Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

Oh yuk @john558 ! Have you read the ingredients list?

When Possum, born and brought up in Belgium on proper chocolate, was 9 or 10 I treated her to a walnut whip from the English shop, eating it in the car on the way home because they'd been a favourite of my youth. We both spat them out - utterly disgusting with palm oil and low cocoa content. Haven't touched British brands since.

 

We get told how our bills for gas and electricity are coming down but I've just checked November 24 with November 25 and they don't seem to be

November 24
Electricity 22.39p KWH
Gas 5.92p KWH

November 25
Electricity 24.12 KWH
Gas 5.96 KWH

Now if I'm reading things correctly that's a increase not decrease

 

There's only sunflower oil and sea salt in these @Escarpment. I'm not sure whether the 25% recycled plastic is in the bag or the crisps.

 

I'm struggling with a moral dilemma concerning overhanging vegetation on a garden wall.
It annoys me every time I have to walk past it. Two people can walk side by side along most of the pavement but here it's got to be in single file.
A wheelchair user/pram pusher would have difficulty getting past it. No idea who lives in the bungalow.

Trouble is, I haven't done anything about it yet and now it's Xmas soon. Should I complain to the Council or wait until after Xmas?
I took pics earlier in the week as attached.

 

Personally I'd report it @lizzie27. There's no guarantee the council will act quickly .
I report things like that through the website Fix my Street. It seems to get things reported to the relevant department very quickly.
FixMyStreet

 

@lizzie27 why don't you leave a polite note asking if they could cut it back to enable wheelchair users to pass by unaccosted. Perhaps word it to say exactly what you're thinking. It's coming up to Christmas and you want to avoid it becoming a matter for council.

And sign it Secret Santa..

 

I think it's better coming from the council really. Their initial approach is likely to be the same - a polite request to cut it back. If the owner takes no action then eventually the council is supposed to do the work themselves and give them the bill.

 

There are a few houses with hedges like that around here, it takes years to get like that in most cases.
I dont think council or anyone would be interested around here if you complained.

 

If it's obstructing the pavement or road they are supposed to take action.
I've got one like it near me - beautiful big yew hedge but it takes up nearly the entire pavement width, and they have to cut a window into it so you can see the name sign for the road.

 

Having had both my mother and Beryl in a wheelchair for several years, I can understand you being concerned about the hedge. Many people don't realize they are being a nuisance so sometimes one has to make them aware of the matter.
To avoid any confrontation I think the council should deal with it so I'd report it to them. Our council here, although run by a bunch of nerds, would do something about a matter like that.

Parking on pavements is also a big problem for wheelchair users, and parents with children in push chairs. And also parking across dropped curbs at crossing places. People don't realize the problems they're causing unless they've had experience of it themselves. You'd think they'd use some common sense but that is in short supply these days, and selfishness spite and greed prevail.

 

For me, it is definitely something in the chocolate rather than the sugar. Without a small daily infusion, my mood drops and I feel very snappy and out of sorts. A piece of fudge or something with sugar but without cocoa content is no substitute. So, I just go with the flow. Gotta be dark chocolate with about 65-70% cocoa. Any lower is too "weak" to have the required effect, any higher tastes metallic to me. I don't like Lindt dark at any strength though for some reason.

 

Chocolate contains a number of chemicals such as theobromine, phenylethylamine, caffeine, andamide, flavanoids and polyphenols. Many of these have effects on the body and mind.

 

I only have a craving for chocolate in the evening after my main meal. It starts with a mint thin, then a Terry's mint choc ball segment, then ASDA 50% dark choc up to 4 squares, then a Border raspberry biscuit and maybe a "ship" chocolate covered biscuit. I also have fruit or banana and fat free yoghurt so I convince myself it's OK. I don't have a craving at any other time and rarely eat chocolate before 9pm.

 

Regarding the hedge, from personal experience it does seem to depend on the situation. I reported overhanging brambles from a mixed hedge on the roadside at the entrance to my road (via Fix my Street),and was informed by the council within 48 hours that they would contact the property owner. I knew the house was rented and guessed it would take a while.
In the meantime the brambles carried on growing and eventually got so low that a young child got his anorak caught and his Mum had to free him. It could have been worse. It was just reaching the point where I thought I'd have to at least try and cut them back to above adult head height if I could, when hey presto the council contractors arrived and did the job. Must have been around 4 months or so.

A similar situation on a busy road nearby, and the council attended almost straight away. I'd lay it on thick about health and safety, and a possible danger to the public @lizzie27 ,that always seems to help .