Naiada

Some highlights -

thanks for the replies, everyone. I'll give them a go!

I need to make a PDF portfolio for a job application but only have a very old & basic free version of Acrobat, Is there a way of making a professional looking pdf portfolio for free? I don’t want to have to pay for a pro version of Acrobat or to sign up for a ‘free ‘ trial. thanks for any suggestions.

Thanks for the replies so far. He has now had very positive interest from a screenwriter but would still be interested in having more feedback from local authors / editors as well.

thanks for taking time to make the suggestions, IamTJ - the main problem is that the slideshows need to be in square format for my instagram posts and these all appear to be in standard landscape format but I'll check them out a bit more anyway. Ideally I'm looking for an app rather than something for a desktop computer as I'll be making them 'on the go'

I?m trying to find a free app to make a simple slideshow of photos of some of my designs to post on Instagram. I?ve got several free ones but as soon as I open them it says ?7 days free trial then you have to subscribe? ie they are NOT free! The only one that I found that was completely free had a big watermark on it. Does anyone know of one that really is free? I have a mac so thought if not, I could try doing it on the computer?

thanks for the replies. All results were normal except my vit D levels were on the low side - Angelina - you suggested that may be a cause, & the GP also mentioned that so I?m now aware of what to do to help raise levels safely.

I?ve got to have a blood test as I?ve been suffering from bouts of fatigue recently but have been taking an over-the-counter iron supplement & multivits. I asked the receptionist but she was very vague & it?s v hard to contact the GPs at my surgery- does anyone have any idea? thanks!

thanks for all the helpful feedback, everyone!

Update - the collection team at Begging Bowl have now posted to say they?ve been overwhelmed with items so are no longer taking donations. Sazzle30 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is a local collection at the begging bowl on > Bellenden road. Organised by the Begging Bowel > cleaners who are Polish and Ukrainian. They have > asked for the following: > > Womens Coats > Woman?s Warm clothes > Food > sanitary items > Kids clothes > Sheets > Towels > Nappies > Blankets > Water bottles > Sleeping bags > > They are collecting items until 9th March and > then driving the items to Wlodawa > > Saw this in the uva London Instagram account this > morning They?ve now updated it on Instagram too.

Thanks sjsl - we have now appealed so fingers crossed.

We drove into a car park (Euro Car Parks) in Rye & I (the driver) waited in the car for about 10 minutes while my partner went to check if there was a market on that day. As there wasn?t, we left the car park. I didn?t buy a ticket and have now got a ?100 fine - can I appeal as I did not leave my car?

My partner has written a novel (a political thriller). He printed some copies at work which he sent to friends, and deliberately chose people who he knew would be totally honest/blunt in their critique but they?ve all been very complimentary and said they couldn?t put it down, with several of them encouraging him to try and take it further. Also (although I may be biased) I think it?s a really good, pacy story and it really drew me in. He has done several self-edits and feels he?s gone as far as he can go by himself and would like to get professional input now. He?s read a book called ?Getting Published by Harry Bingham,? but he doesn?t really know how the business works and has no contacts in the industry. He's now trying to find the right editor to work with before trying to see if an agent would be interested in taking it on. If anyone has suggestions, or has been in a similar position it would be great to hear from you. He's under no illusions and he is aware of how crowded the market is, and how difficult it will be for a first time author to get anywhere, by the way!

thanks for the replies so far - much appreciated.

My friend is a graphic & product designer & has been in full time employment since graduating 3 years ago. She?s been offered some regular freelance work & wants to know how much to charge at a daily rate. It would be doing graphics & digital design work (rendering, using rhino etc) for successful & busy firm in London E1. She?s been employed mainly as a junior designer but is about to become a ?middleweight? ( if that?s the right term?? If any other freelancers can help that would be great, thanks.

I've been trying to find a secondhand / reproduction Maltese Clock (Tal-Lira) similar to the one in the photo for a friend's birthday, (if I can get one at a reasonable price!!) I've tried ebay, etsy etc but can't find anything suitable in the UK. and the only ones I can see in Malta are very very expensive. Any suggestions? The main things she liked about the one in the photo (which was taken on holiday in Malta) are the floral decorations. It's to go in a narrowboat but I don't want to just get a bit of standard canalware...

We currently have a diesel Volvo estate which we will be selling in about a month but our insurance is up this week so we need to take out a policy then switch the details of the car when we get an different (petrol) car.. We're currently with Churchill who seem pretty expensive compared to the other quotes I've just got on 'Moneysupermarket.com' the new quotes (with the same info about our current car and drivers ) vary from ?250 - ?1600 so if anyone can recommend a good value and reliable insurer, please let me know asap thanks!

Any recommendations for the best website hosting platforms? The one I am currently with is out of date and so I'd need to migrate anyway so thought I'd shop around...

thanks for the link to [www.cuvva.com] Blah Blah - so far that looks as cheap as any- around ?1000. I've tried a broker called Adrian Flux (phone only) and theirs all came in at over ?2000!!!! Churchill (who we are with) wouldn't go lower than ?1500. If I find anything much under ?1000 I'll update this post.

Thanks for your replies. We used to have a ?black box? in the car when he was learning & newly qualified so will look into that option too. Yes, I was going to call them & try and negotiate - it?s always worked for me in the past.... Any more suggestions also gratefully received, thanks .

My son has just bought a secondhand car car (2008 - 2 litre Ford Focus cabriolet) it cost ?2000 and he says insurance is coming in at approx ?1000 p.a ( via Moneysupermarket etc) - Any suggestions of where how to get it cheaper? He?s currently still living with is but moving out to a rented flat in a couple of months. He?s been driving since May 2015 ( age 19) and has a clean licence. He?s always been on our policy up til now as he?s just been driving our car. thanks for any help.

Update - we appealed online in early February and have just had a letter saying the fine for ?65 has gone up to ?190 for one offense - despite their website saying no additional penalty will be added whilst the appeal was being reviewed!! There is no-one answering the phones at Southwark council to discuss it with - it's all automated.

We've been given an old spoonback chair and chaise longue, both of which need to be re-upholstered but the ones we like are very pricey per metre. Does anyone know of anywhere to get furnishing fabrics which are not too expensive?

thanks IlonaM - I've just ordered a bag of the one you recommended - fingers crossed!

I?m looking for a good clumping cat litter -have used various clumping ones but the dust from them sets off my asthma. The only one that doesn?t make me wheeze is the ( so called) ?World?s Best Cat litter? which is made from maize & is bio degradable. It is very good but also very expensive so I wondered if anyone else has found a non allergenic, clumping cat litter?