09 numbers explained: 0908, 0909 and 098
A service charge, an access charge and a bill that turns up weeks later. How 09 numbers are priced, and how to work out the cost before you dial.
Camille Roussel
Writer on relationships
The Covmod blog
The blog
Short, practical pieces on the bits of meeting people that actually matter: the first date, keeping a conversation going, nerves, loneliness, and when it's worth picking up the phone.
Blog categories
Mobile phone sex: why 09 calls cost more from a mobile
Your mobile is the phone you have, so it's the one you ring from. Why that usually costs more, why the call may not connect, and what to check first.
Thomas AubertFirst date tips: seven plain rules, from pub to goodbye
A first date isn't something you pass or fail. Seven plain rules for picking the pub, handling the rounds and saying goodbye without the usual fog.
Camille RousselFeeling lonely: why it isn't a personal failing
Loneliness has little to do with how many people are around you. What it is, who it catches out, and the small, unglamorous things that help.
Sarah Nguyen0898 numbers: a short history of UK chat lines
From 0898 numbers in the back of the tabloids to the 09 ranges of today: how British chat lines began, what they cost and why they never went away.
Camille RousselAI phone sex vs a real voice: what's the difference?
AI companions answer instantly and never forget a detail. A real woman on the line can do something they cannot. An honest comparison, and where we stand.
Thomas AubertFirst date ideas in the UK: where to go, and where not
The venue does half the work. First date ideas that suit British towns and British weather, three to avoid, and a quick test before you suggest one.
Thomas AubertConversation starters that won't fall flat: 12 to try
'So, what do you do?' has ended more chats than it has started. Twelve better conversation starters for the pub, a walk or the phone, and how to follow up.
Thomas AubertTalking to yourself out loud: normal, and useful
Talking to yourself isn't a warning sign, and a week without speaking to anyone is more common than you'd think. Why your voice needs using.
Thomas AubertAwkward silence: why it's rarely as bad as you think
A gap in the conversation sets off a panic out of all proportion. What an awkward silence usually means, and four calm ways to handle one.
Sarah NguyenFirst date nerves: what actually works on the night
The usual confidence advice is useless half an hour before. What calms first date nerves on the night, and why trying to impress makes them worse.
Sarah NguyenFirst message on a dating app: what gets a reply
'Hey, how's it going?' is ignored more often than not. How to write a first message on Hinge or Bumble that makes replying easy, with no tricks.
Thomas AubertTexting vs calling: when to stop typing and ring
Too soon feels pushy; too late and it fizzles out. When to move from texting to a call, how to suggest it, and what ten minutes on the phone tell you.
Camille Roussel
