r/Glasgow Tools

IllithidWithAMonocle

Reddit URLhttps://www.reddit.com/user/IllithidWithAMonocle
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  • *Glaswegians, not Glasgowlites So as much as I'd love to recommend things in Scotland, with only 30 hours, Edinburgh is the right choice. It's a gorgeous city, plenty to do, very tourist friendly. In general, my rule for people is that if you're going to move to Scotland, go to Glasgow. If you're going to visit, go to Edinburgh That being said, if you're wanting to get out of the city and enjoy some scenery, the Loch Lomond area is definitely the right call. Balloch is great, there's an easy hill to climb (conic hill) right by Balmaha, and plenty of places for food in any of the small towns alongside the loch. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Tue 7th May 2019 10:31pm)
  • it's a good city, but the hotel in the advert is pretty run down and not really worth visiting. That being said, the street it's on (Sauchiehall) is good for a night out, especially if you're a student or under 30. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 14th Jun 2019 3:40pm)
  • Getting a Visa is actually a bit of a pain. Your best bet in that regard is to get a job with one of the larger multinational companies and transfer over. JPMorgan, Barclays, or Morgan-Stanley are probably your best bets by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 4th Sep 2019 7:53am)
  • If you aren't on a student visa, the main way is by getting sponsored, which is a bit of a pain. Best bet is with one of the big financial companies in Glasgow (JPMorgan, Barclays, Morgan-stanley, RBS). by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 22nd Jan 2020 12:08pm)
  • Dury Street is pretty great. Not the best table setup, but a friendly bunch. There's a group called G3 that rent out a place up near St. George's cross on Tuesday nights where you can play games all evenings. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 22nd Jan 2020 12:15pm)
  • What others said. Stay in the city center, which is a good place to go out and see the city. Easy train out to the arena, and easy access to the subway/trains for other stuff around the city. Another option, if y'all are wanting a nice place to stay, would be over in the West End near the botanic gardens or Kelvingrove park. Lots of nice green spaces to walk around in, you've got museums and the uni to visit during the non-curling time, and you can jump on the subway and get back to the city center in 10 minutes to get a train. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 13th Feb 2020 10:34am)
  • At least 2 huge new buildings, one for JPMorgan & one for Barclays, are being built. Glasgow is gaining a good rep for finance & tech, so a lot of companies are moving offices here. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 11th Mar 2020 8:42pm)
  • The people are definitely the highlight. Amazingly friendly, good humored, and welcoming. ​ Weird things I've realized: * Glaswegians say "how" when they mean "why" * Adding "Glasgow" as a descriptor makes something very nice become horrible and violent. Ex: Glasgow Smile, Glasgow Kiss * Irn Bru is awful, but Glasgwegians are in denial and will fight you if you say it. * It's most offensive thing you can call someone is a Tory. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 12:35pm)
  • I'm in the same boat as you with the spray tan. It never looks good, and I don't understand how it became so pervasive. You're a nation full of vampire-looking people, just accept it! by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 1:29pm)
  • *Sigh* Yeah, ok, that's fair. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 1:25pm)
  • That's because we would walk 500 miles, and we would walk 500 more. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 1:30pm)
  • That's not a Glasgow or even Scotland specific thing, though. Grew up in Texas and that was common place. I still don't know how far it was to Amarillo, but I know you it was 45 min if you caught the traffic lights... by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 5:43pm)
  • So the lesson I think we should take is: the English are weird. I'm fine with that. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 27th May 2020 5:50pm)
  • So if you call the police, they'll come and give a warning, ask to turn it down, etc. If they keep getting called back to the same location, they're authorized to confiscate literally *anything in the flat capible of making noise.* If your neighbor is using her Alexa, her pots and pans, her microwaves, whatever, to keep you up, the cops will literally take away her microwave to get the noise to stop. However, again, the only way to make this happen is after repeated reports by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 31st Jul 2020 11:19am)
