Minitoots

Great - I hadn't heard of Cewe before and if Jessops use them too, those are all really good suggestions, thanks.

I need to get some A3 sized matte photo books printed quickly (ie within . a few days) - any recommendations? I've used Photobox and Snapfish before, both ok but Photobox in particular took quite a while to deliver, mislaid my order and (and changed the price).

thanks malumbu, we will make sure to avoid Goldcar!!

Has anyone made a Spotify list of these? Would be great if so!

We need to book car hire from Malaga airport for later this month - it's always takes ages trying to work out what added extras will be applied at the airport etc and wondered if anyone can recommend a good firm that avoids all these. We found Cicar was great for the Canaries (no hidden extras, gets great reviews) but not sure if they operate in the same way in mainland Spain. thanks

thanks for the info Ginster. I see the apis-mellifera-skin-cream you sent a link to comes from New Zealand - did you get yours in the UK? I'd be interested to hear who your dermatologists were - I've seen one but still none the wiser,even after a biopsy "probably exzema" The earliest NHS referral appointment I can get is end of July....

thanks for those suggestions, Saffron seenbeen and B+G . I've now had a biopsy and should get the results very soon so am hoping that will shed more light on it but if not I'll ask about those conditions you mentioned. I had a quick look and found a good article about histamine intolerance - https://healinghistamine.com/diagnosing-histamine-intolerance-mast-cell-activation-2/ Even dermatologists are not sure yet as the rash has now spread to my back and even as far as my legs a bit. I'm now also cutting out saccharine and soya which I've been eating more of in the last few months. I'll check with the GP about getting a gluten intolerance test, seenbeen. One of the dermatologists did wonder about that, along with wondering if it was a fungal infection.... No one else is suffering, B+G. I asked the doc for scabies ointment a couple of weeks ago even though he was sure it was not that, and that made no difference.

thanks for the private messages, everyone. Does anyone else have any suggestions? thanks again

I developed a really intense itchy, burning and sore rash on my right arm in mid January which has now spread to my left arm. Nothing has changed in my diet or lifestyle to set off an allergy as far as I am aware. I've been back to see various GPs at my surgery 4 times, and have been prescribed different treatments + ointments and various tablets for eczema, scabies etc, none of which have worked either. They ruled out shingles too. I finally got the GP to refer me to a dermatology specialist as an urgent referral but they said that could take weeks and weeks but the itching is so bad especially at night that I can't wait that long or I will have scratched my arms off! I'm wondering if anyone has been to a private dermatologist that they would recommend? I can't think what else to do... thanks!

the Vatican tour at night sounds good, Sazzle30 but according to the web link they don't do them in the winter - they start again in April. the other ideas are good, thanks. I'll just have to go back for the Vatican at night!

Once again, thanks for all these really useful tips - very good to hear about unusual restaurants too as it's a birthday treat. They should start a separate 'travel tips' section on the forum! We'll need a month to see everything rather than 4 days! x

Really good suggestions everyone, thankyou. Kate7- I just tried to book the Palazzo Farnese after seeing it on Rome Unpacked and it's already fully booked- next time! Keep the great ideas coming in!

sounds good, thanks rendelharris.

We're going to Rome 15th Feb for a long weekend- any insider tips on good places to visit other than the obvious attractions? We are an artist/designer and an architect and like lesser known, unusual places / things to do as well as seeing the sights on the tourist trail. thanks!

thanks for the info on ahimsa silk, civiilservant- that sounds like the sort of thing she'd be interested in.

Thanks Lynne but I think theirs would all be new and I'm enquiring on behalf of a fashion designer who is vegan so will only use 2nd hand silk...

Any suggestions where I could look to find second hand silk? (or 'peace silk') Lighter weight and shiny rather than heavier, so more like habotai than tussah. I also love raw silk too (especially dual toned). And red, blue, white/off white, black are the main colours I?d like to get. I?d only need a meter or so of each colour.

I was given a 'Garmin vivosmart HR+' for Xmas to use for swimmng/ aqua exercise. My partner checked lots of online reviews/ specs to see what would be best under ?100 and this says it is waterproof to 50m. Has anyone used this model to record swimming or aqua activities? I don't want to set it up until I'm sure it will work for this because the Garmin tech help person was quite vague- apparently it needs to be altered from 'walk/ run' to other, but then there are several posts on the Garmin forum to say even when you do that, it does not work for heart rate when in water. Other posts say it does not record distance when in water either although the tech help person at Garmin said it should do.... It cost about ?80 and I don't want to spend a lot more on a different one, as I can use health and exercise apps my phone to check most of the other things I need to track for walking and cycling. If anyone uses a fitbit, garmin or other for aqua aerobics and swimming I'd be interested to hear from you thanks.

Just to let anyone interested in this river crossing know, I've posted some more information on a design for a cycle and pedestrian bridge by local architects reForm /EWP which is ready to go! They started it as a self=start project, got loads of interest and publicity on their scheme and now from the way it is being procured (TfL multidisciplinary frameworks only) , their design may not even be considered. so much for encouraging enterprise and initiative! Here's the link to my post http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,1896568 http://i.imgur.com/HlD8k6x.jpg

I noticed a couple of posts referring to the TfL consultation on a new river crossing from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf. Did you know that local architecture firm reForm Architects have designed a pedestrian and cycle bridge which is ready to be built and will work at all of TfL's suggested locations and heights. They began their work as a self start project with no client, brief or fee and together with engineers Elliott Wood are passionate about this project which I'm sure would never have got to the stage it is now at without their tireless enthusiasm and all the local community support for their work. If you are completing the survey and like the design, Please mention reForm Architects / ElliottWood engineers specifically in your responses in the survey. More info on this design here:- http://i.imgur.com/jmwrPze.jpgwww.rotherhithebridge.london

love the Forumite costume, Administrator. Trouble is the party is in sunny Worthing so they may not get it...

Yes, we've thought of the obvious ones too! Any ideas for obscure but relatively easy to make costumes - the theme is the letter 'F' ? Need to be able to dance and sit down and eat in it..... Happy to look daft (nothing new there...)

I wondered if anyone would have any suggestions of organic / sustainable fabrics suppliers for a friend of ours who is setting up a small bedding design business? She says:- ?I have designed a range of 3 duvet covers in two sizes with matching pillows and European pillows and I am looking for a manufacturer that can produce these for me ideally using high quality organic materials (Egyptian cotton). Colour is important in my designs so am looking for bright vibrant options, screen printing utilising water based dyes that comply with Oekotex Standard 100 and with all the most restrictive ecological standards. Ideally I would like the manufacturer to be able to source the fabric (to my specification), print using my designs and produce the goods. I am uncertain as to whether this would be possible in the UK? My research to date hasn't been fruitful so am open to suggestions. With regard to quantity I would be looking at 20-40 pieces for each design to begin with (however this would depend on cost)?

We are going to the Lake district this month for a birthday, staying near Ambleside. Have been many years ago but would like suggestions of good restaurants and places to visit which are a bit off the usual tourist routes that we may not already know about, thanks!

Trying to work out which of the many ancestral heritage DNA testing kits to order - I'm just interested in finding out my ethnicity / family heritage as my grandfather's ancestry has always been a bit of a mystery to the family- reviews seem best for AncestryDNA and MyHeritage dna - has anyone tried one?