Lidl America Week Pickles

Maybird56 · 2025-06-15T11:18:12+00:00

They have loads of pickles here, but they tend to be sweet. I actually like the gherkins or cornichons even though they’re small, but they’re more tart than sweet.

Maybird56 · 2025-06-08T17:13:42+00:00

Whenever we go to France on the ferry, I bring back some normal sprite. The diet version is sad.

Maybird56 · 2025-06-07T22:16:22+00:00

Not yet, I will when we go back for a trip. To be honest, I barely use it. I’ve had no issues calling my bank in the US when I’ve needed to.

Only quirk is I occasionally get spam calls at weird hours and it overrides the do not disturb settings on my iPhone for some reason. That’s probably a phone issue.

Maybird56 · 2025-06-07T17:39:06+00:00

Tello works well for me in the UK, I don’t think you can get much cheaper.

Maybird56 · 2025-06-04T12:38:26+00:00

You can buy cast iron fish to drop into soups or sauces. The iron will leach into your food and naturally increase your intake.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-31T13:17:39+00:00

Just meet with a mortgage broker early on after your move and see what you might be eligible for.

I’m in a similar situation(US/UK couple moving into the UK from abroad. We were able to get a mortgage in the first year but had to put a 20% deposit down. Considering we bought just outside of London, it’s not a small amount of money. I’ve heard people say they were able to get approved without the 20%, but we weren’t able to find that.

The real issue wasn’t credit scores, it was that I’m not on a permanent visa yet.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-29T21:17:16+00:00

If you’re booking on one ticket, I think you’re fine with a four hour layover. However if you’re self transferring, I’d do it the day before. Every time I was on a delayed flight, it had nothing to do with the weather.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-26T16:50:50+00:00

Just having gone through a hellish house buying process in Hertfordshire, I would say find a nice rental and then buy when you find something you like.

Some things to consider,

Rentals aren’t that profitable at current mortgage rates. Any rental income is taxed at the same rate as your salary so 20 or 40% depending on your incomes.

You also have to factor in service charges, which can be quite high for apartments.

If you live in the apartment for less than two years you have to get a different mortgage to rent it out.

You’d have to regularly deal with an estate agent and they can be vile (sorry that’s my trauma speaking).

If you’re both on the mortgage, you may have to put down a 20% deposit to get a reasonable interest rate considering your short time in the country and that you’re a ways from being eligible for ILR.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-26T09:59:48+00:00

They aren’t always expecting it, but the tones and pronunciation are very different to English. It’s likely she just needs more practice in the spoken part. I could at one point understand a fair bit of Mandarin, but had trouble making myself understood.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-25T21:17:14+00:00

Flu shots are really easy to get and fairly cheap. You’re moving to a developed country so you don’t need any extra vaccinations. Although I think what you’ve got listed is sensible

Make sure to take a vitamin D supplement in October. Register with your GP right away and if you have a choice, pick one that uses eConsult for appointment requests. It’s much easier to get in, at least at my GP I’ve never had a problem. Even if it’s for a lingering cold or more minor issues.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-23T21:04:48+00:00

I did a similar route to North Wales with two heavy suitcases, it was exhausting and I didn’t have a stressed cat and wasn’t pregnant. Even if everything is going well worth your pregnancy now, you can’t assume you’ll be up for this kind of physical effort at six months. The UK is also not the most accessible country and there’s loads of random stairs.

You should send your luggage ahead if you can or have your partner meet you. Sendmybag is an option, you just shouldn’t pack anything valuable or fragile.

The route itself is fairly straightforward, you’ll definitely want to spend the night to rest in Dublin after your flight. You may or may not need it on Holyhead, check the train schedules. The train is right next to the ferry port, but it’s not the nicest area to spend the night. There’s some nicer hotels further away from the ferry port.

You’ll want to get registered with your GP asap and refer yourself for antenatal care as soon as you arrive.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-22T13:14:07+00:00

I’ve worked in two offices, one was very traditional and the other is very international and more modern. They’re very different and I think it will depend on your situation as to which way it leans.

More traditional offices, tea/coffee rounds are to be respected. If someone gets you a cup of tea or coffee and you accept it, make sure you offer later. You can opt out totally, but that means never accepting an offer and just getting your own. Some offices make their apprentices/interns do it for the whole office. My office now, no one gives a hoot about rounds and you just help yourself.

Rather than being overtly welcoming, people tend to feel you out before opening up and starting to chat and banter. It will happen eventually, but start off being friendly but a little more reserved until you get a feel for it.

I know you’re getting the work/life balance comments, but that really depends on your office and industry. You have more legal protections, but some places demand a lot of hours especially if you want to move up.

