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Thanks Bob. It was minor but only because I happened to hear it and so was able to throw water over it just as the flames started. The powder sounds a bit scary, especially as I have young children and all my rooms are relatively small. It is probably worth having though as water isn't good for every fire, I am well aware! 

Thanks for the advice. Our neighbours had an overly smokey bonfire at 5pm the other evening so we got to meet a fireman, it's really amazing how out of hand smoke gets. 

Thanks Rob. That was really interesting although I work from home some of it is still relevant. Can I ask whether you think people should own fire extinguishers at home? My husband thinks I'm overreacting but we had a small fire in the kitchen and it would have been really useful in my opinion. And I will tell you one thing, the smoke was very quickly unbearable even from a tiny fire inside, you can see how people are overcome so quickly. 

I'm a huge Android fan and you can get great phones at a reasonable price. I wouldn't be without fingerprint recognition now. 

Originally Posted by Steve.Richardson

“If only!! They are on a business contract and for some reason we were sent a double order! Have flagged it 3 times, tried sending them back, but no one seems bothered and we haven't been billed for them. So they are sat in a drawer acting as spares for the inevitable time Clive drops his again ”

hahahaaa bonus! The screens do seem to smash a bit too easily, all part of their sales plan I am sure 

Originally Posted by Steve.Richardson

“Yep you're absolutely right, although will be interesting to see how that goes for the 5 million+ small businesses ”

I know. It's going to be CHAOS. I was speaking to a chap on Monday at the Micro Business Show in Solihull as he has created a business to help people get online with their tax, great idea as lots will need help. I hadn't realised the big impact it was all going to have, seasonal businesses will probably get some leeway but if they don't many will really struggle! I think accountants will make a mint as loads of people will panic and decide they have to use one. I use Quickfile and I now see I will have to pay to upgrade to get the MTD compliant software. The whole thing will mean we all have to be very on top of our accounting that's for sure, with quarterly returns! EEK

You've never made someone at work cry? Even with your jokes? 

There is definitely something to be said for not repressing emotions, and the fact that men are seen as 'unmanly' if they cry really winds me up as I think it causes a lot of problems in society. Repressed emotion tends to come out in angry and violent outbursts.  It is definitely healthy to cry if you want or need to.

However, whether the workplace is the right place for this kind of expression is another matter and arguably it is not! We can't do anything we want in a work environment as we have to be professional and consider others. I think if there's a major life event and you are upset and crying due to that, then that shouldn't be frowned upon and people should be supported that are having a hard time (bereavement, relationship breakdown, mental illness etc.) but regularly weeping at your desk isn't going to be that productive and work isn't the right place for it. 

Originally Posted by Steve.Richardson

“Aha, you're one of them! Google is turning into Skynet  

 

With their development in Artificial Intelligence, there are a lot of people getting nervous....

I'm a total iPhone fan, but refuse to be a consumer slave. I'm dug in with my iphone 6S, I love it, does all I need it to and still has a headphone jack! I've even got a boxed unused 6S in the office to replace my current one, so I've got about another 5 or 6 years at least of my trusty iphone 6S 

Until Apple declares me obsolete, which by then both me and the phone will be ”

YES!!! They are Skynet.... THIS is exactly the problem. One day my paranoia will take over and I'll go off grid and live on a  Greek island 

If you have two iPhones you clearly have more money than sense Steve.   

I dislike Google purely because it's too popular, much like my dislike of Dirty Dancing and Queen.  I feel like we're all slaves to Google somewhat and that makes me uncomfortable as it's not a choice anymore. But at least I'm not an Apple drone, that's something to be pleased about. 

Luckily I don't have a website or a mailing list so I didn't have to change anything and when I do set those up I can be compliant. 

I've noticed that it's easier to opt out in general and I've also been unsubscribing to a lot more emails. Even though I didn't opt in to any of the email mailing lists I got when GDPR started I'm still on nearly all of them so that was a massive waste of time. 

It does seem a bit of a Y2K where everyone panicked and then it's gone to nothing as the deadline passed and no-one got sued, not yet anyway. A lot of people made a tidy profit advising on GDPR though! 

The next big one will be making tax digital....

That's impressive  You'll have to celebrate the big 5 0 next year!