r/Glasgow Tools

farmer_jen

Reddit URLhttps://www.reddit.com/user/farmer_jen
Last 12 monthsTotalDeletedRemoved
r/Glasgow posts300
r/glasgow comments8300

Interests:

  • I'm also moving to Glasgow in the fall (pending Covid). My school recommended getting an AirBnB for a bit while I look for a flat, which would be a good place to self-isolate. You can get a whole place to yourself. People on this sub have mentioned grocery delivery, though I'm not sure which apps are best for that (I was hoping to ask myself), so maybe someone can enlighten us both! by farmer_jen (Mon 22nd Jun 2020 2:38pm)
  • Oh, that's great to know. I'm in the US and our grocery delivery is mostly through third party apps like Instacart. Thanks! by farmer_jen (Mon 22nd Jun 2020 4:01pm)
  • That is good to know! by farmer_jen (Sat 15th Aug 2020 6:33pm)
  • Remind me post-covid when I go home to visit and I'll definitely bring the goods. by farmer_jen (Sat 15th Aug 2020 6:41pm)
  • Oh, that's good to know! I usually shop small and local but our enormous department stores like Target are a crutch when you need a variety of things and are pressed for time. I am definitely ready to spend quarantine trying out different veggie sausage brands. by farmer_jen (Sat 15th Aug 2020 6:45pm)
  • Thank you! I love coupons so that is a very good plan. It's the tiny questions in life that always feel ridiculous to ask (like...where to buy cat litter, I guess) so I might take you up on that as more arise! by farmer_jen (Sat 15th Aug 2020 10:22pm)
  • It is very helpful! I'll have to get what I can for quarantine but after that I will be able to be more particular, so knowing about that store is very useful! by farmer_jen (Sat 15th Aug 2020 10:19pm)
  • This is a much more sensible shortage than the extreme demand on toilet paper in the US. by farmer_jen (Mon 17th Aug 2020 2:48am)
  • You know, I'd seen a couple of those bins around but never thought about cutting the boxes down to make them fit. It will be a pain to get all of them out but it's better than drowning in cardboard for months like I have been. Thanks! by farmer_jen (Tue 17th Nov 2020 3:37pm)
  • This is incredibly helpful! There are apparently quite a few near me; I'd only seen some further away than would be practical to walk, but I hadn't explored some of the streets near me that have them. by farmer_jen (Tue 17th Nov 2020 3:40pm)
  • I think the places you're seeing are specifically student halls. Are you looking to share or live on your own? You'll probably be able to find an available flat share. If you rent private accommodation on your own, be advised that you may need to pay 6 months upfront without a UK guarantor. by farmer_jen (Wed 25th Nov 2020 10:37am)
  • I'll second the other recommendations of Spareroom and Gumtree. I used Rightmove for private accommodation if you do go that route. (I'm also international and had to pay the 6 months, but my options were limited with a spouse and pets, so c'est la vie) by farmer_jen (Wed 25th Nov 2020 12:46pm)
  • I wanted to let you know that I kept this in mind while getting rid of the cardboard I had left after someone took the full boxes. I cut down the cardboard into smaller pieces and put as much as would fit in two grocery tote bags (since that's about my household recycling in a two week period), leaving out everything else. I took separate trips over three weeks to empty the totes in different bins so I wouldn't overload one big blue bin. It took a little longer but I definitely didn't want to fuck over the people in those flats, either. by farmer_jen (Sun 6th Dec 2020 4:45pm)
  • My flat has 2 blue bins for 12 properties, and the 16 day collection is usually more like 20. It's awful and overflowing all the time. We have 8 green bins for the same amount of properties and those tend to be picked up in a timely manner, thankfully. by farmer_jen (Wed 17th Feb 2021 12:31pm)
  • Oh wow, that's good to know. I have mild asthma (inhaler once or twice a week) and figured I wouldn't be considered, but I certainly won't complain if I'm offered it earlier. by farmer_jen (Fri 12th Mar 2021 4:50pm)
  • Where do you put the bags when they're filled? I bought a picker months ago but the bins in my flat building are constantly overflowing with just normal residential waste, so the only thing holding me back is where I would put the full bags. by farmer_jen (Thu 25th Mar 2021 9:48am)
