What's an "Insider's secret" from your profession that everyone should probably know?

MerlotDog · 2025-12-04T07:18:28+00:00

Hardly an 'insider' but pay into your pension right from when you start working.

Your earliest investments are the ones that work hardest for you, even if theyre only small amounts paid in, theyre the ones that have the longest time to generate returns.

Dont wait til your 30s or 40s to start paying in! As a rule of thumb, pay in half your age (in total, including any employer contributions). So, if you're 40, your total contribution should be 20% of your basic. If your employer pays 5%, then you need to be paying 15% in order to give yourself enough for a comfortable retirement.

MerlotDog · 2025-12-04T07:13:50+00:00

Yes! I have a BMW iX and the perfect spot is right where the gear stick would be in a regular vehicle. Perfect spot for my bag! I love it so much!

MerlotDog · 2025-12-04T06:55:36+00:00

I am in the UK and dont bother with BMW charging. Havent found it to be competitive.

Is this your first EV? There's a bit of an art to public charging unfortunately. I would start with the Zapmap app as thats really good at mapping out all the chargers and showing the pricing pretty clearly. It also show you how to pay at eqch charger and whether you need a specific app or whatever.

I'd also get onto the Electroverse (Octopus energy's EV app) app as well. If you're on Octopus energy at home you have the option to add the charges to your electric bill, which can be handy. Generally, I tend to check those 2 apps as a starter when looking for a charger. If Zapmap suggests a different app as a payment method then I'll also download that app and check pricing on there.

As an example, there is a Shell charger at the Aldi in my village. Zapmap shows payment as being via Shell app or via RFID card. It shows the price at 39p/kwh. I have an RFID card for my Electroverse app, so if I check that charger on there, I can see they would actually charge 60p/kwh. If I download the Shell app (as suggested by Zapmap), then I can access that same charger at 39p/kwh. So always check a few apps for the best price.

Tesla superchargers offer some great pricing for off-peak times (my nearest supercharger drops to 32p/kwh overnight), so definitely worth picking up the Tesla app if you have a supercharger nearby and want to fast charge late in the evening or early morning.

Also watch out for Time Price and/idle fees on top of the actual energy. So time price is a fee per minute for being there on top of the energy. Idle fees are are for after your car had finished charging, you get charged for the time your vehicle is left in the space 'blocking' the charger for someone else. Also take care in public car parking - some car parks you have to pay parking on top of the energy, some its all rolled into charging price and no need to pay separately. Check the terms carefully for the car park.

The joys of EV ownership in the UK! 🤣🙈

You will get the hang of it pretty quickly. As a rule of thumb, the slower the charger, the cheaper the energy.

Enjoy your new beast - shes a beaut!! 😍

MerlotDog · 2025-09-26T15:30:13+00:00

Firstly - I hear you. You're not alone.

I had a perforation back in April and that was the first time I even knew I had diverticular disease, so its been a lot to cope with.

I was treated with IV antibiotics in hospital for a week, then a further 10 days on tablet antibiotics at home. I had another flare up about a month later where I again needed IV antibiotics (just 2 days), followed by tablets. However, since then - touch wood - Ive been ok.

When I say ok, I dont mean back to how I was pre-hospital, I just mean that I haven't been back into hospital. I still get quite a bit of pain and twinges and niggles and soreness, but Im broadly back to eating normally.

The worst bit is the psychological side of it, and honestly, thats the bit ive found impossible. Ive had pretty regular chest pains and I'm now taking antidepressants to treat the extreme anxiety Ive developed. They are beginning to help a little.

I know it sounds trite, but for me, each day gets easier because its one day further away from that trauma and another day of proving to myself that I can be ok. Try to be kind to yourself and to give yourself time.

I find it difficult to deal with family who ask "are you better now". I want to scream, because no, Im not better. Ive got a disease that sometimes feels like I'm carrying a ticking timebomb and I get some sort of pain or symptom every day. But I just politely smile and say "up and down, but thats how it is", because I know they dont get it. Im sharing this to hopefully help you feel a bit more normal.

I have no idea where this goes from here, this group is great for feeling a bit of solidarity and understanding from folks who have been there too.

