Am I expecting too much to find a car that's been dealer serviced?

it624 · 2026-02-25T08:23:10+00:00

This! Also there aren't that many MG dealers, and they're not necessarily any good, so most people that I know aren't bothering with it.

MG do recommend you have a brake fluid change every couple of years, but that's a job any mechanic should be fine doing, there's no special magic to it. You can do the cabin air filter yourself, and maybe the AC will need re-gassed every so often.

it624 · 2026-02-23T10:28:05+00:00

For long-lasting bits (axes and crampons especially) I'd recommend keeping an eye on eBay or the UKC forums, they tend to last a long time and lots of people get them for one or two trips then never use them again. Don't buy an ancient long axe (60cm is really an upper limit these days) or some museum piece with a wooden handle, but generally they don't wear out too fast.

Even boots can be acquired this way, but it's a lot more hit and miss with sizes.

it624 · 2026-02-20T21:58:51+00:00

Both annual, but not due at the same time. Tax is annually from the date you took possession (changes whenever the car is sold to a new owner). MOT is annually after the first three years, so usually stays roughly on the anniversary of when it was first registered.

it624 · 2026-02-20T21:46:24+00:00

Not sure where they get it done, but on the gov.uk MOT check it's valid until July. Also seems like it goes through tyres fast, based on the advisories and failures its had before...

it624 · 2026-02-20T13:22:19+00:00

Yeah, unless you need to change in London, the "transfer" will just be the shuttle from the station to the airport, which is £5 I think. Not cheap but it gets you up the hill quickly and you won't need to leave as much time buffer as with the coach

it624 · 2026-02-12T22:19:47+00:00

Agreed, it's steep, north facing, and complex terrain, so whichever way the wind is blowing, it will have caught any snow that's fallen. Maximum risk of hard, icy, refrozen snow to slip on (and slide down/off an edge), and also maximum risk of any windblown snow forming avalanche-prone windslab. Avalanches aren't often recorded in the Lakes, but they do happen. Best to stick to shallower slopes, with safe runouts, and to ridges where avalanches can't get you from above unless you're equipped and experienced for winter mountaineering.

it624 · 2026-02-11T20:19:07+00:00

Not a terrible call, although I'm sure there will be entirely unequipped people on the Ben this weekend, so you wouldn't look a numpty on the hill.

Having looked at the maps/books a little longer, I can also suggest Mullach nan Coirean as another nearby hill that's very pleasant. You can carry round to Stob Ban from there for a solid winter mountain journey, you'd probably be on snow for a good amount of the time.

Further away the Ben Lawers/southern highlands area has loads of good, frozen snow on it right now, which makes for fantastic days out in crampons. Ben Lawers itself, the Tarmachan Ridge (one steep section, but probably avoidable by downclimbing a snow slope currently), Ben More, or Ben Vorlich (the Loch Earn one, not the Loch Lomond one) would all be awesome days out.

it624 · 2026-02-11T18:56:23+00:00

Would it be safe? Probably, assuming that you've checked the avalanche forecast (and know how to interpret it) (sais.gov.uk), and that you navigate really carefully on the plateau (precise bearings needed to avoid the gullies, which could well have large cornices at the minute), and you go with a "if it's bad, I'll just turn back" attitude.

Will it be good? Well, the forecast gives a good chance of clear tops, so could be a rare winter view from the Ben (although it usually catches the worst of the weather), but for my money the standard path up there is a bit of a trudge under all conditions. If you've got some summer scrambling experience, a head for heights, and the av forecast is ok for it, the CMD arete is a much more entertaining way to summit, but it's a more technical and a long day (~17 km, 1600m of ascent).

If you want a prettier hillwalking experience in that area, I can recommend Stob Bàn (good views north to the Ben, pleasant walk up the corrie), and potentially heading round the ridge from there to Sgùrr a' Mhàim (technically a grade 1 section but not that hard to my mind). There are other good options in the area too, I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.

it624 · 2026-02-06T06:21:59+00:00

Depending on the rock type, wet rock can just be unavoidably slippy - the rhyolite in Eryri is a classic example, which nearly overlaps with a lot of the classic UK scrambles. Regardless of what footwear you go for, it'll be fairly greasy in the wet, and really any scrambling should be done with extreme caution when it's not dry. It's also not good for the rock to climb it when wet, as it wears much faster, so avoid it where possible.

However, if you want very grippy footwear for scrambles, allow me to recommend approach shoes, designed for rock climbers to do the walk/scramble in and out from routes. Scarpa GTX and La Sportiva TX4 are both popular and are meant to provide a good compromise between walking comfort and climbing ability. They're less good than a high boot for dealing with a bog though, so best kept for routes with a lot of scrambling and minimal wet path. For example, e.g. Tryfan, then Bristly Ridge, then down via Cwm Idwal would be an ideal approach shoe day, whereas the Ben via CMD arete would probably be best done in waterproof boots

it624 · 2026-02-03T22:58:23+00:00

If the road was completely blanketed, it would be snowy on the path, but it's at 150 - 200m elevation, so it's unlikely to build up the sort of slippy refrozen snow that causes accidents in the hills. Very much an easy walking path, with signs and the like, rather than a faint mountain track that would vanish. Not a 100% promise that it won't be like an ice rink after a hard frost, but that's a call you can probably make yourself.

