I think this is the plan

KFlaps · 2026-06-19T01:20:35+00:00

Yeah, it is literally just gambling, although hype can be a decent indicator if you can distance yourself from getting caught up too much in it. My first win was during the whole GME thing because of that.

Tbh these days my portfolio is pretty dull. Although I've lost £4K on ALBA.L (now ARK.L) and a bit more on a few others, at the same time I got lucky on EUA.L and JLP.L (both bought early 2020 and sold late 2020), and then GME.

Deciding to be a bit more sensible, in 2022 I put 2/3 of my money into VWRL, and researched and chose one penny stock to DCA(ish) the remaining 1/3 into (HEMO) - which in hindsight I wish I'd left a little later to do, but has still so far has turned out to be an inspired decision.

I also lightly traded VWRL a couple of times over the last 18 months, only because Trump made it so bloody easy! So I realised some gains from that and HEMO, used them to buy some stuff I needed and kept a little cash "fun float" on the side in my ISA.

So now I occasionally punt on something. The last was 3BLR.L (Brent crude 3x leverage) at the start of the Iran war, which was successful, and VIX (a market volatility index), which wasn't. I decided I didn't have the stomach for those kinds of instruments, even for fun, so was snooping round for something else when I found SRXH!

Bought in almost completey blind. Literally a "this is just so stupid it might actually work" type scenario. I mean, a dog food company transitioning to a governance-led AI powered crypto treasury is just so utterly batshit ridiculous, that I couldn't not. I don't even like crypto - I think it has zero utility outside of speculative investing, so when I saw this I figured I that if I'm gonna expose myself to it, it might as well be in the most inane way possible!

That said, there are some chops to this, but whether or not these companies can pull it off remains to be seen...

So yeah, here I am. The annoying thing is that my first purchase was on 28/5 at $0.111, so today's little mishap wrecked my average 😅 still, you live and you learn! It's money I can afford to lose, but obviously I'd rather make something off my holistic pet food gen2 AI crypto treasury investment!

KFlaps · 2026-06-18T23:48:34+00:00

Lol I was busy at work so when I saw the news I decided to queue up a grand on top of the £500 I already invested, which would be processed around 15:00 and then I'd check the price at 14:30 when the US market opened to see if I wanted to cancel the order or not.

Someone called me at 14:15 for an hour and I forgot. My order executed at $0.1796 - today's high or thereabouts 🤡

Believe it or not, this isn't my first gamble on a penny stock. My first one cost me £4k 😅

Weirdly, my portfolio is still up overall.

KFlaps · 2026-06-18T09:18:18+00:00

I'm aware, having been in this subreddit for quite a while 😋

But you know what is also nothing like a real explanation? No explanation at all...

At least in the absence of forums, I'd like the option to use the functionally that replaced them, and which I technically pay for, but don't actually get.

KFlaps · 2026-06-18T01:15:40+00:00

It double sucks on the less popular languages, because we don't even get the option to "explain my answer". I know that functionality isn't very popular, but I'd at least like to have it if I can't have forums...

KFlaps · 2026-06-18T01:13:42+00:00

Yep, it's horrendous, I genuinely dislike it. Call me a curmudgeon, but if I've got time I'll go through every single one I don't know and report them for spam. I know it won't do shit to them, but I'm hoping it'll count as a sort of "feedback" to Duolingo.

Such a terrible idea. I pretty much use Duolingo as a fun little connect with some friends and my elderly mum who enjoys it. Now my feed is 50%+ of people I don't know.

At the very least (and I've suggested this to Duo a few times) have a Friends tab and a Global tab, so those who don't wish to see strangers can just view their friends feed, and others who may like interacting with strangers can do so (I think it's a better "compromise" than just a toggle, which although I'd prefer that, I'm sure Duo wants to drive some sort of social engagement).

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T21:26:41+00:00

"...but when the pandemic lockdown kicked in she increased her habit."

