r/Glasgow Tools

treetree2525

Reddit URLhttps://www.reddit.com/user/treetree2525
Last 12 monthsTotalDeletedRemoved
r/Glasgow posts420
r/glasgow comments6130

Interests:

  • I went somewhere altogether different for Uni (Stirling) but can vouch that the South Side has some quite nice parts in it, around Queen's Park/ Shawlands/ Strathbungo, with great amenities and good transport links into Glasgow. I think you can get some good housing in Govanhill too but maybe you would need someone with specific local knowledge to advise, some streets are nice there and some would make me anxious (though I admit I'm an anxious person). by treetree2525 (Wed 15th Jul 2020 3:56pm)
  • In the Southside, once Covid restrictions ease up, hopefully we will have the Finns Place wellbeing centre opening up again and there is another one called The Wee Retreat which had yoga/meditation/book groups going pre-lowdown and hopefully will again. In terms of quirky I would add The Queens Park Railway Club exhibition space at the railway station and lots of different international food offerings at the Milk Cafe and some of the (currently online only) things happening at the Glasgow Zone Library. So yes plenty of quirky stuff Southside/govanhill/strathbungo however there's a mix of good and bad housing situations and landlords. Worth taking the time to find a place you really like and not just the first one that comes along. by treetree2525 (Sat 15th Aug 2020 4:00am)
  • Glad you enjoyed your night. Seems like those are reasonable precautions. Like you, cinema was a big thing for me as I'm not much of a drinker so I am really hoping things work out. Maybe I should leave it a month and hear what people are saying. by treetree2525 (Sat 22nd Aug 2020 11:53pm)
  • I live Southside the place I went to on Victoria Road you just walked in, a place I phoned up on Pollockshaws Road was wallkin you just had to sign in your name and phone number. I did keep my mask on while getting the cut. Felt much better getting my first cut after five months. by treetree2525 (Sat 5th Sep 2020 6:04am)
  • This promises to be a very interesting season assuming they are able to play all the way to the end. Am considering getting the beers in and watching online with NFL gamepass. by treetree2525 (Sun 13th Sep 2020 4:47pm)
  • Not sure if it's running at the moment over Zoom, but Strathclyde Uni used to have a scheme where students on their counselling course would give you the supervised counselling sessions they needed before they could pass their course, and it would be free in exchange for filling out questionnaires plus a couple of sessions where a researcher interviewed you about changes they had noticed. Presumably this year's intake of students are not going to be let loose to graduate and practice without having some supervised hours too so maybe this will happen in a modified way. Alternatively I would recommend looking at the Psychology Today site to see if any local profiles are of interest. Some will say they are discounting at this time to help people affected by Covid or some will use the term "sliding scale" to indicate they adjust their fee for low waged/unwaged. For example someone charging £40 an hour might have a concession rate of £25 an hour. Given this has been a hellish year due to Covid you might think this is worth it to bypass NHS queues if there are other parts of life you can economise on. Good luck! Counselling can be very rewarding. by treetree2525 (Tue 15th Sep 2020 4:05am)
  • People make Glasgow and I think it's quite a friendly city in general. However every day I read on Glasgow Live about court cases of people doing vile things to others, which skews my view a bit I suppose. Then there are the everyday nuisances like people asking for change to visit their ma as they just got out the jail. Between them and the chuggers it can be like walking a gauntlet a bit. Like the old saying goes "I love humanity, it's the people I can't stand". Hmm wonder if that makes me misanthropic. by treetree2525 (Mon 28th Sep 2020 10:46pm)
  • Quite a few amenities and good cafes, pre-Covid the Bees Knees one used to have good open mic nights. I don't know much about the central European languages my hunch is that maybe it's Polish people rather than Czech I hear there, maybe there's a post on their Facebook page that would give a hint. Lovely cafe anyway (Bowman Street). Milk Cafe does a lot of special nights with different countries guest cuisine, see their Facebook page. Queens Park Railway Club is an art space in a former railway waiting room, eventually that'll be more active again I guess. Given your interests I think you might find some like minded people through Glasgow Zine Library, again they are doing some things over Zoom until things settle down. Ranjits Kitchen