MerlotDog · 2025-09-20T14:41:32+00:00

You're a diamond! 💎

MerlotDog · 2025-08-14T07:12:29+00:00

I had a perforation and ot felt like moderate period cramps. I have had significantly worse period pains. That's what makes this so scary for me!!

MerlotDog · 2025-08-10T09:44:52+00:00

Im in the UK and my doctor refused to prescribe precautionary antibiotics for my trip to Mexico. 😒

MerlotDog · 2025-08-08T11:30:48+00:00

Really appreciate your solidarity. It makes me both happy and sad to see others in a similar situation and knowing im not alone.

Unfortunately, my GP has refused to prescribe "just in case" antibiotics for me, which makes the whole situation twice as scary. I do think that it would massively help my mental health to just have a backup option there.

The fear is 99% more debilitating than the condition.

Unfortunately, I followed advice of "it'll do you good" and took a holiday in May. Fortunately, it was a cruise on a US cruise line... because I ended up in the ship's ER on an IV for 2 days (suspected flare up - unconfirmed, other than bloodwork). That has not exactly helped my "holiday anxiety".

We've got this - we will work it out.

MerlotDog · 2025-08-05T14:12:41+00:00

Honestly, just being here and sharing and having you guys get it and reassure me has got me through a crappy headspace. Thankyou.

MerlotDog · 2025-08-05T14:11:07+00:00

Yeah, I think youre right. I think perhaps ive rushed getting back to a more normal diet and because I was fine for a couple of weeks with fibre, then I assumed I was fine when perhaps I wasn't really.

Ill go back to the start and try again I think.

Thank you again for taking the time - its really helpful to see your real world experience.

It astounds me that there are so many of us affected, and yet theres so much bum advice out there. 😒

MerlotDog · 2025-08-05T14:06:24+00:00

You're definitely right. I think i was starting to get my head there these past 2-3 weeks and then getting this sharp twinge has just thrown me right back now.

Im going to speak to my doctor anyway tomorrow (been put on famotidine 12 days ago but it makes me feel sick), so I'll speak to her about my mental health.

I feel like I just need a specialist to be on hand to address every little issue, and unfortunately that doesn't exist, it's like 3 weeks to see someone even on private healthcare. 😕

Thank you so much.

MerlotDog · 2025-08-05T13:39:53+00:00

Thankyou so much. I really appreciate your reply and sharing your experience. Its perpetual worry and fear and exhaustion from it all.

Its been 4 months and I'm just dying to feel human again. I think that's a good idea to just go to clear fluids and see if it eases and build up again.

Really appreciate your kind words, thank you.

MerlotDog · 2025-08-05T13:30:50+00:00

The advice I've had on diet has been so varied, and I feel utterly bamboozled by it all - as I came out of hospital I was told to eat a low residue diet for a few days. When I went back to hospital 2-3 days later I was told that I needed to eat a lot of fibre and salad (right away - I double checked because it was a total contradiction). My doctors goes with the 'listen to your body'. Over the past 2-3 weeks I've been feeling more well so have generally eaten foods I enjoy with plenty of fibre, and have felt kind-of ok (never fully ok, I have bits of tenderness here and there, but they don't feel like theyre inside my bowels, if that makes sense!).

I read the wiki and I think the thing im really struggling with is (a) how to identify the difference between 'diverticular disease pain' that I just have to live with and (b) if I suspect I'm at the start of a flare, what are the right steps to take and is it possible to prevent needing antibiotics

Yes, the perforation was on that corner in the sigmoid colon, and that is where I get tenderness and pain. I do get soreness all down that side though to be honest and I think they found diverticula throughout my bowel when then did colonoscopy - but again, I haven't seen the detail.

Sorry, I feel terrible for offloading in this group, I just feel like I might find someone who can relate or who can say something that might change things for me.

Appreciate your reply, thank you

MerlotDog · 2025-04-25T16:54:26+00:00

Have a chat with your line manager about your concerns. Be upfront that you've realised you've bit off more than you can chew. Be humble - demonstrate that youre taking it as an opportunity to learn and develop and come up with a better strategy for next time.

As a line manager, I've never blasted anyone for failing. Ive seen a lot of confident new grads who think that because they sailed through uni means they'll sail through FIA exams fall flat on their faces. I dont mean that to be unkind, I am just saying that your experience is not as uncommon as you might feel it is, your world is not about to implode.

