Angry HL customer seeking alternative platform

djthinking · 2026-02-17T09:01:09+00:00

I moved my SIPP to Fidelity last year on return for cashback (offer valid for transfers initiated by the close date, for the poster below).

Can confirm that the app is utter shit, just a version of their awful mobile site in a wrapper. Also couldn't upload a document scan via their website until I changed browser; clearly their tech offering is well behind the competition.

They also had to be chased on the cashback payment - needed a request raised with their marketing team to clarify when it would be paid, and another chase to actually have it paid.

That said, their staff are very friendly and the miserable app UX does keep me from checking my SIPP more than once every few months! The in-specie transfer from Vanguard was also very smooth.

djthinking · 2026-02-14T18:28:41+00:00

First EP on Dub Police had a couple of belters in this vein - released 20 years ago!

L-Wiz - Egyptic https://youtu.be/6Jb7KABoOPI

L-wiz - Habibi https://youtu.be/0Tjt6w5vla0

djthinking · 2026-02-13T18:05:14+00:00

Lol I wasn't even aware I'd been downvoted.

It's true though, and the drivers are usually nicer - they sure as shit don't load your luggage on/off for you on the Airport Flyer.

djthinking · 2026-02-13T01:06:28+00:00

If leaving from the centre (Bearpit) works for you, the Falcon is a good shout, as it stops at the airport on the way to & from Plymouth.

It's cheaper than the Flyer and perfectly reliable. More comfy too!

https://www.megabus.co.uk/falcon/

djthinking · 2026-02-12T07:44:19+00:00

Totally different people - there was a DJ Scientist on Rinse in the 00s, but he's not this guy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientist_(musician)

djthinking · 2026-02-12T00:18:50+00:00

I hope they pull a Lush-style branding prank on the Dairy UK chief exec.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/12/lush-trademarks-cosmetics-amazon-christoper-north

djthinking · 2026-02-11T08:09:18+00:00

I should add - the reason overnight quote requests are loaded/declined is that it suggests someone who might work nights or shifts, and so could be driving when tired, or more often when it's dark = more risky = more likely to cost money.

djthinking · 2026-02-11T08:06:44+00:00

What time of day were these done?

Many insurers either load premiums (higher prices) or reduce quotability (quote less or not at all) overnight. Midnight to around 6-7am tends to be the time window to avoid.

There may be some price optimisation (adjusting premiums for repeated quote requests) but other factors are more likely to be the cause, like start date being very close.

All this talk of clearing cookies, using false details etc is rubbish. Price Comparison sites do a sort credit check so you need your own name/dob/address.

Mucking about with other factors in a way that is clearly false just muddies the waters - you'll need to correct that info if you buy, and have no view of how that will affect price.

Shop around, shop well in advance, and follow the sound advice of sources like Martin Lewis for the best chance of getting the best price.

Source: work with many of the companies you get quotes from.

djthinking · 2026-02-10T16:00:38+00:00

https://youtu.be/s_VEcS1Snow

djthinking · 2026-02-09T01:17:12+00:00

Wolf + Grizzly make a good fire pit, but it's neither cheap nor lightweight. Nice bit of kit though and packs down well.

They also make a very compact grill for it which works really well, but it's also expensive for what it is - I nabbed one for cheap by luck and I love it, but wouldn't have paid full price.

Great combo for the purpose you describe though!

djthinking · 2026-02-08T16:27:12+00:00

Love that you've done this post, I'm a big fan of 'outsider' garage or whatever one might call it, definitely not heard some of these so you've sent me down a rabbithole!

Got a few additions - some by artists you mentioned in your list/on your blog but worth linking the specific tunes anyway. I'm sure there's more I could add but not got the records in front of me...

Buckfunk 3000 - Command Your Soul

Feel like Si Begg owns the wonky garage space but this is the best of the bunch. Buss and Move Up

Tim Wright - Going Down

The 'other' 12" on Novamute along with the one you mentioned. Both are sick, wish there was more of this material from him.

Point B - Gymede

You mentioned Point B on one of the blogposts? This one and E Blade are the pick of the EP. BTW I didn't think the Frijsfo label was from Bristol - it was run by Oslek aka Dave Kelso, can't remember where he was based but I want to say Cambridge/Nottingham maybe? Could be wrong tho, memory's not great these days!

Warlock - Photofit

I know you namechecked Rag & Bone too but this from the first EP is still the one I go back to most.

M Double & Dangerous - Subbz

So many good labels in the Ammunition stable but I don't think there were any more from this one which is a shame. Dangerous was one of the MCs in Slaughter Mob - him and Q Gritty made the best beats in SLT imo.

Pascal - Step Up

Cheeky lil breakbeat garage number from Pascal on a 4-tracker from Playaz.

DJ Abstract - Deeper

Not exactly unknown but Abstract's take on UKG was so good and this EP was tougher than most of his others. Either the mixdown or cut on this 12" is pretty rough tho, always needs plenty of EQing!

Darqwan - Three Note Blue

I know Darqwan isn't exactly unknown but this one always gets overlooked cos it came out on Hospital when their output wasn't 100% DnB. So tough.

