r/Glasgow Tools

Ambry

Reddit URLhttps://www.reddit.com/user/Ambry
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  • Thanks for this - I’m from Paisley and thinking about buying a flat there in the next few years if my job takes me back to Glasgow (currently in Edinburgh) but I think living in the city itsself sounds so much better. by Ambry (Sun 15th Dec 2019 6:06pm)
  • I covered my own rent living in central Edinburgh. First year lived in cheap halls, second year a bit more expensive on the private market but could do it, third year did an exchange where housing was a lot cheaper and got an Erasmus grant, and in my final year become a resident assistant for cheap living. It is possible and I didn't get family help. Edinburgh is becoming more expensive as time goes on, but you can do it as a student if you have a part time job, are quite frugal or become a resident assistant. Cities like Dundee are pretty cheap aswell! It isn't always easy though, but student 'life' can be very cheap aside from rent considering the bars are really affordable and I mostly cooked my own cheap food. You do have a point though - a lot of students do get their rent covered and I remember just thinking there was no way my family could cover that for me and I would never want them to. I decided to move out for uni, so I was willing to try my best and foot the bill. It will become worse as cities become more and more expensive - hall prices keep going up, and I'd say the average since my first and second year at uni on the private rental market has increased by about 100 quid and it just isn't sustainable. by Ambry (Thu 2nd Apr 2020 10:52am)
  • I know that was probably more than my monthly student living budget tbh... by Ambry (Thu 2nd Apr 2020 10:54am)
  • I'd agree. There is a very strong culture in Scotland of just staying where you grew up and not really exploring beyond that which I've also noticed. A lot of it comes from not having the opportunity to do so, but it can sometimes lead to small mindedness. by Ambry (Thu 30th Jul 2020 10:49pm)
  • 100%. I really love Scotland but do feel a bit of an outsider sometimes as I moved away for uni (which maybe like 4 people in my year did?), did a year abroad and I'm now working in London for a bit on secondment. There's just so much out there and where I'm from just has such limited opportunities and is quite dull, but so many friends from school have just stayed. What are the chances that the crappy town you are born in is the place for you? by Ambry (Fri 31st Jul 2020 8:47am)
  • Totally - I went to Edinburgh from uni but came from near Gkasgow. It was utterly expected I'd just stay at home and go to Glasgow. I wanted to move out for a different experience and I also liked the look of the course and uni more. It honestly made such a difference and I met people from all over the world, did a year abroad and learned to be independent. I loved living in a city rather than a shitty town as I could walk everywhere and didnt need to drive to do something fun. Almost all of my friends are still living with their parents at home and have the same friend groups. I really like Scotland but not sure I will be permanently living there again - it does just feel very, very small sometimes. by Ambry (Fri 31st Jul 2020 8:51am)
  • Exactly. I personally love 'hipster wank' restaurants because they are usually pretty damn good and I love cafes too. Shoot me. I grew up in a working class family and worked my ass off to go to a good uni and get a good job, I am proud of my roots but I do find it can cause a lot of small mindedness and I'm really happy I had to opportunity to move away and broaden my mind a little bit. Change and new things are not all bad. by Ambry (Fri 31st Jul 2020 8:56am)
  • Very true. Grew up in the west of Scotland, now living in London but I'll be moving back and I'm dreading it a bit. I love Scotland but there is definitely a conformist, small minded aspect to our culture. People dont move away from home much and different tastes, hobbies, styles etc can be difficult to get accepted if you're not from a more affluent or alternative area. by Ambry (Fri 31st Jul 2020 9:01am)
  • I've found independent restaurants and bars seem to be taking more steps to distance and protect customers. I now only really go to independent places because they are much better quality and you're supporting a smaller business usually so hopefully they make it through this... by Ambry (Fri 7th Aug 2020 9:33am)
  • What a great story. I am moving back to Glasgow in a few weeks and will definitely pop in, sounds like a great place. I googled and it looks really lovely. by Ambry (Fri 7th Aug 2020 9:31am)
  • I agree with you there. I really haven't seen many other reputable studios do this, honestly. They have some really good artists but I just don't think I'd book with them because the way they advertise and do promotions you think you'd be buying a t shirt or something instead of a permanent piece of body art from an artist. by Ambry (Mon 14th Sep 2020 4:23pm)
  • It is sad. I showed my boyfriend glasgow last weekend after I hadn't been into the city for a while myself and was honestly really shocked at how... dirty it was? There was just grime and litter everywhere. I had it in my head I wanted to move into Glasgow post pandemic from my small town but I'm not sure if it was better in my head than it is in reality. I was showing bf to see if we would consider moving together and I'm not sure it really left the best impression, especially when in covid times the best parts of the city (nightlife, music culture etc) aren't really available. by Ambry (Tue 29th Sep 2020 10:23am)
