Army in Kyiv, Ukraine.

It suddenly stopped at the entrance to services near Krakow. I watched with trepidation as trucks tried to edge past.

Eventually got to Krakow where it's being repaired.

I was asked to drive another car to mid Ukraine through heavy snow on barely cleared roads, some not cleared.

After that a 55 hour journey back home by bus to London then my train home was cancelled and the next one had a long diversion...

I was once on a ferry in very choppy seas to the Isle of Man (Usually 3 or 4 hours on a good crossing) when the captain announced over the speakers:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm afraid we've lost one one of the engines, I'm sorry, but the ferry will be considerably delayed."

The passengers (those who weren't already throwing up, it was rough.) all chuckled - It was April the first, perhaps he's pulling our legs!

He wasn't.

Best part of seven hours with the crippled ship climbing over the crest of every wave.

I'm usually a pretty good sailor, but toward the end my bladder insisted that we needed the toilet. I opened the door to the "heads," the stench hit me, there was filthy liquid sloshing about the whole compartment, only held in by the high step of the door - obviously by design. All I could see was a row of cubicles, each with two soles of feet sticking out from under the door as the owners of said soles cuddled the porcelain bowls. I'd been OK - just - up to that point, but instantly and spontaneously joined in the chorus.

Note to self for future reference: in rough seas, brave the storm outside, hold on tight and pee over the side.

I know Sutton Bank well, as my boarding school was only a few miles away, & once us 16 boys had to get out of the old school bus (a clapped out old commer van) & push it up the long 1 in 4 bit much to all other drivers amusement. That was long before they built the pay & display car parks & tourist office at the top.

I've said before about being on an overcrowded ferry from Calais to Dover in the hurricane in 1987, where practically everyone got seasick and they shut the bar and duty free. That was a college trip that was originally supposed to be to Amsterdam but the tutor in charge cocked up the booking and we ended up going to Paris instead - not a problem, we preferred that anyway but he booked us into the 'Perfect' Hotel (that was actually the name of it!) that was anything but (I think it had one star). When we got there and divided up into groups amongst the rooms it was getting dark, it was only when we woke up in the morning that we realised that it was still dark because the window in our room was about three feet from the wall of the building next door! Breakfast was copious amounts of coffee (no tea) and bread and jam. The coffee made us really thirsty so we then had to buy drinks throughout the day to stay hydrated but then discovered that you can't take them into galleries like the Louvre so had to leave them at the entrance. Being cash strapped students this was a real annoyance and finding meals as a vegetarian in 80's Paris was also a nightmare.

The ferry coming back was overcrowded due to the previous one being cancelled but I was just so glad to get off the coach which makes me sick and I was starving as I'd hardly eaten for days, so I ate a full meal and then watched as everyone around me got sick with the ferry lurching in the rough sea and taking 7 attempts to dock. When we did get off it was back on a coach again but they only just took us to London and left us there, hours later than we should have arrived and no trains back to our college in Birmingham. We ended up having to get the tube to Paddington and waiting on the platform surrounded by assorted drunks and dodgy types, taking turns to watch the bags whilst we went to the loo and got drinks etc. finally managing to get the mail train back at 5:00 in the morning!

I've had various other minor disaster trips, as a teen on a day trip with the family, having to stop and refill the carburettor on the car every so often, to get home from breaking down on the top of Sutton bank. And there time we went to the Farne Isands on a boat trip, that was actually really good but my stepdad got sick and threw up over the side before we even left the dock! We kids thought it was hilarious.

This wasn't me personally but on my 13th birthday a coach left Manchester, bound for Catterick I believe. My father was a reporter on a local newspaper at the time and he told us about what happened, and the fact that his paper sent a reporter down to get the story. On arrival he found out his son had been on the coach. A terrible day for so many people. The story was the M62 IRA coach bomb.

Not exactly a disaster... I was on a weekender cheap BR/Sealink rail & sail ticket London to Oostende for about £20, arrived at 3am so had just enough to buy a return to Antwerp on a vandal proof train with solid steel mesh blinds & hard canvas covered wooden seats & walked round the city collecting beermats till midday.

On return after midday I went back to the station & staff pointed me to the far platform & I got on what I thought was a nice big red & silver comfortable train with plush upholstered seats.

