The TPU UK Clubhouse

[Space Lynx]

@AusWolf what is a good website to browse used cars here? In america I use AutoTrader to browser used cards, but I don't know what it would be here.

 

[AusWolf]

@AusWolf what is a good website to browse used cars here? In america I use AutoTrader to browser used cards, but I don't know what it would be here.

Same: Autotrader, just with .co.uk at the end.

Edit: Keep in mind, you're not legally allowed to drive any car that you're not insured on, but I guess it's similar everywhere else around the world.

 

[Space Lynx]

FYI, there is a Comet visible tonight and tomorrow night and it only comes near Earth every 80,000 years, but it is visible from UK.

I am going out now to try and spot it. Will try again in a few hours if I don't see it.

edit: nm the comet is only visible 30 mins after sunset, so tomorrow sunset is only chance to see it.

here is what chatgpt told me when i asked how to spot it:

To spot Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the UK on October 12th and 13th, look west just after sunset. The comet will be visible low on the horizon, and it will rise higher each night over the following weeks. For the best view, find a dark spot away from city lights, and use binoculars to locate it more easily. Make sure your view of the western horizon is clear of obstructions like buildings or trees, as the comet will be visible for about 30 minutes after sunset.


say what you will about AI, but this took 5 seconds, a traditional google search would have taken me 2+ minutes probably. its not a huge deal, but I am so glad I switched to chatgpt for all my searching needs.

 

[AusWolf]

FYI, there is a Comet visible tonight and tomorrow night and it only comes near Earth every 80,000 years, but it is visible from UK.

I am going out now to try and spot it. Will try again in a few hours if I don't see it.

edit: nm the comet is only visible 30 mins after sunset, so tomorrow sunset is only chance to see it.

here is what chatgpt told me when i asked how to spot it:

To spot Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the UK on October 12th and 13th, look west just after sunset. The comet will be visible low on the horizon, and it will rise higher each night over the following weeks. For the best view, find a dark spot away from city lights, and use binoculars to locate it more easily. Make sure your view of the western horizon is clear of obstructions like buildings or trees, as the comet will be visible for about 30 minutes after sunset.

I just went outside to look, nothing. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[kurosagi01]

If you want to live in semi ok area in the UK, in my opinion parts of west and east midlands is about spot on.
Decent space away from major cities, crime isn't too bad, not overcrowded. You will need a car to get to most places.
The price of properties are anywhere between 100k onwards depending on area.
If you want to buy a property cheap but live in semi rough area then look up north.
Areas that surround London and London itself is just rip off and it's always been like that.

 

[AusWolf]

If you want to live in semi ok area in the UK, in my opinion parts of west and east midlands is about spot on.
Decent space away from major cities, crime isn't too bad, not overcrowded. You will need a car to get to most places.
The price of properties are anywhere between 100k onwards depending on area.
If you want to buy a property cheap but live in semi rough area then look up north.
Areas that surround London and London itself is just rip off and it's always been like that.

I agree with you, except that the West Midlands are overcrowded, too. I work 12 miles away from home, a journey that takes me 15-20 minutes at night, but 25-35 minutes during the day. This is the definition of overcrowdedness, imo.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

I'll tell you one thing, I'm never going back to Exeter. One of the worst days in the UK I have ever had. Crowded, buses packed so you have to stand up. One bus broke down and the sun was hitting me, so I was sweltering hot.

I'm not even sure I am going to ask immigration to extend my visa like I was planning to do, this place is just going downhill fast, no offense UK folks. There was a surprising amount of security patrol type people in Exeter today too, ffs this place just isn't peaceful and relaxing to me like it used to be. Costs are not as bad as people say they are though imo, food seems fairly the same price to me as it was in 2022 and in 2019 when I visited (thanks to Sainsbury's Nectar prices mainly). Housing prices are a bit insane though and all my friends here live paycheck to paycheck because of rental prices. I mean x amount of population, y amount of housing... the world is just so stupid with basic math I guess.

Anyways, yeah I am done with UK most likely, will be taking train to France, then the high speed train from Paris to Milan at some point. I just want to see a bit more of what this region of the world has to offer.

Try coming north, yorkshire, some great places up here.

 

[Space Lynx]

I agree with you, except that the West Midlands are overcrowded, too. I work 12 miles away from home, a journey that takes me 15-20 minutes at night, but 25-35 minutes during the day. This is the definition of overcrowdedness, imo.

especially when your government offers tax incentives to hire workers to work remote, so you have a higher percentage of remote workers than a lot of countries even before Covid from what I understand. so it's actually more overcrowded than even you realize I think, so if everyone decides to do their shopping on a Saturday (like I did yesterday) it turns into an actual nightmare shoulder to shoulder in Aldi, etc, lol

and then the bus takes so long to get back home, your frozen items have already spoiled, especially when the bus breaks down... RIP my wallet.