  • Thanks! I'm an immigrant and my phone won't download certain local apps, including this one, but I figured out how to go through the website. by farmer_jen (Thu 25th Mar 2021 10:28pm)
  • I just filled it out and got a response back in 10 minutes. 33 with controllable asthma and I'm on June 8. It's so good to have a date! by farmer_jen (Wed 19th May 2021 12:57pm)
  • I'm also a woman in my only 30s at Strathclyde- feel free to reach out! Advice here is solid, and the uni is central so you have your choice. Honestly I would recommend getting a hotel/AirBnb for the first month so you can get a feel for the places. I read a lot of advice on this sub and then walked around the areas once I was here and chose a place based on that. Google Maps and advice help, but it doesn't replace actually seeing the places. by farmer_jen (Tue 25th May 2021 10:31am)
  • Of course! by farmer_jen (Tue 25th May 2021 1:41pm)
  • It was still up when I walked past this afternoon. Lots of flags and some cute set design in a few windows. by farmer_jen (Mon 12th Jul 2021 5:33pm)
  • Yeah, it's really rough. I moved from abroad and had to pay 6 months of rent upfront. I'm old and thankfully had savings to pull from, but it was still a lot on top of plane tickets and other general moving fees. by farmer_jen (Mon 11th Oct 2021 4:09pm)
  • Serious answer, but you might want to consider laser hair removal. Takes about 4-5 sessions to get everything gone but it's permanent and not that pricey. I can give more details in DMs if you'd like. by farmer_jen (Sat 30th Oct 2021 3:15pm)
  • Have you found a solution or what might be causing this? I also moved into a new place a couple of months ago and also just received a crazy high electric bill, so I've been reading the comments with interest. by farmer_jen (Thu 24th Feb 2022 6:59pm)
  • I've only rented through agencies and have my cats with me. No extra fee. Honestly, it's just wading through a bunch of ads that say no until you find the ones that say yes. by farmer_jen (Mon 28th Feb 2022 5:22pm)
  • Damn, sounds awful. I hope the issues can be fixed and your bill gets a lot lower! I think I'm going to call one as well...some of the things are beyond me figuring out a DIY fix. by farmer_jen (Tue 1st Mar 2022 2:40pm)
  • The other commenters have hit most of the notes, but here are a few things I'd add as a fellow immigrant: 1. Getting a bank is a #1 priority. I'm a student and my school had a list of banks I could go to without issue, and your job should hopefully provide the same. My husband has a job but they didn't provide the easy route and it took him a week longer to get a bank account than me. I could use my foreign card until I got a bank card, but it was a pain in the butt and there were extra charges. 2. You can get a pay-as-you-go phone plan at first (you don't need a bank or in-country credit for that). I used the phone I already had. I transferred my foreign number to Google Voice and keep in touch with people through that, and it works well. There are so many different phone companies. I use Three, and my husband uses EE, and we have mostly good coverage (and in the spots where one of us has low coverage, the other has high coverage, so it works). 3. Grocery delivery requires an in-country phone number (as I found while in 2 week quarantine and without a phone number). 4. Your in-country credit starts from nothing, so rental places likely want a guarantor. If your job won't do that for you, they might ask you to pay up front (6 months is the most they can request). Apparently you can get around this with private landlords, but I was nervous about getting scammed and went through a letting agency. The 6 months up front hurt, but when I moved a year later they didn't ask me to do it again, so at least there's that. 5. I like the site RightMove for finding places, as other commenters have suggested. It will also tell you the council tax band on there so you have a better idea of monthly costs. When I was looking for places, I would go for a walk in the areas with a lot of options and see how I felt in them. Some looked nice on Google Maps and really bad in person, and some had the opposite. 6. Don't be afraid to live further out than city centre. You'll be able to find a nicer place with more space further out. A colleague of mine has a wife and baby with him and they have a terrace house in Paisley that they like. It's not far from city centre at all. 7. People are really nice. If you don't know how to pronounce a street name, you can ask people and they'll actually tell you the real answer instead of messing with you. It's great. by farmer_jen (Sun 13th Mar 2022 10:00am)
