r/Glasgow Tools

sumokitty

Reddit URLhttps://www.reddit.com/user/sumokitty
Last 12 monthsTotalDeletedRemoved
r/Glasgow posts100
r/glasgow comments4000

Interests:

  • And from a purely selfish perspective: trains are much safer, you can read a book or doze or just stare out the window, and you don't have to worry about (or pay for) parking. I much prefer not having a car. And car-sharing schemes are great for the rare occasions when you really need one. by sumokitty (Tue 29th Oct 2019 4:29pm)
  • The creepiest part about this is the lack of graffiti. by sumokitty (Fri 3rd Jan 2020 10:03pm)
  • I think you'll probably find an engineering job pretty quickly. My partner was working as a process engineer within a month of moving to the UK. The hiring process is generally slower and salaries are lower than in the US (I don't know how Canada compares), but engineers are highly in demand and being able to start immediately is a huge bonus, as people are often required to give 30-90 days notice at their current jobs. Good luck! by sumokitty (Fri 3rd Jan 2020 11:04pm)
  • It's just unsettling. This seems like an ideal spot for graffiti, so the blankness makes it seem post-apocalyptic or something. by sumokitty (Sat 4th Jan 2020 12:28am)
  • Ah, I see. If I knew, I guess it wouldn't be creepy! by sumokitty (Sat 4th Jan 2020 2:10am)
  • That's awesome, thank you so much! We were wondering about the cottages as well, so thanks for mentioning them. I'm new to the area (obviously), so don't know where the neighborhood boundaries are, but it seems obvious in retrospect that it would be the same as the park. by sumokitty (Mon 4th May 2020 8:01pm)
  • What a shame so much was torn down! Probably could have been converted to trendy lofts at some point. by sumokitty (Mon 4th May 2020 8:27pm)
  • So cool, thanks! by sumokitty (Tue 5th May 2020 8:57pm)
  • Very cool! But what's a dummy railway? by sumokitty (Tue 5th May 2020 9:06pm)
  • Was there supposed to be an actual railway there at one point? by sumokitty (Wed 6th May 2020 1:55am)
  • Interesting, thanks! by sumokitty (Fri 8th May 2020 1:53am)
  • It just became one of the seasonal flu strains -- its descendants are still going around every winter. The same could happen with COVID, but like the Spanish flu, it could get worse before it gets better. by sumokitty (Sun 19th Jul 2020 2:42am)
  • https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-daily-data-for-scotland/ by sumokitty (Mon 11th Jan 2021 12:45am)
  • This is a really good point. I read an article recently about how Chicago's high murder rate is almost entirely because of a single neighbourhood. Everywhere else in the city is pretty average. I imagine it's similar in most big cities. by sumokitty (Sun 24th Jan 2021 2:24pm)
  • I'm in a similar boat, but also work evenings, so can't do weeknight classes or meetups. Seems like there are a few of us in the same situation -- maybe we could put together a grown folks meetup one weekend? by sumokitty (Thu 7th Oct 2021 2:36pm)
  • Not sure what your point is here... You'd expect to see more car and pedestrian deaths, as many people drive and most people walk regularly. I doubt 10% of people cycle regularly, so I suspect that the death rate is much higher among cyclists (and especially motorcyclists). by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 12:48pm)
  • Basically, snobbery. People used to just write things as they sounded, so there were no official spellings. Once people began to create English dictionaries (late 18th-early 19th centuries), particular spellings were chosen and those became the official ones. Americans sought to rationalise spellings by making them closer to the way the words sounded (and differentiate the American language from the British), while British authors preferred the French or Latin spellings, as those were seen as more prestigious. That's how we ended up with things like colonel and victuals that are spelled nothing like they sound -- it wasn't tradition, it was a conscious decision to make the spelling conform to the Latin roots in spite of its English pronunciation. The development of the English language is a fascinating subject. You'll find many short articles online, but if you want a REALLY deep dive, I recommend the History of English podcast. by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 1:19pm)
  • I specifically mentioned French...? by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 1:49pm)
  • Again, I explained this above... The French spellings were chosen over other possible spellings because it was a prestige language. Like Greek and Latin, it would only have been familiar to the rich and educated, so was seen as superior to the vernacular spoken by regular people. Hence the spellings chosen to conform to those historical roots rather than actual English pronunciation. I'm not saying there's no snobbery in the American version -- going with "modern, rational" spellings was specifically rooted in opposition to the British approach, which is a kind of snobbery in itself. I don't know anything about how Gaelic came to be written, so can't speak to that. by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 2:08pm)
  • Of course not. I love language diversity. Which is why I don't see the point in trying to make someone else conform to your way of doing things. I wasn't actually arguing with you, just trying to answer your question because it's a subject I find interesting. by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 2:33pm)