  • General rule of thumb is 2 min between every station. Not 100% accurate, but surprisingly close by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 6th Aug 2020 2:55pm)
  • It's amusing to see all the native Glaswegians confused by this, but I 100% agree. When I moved here 7-8 years ago, people were unbelievably friendly. Giving directions when I was lost, being patient when explaining idioms and customs, occasionally taking the piss but only in a friendly way. I had only planned to live here for a couple of years, but the city was so fantastic I've settled here, got residency, and bought a place. It's not perfect and definitely needs work to make it better, but Glasgow is brilliant. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sat 6th Mar 2021 10:33am)
  • So in general, 10% over home report has been a decent rule of thumb. However in the Strathbungo area, things have been going for way over that. Had a friend put an offer in a couple weeks back for 25% over the home report and they still didn't get it. The proximity to Queens Park and the popularity of the area over the last decade has really messed with prices. You may want to go out to Battlefield or possibly Pollokshaws instead just to stay in the area but hey slightly more reasonable prices (or even to the northern side of Pollokshields). As weird as it sounds, if you're being shown the place by a realtor rather than the owner, straight up ask them what they're expecting. You'd be surprised how many times you'll get an answer from them that is in the ballpark. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 21st Apr 2021 11:57am)
  • Hey, fellow American here who relocated from Texas 8 years ago. You're in for a great time, Glasgow is a fantastic city! However, a few big points (both warnings and advice) so you can hopefully avoid making some of the mistakes I did! * Don't talk about Scottish ancestry. The only people who will care about that are shop owners in Edinburgh who want to sell you things. Regular Scots find it really, *really* weird when Americans talk about having Scottish ancestry. * Pronunciation: It's "Glaz-go" not "Glass-cow" and "Edin-bruh" not "Eden-berg." This will really annoy folks if you get it wrong * The Accent: There are Scottish accents, Glaswegian accents, and drunk Glaswegian accents. Just because you can understand one does not mean you will be able to understand either of the others. Expect to do lots of nodding and smiling the first few months til you get the hang of it. * Glasgow has the easiest subway in the world. It goes in a circle, and you'll either go one direction or the other. If you get on the wrong subway car, just stay on it for an extra 10 minutes and you'll be at your destination anyway. * Enjoy the parks! Kelvingrove Park (and the Kelvingrove museum) are excellent, and worth spending time in. Similarly Pollok park down in the Southside is absolutely beautiful, and also worth spending time in. * Glaswegians are extremely direct, and extremely friendly. I don't think I've found a city with nicer people than Glasgow; and because they don't get as many tourists here they aren't nearly as patronizing about foreigners as Edinburg. They'll give directions, invite you to join them for a pint, and be very welcoming. However, if you're being an ass or a jerk, they will not hesitate to tell you. So just be prepared for directness. * Glasgow has an excellent music scene (or at least it did pre-Covid), so make sure you take some time to find the bars/clubs/venues and enjoy it! King Tuts, Maggie Mays, Classic Grand are all great places. * Checking your post history, I'm seeing some from Austin, so welcome from a fellow Texan! Glaswegians have weird assumptions about Texas, so be prepared for lots of questions about guns. That being said, if you smile and say "y'all" you can get away with just about anything here. It's awesome. * Those are things off the top of my head, but once y'all move here feel free to shoot me a message or something and I'm happy to meet up and give a quick tour of the city or have a pint and answer some questions! by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 10th Jun 2021 1:49pm)
  • Buying/Renting/Moving at all right now is absolute chaos. A lot of people saved up money over the pandemic (if they were working), and are trying to buy places, so prices are soaring. But many people who are getting new-builds are delayed because of lumber and material shortages, so you've got some people who suddenly need to rent places for 6 months because their house isn't done when they were promised and they've already sold their current place, etc etc. Add that to all the students suddenly trying to find places as term kicks off, and it's a bit of a perfect storm at the moment. It's always rough in July/August, but this year seems to be even worse. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 16th Aug 2021 10:45am)