and Kurdish Street Food are tasty without being expensive. I don't move in circles where people employ others on a cash in hand basis but I believe the penalties for employing people without the right working visa are pretty steep so it might be tricky to find and the only real incentive for an employer to do it would be to get away with illegally crappy pay and working conditions. From the way you describe yourself I think you'd fit in fine in Govanhill and make a lot of friends. I know a couple of people who bought flats here in the last couple of years and feel they are part of a community and are happy with how it worked out. It's still cheap enough that if you got stable legal employment owning a flat is a realistic goal. Quite a few social enterprises in the area or not far away. by treetree2525 (Tue 29th Sep 2020 10:43pm)
  • I'm pretty happy on the second floor, though I did have some water coming through from above once. There's been at least two ground floor break ins in my close in the five years I've been here, and I wouldn't say I live in a bad neighbourhood. I am getting on a bit so as I get older I need to be more careful as a fall down the stairs could be quite damaging. If you are quite a bit younger I would say any floor is fine except the ground one. As well as the break in risk in the ground floor I would assume there would be more risk of mice too. by treetree2525 (Sun 4th Oct 2020 1:12am)
  • Was there anything you were able to do about the 4 in the morning neighbours? I've been lucky so far but if I got ones like that I'd either need to get noise reducing headphones or move. by treetree2525 (Sun 4th Oct 2020 1:20am)
  • In my day once a week there were people selling posters from tables on the indoor bridge between one campus building and another (at Stirling). Don't know how it was allowed but they also sold bootleg concert tapes I remember buying ones by The Doors and also Lloyd Cole. The two big sellers were movie posters of Betty Bleu and a still young and handsome Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart. By the time fourth year rolled around I got a very nice poster with the cover of New Order's Technique, the one with the statue lit in different colours. Good old breeze block you could blu tack to your hearts content while now I don't want to damage the wallpaper in my rented flat so no posters. by treetree2525 (Tue 6th Oct 2020 5:30am)
  • I saw On The Rocks at the GFT last night and the safety measures and distancing reassured me. In the dark people might have taken masks off but I couldn't tell, but the policy was clearly but politely communicated. I was actually encouraged to go by the Cineworld email I got about their closedown, it said they had 127 UK cinemas with not a single case and it was the lack of blockbuster releases that did them in not safety. I'll keep supporting the GFT for as long as it stays open. by treetree2525 (Wed 7th Oct 2020 7:30pm)
  • Not so much into poetry but good luck with this initiative. I hope the saying "your vibe attracts your tribe" turns out to be true for you. by treetree2525 (Wed 7th Oct 2020 7:59pm)
  • I think I was at a table near some kind of folky jam session at the Glad Cafe once, rather than a gig. Also saw a gig by Irenie Rose there she was great, well worth looking up on Spotify. Also saw another show of hers at a folk club housed within a small part of a Rutherglen church, sorry I can't remember which one, but they had a Facebook page. Folk club was run by several members of the same family who did a good little set of their own. Tea and homemade cake at intermission, what more could you ask for? by treetree2525 (Wed 7th Oct 2020 8:10pm)
  • Just usual best practices, for me the distancing and allocated seating was the most important and allocating longer times between films so they have a proper clean in between each showing. Probably the best thing is to look at this five minute video which walks you through what to expect. One more small change the usher doesn't actually take your ticket he/she just looks at it then you tear off the small stub part and put it in a plastic cup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnaRHXq4Jc by treetree2525 (Thu 8th Oct 2020 8:55am)
  • I think so but I'd check their Twitter or ring box office the night before. A lot can change in a week. by treetree2525 (Thu 8th Oct 2020 11:42am)
  • Really sorry to hear you put up with all that. I have heard retail or hospitality jobs can strain a person's faith in human nature. Even if most interactions are neutral it's human nature that we remember the jerks and "I demand to speak to the manager" types. It's not much consolation I know, but this internet stranger has been really grateful for everyone keeping things going during this hellish year - in my case pharmacists and supermarket delivery drivers, but if I was braving supermarkets in person no doubt I'd be really thankful for all the checkout staff, shelf stackers etc. I hope you are able to do a few self-care things and get some help during this time of being off work. by treetree2525 (Sat 10th Oct 2020 12:27pm)
