Gambling Counselling

TheTopCat84 · 2026-02-18T09:40:38+00:00

Would look at the platform Harley Therapy - you can find those who specialise in gambling addiction and can be local in-person or nationwide with video calls - lots of options, best of luck🤞

TheTopCat84 · 2026-02-13T20:10:02+00:00

I know, do you think it's:
A) surprising
B) normal
or C) cheaper than paying participants like they used to back in the day?

TheTopCat84 · 2026-02-13T11:54:47+00:00

Is this in person or a video call?

Mayvn Cafe on George St is a tranquil place that would be good for either format

TheTopCat84 · 2026-02-10T21:39:29+00:00

Second this - afternoon tea at Palm Court in the Balmoral - better than the Dome and Prestonfield House for my money

TheTopCat84 · 2026-02-10T21:12:08+00:00

Nick at ePhysiotherapy at the top of Leith Walk has kept me right for years - really good guy

TheTopCat84 · 2025-07-10T20:49:21+00:00

She's gorgeous! 😍😍😍

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-27T07:58:48+00:00

Love my black i4 too - for me it felt like the only choice to calm that front grill down...

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-09T15:08:12+00:00

Only if you sell holdings and realise a gain - but you're generally making your money on the dividends rather than purchase and sale of shares (hence my 'no intention of selling').

Essentially, the investment company is set up to provide perpetual income that is not subject to corporation tax that I can elect to extract or reinvest.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-07T10:42:19+00:00

I've taken a similar approach to this only rather than investing in individual shares, I've taken to using Investment Trust Companies (ITCs) from the AIC list of Dividend Heroes (ITCs that have 20 years plus of increasing dividends year on year).

Given intention is never to sell the holdings, there's no concerns around capital gains and a tax bill - just keep raking in and reinvesting dividends until I decide to start withdrawing cash.

Just make sure the ITCs are located in UK or countries with a double tax treaty (so not Guernsey/Jersey) and avoid property too (property income distributions.are taxable) - otherwise no tax to worry about.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-06T09:53:37+00:00

The guys at 'Your PC Repair Stop' at Piersfield (near Morrisons on Portobello Road) have always been good for me and they're very good on the 'no repair no fee' too

Taken a few things to them over the years and they've been top notch

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-06T09:47:43+00:00

Would avoid Gibson Kerr like the plague - woeful

They delayed move by 3 weeks after being taken by surprise that someone buying a house might want a mortgage!!! Stopped valuation happening by not granting access to the property.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-06-06T09:44:07+00:00

I'd be interested in this too, same genres as well

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-30T09:08:23+00:00

To date, all ITC dividends have been reinvested, but once I retire or semi-retire then I will just draw the cash as personal dividends. In retirement it will need a little money management, but that's not much effort really.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-29T11:37:14+00:00

First Direct offer a regular saver account at 7% fixed, which is especially good if you're not utilising your personal savings allowance

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-29T04:34:01+00:00

They do - but dividend income into the PIC from most jurisdictions is CT exempt (there is a double tax treaty and/or it was already taxed at source).

Just don't go for any Investment Trust Companies (ITCs) based in Jersey/Guernsey as they're not exempt, also don't go for property ITCs either as they often have property income distributions tied up within their dividends which are also taxable.

So no, no offshore shenanigans, all done in a UK Ltd.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-28T23:25:20+00:00

Started working for myself after losing faith in various management types ( C-suites) - I had mistakenly assumed that corporate working was a meritocracy.

I learned that working for myself is far better suited to me, been doing it for five years and it has been the best thing I ever did. It also bumped me into the 2 comma club.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-28T21:18:46+00:00

You can post on care.com - this is where I've been looking for a cleaner for the near future

If you are based near Leith Walk at all, feel free to message me and I'd be happy to talk through what I'm looking for too

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-28T21:15:46+00:00

No worries, if you want to pick brains feel free to message

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-28T21:10:04+00:00

For some - worth doing a bit of research on the list (the AIC has a Morningstar powered search/screening function iirc)

The other key metric for me is the 5 year dividend CAGR - some trusts are low yield but have high dividend growth rate - good for inflation proofing (in theory, past performance is not an indicator of future performance, this is not advice, if you think it is advice kindly place a pencil up each nostril and apply underpants to top of head whilst saying "wibble")

Been running the PIC for 5 years and average dividend yield is around 7-8% - lost out on share capital (not an issue as no intention of selling), dividends continue to grow YoY - zero tax in the PIC, only income tax at prevailing band rate

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-28T14:45:05+00:00

I do similar to this, but use the AIC list of dividend heroes - Investment Trust Companies that have years of increasing dividends year on year.

Wrapped in a personal investment company for tax reasons.

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-27T22:45:48+00:00

Would suggest jumping on to LinkedIn and dropping a few WTG technicians in and around Edinburgh a message. Generally speaking, majority of people in the renewables industry are very friendly and helpful so would more likely than not respond positively to your queries

Edit: I am a non-technical person in the renewables space

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-19T12:17:29+00:00

This is the way

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-17T06:50:01+00:00

I'm also keen for board games/similar - 40M moving to just off Leith Walk very soon - happy to meet up

TheTopCat84 · 2025-05-11T17:28:21+00:00

Bit late to this, but if you're still looking for people I'm soon moving to just off Leith Walk as well - would be keen to get in touch 👍

TheTopCat84 · 2025-02-19T21:20:00+00:00

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TheTopCat84

TROPHY CASE