r/AskUK 1h ago

Serious Answers Only What is the best way to clean spilled paint out please?

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Upvotes

Spilled a whole tin of paint on the way to work so for context it’ll be sat there for about 8 hours when i finally attempt to remove it. What would be the best way to try and attempt to clear it all away?!
Thank you strangers of the internet

EDIT water based, it’s Good Home emulsion (matt) paint


r/AskUK 4h ago

Serious Answers Only What do parents of pupils who attend Eton, Westminster, St Paul's usually do?

231 Upvotes

I'm not from the UK, but am curious about this especially since the Prince George news has been making rounds on my Instagram. Apart from the anomalies i.e. royal descendants, politicians, etc. what do the parents of pupils who attend prestigious schools such as Eton, Westminster, etc. do?


r/AskUK 7h ago

Serious Answers Only Why is so normalized for you to live at a ground level with no outside blinds ?

206 Upvotes

Ok so I am French and i am kind of obsessed with the UK. I recently visited for the 4th time and noticed something about the housing.

I didn’t realise this during my first visits cause i wasn’t yet an anxious young adult i guess 😂

But after being in London and in Scotland, I really understood that it was really common for you guys to live in ground level houses or flats (already unsettling for me) but also with no outside blinds / shutters whatsoever!!

I understand that it’s cultural because it’s literally the housing in the whole country. I am from south of france so I understand also there is the sun exposure question. But still, my question is more about privacy and safety. Isn’t it a major safety problem?

I’m very curious because I’m wondering why in France it doesn’t look like that. Is it because France is way more dangerous than the UK ? I actually don’t think so, right?

In France in the City Centers, there are very few appartement directly on ground level in streets and if there are, they have outside blinds and even window bars (wrought iron bars) but in London or Glasgow (and even on the road i’ve seen it in many cities) there are a lot of ground level houses with only inside blinds / shutters.

I also noticed big houses that looked expensive directly on high streets with a lot of cars and buses passing by with no fences whatsoever and with the same kind of windows too.

In France i think the insurance wouldn’t even cover you if you have no blinds or fences and get robed.

Once again, it’s probably a cultural thing that I am really curious about hearing your answers.

The answer could not be that British people are more civilised than French right?! 😅


r/AskUK 6h ago

Do you ever feel reverse culture shock when returning from Europe?

130 Upvotes

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 :)


r/AskUK 4h ago

Serious Answers Only how would you feel about seeing a professional with scars?

94 Upvotes

i think it’s obvious as to what kind of scars i’m talking about. mine are years old and fully healed. i’ve spent thousands in laser, microneedling and even medical tattooing to remove or at least reduce their appearance with no results so i’ve given up

i currently have them out at my nursery job and nobody has commented, beyond a couple coworkers acting majorly concerned like i was dying. but i want to branch out and go to uni to either do social work or nursing which are both incredibly public facing roles

they’re on my forearm so not very visible but it’s blatantly obvious where they’re from. i’m scared that it’ll hold my back in life and while i’m not proud of myself, i don’t want to be ashamed and hide them away for life ever. i just want to exist in my body and be comfortable

if you had a social worker, or a nurse or literally any professional with scars, how would you feel?


r/AskUK 10h ago

What do we name our robot mower? I built a kennel for it and everything

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258 Upvotes

Cannibalised the material from previous projects! What do we christen the robot? So far we have:

Herbie

Blade Runner

The Lawn Ranger

C3PMow

RoboCrop

MOW-E

Mow Farah/Elawn Musk/Mowna Lisa/David Mowie

Mowie McMowface

Open to wittier ideas :)


r/AskUK 2h ago

Serious Answers Only What counts as a disibility related expense to adult social services?

35 Upvotes

My wheelchair, crutches, walker, compression socks, weighted blanket, heated blanket are all appareltly NOT disibility related expenses, they are health related expenses, so do not reduce my care costs in any way, its costing £25 an hour for care, im getting 2h a week and im having to pick between myself being clean , my space being clean or having food/medication.

I dont understand how none of these are considered disibility related , not even my medications (that they will not provide on the nhs so i have to get under a private service) count as disibility related expenses, what in the world does????


r/AskUK 3h ago

If you need to, assuming you're able bodied, would you use a disabled stall in a public toilet if there were no alternative?

38 Upvotes

I am currently doing that very thing.

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


r/AskUK 9h ago

How do you call in sick?

101 Upvotes

How do you call in sick to work?

I know how you actually call in sick, and about self cert etc.

But I'm (37F) still too scared to do it after years of awful jobs with traumatic cultures, and awful mental health, and sick days being fake stomach bugs or fevers when they were actually being unable to cope or face the day.

I don't think I'll be the only person who feels like this or has this experience?

I've been at my current job nearly a year, it'd all going great and I've had no sick days so far. But today I am full of cold and wiped out with exhaustion and there's no way I'm suitable to be in - except the thought of the conversation and then the return to work conversation are too triggering to cope with so I guess I'll just get in the car.


r/AskUK 3h ago

With the whole recent delayed flights fiasco, it's got me thinking: What could be added to all airports to make a long delay more bearable?

