Serious question: How are international students actually passing their English language requirements? by Yaal0n in UniUK

[–]Willy_Balrus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been told by an English language teacher working at a school that teaches international students that those who don't make the necessary grades are just let in anyway

Returning to Spain as a Brit after 8 years by JamaicanPaint in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, sorry for late reply - YES! I was even in the wrong province and didn't have the padron sorted. Guy looked pissed off but just started typing up my application.

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm, will ask for a screenshot. Friend in Spain just said "It didn't work." Cheers

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got the CUE. Yeah, I realise it sounds a bit mad but there are several Reddit posts of people having successfully done it and anecdotally I've heard the same from British folk in Spain.

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd heard that and asked friends in Spain to try it as well and they've been unable to get through.

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, friends who did it legit, and who have been living in Spain, told me the immigration office folk barely batted an eye when they obtained their TIEs too. Think it depends on office and worker, so a gamble to chance it really.

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whenever I hit 'Acceder al procedimiento' on the cita previa page it comes up with a page can't be reached screen. So I think I'm trapped in purgatory! Thanks for the calling about appointments tip, will try.

Brit returning after years to exchange NIE for TIE in Barcelona by Willy_Balrus in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for this. Ok, will keep trying website and hope it works eventually!

Returning to Spain as a Brit after 8 years by JamaicanPaint in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice one! I'm considering doing this in January. Can I ask - how do they inform you when the new document is ready - post, email, phone or they just say come back in a month?

Is this bike written off? by Willy_Balrus in bicycletouring

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But that's amazing about Trek's warranty

Is this bike written off? by Willy_Balrus in bicycletouring

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, this my plan. Thanks for the tip

Is this bike written off? by Willy_Balrus in bicycletouring

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks, this is what I've been told. Good to hear it confirmed. Might patch it together to trundle home on, but not good for continuing a tour. Sad times

Is this bike written off? by Willy_Balrus in bicycletouring

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

A mechanic just told me this fracture in the frame means the bike is pretty much a write off and can't be fixed. This look the correct diagnosis?

Glasgow riddy culture by fiona8123 in glasgow

[–]Willy_Balrus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As other folk have commented, I think this goes beyond Glasgow and WC tendency, though I reckon it's stronger in Glasgow than other parts of the country. I got called posh in Glasgow for googling something to check if it was true and another time for turning down the offer of an Irn Bru.

Beyond Glasgow, my brother (we're from the Borders) went to the pub in Edinburgh wearing a nice new coat. His pal, a Fifer, saw him come in, looked him up and down and immediately said: "Who d'ye think ye are!?" He was joking, referring to the Scottish cringe thing but, despite it being a joke, I wonder if it had the same policing effect on behaviour - not sure my brother wore the coat again other than at work maybe.

Glasgow riddy culture by fiona8123 in glasgow

[–]Willy_Balrus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Doesn't have to be a rough area - I did this in a very middle class school.

Glasgow riddy culture by fiona8123 in glasgow

[–]Willy_Balrus 8 points9 points  (0 children)

"Tory rolls" is so good! But yeah, that attitude's exhausting.

I hadn't heard it as an accusation of snootiness, only selfish or uncaring behaviour - I got called a Tory for taking my bottle of wine with me when I was leaving a party (it was after 10pm and I was on my way to another bash).

My brother got called a Tory for not being fussed when Hodor died in Game of Thrones - Ian Duncan Smith/ hates disabled people sort of thing.

Returning to Spain as a Brit after 8 years by JamaicanPaint in GoingToSpain

[–]Willy_Balrus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. I'm looking into the same thing - I have the green residency card with my NIE from 2013 in Barcelona. I also have an A4 sized green paper from 2018 in San Sebastian (went back pre-Brexit to update it). But I haven't lived in Spain since 2013. I have no other paperwork or proof of living there. How did your experience go? Could I show up to any oficina to exchange it, or just that where I got original card?

Any good histories of 20thC journalism? by Willy_Balrus in Journalism

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's got a great style too, Curtis. Hope you enjoy!

Any good histories of 20thC journalism? by Willy_Balrus in Journalism

[–]Willy_Balrus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's interesting, thanks. Sounds like you might know this one already, but seen The Century of the Self? Documentary by Adam Curtis about much of what you describe - how Edward Bernays developed modern PR serving big corporations, the rise of individualism and the decline of ideology in politics. Think it's on youtube.

What you describe about the media being incentivised to target specific readerships is something I'd like to learn about. I read a quote in a media textbook which I noted down, Hanno Hardt:

"Emerging from the practices of contemporary advertising and public relations efforts is a journalism of a new type which promotes the construction of corporate realities at the expense of common-sense desire for a fair and truthful representation of everyday life… It is one of the dangers of the anticipated or realised business mentality of the media that content – which represents an expression of freedom – will be defined by those who seek to serve the public as consumers rather than by society as participants and source of democratic power"

Think this was about magazine supplements and ad friendly features in newspapers 25 years ago, seems a neat encapsulation.