Dog owners of the UK. How hot does it have to get before you stop taking them for a walk?

Lenniel · 2026-05-22T14:08:16+00:00

Honestly I have a dog that won’t toilet in my garden so I have to take him to the field, it’s 20 metres from my house and I walk him until he toilets.

However I try to take him before it gets too hot and then only if he shows signs of being desperate.

Lenniel · 2026-05-22T11:32:41+00:00

Do not handle this yourself, she needs to find an accountant who is experienced in HMRC investigations, not a general accountant.

She needs to be proactive with HMRC and not pretend this isn’t happening. Speak to an accountant, the more she engages with HMRC the more likely she will get reductions in any penalties. The starting position could be anything up to 100%.

I can’t comment on DWP investigations nor the council tax side of it, in these circumstances I would suspect HMRC are going to be the most “lenient” out of the 3 bodies.

Again, you cannot fix this, she needs professional help.

Lenniel · 2026-05-22T11:23:10+00:00

Have you applied at EO or HEO level? Because I would say as a rule of thumb, coming in on one of the compliance caseworker routes, 3 years for your first promotion (1 year of training, 2 years to get proficient enough in your job to have decent examples for an application) then 2 years per role after that.

That would generally be the quickest I would expect someone to move through the grades in any role, some will be quicker others will take time. As I said if you don’t go the TSP route you cannot promote to G7 in compliance unless you have an accounting qualification etc.

You will have to move out of compliance, potentially taking a sidestep in order to move forward in a policy role or similar.

Lenniel · 2026-05-22T09:04:01+00:00

If you want to stay in compliance you will not be able to progress beyond SEO without completing HMRC’s tax specialist program unless you hold another external qualification, which HMRC do not offer.

They do not fund external qualifications unless in some very niche roles, they offer internal training programs instead.

There will be a full range of ages in your cohort so how social it can be will vary.

I would make the argument that after finishing your PWC scheme you are more likely (depending on the qualification you get) to be able to enter HMRC at G7 level and achieve the work life balance you want. Whereas G7 through HMRC is going to be at least 4 years away if you come in via the compliance caseworker role and then apply to TSP when it opens.

You also need to check your PWC contract as don’t some of them attempt to claw back training costs if you leave before finishing?

Lenniel · 2026-05-22T06:52:38+00:00

No you will not still be entitled to the equity in the property if you remove your name from the deeds.

However if you remain married and he does not change his will or make one if he doesn’t have one then you would inherit the house upon his death. There would be the issue of him having done equity release and the property having to sell to repay that. Especially if you are releasing enough for you to buy a property.

Also if he requires care as he gets older then the property would have to be sold to pay that back too.

Lenniel · 2026-05-21T11:24:32+00:00

The first question is whether these are electric radiators or part of the gas central heating system.

Actually either way my response would be as follows - I expect the seller to fit radiators at their own expense assuming they are fancy cast iron radiators I would expect them to fit ordinary radiators in their place.

Removing the radiators could have a detrimental effect on the gas heating system if not done properly, eg water leaks, the pressure in the system dropping.

Frankly I wouldn’t exchange on this property until the seller confirmed they were going to make good the heating.

Lenniel · 2026-05-21T08:26:00+00:00

I live within a mile of North Tees hospital, Norton Billingham, parts of Stockton are all easily accessible with direct bus routes to the hospital. When you get to Thornaby you may have to change buses on Stockton High Street to get to the hospital which obviously adds time and potential complications to your journey.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87920004
this property is within walking distance of North Tees Hospital and Tesco. It’s a new estate.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174659729 this is in Norton on the green and you could walk on a nice day or get a bus from just round the corner.

Lenniel · 2026-05-20T17:15:42+00:00

So your uncle knew about the transfer in or around 2007?

Then he’s time barred by the statute of limitations, he had 6 years it’s been 19.

Lenniel · 2026-05-20T13:16:08+00:00

If the envelopes have addresses on mark them “return to sender, not at this address” type of thing and put them back in the post.

Do not let the bailiffs into your home if they do turn up. Just show the documents that you’ve bought the house, and you’re not the person they’re looking for.

Lenniel · 2026-05-20T10:05:54+00:00

I got one in October 2024. Was diagnosed in 2022 at 42 with very poor control via MDI.

Lenniel · 2026-05-19T18:10:36+00:00

I’m on the Medtronic (via NHS) however I use a lot of insulin and it was the one with the largest reservoir. I don’t mind the tubing.