  • No idea how I never noticed this at my old flat; but glad to know that it isn't something weird I've done wrong at this house. Hopefully they'll stop before too long. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 1:57pm)
  • I've got one, but she seems more interested in catching mice outside, and bringing them into the house to torture til she eventually murders them. She's an adorable furry little sadist. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 2:14pm)
  • Yeah, hate to drop this on other people, just had to see if this was a natural thing to happen, or if I've somehow managed to anger the spider goddess to target me specifically... by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 2:26pm)
  • ...this is 100% a legit response. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 3:46pm)
  • I keep killing them, so I am certain it's been at least 5 separate spiders. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 5:44pm)
  • I definitely killed them, but I have not checked for Spider Necromancers. This could be bad... by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 5:47pm)
  • Brb, going to go scrawl "enemies of the heir, beware" on the bathroom mirror to freak out my wife. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 7:24pm)
  • Been in Glasgow for 8 years, but up til now have been in a non-ground floor flat, so this is the first time I'm having to deal with it en masse. A spider or two occasionally was no big deal, it was just the frequency and size that had me a big weirded out. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 7:30pm)
  • Yeah, no idea why they're so large. It's terrifying. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 30th Aug 2021 7:57pm)
  • I mean...I can't in good conscience ever recommend someone come to Glasgow in the winter. But if you do, I'd probably suggest late Nov or early Dec as there will be enough big Christmas stuff going on to make the city a bit livelier than it would otherwise be. January is basically dead as everyone is broke plus it's cold and rainy and miserable. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 7th Oct 2021 11:13am)
  • That's fair. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 7th Oct 2021 12:02pm)
  • I'm an immigrant; and my insistance on spelling things like this is my own silent protest against GCC's bin collection policy. When they fix it, I'll stop. Until then: Favorite Realize Car Tires Cab Intersection Y'all Color Garbage Can by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 7th Oct 2021 12:00pm)
  • Unfortunately, most of the places you're describing didn't survive the pandemic. Geek Retreat in the city center may be what you're looking for. They have space for boardgames, a few games for people to rent/try I believe, and food/drinks. Biggest heads up is they do a lot of CCGs, so you have to make sure you don't get there on MtG or Yugioh nights, or whatever folks are playing now. I'm hesitant to recommend Geek Retreat, because the clientele are often...very stereotypical nerds (the way that they would have been viewed back in the 90s), and in the past there have been some personal hygiene issues for some of the customers. However, I think it has gotten better in recent years, so this may be a very outdated impression of it. You could also look into [G3](https://www.facebook.com/groups/g3gamers). They meet on Tuesday nights not too far from the city center on Maryhill Rd. It leans towards wargamers, they do have a decent number of boardgamers as well. It isn't a cafe, but people are free to bring drinks/snacks, etc. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 7th Oct 2021 3:08pm)
  • Ugh, that would have been helpful for them to announce with a bit more warning. My bin pickup was today, but I didn't set them out last night because of the strike. So now I'm stuck waiting another 3 weeks for my Green Bin that was already nearly overflowing. I hate GCC so much... by IllithidWithAMonocle (Tue 9th Nov 2021 3:45pm)
  • You should be able to reach out to SPT, though I'll doubt they'll have anyone available til Monday. They'll do regular sweeps of the carriages and collect bags (or take the ones people turn in to them), and if you can provide a description of the bag and it's contents, they'll give it to you. No guarantees, but probably your best bet. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 24th Dec 2021 8:07pm)