  • Ideally people would have facemasks on if they are queueing or before they get their food if they are sitting down, and when they have finished their coffee and are sitting chatting. And on the cafe side I'd rather the staff wrote down my name and number rather than everyone using the same pen. I am unemployed through disability so a coffee is a cheap way of getting out of my flat, but if I walked past a busy one at the weekend I would just keep walking and go on a weekday, which I appreciate isn't an option for everyone. by treetree2525 (Sat 10th Oct 2020 12:38pm)
  • I'm intrigued about the difference between Turkish and regular ice cream, I'd like to try it. As for coffee, in Cyprus I remember getting a small thick black coffee with a glass of water on the side and it was pretty good, if that was the same as Turkish coffee I would buy it once in a while. by treetree2525 (Sat 10th Oct 2020 12:47pm)
  • Lol I guess that's a tough love approach. If you did want to learn how to get the basics of cleaning done two recommended sites are flylady and unf*ckyourhabitat by treetree2525 (Mon 12th Oct 2020 1:16pm)
  • I am quite happy living Southside, yes there is begging but not in an aggressive or swearing manner, and of course before taking on a place it's good to visit it both during the daytime and at night time, but there are a lot of community things going on and amenities (during non-lockdown times). Shawlands, Battlefield, Strathbungo all really nice and even some parts of Govanhill can be totally fine. I really don't like the city centre at all on the rare occasions I am there, I used to get Uber straight to my destination and back, just to avoid sitting at bus stops and pestered. Depends what your interests are and how you like to spend your spare time but I think the Southside is worth a look and you can get a fair bit for your money. I have a couple of friends around Dennistoun and hear generally positive things about there too. by treetree2525 (Sun 22nd Nov 2020 2:02am)
  • DELETED It's great the things they are trying, they did great Halloween decorations too I think. by treetree2525 (Sun 29th Nov 2020 1:26am)
  • Sorry I don't have an answer about the newspapers. Just posting to say when I was doing an "upper beginners" course last year it helped my spoken fluency a lot starting my day watching 20 minutes of the news on rtve.es or telemadrid.es and it didn't require a costly VPN like other channels would. Also when I briefly had an online tutor from Italki.com she mentioned once in conversation that she had met quite a few people who had made more progress than you might expect by using Duolingo to its fullest. by treetree2525 (Thu 10th Dec 2020 7:36am)
  • I would call it roll and sausage or roll n' sausage. Roll on sausage sounds too much like roll on deodorant. by treetree2525 (Thu 14th Jan 2021 11:32pm)
  • I spent my first 36 years in East Kilbride can confirm its safe if a little drab (drab for adults but plenty of things for kids), schooling fine and I would expect if there were two houses one in Castlemilk and one in East Kilbride the East Kilbride one would increase in value more over the years as some well paid jobs there and some people will pay a premium for a short commute. by treetree2525 (Tue 19th Jan 2021 8:19pm)
  • I live Southside and am consistently impressed by the outpourings of kindness and care from and towards places like the Glad Cafe, Milk Cafe, Finn's Place etc. etc. I don't have any connection with it but believe the local Mutual Aid group on Facebook was very active helping people before government things came in stream. It is a real shame you encountered this jerk. As someone said "There's only a few really nasty people in the world, but they do seem to move around a lot". His nasty dig about your weights was just a cheap shot designed to hurt, don't let him win. If your partner was male and bald no doubt it will have been some example of the cyclist's Noel Coward wit such as "eff off, Ghandhi". I know people just minding their own business who've had horrible things shouted at them (oddly often the passenger rather the driver and from. white vans). Most people are good, most people in the Southside are good, please don't let this meanie diminish your faith in humanity. by treetree2525 (Thu 21st Jan 2021 8:13pm)