 

[AusWolf]

especially when your government offers tax incentives to hire workers to work remote, so you have a higher percentage of remote workers than a lot of countries even before Covid from what I understand.

What tax incentives? Please tell me about them. I know about none.

so it's actually more overcrowded than even you realize I think, so if everyone decides to do their shopping on a Saturday (like I did yesterday) it turns into an actual nightmare shoulder to shoulder in Aldi, etc, lol

and then the bus takes so long to get back home, your frozen items have already spoiled, especially when the bus breaks down... RIP my wallet.

Shopping on a Saturday is the dumbest thing one can ever do, imo. The best times for shopping are weekdays before 8 AM, and after 6 PM.

 

[Space Lynx]

What tax incentives? Please tell me about them. I know about none.


Shopping on a Saturday is the dumbest thing one can ever do, imo. The best times for shopping are weekdays before 8 AM, and after 6 PM.

Just what my friends here told me, but here is what CHatGPT said:

employees who work from home due to their employment (not by choice) can claim tax relief for certain expenses. Here’s how the current system works:

1. Tax Relief for Working from Home (Home Expenses)​

• Eligibility: Employees who are required to work from home by their employer, not just due to personal preference, may claim tax relief.
• Expenses Covered: You can claim relief for a portion of household costs, such as:
  • Heating and electricity
  • Water usage
  • Internet and phone charges related to work.

HMRC allows two ways to claim this relief

 

[AusWolf]

Just what my friends here told me, but here is what CHatGPT said:

employees who work from home due to their employment (not by choice) can claim tax relief for certain expenses. Here’s how the current system works:

1. Tax Relief for Working from Home (Home Expenses)​

• Eligibility: Employees who are required to work from home by their employer, not just due to personal preference, may claim tax relief.
• Expenses Covered: You can claim relief for a portion of household costs, such as:
  • Heating and electricity
  • Water usage
  • Internet and phone charges related to work.

HMRC allows two ways to claim this relief

That's good to know, but people working from home don't really add to the over-crowdedness of cities, do they?

 

[Space Lynx]

That's good to know, but people working from home don't really add to the over-crowdedness of cities, do they?

no they don't, I am just saying if everyone decides to go shopping at the same time on, like on a Saturday, the transport systems maybe don't calculate the influx correctly because they are used to M-F traffic being reduced due to work from home types? I'm just guessing here tbh.

 

[AusWolf]

no they don't, I am just saying if everyone decides to go shopping at the same time on, like on a Saturday, the transport systems maybe don't calculate the influx correctly because they are used to M-F traffic being reduced due to work from home types? I'm just guessing here tbh.

I guess that's due a vicious cycle of way too many people driving to commute, therefore less public transport is needed, it gets expensive to cover losses, that incentivises more people to drive, rinse and repeat.

 

[Space Lynx]

I guess that's due a vicious cycle of way too many people driving to commute, therefore less public transport is needed, it gets expensive to cover losses, that incentivises more people to drive, rinse and repeat.

I think you nailed it right on the head, because some of the routes I used to take on bus have been axed, so people are forced to cram on to other routes, etc.

 

[kurosagi01]

Well i'll be potentially doing a bit of a office/room reshuffle with my partner, i'll be looking to change my desk setup again from a 2x 120x60cm in a L shape layout table tops from ikea to a 160x80cm standing desk as my cat likes to steal my chair sometimes.
Any decent place to get standing desk for around £400 tops?
I've only seen these 2:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BVQXWZ8T/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A2UQR7MOVDQDWW&th=1

No clue why there is a huge price difference with the exception of slightly cheaper build quality? Anyone bought and used the offering from Amazon before?

MITTZON desk sit/stand, electric white, 160x80 cm - IKEA

MITTZON desk sit/stand, electric white, 160x80 cm Ergonomic comfort, tactile design and clever features to boot – MITTZON sit/stand desk elevates your well-being and possibility to focus. Quality tested and guaranteed to outlast years of ups and downs. Suitable for business use.

www.ikea.com

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I think you nailed it right on the head, because some of the routes I used to take on bus have been axed, so people are forced to cram on to other routes, etc.

Another thing is. UK is one of the most expensive countries when it comes to public transport. Its no joke when you can catch flights to europe and back and it would be cheaper than taking a train from london to Leeds or Scotland etc etc.

Even if youre jumping on the tube or the bus for a few stops. For a lot of people thats either an hours wage or half an hours wages gone depending on the time of day or the zone they live.

And service in general isnt great and can often be very overcrowded. So a lot of people take their own car instead of being packed like sardines on public transport which is dirty, full of smelly people and doesnt run on time.

