What Are You Doing Now?

[Machupicchu14]

Anyway, for me part of the difficulty is that in my job I work mainly with elderly people, many of whom don't hear very well and you have to speak louder for them, and then sometimes I forget when I'm talking with people who can hear fine!

that's the same with me. I've been a carer for a few family members or close elderly friends over the years - and as a couple of them were hard of hearing, I got used to projecting my voice more than is normal. My dad is also slightly hard of hearing, so I tend to do the same with him. Then, when with those who can hear, I'm always getting told to tone it down!

It happens to me as well, but one thing is I also prefer if people talk loud to me (like not very loud but you know) Unfortunately a good lot of my dad's family have hearing problems so I'm used to talking quite loud to them. Then, I come from Spain, so I don't know why but we talk like REALLY loud there, and my mum always tries to correct me on that.

[Wolfgang]

It happens to me as well, but one thing is I also prefer if people talk loud to me (like not very loud but you know) Unfortunately a good lot of my dad's family have hearing problems so I'm used to talking quite loud to them.

You start wondering if talking loud is the source of the problem... .

[Katharine]

I have a Primark water bottle that doesn't leak for when I'm in bed

I have never slept with anyone who takes a bottle of water to bed. Let alone one who sleeps with it.

I've got into the habit of taking a bottle of water to bed with me (although not actually into the bed!). It started when I had a tickly cough and I kept waking in the night needing a drink. It is so much easier just to reach out and take a sip than have to get out of bed and trudge off to the bathroom to get a drink every 5 minutes. Although at this time of year I also take a bottle of water into bed with me - a hot water bottle for my feet.

[Katharine]

There are a lot of cultures where talking loudly (and over each other) is just part of being friendly and fun and a family — it's what people do. Aussies are louder than Brits, and certain communities like the Italians and the Greeks are known for being louder still. My mum's family are Polish/Russian and they talk loud too! But over here I soon found myself getting told off by British friends for being "too loud" and had to learn to tone it down. Which isn't always a bad idea! But it's really more a difference in cultural expectations rather than one way being "right" or "wrong", I think.

Interesting comments Courtenay. So how would you have felt on the bus that Nigel was on, or being in a similar situation where you wanted to read, or have a conversation with some you were sitting with? Are you able to block out the voices so you can concentrate on the book? Would you just raise your voice to the person sitting next to you so as to make yourself heard? As for talking over each other, obviously being English that just seems extremely rude to me, but that aside, if everyone is talking over each other, than that just seems a waste of time, as how can anyone hear what the others are saying? Personally I'd find it physically painful if someone was talking loudly to me.

I don't think talking loudly is necessarily a cultural 'thing' these days or the result of people being hard of hearing, there was a young British woman on a recent train journey I was taking who was talking very loudly into her mobile phone. I tried to concentrate on my book, but it was hard to blot out the woes of her house share at uni etc. etc. The other thing about talking loudly in a public place is that you never know who might overhear something they shouldn't, or perhaps over cultures don't discuss personal issues in public?

[Rob Houghton]

One reason I've never read a book on public transport! I just couldn't concentrate, as there's too much going n, lol!

[Katharine]

It's ok for a short journey, but I couldn't have coped with my 6 hours+ on a train to Liverpool last year without a book. Especially the return journey as much of it was in the dark, so I couldn't even admire the scenery!

[Machupicchu14]

One reason I've never read a book on public transport! I just couldn't concentrate, as there's too much going n, lol!

Exactly!! (And I definitely don't want to lose my temper lol)

[Machupicchu14]

Although when the occasion comes I always take a book with me wherever I go. Couldn't be without one!

[Machupicchu14]

It happens to me as well, but one thing is I also prefer if people talk loud to me (like not very loud but you know) Unfortunately a good lot of my dad's family have hearing problems so I'm used to talking quite loud to them.

You start wondering if talking loud is the source of the problem... .

Haha! Who knows?

[Courtenay]

Interesting comments Courtenay. So how would you have felt on the bus that Nigel was on, or being in a similar situation where you wanted to read, or have a conversation with some you were sitting with? Are you able to block out the voices so you can concentrate on the book? Would you just raise your voice to the person sitting next to you so as to make yourself heard?

I really don't know... it'd depend on what sort of mood I was in at the time!

[Fiona1986]

I have a Primark water bottle that doesn't leak for when I'm in bed

I have never slept with anyone who takes a bottle of water to bed. Let alone one who sleeps with it.

When you're breastfeeding through the night you get very thirsty and it's far easier to have a non-leaking water bottle which you can put down on the bed than a glass of water you've got to get back to a bedside table!

[Moonraker]

Fair point!

[IceMaiden]

I've just has this lovely email off Photobucket, whom ever since they stopped allowing forum image hosting, I've not used but not actually deleted my account either. However I think I will now:

"Hello ,

We would like to offer a tailored plan for users just like you - our Premium plan for $99.99 / year.

The Premium plan will provide 3rd party hosting for non-commercial use on your forums, blogs, and personal websites*. Additionally, you will be able to store up to 300,000 photos.

We are working on some exciting changes for 2018. This is our exclusive introductory price and this offer will expire in 7 days."

$100 a year for being able to upload some photos that other sites do for free?! I'm sure people will be flocking back to them!!

[pete9012S]

Very strange behaviour I agree!

Perhaps if they has asked every one for a modest amount they would not have lost all their custom?

I now use Imgur which I think Courtenay recommended?

https://imgur.com/DLDiAeu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Fiona1986]

Absolutely ridiculous, Ice Maiden! As you say they used to offer that for free and others still do so why on earth would you pay $100 dollars a year??