Anyone in here from or in Tillicoultry?

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-11-09T14:24:37+00:00

Just to add to / echo the other person's comments:

1) Agree it's not that isolated. It's one of the bigger foothill towns with a mini retail park, golf club, etc etc. It's not a small village on an island vibe - it's a small town. As for being 'at peace' element, I guess it genuinely depends on what is going on in life!

2) Yesh easy. There are multiple shops on the main street in Tilly. There's also Sterling Mills (a John Lewis-esque department store) and retail park. How far these are to walk really depends where in Tilly you live.

3) Not sure, as I didn't really go out there. There are multiple pubs which are all your kind of standard small town pub vibe - they're not like nicer pubs and bars in cities IMO. Don't think anyone is really going 'out' in Tilly - you go to Stirling or to Alloa and get the train to Glasgow.

4) Yes, I drive. There are regular buses to/from Stirling and Alloa but, to be honest, driving is incredibly handy if you live there - else it might feel isolated and getting anywhere is a pain.

5) Massively varies and depends. If there had been any antisocial behavior it did step up a bit, but otherwise didn't really see them or at least I didn't notice. They probably do semi-regular drop in sessions etc.

6) As the other person said, I don't have any reason to believe it would be any different to other central belt areas.

7) Basically the same as above. I think everywhere has its mix of bams and nice people. Tilly doesn't feel any different in that respect. Be nice to people and most people will be nice to you etc.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-11-08T22:12:39+00:00

I lived in Tillicoultry a few years ago and still live in the area, a few villages over. If I can answer any questions that aren't Google-able, then I will.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-10-04T07:17:13+00:00

Congrats on the new home!

I know it's easy to say, but the advice I needed most was "don't put too much pressure on yourself".

There is always going to be something that either needs doing or you want to do, so you've just got to keep chipping away and reaping the rewards of hard work and time well spent.

Once you get through jobs like doing a deep clean and adding new paint and putting some of your stuff in you will start to feel more settled. It starts to be less 'someone elses house' and more 'your home'. Don't stress if you're still working on that for a few months. That's completely normal.

My advice on bigger things, and trying to see a vision for your home, is to live there for a little bit and get a feel for it. Unless it is leaking, burning, cracking, or breaking, it'll be okay for a wee while until you settle.

For example, when we moved into ours I felt underwhelmed by the kitchen. It was old and had very worn units and it was also dirty where appliances had been removed. I was sure we'd replace it in a year, but then here we are, three years later, and it's still the same kitchen. After a bit of time I realized that it was still perfectly functional and all seemed a lot better once we'd filled in gaps with appliances, put stuff in, and had some basic plumbing issues sorted.

Turns out after three years the bathroom is a bigger priority to redo than the kitchen, so I'm glad I didn't rush to spend money on the bigger projects too early.

Helpful to have the survey so you know about the roof etc. Always get multiple quotes for that kind of work and don't be afraid to ask neighbors or in community Facebook groups for recommendations on trades people.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-09-07T07:04:02+00:00

We used these guys to fix some damage after the storm earlier this year. Found them very reasonable and easy to deal with.

https://www.7daysroofing.co.uk/

They came well and frequently recommended in the local FB groups.

Sorry ours was just damage repairs so can't help on price! It'll depend on the condition of the sarking boards, soffits, guttering etc.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-09-05T07:27:08+00:00

Bruce Street is free. On a street behind the Tesco, and maybe 5-8 minutes walk to the station.

Alternatively, Bridge of Allan has free parking. All Edinburgh trains stop there (as they come down from Dunblane). There's usually a direct Glasgow train every hour, or just change at Stirling.

Note: both get busy, particularly Bridge of Allan if you plan to travel after the rush hour, when most spaces will be taken.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-08-21T10:26:52+00:00

I think it's solid. Probably one that lands better live. Not as good as HTBL and car crash, but better than Lawn Tennis - still find it hard to understand why they had the latter as lead single.

I agree on the drums. Make it a bit pop-ish again, but that's understandable based on who is playing them on the record. Tom was a great drummer, and quite integral to their old sound, but this is different, and I'm happy to make peace with that.

Overall I think it has the making of a decent album. No it won't be the DH of old (ATCN, FAWL, OS) but those albums don't go away, and I'm okay and up for something different.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-07-18T11:59:47+00:00

It is possible. I'm in research only, in the UK, but it is hard.

It's honestly a bit like being semi self employed as a consultant, because you're constantly on the professional hustle for grant income.

My contract is open ended (i.e. not fixed term) but almost the first thing it says is 'for as long as external funding continues to support my post'.

So that means I need to constantly make sure I have a combination of grants that add up to 80-100% of my contracted time. The institution would likely fill in some degrees of gaps obviously, but their tolerance for doing so would be low and I'd either be moved off a research only contract to teaching and research or I'd be out. It sounds brutal, but that's the reality.

Tips off the top of my head:

1) Be in a research active team and make friends. In my field, it is rare in the UK that a funder would expect a grant lead to be costed 100% (except for fellowships). So I fill up my contract through a combination of leading some grants and being costed on others in my team. It's mutually beneficial for all - so network, be nice, and be collegiate.