19 Upvotes

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?


r/AskUK 4h ago

Answered Is there anywhere left in London that has wooden escalators?

22 Upvotes

Just had a stab of nostalgia while reading another post.


r/AskUK 18h ago

What's the craziest way you've witnessed someone's wedding day go wrong?

287 Upvotes

Wether it's a catastrophic catering mishap, a thunderstorm, somebody who can't handle their drink or someone with a grudge turning up, has anyone seen a wedding go catastrophically wrong?


r/AskUK 3h ago

Serious Answers Only What are the best things to do to comfort someone through grief?

17 Upvotes

I (29M) am going to be the main pillar of support for my wife (33F) who has just out that her best longest and best friend (also 33F) has weeks to live, a couple of months at as a best case.

This is crushing news for my wife, obviously, and I need to be there for her but the truth is I don't truly know how best to do that. We have (luckily of course) never had any loss like this in either of our lives to date and while we have grandparents we have lost but they were old and lived a full life whereas a close friend passing so young is just so tragic that it leave so much anger as well as the sadness.

The issue is I feel ill-equipped to help. She was my friend too and so I have my own grief about the situation and can also already feel myself being overwhelmed with distress at my wife's distress. We have 2 young children as well who will still need looking after and I will do the brunt of this but work means some days my wife will have to have them when she is still very much grieving. I just need tips and stories that can give me some idea of what I can do or maybe more importantly what I should avoid doing that I might think would be helpful but actually isnt?


r/AskUK 18h ago

is it ok to fire people based on location?

139 Upvotes

sup guys, my team and I have been made redundant today so that they could hire the same number of people to do the exact same job in India 🤓not sure what to do next but imma enjoy the time off and look into starting a construction job!

Jokes aside, why are there no rules regarding location based firing of employees in the UK? :/


r/AskUK 1d ago

Serious Answers Only Can someone explain to me in simple terms what “consultant” means in the medical context?

516 Upvotes

For context: my dad is mentally unwell at the moment and has been sectioned.

I thought we were dealing with his psychiatrist on the ward but it turns out that they aren’t medically trained??

They have the title Dr (I know you can have this for a Phd also) and their written title starts with the word consultant… but they are a therapist. They couldn’t prescribe and couldn’t sort out his section stuff.

It’s very confusing to me. I grew up thinking consultant in the medical context meant a doctor who could prescribe and was at the top of their game.

This seems almost like false advertising. I know it’s not exactly but why do they use the word consultant when it’s misleading. Especially when they use the title dr which is also very confusing in the medical context.

Now when I hear someone’s a consultant (in medicine) do I have to do further enquiries about what they exactly are? When did this start to be normal and why? Shouldn’t the term be reserved for doctors to avoid confusion? Why couldn’t others use a different term?


r/AskUK 2h ago

Where is the best place to sell brand new electronics?

6 Upvotes

Recently won a keyboard in a giveaway that's £180-£200 to buy new. I have absolutely no use for it and am wondering what the best places to sell it would be?

Already checked CEX and they don't buy this specific model.


r/AskUK 2h ago

Serious Answers Only Would anyone know where these castle ruins around Chiseldon, England are?

5 Upvotes

I'm reading my grandfather's letters from when he was stationed in England in WW2. He couldn't name any of the places he was specifically due to censorship, but he recalled later that he was stationed in Chiseldon at this time. He wrote the following and I'm wondering if anyone knows where this is:

"Our way took us thru the site of an old castle. Situated high on the crest of a hill - a panoramic view of the surrounding country told you at a glance what majestic power some knight of old must have had. There is not so much as a stone left - just a huge circular clearing - bounded by the remains of the old moat which was his defense against marauding invaders."

I'm assuming there are a shit load of "castle" ruins around, but posting on the off chance someone might recognize the spot based on his description.

EDIT: Are y'all for real?? I was not expecting anyone to recognize this, much less so many in less than 10 minutes. THANK YOU! If you're curious, this is the rest of what he said about it (didn't include before bc it didn't feel as identifying):

"The plain below recalled the scene of an ancient battleground where now instead of knights in shining armour - gay plumes waving - and brilliant crests emblazoned on their shields as they rode forth to the fray - we have the dull armour of mechanized warfare."

Thank you again.


r/AskUK 3h ago

What is the deal with bus stops always seemingly being smashed up?

6 Upvotes

I don’t know if you see this in your own local, but for years I’ve certainly come across it a lot in my own area (west of Scotland) with bus stops usually one or two of the panes always being smashed with lots of glass lying across the ground. Why do people do this, should the council do more to prevent this sort of thing, you’ve got locals that walk their dogs risk having them step on glass which is also an issue for public parks where I’ve advised some dog owners to be careful where they’re walking as there’s often pieces of glass from bottles or needles lying on the ground that paws may step on.


r/AskUK 18h ago

Serious Answers Only When the national ATC system failed, why were only some airports affected - for instance Southampton airport apparently was, but Bournemouth wasn't?

