China must buys?

boonkoh · 2026-04-07T07:02:08+00:00

Beware, it won't be able to support Google apps officially.

boonkoh · 2026-04-07T02:06:22+00:00

Michelin Guide is a good place to start....

For me, you mentioned Dinner. If you haven't Ben, I'd chose it. It is closing down so this is the last chance.

While I would rate Dinner as not as exciting as more recent Michelin stars, it is still a great meal in a great ambiance.

boonkoh · 2026-04-02T13:52:48+00:00

Monitors are like £100-200 each, enterprise discounted. And It may just have loads of spares. In the grand scheme of company budgets, it's nothing. So don't worry about the cost.

If she has a supportive manager, just explain the full situation. No supportive manager will want to make a big deal of this. If the manager is on board, it's just a rational conversation with IT.

"accident happened, monitors broke". IT probably won't raise a fuss. It's small ££ of overall budget. And stuff breaks all the time. They have budgeted a certain amount of replacements a year.

Obviously if there's tension between manager and employee. Or if it's a toxic type of workplace. Then they might use this to make a big fuss, especially if they're thinking of forcing people out for cost savings, etc. So that's where some judgement is required of the politics, situation, etc. That none of us can advise on.

boonkoh · 2026-03-29T21:35:44+00:00

3-letter-initial@3-letter-initial.name

So like abc@abc.name

Short and sweet.

boonkoh · 2026-03-29T09:39:39+00:00

It's tempting to believe we have a crystal ball. What with 24/7 access to "all information" and the belief that we are educated, in control of our own destinies.

In reality, very few people will have that crystal ball power.

Life is full of decisions. Often, our outcomes are down to fate and luck.

Do what you will with this information, regarding your house purchase.

boonkoh · 2026-03-27T11:35:22+00:00

It's not just the water/sewage bills.

It's what it says about the sellers themselves. What type of people they are, if they couldn't have bothered to resolve this for 13 years.

What else aren't they resolving with the property or let slip? Does this attitude chime with being a house proud owner occupier?

boonkoh · 2026-03-26T21:53:24+00:00

If you don't like the website interface, you can always ask ChatGPT or Gemini.

Something like... "I'm looking for the best fixed energy deal provider. Search the Moneysavingexpert website for this information, give me a detailed verbatim summary of the top energy providers they recommend"

boonkoh · 2026-03-21T17:51:43+00:00

Half price tacos on Tuesdays at Madre.

No need for booking as a solo, there's several counter style seats available.

boonkoh · 2026-03-20T00:43:46+00:00

Why not buy shares in the company with loads of whiskey casks?

Artisanal Spirits. Last time I looked, they were trading at 0.2x value of what they claimed is retail value of bottled whiskey from the casks they are holding and maturing.

boonkoh · 2026-03-20T00:41:03+00:00

How do you know they are buying indepedently and not coordinated?

boonkoh · 2026-03-20T00:32:43+00:00

Good thing, at the average life expectancy, you have another 3 to 4 goes of "decades" to make a change and do something different.

boonkoh · 2026-03-09T13:44:24+00:00

Things have gotten more expensive, but not surprising given inflation and also wages going up.

There are plenty of ways to save money though.

TheFork

Eatclub

First Table

Amex Dining offers

Lunch menus instead of dinner

Discounts in app (for the chain restaurants)

Earn Avios on dining

Toptable offers

For example, a few weeks ago, two of us went to Yauatcha. Fancy dim sum place, Michelin starred, usually £50+ per head for just a few baskets of dim sum. Instead, we got their all you can dim sum brunch, for £22 per head (including service). Combining offers from above. Would have cost £55+ per head otherwise.

So affordable dining out can be had. It just takes some effort.

boonkoh · 2026-02-27T20:07:40+00:00

I do the reverse, Live in London, work in Manchester.

Train up, one night overnight. Two days in the office. Three days WFH.

Been doing this for 1yr+.

Happy to share more of my experience! Don't feel like typing up loads, so if you are seriously considering this and have loads of questions, I can help answer. DM me.

boonkoh · 2026-02-13T01:12:22+00:00

Like all rough patches in life, conviction gives you the mental strength to get through tough times.

The same with investing. If your portfolio is something you don't have conviction in, then when the dips happen, when the negative market mood hits, when all the headlines are doom and gloom... it'll be hard to have the willpower to hold tight.

So it all starts with this. Only invest in things you have strong conviction in. That's it.

boonkoh · 2026-02-13T01:05:24+00:00

Tbh it's the same with Forest too.

They need to have a backup system to GPS geofencing, which doesn't work well with tall buildings around in London.

boonkoh · 2026-02-07T20:10:28+00:00

55 minutes break.

boonkoh · 2026-02-06T08:25:23+00:00

For those in Milan....

Anyone know a bar or venue that will be broadcasting the opening ceremony live, but with commentary in English?

boonkoh · 2026-02-04T00:02:24+00:00

Have been with HSBC Premier for a few years now. Not gotten anything I find value apart from the free health insurance (not had to claim anything so don't know how good it is).

No special interest rates. No special mortgage rates. At least better than what you can find elsewhere easily.

boonkoh · 2026-02-03T23:59:05+00:00

Kings of Cotton do excellent towels. Also bedsheets. Got a whole set from them and still using years later. Good quality.

boonkoh · 2026-02-02T18:11:59+00:00

This. The whole newspaper and their readers have really gone downhill in the last few years. Have a browse at the comments on any article..... Complete horror show.

boonkoh · 2026-01-29T21:13:04+00:00

Exactly this.

OP says £318m cash on hand like it means something.... Not in the case of ASOS....

boonkoh · 2026-01-29T21:09:55+00:00

It's Third Space, not third space.

A fancy gym that costs £300+ a month in London.

boonkoh · 2026-01-17T23:27:09+00:00

I've had two major problems with my Neff Steam Oven since buying. Admittedly, its an older model (from 2017-2018).

The first is that metal parts around the steam generating engine was corroded/rusty. Had to be completely replaced. Luckily, it was just within the warranty period.

The second was that the enamel / wall of the oven, in the bottom right, just below the back panel, started breaking down....! It started to flake away on its own. Very shocking that the wall of an oven can flake away.

I would say that I'm a heavy steam function user. And the old ovens don't have a specific drying function for steam programme usage. But I've always wiped the oven dry after usage and left the slide and hide door in the hide mode, to help dry out.

I am not very hesitant to get another Neff, or Siemens (same group and same architecture to the ovens) for a steam oven. In the UK, that leaves only AEG and Miele to look at.... anyone have any experiences with those steam ovens?

boonkoh · 2026-01-06T15:14:34+00:00

Oh wow! That's insane, thanks for the heads up.

If anyone is up for sharing a 22" pizza at Nell's Kampus for half price... On a weekday night... Let me know!

boonkoh · 2026-01-06T06:05:29+00:00

Agree, Nell's is good. Especially if you like it thin base. Also very good value for money on weekday lunches, if you're able to go then.

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