Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with UK

How do I get my damaged old film projector working?

seaweed — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:28:24 -0800

I'm working in a gallery in Ireland and we are trying to get an Eiki SL-0 16mm film projector, we ordered one on ebay from the US but it arrived damaged, we've contacted someone in Dublin about fixing it but he doesn't think it's worth his time and another person in Amsterdam who also doesn't think it's worth fixing. Does anyone know someone in Europe where we could get another Eiki 16mm projector in working order or does anyone know someone in UK/Ireland who loves fixing these machines and would be willing to take it on? I have all the details of what is wrong with it if anyone is curious.

Help me finish my degree

F.Jasmine Addams — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:50:11 -0800

I completed about 3/4 of the requirements for a BA in history at a US university. I last attended about three years ago. I now want to complete my degree, but I am permanently settled in the UK. Going back to the states isn't an option, so I need to either find an accredited university with an online program based in the US that will accept my credit hours from the University of Tennessee, or I need to somehow finish my degree at a university here in the UK. I think the classroom experience is important for a history degree, so I would actually prefer the second option, as long as my credits from the US could somehow be converted to at least half of the requirements for a history degree here in the UK - I don't mind going back to school for a year-and-a-half, but I don't want to go back for another three years. I also wouldn't mind taking A-levels, if necessary.

This is my first foray into this idea, I will of course do some research and speak to people at my old university and at local universities here in Birmingham, but I am just looking to hear your experiences or your opinions about the viability of my ideas.

Can you help me find a diary from my childhood?

wingless_angel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:56:32 -0800

When I was a child in the 80s, one of my relatives in the UK used to send me a beautiful diary each year. I would love to know if it is still being published. I remember that the diary had some poems, short stories, and religious quotations. The cover always had cottage garden flowers on the front, and it was a hardback. It may have been called something like "The day book of..." (not my name, the author's). I would be interested to get a hold of either old copies from the 80s or a new one if it's still being published.

Recommendations for European holidays with a 19month old in tow?

blacksky — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:17:56 -0800

Recommendations for European holidays with a 19month old in tow? We live in the UK, and are looking for recommendations for holiday destination in mainland Europe that are toddler friendly, yet affordable.

Specifically which hotels/apartments have you stayed in with your toddler that you felt was well equipped and welcoming for little ones.

More generally, what are your experiences with resort holidays vs the more free-range type holiday with toddlers in tow?

Although we're open to package/resort holidays, in the past, we've booked our own flights, hotels, transfers etc in places like the south of France, or northern Italy and thoroughly enjoyed that kind of freedom. We are particularly worried about the availability of things like high chairs, cots, car seats etc to borrow/rent so we don't have to lug them around with us.

Credit cards worth it?

Flamingoroad — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:36:03 -0800

I'm thinking of getting a credit card -is it worth it? I'm 22, in the UK and thinking about getting a credit card -I don't feel I need one (not a big or enthusiastic spender) apart from establishing a credit rating -is it worth it?

I understand the benefits -insurance, cash-back etc but it seems like a hassle -I'm perfectly happy just spending money that I have using my debit card.

However, as credit scores are partly based on duration of credit history I'm thinking I should get a credit card if only to prove to future mortgage providers (perhaps 3 or so years in the future) that I'm responsible with credit etc.

As I've also learnt that cancelling cards reflects badly on credit rating so any card I do take out is hopefully going to last me a long time.

I bank with Natwest and am thinking of taking out a credit card with them as it would be easy to pay it off each month with my current online banking setup. But there are no benefits/cash back with it. Aren't credit cards desperate for people to sign up? I might not too excited about credit cards but I don't want to miss out on decent benefits like cash-back etc if there's available.

In summary is it worth getting a credit card and if yes, which is the easiest to use, best 'perks' and recommended over the long term so I don't end up dealing with the 'financial clutter' resulting in opening up other cards in the future?

Any UK specific advice/opinion would be much appreciated!
Thanks

My ipod needs to be mooing.

By The Grace of God — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:53:29 -0800

UK Ipod Touch 2.0 Update Problem when attempting to purchase - what am I doing wrong? Ipod Touch firmware 1.1.4 with January software update; iTunes version 7.7; macbook with OSX Leopard. I go here and click the buy link, to purchase; I go to the link and click, and firefox pops the choose what application to load in, I choose Itunes, Itunes says accessing itunes store.. and then NOTHING HAPPENS!

w.t.f.??!?!?!

There is a free application that can make my ipod MOO, people. I have been working eighty million hours in a by-election and I am tired and achy and stressed and need a mooing ipod, STAT!

many thanks for your help.

Buy Asus 901 EEE PC in London?

bollockovnikov — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:46:10 -0800

EEE PC Filter: Where can I buy one of the new Asus 901 EEE PCs, in London? Preferably today. I can go to central London, near Tottenham Court Road maybe? But I live in North East London.

Any ideas? Cheers

3 more months! Noooooooo!

gergtreble — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:34:48 -0800

16gb iphone 3g shortage in the UK? Say it aint so! I just went into my local O2 store to register my interest in the new iPhone and to get my credit checks done.

