gijaneridesagain

have 9 week old kittens - how old should they be for their vaccinations? Thanks

about 2 years ago we took on a couple of hens (re-homed them for a friend). We think they are now about 4 or 5 years old and they both stopped laying well over a year ago. They are happy and have a good comfy coop and safe run area, however, we note one of them today is not herself - floppy limp comb and has adopted an almost crouching stance - she is still interested in food but offered none of her usual resistance when being picked up and place from run to coop - not sure what to do - would a vet see her? - is she on her way to chicken heaven (what is an average hen life expectancy??) any advice welcome (except comments about Sunday roasts etc!) xx

took my regularly front-lined cat to vets about 3 - 4 weeks ago as poorly. Though we are quite stringent with flea/tick treatment, he came back from vets and we noticed he had several adult size fleas on him that evening - can only think he got them from the vets! (annoying!!) - that aside, and despite treating him (again) and house straight away, he has since practically ripped himself bald (he now looks like one of those strange oriental cats!) - seems he has flea allergy dermatitis, I have read that you can give childrens benydryl (1/2 tsp) to help - is this safe/correct? Obviously have thought about asking vets advice but concerned they may advise some hideously expensive treatment (not saying cat is not worth it but bit skint after last vets bill!!) - advice please - thanks - he is a lovely little Bi-colour (at least he was 'bi-colour' when he had fur!!!)

we placed our property on with an estate agent about 10 weeks ago, however, we feel they have not marketed the property in the best way - despite specific requests from us they have neglected to mention things we feel would be good selling points and give the bare minimum details otherwise. They are big on self-promotion (for instance, their company logo occupies more space on the property details than the floor-plan of the property!) We had to ask them to put a 'for sale' sign up as they apparently do not offer this automatically - anyway, the list goes on but the contract we have ties us in for 20 weeks, however, as we are not happy with the service they have provided thus far, can we 'sack' them and approach another estate agent to market without having to pay any commission to the original?? - thanks x

we placed our property on with an estate agent about 10 weeks ago, however, we feel they have not marketed the property in the best way - despite specific requests from us they have neglected to mention things we feel would be good selling points and give the bare minimum details otherwise. They are big on self-promotion (for instance, their company logo occupies more space on the property details than the floor-plan of the property!) We had to ask them to put a 'for sale' sign up as they apparently do not offer this automatically - anyway, the list goes on but the contract we have ties us in for 20 weeks, however, as we are not happy with the service they have provided thus far, can we 'sack' them and approach another estate agent to market without having to pay any commission to the original?? - thanks x

we had a floor replaced which had rotted due to damp - the damp course was sorted out / renewed prior to the new floor being layed but residule moisture has leeched through and stained the floorboards where they meet the wall - the floor is pine and has been varnished with a clear varnish - is there anyway we can remove this staining without having to cut out and replace the affected area - we are trying to sell the house now and it is a real red-flag to buyers because it looks like we have a damp problem - any advice please - thanks xx

we had a floor replaced which had rotted due to damp - the damp course was sorted out / renewed prior to the new floor being layed but residule moisture has leeched through and stained the floorboards where they meet the wall - the floor is pine and has been varnished with a clear varnish - is there anyway we can remove this staining without having to cut out and replace the affected area - we are trying to sell the house now and it is a real red-flag to buyers because it looks like we have a damp problem - any advice please - thanks xx

we had a floor replaced which had rotted due to damp - the damp course was sorted out / renewed prior to the new floor being layed but residule moisture has leeched through and stained the floorboards where they meet the wall - the floor is pine and has been varnished with a clear varnish - is there anyway we can remove this staining without having to cut out and replace the affected area - we are trying to sell the house now and it is a real red-flag to buyers because it looks like we have a damp problem - any advice please - thanks xx

I had shingles about 20 years ago, but about 10 days ago the originally affected skin area on my back (which has been numb since the original infection) has become hypersensitive - tingling, throbbing, sore and with a sensation as if spiders are crawling around under the skin.I don't feel particularly unwell but have had a headache and backache which I put down to other factors - is there any chance I may actually have shingles agin - but a milder form??? (nb - writing this cos noticed localised back rash after shower just now,not a classic blistering rash as yet -)

we pay for my son to attend after-school care which is held in his school but run by an outside agency. Because of the weather they have cancelled the club this week but me (and all the other parents) who have paid in advance for it are not entitled to any refunds whatsoever as they claim they still have to pay their staff - I think it is unfair that they have cancelled but are passing 100% of the cost onto the parents for a service they are not providing - you pay for the care upon making the booking and it is debit or credit card so you can't even cancel it. They have a monopoly on after school care in my area so I am over a barrel as cannot arrange for care anywhere else (we only need after school care and few childminders willing to do this only during term time) - is there really nothing I can do about this (apart from mild outrage and gnashing of teeth!)

