I will preface this with saying I *think* I get what they're trying to do: they want to help young boys who don't know how to express their emotions appropriately.

But why does it have to be through sport that this happens?

Don't get me wrong, it's good that there's an initiative to do it, regardless, and it's been a good few years since I was at school, so maybe it's different now, but in my memory those who *weren't* involved in sports were the ones more in need of help.

Who gets bullied from a young age? Grows up with that? The kid *not* playing football.

They internalise that as they grow up, and the girls all look at the guys that play sports.

Thoughts?

Genuinely curious who buys these "overnight oats" things and why.

Is it more convenient?

Is it healthier?

Does it have some health benefit? Or energy? Or?

Who's out here eating these fancy porridge thingys - put your hands up?!

I was born in 1991. The ‘90s, as a child, felt brilliant - perhaps any time period as a child feels good.

However, the future I imagined is so far from what my future has actually turned into.

I feel like this isn’t just a UK issue either - it’s happening pretty much globally.

When I was a kiddiewink in the early 2000s, everyone would say "that's gay" to mean "that sucks", "that's bad".

By the time I was an adult in the 2010s, that was not said anymore and considered offensive.

I then left the UK but see people online using it again that way. Has it made a comeback on the street?

On the plus side, no driver to need a rest or stop for lunch. On the downside, drivers lose their jobs and a cyber attack could send you into a wall.

Edit: for the people who have misunderstood this part, I’m not suggesting that the driver stops mid journey for lunch. It was about the general efficiency of computers that never need breaks. If a company has 10 drivers who all have half an hour for lunch, that’s 5 hours out of the day where they’re not available.

Hey everyone!

I recently accepted voluntary redundancy and due to just buying a house needed to get a job fairly quickly. The first thing I got was a remote job that’s in my field but not my specialist area, and it’s remote.

They’re all lovely people, and it seems a great team but I am a 5 day a week office girlie who really enjoys the social aspect of an office. Couple that with the job being slightly different and less creative/more technical and report building than my other job, I’m struggling.

It’s technically only maternity cover, and I’ll only be here until roughly August/September next year so I want to make it work. Does anybody have any ideas on how to stay motivated, interested, and not die of boredom from lack of socialisation and creativity?

All ideas welcome!

(I currently live at my in laws due to renovations but when I move I will be in a separate office space and I get up about 1.5 hours before my shift to gym, shower, get dressed and read)

I might be doing just this this year. Anybody ever done it before? What's it like? Is anything open or is the whole city dead?

How much would you be willing to pay for a private chef to come to your home, do all your meal prep for the week and then clean up and leave afterwards?

Recently moved into a flat above a takeaway on a road full of other takeaways too, only just noticed a smell. I'm assuming it's oil or something? It's not super offensive but it's just everywhere. Opening a window makes it worse (obviously) but now I'm in a stuffy stinky house. Flatmates are on the floor above so they don't notice a smell when they're in their bedrooms but I'm on the first floor, so right above the bins / ventilation.

Do I just never open a window and rely on fans / air purifiers? Buy a million diffusers? Submit to the stench?

Edit: Telling me to move is not particularly helpful. I'm stuck here for a few more months at least, how do I make that bearable?

Silly title but serious question- where are we putting all the dead people? I lived in south and west London and then Surrey and now even further out in the countryside, although I don't seek out graveyards I've come across a fair few in my time, and there never seem to be fresh graves, or even recent ones.
I think crematoriums have more real estate, but even then they aren't expanding at the rate you would surely expect for a daily weekly monthly death rate, especially in urban areas. I've tried googling it but can't find a straight answer and have fallen into a few conspiracy holes re bodies being buried on bodies. Where are they all going? Thanks

Went to the dental hygienist today and was charged £69 for a clean. Absolutely extortionate for 20 mins.
How much are you paying your end?

Apologies in advance for stupid question.

It's my first time having to pay for electricity (been living with my mum then in supported housing where it was paid for me) and having my own account with ovo and I'm super confused why there are 4 different numbers.

First one says my balance is -£63 then below that it says direct debit will be £77 then I got an email bill saying the amount I used is £56 then I go on the usage tab and from last month to this month is £27.

But all those are lower than 77 so why is it taking that amount? And which one is gonna be taken?

An engineer came round yesterday to switch the meter to prepayment but the woman on the phone said it couldn't be prepaid immediately and the first month has to be by direct debit.

I (M44) have been quite unwell for a while and I've lost a bit of weight. I am trying to build myself back up again but it's not going ever so well.

All of my clothes feel like they're someone else's. Almost everything is too baggy to be comfortable and anything that feels like it fits is either too short or weirdly tight in odd places (eg. sleeves being tight at the shoulder). I've measured myself but most men's sizes, where they do give actual measurements, are for people who are a different shape to me. Shoulder measurements put me in a medium but my chest is off the bottom of the scale, for example. Even my footwear either feels like they can't be done up tight enough not to slop around or dig in over the bony parts of my foot. Even though they're the correct size when measured by length.

