Yaffa

Apparently, the last chance to get one of the £1 rooms will be on 26th November at 1 p.m. - you need to sign up by the 25th November to be eligible. https://london.qbichotels.com/en/1gbp-terms-and-faq.html Yaffa (with no connection to Qbic)

Tickets for the final (9th May) are now on sale at the Sadler's Wells site (and eligible for the 20% multibuy discount if you buy the same number of seats for a different performance). See: http://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2015/bbc-young-dancer-2015-grand-final/ NB: This is the overall final (all genres), not the ballet final Yaffa [edited for clarity]

As well as the contactless Mastercard deal, American Express contactless card holders can get £5 off the tubes etc. (after they have spent at least £5) by registering at: https://merchantgeo.secure.force.com/enroll/EnrollmentSitePage?offer=TFLspend5get5 The offer is valid for the first 25,000 users who register and spend £5 on contactless travel by 30th November. Yaffa (with no connection with any of the above)

Some prepaid cards expire when you've used up all the funds. Others can be recharged, with methods and costs varying considerably. Cards also have very different cashback agreements, 'special offers' and signup bonuses. For example, the Pockit prepaid MasterCard charges a 99p application fee, and currently has a special offer where you get £5 of credit when you load your first £10. See: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-cards#pockit. Haven't yet checked if it is contactless, but since it's cheaper than free and has no dormancy fee (some cards charge a monthly fee if you don't use them for a certain number of months), it might be worth getting anyway. BTW, I'd guess that if you accidentally swipe in with a contactless Mastercard and swipe out with an Oyster, you'd get a huge debit on one or both cards for uncompleted (i.e. charged at maximum rate) journeys. In general, it's probably not a good idea to keep multiple contactless cards in the same wallet while you swipe. Yaffa

Travelzoo again featured very good National Express fares from £2 each way, mostly for travel until 28th Feb (not including 20th December to 4th Jan). See: http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/rail-coach-car/-2-up-UK-Coach-Seats-on-Sale-Each-Way--1889615/?placement=Top20-DealLink Right now there are a lot of £5 fares from London to Manchester. There's a £1 booking fee.. Yaffa

PS: You can check if your card is contactless and should work, on the TFL site: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/what-is-contactless According to the site, most contactless Mastercards from outside the UK should be ok, but probably not those from the US, Canada and Netherlands. You sometimes have to do a pin and chip transaction on a particular card before you can use it for the first time for contactless payments. Apps, keyfobs etc. with the contactless symbol should work but best to try them out first. I assume that the two dates a couple of weeks apart are to encourage people to get a contactless MasterCard. If you need to get one in a hurry, pre-paid contactless Mastercards (which you can buy over the counter in many shops) can also be used. These differ quite widely in their charges, minimum load balance, transaction/conversion fees for using money overseas etc. You can read more at: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-cards and http://www.moneysupermarket.com/prepaid-cards/. I've found that prepaid cards can be useful when you have security concerns about giving someone your regular card number, and also to avoid/minimise bank and ATM transaction and conversion fees when overseas. More about this at: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#prepaid Yaffa (no connection to the above sites)

This Friday (14th Nov) and 28th November, unlimited journeys on most London tubes, buses, Tramlink and some trains are free if you use a contactless MasterCard (instead of Oyster) to pay. You can travel between 4:30 a.m. on Friday to 1 a.m. on Saturday. You pay with the Mastercard, and get a refund up to £21.80 within 28 working days. Further details and exclusions on the moneysavingexpert.com site: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/mastercard?utm_source=MSE_Newsletter&utm_medium=oneliner-three&utm_term=11-Nov-14-lt&utm_campaign=deals&utm_content=5 Yaffa (no connection to any of the above, just passing on the info. NB: Mods: I'm putting this deal as a separate thread as it could be useful for people who might not read the Oyster thread, but please move if appropriate.) Yaffa

For anyone who wants to see Paris Opera ballet in Jan-Feb and can't take the long bus rides or flights. Eurostar have just sent out an email to their Plus Points (loyalty club) members with details of a 2 day sale (6th and 7th November) of £20 tickets for trains from 5th Jan to 12th February. Right now there is great availability on many of these dates, but I would guess they'll go extremely fast. If you're already signed up To Plus Points, check for an email from email@eurostar.messages5.com. I'm having to write this very quickly so haven't yet checked for further info, e.g. whether people who sign up now for the loyalty programme can use the offer. NB: No connection to Eurostar, just passing on the info. Yaffa

Maybe we'll start to see 'virtual ballet teachers' - leotards and tights with sensors and a Siri-like voice correcting you when you descend wrongly into a plié. Ugh.... Yaffa

It's one thing to have artistic designs generated by movement....But could these shoes really help dancers evaluate and improve their ballet technique? For that matter, will we see ballet training apps for the upcoming Apple watch, and if so, how useful would they really be? Yaffa

One of the sections mentioned in the Dance Tabs review is "Ballet School." What does this cover? Thanks Yaffa

Just saw that the deadline for applications has been extended until 17th November. Yaffa

Not sure what to make of this... pointe shoes with built-in sensors... http://cargocollective.com/lesiatrubat/E-TRACES-memories-of-dance Yaffa

