HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Cathy]

I've still got 3 Ferrero Rochers in my ridgy -didge since Christmas and a miniature Baileys from the Christmas before... I don't know what's wrong with me. Haha.

[Tizer]

That sounds like a bit of psychology - as long as they're still in the fridge you don't feel so bad about eating other treats!

[Stanley]

I agree about treats but the problem arises when you start having them regularly....... That's where I was coming a cropper!

[Stanley]

Security tip. When you get an email telling you that there is a fault with your card or an internet account, ignore it and delete it. If there is a problem it will soon become apparent and then you can take action knowing you are safe!

[Stanley]

The older I get the more often I apply my problem solving algorithm.... If something crops up ask yourself the following questions:- Is there a problem? Is it my problem? What happens if I do nothing? Amazing how many 'problems' go away if you simply ignore them......

[Stanley]

A case in point that demonstrates the efficacy of yesterday's tip. I had a sudden flood of warnings from Daemon Mailer warning me that a bunch of my email addresses I use when sending my articles out were barred. At one time I used to panic and try to alter this. I found out long ago that if you ignored the warnings the problem usually cured itself within 24 hours. This is what happened yesterday, the safeguards in modern mail systems are so sensitive they get triggered more often.

[Tizer]

What's Daemon Mailer?

[Stanley]

God knows but it's something to do with monitoring bum email addresses. I get warnings if a mail has been delayed or refused. Thought everyone got them......

[Big Kev]

Mailer Daemons are part of a company's email server set up. It sends automated responses to 'senders' if there is a problem, usually things like the recipient not existing or the senders email address being on a blacklist.

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

Thinking about the NHS I remember what a woman told me in the Mid-West when I was driving Route 66. The three great lies:- "One size fits all. The cheque's in the post. I'm from the Government, I'm here to help you." That's today's tip. I think we should bear this in mind.

[Stanley]

I'm still doing my morning bleach routine when brewing my coffee and this morning noticed how white the rubber plug is. I scrub the mixer unit and its surrounds with bleach every morning and over time it shows. Only a small thing but it's a serious nest for bad microbes if left unattended. The same applies to the cloth I always have on the bench for wiping up. It often gets changed twice during the day, the aim is that it should always be clean and dry. They, and the tea towel can be another nest for germs! Dead simple but in the end it pays.

[Stanley]

The best thing that has come into this house lately in terms of appliances is the hand-held cordless cleaner. I don't vacuum every day, better things to do! However, there is always the odd patch of muck, usually Jack induced and it's good to be able to clean them up easily. Then there are the stairs steps, definitely the best thing since sliced bread! If you haven't got one, give it a coat of thinking!

[Stanley]

Today's tip. Have you ever had a zip, especially the fine plastic toothed ones, that was sticky? Get an ordinary tallow candle and rub the teeth of the zip on both sides until you can see tallow in the teeth. Then work the zip back and forwards to distribute the tallow and coat the inside of the slider as well. This will cure it. If repeated washings or dry cleaning lead to the same problem, simply repeat the exercise. Works like a charm......

[Stanley]

The simple tip about lubrication of zips reminds me that the same technique can improve other matters in the house. For instance, if you have a curtain pole with rings supporting your drapes, try polishing the rod with a good wax polish. You'll be surprised by the improvement. A bit of lubrication in the right place is always a good thing!

[Stanley]

Always keep track of where your house keys are!! Mine went walkabout yesterday inside the house and it's driving me round the bend.

[Tizer]

Have you looked in the fridge!

[plaques]

The other day Mrs P 'lost' her smart phone "its somewhere in the house". It turned up under the cake tin on the kitchen bench, something that only moves once every 3 weeks. In the event of not finding it we were getting ready to ring its number but as she pointed out she had just charged it up and it was switched off!. I feel sorry for Stanley, not eating cakes makes it one less place to look.

[Stanley]

I think you all know now that they were in the place I should have looked at first! In the pot where I keep my loose change. Nice to have them back in my pocket where they always live.... John Wilfred Pickard used to lose his keys so he had them all on strings round his neck! Perhaps that's today's tip!

[Stanley]

If you have the prospect of an Australian type drying day wash your heaviest items like sheepskins or loose covers. We don't get many days when we have 16 hours of sun in prospect!

[Stanley]

16 hours of sun is more than enough for a sheepskin..... Lovely!
With the weather as dry as it is it's a good idea to pour a bucket of water down outside rain water drains because the seal in the 'U' bend can dry out allowing sewer gases (bad smells!) to get out.

[Stanley]

Something I learned in Minnesota when the temperature could easily reach 100F during the day but nights were cool. Leave the windows open at night and ventilate the house with cool air. As soon as the temperature starts to rise shut the windows and rely on the insulation of the house. I suspect this is how Maz and Cathy manage hot weather.

[Stanley]

Enjoy the hot weather, Margaret tells me it is Cold in Perth, WA and they had a frost in Melbourne. So stop complaining!
Long hot spells like this can end in extreme weather events. It was this combination that gave us the floods in July 1932. Not a bad idea to make sure that any drains that could affect you are clear and will not cause any trouble if we do get thunder rain.

[Stanley]

Be very wary of the blandishments of retailers trying to sell you 'smart' household goods which connect to the 'internet of things'. There are some real horror stories out there and Tiz's post in computers is worth reading this morning. I think a lot of it is simply more data-harvesting by the companies involved. Remember that data is 'the new gold'!

[Tizer]

Not a bad idea to make sure that any drains that could affect you are clear and will not cause any trouble if we do get thunder rain.

I'll second that comment. While walking this morning we saw many road drains that were clogged by dead leaves and road muck so there's bound to be a problem when the rain comes.