I don't think its a minor argh. It can be very hard to live with your parents past a certain age (I can't do it anymore, and most of my friends find it causes awful friction), and feeling frustrated is perfectly understandable! Try not to feel guilty for resenting their interferance: You're old enough to manage your own schedule, after all, and take responsibility for studying the wrong things/not enough if you do happen to misjudge it!

Perhaps its time to fill your parents in on how you feel? Perhaps you could create a study space where they aren't to disturb you (pester you!) when you're trying to study? It may be that they have frustrations about still sharing their house it you too (My mother resents the fact that I don't read her mind and clean things I haven't even noticed were dirty! That and my tendancy to forget to do things she asked me to do, because its not high on my list of priorities!)

Digital switchover. Part one was yesterday in our area. The switch seemed to go Ok, all channels were there again, plus teletex. However, I thought I would check recording a programme. It seemed to be recording OK, all the screen info. and recorder panel indicated that it was recording, but when I tried to play the recording back - nothing! I tried several times with no result, so I tried a CD & DVD in the drive and again, nothing, just a black screen.

So, I went to the shop where I bought the television and recorder from (both Panasonic) at 9.00am this morning to find a queue forming and a harassed salesman (in fact the boss) telling me they were inundated and the phone had been ringing constantly from 8.00am. He had little time for me, told me my recorder would not work at all after phase 2 in a fortnights time, and that I would need a new one. He didn't believe me when I told him that I had been recording digital programmes and radio 3 successfully until yesterday, and basically told me to ring them when I was in front of the units and they would try to explain over the phone what I need to do - adding, 'you probably won't get through'.

I don't know if any of you 'techies' can throw any light on the problem. The TV is a Panasonic 42" plasma with freeview, and the recorder is a panasonic DVD recorder, model No. DMR-ES10EB.

The salesman added that in 2 weeks time he is expecting total chaos.

Thanks for the advice Part of the problem is that my parents are paying ridiculous sums for my tuition (college is many times more expensive here than in the UK as far as I know, and students aren't expected to pay for it themselves), and so they DO have a right to interfere in my studies and make sure I am handling them responsibly, which I almost didn't last term I've considered taking out massive loans in my own name so I'm not so indebted to them... but I'm not sure whether I might regret the decision several years down the road, since my parents are luckily able to pay, and the price (literally) of freeing myself from their interference might be too high to justify...

A quick Google appears to suggest your recorder has an analogue tuner only, so can't be used to receive digital signals.

You will have to replace the DVD recorder so you had better save up pretty quickly.

Thanks guys, I guess that this is what the salesman was telling me. Still doesn't expain to me why it will no longer play existing CDs & DVDs, which I have had no problems with in the past?

Any recommendations for a good digital recorder?

Doesn't a digibox sort that out? I thought the whole point was that you could continue to use your old equipment.

Ah. Didn't quite twig onto that one. Again using a spot of guesswork I would think your DVD player connects to the TV using the analogue tuner on the TV. Has the analogue tuner on the TV lost its settings during the re-tuning for digital?

I have a Sony RDR-HXD870 hard disc/DVD recorder. Nice piece of kit. Probably discontinued by now but I would certainly recommend a hard disc recorder these days. If your TV is a fairly recent one perhaps Panasonic have a matching recorder.


Yes that is an option.

If you have a hard disc recorder doesn't that mean you can only play back on the same machine? Whereas a DVD recorder you could take the disc somewhere else to play it back?

One of the things I find most irritating about sky plus is that you have to play it back in the same machine. With the old videos you could take them to someone else's house to watch back.

No. A "proper one" allows you to record on the hard drive, edit if required, compile a list of recordings which you can then burn to a DVD which can then be "finalised" allowing it to be played on any DVD player.

Not the same as a Sky box or TiVO "Personal Video Recorder".

Thanks Pushpull. I think you are right, the TV has lost it's analogue settings during the retune.

Plato is at the Vet. He was off his food this morning and nauseus Poor Kitty-Cat his wonderful nature still shone through.

