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Mancghirl

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Posts posted by Mancghirl

  1. 'Universities shutting down for the summer'?

    When I was a young undergraduate, my University had a nice little earner in being a 'conference centre' from June-September, so many of the non-academic staff worked on that over the summer. I hung around a couple of summers as you were able to pick up jobs easily. I spent a couple of months working on TEFL programmes and so on.

    Most of my lecturers were still about doing research and taught summer schools to bring in more cash. They ran MA/MSc and MBA/DPhil programmes that required summer attendance. As far as I'm aware, from attending a part-time MSc programme over the last couple of years, this is stil the case.

    Course, I didn't go to Swansea.........

  2. I think you should come visit more often. The weather on the East Coast of Scotland is actually surprisingly dry. Temperaturewise I find it very pleasant I would think an averageish temperature the past few weeks would be around 20 degress which is I find quite pleasant.

    One thing I could not stand would be London on a hot day and needing to venture anywhere near the tube system, getting anywhere down there is a nightmare, I have been on nights out where suddenly everyone has to leave to catch the last tube/train, in Edinburgh you can keep going all night as the vast majority of the city is within a £10 taxi ride.

    It is the only city in the UK I would consider living in as its beauty is its size, it is small and very easy to get out of.

    I find your questioning of why MS Webb would chose to live in Edinburgh rather than London strange to say the least.

    If you have money there are some fantastic properties around Edinburgh and the amenieties here rival most other cities. Personally speaking I do wonder if people who chose to live in London are actually the ones who are missing out.

    Wise words.

    I moved here from working in London after graduation (12/13 years ago) and apart from a brief stint working down in Manchester, I settled here. Quality of life is much higher for me than in London or Manchester. Realistically, you can walk everywhere if you live in many neighbourhoods (perhaps not Niddrie or Craigmillar...). Very safe, low crime rate in most parts. Entertainments/nightlife good all year round, even excluding the annual August knees-up. Tons of green space, even a beach or two.

    Property prices have been literally insane as some folk from 'down South' cottoned on to the fact that for most folk, it is a great place to live. However, as far as I can see, it is calming down. Perhaps even enough for me to dig into my savings for a deposit in a couple of years. Although as I'm only paying £500 to rent in Trinity, perhaps not..

  3. Here it is:

    trophy.jpg

    ;)

    The counter is now at 10,005. This shows us clearly that as far as East Central Scotland is concerned we have more&more sellers and/or fewer&fewer buyers.

    Tarnation! So close to spotting the magical 10,000. In fact, 10,008 now. Including the flat of a friend who assured me, this time last year, that I'd NEVER be able to afford to buy if I didn't buy then. He's trying to sell it at £30k less than he paid in August 2007 and getting no viewers. Been on the market about 12 weeks.

    Not to fear, the EEN published their fornightly 'prices to sky rocket in Edinburgh' article today. Must be true, then. :rolleyes:

  4. This is a busy time of year for rentals, with lots of flats changing hands as the students move on and some landlords clear folk out to let flats for the festival in a few weeks. Reasons why I never looked to move flat at this time of year. Hence agents and landlords tend to ask for that bit more. Also, its easier to entice people to view flats in decent weather, rather than trailing in and out of tenements in the pishing rain.

    However, one of my mates has sold up and was looking for a 2 bed rental (no new builds), in affluent parts (New Town/Inverleith/Stockbridge/Trinity). Rents were exactly the same levels as when I was looking last Oct/Nov in the same areas. His new landlord even offered (unprompted) a discount on the advertised rent in order to seal the deal.

    Rents in Edinburgh have barely increased in the 12 years I have been here. I was renting a one bed by Leith Links in 1999-2000 for £450 and until late 2009 I was renting a very large one bed in the same area for £495.

  5. Wow, that’s quite an eye-opener! And there was me, southern-English-born Edinburger, thinking that the Borders is a beautiful and much overlooked part of the country. But I suppose it’s one thing to visit Peebles or Melrose for the day and go on a pretty walk, returning to the safetly of Edinburgh afterwards, but quite another thing actually to live there!

    Oh no, everyone in the Borders ******ing hates each other. And there is nothing to do but drink heavily.