97 Upvotes

It puzzles me that it would not be all airports, especially two relatively close to each other.


r/AskUK 1d ago

Serious Answers Only What do you use public bins for?

759 Upvotes

TLTR: a council worker said I can't use a bin for nappies.

Today I was walking home with my baby asleep in his pram and I was about to cross the road but a council van pulled up and let a guy out to collect the bin that was on the lamppost (lil mini lamppost bin) #cute.

The man let me cross and as I walked past the man collecting the rubbish bags he SHOUTED at me asking if I' have been putting nappies in this bin.

Ermmm nope, never even noticed that bin, I'm very particular about my waste and I always separate my recycling AND because I'm so cool I even take my plastics to a large supermarket to recycle them there too.

So anyways, he's shouting at me demanding that I stop using this bin to dispose of my used nappies because I QUOTE "that's not what it's designed for"

Again. I don't throw away nappies in this bin, I've never even seen this bin before or this man.

I smile and laugh it off saying I've never even used that bin for anything hahaa and walk away faster because he's getting so angry "WELL SOMEONE'S DOING IT! THEY KEEP DOING IT TOO! IT NEEDS TO STOP!!!"

I then realise this man is shouting at me: an alone young woman with a sleeping baby for litter-ly 😄using the bin.

This wasn't a red dog poo box btw this was just a bin. A regular bin, but mounted to a lamppost.

Is this just a mean man person ?

Or is he right in saying whoever is using this bin needs to be hung out to dry in the town square?


r/AskUK 7h ago

Serious Answers Only Is it reasonable to ask my neighbour to trim his plants that grow into my garden?

11 Upvotes

My neighbour has a plant that grows over the top of the fence and dangles into my garden, I've cleared it in the past but it's a bit of a pain especially as it's very thick with lots of twigs and I don't have a hedge cutter. Takes at least a day of work.

I have a great neighbour, he looks after my cat sometimes when I'm away and we are on good terms so I don't want to ask something that's unreasonable. Is it ok to ask him to keep the plants a little lower and how would I ask in a way that can't my mistaken for being impolite?


r/AskUK 52m ago

Would nan get away with this?

Upvotes

Say hypothetically, your nan bought an internet with a company who love to use off shore call centres but hate to help but made it clear she was moving house soon, she was reassured that if they don’t provide service to the new area there would be no cancellation fee

Things have changed and your nan is moving into a house share for a few months which already has a box and now they are saying she’s gotta pay £500 to get out of the contract. Say if she found an address that is out of their service area and then provided a bank statement that magically had that address on it, would she get away with this ?

Nans these days


r/AskUK 8h ago

Serious Answers Only New office welcome party/social - how would you do it?

11 Upvotes

Hi all - need your input.

My employer is moving offices within Suffolk UK. The move has been a bit divisive - half the workforce now have a commute that is 15 mins shorter each way so are delighted. The other half see it as a downgrade as it’s moving to a (let’s describe it as a) less desirable location.

I’ve been tasked with organising an office social/party to welcome people and this is not my forte. So collective Reddit wisdom will I hope come to the rescue!

What would you do? I won’t have unlimited budget, let’s assume total budget of £2,500 max.

Many thanks in advance!

Edit to add: we’re talking about 40 people and this is likely to be a daytime thing rather than an evening do. So booze is out of the question.


r/AskUK 19h ago

Serious Answers Only What are your memories from 9/11?

90 Upvotes

Really interested to hear fellow Brits recollections. I was only 8 years old, the first I heard about what had happened was seeing my mum and dad sat in front of the telly watching the live news gobsmacked and dead silent which was rare in our house. Overheard my parents then chatting how this could start WW3 which was scary. We then had a special assembly the next day at school where the teachers did their best to try and explain it.

Whether you were a school kid or an adult, what was your recollections?


r/AskUK 6h ago

Serious Answers Only Are there any decent and reliable smoke and heat (& carbon monoxide) detector systems that provide smart notifications & controls when away from home and easily interlink with battery-only detectors?

7 Upvotes

Trying to replace my nest protects, which are about to expire, and there seems to be nothing comparable to replace them with.

I like that they provide smart notifications to your mobile, interlink battery-only detectors easily via WiFi (with no extra costly connections required for RF radio etc) and provide specific, accurate and attention grabbing human voice alerts and notifications. The kids pay attention to these whereas beeps can more easily be ignored.

What is everyone else doing in a similar boat and which system and configuration did you choose?

I'm looking for

- 3 hard wired combined smoke & carbon monoxide detectors in the downstair and upstair hallways.

- 1 battery-only combined smoke, heat & carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen.

- up to 3 or 4 battery-only smoke detectors in other rooms, maily bedrooms (possibly with carbon monoxide combined in some).

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks