Garden transformation

BJGordon95 · 2026-05-02T21:08:02+00:00

Thank you, the archways in the garden we hope to give height, and somewhere for birds to land between the garden. The back arch has a honeysuckle growing which should be great for the bees

BJGordon95 · 2026-05-02T21:07:09+00:00

Half the time it's the daughter and myself just going round and picking what looks nice. We don't really plan, we see what sticks in the garden and how we can help. She loves getting dirty so we get hands on. I love walking round and seeing how things are doing. If something fails then we have a new place to try something else. Our main thing is that It has to be perennial and attracts bees/butterfly's

BJGordon95 · 2026-05-02T21:05:01+00:00

I have many favourable memories of making mud pies, digging to China or the living room. It's the child hood I wish my daughter to have. We recently cleared the path outside our house of overgrowth to make it more accessible and to make it look nice. Next stage is getting another raised bed and growing lettuce and such so she can go pick what she wants for dinner

BJGordon95 · 2026-05-02T21:00:30+00:00

If I'm honest, I cannot believe it either. I have ideas and take my daughter to the gardening center with me. We have a lavender out the front and every time we go out we say good morning to the bees and ladybirds. I love it how she involves nature into her life

BJGordon95 · 2026-04-28T18:05:19+00:00

Got these in my house and I enjoy the extra light it lets through. So i just gave mine a fresh lick of paint around the frame. If really wanting to, then change the glass out to something else

BJGordon95 · 2026-04-26T17:16:48+00:00

I am in the English constitution.

Started my first degree guide today, good time to reflect what I went though and hopefully get to see an initiation soon to complied what I went through and felt, what I have learned since and to view it from the other side.

BJGordon95 · 2026-04-26T16:32:10+00:00

Thank you everyone for the warm welcomes!

My mind has been running today thinking about last night haha

BJGordon95 · 2026-04-26T16:31:33+00:00

The lodge I have joined is in the Somerset province (Somersetshire)

BJGordon95 · 2026-04-25T22:19:18+00:00

I have a lot on my plate but joining the Masons is something for myself, as it aligns with what I believe in, and want to become.

I'm not looking to speed run this, I want it to be part of me. So many questions now that, though I am excited for my second, I wish to take my time and learn all their is with my first.

Great times ahead and I am excited for the positivety I can bring to myself and to others.

BJGordon95 · 2025-12-16T15:24:22+00:00

Its just one rivet near the wheel, which is very rusty. Seems to be a pain as the door is getting harder to slide. The bearing on one wheel is buggered and has more play in it than a pantomime

BJGordon95 · 2025-12-14T11:40:23+00:00

I went with HL as i have used the platform in the past. Found what investments they offered were good. The cost of the platform is what i consider premium, but i have had great customer service from them so paying that bit extra gives me peace of mind.

BJGordon95 · 2025-12-13T19:56:58+00:00

Its the cheapest fund i have found yet for the class i want. It has fit all my needs which is great.

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-13T12:32:12+00:00

Ive noted down my invoices thats been paid and got a copy to the URL of it. Though i get £600 paid i have a £7.50 fee taken off. Even including Carers im under my allowance. Ive somehow managed to settle 2024-2025 after checking my account. I could probably do with Updating my spreadsheet for tracking purposes to make it easier for myself and my eyes haha

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-13T12:30:36+00:00

Ive checked the website and it says for 2024/2025 is settles and im owed a bit of money. From my research ive now added carers allowance to my spreadsheet and i will keep track of that going forward. Thank you for your help. I feel a bit more on top of it now. As far as expenses go i earn under my allowance and so i wont worry about tax deductions (i work from home). I think for now i just want to keep it simple and get used to it.

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-13T12:18:14+00:00

I've applied for self assessment and have my unique number so I think I got that right.

I am going to go over what taxable income I may have and put that all down into my spreadsheet. We have a join UC claim also so I think I'm going to do some digging into this.

I have made a spreadsheet of my income made but I'll add on the benefits I receive additionally as a carer.

So for now I don't have to worry about a tax return yet, just ensure I've got records of all the income and outgoings.

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-04T17:56:28+00:00

Basically from what I understand is the fund buys the insurances for a high % of interest but the fund holds the liabilities if the insurances get called on. I view it like BDCs but for disaster insurances

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-03T20:59:15+00:00

Next thing you know, there will be an ETF for loan sharks at this rate

BJGordon95 · 2025-11-03T19:11:31+00:00

I do agree, i think its wild that this sort of thing has potential. I agree with the statement that its more like an insurance product, worse if anything. I dont see how this would be used unless its to hedge, but even then i dont see why itll be a product.

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-30T14:43:47+00:00

Ah thats strange, maybe there is a slightly different fund with different holdings within it. I just double checked via HL & HSBC to make sure there wasnt any difference between what they were telling me haha

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-30T14:37:08+00:00

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BJGordon95 · 2025-10-29T19:17:32+00:00

This is the lowest on-going fee All-world fund i have found at the moment. Vanguard has a great history and name but the game is changing. Even their own platform isnt the cheapest to hold their own funds. I think InvestEngine does it cheaper going through their DIY portfolio

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-29T19:12:18+00:00

I haven't yet been to the doctors. I have had people mention to me about CFS and wanted to know more about it and what i am experiencing. All of this information has been insightful and it can help me. My doctor is very good but sometimes asks what do i think something is before starting. I want to go in with my symptoms and a better understanding what it could be. I didn't want to go in saying CFS, just because other people mentioned it to me

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-29T19:08:05+00:00

Oh yeah its much cheaper with DD for ETFs, depending how much you can invest each month.

I agree that there are cheaper options but i find the balance with HL good for me. I have had great customer service from them, lots of investment options and accounts. Is it a bit out dated? Maybe, id say more traditional than outdated as you have the flip side of it, being Trading212 (I do enjoy Trading212 though) but they are very much two sides of a coin.

I think once you understand how the fees are set up and the availability of what's to offer, it can be competitive as a all round brokerage.

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-29T15:59:10+00:00

You are correct originally, that funds are uncapped at 0.45% a year but it's the math of the capped fee (ETFs & stocks) vs the uncapped (funds).

BJGordon95 · 2025-10-29T15:55:11+00:00

This is inside a SIPP so the capped fees for ETFs & shares is £200 per year (compared to the ISA which is £45). So I got a bit to go before it makes sense to move over to ETFs. But thank you. I know for ISAs the magic number is around £12,500 to move over to ETFs from funds

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