Any question answered...

Have tried that, Homebase are impossible to get in contact with, no phonelines, not replying to emails or any social messages. Mass uproar, for example see their trustpilot

Well, shit.

I guess if you want a working version of the thing, buy another one of the things from somewhere else. Maybe prepare yourself to be a creditor of HB in administration though :(

Homebase branded? If not can you go direct to the manufacturer for a claim?

Yep that is my fear on administration, it’s only £150, but don’t really want to lose it.

@Aroogah tried that, and they sent me straight back to Homebase despite my protestations...

Buy a new one online and return the broken one for a refund.

That is my current plan, just slightly worried that HB well demand a chance to repair.

Sugru? (I've never used it, but it seems to be recommended as a fix for everything like that.)

Goes back to the ugly epoxy issue, but thanks for the suggestion - still have to get some of that stuff, not usually available in stores in this country.

Useful?

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-can-i-do-if-a-retailer-goes-into-administration

don't really want to go the epoxy route, I think it will be even uglier

Put a reasonably matching colour in the resin and file/sand/polish it down and it will pass the 10 foot test with ease.

With two different colours and textures involved I would not be capable of pulling off something that would satisfy me, nevermind my wife.
I’d still rather try taking the rough edges off.

Was there ever a period where uni students were exempt from paying income tax and national insurance?

Grants and most bursaries are not taxable. In the olden days, you could live on the maintenance grant, so tax never came into your head. Everything else is and always was taxed without regard to your student status.

Income from employment was always subject to tax. However, there was an exception that allowed you to be paid without tax deducted at source in certain circumstances, where you did not expect your total annual income to exceed the personal allowance.

This might apply if you had a holiday job at a decent salary (so liable for tax if you're there for a year, so you end up with PAYE deductions), but you were only going to be working for, say, 10 weeks (so the total was under the tax threshold).

If you could be arsed filling out the relevant form, and your employer's payroll team was competent enough to implement it, they were allowed to pay gross of tax, though still net of NI contributions.

(Here we go - form P38(s), withdrawn in 2013. https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/paye-manual/paye46045)

Any recommendations for wireless running headphones?

Anyone happen to know of a source for the springs folks use to convert lezyne pumps into frame pumps?

Like so:

1 Attachment

Any recommendations for wireless running headphones?

I tried lots of different ones, mainly toward the cheaper end of the spectrum and there were all, in some way or another, annoyingly shit.

I then got some Powerbeats Pro and they've been great.

I'm using some like this, but cheaper knock offs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skullcandy-SCS2IKW-J509-Bluetooth-Wireless-Earbuds/dp/B01DWHPJ94

I find non wireless ones annoying, and most are too heavy and fall out my ears and the ones that have the controls on the cable make them slip down the one side

I really like these, but not sure if by 'wireless' you mean no wire at all or just not into your phone. I pop the cable under my sweatband at the back so no annoying flapping etc. For that price you can't really go wrong, I think they're great - oh, and they're usually available for ~£18

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Headphones-SoundBuds-Bluetooth-Waterproof/dp/B07N8RYGC4/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=anker+headphones&qid=1587564944&sr=8-3

@markyp I had these ones, but I would very much recommend the newer version

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SoundBuds-Bluetooth-Headphones-Isolation-Protection-Black/dp/B07QNW1CGV/ref=sr_1_7

More secure fit, better battery life and AptX.

I also have these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AfterShokz-Open-Ear-Waterproof-Conduction-Headphones-Cosmic-Black/dp/B07RRQ59JR/ref=sr_1_3

They are excellent for spoken word, but they're more of an acquired taste.

With two different colours and textures involved I would not be capable of pulling off something that would satisfy me, nevermind my wife.

I’d still rather try taking the rough edges off.

Have a look at Kintsugi, then find another mug similar to the favourite one and chip out a bit that is roughly the same size, use the files to dress both the chip and the mug, bond back together with gold epoxy, wallop.

Thanks everyone.......I've ordered the Anker ones!!!!

That is way more work than I’m willing to do to restore a mug that is virtually indistinguishable from the one I got my wife when this one chipped.
I’ll post a pic later on to elicit some lighthearted derision for my efforts.

Although I’ve always liked that Kintsugi look

I've tried running with on-ear headphones and didn't like it, and I hate bud headphones, so I went for some AfterShokz Titanium bone conduction units. They're hardly hifi quality, but over the sound of my laboured wheezing they sound reasonably good.

jabra elite 65t.

Solid, not too spenny and don't make your ears look like they're leaking white goo.