Mumofballetmaddaughter

1 hour ago, Fiz said:

People who wear masks on their chins and take them off to chat to people and people who wear them and think it means they can move as close to others as they like. My niece has found the same thing where she lives too. You would think this wretched epidemic was over or had never happened the way some behave! 

You beat me to the post Fiz. Just arrived back from Sainsbury's and there were quite a few with masks on just below their noses. I really don't understand why, if people are able to wear a mask, they can't wear it properly. Then there were others wearing them correctly who pulled them onto their chins to have a conversation with someone. Surely it's not too onerous for people, with the exception of those who have a valid disability which prevents them from wearing a mask, to wear one for the relatively short amount of time needed to do their shopping. The majority of the customers would have travelled by car, (the area I live in in the South West has poor public transport links and is very expensive) so masks/coverings are only needed in store. My elder daughter, a paediatric nurse, wears a mask (several) for her entire 12 hour shifts, along with plastic aprons and gloves on a very hot ward. Now that must be uncomfortable. 

I reported a company (airport car parking) for unfair business practice on the government website. The company's website stated they'd furloughed all staff but were still taking new bookings. After my flights were cancelled, I tried to cancel online but the 'cancel my booking' function had been disabled and  because of furlough, they weren't answering calls or emails. After several months, I've managed to get a refund but it took an email to the CEO which resulted in a call 30 mins later from a team member who took my card details and issued the refund. Suffice to say I won't be booking with them again. 

SAGA travel insurance is another company who have been less than helpful along with Easyjet who made it extremely difficult to get refunds. Kudos to BA though as they cancelled a flight and 2 days later I received a refund. 

Just looked at the date of the original post and it doesn't appear from the website that any advice was taken so I've deleted my two pence worth. 

I also thought it was a questionable post. It might have been more appropriate for the OP to have worded it as 'the male anatomy makes it uncomfortable' rather than the wording used. 

7 hours ago, alison said:

Estate agents and their, well I suppose calling it hyperbole would be a bit much, but exaggeration, certainly.  This just in:

 

"Unveiled to the XXXX property market is this incredibly characterful Victorian residence, providing stunning kerb appeal via the brick façade frontage and stylish interior."

 

I've not tended to note interiors providing a lot in the way of "kerb appeal"!  It's a very standard-looking Victorian terraced house, and obviously the gravelled-over front "garden" with two large permanent plastic recycling-bin housings does a lot for the kerb appeal

Our current house was described as having a patio. As there didn't appear to be one,  I queried it with the agent who informed me that the 6 'stone slabs' we were standing on, outside of the cellar door, was considered to be a patio!  You could just about get a garden chair on them but that was pushing it. 

I watched this last night and found it very sad and sickening viewing. The gymnasts were let down by so many people in positions of authority who just buried their heads in the sand and allowed the abuse to continue. I also find it difficult however to understand why Maggie's (athlete A) parents allowed her to remain in such an environment once they became aware of the abuse. 

20 minutes ago, Kate_N said:

Thanks for this, Alison. I understood that face masks protect others from the wearer, rather than the wearer herself.  Of course, if we all wore Face masks, then we’d all protect each other.  My family in Germany wear them out in public - the German practice is for everyone to wear something in any public enclosed space (eg shops). 
 

 

My husband is a seafarer currently based in Cannes and has to wear a mask whenever he is out in public and have his temperature checked before being allowed into a supermarket. I do shudder when I see people pull their masks down around their chins to chat to companions though as they are potentially doing more harm than good to themselves. I think it's evident when out and about, that in some cases, common sense is in very short supply. 

So sorry to hear this Lisa but thank you for sharing your knowledge about it. Hope you and your sister get a positive resolution for your brother in law. 

Take care x

59 minutes ago, SMabbutt said:

Was that the professional one or the cheaper version? I've concluded we need to take the plunge and invest in flooring but we have carpet 

Was that the professional one or the cheaper version? I've concluded we need to take the plunge and invest in flooring but we have carpet over floor boards. I don't want to spend more than I have to but equally want to be sure it will be useable.

I'm not sure which my daughter bought but it cost just under £150 incl delivery for the 2.5m x 2m size in grey.  

Enjoyed watching this Janet so thank you for sharing it.

My (teacher) daughter,  like Peanut was also advised against using the flooring over carpet but as she couldn't find any other reasonably priced solution decided to go ahead and order the multi dance flooring in a 2m x 2.5m size. She's really pleased with the quality of it and it does give some sound proofing too. It moved a little when she first used it but she has since been using some double sided carpet and rug tape (no residue) from Amazon and this is holding it completely still. 

11 hours ago, Tango Dancer said:

 

I think everyone is just making do with what they've got.  In class yesterday I was struggling not to kick the window in the grand battement one side and not to kick the coffee table the other.  Looking at people on the gallery view from zoom for my classes, I am far from the only one doing dance classes in an imperfect setting.  Also some people are using custom backgrounds I think which may look better or more like a ballet studio.  I was most amused by the person I saw in a non ballet context doing a class in front of the iron throne.  