I mentioned I wanted a black one, and the manager said not to worry as it was only the 16gb ones that come in white. I told him I actually wanted the 16gig model. Then he dropped the bomb:

"Oh we aren't expecting to get any 16gb iphones in on the launch day. In fact it may take up to 3 months to get them in stock"

That came from the store manager, but the guy I was dealing with seemed to think that there would be some 16gb iphones available.

I guess it wouldn't be a major product launch if there wasn't a shortage. But 3 months!

Any of you guys know anything about this? Do any of you work for O2? I don't think I could live with an 8gig one. I just hope that this guy didn't know what he was talking about.

Hope me please!

(And yes I WILL be at the sore at 7:02am on the morning of launch like the sad little fanboy that I am.)

Planning the romantic weekend of a lifetime.

scrute — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:24:39 -0800

My friend is looking for a romantic weekend getaway from London. Cheap flights are a possibility, the main requirement is that it be really special and memorable. Suggestions? A good friend of mine is moving to London this fall to live with her long-time, long-distance boyfriend. To celebrate the occasion (honeymoon-style) she wants to surprise him with a weekend away that he'll never forget. The weekend in question will be in November. He's British (she's Canadian) and he's done all 'the usual' England things, so if it's in the UK, it needs to be special (Wales? Scotland? Lake District?).

Short flights are within the realm of possibility, but he travels a lot around Europe for work, so it still needs to be pretty special if its outside the UK (for example, a weekend in Paris is not, in itself, a big deal for him.) They're both very active - diving, skiing, hiking are all good things as long as they involve a wonderful romantic retreat at the end of the day. It can't require visas for him though, since she needs to plan it without his knowledge.

Hivemind, please help my friend find a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of her new life!

Where can I get an anonymous pre-paid Credit Card in the UK?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:43:04 -0800

Where in the UK can I get a pre-paid Credit Card or Mastercard/Visa-based Gift Card? I need to be able to use it online and I'd like to purchase it anonymously.

Window cleaning costing for n00bs

altolinguistic — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:03:52 -0800

Window cleaning question: how much is reasonable to pay for gutter, soffit and window cleaning for a 3-bedroom Victorian house (UK)? So there is stuff growing in my guttering, and the windows need cleaning. I don't have the right ladders or the inclination to do this job. I've been quoted £90 - there are 8 windows and guttering front and back (it's a terraced house). Is this reasonable?

Advice on solar hot water systems in the UK? What do I need to know?

handee — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:26:58 -0800

Solar hot water and central heating for dummies? I'm in the UK, our (gas, combi) boiler has been rubbish since we moved in, and given that we're now looking at a new boiler we're thinking of complementing it with some sort of solar panel based solution. What should we look out for? What do we need? Can we reuse our existing radiators? What questions should we ask installation companies? Caveats:

We don't currently have a tank, and we don't have much space for one (loft has been converted).
We need to get it done fast (expect current boiler will not last the month). Recommendations of suppliers to use and/or avoid welcome.

How to call a UK 0700 number from the USA?

w0mbat — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:32:46 -0800

How do I call a UK 0700 number from the USA? My mother is in hospital and I'd like to call her tomorrow. I'm familiar with the normal rules (01144 + drop the leading zero) but it doesn't seem to work for these 0700 numbers. My mother is in an NHS hospital in London, and they issue patients with personal phones in their rooms that have these 0700 numbers. I think it's a special case premium rate UK number on which the hospital makes a profit.

Not a dandelion, then what?

fearfulsymmetry — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:49:37 -0800

What's this plant...? Thought as first it was a dandelion, now I'm sure it isn't. Was photographed in the UK a couple of weeks ago. Saw it beside a path near farmland among other weeds and grasses. Seed head about the size of a large dandelion's. I've tried tracking it down online but my google-fu is weak.

Blowback

wilful — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:14:20 -0800

Have the US or UK Governments ever formally acknowledged or apologised for their role in the 1953 Mossadegh/Iran coup? Is there any general recognition amongst the commentariat about the how and why of Iran's suspicion/distrust towards the US and UK?

What does the NYT Style Guide say about "UK" vs. "England"

caek — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:02:01 -0800

Can someone with a copy of the New York Times Style Guide tell me what it says about the preferred nomenclature for the country that calls itself "The United Kingdom"? They seem to use "England" as a synonym for the UK (e.g.), which most Britons consider incorrect. I'm interested to learn if this usage is justified in the Style Guide or is it just following standard usage in the US, which is rather casual about the distinction. Bonus points if you can tell me what the AP Style Guide (or any other American usage guide) says. p.s. I'm not looking for a fight about which is right. Just quotes from style guides and relevant comments on these.

I am sick of babysitting creaking old printers.

By The Grace of God — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:31:49 -0800

I want to buy the Leaflet-o-Matic 5000 printer of awesome. I want a printer to print runs of hundreds of survey cards with addresses, etc. and leaflets for a political campaign. It should be a laser black and white, fast and reliable, with a capacious paper tray, duplex would be nice but not necessary. Network printer capability and plays nice with Macs, please. Budget of about £200.