    Hence despite having a very rare well-paid job in the Borders, I live in Edinburgh.

  6. Hello fellow HPCers,

    Could anyone offer any insights as to how life is in Scottish Borders? Schools,crime,commuting to E'boro and jobs (especially for mature women) are of particular interest.

    Reason for asking:

    I've come across some not-so-overpriced houses there and wonder if there is more than meets the eye? ;)

    http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15222561.html

    http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28898489.html

    http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28898426.html

    http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-28899002.html

    Many thanks!

    For the Borders, these are overpriced. Its a very low wage economy. However, many commute to Edinburgh/Glasgow, where wages are higher.

    Direct train to Edin from Berwick or Dunbar, train service ok. Proposed borders rail route (Google it if you want to see where the line goes) but due to current financial situation, who knows if it will ever come to fruition. Driving A1 is OK but busy on the stretch from Dunbar to Edin and then into city centre. Edin City Centre currently a nightmare to navigate due to ongoing tramworks. Driving up the A68 is a bit hairy in the winter. Living nearer the coast/A1 may be less bleak than inland in the winter months.

    The Borders is a very large area, so hard to generalise - on the whole schools are OK, Borders Council spent a lot on rebuilding but now have no money left, so expect cuts in teaching staff etc.

  7. I'm amazed its as low as that. If you asked me where I'd like to spend my retirement, after 35 years at the chalkface, I'd be thinking of somewhere hot and sunny, not Leith with a cruel wind whipping off the Firth of Forth. Doesn't mean its going to happen though.

    Only 27 years to go....

  8. This is, well hardly astonishing as I think we all knew this was the case but it does show that people make money out of others greed and stupidity.

    This thread reminded me of my own 'lightbulb moment' (as they say on MSE), when I realised that things were really out of hand. I noticed new build 2 bed flats being advertised not far from my parents, priced at 250k. 250k round my parents way would (and still will) get you a very spacious semi-detached or detatched house, in a very decent area, garden etc.

    Lets see how those flats are holding up just now, shall we?

    Ooooooops :(

  9. that is indeed what they SHOULD do.

    but one thing they should not do is give away their strategy in a national newspaper FFS. Major ego-tripping going on here - the source for the notoriety does not matter, the main thing is your face is in the news.

    Their creditors must be cupping their faces wondering at what point they will be forced to repo.

    Exactly, couldn't believe what I was seeing. Essentially, the article suggested that:-

    They had to sell

    They know or have been told that they can't sell all in a one-er as they'll collapse the local market.

    The bank 'won't repossess' (Yes, you twats, because then they'll have to offload all the properties at cut price and collapse the local market)

    The jig is up.

    Only worth £180m now? Unlikely. £1,800 possibly.

    On the upside, nice to see them and Bovey getting their comeuppance in the same week. Brainless******wittery never pays, kids.

  10. I don't see why it matters what the breach is for. What difference would knowing make to us? But it's out now anyway. He was in a fight at work, and has drug offences:

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7049248.ece

    Part of the remit of the criminal justice system is to maintain confidence in the system itself. If he has been recalled for a breach of licence, then that should fuel confidence e.g. he failed to turn up for a meeting, tried to travel abroad on holiday without permission. This would show that careful monitoring and scrutiny is taking place.

    However if (as I suspect) several instance of criminal behaviour have taken place prior to recall, then the system is not working. He would have been allowed to stay out, despite breaching licence conditions. This would reduce public confidence in the system and lead to awkward questions about the nature and success of rehabilitation programmes, particularly given recidivism rates in this country.

    This might lead to law and order taking a prime place as an election topic. An area on which Labour have never been viewed to have the strongest record. I further suspect the only reason the information was released at all was the fact that one of the papers was about to publish it.

  11. So i take it you see 10 year olds as being as mentally developed as an adult?

    I haven't read the trial transcript, have you? Seems like Will Self did, i would tend to think that it puts him in firm position to make an informed view of the matter, don't you

    That aside, his comments on real term cuts was the only moment of sanity. It froze the room.

    I'm not making a comment on the Bulger case, sentencing or rehabilitation/licencing breaches. But 'whooping' when a hugely sensitive topic was being discussed was disgusting and inappropriate. That was my point.

