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's latest comments
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12th Feb 2017commented on:
Win 1 of 10 copies of the iconic Dairy Book of Home CookeryI think I might have had one of these many years ago but not now. If it is good enough for a winner of Bake Off then it is good enough for me! Would be interesting to see and try the newer recipes too.ViewDate:
12th Feb 2017commented on:
Win 1 of 5 copies of Classic Albums – Pet Sounds DVD featuring The Beach Boys!I loved The Beach Boys and remember seeing them live at the de Montfort Hall in Leicester sometime between 1972 and 1975 I think. Forget what their line-up was at that time but they were still great.ViewDate:
29th Jun 2016commented on:
Should Jeremy Corbyn Stay or Go?Just wanted to say, Lionel, that I have learnt a few things about Mr Churchill over recent years and he was not the saint that everyone sees him as and he was not always liked by the world leaders of his time so another reason for Boris not to try and emulate him. As you say, Churchill was a one-off and of his time.ViewDate:
29th Jun 2016commented on:
Should it be legal to require females to wear high heels at work?Stupid law. How do people with foot problems or other health problems that make them unable to wear high heels fare? Is this a wind-up? I have never heard of this law in all my working life which was 47 years. I can understand some companies having some misguided 'rule' of their own that states female employees should wear high heels because they think they look better in a customer facing role. Smart flat shoes and sandals can also look good. I have been unable to wear high heels for many years now including many when I was working. How anyone can wear those 'ankle-breakers' that are currently popular I do not know. They are so high they seem impossible to wear.ViewDate:
29th Jun 2016commented on:
Do you think we’re facing chaos now we’re leaving the EU?The vote on here seems to be almost evenly split as to whether there is chaos or not. There will certainly be chaos for some time but I hope we are able to find some sensible people who will be good and effective negotiators to retrieve the situation. I do not want us to remain tied or connected to the EU Single Trade agreement if the EU makes it difficult or levies a penalty - don't stick with it for the sake of it. Use the WTO arrangements instead and/or negotiate our own individually when that opportunity arises. I just hope whoever does it genuinely does have the country's interests at heart and not their own, that is all.ViewDate:
29th Jun 2016commented on:
Should Jeremy Corbyn Stay or Go?It is unfortunate that both Labour and Conservatives are in turmoil at the same time but let us hope that some good will come out of it. Jeremy Corbyn may be a good man (but I have not seen anything to prove it yet) but he is not a leader, he should step down. I do like the fact that he stands by his beliefs even if I do not agree with all of them but very few politicians do that, they change their mind as often as the wind changes direction. Heaven help us if Boris becomes leader. I always thought he supported the Leave campaign just for the hell of it and I think he has proved it to everyone now.ViewDate:
13th Apr 2016commented on:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpSince my comment of 30th March below I have in fact obtained a copy of this book! I have read nearly all of it and while I still stand by my comment earlier about one day or one weekend sounding a little ambitious to completely clear a house of junk, I do think there are some useful ideas there, if you look past the sometimes rather flowery language. And although the request to 'thank' an item before disposing of it sounds a little fanciful I think I see the point - it is about 'letting go' and not hanging on to stuff because 'it may come in useful one day' or 'I might wear that again'. Because it never comes in useful and we never wear it again, do we! We are encouraged to think about the pleasure or use an item has been to us, however brief that time might have been, and then get rid of it!ViewDate:
2nd Apr 2016commented on:
Travelling alone has never been easier!I am pleased that I am not the only person who thinks like this about 'No Single Supplement' holidays and Singles holidays in general. I have actually come across a coach trip company over the past two or three years, mostly within the UK, which also claims NSS on quite a few of its trips, mostly the short breaks, and I think they mean it too because the holidays are at bargain prices. They are not 4 or 5 star by any stretch of the imagination but are real value for money and I have had some enjoyable trips with them. As I have to watch the pennies I'm glad I found them.ViewDate:
30th Mar 2016commented on:
Travelling alone has never been easier!As a solo traveller myself I always look at the holiday offers that promise no single supplements but it has been my experience in the past on some occasions that when you compare the 'no single supplement' offer for one person with the normal price of an ordinary travel offer you are often paying more anyway, therefore the single supplement is often included in the overall offer price. Some travel offers do have low single supplements too, which also show up the fact that a 'no supplement' holiday is more expensive. I have also been disappointed with trips where everyone is on their own and found quite a number of people have been less than sociable. I much prefer a mixed bunch of travellers.ViewDate:
30th Mar 2016commented on:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying UpJust a comment about buying groceries monthly instead of weekly, to save money and the temptation to buy what you don't really need is a good idea. But it does not work for me living with a small kitchen with limited cupboard and fridge/freezer space. With regard to the KonMari idea that you can de-clutter a whole house in just ONE DAY or even ONE WEEKEND!! There cannot be much in a house of that kind to start with! I suppose it might also depend on when you last had a good clear out too but that kind of timescale does not allow time for meals or any other activities either.ViewDate:
