Seen in a window in Bromley. It's hasn't been open long.

I'd had no idea until this morning that a smart meter can be remotely switched from standard to prepayment mode, with disastrous results for those least able to go out and charge up some gizmo in whatever few shops offer that facility.
The scope for abuse - let alone sheer carelessness - is huge and this has obviously already been happening on a large scale.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2023/january/disabled-people-cut-energy-supply

I've heard it all now.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/university-southern-california-department-removes-032152585.html

I’m trying to collect good quality cat food and litter, plus money for vets’ bills, for our local cat rescue independent Beatrice…well known to many in our area. Beatrice works tirelessly in the area virtually 24/7. Thank you so much and a very Happy New Year to all our existing generous sponsors, we very much appreciate your loyalty. Please message me if you can help.

*
https://news.sky.com/story/lisa-marie-presley-only-child-of-elvis-dies-aged-54-12785426

Those trans activists that keep saying JK Rowling is transphobic have never shown evidence of it. There was even a trans supporting journalist who agreed to search all of her social media and publications, and she found nothing. But still the trans activists won't let it go. Now this idiot is deleting her name from the Harry Potter books, and charging £140 per book.
https://www.gbnews.uk/news/jk-rowlings-name-removed-from-harry-potter-novels-over-transphobic-views/422990

Newspaper promises to 'stop writing about Prince Harry for a week to give readers a break'
"The Daily Star today pledges to stop printing the frankly bizarre utterances of the world's shyest author. For about a week. Guaranteed!"

Will you need the week off?

Apologies if this is in the wrong group. A few months ago, someone mentioned how to check if an email had been read and I can't find it (have looked in Support, etc). Is there any chance it was posted on here or can tell me where to go (preferably politely!) - many thanks.

My outdoor tap is not over a drain as most are. is it possible to get a little drain put into the concrete ?

I have 3 red Camellias in my garden.

click on

I have every sympathy when someone addicted to gambling realises they have a problem and ask for help. But that sympathy disappears when they put all the blame on the gaming companies and even suggest all online gaming is banned.
There are so many different "safer gambling tools" that you can turn on, along with the constant advice to only stake what you can afford to lose and don't chase losses.
You can set weekly or monthly deposit limits. That's one I use.
You can set stake limits. I use that one on Tombola so that I don't see bingo tickets costing over 10p.
You can also get a pop up reminder if you have been online over 60 minutes telling you to take a break.
If you really need help stopping, you can ban yourself from even being able to login for any period of time.
I also have my own rule, I only gamble on odd days.

In case our beloved Government and suppliers have not noticed, gas prices have plummeted.

Last night I watched a piece on tv about homeless Ukrainians in the UK since the government allowance for taking them in on arrival has ended. But what about our own homeless? Should the government be considering war time answers to this problem, such as prefabs and pod like housing. Not everyone has the income or opportunity to buy one of the thousands of new homes being fitted into every spare space across the country.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/london-borough-outrageous-1-every-25935079

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/council-t-charge-8-million-191333996.html

Someone on another thread said I should stop going on about Covid being almost over, and moan more about woke stuff. So the woke things I disagree with the most are.
1. allowing men to identify as women so they can walk into the ladies changing areas.
2. Saying your gender is neither male or female.
3. Trans women, who are really male, competing in women's sports
4. Paying compensation to countries because of slavery 200 years ago.
5. and, Non Crime Hate Incidents.

Apparently Police Scotland are the worst for arresting or cautioning people for Non-crimes. They have a list of harmless jokes they can refer to if a NCHI is reported.
So a policeman investigating a non-crime must realise he is then a non-policeman investigating a non-incident.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-the-police-finally-see-sense-on-non-crime-hate-incidents/

If you are planning to visit a country that requires you to have an entry visa, what would you prioritise first; the visa or your airline ticket?

Cushelle “no tube just more paper” is a joke. The paper is very thin and one needs at least one if not more sheets of paper. More profit for Cushelle.
Trying to buy again the quilted type but always unavailable.

https://newsharper.com/trending/flawlesslyaged-bd-tracy-shaw-uk?tbv=0.046000&ts=1673259944132781944&a0v5la7bquf89=f5baa1e599482493484b5a417e1b886f&uy3ubftvh0u6o8=091cea1f1cdf99085d94049c88555283&cusduxj27i=1547697&xnfrr0ncac=20737&zsmoi87pih9=trace-eu.mediago.io&lzzgnpz8d=9220dd482c2a49631b4e66cca9f5f0ee

click on

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This is a bay window which shows the corner section. Does this look serious or just a case of mastic being needed?

