finch

I need a point and shoot for when my film SLR is just too big and heavy to carry around. Something that'll fit in a coat pocket or not be too heavy around the neck.

I know the best compact is a Fuji X100, and it looks awesome, but I'm not looking to spend that much money.

There are too many middle-range cameras to choose from! So far I have looked into the Canon G12 and S95, the Sony NEX-5 (which might be a bit big with a lens on it) and the Sony Cybershot HX9v (which might not give as good shots as the others).

I'm a bit fussy because I'm used to using an SLR, but I can't afford to be Fuji X100 fussy!

Any recommendations? Thanks.

We have two young flat coated retrievers (2 1/2 yrs and15 months). They both have reasonably sensitive stomachs which can get upset at random.

Currently they're fed on Burns - the older one has Active as she uses so much energy, the younger one has high energy lamb. Unlike some other gun dogs they seem to have higher energy requirement - they get lots of exercise!

I'm looking to change their food and need to find one for sensitive stomachs that's also high in energy - protein and oil. Preferably one that's not too difficult to get hold of too! I'd like to try one with no grains if such a thing is available in high energy.

(PS I know lots of people like Burns but I have reasons for not staying with them. I'd be very grateful for answers concentrating on the other foods I could try. Thanks!)

My nephew's laptop has antimalware doctor on it. I've searched Google and tried everything out there at the moment - BUT I can't restart the laptop in safe mode, made sure the F keys are unlocked etc. but it always just starts normally. Also it's locked down the admin account so you can't sign in to make any security changes to the laptop.

Can't open task manager or 'run' etc. can't do anything really.

Any other suggestions before we send it to a professional?!

I don't know what it is about horse fly bites that make them so much worse than mosquitoes or midges, but on me they often come up like bruises with about an inch of swelling around them, and they itch like hell!

They hang around for ages and you can still see the marks two weeks later.

What's the best way to stop the itching and is there any way to make them disappear faster?

I've found a great repellant for horse flies but forgot to put it on at the weekend so was chomped on three times.

Does anyone actually know what the difference is between Google Wave and Google Buzz?

And is there any point in them when you can already have apps for everything on a smartphone as it is? Why add an extra point on the journey?

I'm looking for a car to replace my second Volvo V40. The only reason I'm not going to get a V50 is because they're just a Ford Focus underneath and apparently are disappointing after the V40.

Is there anything that is:

As small as a V40 - only 4.5m long.

Good looking and stylish.

Has a decent mpg - around 45-50 - in a diesel engine

Is as reliable as a Volvo! (my first one only needed one repair in 4 years - a plastic hose, and my second has needed nothing so far).

Has enough room in the boot for two retrievers - and prefereably no 'lip' on the boot edge.

The only thing I'd improve on the V40 would be more power, more than 140bhp would be good. The biggest diesel engine they had was only 1.9l.

Not a Saab (Vauxhall underneath, I've heard of niggly problems) or a Citroen, Ford, Peugeot, Vauhall, VW (Golf estate looks boring and underpowered) or an Audi A4 (new ones are too bulky and ugly). Jaguar X-types look like old fashioned BMWs and BMW 3 series isn't reliable enough. Honda Accords are too big. And Subaru don't make the Impreza in a estate type shape anymore (I know, they don't come in diesel!).

I've searched all over - perhaps I'm being too choosey?!

I've had a quick look on Answers and found similar questions asked about 3 years ago. I'm thinking of getting my eyes lasered (short-sighted) and now that it's been available for years, would like to hear some feedback from people who have had it done, especially by the more up to date techniques.

Mostly people seem to have had good results, but my sight is probably the most important physical thing to me and I don't want to screw it up! Has anyone actually experienced any of the problems you can get from the modern eye laser surgery?

Arrghh help! Emergency for an xmas pressie! I need a pair of men's waterproof gloves that aren't too thick or bulky, for the other half to walk the dogs in the rain. Most ski gloves are too thick and cycling gloves like 'sealskinz' have reviews which say they're not warm and only waterproof for short periods.

Any other suggestions gratefully received!

If an organisation becomes a registered charity, who do they have to answer to?

Do they have to produce accounts every year, produce reports about what they spend their money on etc? Anything else they need to do?