I am in the UK if relevant. Many thanks!

UK Visa Application Advice - UK & Japanese citizens

mairuzu — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:24:52 -0800

I am a British citizen, my fiance is Japanese. We are getting married in Japan in August. Immediately after the wedding, we are planning on going to the UK Visa Application Centre in Osaka to apply for a spouse visa to allow my (by then) wife to re-enter the UK and work. I will then return to the UK towards the end of August and she plans to return in September (once the visa has been approved). Can anyone who has been through or knows about this process offer any advice, experiences or opinions? Specifically, we want to know:

- How realistic are the time-scales for processing (they estimate between 1 & 3 months - is it more likely to be 1 month or 3?)
- How easy is it to book an appointment at the Visa Centre?
- How busy does the centre get? (Can we just turn up without an appointment?)
- What sort of documentation is it best to take? (evidence of genuineness of relationship etc.?)

Many thanks in advance

Which football club does Billy Bragg support?

MetaK9 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:33:44 -0800

Which football club does Billy Bragg support? I understand he was born in Bridport, Dorset, and grew up in Barking, a suburb of the east Greater London area. Does Billy support Bridport FC, Barking FC, or some other club? I've Googled like mad (including in MeFi) without finding an answer. I know Billy is football-mad, so I really need to know which club he supports - please help! Hoping someone can help me within the next 3 hours... Cheers!

Copyright law for online images

leibniz — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:09:44 -0800

What are my legal rights, and what compensation can I get from a UK television channel who used a photograph I had taken without my permission, but which I had uploaded onto facebook?? Channel 4 news in the UK recently used a photograph I had taken of a friend of mine in one of its items (it's on screen for well over a minute). This was used without permission or credit. I had uploaded the image to a public group on facebook, but as I see it, I had uploaded it for use within the group and not for commercial purposes. It is certainly not legally public domain just because it is on a social website.

The news item can be found here.
The photo can be found here (requires facebook login).

So what I would like to know is firstly what my legal rights are here, and secondly who I can complain to (in UK remember) in order to get compensation? I hope I can get some money to donate to his legal fund.

(You may have seen the mefi FPP I wrote about the case here btw.)

UK Ltd. company formation

nthdegx — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:34:25 -0800

Why would I pay an accountant £300 for UK limited company formation when there are services out there that do it for a tenth of the price? Help me cross the i's and dot the t's. Obviously, I'd rather spend no more than necessary, but that's secondary to making sure the process is completed properly. Any other insights are welcome.

UK visa question

mooza — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:10:12 -0800

I'm applying for a UK working holiday visa. I'm Australian. The rules on the britaus website state that I must be in the UK within three months of my application. The website also says I should apply in my own country. Hm. I was planning on travelling for around 5 months BEFORE landing in the UK. I called the expensive helpline and asked if I could apply in another country if I had to, and they said there were no guarantees and that it was at the discretion of whichever consulate I went to.

I've never applied for a visa before. Does anyone know if my chances are good with applying in a country other than my own? A friend of mine got one when he was in Holland, but that was a few years ago and I'm not sure if the UK has changed things to make it harder. I could do it in either Canada or Berlin. I'd be a bit nervous about sending away my passport while in a foreign country but if I knew there were others who did it recently I might feel a little more confident.

My other choice is to cut down my travelling in Nth America considerably and going to activate the visa in the UK before going again to Berlin which was where I was planning on going first. It ain't ideal...

Identify this concert/track for me!

Artw — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:30:03 -0800

On BBC Radio 6 a few days ago, probably sometime late at night or early in the morning in British time (I was listening in the afternoon in the US) they were playing a concert recording of an artist who’s volcal style resembled a less coherent Amy Winehouse. One of the songs used part of tchaichovskys Romeo and Juliet for a hook, and it was all mostly soul/R&B type music. Any ideas what it was?

Dirt Cheap UK

Ndwright — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:32:47 -0800

How to spend a month or so in the UK as cheaply as possible? I'm a visiting American student and my housing expires late June. I study theatre and am keen on attending the Edinburgh Fringe, which is quite expensive. I still have a few spots I'd like to travel to, but not enough of an itinerary (or bank account) to sustain me until August. I can't work because I'm no longer a student here, so what's a very cheap way of passing a week or three in the UK? Camping? Couchsurfing? Flying to Eastern Europe via Ryanair and staying there instead?

Am I Eligible for Dual Citizenship?

brandoniain — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:45:24 -0800

Can I, having been born in the US to a British citizen before 1983, attain dual citizenship? Some details:

I was born in September of 1982. My mother was born in Scotland in 1962 and moved to the States in 1976. She is still not a full blown citizen of the States - she can't vote, but she does have a social security number and has worked in the States for a long time.

I'm planning on calling the San Francisco embassy in the morning, but I'd love some help with knowing what questions to ask or what I might not be thinking about.