Cheaper, probably, but not something I could do. Having it right in your ears would block out the other sounds - same as I don't iPod when cycling Probably perfectly fine but just something I couldn't do

I agree you should use not headphones whilst driving, you do need to hear sounds around you.
Im lucky that I have a proper iPod connector (not just an MP3) in my car, ha dto pay as an extra (?250) when I got the car but I have full function management of playlists, and what is playing comes up on my radio display. In fact I only use iPod in the car, nowhere else. I operate on a 'rolling play list' - I have a list of about 8 hrs, and when Im over half way through it I delete the top half and add another half below, this system seem to be ideal for the relatively large amout of driving I do.

Aaaaaaagh

Bit of a career disappointment yesterday AND my Mum's in hospital because she's been falling. She's depressed and crying a lot and wanting to go home (dementia and lots of other illness). Dad's depressed because although he's exhausted caring for her he still wants her home, healthy and compos-mentis and that's just not going to happen in a million years!!

It may sound selfish, and I do love my parents, but I'm dreading today's visit to the hospital because it's my 'job' to lift their spirits and short of a magic wand I don't have anything cheerful to offer them in terms of reassurance - life is genuinely horrible for them!

Headphones for a car driver are not a good idea. I know some drivers who won't drive with a radio on as they are listening out for changes in engine notes and other aural feedback from their car.

Argos sell car radios too, and they are available online. You may be able to find a cheaper source other than halfords.

Cheaper, probably, but not something I could do. Having it right in your ears would block out the other sounds - same as I don't iPod when cycling Probably perfectly fine but just something I couldn't do

Although deaf people can drive in this country (and most others)

There is a big difference between never hearing, and being used to hearing and then blocking out the sound. You really do not realise how much you do hear until it is not there.

So sorry about your Mum. My mum has dementia and is in a nursing home; she is convinced she could look after herself at home or come to us as an alternative, but it's not so. There's no answer for your Dad, except to say that he will eventually have to accept that she needs more care than he can give at home. It's a horrible situation for you, because of course you too want your mum to be well again, and are having to adjust to the fact that it's not going to happen. Thinking of you.

it was just somebody I was going to meet with an go onto an event at a club (me being female myself) still annoying.. although probably could have phrased that better, it's more like she bailed on me right before we were going to go when I was all ready! but still thanks I'm settling into an evening of video games instead

Oops sorry I took you to be male ! That's the problem with these forums, sometimes you dont know !
Pianissimole was once voted for in Most Attractive Female ! He's male !

My mobile is refusing to let me make or recieve calls or go on the internet. This is despite the fact it is showing me that it has a strong signal, which there is in my area.

I need people to be able to contact me during the day when I am not at home, i.e at work, and anyway very few people know my landline number.

As an IT Analyst this one has me stumped and I need aquickish resolution.

This is what you get for being loyal to Vodafone.

Mine did that to me the other week. I switched it off, took the battery out, took the sim out, reassembled and it worked again. Mine I suspect was a handset rather than a provider issue.

I did that, all to no avail. However just 2 minbites ago it start correctly functioning. However last night it worked and then stopped working so we shall wait and see...........

Not an aaarrrgggghhh so much as a damn annoyance.

My car radio has packed up. No FM, no AM, but still plays CDs fine. My car mechanic had a look at it for me (for free!) and declares it dead, i.e. it's not a loose cable or dodgy aerial or anything like that.
Still, at least I can listen to CDs in the car, though I was more accustomed to listening to podcasts on my iPod, via an FM transmitter (which doesn't work, because the radio isn't picking up any FM).

A while ago it was time to renew my car insurance, and one of the websites on getting my car registration number confirmed the make and model, and said that by the book, assuming my car to be in average condition, it is worth a stunning 695 of your English pounds.

So while I was at my mechanic's, and he declared the radio dead, he phoned up his supplier to get the price for a genuine replacement. 400-550, the price variation being because it comes with different coloured faschias to match the rest of the dashboard Both of us had a reaction to this something like A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

Mechanic recommended going to Halfords and getting them to sell and fit me something decent, at a much much lower price. Which I suppose I will do. At least I can get something that an iPod can plug directly in to

It seems such a waste of money, given that I only drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays (and Thursdays will soon only be in term time). I'm happy with CDs really. But I suppose when the time comes to sell the car (for tuppance, I know that), it will be even more worthless without a working radio. So I might as well get on with it and get a new one in there and get some use out of it before the car goes on its way (which probably won't be for a while yet - it's a mere 9 years old, and I'll keep it until the time my mechanic says 'rust' or 'welding' to get it through the next MOT).

If my music teacher weren't so far away, I could get away without the car. It'd double my train fare to get to work on Tuesdays but with no petrol, insurance, 'tax' disc, etc it would probably even out. But I can't get to music lessons without a car so I guess I might as well spend the money and use it...

It's just really annoying, that's all.