  • You can be a decent landlord, if your focus is to not squeeze every penny you can from the tenant. * Don't randomly hike the rent. I'd probably say never hike the rent on someone who is living there, only raise it between tenants. * Make sure the flat is in good repair before you let it to anyone, and make sure that you're honest about the condition of the flat * Address concerns in a timely manner. If they say the toilet is broken, you're on the hook and should get it fixed just as quickly as if it were your own toilet. If nothing else, remember that getting things fixed quickly will save you money in the long run. * 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. * Don't be a douche. Talk to them like they're normal people, and treat them like you would any other neighbor. Last thing I would suggest, put in extra sound dampening on the floor if you buy it. You will be much happier if you never hear them or have to think about them. edit- I might also recommend that you set up a regular visiting schedule, maybe say "I'll come by once every 6 months." And come once in the Autumn to make sure everything is good before the winter, and once in the spring to make sure that there is no issue with damp and things like that after 3 months of solid rain. Aside from that NEVER VISIT UNLESS THEY ASK. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 17th Jan 2022 10:50am)
  • Ah, this is a good call. I was assuming that in the lease you gave them permission to paint; but if part of the lease agreement was "no paint without approval" or "you have to return it to the base color" than you can ignore my point. I'll add a note to the original post. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 17th Jan 2022 11:03am)
  • I used *McVey & Murricane*, was pleased with them when I bought my house a couple years ago. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 24th Jan 2022 2:05pm)
  • So on the west side of the park they're laying down new huge drain pipes, the same work that is being done down Mosspark Blvd. On the Southern side of the park it looks like they're laying down new paths and something else. They put in improved drainage in that area last year to keep that field from turning into a mudpit, but unclear what all the paths and new areas they're putting down are for. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 2nd Feb 2022 5:16pm)
  • You can order one via Randox, believe there is a place for pick-up/drip off in the city center, but you can Google "Randox fit-to-fly" and get the relevant info by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 25th Feb 2022 5:41pm)
  • Should only be a couple hours work, but with the demand lately you may be looking at up to 200 pounds. The one thing I will say is that under no circumstances should you ever hire *DM Electrical*. They "rewired" my kitchen, and had to get the entire thing redone after another electrician came in for a separate issue and was horrified at what they saw (which required me to get a 3rd electrician to come in as a neutral party so I could see who was screwing with me) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 24th Mar 2022 11:45am)
  • Take a look at /r/Glasgowdnd by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sun 3rd Apr 2022 12:33am)
  • So the city council is completely broke, largely because they're still paying out the big settlement from the Gender Equality fiasco from years back. Bin collection and road maintenance has taken a dive, so the town is dirtier and harder to travel in. A lot of businesses have still never reopened post pandemic, so the city-center, particularly around Central, is still struggling a lot. Rangers and Celtic celebrations seem worse than they used to be 5 years ago. However, there is a still a lot of investment happening in parts of the city. Barclays opened a huge new building on the South Bank, and are hiring thousands of people; JPMorgan is building a huge new building and hiring hundreds more, etc. So you have some really good investment happening. The Southside has completely exploded the last few years, and is now the must-live place in the city. Finding a place to live is much more difficult than it was pre-pandemic, but that seems to finally be settling. So honestly, it depends on where you are and what you are about. ...but the bin thing really pisses me off. Once every 3 weeks, and removal of public bins from parks? It's awful. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 23rd May 2022 1:25pm)
  • Shawlands is the epicenter, but you can also look in Pollokshaws, Pollokshields, Battlefield, and Maxwell Park. Just a heads up, real estate is pretty pricey there at the minute, possibly overpriced (though that's a guess, no telling what will happen long term, it might keep going up) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 23rd May 2022 4:46pm)
  • Yep. Was trying to give options. Maybe OP can afford Maxwell Park? by IllithidWithAMonocle (Tue 24th May 2022 3:55pm)
  • There is one guy who does this, hour after hour, every day. He's pretty universally despised around this subreddit (and the city) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 27th Jun 2022 1:54pm)
