I have had the What Three Words app installed on my iPhone for a long time. It used to be suggested on first aid courses as a way to help emergency services find outdoor locations quickly.

I hadn't opened it for ages until recently but now it apparently works like some kind of parody website. There were several different popup messages getting in the way when it first started, it seemed to need some kind of account to sign in (to what?!), it didn't seem to be using location services to find where I was and give me the three words if I tried to cancel past everything, and it even had some kind of ad banner across a significant part of the screen.

Something like this is obviously worse than useless if you're trying to get help as quickly as possible in an emergency so that app has immediately been deleted from my phone. Does anyone know if there is now a similar recommendation (official or just informal but commonly suggested by people who actually work in emergency response) for something else that can help to give an accurate location quickly when there's no obvious address to use?

I was thinking about how much our expectations have changed over the last 20 years.

Growing up, having a TV in your bedroom was a big deal. Going abroad was something you looked forward to all year, and getting a takeaway was an actual treat.

Now we’ve got £1,000 phones, subscriptions to half a dozen streaming services, and people ordering Deliveroo because they can’t be bothered to walk ten minutes.
Not saying things were necessarily better back then, but it’s interesting how quickly luxuries become things we feel we can’t live without.

What else belongs on the list?

Basically, what it says in the title.

Recently picked up that horrible American Covid strain, did the whole staying home for 10 days shebang (couldn't particularly leave even I'd I wanted to, that strain really floored my immunocompromised arse), had my antibiotics from the accompanying chest infection, etc etc etc.

After those 10 days (or two weeks, I don't even remember anymore!), I did feel better but still not 100%, so dug out my masks from the pandemic for nipping to the shop/running errands. Oh my goodness, the amount of dirty looks I got?!! I live in quite a friendly city, so genuinely never experienced this before, but every single location had at least one person giving a nasty glare.

Now that I think about it, I haven't seen many masks whatsoever since the pandemic, but if I did, I would just assume whoever is wearing it to either be ill or not wanting to get ill.

So yeah! Just curious to hear what the UK's opinion on masks is, if anyone else has experienced something similar, and perhaps why people wearing masks get what feels like heavy judgement 😅!!

For me it has to be Garic Bread, those shitty baguettes are better than the posh stuff

One look across the pond with the partisan polarising news sources makes me appreciate the neutrality and reliability of the BBC?

I’m talking on the whole they’re the most reliable along with the sporting events, radio and other media

Why does it get so much hate?

In year 8 at secondary school in 2001 , my registration class was in the IT department, we all used to play hearts or browse the internet before our lessons. The internet back then felt so different, like it was a genuine escape from reality but a good one. Also waiting 5 minutes for the computers to boot up was an experience itself

Nowadays everything seems to be algorithms that feed you to the same sites and places and the internet just seems a more sad and lonely place.

I have a £50 John Lewis that I got as a gift, sitting untouched in a drawer. I’m currently having a bit of a tough time, so wanted to treat myself to something nice. A food and drink lover, I really wanted to buy some items that I’d never normally get doing my food shops.

The voucher can be used in both John Lewis & Waitrose.

The total cost has to be no more than £50.00.

I am also gluten free (unfortunately)!

So what should I buy?

I'm currently underpaid, however in a stable and secure job and company with colleagues who are all right and it's medium size company, but I've recently received an offer for a new role at a smaller company that pays around 80% more than my current salary. The new position is also one level above my current job title, so it would be a promotion as well as a significant pay increase and it would also mean higher annual bonus and pension installments.

The interview process was relatively straightforward, consisting of two stages. I mainly had a conversation with a senior person at the company, who spent most of the time explaining the role and the business rather than asking me 'tell me about a time...' type of questios. Unlike some other interviews I've attended, I wasn't really tested that much technically or challenged with difficult questions, quite surprised actually but happy about it.

Although receiving the offer is obviously encouraging, it has made me slightly nervous about whether the company might have overestimated my abilities or whether I might struggle once I actually start the job.

In my current role, if I encounter something I don't know, I can ask someone one or two levels above me for guidance, and that's completely fine. I know the environment, I understand the expectations, and I feel secure in my position but at the same time I'm underpaid. I also have colleagues coming with questions to me.

With the new role, I'm worried that the expectations might be higher because of the more senior job title and significantly better salary. What if they expect me to know more than I actually do? What if I struggle to meet their expectations and fail probation? But they didn't test me much during job interviews to guage it.

If that happened, I'd potentially lose not only the new job but also the stable position I've already given up. Finding another job could take time, and I might not be able to find something comparable to my role now.

On the other hand, an 80% pay increase and a promotion are significant opportunities, and I don't want to turn down a potentially great career move simply because I'm afraid of the risk.

What would you do in this situation? Sense checks of my thinking are very welcome.

Would you take the offer and trust that the company sees potential in you, or would you be cautious about leaving a secure job when you're not entirely sure whether you're ready for the next level?

We’re in the process of buying our dream home, but what should have been a straightforward issue about sharing the costs of a septic tank has potentially put the entire purchase at risk.

The property shares a sewage system with the neighbouring house, which sits on their land. The 2003 Transfer Deed states that we contribute 50% towards the costs of maintaining, repairing and emptying the tank.

During the conveyancing process, the neighbours (two bitter old c**ts) started pushing for costs to be split according to the number of occupants at each property, even including our three-year-old son in their calculations.

We pointed out that the deed clearly states 50/50. They then changed their position, accepting a 50/50 split for running costs but insisting that emptying costs should be based on occupancy. Despite the deed covering emptying costs too, we agreed to their proposed arrangement as a compromise because we wanted to resolve the matter amicably.