I did that, all to no avail. However just 2 minutes ago it start correctly functioning. However last night it worked and then stopped working so we shall wait and see...........

Might be worth taking it to your local Vodaphone shop. After all, it is in their interests that you use as many minutes of airtime as you can.

If you go on a Saturday there will usually be a 16 year old in the shop who will know all the settings and will have it working for you in no time.

My irritation with mobile network providers is that they like to make it so difficult to use data that you have already paid for.

I bought myself a new Smart Phone earlier this year, (a Motorola Defy), and I am very pleased with it. Not only does it work very well, but it is waterproof, and isn't built like a [non waterproof] brick .

However, I have to pay O2 eight pounds a month to access the internet on the phone, for which I am allowed 500 megabytes of data. I don't use anything like 500 megabytes in a month, (more like 50 at best), so I thought I would try 'tethering' it with my laptop for mobile internet. It didn't work, so I called O2, and was told that I needed yet another 'bolt on', as I wasn't allowed to use the data allowance that I have already paid for on another mobile device. Why?

That was going to cost me another eight pounds or so a month, so I got a Vodaphone SIM card for just five pounds a month, which fits into a slot on the back of my laptop and gives me 500 megabytes of mobile data.

But then, when I go abroad, they want eight pounds a day to access their network in Europe, and twenty-five pounds a day for other countries, including Turkey and the USA. Yet Vodaphone has its own networks in these countries, so why does it cost so much more to access the net abroad than it does in your own country.

Given our reliance on the internet in the 21st centrury I find this scandalous.

SB

But then, when I go abroad, they want eight pounds a day to access their network in Europe, and twenty-five pounds a day for other countries, including Turkey and the USA. Yet Vodaphone has its own networks in these countries, so why does it cost so much more to access the net abroad than it does in your own country.

Might be worth taking it to your local Vodaphone shop. After all, it is in their interests that you use as many minutes of airtime as you can.

If you go on a Saturday there will usually be a 16 year old in the shop who will know all the settings and will have it working for you in no time.

Possibly because it costs more for everyone (including the local inhabitants) to use a mobile phone in Europe than it does in the UK.

The so-called PAYG phones in France are a scandal; your credit is only valid for a limited amount of time and if you haven't used all your credit, and you don't want to lose it, then you have to buy more credit I spend around 1 Euro a month of my credit but have to buy 15 Euros of credit every six weeks. When I'm abroad I can't send texts and can't receive in-coming phone calls (And at that price I don't have any internet access anywhere).

Contracts are supposed to be coming down in price due to a legal ruling but until very recently the minimum monthly contract payment was 20 Euros and this was for a couple of hours of telephone, text messages and no internet connection.

Would it be worth you getting a UK PAYG if you don't already have one? Texts are only 11p each and calls 35p p/m. As far as I know credit doesn't run out, so it might be cheaper in the long run.

Do roaming charges apply In mainland Europe if you cross the border into another country, or is it a flat rate charge? Otherwise I presume it would be difficult to avoid making calls from a foreign network if near to a border, which could be expensive.

FWIW, I keep a spare mobile topped with 20 pounds worth of credit up in case we ever need it. It is on a Vodaphone PAYG tariff, which doesn't run out if you don't use it.

Would it be worth you getting a UK PAYG if you don't already have one? Texts are only 11p each and calls 35p p/m. As far as I know credit doesn't run out, so it might be cheaper in the long run.

I am amazed that our mobile phone charges area actually cheaper here than in mainland Europe, as everything else seems to be more expensive in the UK.

Do roaming charges apply In mainland Europe if you cross the border into another country

I am amazed that our mobile phone charges area actually cheaper here than in mainland Europe, as everything else seems to be more expensive in the UK.

I have lost my front door key. Husband and I left home at the same time this morning, and I know that I locked the front door behind me... then when I got home at lunchtime I couldn't find the key. I'm fairly sure that I can only have dropped it in a place where only friends could pick it up, but still
So - do I claim on my house insurance to have the lock changed, pay an excess of ?100 and lose my no-claims bonus? Or just have the lock changed and not claim? Or just assume that if it's lost, it won't be picked up by a stranger and can't be identified anyway?

Thank you, Czerny

I can't imagine you scatty. You don't come across as scatty at all !

Aaaaaaaaaagggghhhh!!! Exams tomorrow!!! So not prepared this time round...
Spent all weekend in work setting up for the Special Visit, but still not nearly ready for 9am tomorrow morning!!

Fingers crossed it all goes well for you - will be thinking of you.

Good luck MB !

Aaaaaaaaaagggghhhh!!! Exams tomorrow!!! So not prepared this time round...
Spent all weekend in work setting up for the Special Visit, but still not nearly ready for 9am tomorrow morning!!

Best of luck for this morning x

Aaaaaaaaaagggghhhh!!! Exams tomorrow!!! So not prepared this time round...
Spent all weekend in work setting up for the Special Visit, but still not nearly ready for 9am tomorrow morning!!