  • There is one guy who does this, hour after hour, every day. He's pretty universally despised around this subreddit (and the city) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 27th Jun 2022 1:54pm)
  • They should stop calling it "Glass-cow." They should visit Pollok Park + Burrell Collection, as well as Kelvingrove Park & Museum. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sun 17th Jul 2022 1:15pm)
  • They've jacked up the price of the airport bus again, unfortunately. It's getting absolutely ridiculous now. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 29th Jul 2022 5:03pm)
  • So, an important question: has your friend had authentic Mexican food (or authentic TexMex)? If the answer is no, see the answers already in the thread. If the answer is yes, DO NOT take him to any of these restaurants. The only place you'll get good authentic Mexican food is to go to Lupe Pintos on Great Western Road, and make it yourself. Or at the very least you can get decent tortilla chips and salsa that doesn't just taste like spicy ketchup. (Or message me and I'll give you a good salsa recipe if you want to go home made). Source: I'm originally from Texas, and the amount of disappointment I suffered trying to find some decent Mexican food in Glasgow the last decade has lead to much weeping. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 10:04am)
  • Just posted it above: https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/wumkmb/comment/ilb1p4v/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3 by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 12:04pm)
  • Just posted it above: https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/wumkmb/comment/ilb1p4v/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3 by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 12:04pm)
  • 1 big can whole tomatoes. About 20oz of it (so between one and two cans of the standard tomato cans you get in the shop. Don't bother with fresh; it's not worth it.) 1 jalapeno (I don't bother seeding, but try and get fresh ones from somewhere like Lupe Pintos) 1-2 cloves garlic 1 handful coriander (or maybe the amount you can stuff in a 1 cup measure) 4 baby sweet peppers or one red pepper. 1/4 onion Juice from 1 lime 1/2-1 tablespoon salt (Add last and to taste) With a blender, I would dice everything listed below the tomatoes. See if you can drain the juice from the tomatoes, then add that to the remaining ingredients to blend. Once everything is chopped pretty fine, add the tomatoes and blend until you get the chunkiness you like. At that point I just taste to see where it's at. You never know if you have a super hot jalapeno or a blah one. This isn't going to be the fanciest salsa, and it's definitely a bit of an art figuring out exactly how chunky or tomato-y or spicy you want it, so toy around with it a bit. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 12:04pm)
  • See, I know that SoCal style Mexican is legitimate, but it just feels weird to me. I'm too used to TexMex & Gulf mexican food, the west coast stuff is just strange. But that is a personal bias on my end, and definitely doesn't apply to everyone. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 12:00pm)
  • You can, it's just usually not worth the price differential and annoyance of getting the right amount, especially if you're struggling to get tomatoes in season. There are times when getting fresh fruit and veg is 100% worth it over the canned option (like pears). Other times (like this), it doesn't make enough of a difference that the effort is worth it. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 1:41pm)
  • ok, if it was in Minnesota, I can't guarantee but I'd wager money it was definitely not authentic Mexican food. That's like saying you came to the UK and had authentic Egyptian food. Possible, yes. Probable? Eh... If I was in the states, I would never eat Mexican food in Minnesota. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 2:43pm)
  • If you can find another place in Glasgow to buy salsa verde, please let me know! by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 4:53pm)
  • I am terrified of what my phone would turn up if I Google "Juicy Lucy" by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 4:58pm)
  • What I miss the most are the families who sold tamales from the back of a run down van in parking lots. Those were the best! by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 22nd Aug 2022 4:57pm)
  • Check out the subreddit /r/Glasgowdnd or their discord https://discord.gg/WBDe7fWA by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sat 27th Aug 2022 7:23am)