Luckily I asked some other passengers (in German) if this was to Oostende & someone replied "TEE, first stop Berlin", EEK never seen me off it so fast with the automatic doors slamming shut right behind me & moving off.

My wee train I should have been on was so small it was hiding in the end platform right behind it. Phew, that was close!

Arrived back at Oostende about 3.30pm, walked round the town & bought some cakes, ogled some ladies in bikinis & dressing gowns sitting in shop windows watching TV, then went on the nice sandy beach in the sunshine till the late evening sailing for Dover.

Another time went on a day trip by coach, it was a first trip to Wales with 3 passengers & 2 drivers (that some idiot had picked the route on a motorbike) - going down high leafty hedged scenic lanes so narrow we were scraping both sides in places & hit a telegraph pole on a bend denting a rear panel, at one point had to wait & pass the local milk collection tanker (at a passing place) going the other way, we came back with the coach scraped & covered in flies. .

Few years ago won a return Calmac sailing from Oban to Barra/Lochboisdale (I'd been some years before that) out overnight & back during next day, had the letter, turn up park campervan & go as foot passengers, it can get quite rough but lady friend didn't want to go, so had to forfeit it.

I won a consumer competition in Somerfield supermarket for a 2 week trip to Miami that includtickets to a basketball match where are seats were 2 rows behind Sylvester Stallone. It was all marvellous until our daughter and her friend went off to a shopping mall, and daughter slid over, and slit her head open ending up in ER who wouldn't treat her until our insurance was verified. She and I spent several days in a room watching Ricky someone on the tv. Hubby and friend enjoyed the rest of the hol. The flight home with Virgin went well until just as meals were being served - absolute chaos. Turbulence -We were in the back row, and were already served with our food so we calmly carried on eating. It was quite frightening but the girls had a tale to tell at school, including hubby trailing his hand in the water when a croc/alligator surfaced too close to comfort.

Also when we were on a prize Med Cruise we had booked a walk round Monaco and the rest of the group headed off while were still on the transfer boat. P&O put us on a coach tour along the coast to Nice and back - rather boring.

Decades ago, I attended a convent school for girls. During a school trip, we were making the journey to our destination. One of the nuns was driving a group of us girls in a mini bus. At a junction onto a main road, she pulled out in front of an oncoming car, which hit the side of the bus. Miraculously, nobody was badly hurt - just one bumped head, bruises and shock. The worst thing about the crash was the situation for the couple in the car. Although not seriously injured (they were walking around, comforting some of the girls), they had been on their way to the airport to go on holiday. Their car was a complete write off and their holiday ruined. We never made it to our school trip destination and that particular nun did not drive students again.

Very briefly, flew to Shanghai, transfer driver, when he finally turnd up, couldn't find the 'hotel' which turned out to be a very tall apartment block. The booking couldn't be found so we had to hand over £100 to stay the night. Room was on 33rd floor and mouldy. Managed to get hold of Hays Travel with a free McDonalds wi fi. 'Hotel' finally accepted that we had a reservation but hung onto the £100 until we left two days later to be taken to the port to join a Royal Carribean cruise ship. Got on board but we had to find our own cabin. Had a few choice words with the Chinese when we were trying to get out of the lift, they don't wait for people to get out but just pile in. My suitcase was at the bottom of the ship in security because they thought that I had an extension lead - I didn't. Six Brits, four US on board. The other 3500 odd were Chinese. All announcements in Chinese. Not much food because the Chinese piled their plates right up and took them to their cabins. South Korea was cancelled and we went straight to Japan. What a contrast, the Japanese are so polite and friendly. Back to Shanghai, turned off the ship at 8am, airport transfer not due until 2.30pm. Terminal closed at 9.30am to make way for the next lot of passengers. Glo manged to find an English speaking customer service who got hold of the transfer company who came at noon. We had to spend two hours in a very hot car park waiting for the car. Got the airport and it was too early to check in and nowhere to leave our cases. Compiained to Hays Travel and gave them photos. Reply was that it was as advertised but apologised about the mouldy room and would contact the 'hotel'. The local branch did contact me a while later wondering why we weren't using them any more.

That is the shortened version. Did Marie realise that the comments further down will be pushed off the page? Bet Enver could come up with some good tales.