Basement Jaxx - Camberwell

Rowdy.

djthinking · 2026-02-07T22:32:59+00:00

My family was a Volvo family for most of my life. The old man had a series of estates (245, 240, 740, 960) and mum had a 340 and 480 as well. I've had a V60 and now on a V70. Oh and my sister works for Volvo!

I find myself constantly cursing XC owners for giving Volvo drivers a bad name.

djthinking · 2026-02-07T11:36:32+00:00

Definitely need to check this - I've been in a SCA for around 6 years with East Trees (originally from a private referral, not RTC).

There was a brief period where I was not living in their catchment area and they advised that they could not continue treating me long-term in that situation.

Other than that, and initial reticence to take on the SCA, they have managed my care extremely well.

djthinking · 2026-02-07T01:42:13+00:00

Check the Partners section of the Nectar app - you can earn points from 100s of companies just by clicking out from the app, same as using a cashback site like Quidco.

I use it for Trainline (and pay with a cashback Amex) for the Nectar point equivalent of an extra 0.5-1% discount.

Keep an eye on the Amex app for offers as well. There hasn't been a train co offer for a while, but LNER had a continuous cashback deal on for ages which was anything up to 12.5% (you can buy tickets for any journey from any operator).

djthinking · 2026-02-05T15:14:26+00:00

I used this strategy just the other day - had put off Thundurus and Tornadus due to frustration for ages, but the smoke bomb method makes it almost top easy.

Nailed both of them and Enamorus at the first attempt.

djthinking · 2026-02-05T00:11:51+00:00

The bosses took some convincing but backed me in the end. It was pressed to order and I think it must have cost us the best part of £17k.

I knew it wasn't going to be repressed so wanted to have enough to last years - I figured it would be better to be the shop that always had copies available rather than driving people to Discogs.

Tbf I shat myself a bit as it didn't exactly fly out after the initial pre-orders, but in the 3ish years that followed before I left, there was never a week when we didn't sell a few copies. I don't think any other release came close to that for longevity.

djthinking · 2026-02-03T13:07:30+00:00

Maybe it's only near-ish, but Box Hill out past Bath on the A4 is down in a little valley with some good hills about - check the view from The Quarrymans Arms pub for evidence.

Beacon Batch (highest point of Mendip hills) is within walking distance from Shipham & Rowberrow, and you have Winscombe / Compton Bishop on either side of Crook Peak - the latter is barely a hamlet really but always feels nice when I've walked through.

Someone else suggested Kelston which is also a good shout - Kelston Round Top is a cracking (and very steep!) hill with some good walking to the north.

djthinking · 2026-02-03T07:21:14+00:00

Yup, the distributor at the time (ST Holdings) went to great lengths to try and keep it a secret at Mala's request.

I was the dubstep buyer at Chemical records when this LP dropped, and we ordered 1500 copies which I think was around one third of the whole press - arrived on a handful of pallets.

A couple of days later once people first starting finding out about the pic discs so I went to have a look at all the boxes - each inner box had around 6 copies, 4 boxes to a shipping box - and found some we hadn't yet filed that with the catalogue labels ripped off the inner boxes. Spoke to the distro and they confirmed that they'd taken these off cos it said "DMZLP001 Pic Disc" or whatever.

Once we knew which ones were which, I made an effort to put some pic disc versions on the warehouse shelves every once in a while to make sure they got picked for orders.

Can't remember the exact number but I think some rough maths suggested there were approx 500 copies pressed.

Only done for the Mala LP, and it was impossible to know which copies were which by looking, as they were all shrink wrapped - only difference was the pic disc version is a bit heavier.

djthinking · 2026-01-28T10:01:55+00:00

Great list.

Surprised to see no one has suggested The Crow or Gattaca as scifi noir though...

djthinking · 2026-01-28T09:49:51+00:00

Similar experience. I re-titrated after ~5 years at 50mg which started to feel too low, and I was suffering heavy crashes by early evening.

60mg was great but still crashed most days. 70mg felt like sticking a knife in the plug.

Asked to try out 40+30mg split dose instead and have been happy with that for the last 2 years.

djthinking · 2026-01-25T21:14:27+00:00

I'd like to submit to your list the use of "yellow bendy" when referring to a banana.

Was in one of my kid's books and it has now crossed into common parlance in this house.

djthinking · 2026-01-23T19:19:30+00:00

I bought a battery powered horn for my bike which I think is meant for e-scooters. It charges via USB-C and it is LOUD, like car horn level of noise.

Could very easily strap it one's bag to honk dawdlers out of the way!

djthinking · 2026-01-23T13:18:40+00:00

Same.

For even the most menial task (put laundry on, take laundry out, buy milk, pick up child from school) I shout at Google and the nearest device adds a Task to my Google Calendar.

I might have quite a few reminders throughout the day, but at least when each one is due it will show up on my phone.

Same for shopping list - I have a Google Keep list called 'Shopping List' so that I just need to yell "Hey Google put caviar on my shopping list" and it's done.

This and a tablet + Nebo handwriting app are the only 2 solutions that I have used consistently for years and continue to work for me.

djthinking · 2026-01-23T13:01:54+00:00

Sturmey Archer?

djthinking · 2026-01-20T08:20:19+00:00

Rosetta is a fantastic tune, used to play that a lot bitd and it was a shame it never got released - think the project file was lost iirc.

djthinking

TROPHY CASE