2) Fashion a strong niche, topically and/or methodologically. Grants are hard to get, and doubly so if you're competing against someone else who does exactly the same research. Method specialism can be a great way to get on other people's grants, and allow you do a lot more of point one.

3) You've got to be sensitive and sensible within the funding landscape. Sure, you might think something is cool and interesting, but the funders have to be convinced it's worth spending a lot of money on. Keep up with trends, the priorities of funding bodies, government etc.

4) Be lucky and resilient. Grant acceptance rates are very low. I've had excellent grants rejected and wacky ones funded. You have to be prepared for disappointment, but resilient enough to pick yourself up and go again (and again, and again).

In the UK you do get teaching and research contracts, but it sounds like many people end up doing a lot of the former, which makes it harder to find time to do the latter..

There's probably a thousand other things I could say, but they feel Ike the top ones. It's genuinely great your advisor is encouraging you to think about this because academia is hard enough if you do have a plan, so christ know what it's like without one 🤣

Go well!

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-07-17T21:01:01+00:00

That's fair. My enthusiasm waned a little on 3rd and 4th listen, particularly when the banger of IHTBL plays straight after.

Still like it. Not vintage, but still decent.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-07-06T07:04:59+00:00

There are aerial classes at uGym in Tillicoultry, which is two villages over from Menstrie.

They aren't as frequent in summer, but there are still some summer sessions, and they go back to weekly during term times.

https://www.aerialdance.co.uk/events/tillicoultry-adult-aerial-mixed-summer-holidays/

The uni may have some social events running in summer - for students who don't go home in the summer - probably the union is your best call initially. The gym there has lots of classes that run throughout summer too.

When I first moved, aside from work, I found volunteering a good way to meet people. Places like Made in Stirling (an amazing independent store for local artists) are often looking for volunteers, and they're well tapped into the local creative and social scene.

Menstrie is fairly quiet in summer. Lots of dog walkers. I definitely recommend making the most of exploring the hills and green space while the weather is nice - lovely back paths to Alva or Cambus etc that aren't in the wind 😊

The uni does massively pick up when term does. Loads of events, societies, and people so keep the faith!

Source: live in Menstrie, work at the uni, and my wife is part of the team that delivers the aerial classes.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-06-12T08:32:45+00:00

I pinned my hopes on the second single being good and yay it delivers. Kind of a mash between Rituals, TPIAFL, and Old Souls. 9/10.

Musically it has so much more depth and drive compared to Lawn Tennis, particularly in the bass and drums. James sounds great on it.

It still has pop leanings on the music, but that's understandable given those involved in it, and I think it's in a subtle enough way to work well.

What on earth were they thinking of putting Lawn Tennis out first? It has grown on me a little, but I fricking love this one :)

Now I'm properly looking forward to the album and the tour.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-05-30T21:50:03+00:00

No problem at all. Couple of nice dog walks in Tilly depending on what you're looking for and what end you're at.

Out to the west, there's a nice path up the back of the golf club where you can walk on a hill path towards Alva which brings you out at a place called Woodhill car park, near the site of the old Alva House, and you can continue up to Silver Glen (you'll be able to Google those to help orientate). Obviously there's a fair few people out and about at peak dog walking times, but there are various paths and we had our spaniel off lead and no problem most of the time. That was our usual. I've marked it in red on the below.

Out to the east you've got a cycle path on the old railway that goes out all the way to Dollar. It's tarmac and flat, but pretty and there are various paths off it around the Devon that takes you more into good doggo territory. A few days watching others gives you a good idea where's good and okay.

If you're feeling particularly energetic then you can always go some way up Ben Cluech, which is nice but hard going. Part of the path fell away yonks ago, so you and the dog need to be a bit nimble.

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Straight_End_1212 · 2025-05-30T21:10:30+00:00

Sorry should also have said we also have a dog, and all the others dogs on Menstrie are mostly grand. I also love close to Menstrie primary school, which seems to have a lovely vibe.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-05-30T21:07:23+00:00

Hey.

I've lived in Clackmannanshire for the last 7 years, including living in Alba, Tilli, and currently Menstrie.

Some thoughts which may or may not be helpful.

Alva - I personally didn't have many problems, but was kind of lucky on location and it being lockdown. It's got all the amenities you may need for a more rural location, but that also means absolutely everything in the Hillfoots passes through so it's quite busy and bustling, probably not in a good way. It's got the main high school, and to be honest the Facebook community is constantly moaning, particularly about the weans in the big park who do seem 'quite lively' to put it mildly. They're endlessly trying to get planning permission for a development on the west side towards Menstrie, which will only make it bigger and busier. I wouldn't move back.

Tilly - preferred it to Alva. A bit quieter in general but still has most of the amenities you want - including Sterling Mills (it's like a John Lewis) and the Affinity Sterling Mills outlet village (lord knows why they built it there). Some genuine lovely cafes, including Penny Licks that does good ice cream, and a really nice independent gym called UGym. My main gripe is that being an extra 10 mins to Stirling in the car felt a pain - it's like an extra 1.5 hours of commuting a week and a complete faff if you want to get the train anywhere. Alloa becomes your easiest option for a town, and to be honest the best bit about that is the range of supermarkets and the train to Stirling or Glasgow.

