SLF

if Veni Vidi Vici is I came, I saw, I conquered, what would the Latin be for You came, you saw, you conquered? I've asked a couple of people who studied Latin and they weren't sure.

does anyone know any natural treatments or diets for reducing blood pressure - preferably ones that you have tried and know to work?

is it true that (generally) Americans prefer coffee to tea and the British the opposite? Say what your beverage of choice is (given the choice between tea and coffee) and what your nationality is

just when I thought I knew all the ways American and British English differ...

Americans seem to use the word 'yard' or 'backyard' a lot for what the English would call a 'garden'. We (the British) also use the word 'yard' sometimes but typically it would only be used to describe a small, paved-over area outside a small house. If we were referring to the place where flowers grow and there's a lawn and trees etc, we'd say 'garden'. I wondered when Americans use the word 'garden'?

Also, I notice Americans use the word 'cream' for the white liquid that comes from cows, the stuff you put in tea. The British call this 'milk' - to us, 'cream' is the thick substance you put on your cakes or scones - what do Americans call this stuff?

we've just bled the radiators but think we may have done it wrong - we let most of the water out and a friend says you're not supposed to do this, just let the air out. Will this have caused any problems?

thanks!

I overheard a word when I was visiting Latvia and was curious to know what it means. An old lady said it when she (and I) saw a dog poo in the street and the owner walked straight on without stopping to pick it up. The word she said sounded like "zoorbst".

asked this in Renting yesterday but no answers so trying in Legal - thanks!

Is anyone familiar with the process of requiring someone to move out? He’s my partner of 6 years who has been living in my house for 3 years. The house was bought by me 10 years ago and both the property and the mortgage are in my name. He pays me monthly a sum equivalent to half the monthly mortgage and bills. There is no written agreement of any kind.

If I want him to move out what do I need to do, legally? I have bought from the stationers one of those “legal” packs, containing a Notice Requiring Possession for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (but I don’t think this applies since there was no original agreement). The pack also contains a Notice to Terminate for “lodgers” – I think this is the one I need?

What period of notice do I have (legally or morally) to give him? And would he be entitled (again, either legally or morally) to any payment from me in recognition of his contribution to the house running costs? As far as I can make out, because of the property market the property hasn’t increased in value since he’s lived here, though he has done some decorating and paid for a bit of DIY that have conceivably improved the house.

The reason for asking him to leave is unreasonable behaviour/breakdown of the relationship. He’s been asked verbally to leave on several occasions but has refused.

Final question, if he still fails to leave what can I do about it? Are we looking at a court order, or can I chuck his stuff out and change the locks?

Is anyone familiar with the process of requiring someone to move out? He’s my partner of 6 years who has been living in my house for 3 years. The house was bought by me 10 years ago and both the property and the mortgage are in my name. He pays me monthly a sum equivalent to half the monthly mortgage and bills. There is no written agreement of any kind.

If I want him to move out what do I need to do, legally? I have bought from the stationers one of those “legal” packs, containing a Notice Requiring Possession for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (but I don’t think this applies since there was no original agreement). The pack also contains a Notice to Terminate for “lodgers” – I think this is the one I need?

What period of notice do I have (legally or morally) to give him? And would he be entitled (again, either legally or morally) to any payment from me in recognition of his contribution to the house running costs? As far as I can make out, because of the property market the property hasn’t increased in value since he’s lived here, though he has done some decorating and paid for a bit of DIY that have conceivably improved the house.

The reason for asking him to leave is unreasonable behaviour/breakdown of the relationship. He’s been asked verbally to leave on several occasions but has refused.

Final question, if he still fails to leave what can I do about it? Are we looking at a court order, or can I chuck his stuff out and change the locks?

I have a big pot in the garden in which I have herbs of various kinds, mainly oregano and marjoram. Recently I noticed that mushrooms were growing in it. They got bigger and bigger then died off. My question is, is it possible that they were poisonous, and if so, should I empty the pot and lose the herbs and start again? Where would the mushrooms have come from?

out of interest, please tell me what nationality you are and whether you have a passport. If you don't have one, please explain why.

For starters, I'm British and I do have a passport

are employers allowed to put critical information/opinions in job references?

and, are they allowed to pass on health-related information about you that could be used, out of context, against you?

final question, are you entitled to demand to see the references and health details released by the previous employer - for instance if you wanted to correct inaccurate information that was being passed on between companies?

a friend started a new job and was there less than 3 weeks and it seemed to be going well - she was getting positive feedback from her boss (one of the directors) and they were talking about the future and how her career there could progress. Then out of the blue she was called in by another of the directors (one she'd scarcely come into contact with until that point), and told they were going to 'let her go' as they didn't think she would 'fit in' or she wasn't quite what they were looking for. There was no reason given that would reflect on her behaviour or her skills or her ability to do the job - just a very vague 'we don't think it would work out'. The director who'd interviewed and recruited her and who she'd worked for wasn't even in that day.

They paid the week's notice required by the contract and asked her to leave straight away. Is this on? Can she demand a proper, specific reason be given? (Our suspicion is that a negative reference was received from a previous employer with whom she'd had problems - what else could account for this sudden change of attitude?)

Opinions especially welcome from people with legal knowledge.

I usually tip about 10% in a hair salon but I'm now using a salon where the owner does my hair and it costs an arm and a leg. Am I right in thinking it's not customary to tip where the owner does your hair - I find the whole should I, should I not, thing embarrassing frankly, to the extent that it sometimes puts me off having my hair done.

I have a number to call that goes (02) 963xxx (am leaving out the last 3 digits for privacy's sake)

So I dial 00 61 for Australia, don't I, then do I leave the 0 off to get Sydney? Then is the 6-digit number enough, shouldn't it be longer?

thanks

Someone I know had a reformed alcoholic friend to stay at his house while he was away, and told her to help herself to food or whatever. The alcoholic hadn’t had a drink in four years.

My friend returned to find a bottle of ginger beer had been drunk (about a pint). It wasn’t the soft drink but a 4% alcohol variety – actual beer, but ginger flavoured. It would be easy to assume that the bottle contained a soft drink – most people do associate the term ‘ginger beer’ with the soft drink. Never mind the issue of whether the stuff should have been left in the fridge – it just was. The question is, should the alcoholic be told they had a drink by mistake, or is tactful silence the best policy? What would be the effect of disclosing the information?

is it just me?

I didn't actually know till today when I was talking to the local shop-keeper that the fasting includes water... it made me wonder, what happens if you have to take medication? Would you then be allowed to drink water, to wash the tablet down with? (would you be allowed to take the medication at all, or would you have to wait till evening?)

British person here needing to know about abbreviations for states - it's come up in a work thing I'm doing.

VT?

IN?

and what state is Indianapolis in?

thank you!

when they all get free schooling (I think they do anyway!!)

What's the difference? Surely both healthcare and education are fundamental services that should be freely available to all, regardless of their income and wealth? (by all means then pay extra to get private medicine if you like, in the same way that some people pay extra to get private education in the UK) - but at least you're all covered for the vital basics.

I've seen both only briefly but the impression I got was that Leeds had been done up quite tastefully and was quite trendy, whereas Manchester was a bit grubby and tired.

Did I get the right impression or did Manchester catch me on a bad day?