  • I do, and I fully support Gaelic education and would love to see it become ubiquitous like in Ireland. Correcting English learners on Reddit when discussing an unrelated subject doesn't help your cause. by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 2:45pm)
  • Correcting someone's spelling in this context isn't helping, though. It's derailing the conversation at hand. You've successfully derailed me, so congrats, I guess? I know Irish isn't widely spoken, but at least the government is supporting and trying to increase its use, which I think is a good thing. I'm curious whether you support the use of Scots as well? by sumokitty (Sun 5th Dec 2021 3:11pm)
  • They were probably expecting some no-shows and rescheduling. It's good news that everyone showed up, really. by sumokitty (Sat 18th Dec 2021 1:48pm)
  • Agree about Ziques. Food was fine, but overpriced, loud, and no atmosphere. Many better places nearby. by sumokitty (Tue 28th Dec 2021 12:27am)
  • Worth going to the top for the view, IMO. That or the flagpole in Queens Park. by sumokitty (Fri 31st Dec 2021 2:08am)
  • My only basis of comparison is Brighton, but when I lived there I paid twice the council tax on half the space and the city's even dirtier. Glasgow definitely needs improving, especially when it comes to cleanliness, but I don't think the council overcharging us is part of the problem. by sumokitty (Tue 25th Jan 2022 2:33pm)
  • Sorry, my point was that I don't think they're overcharging. Maybe if they raised the rates a bit, they could afford to provide better services. by sumokitty (Tue 25th Jan 2022 6:58pm)
  • There's a fancy new boxing gym in Milngavie called BXNG. I haven't tried their boxing classes (just a regular PT session), but it's a lovely space and very friendly. by sumokitty (Mon 20th Jun 2022 1:00am)
  • Seriously though, seek out some media made by Glaswegians and try to get used to the accent and vocabulary. My partner and I did this between visiting and moving and it helped quite a bit. Still couldn't understand one of our movers, though! by sumokitty (Wed 13th Jul 2022 1:15pm)
  • Agreed. None of this sounds any different from what I've experienced living in other big cities for the last 25 years. At least now it's mostly little phone speakers playing obnoxious music and not giant boom boxes. by sumokitty (Wed 20th Jul 2022 1:38am)
  • I'll second this advice -- consuming as much Scottish/Glaswegian media as we could before moving really helped me and my partner adjust to the accent and local vocabulary. by sumokitty (Fri 26th Aug 2022 2:10am)
  • Toilet Seat, called that because of his unfortunate facial hair. by sumokitty (Fri 16th Sep 2022 12:16am)
  • It doesn't snow much here (winter is mostly just constant drizzle punctuated by the occasional wind storm), but the roads are generally much smaller than in the US, so it can be pretty stressful driving here at any time of year, especially in the countryside. I'd be inclined to just use public transport if you're only going to be here for a few months. It's easy to get around Glasgow itself and there are plenty of great places you can go by bus or train. Christmas is lovely here, despite the weather. Lots of lights, especially around George Square, and plenty of holiday markets, craft fairs, etc. If you want proper snow, you may have to head up to the Highlands, since it rarely snows in Glasgow (but it's fabulous when it does!). by sumokitty (Fri 16th Sep 2022 12:46am)
  • One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the accent. You shouldn't have an issue with people understanding you, but you may have a hard time understanding them. It's not just the accent, but lots of different vocabulary as well -- British, Scottish, and specifically Glaswegian. I'd recommend trying to watch/listen to some Glaswegian TV shows and podcasts to try to acclimate a bit before you arrive (Limmy's Show, Still Game, and Burnistoun are some good comedy shows, and there are lots of good Scottish podcasts in various genres). Glasgow is a great city and there's incredible countryside nearby as well. You're going to love it! by sumokitty (Fri 16th Sep 2022 1:00am)
  • Before moving to Scotland, I think my only exposure to non-white Scots was Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movies. And maybe a Skittles ad? Definitely more representation needed! by sumokitty (Wed 21st Sep 2022 1:12am)
  • This is just what I needed, thank you so much! by sumokitty (Mon 21st Nov 2022 10:27pm)
  • Eh, Brighton is worse. The first time I visited Glasgow I was actually surprised at how clean it was. The UK in general has a litter problem. It's a beautiful country but we're way past due for a "Don't mess with Texas"-style consciousness raising. by sumokitty (Thu 13th Apr 2023 12:56am)
  • DIY is a good one! I love doing stuff like that with friends, but it starts to feel like an imposition to ask for help with those kinds of projects as people get older and busier. I can't be the only one who would be happy to get together to refinish some cabinets. by sumokitty (Sat 15th Apr 2023 6:19pm)
  • As an American, I love a drive-through, but there's absolutely no reason for them in a dense urban area. Save them for motorway services where they belong. by sumokitty (Sat 27th May 2023 9:07pm)
  • I think this is just a rural thing. My current in-laws in the US and former in-laws in France both do this. I've always lived in flats, but I basically do the same thing indoors by storing extra drinks in a trunk under a window in the coldest corner, which keeps them cool most of the year. by sumokitty (Mon 19th Jun 2023 10:05am)