  • Some nice flats near Queens Park/ Strathbungo and in better times there's heaps of independent cafes on the go nearby. Maybe less bars/ nightlife Southside if that was important to you. No subway of course but good transport links. My niece was studying and loving life living in the West End last I heard, at my age Southside makes more sense than any other option that was open to me. Even my tenement flat not too far away from Queens Park is pretty nice with high ceilings and quiet neighbours so I got lucky with my housing association. by treetree2525 (Sat 6th Feb 2021 1:09pm)
  • Wow you're not kidding about the Raygun prices - makes me feel better if I spend just £10-£15 each on a few issues of Details as those Rayguns are really pricey. You weren't to know how much they would end up selling for though, no point kicking yourself. by treetree2525 (Wed 10th Mar 2021 11:48am)
  • If only more people actually bought the books and comics it might have stood a chance - to my shame I would often browse but just buy a coffee. I quite like the cafe on the second floor of Waterstones on Sauchihall Street in non-lockdown times but Borders made you feel that hanging out in a bookstore on a Saturday evening was actually sort of a cool thing to be doing. by treetree2525 (Wed 10th Mar 2021 12:20pm)
  • Oh I've never seen Rent, which is best the Rosario Dawson version or the live on Broadway recording? I did feel like I was amongst kindred spirits in Borders kind of a similar feeling to the one I get in the audience for certain films or documentaries at the the GFT. by treetree2525 (Wed 10th Mar 2021 2:13pm)
  • Don't know the current situation but in typical circumstances they can be really short of hospital bed spaces and are struggling to find ones for people who want to come in voluntarily for a bit. As those who know more have said, in general they don't bring you in unless you are at risk of harming or greatly neglecting yourself, or harming someone else. There is a good programme on iPlayer right now, I forget the title, but a search for "Roman Kemp" will bring it up, it might seem a depressing subject matter but ultimately shows how important and healthy it is to open up and seek help and talk. by treetree2525 (Thu 18th Mar 2021 1:50pm)
  • I would have thought you'd have to report it otherwise your workplaces isn't just going to hand over another one to you. As someone else said, ask for plain clothes if you must, but at least get police advice on improving the security of your home. But if you do nothing what's to stop them waiting a month and doing it again, if they see they can do it without consequences? Surely you don't plan to not have a job which needs a laptop for the rest of your life? I am confused how you were able to message them if you didn't know them before, not victim-blaming here, but I wonder if there is more to the story than you have told us. by treetree2525 (Fri 9th Apr 2021 10:26am)
  • Great neighbourhood, not a whole lot of nightlife except the Rum Shack so I expect you would be going to places in town and getting a taxi back. Great for cafes and brunch places if that interests you, and I've never seen teenage gangs running around. I love the old tenements with the big bay windows but maybe that's because I've been lucky with neighbours. by treetree2525 (Sat 10th Apr 2021 7:43pm)
  • DELETED Best story I got was someone asking for a pound for a guitar string for busking, no guitar in sight, but I was waiting for a bus in the evening and just wanted left in peace, so I gave £1. "If you've got £5 I could buy a packet". Another was when I was queueing to get into a club and someone was selling the Big Issue, so I said "I don't need the magazine but here's £1". "It's actually £2.50" (or whatever it would have been had I got the magazine). by treetree2525 (Wed 26th May 2021 2:17pm)
  • True and I respect that some people enjoy a good relationship with their local vendor, but to me it would feel weird to read it in a club like The Garage. If it was daytime and I was outside a coffee shop chances are I would probably have bought it to pass the time. I do appreciate the extra info though. by treetree2525 (Wed 26th May 2021 3:45pm)
  • I've heard that saying before in fun. Might have been Groucho Marx who said "I refuse to join any club that would accept me as a member". To answer OP's question I don't know such places in Glasgow but once went as a guest to the Malt Whiskey Society in Leith years ago and it had that comfy leather armchair vibe it was nice and inviting and not even as expensive as I thought it was going to be. I am sure there are some Glasgow equivalents. by treetree2525 (Sat 5th Jun 2021 2:13am)
  • Has anyone here tried that? I live local but have never plucked up the courage yet. I had good luck with the Mental Health Peer Support Group on Meetup but they are just weekday afternoons so someone working 9-5 would find that a struggle. by treetree2525 (Sun 6th Jun 2021 5:27pm)