 

[AusWolf]

Well i'll be potentially doing a bit of a office/room reshuffle with my partner, i'll be looking to change my desk setup again from a 2x 120x60cm in a L shape layout table tops from ikea to a 160x80cm standing desk as my cat likes to steal my chair sometimes.
Any decent place to get standing desk for around £400 tops?
I've only seen these 2:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BVQXWZ8T/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A2UQR7MOVDQDWW&th=1

No clue why there is a huge price difference with the exception of slightly cheaper build quality? Anyone bought and used the offering from Amazon before?

MITTZON desk sit/stand, electric white, 160x80 cm - IKEA

MITTZON desk sit/stand, electric white, 160x80 cm Ergonomic comfort, tactile design and clever features to boot – MITTZON sit/stand desk elevates your well-being and possibility to focus. Quality tested and guaranteed to outlast years of ups and downs. Suitable for business use.

www.ikea.com

That looks expensive as heck, although IKEA is in general, I guess.

I have ordered furniture from Amazon in the past, and it's been quite alright. My chair is from Amazon, for example. It's not ultra-uber-hyper-top quality, but it does the job, and it's quite comfortable.

Another thing is. UK is one of the most expensive countries when it comes to public transport. Its no joke when you can catch flights to europe and back and it would be cheaper than taking a train from london to Leeds or Scotland etc etc.

Even if youre jumping on the tube or the bus for a few stops. For a lot of people thats either an hours wage or half an hours wages gone depending on the time of day or the zone they live.

View attachment 367804

And service in general isnt great and can often be very overcrowded. So a lot of people take their own car instead of being packed like sardines on public transport which is dirty, full of smelly people and doesnt run on time.

People don't want to be packed like herrings on public transport, so instead, they pack their cars into a gridlock like herrings. The UK isn't a small country by any means, but I admit, it does feel very small sometimes.

I mean, the size of houses, streets, and your personal space makes you a bit claustrophobic at times. No wonder I've felt no inclination to go to town in the last god knows how many years. It's a bit better in rural areas, though.

 

[kurosagi01]

That looks expensive as heck, although IKEA is in general, I guess.

I have ordered furniture from Amazon in the past, and it's been quite alright. My chair is from Amazon, for example. It's not ultra-uber-hyper-top quality, but it does the job, and it's quite comfortable.

I mean i've seen other brands of standing desk going for way more than £400+ which other than build quality and maybe better assembly instructions I dunno what makes them better value.
After living in towns I much prefer it over living in a city.

 

[AusWolf]

I mean i've seen other brands of standing desk going for way more than £400+ which other than build quality and maybe better assembly instructions I dunno what makes them better value.

If you're looking for a bargain, try a charity shop. Sometimes you can find some pretty decent stuff there for cheap. I wouldn't give 400 for a plank of plywood standing on two legs, though, but maybe that's just me. For such a price, I wouldn't mind a few drawers at least.

After living in towns I much prefer it over living in a city.

Same. Not fond of the noise, crowd and rubbish everywhere. It was ok when I was 20 and single, but not anymore.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

The UK isn't a small country by any means,

Perspective is key. I drove the equivalent of Edinburgh - Southampton over the weekend. Twice.

And I can do that without even leaving the state I live in.

 

[the54thvoid]

Perspective is key. I drove the equivalent of Edinburgh - Southampton over the weekend. Twice.

And I can do that without even leaving the state I live in.

More perspective (I love these comparisons):

Population of Tennessee is about 7 million. 42,000 square miles
Population of UK is about 67 million. 94,000 square miles

UK is over twice as large as Tennessee, but has over 9 times the population.

More - England alone has 56 million people in 50,000 square miles.
So, England is a little larger than Tennessee but has 8 times the population.

Now I'm looking at pop density maps....

 

[kurosagi01]

The same could be said about Japan, it looks small but its massive too.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

More perspective (I love these comparisons):

Population of Tennessee is about 7 million. 42,000 square miles
Population of UK is about 67 million. 94,000 square miles

UK is over twice as large as Tennessee, but has over 9 times the population.

More - England alone has 56 million people in 50,000 square miles.
So, England is a little larger than Tennessee but has 8 times the population.

Now I'm looking at pop density maps....

Like 50 rabbits in a small hutch

At some point there will be a population cap in the UK surely

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Check out Wyoming at 97k square miles. And 575k population.

 

[KrazyT]

More perspective (I love these comparisons):

Population of Tennessee is about 7 million. 42,000 square miles
Population of UK is about 67 million. 94,000 square miles

UK is over twice as large as Tennessee, but has over 9 times the population.

More - England alone has 56 million people in 50,000 square miles.
So, England is a little larger than Tennessee but has 8 times the population.

Now I'm looking at pop density maps....

Now, the question :
Is UK (Scotland included ofc) have more distilleries than Tennessee ?