u/ACatheterADay

I have an Excel file shared between several dozen people via a URL - I wanted more flexibility than just using a Form to collect some information.

Someone appears to have opened the file on desktop and now it's read-only for the rest of us. It's out of hours so I can't get in touch with them right now. They're also part-time so it might be a couple of days before I can get hold of them.

Copying the file and re-sharing is going to cause mass confusion. Is there any way as the original creator of the file that I can assert my authority? Would it work to, say, change the sharing permissions and then re-open it? Would that work, would it break the URL for access? Am I just SOL?

I hope it isn't cheating to ask for more than one person at a time.

I've worked at the same place for 20 years and am moving on next month. I want to get some of my closest friends something as a keepsake (all early-mid 40s), but I keep hitting cliches or trite ideas. Given I want to gift to a few people I'd like to keep it down to £25 a head if I can, but am prepared to move a little.

Friend 1

I was his line manager for a while but we're now both department heads. He's probably my closest confidant and we've often leant on each other for personal stuff. We don't really share much in the way of hobbies but he's collecting 50x US number plates so I'm getting him one that he's missing, which I know he'll appreciate, but I'd like to get him something more personal. He doesn't drink and most of our close moments have either been work related, or just leaning on each other during tough times.

Friend 2

Including mostly for context, but he's getting a nice rocks glass or glencairn as he likes his Irish whiskey. I am considering splashing out on a nice bottle instead, though that will blow the budget (but he's worth it)

Friend 3

She plays piano, often as part of an amateur musical theatre company, and she's played parts too. She is my go-to for advice on musicals and we've been to a couple together. She also loves photographing birds. We go to a cocktail bar every couple of months, though she's more of a G&T girl at home than a cocktail maker. Somehow, even though a nice rocks glass works for friend 2, I don't feel like a gin glass would work for friend 3. Not sure why.

Friend 4

She also comes with me to the cocktail bar. Whereas friend 1 is the person I go to when I need someone to lean on, friend 4 is who I go to when I want to bitch about work. We don't share many direct hobbies outside school but she's the one who knows where the skeletons are buried.

In each case I want it to be something they'll appreciate and not something that I've gotten them out of obligation. A funny mug just doesn't feel like it will cut it, but I'm really struggling. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A good friend of mine likes Irish whiskey and always keeps a bottle of Jameson in the house.

I don't want to spend a fortune (< £50 ideally) and would like to get him something perhaps just a little different, but still in his wheelhouse (I want to give him a gift, not a challenge).

Not being a whiskey drinker, I have no clue.

Oh, I'm UK based if that helps.

We love a train journey and have always fancied taking a sleeper train.

Just had a look for a midweek journey on either the Caledonian Sleeper or the Penzance Sleeper. Penzance is over £700 return with a cabin and Fort William is close to £900 return (for 2 people).

I know that's 2 nights' accommodation + 4 train journeys, but it feels excessive. Doesn't help that being in the NE we'd need to travel (probably to London, as we'd probably prefer to visit Scotland/West Country than the capital anyway) - but I haven't factored that in here yet.

Am I just unrealistic in my expectations? If so, then fair enough. Might have to look at interrailing and see if we can get a European trip at a good price.