  • I honestly might need to start looking to england for my theory test - there is literally nothing available! by Ambry (Thu 8th Oct 2020 11:09am)
  • Yeah it still mind of surprises me that people are shocked we will have a weird winter. Life is going to be like this until we get a vaccine or just learn to live with it. Probably well into next year. It sucks but once you accept it for it is things get easier. by Ambry (Sat 10th Oct 2020 8:49am)
  • Good to know - I fancied going at some point but I think there's so many other good options! by Ambry (Wed 18th Nov 2020 7:57pm)
  • I've commented above similarly but this is in line with my thoughts! I hadn't visited since lockdown began and went back again in October - it wa such a contrast. Just a very seedy atmosphere, dirty and gave a seriously bad impression. I hope things improve after COVID but I was previously really keen to move to Glasgow and it has honestly completely put me off. by Ambry (Sun 22nd Nov 2020 12:57am)
  • I was in Glasgow The other month showing my partner around, was really excited to show how cool Glasgow was but honestly I haven't seen the city centre this bad in a while. It gave a seriously bad impression - all the fun stuff that you'd normally see like good nightlife and relaxed atmosphere was gone and there was just a bad atmosphere! I don't think COVID has brought out the best of the city sadly. OP I'd definitely advise moving - West end and some parts of Southside are lovely! by Ambry (Sun 22nd Nov 2020 12:55am)
  • Yeah its a shame - I wanted to move to Glasgow but kind of rethinking it now as its really put me off. by Ambry (Sun 22nd Nov 2020 2:13pm)
  • Making buses only cater to old people basically discourages everyone else from using them because the routes and times don't fit with people who need evening, post-work transport. by Ambry (Tue 24th Nov 2020 8:03am)
  • It was normal to me growing up near Glasgow but I have lived in other cities including Edinburgh and London and the public transport is so much better which really discourages car use - the transport actually serves people's needs so people don't need their own (or for many household's, multiple) cars. I still can't drive as I have no need, but when I moved back home during lockdown I was very restricted as the whole area relies on cars. by Ambry (Tue 24th Nov 2020 1:27pm)
  • Yeah I wanted to move to Glasgow (live just outside) and potentially encourage my english partner to move too. I went to Glasgow with him a few months ago and... wow. It just had such a dodgy vibe, litter and junkies everywhere... I actually felt a but embarrassed after hyping the city up to him! It has honestly seriously put me off and not sure where to try and head now. by Ambry (Tue 24th Nov 2020 11:22pm)
  • Honestly I don't know anyone in the UK with winter tyres. It might be a safer option, but it just isn't widely used throughout the country so there isn't a culture of it. by Ambry (Fri 4th Dec 2020 9:50am)
  • I feel like it would be much better if people used them more - thanks for providing some insight from up north. I live in the central belt and it just doesn't seem a thing but would keep people much safer. by Ambry (Fri 4th Dec 2020 10:19am)
  • I am aware of that, but honestly I had actually never even heard that putting on winter tyres was a thing until seeing people talk about it on reddit. I agree it would be better and safer, but if no one thinks to do it then it will take a while to actually encourage the use of them. by Ambry (Fri 4th Dec 2020 11:24am)
  • Out of curiosity, what will actually stop people this time from coming from England to Scotland? Will there be questions at the airport etc? I feel like with this being announced so late, many folk might still actually try! by Ambry (Sun 20th Dec 2020 12:49am)
  • So interesting, mad to see what it is actually like and the diverse range of people that actually get involved in it. I think it is ballsy of the filmmaker to do it as a former addict. by Ambry (Sun 10th Jan 2021 9:55pm)
  • OP thanks for this post - you've reminded me of this really cool painting! I love the little insight into everyone's lives. by Ambry (Fri 22nd Jan 2021 12:58pm)
  • I feel the same as you. Glasgow has a lot going for it but it is one of the dirtiest cities I've seen in the UK, bin collection is a complete joke, public transport is shocking (just compare Edinburgh and Glasgow bus systems) and COVID is only significantly exacerbating the rampant poverty and homeless problem, and things don't look like they are going to change any time soon. by Ambry (Mon 8th Mar 2021 1:21pm)
  • I live in Paisley, was born here. Ferguslie genuinely has a bad reputation, if anyone told me they were moving to Feegie it would definitely make me question why. If its cheap, its cheap for a reason. by Ambry (Thu 11th Mar 2021 1:53pm)
  • Very sweet story and I'm glad she was able to be a great companion for you! by Ambry (Sat 13th Mar 2021 9:32pm)
  • Yeah I totally agree. I get she is frustrated, but no it is not weird for two 12 year old girls to be getting trains and I wouldn't stop and question them for doing it. Something bad happened but it isn't always time to start blaming others. by Ambry (Mon 22nd Mar 2021 5:30pm)