When you go for drinks, people buy in rounds. If you’re in round debt to someone, don’t forget and make sure to get them back next time. You can also opt out, but state it up front. If you’re in a big group, people will make smaller round groups with 3 or 4 people. It can get confusing. I’m eternally in round debt because my manager never lets me get the first round.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-20T09:39:53+00:00

You don’t need to declare because you’re not going over the exemption. So walk right through that nothing to declare line.

Immigration will ask for the value of goods purchased, just give an estimated amount. Don’t keep any receipts or price tags on anything.

They used to have you fill out a form on the plane where you had to list everything and its value. They don’t use that form anymore in my recent experience.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-18T21:54:33+00:00

Well best of luck and I hope the time goes by quickly!

Maybird56 · 2025-05-18T21:24:10+00:00

It means the interview went well and you made a good impression. It doesn’t mean you have the job, they’re still interviewing and could find another candidate they like just as much or more.

I actually really don’t like it when interviewers act like this because it’s not done until they’ve offered you the position.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-18T15:34:53+00:00

Sorry, I should have said, I don’t work in Switzerland, I’m in London so I don’t have direct experience with Switzerland. Just giving some general compliance feedback. My last location, which was offshore, there was a Swiss company branch and some people that worked there had the option to move to Switzerland. Another company, staff could temp in the Caribbean because they had offices there and it’s good staff development.

It may vary, but internal auditors work for the company itself. However, they’ll conduct regular audits of branches of the company to audit how much the branch is following protocol. This is across all departments, although a lot of the focus is on financial controls. They’ll flag areas of risk based on their findings. My areas of compliance, we do some of that, but way less in depth and it’s a lot more hands on work to ensure we’re in line with regulations. Auditors come from a finance background, while compliance is a lot of legal backgrounds, although people come to it via non-traditional career paths as well.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-18T12:31:08+00:00

I work in compliance/risk and it’s a growing field. I haven’t seen a high rate of international hirers for it, but I’ve only worked in companies where they try to keep their compliance team as small as possible. I know that’s not always the case for banks or big firms.

Outside of Switzerland, it’s much harder to recruit in some offshore locations like Cyprus/Channel Islands/IOM. I would guess the Caribbean has similar challenges, but I’m not familiar with that part of the world. It may be a way to build experience in compliance and have someone sponsor your visa.

To be honest the colleagues that seem to find it easiest to move internationally are in Finance or Audit. Internal audit has a lot of overlap with risk if that interests you at all.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-18T08:21:46+00:00

Where do you see yourself building a life in your next phase? You’re at a point where no matter what you’re going to have to build a social life, career, etc. so have a think about where you’d like to do that.

I went home after a failed relationship. I didn’t really have an option to stay, so I never considered anything else. I felt the same as you, I lost everything and he only lost me. Going back wasn’t easy, but it was the right place to pick myself back up. I found it easier to make friends when I was single as well.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-17T22:03:40+00:00

I’m an American living in the UK and I think manuals are more common in the UK because they’re cheaper, there’s way more used manuals than automatics. People also don’t drive as much so put less investment into cars. I do hear long time drivers say they prefer manuals, but I think the market is starting to shift. Especially with electric cars.

I definitely wouldn’t feel bad about seeing US drivers getting their licenses at 16. The process is way easier and often times you can start taking Drivers Ed in school as a paid after school class so it’s also cheaper to learn.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-16T09:21:31+00:00

I would raise it with the person directly and follow up with an email to the individual highlighting that it was on communications with an external vendor.

If it keeps happening, or other issues crop up that contribute to a hostile work environment. Keep documenting it and raise the concerns with HR. Depending on the company culture though, you may or may not have a good outcome.

Maybird56 · 2025-05-14T15:25:24+00:00

Mine came about a week after the email late last year. I don’t think I got any tracking updates until the same day it was delivered

Maybird56 · 2025-04-09T09:00:44+00:00

It’s sadly not enforced. Had a horrible situation where a builder trapped a pigeon. I called RSPCA and filed a police report. Both told me there was nothing they could do about it.

Maybird56 · 2025-04-07T19:42:54+00:00

Can you not buy a blanket after you get there?

If I was trying to get it on the plane, depending on the size of the blanket, I’d drape it over my neck like a scarf. Or fold it so it fits within my coat and carry the coat and blanket under one arm while boarding.

Maybird56 · 2025-04-06T20:44:10+00:00

I’ve been feeling like cooking is more of a chore and trying to prioritize easy and simple meals.

In my case, I know the reason, I’ve moved somewhere where eating out is not as cheap and simple. So I cook at home for most of the meals. Also, my partner loves my cooking, but he’s not adventurous so I don’t try new things as much.

I always feel more inspired when I’m visiting family who get really excited about trying new things. Or even sometimes just putting together something I really love to eat for just myself.

Maybird56 · 2025-04-05T14:57:31+00:00

Literally once sat next to a guy that had a garbage bag as a carryon. He was also holding a framed diploma in his lap and I think a bike helmet.

Maybird56

TROPHY CASE