  • The only areas I know well are Strathbungo and Battlefield and both are really good, maybe the amenities better for late 20's/early 30's people in Strathbungo. Shawlands has been more sought after for a while and there's more amenities there but I have heard parking near your flat is very difficult if you are a driver. I am very happy in Strathbungo which is only a couple of stops on the bus from Shawlands anyway. After at least 20 years of estate agents calling the Southside "up and coming" it seems to be quite popular now, with pros and cons about the gentrification going on. by treetree2525 (Fri 11th Jun 2021 10:11am)
  • I lived my first 38 years in East Kilbride and it was uneventful but a relatively nice place. Don't know the current situation but it used to have 3 industrial estates so a fair few local jobs. I used to go into Glasgow for cinema or gigs but most of the shops I needed were available in the indoor shopping centres. Maybe there would be a landlord willing to take pets in exchange for a slightly bigger damages deposit? by treetree2525 (Wed 16th Jun 2021 5:59pm)
  • Might be a while before they are allowed again but the Bees Knees Cafe on Bowman Street used to have some nice open mic nights I think. Meantime it does no harm to subscribe to things like their Instagram account and likewise the ones for Milk Cafe, Queen's Park Railway Club (the art space in Queen's Park station waiting room) or, slightly further away but still Southside, Tramway/ Hidden Gardens who do things like tai chi on the grass on a couple of weekday mornings I think. In September the Glad Cafe will fully reopen so restrictions permitting there might be some nice small gigs there, maybe not famous names but equally ticket prices much cheaper than the Hydro. by treetree2525 (Wed 23rd Jun 2021 12:05pm)
  • DELETED I don't have the answer to your question but total respect for you for wanting to brave your nerve pain to study in Glasgow, I hope you find a warm welcome for the most part (always some trolls just ignore those). The one thing I have noticed is that people who live in flats complain when other people leave their bikes locked in the stairwell, because it's both a risk in a fire and also people can break the stairwell metal to steal the big then all the residents need to pay towards the repair. I suspect even with an inexpensive second hand bike you might need a quite expensive lock to have any effectiveness. by treetree2525 (Sun 27th Jun 2021 5:18am)
  • I find it easier to go to cafes than pubs alone, and the ones that are a bit more spacious but not too busy, I think I could probably bring a book or the paper to as well as do my usual of looking at my phone. Once [Meetup.com](https://Meetup.com) resumes I guess there will be at least a couple of groups to have company going to gigs or the cinema. Is there anyone from the past that you didn't fall out with but just lost the connection with during lockdowns? It might be easier to get things going again with people who already like you than to start from scratch with new people. People always say you can meet new people volunteering or at evening classes but certainly the latter for me everyone already had friends/partners and just scooted home straight after class, but you may have better luck. I have also heard people are more likely to make friends at regular gym classes and not just doing gym workouts. by treetree2525 (Sat 3rd Jul 2021 5:20pm)
  • Only half-joking - Under The Skin was shot in Glasgow so the locations capture Glasgow well. Kind of a weird film but worth a watch. by treetree2525 (Thu 8th Jul 2021 4:21am)
  • I am in a similar boat, I don't know if it's typical but my GP practice has a "community links practitioner" who I just got referred to who is going to look for suitable things for me. If your practice doesn't have that you could ask if they offer any "social prescribing" which is just the buzzword for signposting you to local activities. Some places might pause for the summer but if you are near the Southside either the Hidden Gardens or Finns Place might have something to offer you in future. While you are waiting for in-person cuppas and chats I would recommend Googling the "chatty cafe scheme" which temporarily offers group chats over Zoom, lovely bunch of people, and when permitted the scheme will eventually offer the same thing at cafes round the city. Good luck to you I hope you find what you are looking for! These things seem simple but are genuine health issues so it's good you are being proactive. by treetree2525 (Thu 8th Jul 2021 11:26am)