    For your info, I was a law student at the time of the trial so yes, I have. If you want my opinion on the general issue, it is this:-

    This is the system which we have and they served the sentence handed to them. Much as I find the notion of only serving 8 years abhorent, given the nature of the crime, these were young boys - they were given a chance at an adult life, a fresh start.

    The public should be informed about the nature of the crime/reason for his recall. I suspect that the reason that this information is not being released is politically sensitive. However, naming him will sentence him to death. Someone would find a way to get to him. I suspect they may anyway.

    Re-incarceration should fuel confidence in the system, however if it was not his first criminal offence when on parole then the system is flawed as he should have been taken into custody immediately. If this turns out to be the case, then it will just serve to inflame public outrage.

    I believe any recidivism as an adult should lead to the revoking of parole in this case. This man has has the benefit of extensive emotional, financial and logistical support in order to rehabilitate him. He is an adult now and capable of making decisions in full knowledge of potential consequences. If he decided, as is being alleged, to indulge in several instances of criminality - rehabilitation has failed and he needs to be imprisoned again.

  12. Its London. Frankly i was gobsmacked when Boris got mayor. If it was a corruption tolerating trot like livingstone or a tory, i would have thought the preference would have still been Livingstone.

    Will Self getting universal applause for defending child killers.

    London is one screwed up depraved place.

    I'd quite like to round up the yoof who 'whooped' at Self's answer to that question. Please look up the phrase 'basic human decency'.

    Also the young woman who said 'we don't have the right to know anything, I'll trust the law to deal with it' etc. Trust away. Don't apply any critical thought to the process or worry about any pesky details like miscarriages of justice etc. That would cut into your time reading Heat and Grazia.

  13. I cannot believe that this thread has got to 4 pages, mentioned Bono and failed to included any variation of the following joke:

    During U2 concert at Hampden Park -

    Bono: 'Everytime I clap my hands a child in Africa dies'

    Weegie: 'Well, stop ******ing clapping then, ya ****'.

    _______________

    On a more serious note if you want to help anyone in Africa, donate direct and not via a massive charity. You can sponsor orphanages/schools direct, via the internet, Tanzania is particularly poor but not so 'glamorous' as other African countries so seems to get less attention. I sponsor primary age orphaned children to attend school for £40 each.

    There is a brilliant book out there somewhere (I can't remember the name) by a young female African academic who is very scathing about Bono and the like, and denounces this type of thing as 'glamour' aid which does not benefit Africa.

  14. Saw this on the Edinburgh version of the Metro paper today.

    Quite shocking really. Massivley overpriced.

    But it is ok. If you look closely enough you get a free 42 Inch Widescreen TV to make you feel better.

    Holy shit.

    'From 114k (shared equity)' to live doon the 'Pans. Edinburgh/Lothians really is still very very delusional.

    Here's an idea, become a heroin addict, sign on, get a free hoose in Prestonpans. Nick TV from neighbour. You've just saved yourself 114k, my friend. Job done.

  15. Has anyone actually witnessed any real price increases in Edinburgh areas ? I don't mean the odd thing here and there - but a general rise ? Not seen any myself. Although I think the small number of sales makes it tricky to find out.

    The areas I'm watching (North and East, large 1 beds/2 beds), the only way for asking prices appears to be down. Checking nethouseprices, most of the ones I'm looking at seem to be priced at the same level the owners paid or within spitting distance of it. Most of the poor sods seem to have bought in 07 or later. Not including the repos that are popping up in Western Harbour/Pilrig Heights/East Pilton Farm and the like.

    A lot of the stuff I looked at back in December hasn't shifted, making me feel righteous about sitting tight. Lots have reduced from home valuation price, but still not selling. No more 90%+ LTV mortgages seems to have killed the market.

    The only thing I've spotted selling quickly was a lovely townhouse round the corner from me in Trinity O/O 495, under offer within days.

  16. +1.

    Here's an anecdote:

    My former secretary bought her first home during the peak of the bubble frenzy (Jan 2007). She couldn't afford the 5% deposit, so she bought the property jointly with her mother. Property 1 therefore bought at a hugely inflated price: both mum and daughter in debt.