The company's Red Spotted Hanky www.redspottedhanky.com. You can get a good overview of this and other train offers on the moneysavingexpert.com site at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets .and http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-coach-train-ticket-deals Yaffa (with no connection to either company - just passing on the info)

I think that in places like the crowded ROH, people should realise that disabled toilets might well be needed fast. But in quieter places, I've often seen genuine confusion about whether disabled toilets are like disabled parking places (i.e. reserved exclusively for people with disabilities and their carers) - or more like priority seating for disabled people in public transport. (where anyone can sit, but able-bodied people are expected to give up their seat if a disabled person comes along). Often owners of small businesses (e.g. a cafe with two loos) say quite clearly that they expect able-bodied people to use the disabled toilet, that they installed it to help the small percentage of their customers who might need it occasionally, but that it's better on the plumbing when the toilets are used more evenly, rather than the regular toilet being used 300 times a day and the disabled toilet 10 times. I wouldn't normally use a disabled toilet. But after going through security in some airports, I pop into the disabled toilet to fill my water bottle from the cold tap, rather than pay outrageous prices for a departure lounge drink or fill my bottle with the lukewarm water from the sinks next to the regular toilets. I generally leave the door open when I do this, so that people can see what I'm doing and that I'll be out in a few seconds. Never had any problems with this. A bit more tricky is when I have lots of suitcases. Businesses (particularly airports) often prefer you to take them in to the disabled toilet, rather than leave them outside a regular toilet, creating a security scare/theft risk. If there's not someone around to officially ok this, I'll sometimes still do it if the area is quiet e.g when I'm spending the night at an airport. In such cases, I've also been known to take a full-body wash in the disabled toilets, but I do it as quickly as possible, with peeks out of the door to check if anyone might be waiting. Yaffa

Yes, I've seen them in several places and also hate them. They usually decide that I've finished when I've actually just started, which is bad enough...But when I've actually finished, I have to prance around the cubicle (now here's where the ballet training comes in useful) trying to fathom out where the sensor is, and telling the frustrated people in the queue that I'll be out in a minute.... Yaffa

Just saw that the programme of the 10th anniversary Move It event (with classes, performances, exhibition) is now online. See: http://www.moveitdance.co.uk/ Haven't had a chance to look closely at what's on offer. Yaffa

Must indeed be very annoying when this happens. Just a thought as well for those many people who don't outwardly appear disabled but have medical conditions that make it very difficult to use a regular toilet. On a much-needed break to go the theatre, it can be devastating for these people to get angry stares or worse after emerging from the disabled toilet. (Google 'invisible disabilities' for more info about this serious problem, and 'Invisible Disabilities Week' which ended yesterday). Yaffa

Just saw that they are now accepting videos online as well as by post, with the closing date of 1st November. Does anyone know if the vocational schools are entering? Yaffa

Looks as though Sergei Polunin is back dancing as well as doing interesting things in Hollywood: http://www.gramilano.com/2014/10/sergei-polunins-debuts-spartacus-dancing-flying-cameras/ Yaffa

Sorry there was a typo in the website address above. Should be http://www.approvedfood.co.uk Moderators, grateful if you could change this... it's too late for me to edit. Many thanks. Yaffa

For folks wanting to send care packages to vocational schools or treats to enjoy in half term, you can often get huge discounts on items which are approaching or have just passed their best-by dates, but are still within safe limits. There's an online shop in the UK specialising in such items: http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/ . (I'm deliberately not giving my refer-a-friend code in this forum, but once you have registered on the website, you will get a refer-a-friend link which will give you credit when friends register and make a purchase.) Some of their stuff is cheaper elsewhere, and it's generally only worthwhile using the site if you want a large order, but there are some excellent bargains there. e.g. Today they have wasabee sauce for 1p instead of £1.53 (maximum 1 per person), and Walkers crisps 4 for £1. Minimum order is £15, then postage is from £5.25 depending on weight. Expiry dates are listed next to each item. Particularly if you're buying items to send in care packages to vocational schools etc. I'd recommend choosing from the many items on the site which are just approaching the expiry dates, rather than those where the date is in the past. Today's monesavingexpert.com's newsletter has a discount code which you can obtain at: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/approved-food It can be used until tomorrow (Thursday) night to get 10% off an order. The page also has an explanation of 'best before' and 'use by' dates.I expect that the mention in today's moneysavingexpert.com bulletin might affect availability of products and/or delivery time, but the site is usually easy and fast to use with a very good selection of products. Yaffa (frequent user of such products but of course everyone needs to check with their own sources about what is and isn't safe and acceptable. No connection to the above, just passing on the info). [edited to include link to correct typo and to add the link to the discount code and info on the moneysavingexpert.com site]

I wonder if this one will be broadcast outside France? Yaffa

Gr... Could they not have announced in advance where the programme can and can't be viewed? Yaffa

I wonder why they are not leaving it all online indefinitely. Copyright restrictions on some of the pieces?? The obstacle can't be technical and I'd have thought each company's four hours would be a great promotional tool. (Of course it's not hard technically to save videos for later viewing, but I prefer to respect the wishes of the producers where possible.) A pity that they weren't clear from the start what would be online and for how long. And 48 hours seems way too little time to catch up on 20+ hours of broadcast. Yaffa