  • Well it will probably take me a while to get a habit restarted, so I could always begin with day passes in Shawlands and then keep an eye out for the Gorbals Glasgow Life re-opening. I really did like the gym there and there were plenty in a similar demographic to me probably if I knew I was pre-diabetic back then I would have made a more concerted effort. It was one of those "things which are easy to do are also easy not to do" situations. by treetree2525 (Mon 23rd Aug 2021 12:21pm)
  • How did you respond when that happened? I genuinely wouldn't be sure what to do in that situation except walk away without saying anything and hope they didn't follow. It's such a shame as Queen's Park is a really nice park with the duck pond, great view from the flagpole etc. by treetree2525 (Mon 13th Sep 2021 3:12pm)
  • I guess everyone has their own comfort zone for what they are OK with - I might go to a matinee cinema performance and feel OK, but stay away from the "date night" crowds in a multiplex on a Saturday night. I will happily enjoy a nice cooked breakfast or similar in a cafe, but would hesitate to go to a proper restaurant. For a very special concert I would go alone but don't make a regular things of it. In all those situations there is a limited benefit from getting out of the house and being around other people, but I don't expect to turn any of those into somehow finding a friend that way. I would say if you just want enjoyable activities neither thing you mentioned is bad or strange, after all there's lots of people single/ living alone these days. But if you are feeling a need for connection or to talk to people then I'm not sure what to suggest apart from the traditional community volunteering/ evening classes/ Meetup.com by treetree2525 (Mon 11th Oct 2021 11:32am)
  • Oh I loved that Sculpting Time series at the GFT too! It was a bit of a challenge to sit through 3 hour films without getting a numb bum but the GFT is full of classic films that people can never dredge up someone else to go with and end up going by themselves. One of us! One of us! by treetree2525 (Mon 11th Oct 2021 12:37pm)
  • In the past I benefitted a lot from various things at Finn's Place including an exercise class, a meditation one, took a Mental Health First Aid course there, and a few single-afternoon retreats. It's in the building of Langside Church but they keep the two activities separate and welcome "all faiths and none", I think the garden linked to them across the road might be called Square Yard? by treetree2525 (Fri 15th Oct 2021 9:16am)
  • I've found support through Zoom groups like The Chatty Cafe scheme, I know some got "Zoom fatigue" last year and don't like online and only want "real life" socialising so it just depends on the person. It's totally possible to be lonely while having a partner you love, either because they can't meet all your social needs or because you find it hard time be fully yourself with them. by treetree2525 (Sat 23rd Oct 2021 7:04pm)
  • Really sorry to hear about your situation. I am not expert but grew up in the Westwood area of East Kilbride and it was pretty good, all the usual shops you need are in the indoor shopping area in the town centre and you can top up little shops in the neighbourhood shops. My biggest problem was needing to go into town and run for the last bus home if I wanted to see a concert, which shows what a priveleged and sheltered life I lived. Good luck to you. by treetree2525 (Mon 25th Oct 2021 11:22am)
  • Years ago an American acquaintance really wanted some Crested Tin whiskey, when it came to posting the guy at the counter told me I couldn't send it labelled as whiskey, but if I took a chance and labelled it "crystal decanter" it might get through. Since I had already bought it and find whisky way too fiery to drink myself I gave it a go, and it did get through. Not sure if it would work nowadays. by treetree2525 (Sat 20th Nov 2021 4:40pm)
  • I was in the Bees Knees Cafe on Bowman Street, just off Viccy Road, the other day and someone was happily tapping away on their laptop a good long time. It's not open all the time (I think it's open Wednesday - Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm) but the music is relaxing and unlike some other local ones there's nearly always spare tables so you can linger without them losing customers. by treetree2525 (Thu 25th Nov 2021 3:31pm)
  • I consider it a term of endearment. If someone wanted to insult me as a Glaswegian I'm sure they'd use something with a bit more dig like "soap-dodger'. by treetree2525 (Tue 7th Dec 2021 2:05am)
  • It doesn't apply to me, but Southside and I assume some other HA's offer some places as "mid-market rentals" where the flat is quite nice but you pay a bit more, they're for people within a certain salary range. Might be worth it to avoid big rent increases or bad experiences with letting agents. The regular HA accommodation waiting lists can be quite long if you aren't getting points for things like a disability, being a parent, risk of homelessness after a relationship breakdown etc. Does not harm to ask about those places too ofc. by treetree2525 (Mon 20th Dec 2021 4:35pm)