  • I'm an American postgrad at Strathclyde and I think you'll be fine. There are lots of social clubs and there are always other new people starting at the same time as you, plus people have been a bit isolated for the past couple of years so everyone's extra social. Even outside the uni, people are really nice. by farmer_jen (Mon 14th Mar 2022 10:11am)
  • Not the OP but thank you for the Glaswonders recommendation. I've been looking for board game buds. by farmer_jen (Fri 8th Apr 2022 2:41pm)
  • Got mine done at Forevermore Tattoo. There was a bit of a wait to get it done but they were really nice. by farmer_jen (Sun 24th Apr 2022 9:09pm)
  • I live on a side street near a Rangers pub and the best bet is to finish what you need to do early on match days (also a woman but not Irish). There's trash all over the next day and when they win it's very loud outside for a bit, but outside of that it's relatively quiet. I do live far enough down the side street that the trash doesn't make it to my flat, but I wouldn't want to live right next to the pub. by farmer_jen (Tue 17th May 2022 10:18am)
  • Absolutely this. I bought a new bed because I wanted a King and couldn't find one in a charity shop, and the new bed and frame were more than the sofa, lounge chair, ottoman, dining table, dining chairs, 3 end tables, and 2 night stands that I bought at British Heart Foundation all combined. Bonus: Ikea sofas are really hard when they're new, but the samples feel softer from people sitting on them all the time. With charity shops, what you sit on is what you get. by farmer_jen (Tue 12th Jul 2022 12:03pm)
  • I go to Metro Laser Clinic. They frequently have deals on when you get multiple sessions. by farmer_jen (Mon 18th Jul 2022 12:39pm)
  • I haven't gone yet but I saw someone recommend the queer board game group Glaswonders on this sub before: https://www.instagram.com/glaswonders/ by farmer_jen (Mon 18th Jul 2022 12:46pm)
  • The broken glass is what really gets me. Everything else looks gross but the glass is dangerous, and it's just absolutely everywhere. I don't know how anyone walks a dog or wears sandals. by farmer_jen (Mon 18th Jul 2022 2:48pm)
  • Every one of these threads about the trash has multiple responses about the council or seagulls, like a seagull is breaking glass bottles on the sidewalk and the council is leaving takeaway containers in the middle of the park. It's so frustrating. by farmer_jen (Thu 21st Jul 2022 9:27pm)
  • I did the same thing as vientianna and had the same experience. It might depend on the letting agency; mine explicitly said to use their cleaners and they would contact the cleaner if they were unsatisfied. by farmer_jen (Wed 24th Aug 2022 3:46pm)
  • Does the app always work for you? Every time I've tried the QR code won't scan. The drivers don't care (sometimes they don't even check it) but it's still strange. by farmer_jen (Sun 11th Sep 2022 10:08am)
  • Oh, that's a good point! I never check it since it works on all the coffee shop scans but maybe the bus is just picky by farmer_jen (Sun 11th Sep 2022 12:54pm)
  • This is a good suggestion. It's a bit noisy sometimes but not too much. Bonus: coffee is pretty good. by farmer_jen (Fri 30th Sep 2022 10:21am)
  • I'm a mature student with cats. It's hard when you filter through the rentals and there are SO many "no students" and "no pets" listings, but they do exist! Of all the places I contacted that didn't mention pets in the listing, only one said no pets when I reached out. I've had my flat since November and it was hard to find places then (way harder now, I imagine!). I have a working spouse (makes it easier to find places) but I'm also a reltively recent immigrant (makes it harder to find places). My tip is that when you get a viewing and you like the place, chat with the person doing the showing and show your enthusiasm plainly. There were a lot of people at the showing of my flat but my husband and I chatted up the letting agent and were pointing out all the things we liked, and the guy mentioned that he selected us for the enthusiasm. by farmer_jen (Sun 16th Oct 2022 11:29am)
