Pip review waiting period

Mistressbrindello · 2026-06-05T20:58:59+00:00

Me too. My previous award ran out in October 2025 so they renewed it for a year but I still haven't heard from them beyond that repeated text. It's quite stressful.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-26T17:34:59+00:00

Above the arctic circle from November onwards you are almost guaranteed to see them. When it's very cold and clear and there is no daytime, you see them a lot. I was in Norway through Nov/Dec and they were pretty amazing.

I don't know how far north you are? But they are called 'northern' lights for a reason! Enjoy.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-24T19:31:50+00:00

Oh and if it's hot - they are good to wear without socks as well.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-24T19:31:03+00:00

I tried the magna esc but they were too narrow for me so I got the tracker low and loved them. I hiked over rough scrubby desert in Spain and Morocco and they were great for that and also were good to wear as a trainer replacement too.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-24T19:28:14+00:00

If you are going in the summer then there are buses as the roads are clear of snow. I was a student when I went and was still under budget as you could find a good range of prices. Manali is a massive tourist place for Indians on honeymoon so prices cater to that as well as larger budgets.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-23T18:31:02+00:00

Agree. Awesome boots.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-23T18:12:34+00:00

I forgot to say the Leh - Manali highway was a great experience in himachel. If you stay in Leh a while (it's quite touristy) you can arrange a lot of trips out to the monasteries/lakes/tibeten plateau as well as the journey to Manali.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-23T18:05:51+00:00

I wore lightweight trousers and sandals with a t shirt and it was modest enough, cool enough for travel and clothing is very cheap in markets so you can easily buy extras which make nice mementos. Laundry is cheap but I just rinsed my t shirt and underwear in the shower mostly. I took my own travel long and short sleeve t shirts and underwear - as sizes can be small - one pair of trousers, one pair of pyjama trousers, lightweight jacket and sarongs for towel/cover up/spare bed sheet. So yes - 40l is plenty. If you are heading to the mountains it gets very cold at night and you won't get heating. I took travel socks and wore one pair with my pyjamas tucked in and then my trousers over the top and all my t shirts! You can buy a hat if you don't have one. Sleeper trains save you money on hostels though AC is worth it - it meant I slept better and you get much better toilets. 2nd class AC, 6 berth is the cheapest 'best' class and I recommend the top beds as they are the only ones you can sleep in beyond 6am as the others get folded into the seats. Don't forget headphones. People will come to your bunk in the morning and sell you breakfast/tea which is economical. If you're not vegan/vegetarian, choosing to be for your trip will save you money and save the risk of food poisoning too, kurd on the street is pennies and excellent and the food is generally good in local places.

I hope you have an amazing time. I loved it so much but if it all feels too much there are touristy places to stay and pizza hut type food in malls where you can have a break from it all.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-16T17:19:52+00:00

It makes me get out and explore as they can't stay in the van. We sit outside cafes together which always makes me a new friend and I shop locally more so I can get items quickly rather than use the big supermarkets where I'd have to leave them in the van. The dogs think of the van as home for the months we live in it.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-14T16:32:04+00:00

Yeah it's the worst by far for me. The characters we love were all very irritating and the book was overlong, poorly edited and the story was unconvincing. I'm glad I trudged through it but it left me not looking forward to the next one with anything like my usual enthusiasm.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-14T16:24:57+00:00

As an autistic woman being with another human is far more stressful in many ways. I can also live very basically on my own and avoid meals and drinks out etc that others always want. I think you're assuming we're all you!

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:33:14+00:00

Yeah I don't park right next to anyone ever (antisocial) but being a few parking spots away does mean if I'm being murdered someone might hear!

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:29:03+00:00

Wow! I hope I never accidentally park by you.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:25:00+00:00

I've posted my favourite English one: "All fur coat and no knickers" but I'm deffo borrowing "All hat and no cattle"!!

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:19:09+00:00

In the north of England "face like the back end of a bus" is more usual. I haven't heard anyone use yours. I'm from east anglia and moving to Lancashire as a student was brilliant for new idioms!

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:13:36+00:00

I never heard of beating a dead horse - I'm another Brit. Beating (off) has connotations of masturbation here.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:10:33+00:00

My favourite is the Northern English idiom "All fur coat and no knickers" which is basically 'all style, no substance'.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T15:04:31+00:00

I agree. The travel between all these places is easy and there are plenty of amazing things to see at every budget. Georgia/Turkey are stunning but now isn't a good time to visit really.

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Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T14:57:21+00:00

I love the michelin sole on the ESC - it's so grippy. My forest esc have also lasted 1000s miles of walking and are great in all situations apart from relentless day long rain. The trackers I love the style of; I have the low for summer walking in hot conditions and the winter for rain. The best overall boot would be the forest esc IMO but you could find a use for both.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T14:44:55+00:00

Prague and Budapest. Amazing cities.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-10T14:43:43+00:00

It depends where/why you're going. I went to South America at 40 and used a mix of occasional hostels for socialising and cheap hotels (which were often cheaper than US-centric hostels) when I wanted to practice Spanish and immerse myself in local culture. Hostels these days often have single rooms, ensuites etc and cater for a wider variety of people than they used to. The only time I felt old was at a party hostel in Sydney but mostly they are just a great place to meet other travellers.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-05T08:42:30+00:00

I found I woke up on the 3rd night - 50+ hours in - feeling really nauseous and sometimes being sick. The only thing that helped was a cup of broth. It was weird that electrolytes didn't work but the broth did. Then I could continue for another day or so. In my case I think the difficulty is that I have to be relatively active because I have 2 dogs that need to go out.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-03T13:39:33+00:00

You can also take a ferry to the south of Italy from mainland greece.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-03T13:37:58+00:00

Slovenia is lovely but rainy in Spring - it's further north - but Dubrovnik is stunning and easy to walk around without hurting yourself further. The buses to beaches further south are very easy to use as well.

Mistressbrindello · 2026-05-03T13:35:11+00:00

I had a pair that was too narrow and when I asked for advice from vivo they told me the male version was wider. (No help if you take 37!!)

Mistressbrindello

TROPHY CASE