The Tories have now committed electoral suicide as icing on the cake for their deplorable record of mismanagement.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/familyhealth/free-nhs-prescriptions-for-over-60s-may-be-axed-in-april-as-decision-deadline-looms/ar-AA165V5F?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=a162c175004f4f43fc3564108716ff05

Hi
I've got a sack trolley which I use for shifting crates of equipment round for work, Unfortunately the wheels broke.
I can get replacement wheels but I need a couple of collars or similar to put on the ends of the axles to stop the wheels falling off.
The collars need to be metal, around 1cm thick and with central 20mm hole.
I can't find such items online.
Do any of you have any suggestions about where I might find such items?

https://www.pastfactory.com/life/four-sisters-take-the-same-photo-for-40-years-and-the-results-are-heartwarming/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-62136449

The next election is a non-event for the Tories and once out it will take a l-o-n-g time to get back.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/nhs-to-move-thousands-of-patients-to-care-homes/ar-AA166dr9?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1f2b8b974a1948578cd290fd04620ba9

Reuters report 7 Jan

" Vladimir Putin attended an Orthodox Church Christmas service by himself inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration. Putin, wearing a blue jacket and a high-necked white sweater, was the sole worshipper and crossed himself several times before television coverage cut away to a public service in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral. "

He'a avoiding appearing in public, and the TV crew are at a distance and not filming him walking.

I placed an order yesterday and realised I'd put the wrong leg measurement so this morning have been trying to contact the firm to change. The phone number given is priced at 13 per minute plus so tried to do it on line, which gave an 033333 number to ring, looked up the cost of 03333 numbers and it said priced the same as normal charges. So then rang that number only to hear this call is priced at 13p per minute, etc., waited 2 minutes to see if anybody was available to answer, 'even though my call was important to them', then disconnected.
Surely if it is classed as a normal charge, they cannot then state call is 13p per minute. I wouldn't mind but I'm ordering for someone else!

The government have said that if any travellers from China to UK test positive for Covid, they will not be asked to go into quarantine. The tests are just to see if they are carrying new variants.
I think this indicates that Covid is now just another virus that we might catch, be ill for a while, then make a full recovery.
So far this year there have been no deaths announced.

https://www.facebook.com/wesaveblueplanet/photos/a.190369781640905/1117108495633691/

Welsh leader Mark Drakeford joined in the calling out of the Qatari regime over human rights, women's rights and LGBTQI rights. Probably even said "Qatar shouldn't be hosting the World Cup". But as soon as the Qatari's offered him a free 5* hotel stay for him and his entourage, they couldn't get there quick enough.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/mark-drakeford-no-regrets-over-25902501

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/morrisons-launches-mega-petrol-deal-28874116?int_source=mantis_rec_rhc_network&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this_rhc&_ga=2.42233573.1386597593.1673070709-918322781.1673070708

Not only ranked the worse place to live now we have the worse bus station.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/worst-london-bus-station-passengers-25918338?utm_source=mylondon_newsletter&utm_campaign=myeastlondon_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

Amazon delivery have sent me lots of these, I have to dial an 0845 number to hear the message, do I have to pay for these calls ?

https://tinyurl.com/4zjjstjk

There's talk of changing one of the rules about the moment a six is scored.

https://www.postfun.com/celebrity/celebrities-havent-improved-with-age/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64140571?at_campaign=KARANGA&at_medium=RSS

Please sign this petition if you support it. I think it’s very important.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/618805?

https://news.sky.com/story/husbands-anger-as-wife-dies-after-waiting-more-than-16-hours-for-ambulance-in-hull-12778486

Bet our stupid, useless Gvt won't do anything........

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-64111492

Who has watched it? I saw some of it for the first time yesterday....yuk!

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/planning-eu-road-trip-9-060037930.html

https://uk.yahoo.com/sports/news/martina-navratilova-diagnosed-throat-breast-143322174.html

Flicking through various newspapers today I came across this chap.
Has anyone heard of him? Apparently dubbed the 'new Nostradamus'


https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/01/psychic-predicts-royal-family-drama-and-china-revolution-in-2023-17942772/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64138743

Recently in many programmes I have watched and also in some adverts people are having their food in bowls.
Is this a new fad ? the only things I have in a bowl are soup or cereal, maybe I'm just not with the times.

Much loved black female cat escaped temporary accommodation in Fortis Green. Microchipped and spayed

My best friend fell and broke her hip yesterday, having op today but she has a dicky ticker so am worried.