  • Make sure you go from Glasgow Queen Street station to Edinburgh Waverley. The train from Glasgow Central goes through a lot of small towns and takes 3x as long. Basically, from Glasgow if you go South or West, leave from Glasgow Central station. If you go North or East (like Edinburgh), leave from Queen Street station. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sat 27th Aug 2022 2:48pm)
  • Ok, biggest thing to make you aware of: Scotland during the summer is one of the most beautiful places you can imagine. Scotland during the winter is exceptionally depressing so you and your family need to be prepared - it will rain lightly for 3 weeks straight without any sunshine - It will get dark at 3-4 pm, and won't get light til 9am. - there is no snow. It will stay at 36°f / 2°c everyday, so everything is cold and wet Glasgow is a great place, people are friendly, and there are tons of things to do (see the other responses in this thread). But you need to be ready because it will be a shock to your system, especially if you're from somewhere in the Southern half of the US. A few other tips from an American who moved here a decade ago: 1) if your family is Scottish or if you have Scottish ancestry, no one here cares except for people in Edinburgh tourism shops trying to sell you things. People here get really weirded out by Americans doing this. 2) It's pronounced "Glaz-go" not "Glass cow"; "Edin Bruh" not "Edin burg." 3) Museums are free, and Glasgow has some really fun ones. Kelvingrove, Transport, and Burrell are all good 4) Shops close at 5-6pm every day but Thursday. If you're used to the US where you can run to Target at 9pm, you'll be in for a rough surprise. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 15th Sep 2022 9:23am)
  • Maybe one or two snows a year, usually under half an inch. We got about 6 inches a few years ago, and it shut the city down. There is more snow up in the highlands, including places to ski, but in Glasgow it usually stays rainy and in the mid-high 30s. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 15th Sep 2022 4:57pm)
  • I didn't know this was even a thing, but if it starts back up I'm definitely interested! by IllithidWithAMonocle (Tue 20th Sep 2022 8:40am)
  • All the comments (correctly) calling First Bus awful are correct, but here's the actual explanation for why this happens: The 8am bus (we'll call it bus A.) shows up a little late because of traffic, there are a ton of people so it takes longer than expected to load it. It continues on, late. It arrives at the next stop, and it now has to pick up all the people at that stop it normally would, plus all the people that would normally be getting the next bus. So this means it takes even longer to load all those people on. This continues, with each stop making it run further and further behind, because it essentially is picking up people who would usually be on the following bus (example: There's a bus at 805 and a bus at 820. If the 805 bus gets there at 815, it picks up everyone already waiting for the 805 and all the people who arrived between 805 and 815 who would normally get the 820. Meanwhile, the next bus comes, Bus B. Because Bus A had already picked up all/most of its passengers, it speeds through without issue, until eventually it's right behind bus A. Never actually needing to stop and pick up any passengers, because Bus A already is getting them all. But now Bus B is stuck behind Bus A, moving slowly, even though it isn't actually getting anyone onboard. (No idea why they don't have Bus B pass Bus A, they just don't). And here comes Bus C, stuck behind the other two with no one on it, because it had the exact same problem as Bus B, where so few/no people were waiting, it speeds though. So it just all gets backed up, until eventually the dispatch just says "Bus A, stop doing your route, just go to Buchannan or whatever, and let all the other buses continue." So then you have Bus B and C (and D?) speeding along, all empty, one after another. ​ Note this could all be solved with better dispatching/routing, and just having Bus B pass Bus A early on. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sat 3rd Dec 2022 6:01pm)
  • Roads and rubbish fixed. The state of the city is absolutely shocking. Potholes on every road, and every path looking like a bin was tipped on either side by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 29th Dec 2022 12:19pm)
  • Interesting. Maybe it's different depending on which part of the city you're in. I always get a reply that the situation has been passed to the relevant team, but I've yet to ever see litter actually picked up. It's still infuriating how covered with litter Glasgow is (but that's a different rant for a different thread). by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 3rd Feb 2023 1:55pm)
  • Try @silver_salt_ on Instagram. Have worked with her before, and she's fantastic. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Sun 5th Feb 2023 9:24am)