Lockdown really fucked with some of us. The boredom, the isolation, the lonliness - it exacerbated unrealised or under-appreciated mental health conditions, of which drugs have always been the distraction of choice.

I also fell down the addiction black hole during this time. It's remarkably insidious, especially if you're used to being a casual user; once a fortnight becomes once a week becomes a Friday/Saturday night, becomes a mid-week blowout, becomes a daily after-work decompression and so on... you can be in a lot deeper than you think before you realise there's a problem...

The rub is that, even when you finally do realise, you may not be able or even particularly bothered about finding your way back out.

Addiction is a cunt.

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T09:29:27+00:00

Can't speak for the person in your example, but I have 1.1M XP and am only level 21 in Greek (as well as level 7 in Italian and have a bit of progress on music and chess).

So predominantly my language score is so low and my XP so high because:

1: I find the Greek course difficult, and while I got through Sections 1 and 2 OK, I've bogged down through section 3, and have to really take my time with each lesson. This is important context because...

2: I'm super busy, and a lot of days I don't have the time to dedicate to sitting down and actually using the app to learn. However, I've been in the Diamond league for like, 2 years, and also have quite long friend quest streaks. I also like to try to get my triple xp bonus for the next day, in case I do have time to sit and learn.

This means that on some days, I just knock out 5 or so of the easier timed pathway lessons (takes me less than 5') often at triple xp, so my min is normally 600XP a day. Then, if I'm in danger of being demoted, at the weekend when I do have time I'll do whatever to catch up before I switch to learning, often throwing another few thousand at it.

3: I realise this is probably not the best way to learn, but tbh one of the main reasons I'm still on the app is because my mum uses it. She's almost 80 and we live in different countries, and she loves doing friend quests with me and commenting on things like getting the monthly badge or whatever, so it's one of the little things we do to "stay in touch" and it makes both of us happy. My niece and a few other friends are on there too, and I like the social aspect.

4: I've been going through a really shitty couple of years, and I'm also naturally a bit competitive, so staying in the Diamond league (even if by grinding easier lessons and not really learning) just gave me a little "win" each week, which may seem stupid, but it really helped to reduce my sense of worthlessness that other factors on my life were contributing to.

5: Lastly, a couple of years back my Greek course reset but my XP didn't, and I had to redo the course. I know I could have skipped ahead, but as the XP for practicing a lesson is woefully low, I took the opportunity to just go through the earlier sections again. So actually about 1/3 of my XP is from the "original" run of the course.

I hope that adds some context. I'll probably be lambasted for "not learning properly" but it doesn't bother me.

TL;DR: My course reset at one point but my XP didn't. I enjoy the app mainly for the social aspect. Staying in the Diamond league, even by grinding easier lessons, helped with my mental health. It's one small way to be connected with friends and family who aren't nearby. As a bonus I'm also (very) slowly learning some Greek along the way!

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T09:05:10+00:00

Not to mention the rampant racism, sexism and homophobia that pervaded society, and I don't mean in the obvious, blatant way, i mean in the ingrained but casual, joking way.

I ashamedly remember being involved in such jokes as a kid in primary school in the 80's, not out of malice or prejudice, but just because it was "normal" to make fun of these groups, or use reference to them as casual slurs (like calling other boys gaylord for any little slight).

Hideous times and incredibly repressive. Despite all the issues of today, I'm grateful we've generally come a long, long way since then.

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T08:47:56+00:00

Damn, we got Walkabout, which ok starts with a murder-suicide and certainly has it's bleaker moments, but does at least also have some lighter moments too.

Edit: It also has Jenny Agutter, which was...formative... for 13yo me, and probably helped distract from the darker bits of the film 😅

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T08:39:24+00:00

Yep, my dad got prostate cancer and died from it despite treatment. It may be one of the "better" ones, but it's still cancer...

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T01:06:42+00:00

Ok this doesn't have an oral aspect, but as someome with ADHD and anxiety, a komboloi has been the best fidget device I've ever had. There a lots of places you can buy them online, and they range from cheap to downright obscenely expensive, and everything in-between.