  • Keep in mind many people flat share - I will be looking to do that when I move into Glasgow in August/September for work. In flat shares I think rooms seem to go anywhere between 400 - 550. Makes council tax and bills a bit easier to split too! by Ambry (Thu 25th Mar 2021 12:09pm)
  • I watched this show maybe a month ago, its AMAZING. I really love that all of the characters aren't perfect and sometimes do questionable things. by Ambry (Thu 25th Mar 2021 12:12pm)
  • I will echo the call the seek legal advice. They are now doing the same and for all you know they could be trying to find ways to make you come across negatively to limit your access to the kids. This is what happened to a friend of mine (the mother of the kids with primary custody) when she split with her partner (the dad) and the family became difficult. They were in discussions with lawyers without saying anything, trying to find ways of making her look unreasonable and an unfit mother. Ultimately, getting legal advice can put you in a better position to know your rights and possible risks. You don't need to actively tell your ex that you are seeking legal advice until anything blows up or you need to take steps to safeguard your parental rights. by Ambry (Tue 30th Mar 2021 9:45am)
  • Did it for work for 3 weeks - train will be a lot quicker (especially from Queen Street) and less likely to get stuck in traffic. It isn't that cheap but doable - is there any way you could WFH 1 or 2 days a week? by Ambry (Tue 30th Mar 2021 4:50pm)
  • This is a helpful post as I'll be doing to same come August - September time! by Ambry (Tue 30th Mar 2021 4:59pm)
  • This is genuinely mad - mecca bingo? Wow. I'm going to be taking a look at this in my town, there's lots of Indian restaurants that never seemed to exist before popping up on just eat and deliveroo. by Ambry (Wed 31st Mar 2021 11:36am)
  • Woah, I've never seen her stuff before but it is amazing! by Ambry (Thu 8th Apr 2021 11:15am)
  • Love bao buns and have never been here - the menu looks awesome, so many options! by Ambry (Sat 10th Apr 2021 10:23am)
  • Really curious to visit! I feel like I've mostly only had 'British takeaway style Chinese food rather than something a bit more real, so might head to this spot. If anyone knows anything good to order, let me know! by Ambry (Sat 10th Apr 2021 10:21am)
  • I have been quite lucky and only dealt with (a) private landlords who have all been somewhere on the spectrum of alright to excellent to deal with or (b) university accommodation who have always been very quick to repair. I don't really know what is best next! You just don't really known until you're in. by Ambry (Thu 15th Apr 2021 11:20am)
  • And people love to say Scotland (and the wider UK) isn't a racist country! by Ambry (Tue 20th Apr 2021 7:29am)
  • That was great. On the same section, they also mentioned how men and women just naturally prefer different jobs (obviously without considering the societal reasons why that is). by Ambry (Wed 21st Apr 2021 5:52am)
  • Protecting free speech, but only if they like what you're saying. by Ambry (Wed 21st Apr 2021 5:51am)
  • That map overlay is so cool, honestly. Could spend hours looking at this! by Ambry (Thu 22nd Apr 2021 10:37am)
  • 100%. Be honest, if you don't know when it will be lifted say you don't know. There is no point stringing people along and ultimately if people know there's dishonesty, it will reduce compliance. by Ambry (Mon 17th May 2021 12:04pm)
  • I went to Ka Pao recently, partner is veggie. The veggie options were honestly unexpectedly delicious - the mushrooms were incredible! Papercup Coffee also has gorgeous veggie/vegan brunch options. by Ambry (Mon 17th May 2021 12:08pm)
  • We are kind of just waiting for leaders to have the balls to say that the link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths is broken. The data is starting to suggest this. If cases rise, we are starting to understand that hospitalisations and deaths will not also increase at the same expected rate due to vaccinations of the vulnerable. Even if a vaccinated person gets COVID, it is now far less likely to put them in hospital. by Ambry (Mon 17th May 2021 12:05pm)
  • 100%. I took my partner to Glasgow to show it off in September, and... it wasn't shown in the best light. Needless to say, I'm moving to Bristol in a few months and I really wanted to love Glasgow and stay here (I'm from a town just outside) but I think the pandemic just meant it was difficult for me to really fall in love with it enough to stay. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 10:08am)
  • I kind of think it looks like my dream place tbh, which is why I'm quite excited - I lived in Edinburgh for a long time (uni and work, about 4 - 5 years) and ended up getting a bit bored of it and also tired at how expensive it was. Bristol looks like a kind of combo of the 'prettiness' of Edinburgh in some bits whilst having the edginess and music/food/culture of Glasgow which is exactly what I'm looking for to be honest! I am aware Bristol isn't cheap which will be the biggest downside, but salaries down there for law are a lot better than Scotland so it should hopefully balance out! I do think Glasgow is an amazing city and I will come back regularly due to my friends and family being here, but I just didn't feel excited at the thought of building my life here permanently and I can't put my finger on why? Just felt like I never identified much with Glasgow and it seems people move from all over to Brizzy which makes it a bit more eclectic. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 10:28am)