My husband and I regularly connect via Zoom (he's working overseas currently) and he often has the Golden Gate Bridge or the moon as his backdrop. I don't have the functionality to change mine so unfortunately he only gets to see the walls in our lounge or dining room as my backdrop!

8 hours ago, alison said:

Well, certainly on Zoom you can arrange it so that you can get rid of the gallery and just have the teacher filling the whole screen.  As long as s/he has a nice big TV screen so that s/he can see each of the participants in sufficient detail.  Come to think of it, mine has a not very big lounge, and yet she's got it set up so we can see her full-length, so it must be possible somehow to get yourself completely on-screen - I just haven't worked out how to do it yet.

My daughter uses her iMac for teaching her online Zoom classes which allows her to be seen in full length. She did start off by using her iPad and a tripod which also showed her in full length but finds the iMac has a wider angle lens and allows her to move around more. I think by clicking on 'pin video' this then selects whoever you want to focus on. 

That's a dilemma Lisa! I personally would go for the latter option as although Sean risks losing the £400, which is a lot of money for anyone to lose, you will both have peace of mind that he has somewhere to live (for me that would outweigh the risk) it will save a fair amount of money over the duration of his course, it's convenient for Uni both for study purposes and the social aspect of being with his cohort without having to travel long distances to meet up etc in his free time.  I'm clinging to the hope though that schools etc return in September to at least bring a little normality back to our lives. Good luck to you both in deciding which path to take. 

Thank you to you Sim and all of the moderators for your work in keeping the forum going, enabling us to have a little bit of normality in these uncertain times. One thing I think it has done, is to make us appreciate the simpler things in life. I will never again take for granted just meeting up with friends over a coffee or having a browse around a garden centre! On the plus side, I am loving all of the ballet, dance and musical theatre offerings on the various social media platforms and am very grateful to the performers giving their time so freely from their homes. To be able to dance along (badly) with a Radio City Rockette and sing my heart out (out of tune) while Andrew Lloyd Webber plays the piano is amazing. I wish you and your families well. Take care and stay safe. 

Congratulations 😀 It's always lovely to read about good news. 

17 hours ago, alison said:

Yesterday, I walked 2.5 miles to Waitrose - and came away with half-a-dozen eggs (and nothing else).

 

Today, I went to Sainsbury's - and managed to get a pound of self-raising flour!

 

If anyone had told me a few months back that I would find such trivial things worthy of celebration, I'm sure I would never have believed them.

I know how you feel Alison as I managed to get eggs and flour at Lidl yesterday and it felt like such a big achievement. If nothing else, it is making me more appreciative of the simpler things in life. 

9 hours ago, Mumofballetmaddaughter said:

 

If the guest dancers/teachers are self employed and freelancing surely it's the case that they won't be paid so therefore the course organiser won't incur any teaching costs. 

 

4 hours ago, alison said:

 

As I indicated above, that may depend on the terms of their contract, I'd think.  I've just checked my own T&Cs, and they do allow for up to a 100% cancellation charge - although I'm not sure that would apply in these exceptional circumstances.

I'd like to think that if that were the case, given the extraordinary circumstances, the guest dancers/teachers would waive their fees to allow the course provider to refund those who do not wish to take the risk of future dates being feasible for them. 

8 hours ago, NJH said:

most  dance teachers are self employed  so they cannot be furloughed  

If the guest dancers/teachers are self employed and freelancing surely it's the case that they won't be paid so therefore the course organiser won't incur any teaching costs. 

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery drdance. Take care x

I find bicarbonate of soda works well on stained mugs. 

You may be able to claim under rule 75 of the consumer credit act if you've paid by credit card, for 'goods or services not received' 

Debit cards are covered by a different rule so might be worth contacting your bank if a debit card was used.  I've no idea about consumer law though if by postponing the course, this is still classed as a cancellation if you aren't able to attend. Worth pursuing though. I would have thought the course provider should offer a refund if the new date doesn't work for you. Good luck, I hope you get a successful resolution. 

For anyone looking to dance like a Radio City Rockette, here is the link to their live class on IG today at 5pm BST (if I've converted the time correctly!)

https://www.facebook.com/rockettes/videos/539901210239506/

Congratulations DancingShoes and Farawaydancer for your daughter and son's successes. It's great to hear good news at a time like this. Wishing them good luck for their continuing dance journeys.

51 minutes ago, daughtersdance said:

A Dada offer from Northern ballet school, Manchester!   

It was her favourite audition!

I am so happy for her 😁😁

 

Congratulations to your daughter, it's lovely to hear some good news. Wishing her all the best for the next part of her dance journey. Mine spent 3 happy years there and has some lovely memories and lasting friendships from her time there.