squeezy

I don't mind helping people from anywhere, but I often find that in the Uk and Ire forum, people are asking 'US specific' questions (about prices in $, SATs - which mean something totally different in the UK, shops we don't have here etc') and getting frustrated when they don't get the right answers.

Is this a design flaw with questions? What could be confusing people, cause it keeps happening, it isn't just one or two people?

Can anyone suggest why people click the UK/Ire link in error, from the US?

You can now earn nectar points on 'buy it now' ebay purchases. Does anyone know where in the process the place to type the nectar number appears, and what the box looks like. I am an experienced Ebay user and simply cannot see when to do it.

I do go via nectar eshops to ebay (so the right version of the shop) AND have already emailed them. They sent a load of bumf about how great their partnership with nectar was, but no real info.

When people correct spellings on line, they sometimes make comments about the person not knowing the spelling, when it is actually a 'typo'. The difference being, a typing error is when the hand hits the wrong key although the mind knows the spelling.

Typical 'typo' signals are:

- double letter reverse (e.g. ball becomes blaa);

-Slight mis-ordering (close becomes colse);

-Leaving out or typing one letter twice;

-Hitting nearby letters instead of the intended one (no becomes bo, or bno).

Just asking because I can spell (I mis-typed that splell) but Can't (acn't) type too well. I do recognise typos when I see them though, and mention them as 'typos', without telling the person they 'can't spell'. You can see the difference by looking at the word then your keyboard, plus mis-spells often have sound patterns which typos don't.

Can you tell the difference?

Stylists use 'body types' to inform people what looks best- boyish, apple shape, pear shape, top heavy, curvy etc'.

Whenever I check what I am, I come out as 'curvy'- large chest, small waist, defined hips- 'hourglass'. I am a size 10 (UK- a US6).

In magazines, however, 'dress for curvy' usually just means bigger sizes. This seems unfair- not only do I not get fashion advice I pay for (unlike my pear-shape mates, who get proper pear-shape advice), but bigger women who have a pear, apple or top-heavy body are being lumped together in one stereotype. Surely that is unfair? Body type is different from weight.

So, what does 'curvy' mean to most people- hour glass, or 'bigger' weight-wise?

I work in a college so have time off over summer. I can't afford to go abroad.

Usually I use the time to do 'outdoors' stuff (walking, gardening, going to places/exhibitions, country pubs). Has anyone any ideas of things to do while the weather's this rubbish? Otherwise I'll just be on the web, watching TV and reading.

I live in the London area and drive, so ideas anywhere in the South East are great!

Hi-

I'm usually a strictly North London gal but am taking a friend to Vinapolis this weekend. Any ideas where we could have a nice dinner. I know they have a restaurant but have only drunk there- is it any good?

I want to throw a small dinner party (6 people). One is a veggie.

Any ideas for main dishes which can be adapted or adjusted for the one person? I just don't want to serve them something totally different (like a lame pasta bake) as they've told me they hate this! I could only think of meat kebabs and hallumi/veg kebabs or casserole. Both a bit boring!

Was thinking chicken, turkey or a meaty fish for the 'meat' people.

BTW- yes, I HAVE already considered doing it 100% vegetarian, but as a meat eater who doesn't gorge to excess on cheap factory-farmed muck, the dinner party is an opportunity to cook meat as a celebration.

Hi- just moved in with a meat addict boyf. As a result I'm cooking more traditional meals such as shepherd's pie, moussaka, liver and bacon etc'. I used to eat mostly fish and chicken.

My anemia's cleared up, but I've put on a bit of weight, because I cook these meaty meals as my gran taught me and she definitely WASN'T the size 0 generation.

I don't like the philosophy of 'diets'- I'd rather eat regular food.

Has anyone got any 'healthier' versions of traditional meat-and-two-veg meals which are still tasty and filling enough for a big bloke? BTW, it goes without saying that I do serve veg with the food!

Fatty faves include: pie, creamy sauces for lasagne/moussaka, roast spuds/veg and mince/gravy based things.

Can anyone name some songs from the BBC series 'Nighty Night'?

I am buying a present for a mate who loves the series. I wanted to get a CD of some of the 'cheesy' 80s rock from the show to go with a DVD I am getting (cause I can't afford to get her a pink jeep).

Can anyone name any specific tunes from the series as there are so many compilations of 80s cheese to choose from? I can then select one with at least a few genuine Nighty Night tunes. Thanks!

I am buying a present for a mate who loves the series. I wanted to get a CD of some of the 'cheesy' 80s rock from the show to go with a DVD I am getting (cause I can't afford to get her a pink jeep).

