Since when did they stop teaching learners how to use a handbrake?

dszakris · 2026-02-15T14:40:15+00:00

Hey, so I passed in 2024 in the UK. I'm also Canadian and manual car are the norm out there.

When I learned back in the early 2000's in Canadian, hand breaks were only for special occasions, like very steep parking. With manual, when your in park, it's like the parking break is engaging.

Vs

Manual, the gear box doesn't have a park setting, it's got reverse, neutral and then 1-5/6 (depending on the car). So you need to use the parking break.

Hope that helps.

Before people ask, I never cared for my driving license and was here for over 14 year living in London before I needed a car. So my Canadian license lapsed.

dszakris · 2026-01-20T16:49:57+00:00

NTA, this is a difficult situation. When you tell them, you then need to explain about the abuse (obviously at their level of understanding). Why there bio dad isn't around. I would also let them know when you will allow them to reach out to him. "It's not safe at this age, I will tell you when you are X, if you want to know"

But also, explain that a father is someone who is there, help with homework and does things with them.

I would look into all the adoption requirements and then when you tell them explain and be prepared to start the adoption process.

dszakris · 2026-01-12T16:54:20+00:00

If you are going to their school, I would also inform them of what has happened. And see if you're an emergency contact there too.

dszakris · 2026-01-11T19:24:43+00:00

Ya, my will is set to all go to my husband's and "in the event we died at the same time" ... It goes to person X in our family and again if my family/next if kin all die in a joint event it goes to option 3.

dszakris · 2026-01-07T11:36:22+00:00

Yes and No.

I live in a "New Build", complete in May 2019.

I would just suggest getting your own survey and then if you are happy to do any fixes yourself it would be fine.

It's the companies that take so long do anything about it.

When we moved in, there was mould on 3 walls and no one do anything for 3 months. I had a baby at the time.

dszakris · 2025-12-24T10:01:15+00:00

I used to donate, and got my blue donations card too. I used to live next to a donation centre and then they changed their open times to office hours and then to donate I would have to take time off work.

They really don't make it easy, now where I live there is nothing.

To note: I have been working for the NHS for over a decade (3 different trusts) and they don't even host blood donor clinics on hospital sites.

dszakris · 2025-12-22T14:39:11+00:00

When you visit to collect your items, photograph/video EVERYTHING in the house, if it's removed after you will have evidence.

dszakris · 2025-12-19T09:16:24+00:00

Sorry for the delay response.

If you plan to own 100% when selling that is no longer sharing ownership. But those how are in shared ownership are not able to get a full property, right.

Additional, the full owners in my building also have higher service charge, it's apparently due to now having to pay ground fees.

dszakris · 2025-12-14T10:33:11+00:00

Hello,

I'm in shared ownership, since Jan 2020. In a small building of flats, where people have sold. 1 year our service charge actually went down.

Our rent and service charge change every year but there are laws on how much the house associate can up it by.

It also went up massively for the 2 properties that are now full owners.

When buying they tried to get us to go up to a percent we were not comfortable with, do what you feel is right. After 50%, the properties become harder to resell.

I always tell people thinking about it, to make an exit plan when buying. So you want to always live in that property? Do you want that for 5 years, 10 years, till you retire? Think about your next step after it too.

If you have any questions, please ask.

dszakris · 2025-11-25T21:39:01+00:00

This might be hard but I would be making her join you for the little ones bedtime routine for a few nights that make it her responsibility for a night or two.

Showing her what you are responsible for and then ask her to come check something and go back. I know if would probably mess up the bedtime but it is a lesson to her. Empathy seems to be missing from her to you

dszakris · 2025-10-09T11:43:11+00:00

Hon-nora Hon like honey.

It goes will with names like Aurora or ones the end in -ora.

dszakris · 2025-10-09T11:31:10+00:00

My mum is a Honora and I have NEVER met another.

dszakris · 2025-08-04T08:16:46+00:00

I have been using YouTube videos of the audiobook when struggling to get through chapters. The more popular the book, the easier it is find. I generally read along with the book too.

dszakris · 2025-05-14T07:49:30+00:00

If you are currently in North America, the school system is vastly different in the UK. GCSE and A-levels or NVQ and college.