4th Feb 2016commented on:
Roasted Vegetable LasagneI've just saved the details of your recipe Wilf, hoping to try it soon. Sounds fairly simple. Just one question please - what do you mean about cooking it on 2 shelves? Not something I have ever heard before but then I am not much of a cook!ViewDate:
4th Dec 2015commented on:
Win an iPad Mini (16GB, Wifi) in our Prize Draw!Would love to have one and find out how to use it and what it can do but cannot justify the cost!ViewDate:
16th Aug 2015commented on:
Win £250 M&S Gift Card courtesy of Hidden HearingLike M&S but cannot always afford to shop there these days so a gift card would be a lovely treat.ViewDate:
9th Jul 2015commented on:
Do you think charities are too aggressive when it comes to raising money?I can't help wondering if I am in a minority here because I have had very little trouble with charities. There was a period a year or two ago where I seemed to have a lot of post from different charities, some of whom I had supported a little in the past, but I found that those I had not had a connection with stopped sending stuff in time because I did not respond. Those that I had supported a little and did not wish to do so any further just got a polite letter from me and I have not heard from them since. What is it that makes some people feel that they have to support every charity going whether they can afford it or not? I donate goods to local charity shops and I sometimes buy goods from them too. While I can still afford it, I buy all my Christmas cards from different charities. I still make the occasional one-off donation to a charity too. In the past I have also helped out in a charity shop and enjoyed it. They have to pay rent for the shop premises don't forget even though it is often at a reduced rate and I am afraid I disagree with letting someone have an item cheaper than the advertised price simply because it is for charity. The majority of goods are very low-priced anyway. The manager and deputy manager at the store where I volunteered were not on a very high salary at all and everyone else was a volunteer. And they are a well-known, high-profile charity. Would you believe that some people even steal from charity shops? It happened to the one I worked in. Yes, there are large premises and highly-paid executives at some of the larger charities but they are so large they ARE a business but run on different principles to ordinary businesses. Because they are managing such large sums of money they have to be run efficiently and effectively and be correctly promoted. All registered charities are accountable to the Charity Commissioners too, even small ones.ViewDate:
13th Jun 2015commented on:
Should ear-piercing be banned for babies?I do not think a baby or even an older child should have their ears pierced. It should be left until they have left school and are also then able to make up their own mind. To the person who says surely every girl wants her ears pierced at some time - well this one did not. And as regards it being everyone's personal choice as someone said, yes it is for the child when they are an adult to decide.ViewDate:
13th Jun 2015commented on:
The battle of the supermarketsI use both Aldi and Sainsbury's and for my convenience they are almost next door to each other where I go! I no longer have a car so these are convenient to get to by bus. There is a small Tesco in the city centre but the choice is limited. I buy some things from Aldi and others from Sainsbury's. I find Sainsbury's own brand items are better than Tesco's. I am not too keen on some of the frozen goods in Aldi but again some of them are very good and good value. I prefer to buy my fruit and veg in Sainsbury's because Aldi tends to have everything in largeish packages whereas living alone I wish to buy smaller quantities. I hate buying a lot of something fresh and have to throw away most of it. I also find it hard to spot any best before/use by date on the fruit and veg in Aldi. I buy some frozen meals for one from M & S because they are better than the other stores and I find the prices comparable as a result. Waitrose recently moved to new premises here and I do not find their new store convenient any more, I sometimes bought the odd item there.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Should the World Cup be held in Qatar in 2022?I believe there are strong suspicions that the decision to award the competition to Qatar was not fair and above board, that there may have been bribery, etc., so for that reason alone it is wrong. The weather there is also another major factor - far too hot for 90 minutes of hard work in the open in summer. Sporting contests on the whole are not played in the worst of the weather in cold climate countries unless they are winter sports, so they should not be played in the worst of the weather in hot climate countries.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Are you plagued by nuisance phone calls?I must be among the few lucky ones who do not get many of these calls. There was a time when I could say I did not get any but there are a few creeping in over the past year or two. I did subscribe to TPS in the past, not sure if that is still active or whether it needs to be renewed every year or so. I must make a note of that suggestion to blow a whistle down the line - my mother somehow or other obtained an old police whistle at one point in her life, which I now have!ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Outrage as Cadbury's owner changes Creme Egg recipeI do not enjoy Cadbury's chocolate as much as I used to, it does not have the same flavour any more, and I am a chocolate fan! I have not tried the new Creme Egg.