If an organisation is acting like a charity, but isn't registered as one, are they required to do the same things?

Thanks

I've got some eBay stuff to post, not large parcels but bigger than an A4 letter.

I'm fed up with Royal Mail - one parcel has already be returned to me after messing about in London for a month! They're shooting themselves in the foot, everyone (like me) will go elsewhere and they'll lose their jobs anyway.

There seems to be more and more of those average speed camera traps popping up all over the motorways. Are they switched on? Has anyone actually had a ticket from one? If so, how fast were they going?

Genuine answers only please - no one from the highways agency or anyone else trying to promote these things!

I know there is the technology these days for number plate recognition cameras and there's no reason why they shouldn't work, but time and time again I hear people say that they regularly go through them at 70 or 80mph etc. etc. but I've never heard someone say 'I've had a ticket'!

Wouldn't normally ask but I've just spent ages looking on the web for a great B&B or hotel, in a country setting, not too far from Derby, which has a good pub not far away that does good grub.

Not asking for much...

Please don't answer just to advertise your own place - genuine answers only! Or I might be tempted to report you for spam...

I bought five raspberry canes from Ebay this spring which were supposed to be 'Autumn Bliss'.

When I chose them I read up on the different varieties and thought that Autumn Bliss was supposed to fruit quite late, on the current season's canes.

The variety I have grew just a few inches and flowered, the fruits are ripe now. But they have also shot up tall canes as if they are earlier fruiting raspberries and will flower on these new canes next year.

Does Autumn Bliss send up new canes in the summer and should I cut them all back after fruiting as if with an autumn variety?

Or should I assume that they're not Autumn Bliss and leave the new canes for next year?

I've used Kaspersky for the past three years but it appears to have conflicts with a couple of websites I use regularly, such as a website stats recorder (well the websites say it's Kasperky's fault!).

Yes it's a lightweight, fast running, non-intrusive anti-virus programme but is it still the best?

I refuse to use Norton and would prefer something a little better than AVG or Avast! as I use my computer for work.

Any thoughts appreciated.

We're about to move our dog from puppy food on to adult food as she's nearly a year old and has just been spayed, so bound to need less calories now!

She's a flat coated retriever with lots of energy and who enjoys loads of exercise, but we've always had to feed her less than the pack says or she puts on weight (she's been on Eukanuba large breed puppy food). Like most retrievers/labradors she's a complete gannet and will try and eat anything she finds. The evening before she was spayed she ate two paper cups in the park which people had been drinking beer from and nearly couldn't have her operation!

The thing is - do we put her on Eukanuba adult food where she'll get even less in quantity than she does now, or should we use a cheaper dog food like Bakers which she'll need more of so might fill her up more and make her less likely to eat rubbish? We have to feed her before we take her for a walk now as if she's peckish she's a nightmare!

I also think I've seen low calorie food tailored for labrador types - does anyone know how much of this they get? Will it fill them up with low calorie bulk?

Anyone's thoughts appreciated...

I used to shop in Gap and Next most of the time but the latest batch of T-shirts I bought from Gap have worn badly, despite only washing at 30 degrees, and they have little 'wear holes' in them.

Next and Gap used to make good quality T-shirts out of quite thick material that would last for two years or more. This morning I found a little hole in a T-shirt I bought from Gap only 3 months ago (probably been worn less than 10 times).

What's going on? Why is the quality now so bad but the prices are still the same?

I'm looking for somewhere to get good T-shirts from, and I don't mind paying a fair price for them if I know they'll last a couple of summers.

I'm looking for some kind of summer flowering bulb or herbaceous plant which completely die back during the winter. Not looking for anything too big, 50x50cm is fine. It'll have quite a lot of sun (needs to be able to shade primroses during the summer). I love hardy geraniums but I think this spot will be too warm for one.

Also - I don't like big, shouty flowers like dailas or begonias! Something more natural, in white, red, orange or blue.

And at what point do you do the ceiling?

We need to paint our whole flat and sadly can't afford just to get someone else to do it! We might get someone to paint the ceilings though as they're over 10 ft high. Just trying to work up the enthusiasm for it...

I've looked everywhere for them - need to buy them mail order preferably, unless they're available near us.