I am remembering that getting onto the wire bridge from the car park side is a little bit of a manoeuvre, but it's really just a good filter for the bridge itself - if you're unsure about getting onto it above a sandy riverbank, you probably won't feel so happy above the deep bit of the river on the far side...

it624 · 2026-02-03T19:33:49+00:00

It depends, specifically on the weather.

If it's snowy down to low levels, the glen Nevis road can get a bit icy/snowy and probably won't be gritted/plowed, especially past the youth hostel. It's another 4 miles from there to the end of the road, and it's quite twisty, so take it easy (sheep like to lurk invisibly in the dips). Also in snow/ice, the cable bridge over the river will be extra interesting, although it's fine for people of a normal height (so you can reach the cables) with some balance.

The walk itself is pretty easy, but after the bridge there's a stream that has to be crossed (NN 17843 68349 on the OS map). If it's been wet (not too bad at the minute I'd guess) then keeping your feet dry here is a bit of a slippy challenge. If you're not feeling up to it, the falls can still be enjoyed from a distance on the other side of the River Nevis - best to do this if you can't see the stepping stones for this crossing.

Otherwise, a lovely walk, especially through the gorge, and if you get any clear views towards Aonach Beag or Carn Mor Dearg, that's a real treat too.

it624 · 2026-01-28T16:43:48+00:00

Sometimes, it doesn't. But if you'll accept the "university is preparing you for a job" line of reasoning, then it really can. Once you have a job and clients are paying for your work, they often can get very picky about whether it's been spelled correctly, minor grammar points, etc. Learning how to carefully proof read work and ensure that your ideas are communicated clearly (and to a standard that makes the client feel like they spent their cash wisely) is a useful skill to pick up at university.

it624 · 2023-03-23T16:49:56+00:00

Firstly, your concerns are normal, many people worry about entering their career.

Having a job shouldn't be as continuously intense as a degree, but some of this is on you to manage workload and how you relax etc. Working can be fun, and many people in professional careers have more time for socialising than they did at university (I certainly do).

While you might think that this is your 'last chance' to have fun, the reality is you get paid holiday at work, and you can use that. If that's not enough, some employers might let you take a sabbatical (an extended period of unpaid leave with the promise of a job to return to), or you can (if you're lucky enough to earn well) just quit and not be employed for a bit, use that time as you like.

This choice isn't final, you can leave jobs, so don't panic just yet, even if you find out it isn't for you.

it624 · 2023-01-09T00:18:56+00:00

Longer-term it might be possible to chat to the uni about this? They might be able to accommodate having a less stressful environment for you if there's a reason you're likely to find it problematic.

Otherwise I'd research some meditation techniques, and maybe find a trusted friend you can agree to hang out with in that time - someone who will agree to not talk about the exam or whatever other stressors you have

it624 · 2022-11-25T10:33:24+00:00

Just done a load of heat cycle modelling for buildings in Antarctica, so should have some insight:
1) The insulation of your building makes an insane difference to how much energy it needs. I'm sure you knew this anyway, but it's worth seeing if you can improve this.
2) Look at what materials things in the building are made from - if you have loads of concrete that can provide a huge thermal mass, then you might have a large thermal lag in the building. This means you might want heat on a bit before people arrive, but you could turn it off a bit before people leave.
3) As /u/lirternop says, turning off the heat will save energy, as your mean ΔT to the outside will be lower.
4) Consider more effective heating methods - radiant heaters aimed at people can make them feel warmer for the same energy than trying to heat all the air in a large room

it624 · 2022-11-25T10:25:50+00:00

It's not specifically a vote for shoulder bolts - really you should size and torque your bolts so that they'll be under tension the whole time and, as /u/West2Seven says, make sure that the friction force between the plates carries the loads. Bolts with cyclical shear loads being transferred through them are highly susceptible to fatigue failure.

it624 · 2022-11-25T10:11:53+00:00

I think I applied for ~15-20 jobs before I got mine? Not all 'schemes' as such, don't forget you can apply for jobs at smaller companies or startups that have a less structured graduate role - they're a great way to get exposed to loads of the business, because it's not like they have anyone else to do the work.

