Definitely avoid all brands under The Hut Group banner.

Founders of the Hut Group are £500k per year donors to the Tories and have whinged on numerous occasions about workers having too many rights etc etc.

You might guess from my username that I am not a fan of that party of charlatans.

That said, apologies to all for politicising another STW thread – but it’s important people know these things.

Honest Govt advert on the UK

Thanks for the offers of help with wayfinding – very kind.

My fingers are firmly crossed that the move comes off. I’m definitely up for it.

Will report back here in due course.

As others have suggested, counselling or some form of therapy is likely to enormously (and surprisingly) helpful, but it won’t be a quick fix.

For the Bells Palsy side of things: Acupuncture. Seriously. The STW skeptics will be along momentarily to pooh-pooh the very mention of it, but it is researched and effective.

If you are looking for an acupuncturist in the UK, you need to be careful. Sadly the lack of market regulation means you can do a weekend course and call yourself one. Sigh. Instead you must look for someone degree qualified and registered through the British Acupuncture Council. And even better if your acupuncturist has studied in China.

Good luck.

This is really helpful – and reassuring, thank you.

Should have mentioned that we don’t need to factor in kids.

It’s a funny thing – if the job comes off for the Mrs we’ll probably need to move fairly quickly, but we’re reluctant to visit the area in advance in case it jinxes anything 🤣

I WFH 90% of the time, so good internet is probably more critical than commuting links to the Central Belt. I go to London monthly, and that’s it…

This thread has grown arms and legs, and I’ve lost the place with it.

Declaring my hand – I was no and am now yes. I’m driven by two key thoughts, while conceding Indy will be a sh*tshow.

1) I would love the option to rejoin the EU, for all of its warts and flaws.
2) I have little hope that the UK will see the constitutional, political, electoral, or economic reform that it needs – so I see the current situation with Westminster as absolutely untenable.

So, for the Indy objectors (which I think is a legit stance), how would you answer these questions:

1) What is your biggest objection to Indy?
2) Is the current situation viz-a-vis Westminster tenable?

SportPursuit is a good shout, thank you. Had forgotten about them.

Let me be clear, I am f*****g furious about Brexit still.

But, having now read extensively about politics, populism, economics and the future of work, I have sadly found myself in agreement with Molgrips. Berating the dumb c**** who voted us into this mess won’t help and simply entrenches their position. They wanted to give us a bloody nose and berating them for doing it reinforces that they are “right”.

I don’t know the answer other than a radical remake of politics, and progress away from the winner takes all economy that is – when combined with Covid – going to reduce all of us (yes, that includes us Audi driving IT consultants) to effective paupers.

If you read just one book on it all, make it this one: Tyranny of Merit

Is there an answer? The utopians have the right idea with UBI, but I just don’t see how the rent-seekers of the world will cough-up to make that happen.

I think that’s a reasonably fair analysis from the OP – and the answer is there are no easy answers for Labour in Scotland. The reversal of their fortunes have been swift and significant.

My own feeling is that they need to wait it out for independence, and then watch the SNP rightly implode after that. After all, the SNP should be a single issue party.

An independent country offers Labour, the Tories (perhaps) and the Lib Dems a shot at redemption that they simply don’t deserve while tied to the London machines.

I have sympathy for Frank Sinatra, but I have shift from a 2014 No to a 2021 Hell Yeah. The genie ain’t going back in the bottle, so we might as well rip the bandaid off sooner rather than later. There is no repairing the festering sore of the Union IMHO these days. That saddens me in some ways, but also, better to accept it and move on quickly to start building something new and hopefully better.

Labour’s challenge there is to offer a vision of what new and better can be – and it needs to be more than simply ‘not Tory’. I think Brexit has changed things, but also the SNP have gained traction because the vision (such as it is) they are spelling out now is trying to move toward something, rather than simply being about moving away from London and all that entails.

Positive, credible visions to move towards are a good thing.

Definitely not expert in this, but I have some experience… first thing is where is the work being done, where will you be located, where are you personally domiciled for tax purposes and assuming you are doing it through your own Ltd Co, where is it registered?

There is a lot to weigh up, so make sure the day rate is worth the weighing of the additional complexity. Make sure you have a good accountant who is familiar with these sorts of arrangements.

The FX houses for bulk transfers … my experience is that dealing with them is a hateful thing to do for pennies on the pound. TransferWise is good because of its simplicity, and relatively competitive rates.

On day to day banking… look at (ahem) HSBC. You can hold multiple accounts in varying currencies and swap money between them without fees on a spot rate that is middling. Of course you could do better elsewhere, but unless the sums are really significant there is a lot to be said for seeing everything in one place and making life easy.

I can’t let this go without being political … if I was in your shoes I would almost certainly choose the Euro, but that might be more to do with anger and petulance at the Tories and Trump than sound economics.

Agree with the recommendations to go wide. Two spreadsheets next to each other is a wonder 🙂

In classic STW style, I’m recommending the one I have: MSI from AO

It’s a deal cheaper than other 34s, but for my needs it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s easy on the eye.

Only lookout is: it’s not height adjustable without putting it on an arm, and you need a bracket from MSI in Poland to do that at a grand cost of £15 or so.