  • I've had very good experiences with Merchant City Print over near Strathclyde Uni. A1 prints with a fast turnaround at decent prices. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 27th Mar 2023 2:06pm)
  • The new drains and support they put in over Covid made it much, much better. The main area where the bands plan is pretty good now by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 23rd Jun 2023 11:18am)
  • Over the last 2 years, they've done a tonne of work to install new drainage and support in Bellahouston. Hopefully the mud won't be as bad as it used to be. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 23rd Jun 2023 11:17am)
  • ok, so weather: It'll be decent when you first get here, but winter is pretty miserable. Spring/Summer are great, and fall is hit-or-miss. During the autumn, it'll be around 10c during the day, rain off and on. Once it hits Dec-Feb, it will be between 0-5c every day and almost always rainy/dark. It's absolutely miserable. But hold on, spring and summer are coming, and they're wonderful. But for the winter, make sure you have a good coat/jacket that are waterproof. As far as a job goes, it's very unpredictable, and depends on your studies and uni work load. There are a lot of people who have jobs while attending, but it really does depend on every individual person. Making Friends: This one is always a bit tough. However, because you'll be starting at Glasgow Uni, there will be a bunch of people who are in the exact same situation. There will be a thing called "Freshers Week" right at the start of the year, when a lot of different clubs, organizations, etc, will all be providing information and welcoming new members; I'd recommend to take advantage of those. There will be some around sports like football or cricket, some around hobbies like videogames and rpgs, some around languages and cultures, some around relgion. You really do have a lot of options, and I'd advise you to try out new things that you maybe never thought of before! But overall, you're starting a new chapter in your life. Some times it will be very lonely and difficult, other times it will be overwhelming, and other times it will be the most fun you've ever had. Take it all in stride. People in Glasgow are very friendly, you'll adjust before too long. ​ Also, be prepared to struggle with the Glaswegian accent when you move here. Everyone does, no matter what their native language is. Give it time, and you'll get used to it. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 18th Aug 2023 3:37pm)
  • Nah, June was great, July sucked for a couple weeks, and the last week or two has been... *Looks outside at the storm blowing in* *Sigh* Look, just let me pretend, ok? by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 18th Aug 2023 6:01pm)
  • So I'd advise staying in Glasgow, because the hotels are much cheaper, and commute to Edinburgh. In another reply you mentioned train times, just make sure you get the train from Queen's Street station, and you get the express one (it leaves from the upper levels in Queens Street every 15 minutes). Do **not** get the train to Edinburgh from Glasgow Central, as it will stop in every single tiny town and take hours longer. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Fri 25th Aug 2023 1:58pm)
  • Hey, the NaNoWriMo group in Glasgow is pretty active, and a good community. Though most people are focused on novel writing, there are also folks who do poems, videogame & ttrpg writing, fanfic, etc. They have a fairly active discord, and meet in person weekly on Sundays (plus regular online meetups to either write or provide critique/feedback, usually on wednesdays) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 30th Aug 2023 11:22am)
  • Hey, so I can't invite directly into the server, but if you sign up at nanowrimo.org, and choose "Glasgow / West of Scotland" as the location, it will send you the discord invite. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Wed 30th Aug 2023 7:20pm)
  • A couple options that haven't been mentioned yet: For more boardgames and wargames check G3: [https://www.g3gamers.co.uk/](https://www.g3gamers.co.uk/) For the D&D Scotland discord: [https://discord.gg/4tct3kDXBW](https://discord.gg/4tct3kDXBW) by IllithidWithAMonocle (Thu 14th Sep 2023 11:04am)
  • So there's a ton of finance in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. As a general rule, Glasgow is much heavier on the tech side, Edinburgh is more on the financial services side (example: JPMorgan in Glasgow is exclusively tech, but JPMorgan in Edinburgh Park is Client Services and Investors). However, you've got things like Barclays in Glasgow which has both, and HSBC is in Edinburgh, so you've got options either place. by IllithidWithAMonocle (Mon 18th Sep 2023 11:04am)