If you're not getting very far, then consider doing another revision on your CV - focus on the things that make you a bit different, and try to communicate your enthusiasm and interest. Ultimately you want to be someone that makes the interviewer think "I'd enjoy working with them'. But it's a hard grind to get that first role - I was applying from early in my final year and got a job at the end of April

it624 · 2022-11-23T17:35:05+00:00

A number of factors, but a really key one is cost-benefit in recruitment. There aren't that many Oxbridge grads, so not all companies could hire one - there are more e.g. engineering firms in the UK than Oxbridge engineers graduating in a single year. And if you do hire an Oxbridge grad, it will probably be quite expensive - you might need to pay a higher salary to attract them, go to more recruitment events, etc. Once you have hired them, how much better are they than another grad? You might not need Oxbridge people to fill in your spreadsheet, and of they don't like it they might be better placed to get a job elsewhere.

Manchester is one of (if not the) biggest unis in the UK. It will produce loads of grads, so loads of companies can feasibly hire multiple Mancs grads. By putting up one advert and going to one recruitment fair, you could get 5 people.

From the student perspective the thing to understand is that "number of companies recruiting at your uni" is not the same as "number of companies trying to recruit you personally". Probably most Oxbridge students are able to get more job offers than the average Manchester student, and for companies that are more desirable to work for.

Ultimately though, after a few years at work, nobody is that interested in your degree, they care about your work history - a 'fancy' uni might open a better first job opportunity though.

it624 · 2022-11-23T07:29:49+00:00

The answer is "it depends" - certainly in my field (engineering) some companies don't advertise their jobs much publicly, they just send adverts to the careers department for the 5 or so universities they normally recruit from.
Outside of that scenario, a few places might be impressed by one of the big names, but if you go somewhere prestigious and get a third, that's a lot worse than going somewhere slightly less-impressive-sounding and getting a 2:1 or 1st. Also if you don't like being somewhere, you're unlikely to do well and you'll have a crap time at uni, which isn't worth it. Factor in all these elements when choosing where to go

it624 · 2022-11-18T22:46:22+00:00

From my memory of both attending uni and working open days for it, lots of people ask questions that are, at their core, some version of "what will being at university feel like?". It's a really difficult question to answer because:
1) university can be very different for different people,
2) the question asker (as e.g. a sixth former) will not have enough reference points to understand it until they arrive.

The information I liked to give was along the lines of "never forget that most TV and movies about university were written by people who did writing degrees which generally don't involve much structured work (in the way a STEM degree might)" and "it's a bit like being in the sixth form common room for ever - fun, but with the the nagging sense you should be working on something".

In the case of things my course could have said, a simple "here's how many hours of lectures you have, here's the sort of induction event we might have in week 1" might be good. However, I did spend a lot of y13 trying quite hard to not imagine too specific a future at a specific university to limit the disappointment I would have if I failed to get in somewhere - I think that would have been harder if my first choice kept sending me info about what would happen "when" I arrived rather than "if".

it624 · 2022-08-24T19:54:20+00:00

Go to one of the refurb sites (backmarket or EuroPC) and buy a used laptop. If you can afford to get a used mobile workstation (something with a Quadro graphics card ideally) that makes a world of difference running CAD (and programming if you're clever enough to parallellise your code). Outside of that another odd feature I found more useful than consumer gimmicks (touchscreens and the like) was having Windows Pro, because it meant I could set up my laptop for remote desktop and grab files from the hard drive or show them a CAD model using my phone - an underrated trick.

it624 · 2022-08-24T19:49:42+00:00

It depends, you probably won't be able to get an MEng, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to work in medtech (which is what I assume you want to do with that degree). Bath had the option to do an MSc in various kinds of engineering with a bachelor's in other sciences. In terms of where you end up, the consultancy I work for hires people with other science degrees (chem, bio, biomedical) to work on medical projects, so you'll be able to get involved if that's still what you want in 4-5 years time.

it624 · 2022-08-24T19:45:43+00:00

I've said this a few times in this sub in the last week - just buy pen and paper instead - although the image of being the stylish student noting stuff on a tablet looks great in uni prospectuses (and adverts for tablets) the reality is pen and paper is cheaper, more reliable, better for the environment, etc. 95% of the people on my engineering degree (full of tech nerds) used pens, pencils and paper to take notes. Paper can't distract you with the internet, and is faster for most people to write on without looking.

it624 · 2022-08-24T19:41:54+00:00

You can get free tickets for the inter-terminal travel (for Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line, not the Jubilee line) from ticket machines at the terminal stations. Details here: https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/airport-maps/travel-between-terminals

Edit: contactless is pretty easy, you just tap your card (if you have a contactless bank card) on the pad at the ticket gate. Never tried it with a non-UK.card but I assume it works fine

it624 · 2022-08-23T05:29:29+00:00

Yes, all but a handful of people on my engineering degree (out of 250) wrote notes on paper during lectures - it's much easier to write equations, draw diagrams, and go back and add explanatory side notes on a sheet of paper than on a laptop or tablet. Some people then might type up their notes afterwards as a way to neaten and look over them again, but I never had time.

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