Bits of useful information

How in the name of the wee man could anyone cheat the NHS by going for a hearing test? If you need a hearing aid, you need a hearing aid and a good part of the test is automated so you can't just sit there saying, "Pardon? I didn't catch that." trying to get a free pass.

Is it the weather that is making so many people tetchy at the moment?

If you are travelling within the London railway area, you can save a lot of money by using your credit card like an Oyster card (the type of card which you can use without a pin for purchases under £30. Tap the machine each time you go through the barrier. Cost me only £6.50 instead of about £15.

Thank you Jalima. I do think there are some people on here who go round looking for trouble and reading posts in the most negative way they can.

Saxifrage you don't need to go to the audiology unit for a routine hearing test, Specsavers and Boots do them on behalf of the NHS and the former is quick and efficient as I can testify. All you have to do is be over 55. I rather thought the hospital audiology departments were for people with more serious hearing issues than simply getting older. If the outsourced companies take away all the routine testing that would reduce the wait for the more serious issues.

Thank you Marijo I only go up to London once a year and that is more than enough for me, I used to love it but no longer.

I don't think Nonnie meant that and no-one would be prescribed hearing aids if they did not need them, by the NHS or a private company.

I read it that some people may not be aware they have a problem. There are, of course, others who do have a problem but refuse to go and get hearing aids; most frustrating if you are living with such a person.

Nonnie, you were suggesting having hearing aids even if you dont need them to get the rail card, that is what I was objecting to. Elegran, I do not think you have read the post about pretending to need aids, of course items that are needed should be free.

I had an eelskin purse which constantly deactivated my cards. I was very sad to let it go

Elegran. Thank you for the tip about reduced rail cards. I did not know about this and both OH and I are entitled to one. . I agree with you that Nonnie's suggestion is out of line. There is several weeks wait at local NHS clinics for audiology testing and they don't need extra patients who are just cheating the system.

Rubytut Do you feel it is struggling enough without people having free crutches too? Being unable to walk and unable to hear are two different disabilities. Would you help one and not the other?

I am sorry you feel like that ruby but there are a lot of people who don't know they are entitled to free hearing tests and would benefit from having them. If that then entitles them to cheaper rail travel that is not a cost to the NHS.
Therefore it is your reply is a "ridiculous idea".

Ridiculous idea Nonnie, the NHS is struggling enough without people having free hearing aids they do not need just to get a discount on rail travel .

Slightly different tip, but putting dry coffee grounds in a saucer and lighting them with a match causes them to smoulder. The smoke keeps wasps away.
This is a tip I learnt in Sicily and it does work. Great when you’re eating outside.

Eilyann how do you apply for that? I had no idea. While we are on the subject anyone over the age of 55 is entitled to a free hearing test and free hearing aids so even if you are not having a problem, if you travel by train a lot it may be worthwhile getting the aids.

Totally believe you Grandtante I had exactly the same thing happen when I was in the house on my own late at night. I thought I had a sewing poltergeist in the room?

Hope you all know that if you wear hearing aids you are entitled to a disabled train pass, which means as well as your discount the person travelling with you also gets discount.

My staff name badge had a strong magnet on the back. We were warned not to put them in our bags near bank cards or they might stop them working.

I'm afraid a mobile phone can also corrupt an Oyster card. Particularly, I think, if it rings when the card is closely alongside it.

Yes in London, the best deal is to use Oyster or credit card. 'Travel card' discounts are automatically applied,and a bit more besides.

Unplug the sewing machine when you have finished using it. I once knew a seamstress who came back into the room to find her sewing machine merrily sewing of its own accord!

It turned out a pin had lodged itself in the pedal and was exerting enough pressure to keep the machine running.

If I hadn't know her to be a very truthful person, I would have thought she was pulling my leg.

The other issue with keeping your bus pass or travelcard in your purse with other cards is that I have a few times inadvertently pulled out my debit card instead of bus pass and paid for a bus journey that I could have had free.
I now keep my bus pass separately.

Whilst we're talking travel, I hope everyone's discovered the SplitMyTicket website? We've all heard how rail costs can be dramatically reduced by splitting tickets for the same journey. Here was me thinking I'd need to try out all the various permutations to get the best deal. Not so. This website does it for you

As an example, I regularly travel from Birmingham New Street to Oxford to meet DS2 for lunch. Even with a Senior Railcard, it's around £25 return. By splitting my ticket, it was less than £20. Birmingham to Banbury; then Banbury to Oxford. Didn't even change seats.

Give it a go, if you haven't already.

Do you all know that ownership of a travel card also entitles you to reduced price when coupled with oystercard? I've had both for years and only discovered the second entitlement by accident. Strange because I'm pretty diligent with matters financial.

Interesting and especially your post Meonpaws
DH had trouble with the swipe card for our hotel room recently - he changed it three times!

Happens with hotel room door swipe cards too if you keep with phone

If it is in London you can use your debit card which is kept inside your purse. I also have a blocking card so noone can take money off my debit card remotely as that seems to be a new crime.

It sounds as if you live in the London area. If you have your Travelcard put on an Oyster card, you won't have this problem. Not all National Rail stations issue Oyster cards but, if you don't live near a Tube or other TfL station, you can probably get one at a local newsagent.