Live in South East UK - need to sell my house and would welcome any advice on the best way to go about it and how to keep cost down - have decided to sell it via an estate agent and have provisionally approached a couple for valuations. Also wondered if anyone could recommend a good estate agent to sell it through - it is a 3+1 bed mid terrace Victorian in good order (the reason I mention that is because it may have a bearing on which estate agent is more likely to be able to sell this sort of property) - really would welcome any sensible advice/suggestions - want to get it marketed as soon as possible - many thanks x also, what sort of costs should I be expecting and will the tax man be taking a chunk? (anticipating property will be valued at between the £180k - £200k mark)

Live in South East UK - need to sell my house and would welcome any advice on the best way to go about it and how to keep cost down - have decided to sell it via an estate agent have provisionally approached a couple for valuations. Also wondered if anyone could recommend a good estate agent to sell it through - it is a 3+1 bed mid terrace Victorian in good order (the reason I mention that is because it may have a bearing on which estate agent is more likely to be able to sell this sort of property) - really would welcome any sensible advice/suggestions - want to get it marketed as soon as possible - many thanks x

our Victorian terrace house has an extension with lovely terracotta tiled floor in bathroom and utility areas - we would love to extend this theme and tile throughout the ground floor areas (kitchen and hall) - these areas currently have laminate flooring layed over the original floorboards - the laminate flooring isn't top quality and we suspect the floorboards underneath are probably not good enough to expose - anyway, question is - can you tile over floorboards? Thanks xx

friend has it on loan at the moment as daughter learning to play but we could do with the cash - it is an upright John Brinsmead & Sons of London. Circa 1930. Serial no. 63357 - what would be a fair asking price for it? (we paid about £600 for it originally)

my crown broke - it was a clean break cannot afford the £200 - surely must be able to glue it back advice please xx

my friend's private landlord has given her 2 months notice to vacate her home - she has been a model tenant but the landlord wants to sell up - her contract expired some time ago. She is up-to-date with her rent. She cannot afford to rent via a letting agency due to the extortionate up-front fees and had previously been told by the council she was not eligible for a council house because her and her husband both work (they have 2 kids) - we have advised her to go to citizens advice but is there anything else she can do to avoid being made homeless in 2 months? Can she simply refuse to vacate the property and sit tight - where does she stand legally? - can he evict her if he has been collecting her rent but has not bothered to give her a contract? - Not that the ideal solution is to sit tight, but better than being on the streets or in a bed and breakfast?? Sensible and practical suggestions welcome please - thanks xxx

my friend is at her wits end - her neighours have a toddler that screeches day and night and is clearly heard through the ajoining walls - she has tried speaking to the neighbour but this has made no difference - in addition there is lot of additional noise - hammering and banging. It is affecting my friend's health and she is unable to take sleeping medication because this will affect her ability to do her nursing job - sensible suggestions please as to anything that may help her situation - She appreciates it is a difficult situation because the main noise is from a child and the mother screeching back at the child - the mother and child in question rent the property from a private landlord but are funded by the DSS

my friend is at her wits end - her neighours have a toddler that screeches day and night and is clearly heard through the ajoining walls - she has tried speaking to the neighbour but this has made no difference - in addition there is lot of additional noise - hammering and banging. It is affecting my friend's health and she is unable to take sleeping medication because this will affect her ability to do her nursing job - sensible suggestions please as to anything that may help her situation - She appreciates it is a difficult situation because the main noise is from a child and the mother screeching back at the child - the mother and child in question rent the property from a private landlord but are funded by the DSS

my friend is at her wits end - her neighours have a toddler that screeches day and night and is clearly heard through the ajoining walls - she has tried speaking to the neighbour but this has made no difference - in addition there is lot of additional noise - hammering and banging. It is affecting my friend's health and she is unable to take sleeping medication because this will affect her ability to do her nursing job - sensible suggestions please as to anything that may help her situation - She appreciates it is a difficult situation because the main noise is from a child and the mother screeching back at the child - the mother and child in question rent the property from a private landlord but are funded by the DSS

occasionally, my neck muscles go into spasm - it is very painful and the only treatment has been with a strong muscle relaxant and/or a chiropractic adjustment manouvre (where they basically 'snap' the muscle out of spasm by twisting. It is now Saturday - the chemists are shut and my neck is about to go into full spasm - I have been trying heat pad, heat rub and massage pads for the last couple of hours but the pain is getting worse and movement more restricted - advice please (had thought about A&E but past experience for similar was that they left me flat on a trolley all night - 1 dose of diazepam 5mg and then told me I could go at about 6am)