After a basic set of blood tests ( Kidney, Liver, Blood sugar and serum keytone level) he's been given an anti-emetic and put on a drip for the afternoon.

I've spoken to the staff at the Village Vet Practice and he appears much happier. It has been very hot and muggy, I wonder if he's just had heat-exhaustion and not drunk enough, but his temperature was a little high, so it is more likely to be an opportunistic infection. I don't want Gandalf to get it, something like this nearly killed Gandalf a couple of years ago. At least I spotted Plato was off colour straight away, and he's responding to treatment.

It is just that with the diabetes any thing like this means he really needs quite intensive nursing, I suppose in time they could train me to put drips in, and find veins, I've had to learn quite a lot due to treating that cat... never thought of myself as a potential Vetinary nurse before, but I'll just do what is needed.

Sorry to hear your cat is so unwell. How old is Plato?
No you would not want to be a vet nurse - wages very poor i believe.
My cat is 18 years and is now beginning to show her age - kidneys!
Such a shame.
Ho well, back to my music then.

????????
No, you're not unemployable. Remember this is them not you. You will end up viewing this as a lucky escape - you really don't want to work for a company like this.
Their loss. And your chance to find a good job with a decent company. Chin up

Both Plato and Gandalf are 14. Plato is a large neutered Tom cat. We've had them both since they were kittens, indeed we first met them when they were only about a week old. Both cats have a lovely nature, however Plato is particularly characterful and will leave a large feline hole when his time is up. However he has had a good life with us and I know that as a family we have cared for him well. That will not make it any easier when the time comes, but it will provide some comfort eventually.

Sounds a bit like my 2 cats, we had them from very young and also saw them when they were only about a week old, both born on a farm near to me, in different litters, and where actually cousins. We had first choice of them. Lost my tom cat about 6 years ago (had to have him put to sleep), and my other little girl cat is just getting old now. Last week i had to get her breathing again twice last week, as she just stops breathing. Bless her, when she "wakes" up she has no idea what has happened. Lucky i was their. They where very close and lovely, he used to protect her from all the other cats and often look out for her. I'm hoping she will just "pop" her clogs when she is asleep one day - i am sure she will.

Yes, so like you say, having a good life is important, and knowing that you have all cared for them is some comfort. I will not be sad when mine goes - as she will be with her cousin and well looked after, and has been a great part of the family, she also plays the piano Jod!. She loves the piano, especially me playing the scales. .... bit wired, but true. At the moment i am teaching her twinkle twinkle little star. Toot toot -- she gets her lessons for free as well. I would make a terrible business woman!

I think you maybe need to sit down with them when you are all feeling calmer and explain that you understand that their behaviour is well-intentioned, but that you are finding that they are making it difficult for you to focus on your studies in a productive manner because X, Y and Z. Make some constructive suggestions for an alternative approach.

It is your degree and not theirs and you know what work you have and what is required/expected. Even if they have both done the same subject, the demands and requirements vary across time and between institutions. As far as your degree is concerned, they need to understand that you are more 'expert' than they are. If they did different subjects to yourself then they need to understand that the demands and appropriate study approaches/methods vary enormously both between subjects and between individual students. What worked best for them will not necessarily work best for you...

As for the viola/violin/piano, they need to understand that this is how you relax and allow your brain the time and space to absorb what you are learning in your degree. Without your music, you would be less effective in your studying. If you spend too much time studying then you will actually learn less because your study will be less effective.

I am in my OH's London flat and was in bed for 30mins when all of a sudden hideous music started blaring. I can hear every word and the beat it throbbing:

I've got a brand new combine harvester
A got do do do
Alice
Viva espania
etc

This is true torture!

Time to bring out your oboe!

Oh come on, that's a true classic . One of my childhood favourites!
Seriously though, you have my sympathies. Other peoples volume can be dire.

Lots of sympathy. I can empathise both from being the long-ago subject of misplaced and fruitless parental meddling, and as a parent who's watched offspring negotiate their first years at competitive universities. In addition to Tamsin and Flossie's sound advice, I?d add a couple of things.