  • I also use the one over the squinty bridge and we just need to use our cards to activate the locks on the women's side. Surprised they don't have the same tech in each locker room! by farmer_jen (Fri 4th Nov 2022 10:58am)
  • Bizarre! by farmer_jen (Fri 4th Nov 2022 1:17pm)
  • I just had one done by him and love it. Had to wait 10 months for a space but it was worth it. by farmer_jen (Fri 9th Dec 2022 5:00pm)
  • Electric bills have skyrocketed recently, so unfortunately it might be normal. If you want to see what is using the most heating you can try turning off individual circuits when you're out for a day and do morning/evening readings. It's annoying as hell to do, but I did this when I got a crazy bill last year and found one heater that should never be on. If there's no one item using a lot of electricity, you might be able to apply for aid from your uni. by farmer_jen (Sun 11th Dec 2022 12:15pm)
  • I'm in Govan and our green bins have been regular but the blue bins haven't been since the beginning of December either. No response after reporting multiple missed bins on the app. I took advice from another post and looked up the councillors and wrote to all of them; got a response from 2 and our next blue bin day is supposed to be tomorrow, so we'll see. I hate having to be a Karen but I just want to take out my recycling. by farmer_jen (Fri 20th Jan 2023 12:04pm)
  • Good news: Our bins were taken out today, on schedule! Bad news: The bins were literally taken out. As in, they were removed entirely from the building and taken away, and there is now an empty space where they once were. Hopefully your recycling was removed in a slightly less literal manner. by farmer_jen (Sat 21st Jan 2023 4:02pm)
  • I always go to metal shows alone because my husband doesn't like metal, and I end up making friends at each show. If you just chat about shows and music you won't come off as creepy. Plus if you get a nice spot up front, chatting with the people next to you means your spot will still be there if you get a drink and come back. by farmer_jen (Sun 22nd Jan 2023 5:17pm)
  • I think they might. I'm an immigrant and got a jury summons a few weeks after getting on the electoral roll. I can't even serve because I haven't been in the country long enough yet. by farmer_jen (Thu 26th Jan 2023 10:34pm)
  • Damn. I'm from the US and my dental insurance was half that. Truly ridiculous. (I've had to go private the whole time I've been in Glasgow but they're just charging per appointment, at least). by farmer_jen (Wed 29th Mar 2023 2:00pm)
  • Glass goes in purple bins. You can find the nearest one to you [here](https://glasgowgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=345f389a91ff4f1fa193b24df832fb05). Type 1 and Type 2 plastic can go in the blue bin. Other plastics go in the green bin, unfortunately. by farmer_jen (Mon 17th Apr 2023 9:06pm)
  • I hadn't seen them before but saw them this week as well while I was out with a friend. Did my general tactic of pretending I don't know English. If you're multilingual, can confirm that they don't know Spanish or ASL, and they seemed to only know a couple words of BSL and Italian. by farmer_jen (Thu 11th May 2023 7:04pm)
  • I think this is more effective with some people than others. I have Resting Friendly Face so even a blank or negative look makes me look like an easy mark. by farmer_jen (Fri 12th May 2023 11:32am)
  • I'm all out, but I'm hoping someone with more options can test further! by farmer_jen (Fri 12th May 2023 8:43pm)
  • If you're using Google Maps, the different bus lines are in different colours. If you click on the route, at the bottom it will say Agency Info, and clicking on that will specify which bus company it is. That said, it is truly a mess, and I have to rely on a combo of Google Maps and the individual bus apps to figure out where to get a bus and when/if it might possibly be arriving. Good luck! by farmer_jen (Wed 17th May 2023 9:20am)
  • This is also a good option. by farmer_jen (Wed 17th May 2023 9:40am)
  • I also looked into making my own (accommodating the massive length of cucumbers here) and I might try one of those 24 hour recipes mentioned in another comment. I want that crunchy garlicky flavour. by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 4:02pm)