Years ago when I was a kid we were going by boat to Jersey,the seas were so rough that the whole boat was almost on it's side and even the crew were throwing up,I'll never forget the smell.

All you could hear apart from the sea was crockery smashing xxxxx

Very entertaining stories. Thanks for the write ups.

Still wiping my eyes.

Years ago wuth my mother, my daughter was doing a special craming session in French at Dartington. We dropped her off and thought we would go and look at Berry Pomeroy castle, it said on a notice by the gate if the gate was open, it was open, the gate was open so we went in. Half way down the steep hill we saw there was another gate at the bottom that was locked, so my mother tried to turn the car around where there was a bit of a track at the side of the lane. The car got stuck, she said if I gave it a bit of a push she would reverse out, I did, it was front wheel drive and mud shot up at me covering my light coloured skirt.

We had two thermoses with us with hot water for a drink, so I got them out to rinse my skirt and found that both were broken, I whiped the water and broken glass from my skirt and mother said she would go back to the house at the first gate and get someone to help us. She returned about 15 mins later with a very angry man, who said he was fed up with people getting stuck on the hill. The only way to get thecar turned was for him to open the bottom gate and for us to drive up to the castle and turn straight around again and out.

Giving up on the idea of seeing the castle and as it was raining, we thought we would go to Buckfast Abbey and look at the book shop there (it was quite good back then). mother had put a bit of plastic on her seat as the sun roof had a slight drip, as we got back into the car, mother said she thought she could see something caught in the edge of the sun roof, so she opened it and all the water that was on it emptied on top of me, I was soaked right through all my clothes. By this time it was time to pick up my daughter and it was starting to get dark.

We drove back to Dartington and up the drive, as we got nearly half way along it, we found two large wheelie bins across the drive, I got out and pushed one out of the way and we drove on and parked, another car followed us and then a little after a mini bus with nuns, that picking up pupils from a convent school. A very angry man jumped out in front of them waving a spade and swearing a lot, forcing them to stop, mother and I sank down in our seats hoping we were out of sight, as apparently he had been filling pot holes in the drive with tarmac, and no-one had told him there was a weekemd french session and now people were driving over his filled holes and he was not happy!

I was quite glad to get home and get dry and clean again! :-))

Sorry about the spelling, it's late at night and I'm to tierd to put it right!!

help me! I bet Shyboy can. Especially when trying to dodge a Pandora! :-)

Sorry, I can't match that.

What a story 🤣

Great story, Lol!

🤣🤣🤣 Lovely story and what a good memory you have to remember all the details 🤣🤣🤣

Early 1990s the work Sports and Social club organised a weekender to Amsterdam. I took along Mrs Lol63, but she wasn't Mrs Lol63 yet.

The ferry got to Calais OK in the small hours of Friday night. Then the coach had to drive through Belgium to get to the Netherlands. We were all dozing in the coach seats, to be awoken by a persistent "Bong! Bong! Bong!" coming from the front. The coach had lost hydraulic pressure and limped into a Belgian motorway service station. The driver radioed for a replacement coach to come and meet us, meanwhile it was everybody off the coach with their travel bags.

This was where we discovered on our unscheduled stop that the cafe wanted Belgian Francs, not the Dutch Guilders that we'd all brought for Amsterdam. (Cards weren't so commonplace back then.) So nobody could even buy a coffee.

Replacement coach arrived and got us to the hotel in the morning. Which was several miles outside of Amsterdam.

We were then bussed into the City, with a tour guide. Who we later discovered had never been to any of these places before. He didn't know where anything was at all in Amsterdam.

We all split up and went in different directions to explore with paper maps. Mrs Lol63 (to be) and I suddenly realised that we'd wandered into a district with - shall we say - interesting ladies in all the windows showing off pretty much all they had to offer.

Eventually got back to the meeting point and got the coach back to the hotel for a night in a bed that might as well have been a hammock.

On Sunday it was the return journey with a stop off at a chocolate factory in Bruges. The coach parked up, and our guide led us into a side street, said "Er..." and turned round. He was hopelessly lost. We never did make it to the chocolate factory.

On the way back to the port, we learned that it was the guide's first tour. So the chant started: "Vir-gin! Vir-gin! Vir-gin!"

When he left us at the port before the coach boarded the ferry back to England, the poor chap was almost in tears.

Glad you like it!