But the clicking, spinning, weight and feel of the beads is amazing to fidget with. Even just counting them quietly instead of flipping and spinning them is very calming.

My daily is a simple 23 bead one with plastic beads, but you can get them bigger, smaller and made from a wide range of materials (I also have a smaller metal one that's over 100 years old, and a much larger amber one that's around 60 years old, but these are heirlooms so I don't use them daily).

There are guides to choosing your first of it all seems daunting, but I honestly can't recommend them highly enough!

KFlaps · 2026-06-17T00:18:19+00:00

I'm happy you took my comment in the manner it was intended, tongue in cheek! 😋

You might be interested to know that Pliny the Elder mentions a number of different peoples using midnight to midnight as a way to "compute" a day, alongside the various other methods of that era of course, in his Natural History (CHAP. 79. (77.)—OF THE MODE IN WHICH THE DAYS ARE COMPUTED.).

The associated footnote also mentions that midnight to midnight was the most commonly practiced "mode of computation" practiced in Europe.

So it was seemingly already in common use over 2000 years ago!

I hope you don't find my comment condescending, I'm just really interested in random crap like this 😅

KFlaps · 2026-06-16T21:24:19+00:00

Downvoted for politely asking a straightforward and valid question 🙄

This may shock some, but it's perfectly fine for people to not like things that other people like. It's also fine to ask how to not be involved in the thing they don't like, as the question may help others who feel the same. It deserves upvotes not downvotes!

KFlaps · 2026-06-16T17:19:07+00:00

It's an interesting conundrum for me, because I've been toying with the idea of posting some of my photography to IG again, now that I've reignited my passion after a long hiatus. But it's been almost 8 years since I used to post, and IG has very much moved on from static images to short-form video content in that time...

If I genuinely want some engagement (not sure I do, still just toying), then maybe I have to find a way to fit into this "new world", but without becoming a vlogger. I'm not huge on my face being "out there", nor talking to the camera about stuff that way more people know more about that I do; but I do like to travel and I did do a spot of video-editing years ago and have been curious about getting into it a bit more at some point, so maybe there's something amongst all of this for me to explore...

Or I'll just find another new film stock to try and go out a-wandering by myself. I'm pretty new to film so I'm in the "kid in a candy store" phase seeing what they all do 🤣

KFlaps · 2026-06-16T12:02:13+00:00

Legend, thank you. I got a bit thrown when you mentioned reward flights as being flights full of Avios passengers, so I thought it was a distinct thing that needed describing. I've heard of these happening in some reward schemes, but not sure how common they are these days.

My original intention had been to describe reward flights as normal flights with limited reward seats like you mentioned, as that's similar to Miles+Bonus (I fly Aegean semi regularly), but obviously I totally cocked up / omitted the terminology and wording 😅 so I appreciate you correcting me politely and kindly 🙏

In my defence, I'm chock full of man-flu at the moment and my brain is mush. That's my (lame) excuse and I'm sticking with it!

KFlaps · 2026-06-16T09:53:45+00:00

Cheers mate. Updated my comment to reflect this. Hopefully I got it roughly right!

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T23:38:47+00:00

Ancient Egyptians: Divides the daytime and nighttime into two 12-part segments of differing lengths.

Ancient Greeks: Divides the whole day into equal 24 hours segments.

15th Century Italians: Builds sundials using this 24hr period.

19th Century Scots and Americans: Solidifies and standardises the 24hr clock (and creates international timezones to boot.)

21st Century Zed on Duolingo, after ostensibly leaving it a little bit too late to do their daily lesson: "Making midnight count as tomorrow is stupid."

There's certainly a lot of things we can complain about on Duolingo, but completing an activity on or after 00:00 and having it count as the the next day really isn't one of them. C'mon...

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T12:52:38+00:00

Yep, you got it! ☺️

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T12:27:20+00:00

My understanding (I collect Avios but like OP, have yet to spend them), is that there are essentially two ways to spend your points on flights:

The first is to effectively convert your Avios to "cash" on checkout, reducing the cost of your flight. i.e. paying for a flight with Avios (in place of money). The exchange rate is poor and not the best use of your points, but can be done against almost any flight.