Your parents had a nasty shock last term when you found the going tough. Presumably you talked to them when you felt most vulnerable (what else are we for?). But you coped and you passed, and I?d guess you were relieved and delighted and they were perhaps a tad less so? They still haven?t registered that you are surrounded by people as bright as you are with a few geniuses thrown to unsettled everyone - nor just how high the bar is. So they think you went astray somehow. They?re panicking and trying to put things 'right' when there?s nothing to put right. In time they?ll calm down and realise that.

Working round the clock and especially in your vacations is not the answer, even without the well-meant interference which is counter-productive at best. Agree with Tamsin/Flossie that they need to back off but only you know whether you can talk to them about it. Can you get away for a while to a friend's? You need to recharge your batteries and have time to think and get this year and next in perspective without, albeit well-meant, helicopter parents buzzing in and around your head.

I agree you need to keep the finances out of it if you possibly can. If we are able to support our children, it's a luxury we choose, not a stick to beat you with. It certainly doesn't give us the right to dictate your lives, and we should be shot if we ever even begin to think we know best. Given the excellent relationship with your parents, they surely have your interests at heart - parents may be grown ups but we still think and say some daft things sometimes, notably to our children, so bear with us.

Looking ahead, I hope you find next year easier. You will be settled, know where you fit in, and what to expect - and so will your parents. Good luck with it all and do please enjoy your summer.

[EDIT: grrrrr to all the question marks... is this system part of the wicked campaign to outlaw apostrophes?]

Just to report back to everyone who sympathised with my earlier aaaaggghhh. I saw the lawyer yesterday. I found him extremely helpful and understanding. With one possible exception concerning one mistake my employer could claim I have made there does not seem to be sufficient grounds to take me to court which would in any case take a very long time and it would be difficult to prove anything really concrete against me. He has explained the degree of risk I would run if I take a certain course of action and it does seem very small. In any case he said that if there were trouble he would be happy to act an an itermediary (have I spelt that correctly?) to find an agreement whereby court proceedings could be avoided.

This cost me 95 euros and considering the interview lasted an hour and a half and I got professional advice and a very pleasant reception and the suggestion - not at all pushing - that he would be available to help at any future date if required I thought it was good value for money.

On the strength of that I would advise anyone who finds themselves in a difficult position not to be afraid to go and see someone who knows the law. I went in feeling a bit shaky but came out with a clear head and feeling much more confident.

Thanks again for the support.

So pleased to read this, Aquarelle. Sounds very positive - all the best in taking this forward !

That's great, Aquarelle, so glad you're feeling more confident

Sounds like money well spent just from the calming effect on your mental state. You were feeling isolated and picked upon, but now you have a big strong friend in your camp, so it will certainly help. Glad to hear it's looking better.
I was put in a similar position when someone I knew through work asked for my phone number as they were buying our house and then offered me theirs. I said I already had it from work, so they didn't need to write it down. They then phoned me about a detail and I phoned them about something. (Something like which curtains we were leaving) They then pulled out of buying our house and didn't give a reason. Then I was hauled aside at work and told that this person had been saying to all and sundry that I had abused my position and got their phone number from work records. No mention of the fact that they had asked for mine and offered me their's and I had only used it after that. I felt really uncomfortable and was very upset as I was threatened with losing my job. Six months later this man killed himself and so I now realise that he was very unstable and I understand a bit more that he probably couldn't control himself or his actions, but it still leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth, and hurts all the more because I am so honest by nature and would never do something unprofessional.

Sorry to hear you had such an unpleasant experience. That is the problem in a way about being an honest person. You can get taken for a ride by those who are dishonest and because you wouldn't dream of doing anything nasty like that you don't see it coming. Hope you are well over it all now.

I feel a bit steamrollered by work this week, BUT it is now Friday and the sun is shining.

I think I might just have to murder my boyfriend....

Oh dear. I hope you find a less permanent (and messy) way to deal with things.

That seems a bit extreme ! Is he still your boyfriend ???......