  • Full west country experience getting battered on cider! Sounds great by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 10:37am)
  • Ability to switch depends a lot on practice area. If you do something like criminal, family or private client then its completely different. I'm a commercial trainee solicitor who will be joining the Technology and Data team of the Bristol firm I'm going to, and as commercial/corporate law is very similar in the whole of the UK so it wasn't really an issue. You don't even need to dual/cross qualify. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 1:15pm)
  • Completely! I moved away to Edinburgh from near Glasgow for a bit and had it in my head this was a cool, vibrant, beautiful city which is definitely true in many ways... but after being in London, Bristol and travelling around other places for a bit like Medellin or Mexico City it just didn't do it for me anymore. I think I love places where people come from all over (London, Bristol, Berlin), which I wouldn't say is particularly the case in Glasgow. I mean I've literally lived just next to Glasgow my entire life and my friends and I just don't really identify or feel much affinity to the city at all! I showed my partner Glasgow and it was ROUGH. Litter everywhere, junkies running about, it just looked scabby. He is from London and obviously London has the same issues, but London also has so many different areas AND a world-class city status to back it up. Bristol has scabby bits, but its also extremely quirky, eclectic and has much lovelier weather. I think I've realised that whilst Glasgow is cool, if you're not actually from there or have a reason to be there then there's not a whole lot drawing you to it so it can get harder to ignore the issues once the rose tinted specs come off! by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 1:58pm)
  • >It is really just a hard sell that the bar/restaurant scene (which is pretty good but not world class) is worth the weather, the junkies, the litter, the murderous pigeons. I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Glasgow does have a good music, bar and restaurant scene but you're right that it is definitely not world class and I'd say other comparable ex-industrial UK cities (e.g. Liverpool and, most obviously, Manchester) do it better. How many non Scottish people would visit Glasgow for the bars and restaurants over Manchester? Glasgow's techno scene might be the exception to that as it is pretty outstanding and one of the best in the UK, but the Arches shutting down a while back didn't help. I also very much agree on non-Glaswegians being given a hard time. There is kind of this reverse snobbery, idk? I have even been made fun of because I haven't been to certain clubs or bars even though I lived in Edinburgh so wasn't really able to get through to Glasgow instead during that time for the sake of a night out. It is like if you aren't 'one of us', you just won't quite fit in which I haven't found with many other places like Edinburgh (very mixed and international) or London (perhaps not as 'friendly', but anyone and everyone lives in London and no one cares). Overall, Glasgow is a good city but like anywhere absolutely is not perfect. It is roughly comparable to many other ex-industrial UK cities but doesn't really have that special something to make it worth staying here over anywhere else. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 3:07pm)
  • My friend put in an offer just above asking on a flat, was rejected within 5 minutes. Flat is nothing special and definitely a fixer-upper. Like, seriously? It is one of the things that has pushed me towards leaving Glasgow, I don't think it is worth it to be putting in tens of thousands above the asking price on a bang average flat in an 'okay' area. Lots of people are moving to Edinburgh/Glasgow from other parts of the UK to work remotely which is raising up prices. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 3:12pm)
  • Sadly this was all before I started! I knew I had a gap of several months in between finishing uni and starting work, so for a few years I saved up working during uni and living at home a bit. As this was probably going to be my last chance to easily take a big chunk of time off, I decided to just go for it. Was cheap backpacking but very fun! Names look a bit suspect though, a bit Better Call Saul... by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 3:17pm)
  • >I know a few people who have emigrated away from Glasgow and one thing we all agree on is Glasgow has a very small set of acceptable activities, and anything outside that you get looked down on or given a hard time for to some extent. Going to the pub, gigs, playing 5s, hitting a Monroe all good. Want to play any sport that isn't football? Don't drink? opportunities to socialize just are not there the same way and the social attitude to anything outside the norm can be seen as a little weird. If you don't like football, monroe bagging or drinking (have to say I love drinking and raving so isn't an issue for me!) its a bit 'wacky'. Its nice to see things like wild swimming are becoming more popular. Other places I lived no one gave a shit what your hobbies were. Lego? Rollerblading? Gaming that wasn't FIFA? DnD? Salsa? Lifedrawing? All good. In London, Edinburgh, Brizzy etc you can find a community to do basically whatever you want. I also find in Glasgow it is really hard to make friends with people if you don't already know them by going to school or uni with them. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 3:58pm)
