I live in a ground floor flat with a terrace/patio in London (with some shrubbery/small trees like 2meters away from my garden door entrance) and these little buggers have shown up in numbers. I just can't open the window/garden door to air out the flat before they all start crawling inside.

What type of caterpillars are these? is there anything I can do to get rid of / dissuade them from coming inside? It's actually a bloody nightmare especially as someone who hates bugs!

Been living here for 8 years and it's only been last year and this that I've noticed them.

https://ibb.co/8LMByxYB

https://ibb.co/7J7Ctvqh

Thanks!

I hate B&M. I know it’s always been cheap sh!t but over the past year or so, literally everything we’ve bought from there has either been useless or broken in record time.

Household storage? Cheap plastic, broke in days. Furniture? Badly made, broke.
Solar lights for garden? Half didn’t work, half after it rained.
Pegs? Fell apart.
Clothes airer? Broke.
Gadgets? Either don’t do what they say, or break in no time.
Phone holder for the car? Doesn’t stick to the windscreen and can’t support a normal smart phone.
Garden hose accessories? Leak.

There’s a handful of exceptions (the branded food is largely exactly what you’d expect, and they do sell a solid watering can) but largely I think it’s all such bad quality that even at their cheap(ish) prices, it’s still a total waste of money.

But I’ve been accused of being a snob because I’d prefer to go elsewhere and pay a bit more.

Am I in the wrong here?! Am I a snob?

For those who went through the 2008 crisis, how bad were things then compared to now?

Was the job market better or worse than now? How was standard of life back then vs now?

When those digital revolving picture frames became popular about 20 years ago, I remember saying, "These are a fad. Total novelty. It'll never stick". I haven't seen one in forever.

My manager has an ongoing issue with a colleague in our team. I enjoy working with the colleague and have had no issues with him; he is helpful and smart.

Last week the manager asked everyone in the team to carry out a simple task. Everyone completed the task but this colleague did used clumsy wording.

My manager has escalated this tiny issue with the aim of doing something to the colleague - a warning or performance management etc.

He wants me to send him an email using very particular wording - he wanted to sit next to me to draft the email but I said this made me very uncomfortable.

I absolutely do not want to get involved, and think the manager is being a bully by escalating a relatively small issue.

Equally, I don't want to annoy or offend my manager.
Any have any advice?

I'm having my wisdom tooth removed under local anaesthetic this week. Should I be pushing for this to be classed as sick leave rather than annual leave at work? In particular for the day itself and the days after. I work from home at a desk job.

I was visiting the UK on work and told people that I planned to go off hiking and someone jokingly said "aren't you a bit young for that? To be a rambler?" She also joked that I'd need to change my look.

When I got there I did notice that many of the hikers, or ramblers, were a bit older. I stayed at a "Youth Hostel" where the average age was definitely about 60. And at a festival I went by a booth for the ramblers and it was staffed by older men wearing big hats

In the US hiking / mountaineering is more of a young person's activity. It is closely associated with mountaineering, rock climbing and camping and is I guess kind of atheletic

The elderly in contrast are more about shuffleboard or bingo (stereotypically) or maybe a gentle round of golf.

Hiking is healthy and fun for all ages so I am not casting aspersions. In fact it is great that older people keep hiking. But can someone explain rambling / ramblers and the idea you age into it

50M, EU expat. I do a lot of volunteer work, like litter picking, soup kitchen work, and so on. I noticed that often I am the youngest volunteer in the groups. Why? It's quite worrying, volunteers do a lot of work for the community, and I fear that in some years the groups will be forced to close down.

I love these anecdote-based Q&As on this sub.

What's a weird, funny or somehow otherwise notable experience you've had when viewing a property (to rent or to buy) or when you are the person whose property is being visited by prospective takers? Weird agents? Weird prospective buyers/sellers? Bizarre requests/criticisms/needs? Strange items left visible?

Mine is probably fairly tame - I once visited a rental where the outgoing tenant had printed and framed dozens of his payslips and hung them up on the wall.

I (40M) hate my retail management job and am seriously looking at retraining, probably part time/ evening in something like therapy/counselling etc. In order to keep bills paid etc, I’m considering training to be a driving instructor for the 4-5 years needed to get the necessary qualifications . Is there anyone with any thoughts / advice?
Would love to hear from anyone doing/done the same

I've completed my hairdressing level 3 at college, and unfortunately, after ringing/enquiring at every salon that I could realistically get to....I can't find a job.

It got to the point where I just needed any job because of money, obviously.

After applying to loads of hospitality, retail, etc, I've got a job at wetherspoons.

I'm currently completing my online training, then I've been told they should add me onto the rota.

My plan is to hopefully get a hair salon to work in, but I mean if that doesn't work....I don't know what to do.

I mean, the unpredictable hours aren't ideal and working most weekends, so I've thought about working here for a few months, getting some experience in kitchens, and possibly moving onto school kitchens?

That's if I actually like working in kitchens, though, which I don't know yet, but I've been told my daily tasks, and I think I will enjoy it.

My mum works in school kitchens, so I have that connection, which I'm obviously grateful to have, but I've realised that I don't really have a " dream job" I mean, do I want to be a hairdresser? Yes. But would I also not mind working in school kitchens? No. Is hairdressing my " dream job" I don't think so.

I've sort of discovered that I don't have a particular passion for one job/career, and seeing my friends head towards certain careers makes me feel like a low life, because I honestly don't know what my dream job is.

I guess I'm just going to play it by ear, and hopefully, it all works out!

If anyone has been in a similar position to me, I could do with some good advice.

