Hi,

You “could” need an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA), not an accountant.

However some things to bear in mind. IFA’s aren’t cheap and you may not have a large enough pot of assets to benefit from their services.

A good IFA should give you a chat for free for 30 minutes to find out if you’re a good fit for each other.

The best way to find a good IFA is ask around friends and colleagues. A bit like finding a builder.

Inheritance Tax is not payable on amounts less than £325k. There are also rules about gifts to you that are given 7 years before death.

Some good clear details on here https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

A bit more clarity on IFA’s https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/best-financial-advisers/

Explains when you may need one and how much it could cost.

Jacob

You could fill some of the gaps by pouring these glass beads in.

It’s inert and will not absorb or wick water.

https://unitylime.co.uk/shop/brand/geocell/expanded-glass-lightweight-beads/

Change all of your pension investments to the most ethical / sustainable your provide offers.

Takes 10 minutes. As championed by Richard Curtis (yes Love Actually Richard Curtis)

https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/

Heat Geek train ASHP installers and will guarantee their work (to a specific efficiency).

https://www.heatgeek.com/find-a-heat-geek/

A useful resource in simple language.

https://www.lowcarbonlifestyle.online/_files/ugd/284f0d_f64a98daf1894b4e81f2524cd8339852.pdf

A good way to test if your house is suitable (with current radiators and insulation) is to turn down your flow temperature on your boiler to 50 degrees or ideally lower. You will have to have your heating on for longer to achieve a comfortable temperature.

If you can get comfortable at 45 degree flow temperature with your heating set on all day then you should be able to do a straight swap.

This approach will also save gas if using a combi boiler.

How to reduce your flow temperature video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQk8ZVLIsOc

@leffeboy where are you in the country? Search if you have a carbon co op group near you they are usually free / cheap to join and produce lots of resources.

Also Scotland residents have access to fantastic grant and interest free loans via https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/

Glasgow https://locohome.coop/

Manchester https://carbon.coop/

Cambridge https://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/

Find a group https://www.lowcarbonhub.org/community-members/community-groups/

I’m not an installer or have an ASHP (yet) but I have an interest. Hope that helps.

Another opinion. I was there two weeks ago.

We rode the new taster stuff (Blue, Red and Black), new trails (mostly red & black) and then fireroad climbed to bottom of spooky wood climb and descended from there.

We had a blast. Then managed to drive to Golfie and squeeze NYNY and Lower Wardell Way out of my poor legs.

Ice cream and beer to finish. Great day.

Comrie area is lovely.

To be honest Scotland is amazing. (ex southerner been here 9 years)

East coast also lovely but more beach and less riding / hills.

West Argyle has it’s own charm but can be wet.

Get the train out of Dublin and go for a dip in the sea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Foot

@Surfer

The ASHP and Gas boiler as doing different work, for the same result.

35kw burning gas to heat water and central heating. Heat comes from burning gas.

ASHP 8kw to run pump, fan and compressor. The heat comes from the air, the heat pump concentrates it.

So 3 times more efficient relating to energy used to get desired result (warm house and hot water).

Some fantastic bonkers moments in this. I really enjoyed it.

If you liked this kind of madness check out Junkhead, full film on Youtube.

The Experian membership is for a fraud monitoring service, rather than your credit score. Normally a paid for service. (In my case it wa, anyway)

I sent my Huit jeans away for free repair last year and although it took a couple of months the quality of the repairs were very impressive. Different coloured thread used to colour match the wear of the jeans and all holes fixed and reinforced.

If you look at their instagram / website you can see how far they go to repair your jeans. So do factor that in.

To be honest, buy both, find out which fits you best. Winner.

Comrie Croft and Glassie Bikepark (Aberfeldy) both are lovely places to stay with good trail running options.

Heidelberg is lovely, very pretty with a castle on the hill and a river down the middle.

Sounds like a great trip.

As above,

Unhide all tabs

Edit links and break if needed

Check source data for pivots and charts

Check named ranges, there may be old #refs linked to Table 20.

Also check if any macros reference it.

Failing that, kill it with fire 🔥

Seven years since I moved to the Area I still think Bridge of Allan / Stirling / Dunblane is the dogs.
Look past the old decor, and enjoy top draw riding from the door plus train to Edinburgh and Glasgow. And posh cafe’s if that’s your thing and a fantastic chippy.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139530488?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Comrie Croft have stoves in their Kata (wigwams).

Plus great riding and cafe.

They get very toasty.

Some kind of bluetti / Anker / ecoflo power bank with attached solar panels?

You can then choose your power needs and plug in with minimal fuss.

This video from Ben Cathro covers some of the comprises in his Van.

https://youtu.be/Mwp7MQKW4mQ?feature=shared

True but I read ST and frequent STW for shiny bits and odd stuff.

Do I need it? No

Is it overpriced? Yes / Sometimes / No

Do I want shiny stuff? Yes I’m a magpie in human form.