  • What did you hate about it? As I'm heading down would be good to have a heads up! I'm aware its pretty pricey which is one thing I'm keeping an eye on. by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 6:29pm)
  • I have personally not had work done at this studio, though I do follow some of the artists. Honestly, it looks like they run all kinds of promotions as if they a regular shop or something instead of a respectable tattoo studio that respects their artists and is selling permanent body art. One thing I've noticed is that most tattoo studios will highlight their specific artists (e.g. "Look at this piece by Emma" or "James has some free slots on X date, if you want illustrative blackwork then look at some of his tattoos here". Rock n Roll instead seems to say "Do you want black and grey? Illustrative? Traditional? Neotraditional? Speak to us and we will book you in." I haven't seen many studios do that, as typically you would approach the artist you're looking to book with because you like what they do. They do have some incredible artists but if I was booking with them I'd want to speak directly to the artist rather than going via their systems. They seem like the most 'commercial/corporate' studio I've seen in Scotland - I just checked their site and they have a 'booking team' and things like that, and are a self proclaimed 'chain'. No heart, no soul, just 'Star Wars flash day' and 'half price day rate' vouchers (which apparently don't always work out that way according to some other threads I've seen here, one pasted down below). I wonder if the artists are the ones having to take the hit on these promotional days? In any case, I haven't seen many studios offer these type of deals as typically it is up to the artist to price their tattoos and offer 'deals' (which, for reputable artists, are not too common as their rate is their rate unless you're getting flash or a larger multi-session piece done). There are plenty of great artists in Scotland, so unless you've literally fallen in love with an artist from Rock n' Roll and couldn't imagine the tattoo you want being done by anyone else, I would be tempted to look elsewhere. You might want to view this thread for more personal experiences - [https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/isjpwm/rock\_n\_roll\_tattoo\_and\_piercing\_studio/](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/isjpwm/rock_n_roll_tattoo_and_piercing_studio/) by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 6:35pm)
  • Thanks for letting me know! Why the hell does everything shut on Sunday? I'll think carefully about where I'm living - I keep seeing Clifton mentioned, and Montpellier aswell. It sounds super hilly so ill keep that in mind in terms of getting about as it can be a pain! by Ambry (Tue 18th May 2021 7:06pm)
  • Thanks! I think I'll make a trip down in a month or two to get a lay of the land, then start thinking about where exactly to live. I'll enter with an open mind but worst case, if I do hate it I can always relocate! This move is primarily because its the area of law I want to do, so as long as I get my initial foot in the door for a year or so I can see where I really want to be. by Ambry (Wed 19th May 2021 9:26am)
  • That is a nightmare. In a typical situation I'd imagine it would sit with the artist, but with R&R kind of handling a lot of that within the studio itsself I honestly don't know! In my opinion, if you booked to have work done by a certain artist you can't just switch that up with someone else. by Ambry (Wed 19th May 2021 9:42am)
  • "Real friends are someone you can turn up with a body in your boot and they grab a shovel. You're only going to get one or two of them in a life time. Once you find them then you remain loyal and stay close as you can." This is very good advice. I do have decent friends I can rely on, but I have my one "ride or die" friend that is truly something else. by Ambry (Wed 19th May 2021 8:51pm)
  • I genuinely looked all over Scotland and couldn't find anything. You can rely on some cancellations or when they open up the next slots (apparently they come on at midnight according to my instructor, so look very early in the morning). Ultimately, I'm going down to London in June to visit my partner and I managed to find more slots there so booked! by Ambry (Wed 19th May 2021 8:58pm)
  • Your point about friend groups is exactly right. Generally, Scottish people stay close to where they are from. Far more Scots live at home during uni than English people do. I think maybe five people from my school year moved away from home, me included? Its very hard to integrate and make friends if you don't have that solid circle from school. In a more multicultural city like Edinburgh where people come from all over, it can be easier. Glasgow is not an easy city to relocate to - people are very friendly, but also have established friend groups. by Ambry (Wed 19th May 2021 8:55pm)
  • Thanks - that is really good to know and hopefully helps some people book! I wish it was more transparent how the system worked. by Ambry (Thu 20th May 2021 8:59am)
  • Why the hell are we getting LETTERS delivered with news of the vaccine appointment in 2021? It is very dated. Makes sense for people who are less tech-savvy (i.e. older generation) but seems like it isn't working very well as we move down. Mad we have only now introduced the link to book like England. Makes it a lot easier as you can get an email or text instead. by Ambry (Mon 24th May 2021 4:23pm)