You would think that would be the end of it.

Instead, on 8 October, the neighbours sent a formal letter through the estate agent demanding written confirmation from the sellers' solicitors that their terms were accepted. They also imposed a five-working-day deadline for payments after invoices were presented and stated that, if agreement or payment was not forthcoming, they would have to reconsider the arrangement for sharing the sewage system.

That last part is particularly concerning. Our entire property depends on a system located on their land.

The letter prompted our solicitor to raise several issues with our mortgage lender. These included the fact that the deed refers to a septic tank, the neighbours call it a cesspit, and the engineer's report identifies a sewage treatment plant. Our solicitor also identified a lack of express rights of access for inspection, maintenance and repairs, alongside a reported root ingress issue that needs clarification.

Our solicitors have now informed us that the lender has REJECTED to lend based on the presented information and we are now seeking a compromise with the lender via our mortgage broker. This will most undoubtedly mean getting our own sewage treatment plant installed (cost circa £12,000-£15,000).

Now we're facing potential delays, extra legal costs and, worst of all, the possibility of losing a home we've put a huge amount of time, money and emotion into buying.

If we do manage to complete the purchase (possibly by installing our own sewage treatment plant, especially as the owners of No. 123 will probably put their property back on the market at some point), I’ll admit I’m tempted to return the favour and make their next house sale just as straightforward as they’ve made ours. 😂

Any suitably creative, but above-board, suggestions? I’m all ears.

Had some warning lights on my car so took it into the garage and just been quoted £2k for repairs. Also won't have a car for a week as I can't take it away until it's fixed (battery might explode apparently).

Thought it may make me feel better to know I'm not alone!

What have you had to fork out for this year that you hadn't accounted for?

For those who chose to one day disappear for a while and go missing. What was your thought process, did you think about your family, did you have space to think?

I haven’t had anyone go missing but I sometimes think about running away.
33F

Edit: I just wanted to say that while I can’t respond to everyone, I have read and will read every reply and I’m so grateful for people sharing their stories with me. While it can’t take my troubles away, I feel a little more seen.

Just found out Bono from U2 is 66, for some reason I thought he was at least 10 years older being similar vintage to Sting and Elton John. Who have you discovered to be younger than you thought?

Not necessarily your favourite song, just one that instantly brings back a memory.

Maybe something your parents played in the car, a school disco, a family holiday or a particular summer.

I'm fascinated by how vividly people remember these moments years later. What's yours?

**EDIT - Wow this blew up, while I was at the cinema lol! Some incredible beautiful stories here - this has brought me so much joy to read through, thanks so much all!!!!

I (31m) have been playing football regularly over the last 15 years. Whilst I’ve never been the best I’ve noticed over the last year a bit of a decline in terms of my speed/reactions and can’t see that improving as I get older.

I wanted to know what skills can you get better at regardless of ageing?

Thanks!

Intrigued to hear what others think. I think passport control guards at airports might be up there, I’ve never seen one smile!

I was pondering as to what makes something an “aggressive” design? In terms of vehicle design, not deterrent infrastructure. I can tell if a vehicle looks aggressive, it doesn’t have to be black or a dark colour that’s maybe associated with aggression. Is this learned? Or if you showed someone that’s never seen a car a picture of a let’s say standard Nissan micra next to a BMW M3, they could tell you which looks more aggressive? I suppose this goes with guns also when comparing hunting rifles with wooden stocks to AR style guns.

You’ll most likely be a person of the 90-00’s. You might remember the time when having a big bum was kind of embarrassing.

How the tables have turned, ey?

So now that we are in a timeline where that is appreciated, how did you feel about the transition?

We watched The Ring (US) recently and I can’t help but feel horrors were better in the early noughties. I also only recently saw the original Exorcist and felt it stood the test of time pretty well. Any other favourites I can line up for spooky season?

I'm just about to come to the end of my dual fuel energy tariff... Have gas prices really doubled in the last 2 years?!

My total bill is estimated to increase by 55%! This feels insane! Please tell me I'm looking in the wrong place, but the best fixed deal I can find is from Fuse Energy:

Tariff: October 2026 Fixed (24m) V5

Electricity

unit rate: 24.590p/kWh

standing charge: 52.760p/day

Gas

Unit rate: 8.970p/kWh

standing charge: 15.100p/day

Are there better deals out there?!

Managed to pickup a book yesterday, at a sensible price but then today I was lured back again by my child who wanted some pointy finger thing for £4.

yes this is tongue in cheek.

I have two tickets to kid laroi in November and I can’t go, where can I list them?

I’ve listed them on ticketmaster and twickets already, are there any alternative sites?

What's a job you took temporarily that ended up changing your career path?

My mum was called today by postcode lottery that she has won and they will be sending film crew to local village hall on Monday to reveal how much she’s won.

Fully verified and also with next door neighbour who also got the same call.

Do you know how much she’s likely to win if sending full film crew?

Stupid question, I know.

So I’ve never seen these type of rads before. Last night I had set “Input” to the third highest setting, and “output” to the lowest setting (zero output, I assumed).

The rads heated up during the night, but really hot. It was as if I had the heating on full blast. My understanding was that it would store the heat overnight, and only release it when I turned “output”up.

My goal was to store the heat from last night and use it tonight at about 7pm

So my questions are as follows:

1) Is my understanding of how this system works correct?

2) Should my rads feel that hot if output was at zero?

3) Can the rads only store heat overnight?

4) Could I just turn output and input on at the same time if I wanted to use the heat instantly?

I’m sorry for the stupid questions but I’ve never come across this before and google wasn’t very helpful.

Thanks

PS the photo of the dials is from another time, they weren’t set like that last night