 

Pedals look great, I’d love a pair. However I’m running some 6 year old composites with 13 year old 510’s, cause I’m tight and they work (enough anyway for now)

Tenderstem brocolli fried with soy sauce and chilli

Three bean mexican soup with a poached egg

Cauliflower roasted with curry spices

Minestrone soup with extra bacon

Carrot sticks and humus

No need to stick to classic boiled carrots and mushy cauliflower.

I really liked my Finisterre jeans but they were not that tough.

I got a pair of Hiut Denim, as a present. They are expensive but high ethical standards and free repairs for life.

My pair just got fixed and they used different colour threads to patch the various holes depending on fade. (did take a few months)

I took a guy from Ingleton to Settle the other week. Wasn’t on my way exactly but I had time and the guy looked like he needed some help.

Took someone from Dumbarton / Luss area to Fort William in 2016. He had lots of good chat to fill the 2 hours on the A82.

From my experience of off road duathlons if you have any experience of mountain biking you will be a riding god on the downhill. I certainly felt that way, however I was not a running or riding uphill god.

So in short, take the HT and “embrace the race”

Have fun.

Last time I was up that way was 2015 but I don’t remember any steps or gates on that final section from Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis.

Also the view from Dun Deardail fort at the top of Glen Nevis is superb and then a nice fireroad blast into Fort Bill.

I was there last Sunday and most of the red was open and running fantastic.

Currently a free bike wash in the new car park.

To find an old pension have a look here.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-problems/tracing-and-finding-lost-pensions

As pointed out, it costs you 80p to put a £1 into your pension due to tax relief. But that relies on you having 80p to lock away. Good to face this now rather than at 68.

You should be able to pick up a pay as you go sim, usually with credit already loaded at the airport or fairly easily.

Possibly even order one online to be delivered to your parents house?

@Matt_outandabout

Cheers I did not know about those electric buses. Will look into that.

Coming to Edinburgh (Ratho) in 2024

https://wavepoolmag.com/wavegarden-scotland-breaks-ground/

Due to a death in the family we had some money, we sold my car and bought a 2015 converted t5.

We’re a family of 4, both kids under 4 and a dog. We have had a fantastic summer doing Van trips that we wouldn’t have done with the tent.

Financially it makes no sense but I don’t regret it at all.

Caveats, we live in Scotland, so nice places are close. We even go and have dinner next to the loch on a school night. Still home for normal kids bedtime.

If I lived “city locked ” and was faced with a long drive every time to get some where nice I might change my mind.

We get 35 mpg on average but also have use of another vehicle.

If you can afford it and enjoy family van life ( less sleep, too hot, too cold, ….) then go for it.

If you are trying to make the numbers work, then just hire for the odd weekend. 3 van hire weekends would be cheaper each year. Vehicle tax and insurance both more than previous diesel estate.

Thank you @Ta11pau1

That looks awesome, as a new owner of a converted T5 I’m slowly becoming the cliche STW (not working in IT yet).

Quick question (you seem to know your onions more than me) I’m thinking of using a Victron IP22 charger to allow the lesuire battery to charge whilst on EHU? Any reason why that wouldn’t work?

I’m worried about charging and still having the fridge drawing 12v power from battery at the same time.

Keep us updated with the build. Love the slide kit.

I really enjoy Berm Peak (Seths Bike hacks)

The mix of biking and lifestyle stuff is interesting for me and he seems incredibly nice and grateful for his success. From filming how to videos to turning it into a full time job, moving house twice and building a public bike park.

Odd question, I’m keen on Solar but concerned of hassle(cost) if we need to replace the roof in the next 10-20 years.

Has anyone fitted solar and then paid to have it removed and refitted for roofing work?

Was it expensive?

Current roof in good enough state to justify not replacing it as part of Solar install.

Cheers

I put my Bird AM9 size large on my Altera Strada, it’s not ideal but works fine.

I only purchased this model to work with tailgate van door and that was my main criteria.

I find the rack great in every other way.

Also since you’re so close to Swinley, why not go with a mate and demo both bikes at once? You used to get the cost of demo off the sale price.

A quick cheaper fix, is a brand new pair of your favorite run socks.

There are regular organised open days through the passivhouse trust. Next one is November.

https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail.php?eId=1151

Failing that you could google stalk your nearest one and knock on the door / leave a note to ask if you could pop round.

Another route is to go down the breathable materials route with sheeps wool, woodfibre and hemp.

I have no experience of it but have always been attracted to the air filtration aspect of MVHR. Less air pollants and pollen in the home.

Also are you not able to tune these systems to your liking to an extent to get the ideal moisture and air change figures?

If you are based in Scotland you can get generous grants and interest free loans.

To improve your whole house based on your EPC.

https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/funding/grants-loans/

Solar PV excluded now as price has come down and demand is high.

Even if you still go with a combi, there may be funding for you.

1) look up your EPC for free here (Scotland only

https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/

2) call home energy Scotland.

I used them to get a gas connection, central heating installed, new combi boiler and cavity wall insulation. Currently paying back 55 quid a month on interest free loan.

My parents once booked us into a hotel with no windows above a sex shop in Spain. Nothing bad happened apart from it having no air con.