Oh yes. Its just stupid frustrations. We're about to stop living together and start doing long distancing for the next 4 years (at least), which is causing some tension. I'm trying to tidy the house. I swear someone is trying to mess it up again as I go...!

Best of luck with that - and if he's staying behind, then if he messes it up, can't he tidy it up again when you're away?

I'm just having a really rubbish day

Thanks for sympathy. I'm so fed up saying goodbye all the time. Far better to rant out my frustrations out on the forum than have yet another argument just as he's about to leave (and leave me with a huge pile of washing up, laundry etc... again! )

Boyfriend-one is a slightly to permenent feature to contemplate getting rid of, let alone actually bumping off (however exasperating at times!).

the cure for a rubbish week = Baba Yaga from Pictures At An Exhibition. Kind of the musical way of saying "aargh"???

Boyfriend-one?

I have had a real curates egg of a week:
Monday daytime was OK.
Monday evening - a highly acrimonious Chess league AGM followed by a high speed front tyre blow out on the motorway on the way home. Late night.
Tuesday am - ok
Tuesday pm - A hospital bed allocation manager lied to me to try and get me to agree to something I had already said I wouldn't do: Did she really think that lying to a consultant surgeon was likely to make him(me) more amenable? If so, has she ever actuallymet a consultant surgeon? As a breed we're not exactly famous for our shy and retiring demeanour! As it was I got incandescently angry (black mark to me) and ended up talking to her line managers line manager before I found someone sensible. Bad afternoon.
Tuesday evening - good chess (with Mad Tom) , good party , late night.
Wednesday am - ok
Wednesday pm - discovered major errors in the tarrifs and numbers for endoscopy . Could be good (for the future) or bad (for the past) depending on your point of view.
Wednesday evening - good rehearsal but late night.
Thursday am - list over-ran to 1.45 so . . .
Thursday pm - started late (2.15) and finished later - 6.30 ish
Thursday evening - ok: good flute lesson (despite little or no practice), good company (Mad Tom came round again) on time night.
This am - clinic due to finish at 12.30 massively overbooked (don't know why) so finished at 13.55.
This pm - 1.30 list started at 2.20 and then first case took 3x the normal time. Home too late to go to flute group.
This evening - sent apologies to flute group . Sat around with glass of wine and athletics on tv

Parts of it were excellent . Somehow, it's the bits that weren't excellent that stand out!

Time for an early bed, a lie in and a good weekend.

I won't make the boyfriend-two joke again

Now you're talking

Some cheeky so and so decided to clone my debit card and used it to order some technology products from Beijing. I managed to cancel my card, and I'm having a new one sent out.

May I also add another one of pet hates to this thread as I need to get it off my chest. Stupid and impatient customers. I've had two today, the first decided to pour some of her tea out into the bin instead of asking me or my colleague to tip some down the sink for her, and the second one who was elderly decided to tell me to hurry and serve her as she was going to faint. It wasn't my fault that she was going to faint and that she decided to come in on the last minute to get something. I did serve her but after I'd served the person in front, as they was a massive queue as it around dinner.

Why do we the sales assistants (caterting wise) get blamed for other people's health concerns, when they have decided to come in on the last minute to grab something to eat?

I've also served her before but it was a couple of months back and she was exactly the same then. Impatient, rude and spoke to me in such in tone that you wouldn't believe.

Rant over

Loz xx

I'm failing to concentrate on anything and can't see to sort my life out at the moment!

It's easy for somebody else to say this - but don't try and do too much. Decide what really needs sorting out, and give that issue your focus. One or two minor issues may well just fade away whilst you're doing that.

When you win an auction of mine on eBay, I expect payment. Not for you to change your mind and expect me to say 'yeah, OK then, I don't expect payment'.

You'll have to learn to sew faster...

Enjoy your weekend

That's told them.

Oh, I write very good 'disgusted' letters, Flossie...

arghyarghyarghy...moving house... letting agencies... stupid lack of invoice and not enough time to sort out money transfers... 10,001 things to do... not even enough time to write a proper post... panic...

*best headless chicken impression*

argh

Sing the 'Birdie Song' as well !