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Should households pay a universal flat-rate fee regardless of whether they own a TV?As it is now possible to watch TV programmes on equipment other than a TV set then perhaps a flat fee for everyone is the answer to providing funds for the BBC and public sector broadcasting instead of a TV licence. I expect they could use the TV Licence Fee collecting system to operate it too. I think the BBC needs to be funded as a public sector broadcasting provider - they also produce better programmes (on the whole) than expensive Sky, etc. and you don't have those annoying adverts. They also provide the best and most widely listened to radio channels.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Would you like to become a spy?I think there are probably plenty of 'spies' of different kinds around already, apart from the obvious MI5 and MI6 kind. The number of organisations who have access to our personal data, sometimes without us even realising it fully, means that an awful lot of people know an awful lot about each one of us. And I bet not all of that information is in an anonymous form.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
How do you like the design of the new £1 coin?Very like the old threepenny piece, but probably larger? I like the look of it but agree with all the comments about problems with vending machines, etc.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Should Jeremy Clarkson be sacked or reinstated?It is ancient history now as I write this but the BBC did the right thing in sacking him, why they took so long to make up their minds to do it though I cannot understand. Anyone less high-profile than him would have gone instantly. Another case of one rule for this person and another rule for that person.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Would you like to take a one way trip to Mars?I would love to travel into space and see Earth from up there, possibly even go to the Moon - it is a fairly short trip after all. But not Mars, not for me. I have admiration for those people willing to volunteer for the trip though, they are braver than I would ever have been.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Are you feeling happier as you get older?I am happier now that I am retired - two and a half years ago now. None of the pressures, stresses and strains that the workplace put upon you, however good the employer and however much you enjoy the job. Even though I live alone, I am still able to get out and about and do many of the things I would like to do and socialise with people. I do wonder from time to time though how I might feel in future years with increasing ill-health (it seems to have started already!) and a pension that does not buy as much as it used to.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Is Chris Evans a suitable replacement presenter for Top Gear?I don't like 'Top Gear' and I don't like Chris Evans either. I like the comment from 'daydreams' below about Philip Glenister as a suitable candidate. The show's producers could then take the opportunity to give the show a complete re-think too - fresh start and all that.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Do you feel well informed about potential pension scams?Use common sense and get a recognised financial adviser from a recognised and reputable company that you have researched. Yet there will still be people I suspect who hire someone recommended to them in the pub and spend it all on high living.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Did you go to your closest secondary school?I agree with 'nagonthenet' below, that if children went to their nearest school then the mix of abilities within schools would lessen the 'sink' schools and the schools with all the best pupils. Overall they would all improve. You would avoid the poorer performing schools being unable to attract better quality teachers. And also less traffic on the roads at peak times with the 'school run' as hopefully many more children would be able to walk to school, or at least catch a bus. I passed the 11+ to go to grammar school and went to what was the only one for girls at the time which was a little further away than the secondary modern. In this city at that time schools were not mixed.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Have you noticed that pack sizes have shrunk while prices remain unchanged?I think one reason for doing this is to maintain sales with customers who might think that maintaining the pack size but increasing the price to cope with rising manufacturing costs is a step too far and they will not buy the product any more. Therefore paying the same price but cutting the weight of a packet of crisps by 5gm or so is more acceptable. It has been going on for a long time though, I can remember in my childhood and teenage years when Mars Bars were much larger than they are now! I am sure that is not all in my imagination! I find it just as annoying when manufacturers tell me that the formula or recipe is New and Improved! Many times it is not improved at all and is in fact worse!ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Do you take notice of dietary and medical advice regarding healthy eating?Because the latest food or health warning is frequently reported as being neutral or good for you at a later date it seems pointless to take too much notice. Unless it is something like smoking, with medical evidence over a long period of time to back it up. It should be everything in moderation but I must admit I do not practice that very much, although I need to! Must try harder!ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Does making new friends get easier or more difficult as you get older?I have always been rather quiet and shy like Roof Top Crow below but do find it easier to chat to strangers now than I did in the past. I have joined my local U3A and enjoy activities there and I have recently discovered a local social activities group for older people and have been to two or three evenings out lately. I have never been married and wonder if being single or divorced and without a partner makes it harder to make new friends than for a married couple. Not having a car any longer also makes it harder to get out and about to meet new people, public transport here (in a largish city) is not very good.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Do you use anti wrinkle cream?I have used Olay basic Beauty Fluid every day since my twenties. I do sometimes use No 7 skin products - eye cream and anti-wrinkle cream - but I suppose for them to have any lasting effect I should use them regularly but they are rather expensive. From what quite a lot of people have said to me I think I must have inherited some positive genes regarding my skin as they tell me I have good skin for my age.ViewDate:
10th May 2015commented on:
Are you tempted to plan a digital detox?I do feel I need to either spend less time on my PC and/or use the time spent on my PC more wisely. I spend too much time looking at and sharing frivolous posts on Facebook (other than actual family and friend posts) and now and then I spend too much time on games like Candy Crush Saga! It is also very easy to spend too much by buying so easily and quickly on the Internet. Using the Internet more wisely is my aim I think.ViewDate:
3rd May 2015commented on:
Which party do you trust to manage your pensioner benefits over the next 5 years?I voted in this poll according to the details displayed above and chose LibDems. On recent and past performance I find it hard to believe that the Conservatives will keep their promises and I also have doubts about Labour - on the list above there is also no mention of what they would do with Free Bus Passes (a lifeline for me, without a car any more) or Free TV Licences for over 75 (which as I get older and as I live alone and on a relatively low income already, will probably be a major source of entertainment for me). The Winter Fuel Payment will also become increasingly more important to me. I have still not decided who to vote for in the Election and my constituency is a fairly marginal one too so it will be interesting to see the results!ViewDate:
3rd May 2015commented on:
Feel good playlist"Come up and see me (make me smile)" by Cockney Rebel is one of my favourites also "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners. The Beach Boys and The Mamas and The Papas titles mentioned are good too.ViewDate:
3rd May 2015commented on:
Would calorific information on alcoholic drinks affect your consumption?As I drink very little it does not really affect me but I did vote NO because I do not think drinkers would take any notice.ViewDate:
19th Apr 2015commented on:
Which coalition do you find more palatable?I think both Labour and Conservatives have had a hand in the sorry state of the economy over recent years and I do not believe that the Conservatives have a recovery under control. All the money is coming from borrowing. And it would be the same if Labour win. I do not like either of the two options given for voting, above. I think the Liberal Democrats should be a coalition partner again. Time to seriously think about proportional representation again I think, when the new government comes into power.ViewDate:
19th Apr 2015commented on:
Do you think Camilla should be crowned queen?Charles has obviously always loved Camilla. He was more or less pressured into marrying Diana as he was 'getting on a bit' and she too may have had some pressure of sorts. I do not believe Diana was as saintly as the media would have us believe. It is now almost 20 years since she sadly died. She was also divorced from Charles at the time of her death. I do not think Camilla is as black as she is painted either. The Family appear to have accepted her, as have William and Harry. I do not think that the government have any objections (do they?). They are now married. If the thought of a divorced woman becoming Queen still causes a problem in some influential circles then let her remain as Duchess when Charles becomes King. Or call her Queen Consort.ViewDate:
16th Apr 2015commented on:
Do you influence the younger generation who are of voting age in your family?On the whole I am not trying to influence the younger members of my family as they are more than capable of making up their own minds. I did have a Facebook chat with a loosely connected young person, mid-twenties I think, who said voting was a waste of time. When I asked how we should do things as a country he said that the whole system needed a rethink - that is putting what he said rather briefly. I then tried to explain that in order to get any changes in the way things are done and systems are run we have to act within the system we already have. If enough people push their view forward then the party in power will have to do something. I also think, and mentioned, that some of the on-line political action groups may well be a useful way to do that - the ones that do not hold any political view but have a go at any party whose view on a given topic appears wrong.ViewDate:
14th Apr 2015commented on:
Is 65 too old to become a mother again?If she has a nine-year old daughter at 65 then she gave birth to her at age 56 - already past the menopause. Unless the daughter is adopted. She has quite a number of children already, why at her age have another. Her IVF treatment would have been better targeted at someone younger who really needed it. I never had the opportunity to have children of my own when young enough but even so I would not want to use the latest medical science at my advanced age (65) to have a child now. The comment from 'millomgirl' below says it all.