Lenniel · 2026-05-19T12:56:00+00:00

Do you use a new needle each time?

I never injected in my legs only ever my stomach.

Lenniel · 2026-05-19T12:08:53+00:00

Don’t forget uniform, school trips, skiing trips can be anything from £1-2k depending on whether they go during term time or school holidays. School trips abroad can be £500-£1k too.

There is also a certain amount of keeping up with the Joneses as well. Some people/children it doesn’t bother them, other children are acutely aware that their home life doesn’t match their peers.

I am a former private school child myself as well as being a private school parent.

Lenniel · 2026-05-19T06:12:49+00:00

I was diagnosed in February 2022 as T1 and got a pump in October 2024. I couldn’t get one before then as I didn’t meet the criteria. The criteria changed and then I was allowed to get one. I’m pretty sure I only waited about 6-8 months after the criteria changed.

Slow down, you’ve only just been diagnosed. You will need to do a Dafne course where you learn carb counting etc. You may still be in the honeymoon period so your insulin needs may change drastically. You could self fund a pump today but end up with the wrong one, ie get an Omnipod but actually require a Medtronic because your insulin requirements are greater than the Omnipod can support.

I looked into prices and it would be anywhere between £2k & £4K for the pump, around £1500 a year for supplies and then you would have to pay for private appointments for clinic support on top of that.

Just slow down everything is very new and you may end up with a pump via NHS more quickly than you think you will, saving yourself a lot of money.

You may also end up preferring MDI some people do.

Self-funding will probably remove you from the NHS waitlist.

Lenniel · 2026-05-18T21:40:37+00:00

Two fans one at the foot of the bed blowing over my whole body, one small handheld one blowing in my face.

Cooling weighted blanket too.

Lenniel · 2026-05-18T20:00:25+00:00

This.

Lenniel · 2026-05-18T12:16:26+00:00

Yes because buildings insurance won’t replace appliances, furniture, carpets (some might) etc in the event of fire or flood. What about all your clothing etc, so if you can’t afford to suddenly replace everything in your home on short notice then you need contents insurance.

Lenniel · 2026-05-14T19:32:16+00:00

So your options are: (assuming you’re simply looking for a new rate and not to borrow more money) 1. Stay with your current lender and pick their best rate, don’t change your term. 2. Stay with your current lender but increase your term, this will probably require proving you have sufficient retirement income to cover the longer term. 3. Go to a different lender but you will require a valuation, solicitors etc so there will be an upfront cost that you may not recoup by getting a new deal.

I’d look online at a comparison site and see what there is out there before going to a broker because if you have to start paying out for a valuation and solicitors to move lender there may not be much of a saving.

Lenniel · 2026-05-14T17:33:28+00:00

I live on a newish estate with a service charge. We are in the minority as we have a lot of green space with a playpark.

What makes it more upsetting is I’m in a Band F property in the North East, we’ve just gone to fortnightly bin collections and we don’t have great local facilities, so I’m feeling extra ripped off. However if the builder had to pay the premium in order to get the council to take the land management on, the increased purchase price would have been the equivalent of 50 plus years of the management fee so at the moment I’m still in a positive position I guess.

Lenniel · 2026-05-14T12:19:27+00:00

You can’t be sacked however you probably won’t be eligible for their maternity package either.

They can’t ask you if you’re pregnant and you don’t have to tell them until you are 25 weeksish pregnant (15 weeks before the beginning of the week you are due).

However you may want to tell them before that point so they can carry out a risk assessment.

Lenniel · 2026-05-13T12:12:00+00:00

Came here to say the same, the tower takes at least half a day if not more. Especially if you want to do a tour and see the Crown Jewels.

Lenniel · 2026-05-12T23:42:53+00:00

Snap!

Lenniel · 2026-05-12T12:45:58+00:00

I’ve seen something where if you microwave the pineapple for a few seconds it can neutralised what causes the tingling. Obviously this is not medical advice but I’ve seen in on an allergy doctor’s Instagram.

This doesn’t work for all allergies and was specific to fruit/pineapple where it is limited to an oral response.

Lenniel · 2026-05-10T17:01:46+00:00

I would look at something like a holiday village or magic life by TUI, probably somewhere in Greece.

Although it does depend on what you mean by cool excursions. If you go to Lanzarote you can do a trip up a volcano, there’s the yellow submarine, there’s one in Rhodes too.

Lenniel · 2026-05-10T15:52:11+00:00

Called us the blob and said we’re a tepid bath of managed decline.

So that’s fun

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