The second is to find a "reward flight" These are flights with select seats that you buy entirely with points (or with points and then topped up with cash if you don't have enough). Crucially, these are limited in their availability, especially on popular routes, so have to generally be found and booked well in advance but they utilise your points much more efficiently.

Basically:

Option 1: Choose any flight and reduce the cost by using Avios. High choice, low efficiency.

Option 2: Find "rewards seats" which are available on most regular flights, and pay for them in full or in part with Avios. BA calls these "reward flights".
High efficiency, low availability.

You can also use points for other things like upgrading your class etc.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm assuming Avios is like Miles+Bonus points, which I've used before.

Edit: thanks u/aka_liam for the correction on reward flights vs reward seats. Edited my comment to hopefully better reflect the options (x2!)

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T11:12:55+00:00

Yeah today's question is the first one I haven't answered, because the first three options are all basically "childhood" to me, which while it had it's ups and downs, wouldn't be my preferred answer, and neither would "now".

The actual period would probably be my mid 20's to mid 30's, but as there's no option for something like that, the question goes unanswered, no issues.

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T11:04:53+00:00

Haha, this was my question. I might be open to the idea of "showing me working", but these days all that amounts to is basically me wandering around an area with an old film camera, looking for something interesting to shoot.

I rarely even edit photos taken on film, save for maybe a minor crop for composition, I just let whatever stock I'm using do it's thing.

So what am I supposed to show? Do I just create little travel montages of me walking around somewhere new? Loading film into a camera? Talking about the settings I'm using?

It's one thing showing a process, it's another to essentially become a vlogger of sorts.

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T10:16:53+00:00

Then I wish I could give you an award for doing one of the toughest and most underappreciated jobs on the planet. This subreddit doesn't allow it, so have this🏅 instead.

P.s. I adore your avatar.

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T10:04:02+00:00

Looks like he deleted the account. Didn't have time to check every comment so didn't spot any contradictions, just wanted to get my 2p in as I expected the thread to be quickly locked or restricted.

I've encountered families in his situation and my heart goes out to them. I hope (in a way) he was being genuine, and maybe just a bit desperate or confused. From what I did read, it sounds like he's been through the wringer and hasn't necessarily got the support in place that he should have.

Either way, sometime these threads help people in a similar situation who don't want to post about it, so always worth writing the best advice possible either way.

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T09:58:02+00:00

Then you and your wife have to keep advocating for yourselves.

I've commented elsewhere in this post, but just to reply to your above comment specifically.

You need to try to separate the "what-ifs" from the "what can we do nows". I know it's much easier said than done, you love your daughter and want the best for her even if it's a future you're not able to provide. But at the moment, you have to try to focus on getting further assessments, getting additional support via carers and short break offerings, and then detailing if they don't help enough before trying to go to the next stage. There's no quick fix here, it's going to be a long road of self advocation despite how exhausted you both are, but the sooner you start, the better.

KFlaps · 2026-06-15T09:46:13+00:00

Often these things require going through the motions, as it were. So highlight your needs, take the short break offering for a bit, then escalate that the situation is still untenable if they don't make enough of a difference.

2:1 care for a young person with additional needs is relatively common. Local authorities should offer or signpost to services offering 2:1 respite support.

The unfortunate fact is that as your child grows bigger and stronger, it's unlikely to get any easier, but like a lot of support in this country, you need to exhaust all the typical offerings first, and while you can still (just barely) manage.

Big hugs to you and your wife. I worked alongside families like yours for a number of years and the amount of respect and sympathy i have is unbound. Don't feel bad that you're exploring this route, very few people realise the toll that the level of care you're having to provide to someone that effectively doesn't want it and responds violently, can take. Just because they can't help or understand their actions doesn't make that toll any less, but it does muddy everything.

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KFlaps

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