  • I'll definitely give them a try! Even if it's not quite what I'm looking for, one pickle not being quite right is better than a whole jar of them not being quite right. by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 4:42pm)
  • My true wish was clearly for the male strip club from Bob's Burgers. by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 4:45pm)
  • I think I'll be waddling about on a pickle quest this weekend and will definitely report back. by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 4:52pm)
  • Oh man, if you can't find them in London I imagine I won't get anything close here. I visited London for the first time ever last month and had both an excellent bagel and a crawfish boil, so I built it up in my head as The Place to Get Imported Comfort Food. by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 4:55pm)
  • I MEAN I won't say no to some delicious pickles!! Thank you, kind stranger! by farmer_jen (Fri 2nd Jun 2023 10:55pm)
  • Oh my gosh, thank you! I would absolutely pay you back for such a gesture. I am indeed southside. by farmer_jen (Sat 3rd Jun 2023 7:28pm)
  • Completely fine, no worries! by farmer_jen (Sun 4th Jun 2023 9:05am)
  • I have cats but have used Pawshake with good results. People set their prices depending on the exact service they're offering. I've seen some ridiculous prices on there, but I just don't contact those ones since most people are reasonable. by farmer_jen (Tue 4th Jul 2023 9:21am)
  • Seconding Forevermore. I've had three done there. by farmer_jen (Fri 14th Jul 2023 1:42pm)
  • I think part of packing will be how long you intend to stay. I moved here from Florida 3 years ago and thought I'd be cold all the time, but I acclimated after the first year and now I definitely feel like I'm roasting on some days I would have considered cold before. I brought all my clothes since it's a long-term move, and I mostly dress in layers. A tank top was still nice to have to layer under other things, even in that first year, because sometimes you'd go inside somewhere with the heating ALL the way up and you'll really want something lighter. If you already have some waterproof stuff, bring it, but if you're missing something wait to buy it until you're here. For shoes, you'll want a lot more water-resistant stuff than you might be used to wearing, not just for active rain but also for the puddles and mud in a lot of places afterward. I also don't wear sandals here at all because there's a lot of broken glass and I tend to shuffle when I walk. by farmer_jen (Tue 18th Jul 2023 10:05am)
  • I got my US-based friend a couple of cute baby things from Maia Gifts on Bath St. Now that I'm about to have my own baby and know more, the things I need multiples of and don't have are socks and bibs. I believe they have both with highland cows on them. by farmer_jen (Fri 11th Aug 2023 3:26pm)
  • Not sure about the gravy, but I got some biscuit mix from Lupe Pinto's recently and it was pretty good. Not quite as buttery/salty as a Southern biscuit, but solid. by farmer_jen (Mon 14th Aug 2023 2:14pm)
  • Imagine a kind of savoury scone, extra salty and buttery, that kind of crumbles when you bite into it. They're super good, especially fresh. If you have any friends visiting the US in the future, ask them to bring home Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit mix (available in most supermarkets) because it's one of the best kinds of make-at-home I ever found. The mix I just tried out had the texture right and the flavour was pretty good, so it's a good first try, I think. If you have a fan oven doing the temperature conversion is a little spotty but mine still came out well. The white gravy is generally pork-based and I haven't eaten it in like 15+ years, but I remember it being very salty. There might be recipes online, or potentially a mix for that too. by farmer_jen (Mon 14th Aug 2023 2:24pm)
  • My husband was paying the full amount when he should have gotten the discount because I'm a full-time student, and he was able to get it back (or rather, they refunded it moving forward, so he paid less than the discounted rate for a while until he "got his money back"). He was only overpaying for a few months and it took a couple of months to resolve. I'm sure you'll be able to put it through but it might take a while. by farmer_jen (Wed 23rd Aug 2023 12:22pm)