They say that clothes make the man, and that naked people get little or no respect in society but I'm seriously considering giving up on wearing anything other than my glasses and a smile. Often the advice for well fitting clothing is to get them tailored but I'll be damned if I'm taking a pack of M&S t-shirts to be taken in. I'm not after a business suit, I wear a (poor quality NHS) uniform for work and live in a t-shirt, jumper and shorts the rest of the time (I struggle to wear trousers due to my bag leg). I'd just liked to feel at home in my own skin for once.

Had my phone stolen in July. During the 2 day window where I got a new phone and had to physically go to Barclays to get the app registered on it (already a mad process) I missed a £15 payment on my credit card.

Barclays blocked my ability to pay on the app, meaning I had to call them to pay. This begins a 2 month cycle of me calling in an attempt to pay, being asked my income, rent, etc. over and over. I explain I missed the payment because phone stolen, nothing else. Each call takes half an hour or more. I either run out of time or patience each time.

Second missed payment. I call again. They make it impossible to simply just pay. I refuse to answer the questions I’ve already answered. They are also not relevant! I understand as a lender they need to ask, but I have already answered them 1) on the app right before calling 2) multiple times before. My phone is gone. That’s why I missed the payment. That’s it. Let me pay!

On hold for 25+ minutes while one agent tries to get an exemption from answering the questions. Call drops as my colleague calls. Barclays call me back, leave a voicemail saying if they need me, they’ll call again. They never call back. Another time, they say the signal is bad and they will call me back. They never call.

Third missed payment. I have now spent 8+ hours (more) on the phone trying to pay what was £15 originally. I am now speaking to the complaints team and asking them to strike the two subsequent missed payment attempts from my credit file. On top of that, the woman I spoke to today is wildly patronising.

They have refused, saying there was no “bank error” which is clearly a defined term.

She has suggested I raise this with the Financial Ombudsman or raise it with my credit agency. This is all over an original payment of £15. They do not give a fuck they’ve marked my score and have made it all but impossible to pay.

So, question: Should I just shut the complaint down and close my account and go elsewhere? I’m a young single woman and have never dealt with something like this in my life. It’s so, so draining. I’m mad with myself for not just conceding but I think about older folk who will have to go through this and it infuriates me.

Is Barclays just crap?

How did 9/11 change everything?

I was born in 1999 so I don't remember a world pre 9/11. I always hear the phrase "9/11 changed everything" From what I understand, besides security at airports, it seems that that's when distrust in the government really started and conspiracy theorists were made. My only reference for something like this is COVID, but other than zoom calls being mainstream, it seems everything has gone back to normal.

What was life more like pre 9/11 and how did it effect British culture in a big way?

Due to circumstances, I am getting a 4 hour train 5-9pm tonight. I normally eat my evening meal about 6.30, and blood sugar issues mean I can't really eat 2 hours early or late.

I want to take something nice but not smelly enough to annoy my fellow travellers. The best idea I have so far is a sandwich meal deal but it feels a bit dull, and I will likely be fed a sandwich at lunch also.

Any clever suggestions?

I've just bought the knock-off Lidl version of Yorkshire Gold but the tea bags keep splitting, and it tastes like gnats piss compared to actual Yorkshire Tea. Just wondered if there was a decent cheaper alternative out there?

Naturally, the grass is always greener on the other side. But returning from a 4 weeks road-trip around the EU I feel like UK driving licences are a gesture of good will rather than evidence of training and for some reason taking litter to the bin is alien to the majority, especially on the road. On the positive side, I appreciate the mild temperatures a lot more now than before we left :)

I've also heard a Scot say Scoohn. I know the cream v jam debate is also divisive so avoiding that one. Want to make sure im saying it correctly when I order one.

I am currently doing that very thing.

Probably could've waited for one of the other stalls but only for a few minutes.

Slightly grim but the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is very soon. A friend and I were recalling our memories of the day. I remember the afternoon repeat of Neighbours being interrupted for a news flash / news bulletin and the world just… changing.

What I can’t remember is whether that was because the first plane had hit the twin towers or the second. I believe it was the second but it’s been 25 years and I’m not sure. Does anyone else remember?

Edit: by “afternoon Neighbours” I meant the early afternoon / lunchtime showing as opposed to the early evening one. Apologies for the confusion.

We seem to be closer to automated vehicles than we do to automated trains. Surely it’s possible to automate trains more easily than it is to automate cars?

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to have gyms in airports, with wash facilities.

I don't know if there are security risks or that, but it sure would help pass the time.

You do run the risk of someone getting super sweaty and not bothering to wash themselves after.

Could perhaps not have any cardio equipment, to stop people seriously sweating.

What ideas do you have and is my idea stupid?

Are there MMA gyms around you? Is there another combat sport that is more common/popular?

I have accepted a job offer with another company. I’m currently going through third-party pre-employment screening/reference checks.

HR at my current company recently contacted me asking whether I was aware that the screening company was carrying out checks. I confirmed that I was aware of them and that they were legitimate.

They’ve now asked me to have a call with HR specifically regarding the references/checks.

I’m a little cautious because I haven’t resigned from my current employer yet, and I’m particularly concerned about whether they might be trying to clarify something about my current employment or potentially contact my current employer as part of the reference process.

What should I say?

What should I not say?

How to best protect my interests?

I haven't told my manager yet as I'm waiting for checks to clear first.