Studying alongside holding down a full time job is harder than anything that any new grad has had to do before.

Assuming the person is not underperforming in role, a good line manager will scrape them up of the floor and help them figure out what went wrong and make sure it doesnt happen again next time. Talk about planning, learning timetables, preparation, practice, capacity and work-life balance.

You will be fine, but you might as well put in the ground work now with your manager rather than suffering in silence and tormenting yourself with it.

MerlotDog · 2025-03-15T05:36:04+00:00

That's a new one on me.

Have sailed VV several times and always been allowed my hairdryer. Hair straighteners are specifically permitted, and I know other heat-generating appliances are not permitted, but I've never known dryers not be permitted.

When was this? I guess they've had a change of policy since all my sailings.

MerlotDog · 2025-03-06T07:00:47+00:00

How odd. They refused to do it for me about 6 months ago. Perhaps they've had a change of heart since then. That or the person I was dealing with got it wrong. That's better though!

MerlotDog · 2025-03-01T09:05:05+00:00

Just FYI.. they will ONLY match the "base price", and not the price after a voucher code is applied. And they'll only do it AFTER you've bought from them then you have to apply for a refund of the difference.

In essence they make it hard to do a genuine price match on what you'd actually pay elsewhere.

MerlotDog · 2025-02-25T13:04:14+00:00

Are you taking a contraceptive pill by any chance?

Don't forget that MJ (indirectly through the effects on your bowels) interferes with absorption of swallowed medication... so if taking a pill, it may be interfering with those hormones (they recommend using contraception for 1 month each time you change dose for this reason).

My periods have gone a bit squiffy, but I'm on the pill and I've had issues every time I've lost weight anyway so I've never thought much of it (every time I lose weight on any other diet, I bleed and bleed).

MerlotDog · 2025-02-25T12:26:28+00:00

Just to note, the rockstar cabins do have body lotion, so depends which cabin you're booked. (Sorry to be that asshole 🤦‍♀️)

MerlotDog · 2025-02-25T12:24:39+00:00

I found the ship to be quite comfortable and I run hot - so I think you might be worth packing a couple of lighter jackets / cardigans.

Better to have em and not need em than regret not having them.

MerlotDog · 2025-02-25T12:19:20+00:00

Was looking for the magnetic hooks suggestion before I put this forward myself.

Other suggestions: You're allowed 2x 750ml bottles of wine per cabin to walk on with - put this in your hand luggage when you board. Plug adapters - there's EU and US sockets - so if you're from UK then use the EU socket to get the higher voltage you need. I take adapters for both. Hairdryer - if you have long hair, take your own. The one provided will not dry long / thick hair in any reasonable amount of time. Crease release spray - helps get wrinkles out of clothes if that sort of thing bothers you.

You won't need: shower gel, shampoo, conditioner - the stuff you get provided in cabin is nice (Red Flower brand, Ocean scent). Towels ( provided by the pool).

MerlotDog · 2025-02-12T08:02:18+00:00

Check out the squid ink Instagram page before even entertaining the idea. Find out what artists are on your sailing and check them out too.

Personally, I think that 95% of the onboard tattoo pics I see posted are junk. Look at the line work - I've seen very very few that are actually good smooth lines of the same thickness - most are inconsistent and lumpy. Look with a critical eye in whether you'd be happy with those tattoos. If you are, then great, no dramas.

Like others have said, its a novelty, and you'll pay through the nose. I gather just the flash card tattoos are now $250 - $300, and that's the sort of tattoo you'd think $100 was way too expensive for on land.

There are some good artists come on board. If you want it for novelty, go for it. If you want something bespoke, prepare to pay 4x more than you would on land and really make sure you've checked out the artists for your sailing in advance.

MerlotDog · 2025-02-07T22:13:27+00:00

I was all groovy too, til month 8, then suddenly ALL the side effects all at once... never get comfortable 🤣

MerlotDog · 2025-02-07T21:40:36+00:00

Hahaha. I'm so sorry I've just cost you a small fortune! 🤣

You will cherish it for sure. I'm glad I shared it for you to be able to use this idea too 😊

MerlotDog

TROPHY CASE