    HOWEVER....mum already had a mortgage! Therefore daughter has one mortgage and mum two.

    Fast forward 2009, mum decides to do a Felicity Kendal and live a simpler life in rural Bulgaria. On a whim, mum takes a Ryan Air flight to Bulgaria. Takes a ramshackle taxi to Boratville and falls in love with a run down two bedroomed hovel with "enuff land to grow my food like and keep chickens like".

    Mum arrives back to UK to REMORTGAGE her first property, to release what little equity she has to buy said Bulgarian hovel.

    In the meanwhile, and to enable payment of the joint mortgage on Property 1, daughter rents this out to some DSS Charver to earn some rent. Said charver totally f***s over the house, causing several thousand pounds worth of damage. Undeterred, daughter decides to get her latest "partner / shagmate" to repair and refurb. Property 1 is let out to another DSS Charver, present state of property unknown.

    Daughter, now believing that said "partner / shagmate" is "the one" decides to buy ANOTHER house jointly with him! Despite being warned that such was a fool's errand, she completed the purchase on Property 2.

    If you have lost track of the mortgage ponzi debt, please note:

    Mum still owns a property in her sole name, MEW'd to pay for Bulgarian hovel;

    Daughter owns jointly with mum, Property 1 (the "investment property" rented to DSS Charver). Said property mortgaged jointly to the hilt.

    Daughter owns Property 2 with shagmate, said property mortgaged jointly to the hilt also.

    Mum now owns Bulgarian hovel, can't speak a word of Bulgarian, and finds the local mafioso "right nice people when you get to know them!"

    You couldn't make this up! What a bunch of Ponzi supporting f***tards! :lol:

    More anecdotes like this please. They cheer me up when having to ignore all the feckwits who are convinced that Edinburgh is experiencing a new paradigm where FTB flats in Chib-Me-quickly Street are still 'worth' 120k.

  17. No surprises as far as I'm concerned - the one in Edinburgh is a combined Paperchase/Borders/Starbucks. The only bit that seems to be doing any trade is Starbucks.

    Borders are so much more expensive than Amazon/Waterstones/HMV, why bother unless you need something in an absolute hurry and cannot order online/source it at another high street store?

    On another note, how much longer can WHSmith keep trading?

  18. I understand that I am a new poster and did not provide a link to the property in question, so £160k for a large one bedder might sound ridiculous and unbelievable. However, its not in Gorgie its in Murieston.

    Sorry to piss on your chips but 'Murieston' is EA speak for that junction where Gorgie and Dalry meet. When my mate lived on Murieston Crescent (up until approx 8 months ago), it was in Dalry. Dalry is no more glam a location than Gorgie, albeit slightly less walking distance to Haymarket.

    Although it does remind my of my favourite ever quiz team name, our rivals used to be called 'The Dalry Llamas'. :)

  19. Almost makes me wish I had got into BTL years ago. Many of these chumps cannot do simple maths !!

    8 months of nothing when they could have got £525 per month ? That is £4200 turned down for simply being greedy.

    Even if they had got their £650 per month after the 8 months of waiting ? Would have taken 34 months to break even. laugh.gif

    Complete lack of basic common sense.

    Nice that our Government is doing all it can to make sure these people don't go bankrupt. sad.gif

    What's even more puzzling is that he has owned the flat for many years, so can't have paid more than about 50k for it. So instead of getting the mortgage covered and making a reasonable profit, he went for an 8 month void. Dipstick.

    Mind, he did once let the flat to a chap who had a lot of visitors, who didn't stay long, but all left in possession of little bags of green stuff. Clearly a retailer of Oregano. Eventually, Lothian and Borders Constabulary came a-knocking one night and then the flat was empty for months. Then some Eastern European folk moved in but did a runner. That was when he tried to let it at £650, clearly having believed all those articles in the Evening News about 'Rents Soaring!!!!!' , penned by David Alexander.

    He hasn't had much luck, bless him. :lol:

    Meanwhile, my LL has only jacked up the rent by £50 in 3 years, gets any repairs done in 24 hours and never bothers with flat inspections. I've been here 3 years, and the folk before me were here about the same.

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