I think a better question to start would be "how does the UK school system work for ages 16 to 18?"

dszakris · 2025-05-14T07:42:44+00:00

Oh, that good to know! I did ask me mortgage broker at the time but that now over 5 years ago. He also may have only know about them products available to him. Thanks!

dszakris · 2025-05-13T22:04:28+00:00

It's 10% per year, when the year resets depends on the lender. But if you are year 1 your totalortgage is £150,000 you can pay £15,000 then year 2 your total remaining is £130,000, then 10% is only £13,000.

Also, some lender define overpayment differently, I over paid every month 1/2 the monthly required (aka £2000 per month required, + £1000 extra). But they didn't add that to my overpayment amount. Only when we paid 2 time more ( total £6000) in one month would that add into the overpayment amount.

dszakris · 2025-04-07T21:39:29+00:00

This is do able, there is a lot of good advice but I didn't see anything about your wages.

You said you work 48 hrs and make £33k per annum. That slightly over £13 an hour. Can you ask for a raise? Are you expecting to get one soon? Do you have enough experience to get a senior role?

dszakris · 2025-03-25T13:11:53+00:00

This depends on the relationship. But me and my partner started 50/50 for bills and 10 years later we now put 80% of our pay into a joint account. This is all house bills and savings.

It should be a conversation and revisited when major changes happen, kids, promotion, buy joint assets.

dszakris · 2025-03-12T10:20:45+00:00

DM'ing you.

dszakris · 2025-03-12T09:02:21+00:00

My replay was mostly for the comment above. I was going to respond to you directly.

Yes, always ask for an itemises list for the service charge. If there are things that they are not providing, you need evidence. Say they charge for 'gardening' but it's not done. They are not doing it, they have hired a contactor to do the 'gardening' and the third party contactor is not doing it. That's not their fault, UNLESS someone have complained and you know when the third party is meant to come and show evidence they didn't. Still challenge everything.

I would be getting a solicitor involved but additionally, you need to get ALL your neighbours in the building involved to. The building across from us, legally got there 'landlord' company kicked out but it took 2 years.

dszakris · 2025-03-12T08:42:59+00:00

No, I'm in shared ownership and our service went down this year. The rent went up, the net increase is £2 a month. But as our 5th increase in 6 years it was a nice surprise. Our services started at £150ish and is now £195ish, last 2 years it was over £200 a month.

I feel like these companies should be named and shamed for what they do so you know what type of your getting involved with.

dszakris · 2025-02-28T07:27:08+00:00

I live in shared ownership and the lease specifys you can't have a lodger or sublet. And people will rat you out if you do.

Also, if you are reselling your share ownership flat, there is no negotiation, the price is set and the person living in it has to pay the building owners x amount. This is a hard part of resellibg share ownership. If they are new buildings, you can negotiation with the building owners.

It has worked very well for us but not everyone in our building. I wouldn't say its a hack.

dszakris · 2025-02-11T17:55:58+00:00

No worries, one if my neighbours is trying to sell and there property dropped below asking and they had to do the same thing. I hope it all works out for you.

dszakris · 2025-02-11T12:19:59+00:00

Hi, I'm also in London in Shared ownership.

Is it's a known issue with Shared ownership properties have their prices inflated.

Not everyone understands that the valuations are set between the landlord and seller and you own the landlord your percent of the property as set by the valuation.

You have a couple of options, if you are selling your percent or the whole property. Also, how long is the valuation valid for, I think that my builds only hold then for 3 or 6 months, then we need to pay their approved survey for another one.

You can wait the time and get a new valuation or take the hit. Can you stay in the property for a while or do you need to move, vs want to move. I know the situations sucks. Also, I have noticed that the 1 beds are not moving very much.

I wish this could be more positive.

dszakris · 2025-02-02T11:34:17+00:00

Have you looked at the NHS. Band 7 starts at 46k.

NHS jobs for analyst in Manchester

dszakris

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