  • They have been great for me and I never felt like I was bothering them - I wouldn't feel like phoning The Samaritans unless it was quite serious/ nearing a crisis. Breathing space are open from 6 pm to 2 am I think weekdays but all the time at weekends (possibly from 6 pm Friday to 6 am Monday?). If you think there's a more long-term issue you could encourage your friend to ask again at the GP to see if they are willing to refer him to the mental health team - sometimes it helps to have points written in a letter to discuss if your friends gets fobbed off easily. by treetree2525 (Wed 22nd Dec 2021 10:55pm)
  • Thanks everyone for the replies. Boots are handiest for where I am going and a brand I trust I'll go for them and follow up with some cheaper Amazon ones as recommended. by treetree2525 (Mon 10th Jan 2022 7:16am)
  • Depending on how late-40s, in a couple of years you might be in the market for [Stitch.net](https://Stitch.net) which seems like Meetup for over-50s, at the moment there's lots of cultural things on Zoom e.g. chats about Scoicism, eventually things will be more in-person. Not sure how hard and fast they are about a strict age 50 limit, but one to watch anyway. by treetree2525 (Sat 22nd Jan 2022 1:24am)
  • Citizen M is great, I remember a book group I loved there, nice and spacious. My only caveat would be not to be lulled by the relaxing surroundings - pretty sure I remember someone was on here about 6 months who left their Macbook alone for just a couple of minutes and someone scarpered with it. by treetree2525 (Wed 26th Jan 2022 12:24pm)
  • I think there is a place for charities, and there have been times when I have been helped by Breathing Space just to have that connection when it's 3 am (at the weekends) and I feel incredibly isolated and either have no one I could call in my personal life or wouldn't want to bother them. I have also been helped by support groups for my particular mental disability run by a charity, though at my worst and most symptomatic I would need strong medication to settle me down and help way above what I would expect a charity to offer. In a short half hour phone call I wouldn't expect anyone at the other end to offer more than a listening voice, and then only if I was able to keep it together somewhat. For me making progress with a different condition (bipolar) it took more than 40 50 minute sessions to have a lasting impact, as well as faithful compliance to medication. Some I was able to access free or at a sliding scale so for that I was very grateful to the providers. You sound like you have educated yourself well enough about your condition whether that's been from books or online so you are probably already familiar with the types of things that go into a Wellness Recovery Action Plan, so the phone line suggestions probably sound trite. I wish there more charities up here running drop in groups the way MIND does in England and Wales, but then my bias is that social connection is the element I have missed out on most when my condition got so bad I essentially dropped out of society. Tl;dr I have been helped quite a bit by charities but not really so much by helplines, maybe that's because I wouldn't like telling my story anew to a different person each time. I am also not in favour of how much stuff that I think the NHS should be doing which I think has been fobbed off onto the third sector either, though many have had bad NHS experiences and prefer to do things another way. by treetree2525 (Thu 27th Jan 2022 10:10am)
  • The Cinema and Events group on Meetup.com was a great social life for me back in the day, we'd often see a film that started at 7 pm them have a nice drink after and chat until around 11 pm. Since I rarely go out I would get an Uber cab there and back, avoiding any Friday night random violence. I have bad social anxiety but there was always a host for every meet who was aware of my situation and occasionally asked me a question to include me in the group chat. Since I literally get points on my benefits assessment because I need prompting and encouragement it was literally the perfect match for me. I should there's plenty of fun chatty people in the group too, not just introvert bookworm cinema buffs like me. To help defray what Meetup charges them, there is a very modest £4 a year charge to apply to join but honestly this is a blessing at it deters people who join a million Meetup groups and never go to anything, and also deter those whose priority for community and belonging is so low they aren't even willing to pay £4 a year for a chance at it... by treetree2525 (Sun 13th Feb 2022 2:33pm)