  • [https://pathetic.org.uk/unbuilt/glasgow\_inner\_ring\_road/#:\~:text=The%20M8%20between%20junction%2015,It%27s%20completely%20mad](https://pathetic.org.uk/unbuilt/glasgow_inner_ring_road/#:~:text=The%20M8%20between%20junction%2015,It%27s%20completely%20mad)! This website gives more info. It was originally meant to be a much bigger ring road, and there's clues (big grassy/concrete patches on the map intended to provide space for more road, weird bits of road or path that lead to nowhere) everywhere. by Ambry (Wed 26th May 2021 11:06am)
  • A shame that so many cultural aspects of Glasgow (winter gardens, Egyptian Hall) are just withering away. by Ambry (Thu 27th May 2021 12:01pm)
  • Already knew the hubbie of the Bucks owners was an asshole due to his COVID views, nice to know his wife is of the same nutty persuasion. by Ambry (Mon 31st May 2021 6:54pm)
  • 100% agree. Learned to dive in Malaysia and the water was crystal clear, incredible sea live and a lovely warm temperature. It was also a fraction of the price of learning to dive in Scotland whilst literally staying on a paradise island seeing incredible fish that you'd never see here. Would honestly recommend learning to dive abroad when you can, much better value and the overall experience is so much more rewarding. If you can't wait, learn in Scotland but its cold as hell! Scotland and the UK are good for wreck diving and there are places you can dive with seals which is lovely, however you can see really cool wrecks abroad (e.g. Malta) too. by Ambry (Mon 31st May 2021 6:57pm)
  • Some people keeping salary or going remote, OR (as I see in law quite a lot) people are done with the London grind - crazy hours. They have decided they've had their London time and have saved a lot of money, and are happy to relocate to Scotland to take a fairly chunky paycut as they still earn a decent amount but have saved enough for a chunky deposit up here. by Ambry (Fri 4th Jun 2021 12:02pm)
  • Why should someone who has a secure garden for their dog have to worry about someone else's pet getting in? by Ambry (Mon 7th Jun 2021 3:06pm)
  • > They are rare and they are not being replenished at the same rate as perishing. Have to say I just love how you wrote this - like a scientific study of neds. Makes a lot of sense, I just don't really see as many neds about and my area growing up has parts that would be considered pretty 'neddy'. by Ambry (Wed 9th Jun 2021 9:33am)
  • I remember one of the local 'yung teemz' had a banging mid-2000s level HTML website and they also had a bebo with a sick customised glitter skin. by Ambry (Wed 9th Jun 2021 9:36am)
  • I'm going to try as I'm actually relocating to England in August/September and it might be a hassle getting a second dose. by Ambry (Thu 10th Jun 2021 11:42am)
  • Update - managed to book in at Louisa Jordan for next weekend, loads of spare appointments! by Ambry (Thu 10th Jun 2021 12:09pm)
  • I wonder if they'll ever extend it? Its so handy but a shame so much (East and South) is left unserviced! by Ambry (Thu 10th Jun 2021 2:49pm)
  • If they'd carried out the whole Bruce report the entire city centre would basically have become a brutalised nightmare - atleast that didn't go ahead. by Ambry (Thu 17th Jun 2021 8:27am)
  • I've visited Ghana and eaten Ethiopian - honestly, food is very different. Ethiopian is delicious with tasty breads and lots of little condiments, very flavourful. Ghanaian is a bit more simple - jollof rice, plantain, or some form of protein (chicken, goat, egg) with rice and some veg are the normal staples. by Ambry (Wed 7th Jul 2021 9:48am)
  • To be fair, most people just don't know about African cuisine and a lot of it can end up being quite similar within regions - the main distinctive cuisines in Africa are typically north african/morrocan, Ethiopian and South African and we just don't get much of it sadly! It is true though, Ghanaian food is as different to Ethiopian food as Japanese food is to Thai (or possibly even more different). by Ambry (Wed 7th Jul 2021 10:13am)
  • Yeah tbh for delivery that just isn't good enough, even if the food is amazing I want to know I'll actually get it! by Ambry (Wed 7th Jul 2021 11:11am)
  • OP have you tried flying? It is usually cheaper, though obviously the hassle of getting to the airport. However if you're worried about the environment or just prefer a coach/train, train is the way to go unless you're happy to spend all that time in the coach. by Ambry (Tue 20th Jul 2021 9:34am)
  • I've lived near Greenock and parents worked there a bit. There's gorgeous nature around but the town itsself has a bad reputation for being dodgy and its pretty bleak. Again, I've never lived there myself so can't say for sure but it's never been great when I've passed through. I'd never choose to live there personally. by Ambry (Mon 23rd Aug 2021 9:47am)
  • Poodles are actually super smart and capable dogs, their reputation as a girly/prissy breed is actually just due to their 'fashionable' show coat which is cut in a certain way. by Ambry (Mon 23rd Aug 2021 8:05pm)
  • And if I go to Thailand I can get a Thai curry for less than £2. Different countries have different living costs. by Ambry (Fri 27th Aug 2021 11:27am)
  • Most festivals they barely look in your bags, nevermind a pat down. There's just too many people! by Ambry (Thu 9th Sep 2021 10:36pm)
  • Been there recently - delicious and nice to have South Indian food for a change! by Ambry (Tue 14th Sep 2021 4:51pm)