Can anyone name any specific tunes from the series as there are so many compilations of 80s cheese to choose from? I can then select one with at least a few genuine Nighty Night tunes. Thanks!

I started the series and am now a little confused as to what order to buy/borrow them in. There are so many!

Does anyboady have an order (particularly for the early '...spell' ones)?

Thanks.

That teachers either got a low grade on their degree or chose to teach because they 'couldn't handle' other jobs?

Working as a teacher I have seen several people come from 'the real world' and then quit a little later because they couldn't hack it. Usually they come in very arrogant, assuming that it will be easy, that schools are full of people who failed their degrees, and that they'll be better than us. Then they quit/have a breakdown.

When I worked in the city, people who couldn't hack it didn't choose to teach. Many of them had shoddy generic degrees and cried over the tiniest thing, yet would repeatedly say teachers were second-rate/weak/bitter.

The majority of teachers have 2:1 degrees or higher, have worked in the 'real world' for some time, and aren't bitter, faded swots.

Where has this myth come from?

That teachers either got a low grade on their degree or chose to teach because they 'couldn't handle' other jobs?

Working as a teacher I have seen several people come from 'the real world' and then quit a little later because they couldn't hack it. Usually they come in very arrogant, assuming that it will be easy, that schools are full of people who failed their degrees, and that they'll be better than us. Then they quit/have a breakdown.

When I worked in the city, people who couldn't hack it didn't choose to teach. Many of them had shoddy generic degrees and cried over the tiniest thing, yet would repeatedly say teachers were second-rate/weak/bitter.

The majority of teachers have 2:1 degrees or higher, have worked in the 'real world' for some time, and aren't bitter, faded swots.

Where has this myth come from?

My sister lives in Brighton. I'm going to meet her for some Xmas shopping- where could we go for early dinner? We've tried loads of the Lanes and are sick of Pinnochio's, Donnatello's etc' We like the Lanes and North Lanes - nothing too chainey. We both like international cuisine- especially oriental, but anything tasty and mid-price would be lovely...

I am a teacher with a lot of experience with ASD students; ASDs also run in my family. As a child, I had a form of linguistic disability which relates to an ASD (although my verbal communciation is now fine).

Sometimes I have to speak with parents and carers, and be very blunt with them about their kids' behaviours; basically what they cannot help and what they can but choose to do wrongly. I find it very hard because parents ALWAYS assume I don't know and am 'not being understanding' and that I've no experience of what I am talking about because I am able to seperate the behaviour from the syndrome and not just say 'ah poor thing'. This is not the case.

Anyone else have to give hurtful truths as part of their job? How do they do it without being tempted to sweep things under the rug to avoid being called mean?

Often raisins, cherries and choc-chips sink when I bake sponge cake. Is there a method to avoid this happening? Is it to do with when to add them, or am I baking them too fast/hot?

Whatever the recipe, I'll try it or cook it if it contains mushrooms OR blue cheese OR chilli. I always have them in my fridge, they are my favourite things to cook with.

What do you love to cook with? Not finished dishes but the basics, please ... plus any ideas to convince me away from my own 'top 3'!

I'm off to the Reading Festival (a music festival for those not from the UK) tomorrow. Having suffered from 'peanut bladder' (ie needing to use the vile toilets excessively) at festivals in the past, I am reviewing my drinking choices. Help me choose!

-Spirits (less loo breaks, but I could peak early and have no memory of the headline bands, or fall in a hole or something- I have fallen down a hole when drunk before- hang head in shame)

-Lager (fave but may be peeing all weekend)

-Cider (or will I look like a sad late-20s professional-on-a-weekend-off type reliving their youth before going back to the 9-5?)

...suggestions welcome. Due to a current hangover mention of RED WINE will be met with immediate, violent sickness.

On Tuesday night I developed an aching, stretchy pain from my left shoulder/upper back stretching up the side of my neck. I have had some pain in my left arm- fuzzy.The pain gets worse if I turn my head one way, but is ok to turn the other way. My muscles were quite bunched up and tight that day (traffic and football).

Heat seems to relieve it temporarily and it responds to ibuprofen. Have had it 2 full days now and sick of it. Any ideas?

I'd like an 'area' (perhaps a NT site?) with good views and ideally benches/toilets etc' for a 'sit down' picnic in Berkshire. I'd be lugging a big pic-nic basked and cool box hence it needs to be near the car-park or public transport. Also, if there were any that permitted BBQs that would be lovely (I know some CCs have ones with brick BBQs, and some ban them altogether for fire-risk reasons).