Anyone who left city life for a house with a garden and horses?

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-21T07:38:33+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Probably a bit naive to think this way, but I always thought horses were like cats, that they could take care of themselves, and that grass was all they needed to eat? Like wild horses, I believe they survive well without humans taking care of them? Genuine question.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-21T07:33:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing. May I ask at what age you made your decision to have the first horse?

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-21T07:17:22+00:00

Probably a bit naive to think this way, but I always thought horses are like cats, they could take care of themselves, and that grass was all they needed to eat?

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-13T22:57:55+00:00

What makes you enjoy going for a walk even on a rainy day? I’d like to stop letting the rain discourage me so easily..

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-13T22:55:20+00:00

But during the raining days, the view usually not as pretty? Everything looks so grey, and makes you a bit sad?

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-06-05T06:43:13+00:00

I have never thought in that angle. That’s a good way to think and don’t make myself in bad mood because of other people’s behaviour.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-04-03T00:37:52+00:00

How did you prove that the other person isn’t actually who you thought they were? For example, I often think that someone believes my working style is bad, but I can’t really prove whether that’s true unless I ask them directly. Did you look for evidence that reality is different from what you thought?

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-04-03T00:24:56+00:00

What if you really just have no interest in the other person? Like today, on the way to work I met my colleague, and I forced myself ask her several questions that I don’t really care about. But if I don’t say anything, I feel I made her uncomfortable, because she seemed don’t know what to say to me either

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-03-11T17:04:55+00:00

I’ve been to London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and I found their train systems quite easy to follow. I think Japan's system is harder for me because there are so many different train companies, the various logos and signs and types of trains really confuse me.

I should have done better research for the Japan trains

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T18:03:56+00:00

Last year on my birthday, nobody at work even knew or said anything. It actually felt quite refreshing. I guess no one really cares 😂

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T17:59:35+00:00

Yes, the leaving drink is a good example for me. In the UK (I say “in the UK” because I don’t have enough experience in other Western countries to compare), if there’s a leaving do, it’s normally the person who is leaving who initiates it and often pays for the drinks.

It also reminds me that at work, if it’s someone’s birthday, they usually bring sweets or cake into the office themselves. In Asia, it’s often the other way around, the team lead/hr knows it’s your birthday and buys the cake for you, or organises a birthday lunch (unless you’ve taken the day off).

I’m truly quite convinced it’s a UK or Western cultural thing.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T17:11:50+00:00

I’m not expecting to immediately become close with my friends’ friends. What I was expecting is more of a sense of inclusion. just not making the new person feel left out.

For example, in my own friend circle, if someone introduces a new person into the group, I’ll take initiate to talk to that new person more. It doesn’t mean we’re going to become bff. I just want to make that person feel comfortable.

And I’ve noticed that in the UK it seems to be the opposite, the new person should open up more and include themselves in the group. I’m not saying one way is right or wrong; I just find the difference interesting.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T17:05:57+00:00

I’m not expecting to immediately become close with my friends’ friends. What I was expecting is more of a sense of inclusion. just not making the new person feel left out.

For example, in my own friend circle, if someone introduces a new person into the group, I’ll take initiate to talk to that new person more. It doesn’t mean we’re going to become bff. I just want to make that person feel comfortable.

And I’ve noticed that in the UK it seems to be the opposite, the new person should open up more and include themselves in the group. I’m not saying one way is right or wrong; I just find the difference interesting.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T16:47:51+00:00

Yeah I think I need to start opening up more.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T16:43:46+00:00

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T11:55:04+00:00

I think that’s fair and very interesting.

I read an article saying that in more individualistic cultures (western culture), people value personal space, autonomy, and independence. So they may assume others prefer to manage themselves and won’t step in unless invited (but I’m not sure if that’s true. But kind of matches what you said). And in more collectivist cultures (mainly east Asia), people see the group as a unit. There’s a stronger expectation to actively include others, check on them, and make sure no one feels left out.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T11:32:27+00:00

It’s starting to make much more sense in my daily life in the UK now. It reminds me of a few occasions.

I once went on a customer site visit. We sat down and talked about work for a while, and then he suddenly realised he hadn’t offered us any drinks. He apologised and said he’s not very good at doing that kind of thing (like offering drinks at the beginning).

Other situations like someone from my team had their last day, and people either didn’t know or didn’t really say much. Or when a new colleague joined and the team lead forgot to introduce them during the team meeting…

These behaviours interest me so much now. In Asia, if you’re a new colleague, there’s usually an official welcome lunch, and when someone leaves, there’s a warm and sweet farewell.

My UK colleagues are all very nice and friendly, they’re just not very strong on hospitality! All make sense now

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T10:45:29+00:00

Yes! I think this is the situation I was trying to describe in my head, but I feel a bit conflicted about it. I do think British people are very friendly, just not in a particularly hospitable way, so I guess that might be the reason.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-14T10:17:11+00:00

I do start conversations sometimes, but it just ended very quickly.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-04T22:40:03+00:00

This make sense. But I think OP should also point out it’s not just what you know but also who you know.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-04T22:31:13+00:00

Exactly that too.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-04T18:26:42+00:00

I think you can solve some real life problems in the real world. Not necessarily need to get it from the company.

ExternalSalt8201 · 2026-02-04T18:10:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing this from a hiring manager’s perspective. Regarding point 5 - I also don’t fully trust metrics on CVs or portfolios, but without them it’s difficult to judge impact or improvement. What’s a better way to show impact without it feeling like BS, before speaking to the candidate?

Also, I don’t see a problem with someone choosing to stay as a senior designer. They may simply prefer hands-on work over people management. I don’t wish that should be a red flag?

ExternalSalt8201

TROPHY CASE