This is encouraging, thank you.

Was thinking Ikea for the kitchen … and getting a local chippy to do the work.

Some great suggestions here – thank you 🙂

As others say, avoid BA – truly the world’s worst airline. Business class cabins are dated, the food is terrible and service lacklustre at best. Really don’t like them.

Thanks all.

Have ordered one of the new Grail’s in alloy with 105 – price makes it easy, and will be here for Christmas.

Will get a second set of wheels…

Hmm, might need to rethink this single ring at the front thing then…while also adding Ribble to the list of possible contenders. The Ribble reboot looks like it’s going to give us some nice looking bikes for a change…

It’s weird, there are so many options it’s hard to know what way to turn….that’s a good thing by the way 😉

Some good thoughts there – liking the idea of Planet X titanium, but mudguards and a dual ring at the front are a must.

I’ve found these and they seem to fit the bill:

https://www.orrobikes.com/bikes/road/terra-gravel-road-se

Or the budget might just stretch to this:

https://www.stevensbikes.de/2019/index.php?bik_id=11&cou=DE&lang=en_US

This might hopefully arrive soon…

https://bikerumor.com/2018/10/15/sneak-peek-canyon-teases-affordable-alloy-grail-al-bike-at-toros-de-gravel-ride-on-mallorca/

Will try to get to an Evans to see about the Arkose or maybe Dolomite models?

Anything else? I’d hope to splash out in the next month to ensure having it for Christmas and the Festive 500.

The Ridley’s look lovely, but too pricey. Specialized are nice, but I’d struggle to get Tiagra at that price point they’re so overpriced.

A second pair of wheels does make sense and there is separate budget for that…

Sorry, posted this question and should have maybe added it here:

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sorry-another-router-ish-question-mesh-home-wifi-systems-like-bt-or-google/

Bit of a thumbs up for MESH in the mix here…

@k1100t – that actually looks awesome. Have you done it yourself?

@continuity – that pattern you’ve outlined, is that yours or one you’ve read about? You sound knowledgable – care to recommend any reading, please?

@Continuity – that does help, thank you.

Goals are not racing yet, although as my fitness is improving nicely I am half-contemplating some sort of old farts racing. Problem is that I didn’t really start training to late March, so out of sync with more sensible cycles.

The actual goal is one of those crazy Euro Radmarathons in late summer – 240km/5k climbing. I just know that I need to get a) get the miles in b) get a bit leaner still c) make sure that I have the all round physical preparedness to withstand 10 or so hours in the saddle without getting destroyed. Gotta get the gym work in.

You have all failed to mention what is without doubt the best show on Netflix: Rake.

It’s set in Sydney, made by the ABC and is a magnificent, clever, funny courtroom farce that lampoons politics and more. Absolutely brilliant TV. Think Californication, but courts and real smarts instead.

A wee bump to stop it dropping off the first page…

Murray, my man! Thank you! That looks to have done the trick 🙂

Good point about the weight – but I assume it’s either water weight (as that’s how it works, yes?) or from additional muscle, which in my case could only be a good thing.

Some good suggestions, thanks.

Any more from the evening shift.

Feel a bit of a luddite asking this when it’s all about zwift now it seems… 🙁

This, so this, if there was more money available:

I’ve got an Osprey bladder/camel back thing that has big straps and it is fantastic – wore it on the Dunwich Dynamo and was way more comfortable than I had any right to be over 200km on a silly racing bike.

Jeez – the Evoc is seriously pricey, but it does fulfil the brief very well! Wish I hadn’t seen that now…

Liking the Timbuk2 and Osprey suggestions. The Monty is cool, but won’t work as I don’t want another messenger bag.

Keep ’em coming – thanks.

No need for a bladder 🙂

Pointless recommendation here but don’t try beef isolate, whilst it is probably the most effective protein I’ve ever used it does have a taste of beef about it which is rank. Also doesn’t mix well at all without a blender

I would be worried it would be made with the crappiest bits of beef and possibly full of undesierable things…

Hadn’t thought of soy proteins – where does the STW massive stand on the fear of men taking soy – seemingly interferes with testosterone production and so on…

I have no expertise in this area – so genuinely curious if anyone is aware of the research (good or bad).

Risked a look at the Express website this morning (early morning heart starter you see) and I can only come to the conclusion it is the Daily Mash come to life – evoking the spirt of Churchill and all of that.

I already hated the prospect of Brexit and the Brexiteers, but I hate them even more after seeing the reaction to the courts.

The Turkeys might have almost been spared Christmas, and yet they still demand it. Weird.

Bump.

Virgin frightens me in terms of horror stories of poor service – can anybody vouch for them and their customer service?

Ah Zen – think I might have used them a long time ago for ADSL. No need for TV or packages or bundles. Just want a big huge pipe into the house.

I can’t imagine that Scotland under Nicola will be worse than remaining in London in the midst of the biggest brain drain in a generation. Although I was unable to vote in indyref1 I was opposed to independence. Indyref2, I would vote in favour of independence if the opportunity arose.

I ain’t no Nicola fan, but until I can get myself overseas again she is a promising least worst option.

Brilliant! Some predictably chippy responses, and some very encouraging ones.