  • I don't practice but have a very Jewish last name. Nobody has seemed to pick up on it, or if they have they haven't said anything or changed the way they spoke to me. by farmer_jen (Fri 25th Aug 2023 1:54pm)
  • I've also had this reaction (though not the terrible "joke") and now I'm wondering if it's the accent as well. I guess one positive of them thinking we're tourists is the assumption that we can't get cash out. by farmer_jen (Tue 29th Aug 2023 8:49am)
  • Seconding this. My husband found a D&D group through that page. It can be hard to join a game because there are a lot of people who want to play and they snap up spots pretty quickly, but if you DM you'll find a group immediately. by farmer_jen (Thu 14th Sep 2023 11:29am)
  • Not that I've seen. Geek Retreat might also be a good shout, but it can be a mixed bag who you end up playing with since it's not like you can chat with them first. by farmer_jen (Thu 14th Sep 2023 4:22pm)
  • BHF will deliver stuff inside your flat for you. I'm on the first floor and while my building does have a lift, some of the furniture was too big for it, and they just took it up the stairs. You do have to pay a delivery fee in general but it's absolutely worth it. They put each piece in the room I needed, too. by farmer_jen (Mon 2nd Oct 2023 5:05pm)
  • The maternity building is next to the children's building, but the entrance is on the other side. If you're coming from the bus/drop-off area, keep the children's building on your left and the maternity building will be ahead on your right. The emergency entrance is facing the children's building, but walk around the building and you'll be able to go in the main entrance. (I'm not sure how to approach if you're coming by car; maybe a more straightforward way) Once inside, the day care section is on the ground floor past reception. There's good signage once you're inside. by farmer_jen (Thu 12th Oct 2023 12:05pm)
  • I really liked this as well, though heads up to the OP that you have to stand for a while for parts of it and that may be uncomfortable while very pregnant. by farmer_jen (Fri 20th Oct 2023 8:21pm)
  • You mentioned knowing about needing a guarantor but not if you have one. If you don't, you might need to pay 6 months' rent (legally the maximum amount they can ask for) up front. I guess that would just be your whole stay. Like others said, the market is really tough right now, so staying in student accommodations is your best bet. They generally also include utilities so you won't have to weigh being warm against really high electric bills. If you absolutely insist on private rentals, be very enthusiastic at showings and willing to transfer money on the spot. They still might not be willing since you won't be here very long and they'd just have to find a new tenant again soon Source: I'm also an international student at Strathclyde but I have a family and have to rent privately. by farmer_jen (Wed 1st Nov 2023 10:38am)
  • Damn, that's intense. I had to pay the 6 months up front to my first agency but thankfully didn't have to with the second one since I'd established credit by then. I can't imagine how I'd be feeling if I had a guarantor and they still wanted that much up front. by farmer_jen (Wed 1st Nov 2023 11:18am)
  • I've been pierced by both Alison and Dani at Forevermore Tattoo. They're very nice and will go at whatever pace you'd like, and make sure you feel okay between piercings. They'll also give you a lolly afterward if you ask (I did; I'm 35. No shame). by farmer_jen (Wed 1st Nov 2023 6:12pm)
  • I magically receive a phone call every time I walk by them. by farmer_jen (Sun 26th Nov 2023 8:22am)
  • Hey, heads up that that role doesn't pay enough to qualify for a skilled worker visa (source: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job). The next page shows instances where you can be paid less, but this role doesn't apply. I know that's probably not the answer you wanted to hear, sorry. I'm here on a student visa and keeping really keyed into potential future opportunities, so I know how hard it can be. If you're willing to try another line of work, there's a list of sponsors here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers . Management experience in a hectic environment can transfer really well. Good luck! by farmer_jen (Fri 1st Dec 2023 8:50pm)