  • Exactly - who actually does this? A girl in my school used to drum in orange walks - clearly a family thing, but it is mad someone decides they are so sectarian that they want to devote time and effort to this. by Ambry (Sat 18th Sep 2021 6:34pm)
  • Public transport is shocking in many areas - I really like the Southside but would never have lived there as it took ages to get to the city centre from many parts, you kind of needed a car. by Ambry (Thu 21st Oct 2021 10:53am)
  • Exactly. If you live near a train or subway station its fine, if you don't then its a nightmare. Friend lived in the Southside, would take over an hour to get to her from the centre via public transport. I lived in Paisley, could get the train into the centre much quicker and I wasn't even living in the city like she was. by Ambry (Thu 21st Oct 2021 10:57am)
  • Yeah - if you live near a train/tube station you're sorted, easy to get about. If you don't? Good luck! One of the worst cities for public transport that I've lived in to be honest. by Ambry (Thu 21st Oct 2021 10:55am)
  • Exactly. If you live in Paisley there's trains going very, very frequently - I don't even check train times, I just show up at the station and there's most likely going to be a train to Glasgow in the next 10 minutes. by Ambry (Mon 1st Nov 2021 5:42pm)
  • Have to be honest, visited Manchester earlier this year and whilst I loved it, it made me a bit sad as Manchester reminded me of what Glasgow COULD be. Manchester isn't perfect but it has regenerated a lot of old, industrial buildings and it looks really impressive. Lots of previously shit districts, like Ancoats, are now thriving. So many of Glasgow's interesting or beautiful buildings are being left to rot. I've since moved to Bristol and its kind of like a hybrid of Glasgow and Edinburgh, absolutely jumping here aswell. Glasgow has so much potential but in its current state, the main draw is the unique Glaswegian identity and 'Scottishness' of the city. With the heritage left in disrepair, it is very much a 'poor man's' version of Manchester or Liverpool. by Ambry (Fri 5th Nov 2021 3:27pm)
  • Went here when I was younger - beautiful, lush and green. I actually preferred it to the botanic gardens as it was so big! This is really infuriating - how the fuck did this happen? by Ambry (Fri 5th Nov 2021 3:30pm)
  • Having been a student (and for a short time, working) in Edinburgh whereas I'm from just outside Glasgow, totally agree. Glasgow has a a great variety of restaurants at all pricepoints, whereas when I popped back to Edi to see friends I struggled a bit to find anywhere that I really wanted to eat. There's plenty but Glasgow just does it better. I've moved to Bristol now which is a lot more 'Glasgow-like' in terms of the food and nightlife. by Ambry (Fri 5th Nov 2021 3:39pm)
  • Tbh I think they are both very different. Ox and Finch is more upmarket, probably some of the best food I've had. Ka Pao is a bit more fun asian-fusion food. by Ambry (Fri 12th Nov 2021 11:04am)
  • This is the best advice - whenever my family pick me up from Glasgow airport its always the garage. by Ambry (Tue 7th Dec 2021 1:08pm)
  • Family friend got a Romanian dog, he is beautiful and such a friendly boy. by Ambry (Tue 14th Dec 2021 11:37am)
  • London's transport system is just so good, its so easy. Imagine if Glasgow had a really well integrated train, subway and bus system, it would be amazing. by Ambry (Thu 23rd Dec 2021 10:59am)
  • I'm just outside Glasgow - had first class post delivered about a week late and thought it was lost in the post, so I think there's definitely issues. by Ambry (Thu 23rd Dec 2021 10:57am)
  • My mum wanted to let her dog out when she a was a wee girl in the 70s, as she saw all the other dogs doing it. Her dog was a kind of greyhound mix so it was a nightmare getting him back and he wasn't allowed out for a wander again! by Ambry (Thu 23rd Dec 2021 11:16am)
  • For the sake of saving a year I'd be very tempted to go to Glasgow. A lot of my friends went to Strathclyde to do engineering, and it is definitely typically considered the 'engineering' uni with great industry links. However, Glasgow is also a very good university and for the sake of saving a year I would strongly consider going there. In short, both would be very good options! If you chose Glasgow over Strathclyde due to direct second year entry no one would question it, its not like you are choosing a 'bad' uni - its still Glasgow! I will say though, I did a postgraduate at Glasgow in a different field (law) and I found the uni to be very disorganised compared to my undergrad (Edinburgh). by Ambry (Fri 24th Dec 2021 11:56am)
  • Had food from Abandon Ship - burger could only dream of being bang average, the patty wasn't even staying together and was like actual mince in a bun. by Ambry (Sat 8th Jan 2022 11:44pm)
  • £600 for a full day isn't out of the ordinary, and a lot of the time if a piece is likely to take over 5 hours they will book you in for an all day slot as they aren't likely to fit anyone else around you. A 'quite large' realism piece isnt going to be done in 3 hours, a day slot makes sense. by Ambry (Sun 9th Jan 2022 10:04pm)
  • Just to flag, a lot of artists will only show you the design on appointment day and will make changes then. It can be annoying however I think its because when they show work in advance often people will ask to completely rework it, or if they draw up a design for in advance sometimes people cancel. This may change for big pieces but the artist may want a bigger deposit. by Ambry (Sun 9th Jan 2022 10:07pm)