We live in an era where we can travel almost anywhere in the world at the click of a button. We can go down to the food store and buy food without needing to hunt or work hard to get our daily meal/s. We live better than pretty much any royal person in previous eras, even those from as recent as 100-200 years ago. We have modern medicine which is absolutely massive, and has been a game changer globally.

We have a myriad of transport to get places domestically without the need for a horse or walking. We now get to experience so much more of even this country, rather than being limited to one area like many would have before modern transport. We can meet strangers online or via apps, even people from other countries.

Via YouTube we get to see other countries and places. We get to learn almost anything we want to from the Internet. We have mobile phones so contact with others is easy. The list goes on. Do we often take what we have in our current times for granted?

Alright folks, hoping this will brighten up some Monday mornings. I need your help on a very serious matter.

It's Monday, June already, and here at least it's raining. Grizzly start to the week. So, comfort food tonight: I'm going to make cheese on toast. I haven't made it in ages and really fancy it.

But I can't decide what cheese to use. That's where you lot come in. Current top runners are extra mature cheddar or gruyère. I'm looking for your votes. Alternative suggestions also considered.

Bonus question: what else would you have with your cheese on toast? Soup is a popular choice of course, but what else might you go for?

Typical. We book a summery date for the wedding and now the forecast is looking like rain 50% chance as well as lower temperatures.

The wife (to be) is devastated. I keep trying to cheer her up by saying we will still have an amazing day and use the contingency plan. It’s not even happened yet but she’s already upset as she had a picture in her head of everyone outside enjoying the canapés, drinking pimms and champagne as well as our wedding photos in the grounds garden.

Has anyone ever had this and if so how did you deal with it? Was it still a great day, did the missus or fella still enjoy themselves?

I have tried pretty much every OTC HayFever treatment out there, and the 'least bad' is Fexofenadine (plus a Benadryl nasal spray). Even with these though, I find myself becoming a virtual hermit for the majority of June each year as my symptoms are too bad.

As a result I am considering seeing my GP to ask if there is anything they can prescribe which might be more effective. Just wondered what other people's experiences with prescription HayFever treatments.

I want to set up my best friend and my husband's best friend but they're both very shy and reserved people. I don't want to force anything but I'd like to get them talking. I was thinking we could have a BBQ with a couple of other friends and we'd play some board/card games and I'd team them up so they have to interact together. We're all 36-38 years old.

Anyone have any ideas of games?

Hello I am a 24 year old who is about to graduate and become a registered nurse. I've recently come out of a long term relationship and I've made it to a point in my life where I've realised how much I want to experience life overseas. I really want to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people and experience more of the world while I'm still young and relatively free of major commitments.

The thing I'm struggling with is whether I should stay in NZ and complete a new graduate programme first or move to the UK sooner. Mental health nursing is the area I'm most interested in but I am keen to work regular hospital jobs. I have considered doing a working holiday programme in the uk and just work a hospitality job until I land something related to healthcare.

For anyone who has moved to the UK as a newly qualified nurse what were the job prospects like? Is it realistic to move over with little to no post registration experience and find work in nursing or healthcare related roles? How difficult is it to get hired as a new grad nurse in the UK? and particularly in London?

If you were in my position would you get a year or two of experience first or take the opportunity to move while you're young and figure it out from there? Because I'm drawn to the second one but I don't want to make any hasty decisions just because I feel like something new and exciting. But I do just want to prioritse experiencing life over a career and I'm ready to leave the home and country I've grown up in.

M22. I only ever hear negativity from brits on what life is like here. I'm welsh and have spent time in pembrokeshire, cardiff, norwich, chichester and I love it here.

Idk if all this negativity is fair or not. I know a lot of people are struggling (myself included financially). However, this country has so much more going for it than 95% of the world and i personally love it here more than any of the other 40 countries i have visited. The countryside, architecture, cities, music, history, culture, and entertainment are all elite.

The only thing issue i really do feel is how everything is so expensive (driving, public transport, rent etc) , though we have loads of great free things as well (NHS, countryside)

Had to get this out as its been on my mind, id love to hear why people disagree or why people may feel the same as i do.

Just around 2:30 am, one of my fire alarms downstairs went off a couple of times it kept going on and off. Then after a few minutes some more of my fire alarms went off but stopped. (I am not sure if all of them went off) currently no more have set off.

It's still hot here, but dealable. I've got the fan on, dancing around my living room to one of my (MANY!) playlists on YouTube. Currently banging out Womack & Womack - Teardrops. 😸

I'm talking about the stuff you wouldn't admit on a first or second date

Feel like lots of the current advice is outdated or not aimed at a UK specific audience and I'm looking for ideas

I remember some crisps type snack thing from the 1980s that I had about twice and would really like to be able to get again.
They were crunchy with a bit of bubbling in the middle, like lots of crisps used to be, but with a fairly smooth texture a bit like cream crackers and were triangular with curved corners.
I think they were salted but tasted vaguely cheesy and just had the best texture. Anyone know what they were?

My tween daughter just started her period. I have set her up with a started kit of sanitary products but she is keen to try period underwear.

I’ll be looking for age 12 for day, sleep and hopefully swimwear.

I’m currently mulling over Next and Bodyform but there’s not much reviews so would really appreciate some reviews for places that supply UK.

Thank you.

FOUND! Its Is This The Way To Amarillo" by Tony Christie and Peter Kay in 2005

I listened to it as a child but it may or may not have been for children. Most likely British, male singer, released in early 2000s. I remember him walking down a white corridor in the music video, and I’m sure the lyrics referenced a pillow or pillow fight at one point.
Can anyone help me remember?