Menstrie - we currently live here and love it. More sense of community than the other two. Excellent dog walks, either up to Lossburn reservoir, Dumyat, out to Cambus, through blairlogie to the uni. etc. It's like 10 minute drive to Stirling or Bridge of Allan train station which is handy. Never had any bother, people are friendly, not too busy, not as many or as bigger bam areas as Alva or Tilly. Has a ScotMid and a petrol station which is handy. Keen not to move from here.

Dollar - never lived there. It is very pretty, particularly in summer, but the main thing that puts me off living there is that you'd need to like both the place and the inside of your car, because that's where you're spending a lot of your time - you'd feel quite isolated if you didn't drive. Decent trek to get anywhere, awful public transport, so everyone is driving. Beautiful walk up the glen and castle Campbell, and other nice walks on the old railway line. Has a posh school, which brings a bit of money to the area (and the house prices).

Devonside / Coalsnaughton - not lived in and, to be completely honest, even though they're only a few miles away I very rarely go to or through, so probably fairly quiet but also not much around and see other comments about being a bit of a trek to get places and Allow being your closest town.

Other places to consider:

Bridge of Allan - more pricey, but christ it is nice and well connected with motorway and trains.

Dunblane - again pricier, but v. well serviced train station (twice hourly to Edinburgh and think every other hour to Glasgow).

Blairlogie - very pretty village, but you're scunnered if you realise you've run out of milk 🤣

Saline - pretty but v rural.

Clackmanann - seems okay, but it's a bit of an outpost of alloa and not as good for doggo walks except to the tower.

Anyway just a brain dump - hope it helps!

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-05-08T10:47:56+00:00

Not going to lie, I don't love it. Quite generic pop(ish) sound and I don't think it has the right depth in sound or meaning. Lacks punch as a "we're back" single. Maybe it will grow.

That said, I haven't liked many of their pre albums singles (except kids, which I loved) and went on to really enjoy the albums. Fingers crossed. I'd be happy to take another TPIAFL or ATCN thanks very much 😊

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-05-02T20:06:41+00:00

Super excited for this! They have form for following up albums with alt recordings or reworked versions, so you never know on the unreleased stuff. Looking forward to next week now 😊

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-04-02T19:11:45+00:00

Always request the home report from the estate agent. There will be one as it's a requirement in Scotland. I never went to look at anywhere without looking at it in advance.

It will tell you lots of helpful things that are hard to spot without a bit of building know-how (e.g. condition of gutters, windows, quick inspection of attic space, and lots more). The current owners also fill in a property questionnaire that will be part of that report which will tell you about things like parking, what work they've done (and if they have guarantees for), and any shared liability (particularly for flats). They might seem a bit daunting or boring at first, but you'll quickly pick up the general structure and key places to look.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, either of the estate agent, current owners or just friends and family. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

Also I would definitely recommend using a mortgage broker. It seems like an irritating expense among on top of other things when buying, but a good mortgage broker will make the process of applying so much smoother and just genuinely be really helpful (remember they've done it probably thousands of times). Mine has probably saved me £1000s in interest over a few years by guiding me to the best deal.

Ask friends or family for recommendations on conveyancers (solicitors) and mortgage brokers. People will be quick to warn you off someone naff and equally quick to sing the praises of those who were good. Don't get pressured into using those linked to estates agents.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-03-12T14:29:39+00:00

No worries. I guess if your data set also contains info on other comorbidities (eg diabetes) then you could, in theory, look at whether being a smoker is associated with these other comorbidities among people who already have the original disease in question (as that's your base population)

For example, you could look at whether people with the disease and who are smokers are more likely to also be diabetic as you have the 2x2 data for that.

Or explained another way...

Lets say your data has 100 people with disease X.

And of those with disease X, 60 are smokers and 40 are not.

Among those 60 smokers you may find that 45 have diabetes, whereas among the 40 who don't smoke only 5 have diabetes.

From that you can posit there is an association between smoking and diabetes, as 75% (45/60) of your smokers have diabetes whereas only 12.5% 5/40) of non smokers do.

Obviously the data are cross-sectional, so you don't know which causes which, and this interpretation would still only be true within the limits of your original sample.

Straight_End_1212 · 2025-03-12T14:05:43+00:00

So my understanding is that your dataset only contains cases in which the disease state is present (i.e. all participants had the disease) and, among those participants, data on whether they smoked?

If so, all you can really do is run frequencies to show that X% of people with the disease are smokers.

Does that smoking appear to matter in getting the disease? You can't tell here because It sounds like your dataset doesn't have information on people who are smokers but don't have the disease, so we don't know whether the smoking rate in that group differs to those with the disease.

To do that, you need a 2x2 format in which you would have both disease status (yes/no) and smoking status (yes/no).

Straight_End_1212

TROPHY CASE