  • Do you want a good, relatively large realistic tattoo? There's no way it will be done in 4 hours. I had a non realistic blackwork piece done on my thigh and it took four hours, another only slightly bigger than palm size took two and a half. by Ambry (Sun 9th Jan 2022 10:05pm)
  • >Possibly the most important: Remember that you don't live there. You'll be tempted to pop in - DON'T. You'll be upset with how loud they play music, or how rough they are with the furniture - TOUGH. They may want to paint or decorate in a way that you hate- OH WELL! It's their place, they're renting it, and they will not treat it the way you would want to, and you have to accept that. Absolutely. If you are a landlord you need to understand that you are providing them with their home, and you cannot be a control freak and just pop in whenever you like (or even regularly, to be honest). The best landlord is one you never hear from unless you need to get something repaired. by Ambry (Mon 17th Jan 2022 10:53am)
  • Paisley is trying to gatecrash because they weren't invited. by Ambry (Fri 28th Jan 2022 3:10pm)
  • Its so beautiful and interesting and would be a huge detriment to the museum (and realistically, Glasgow's cultural heritage) to sell it. Having a Dali in our museum is incredible, and it is a particularly striking and gorgeous one. At the end of the day what is going to be left? GCC have already basically destroyed the People's Palace - seeing pictures of the greenhouse barren and empty was horrible. What next? by Ambry (Mon 28th Feb 2022 10:59am)
  • Exactly - I love this, its just such normal things but it definitely feels like it is from a different time. The cars, the buildings, things for sale... feels like its a very 'in between' period that we don't see much. by Ambry (Thu 10th Mar 2022 11:15pm)
  • My family are from Paisley, no one in Paisley would consider themselves part of Glasgow if that helps. by Ambry (Fri 30th Sep 2022 5:47am)
  • I am on £70k and my take home is £3,300 after student loans and pensions! I was a bit shocked as it wasn't as much take home as I would have thought, but I am likely to also pay my loans off at one point and popping a fair chunk into pension so it is what it is. by Ambry (Mon 10th Oct 2022 3:18pm)
  • It's mad isn't it. I live in the South of England on £70k, moving to London soon for a pay rise. Even on a very respectable salary, it would be a true struggle to buy even a crap flat in London. I could be making maybe £20k less in Scotland and would probably have a better living standard with access to more mature and a bigger home. It's all a balance - I'm so excited to be moving to London and it is a fantastic place for my career to really grow in my industry (law), but I am already getting worried that rent will eat up so much of my salary. Everything is very relative to where you are in the country. by Ambry (Mon 10th Oct 2022 3:24pm)
  • Sorry this is a comment from a year ago so just getting up to speed - I've only mentioned Ghanaian and Ethiopian foodn in this comment but in a separate comment I was simply giving examples of distinctive African cuisine - of course there are plenty more great ones. Most people (me included, for many) don't get to try them all sadly. I was in Ghana for two months and did find it more simple, but not necessarily bad! Jollof rice was great, food was hearty. I think I was primarily staying in smaller communities so they did not have access to the really really delicious things, just the basic staples that was more simplistic. Senegalese food does look fantastic! by Ambry (Thu 2nd Feb 2023 6:37pm)
  • Thank you for these delicious recommendations! I think where I stayed in Ghana they did not have access the the best ingredients, so it is certainly the case that sometimes Ghanaian food cooked in different regions (or even abroad!) can taste even more delicious due to what you have access to. In terms of restaurants, my friend from Nigeria recently visited Glasgow and she went to a really good Congolese restaurant - I am not sure what the name of it is unfortunately, but if you do some googling you may be able to find it. I live in Bristol currently and there's a lot of yummy Caribbean/Jamaican food here which clearly has lots of African roots - plantain, bean, rice, stews, greens - and is completely delicious. by Ambry (Thu 2nd Feb 2023 7:11pm)
  • Both tbh. If its a random guest, what do you owe them? Just knock on the door, tell them to be quiet, and then the guest will take it up with the owner. Whenever I stayed in airbnbs the hosts made it extremely clear to limit noise at night, or the other residents in the area would not tolerate it and the airbnb wouldn't be able to keep operating. by Ambry (Sat 4th Feb 2023 11:52am)
  • I'm from just outside Glasgow and live in Bristol, living costs in Bristol are an absolute joke and finding a flat is extremely challenging. by Ambry (Tue 28th Mar 2023 5:32pm)
  • I live in Bristol, come from just outside Glasgow. Believe me when I say the Bristol Uni student population is probably one of the most pretentious and posh in the UK. by Ambry (Tue 28th Mar 2023 7:13pm)
  • So interesting! I always wondered exactly how they turned these little one room tenement flats into the ones people live in today. There's so much history in tenements... That mansion flat is truly beautiful. by Ambry (Mon 10th Apr 2023 6:52pm)