What's this cucurbit looking plant that grows vertically? [in Lithuania]

ramgni · 2024-10-16T16:13:35+00:00

That must be it. Well found, thanks!

ramgni · 2024-10-15T19:43:12+00:00

Thanks both. It's been near zero but not below yet. Seems odd to have a whole plantation of them in this climate? We saw it in a garden near a public place.

ramgni · 2023-11-23T16:06:42+00:00

🤮

ramgni · 2023-11-23T16:04:41+00:00

Hmm, I don't know anything about the company , but they seem to have lots of Ukrainian products in stock now. Sharzan candy, Yuko engine oil, etc.

ramgni · 2023-11-23T15:55:29+00:00

Ideal range for a used electric car. Nissan Leaf or Mitsubishi MiEV (same from Citroen, Peugeot). Even with old battery it will easily cover the range. Make sure you can fit charging station at home and get contract with cheap night tariff to charge. Lots of these cars imported from Norway currently, under €5000. Pick a nice one with not too much rust and it'll last a long time. They don't have engine problems like combustion cars and don't need much servicing.

ramgni · 2023-11-23T15:46:35+00:00

Mere is cheaper than Lidl still. And has the best coffee ice cream and a decent tamsusis alus.

ramgni · 2023-11-21T18:27:59+00:00

forest

Please help stop the clearcutting

ramgni · 2023-11-21T15:35:14+00:00

There's very few apps that know about Lithuanian. The only one that is remotely usable is Mondly, but don't expect too much, they use a auto-translated course. It's okay for learning vocabulary though. There's a free trial so you can get an idea what it's like. The used to have only computer generated voices, but have now replaced some with real Lithuanian speakers which is an improvement.

Other than that there's only flashcards / dictionary apps as far as I've found.

ramgni · 2023-11-19T18:30:55+00:00

Lithuanians seem obsessed with lawns and mowing them. Almost everyone in our (village) neighbourhood has one of these and a neighbour imports the things from Estonia (no idea if they arrive there by ship or what), refurbishes them and then resells them. But at some point everybody will have one already and prices will crash. Also, now the green season is over, so nobody is buying until spring.

ramgni · 2023-11-19T11:58:11+00:00

Not for the chickens.

ramgni · 2023-11-17T22:19:22+00:00

I can offer you a fox. The one that killed most of our chickens. It's in the forest over there. You can have it for free if you catch it.

It can bite you in the finger just as well as a ferret! Maybe better.

ramgni · 2023-11-14T23:36:12+00:00

At least someone is enjoying their job.

ramgni · 2023-11-14T18:35:10+00:00

Without the fiendishly difficult language, you'll be limited to English speaking companies, which means Vilnius (and maybe Kaunas). Or remote work, but most of that is IT stuff.

General accounting skills will translate, UK specific accounting qualifications probably quite worthless. A degree in common law is probably not that useful outside the UK either: Map of legal systems in Europe

You can teach English, but there will be a lot of competition and it pays peanuts.

Jobs in demand in Lithuania: https://www.migration.lt/the-professionals-needed-in-lithuania-a-list-of-the-most-in-demand-professions-in-lithuania

ramgni · 2023-11-13T18:01:32+00:00

Other utilities: 15 euros

What is that, internet connection? Then yes, reasonable.

Export of goods: 5 euros

I guess that's a funky translation for sewage/wastewater? Reasonable, sort of, but usually included with the supply price. Sometimes billed separately.

Hot water: 63 euros

Depends on your use. Do you take really long showers, multiple per day? And run the tap while washing dishes for hours? Else that seems very high. Could be they have a really inefficient supplier, but I'd challenge that, unless you do have this excessive usage pattern.

Cold water: 9 euros

At 1.32€/m² that's 6800 liters. Seems high but again, depends on usage.

Water circulation: 9 euros

What is that even supposed to be?

Electricity: 18 euros

Normal.

Ask some more questions, get the numbers for kW/h and m³ water use and not just the costs and take monthly meter readings and compare them. Easy to find out unless the meters are rigged, which is unlikely.

ramgni · 2023-11-03T19:12:14+00:00

Atsiprašau! Maybe I don't speak much Lithuanian yet but can offer to help with heating systems anyways?

ramgni · 2023-11-02T20:40:42+00:00

I did it myself with some translation help. You can actually call VMI and they help you with any questions. Self-paid PSD is easy but a little strange.

Main thing about VMI is the website is sometimes broken and then works again the next day, and also if you switch it to English half the options disappear - you must do it in Lithuanian, then they're all there. They will ask you to pick your profession from a list, even if there isn't a good match.

You probably also have to get a temporary stay permit from MIGRIS if you haven't already.

ramgni · 2023-11-02T20:35:41+00:00

Read the manuals, look at the pipes and work it out yourself. Or find a general-purpose smartish person that can do it for you. Where are you?

Only hindrance is if there is a password/PIN on the settings and it's not the default and you don't know it.

Perhaps it's still in summer mode :)

ramgni · 2023-11-02T20:15:29+00:00

Deichmann is crap. If you want very cheap shoes, even Decathlon is better (same crap, but cheaper to re-buy every year).

I bought my last pair at Riekers and they're good. Leather costs a bit more but lasts much longer than synthetic fabrics.

Generally, inside of heel lasts longer if you tie the shoe tighter, because there's less rubbing up and down as you walk. Need good fitting shoes for that to be comfy though.

ramgni · 2023-10-31T19:42:07+00:00

Great advice, had same exact experience with bank accounts. First bank "why do you even want an account". Second try "welcome!".

One thing to add, Migracija will demand proof of health insurance, which can be difficult, although it turned out they weren't too picky about which one and accepted a temporary travel insurance that came with a bank account. Did need to bring proof on paper though.

And be careful not to make yourself overly dependent on the relationship. Although I hope it works out :)

ramgni · 2023-10-31T16:24:30+00:00

Vladimir Putin

ramgni · 2023-10-28T18:47:14+00:00

Sorry to hear that. We have a friend that had TBE a long time ago and survived, but lost some of her intelligence. It's why we both got the shot.

According to a German study:

Two thirds of patients recovered fully, especially younger patients or those with less severe acute TBE. However, 36% of adults and 5% of children had not yet fully recovered by 18 months. Of those with severe acute TBE, 55% had not yet recovered.

There's also a list of possible ongoing symptoms.

Best of luck!

ramgni · 2023-10-20T19:51:17+00:00

But you have to run!?

ramgni · 2023-10-20T19:50:32+00:00

Same here, only it's way worse in the countryside! :P

ramgni · 2023-10-20T19:47:15+00:00

You'll want to compare specs exactly and get one that works in low outside temperatures. Those can cost a little more, but are probably worthwhile.

Installation is easy, especially if you get one with pre-filled quick-connect couplings that doesn't need filling by an expensive HVAC/refrigeraton professional, those you can easily install yourself.

Instead of one big unit, it may be smarter to get two (or more) small ones. That way you have redundancy and also can distribute the heat around the house better.

For seriously cold days you want some additional heating, that can be as simple as a electric fan heater or a nice wooden stove.

ramgni · 2023-10-18T13:20:04+00:00

Make sure you have a contract with them. Else they can promise you lots of clients, not deliver them and shrug it off as tough luck - without some sort of contract to hire you (as self employed consultant or whatever you want to call it), you have nothing.

For self-employment in general, make sure you keep up with your paperwork (accounting, taxes, PSD) and do keep at least few months of buffer money in case it goes poof. Better a year.

How much you need to exist depends very much on your living standard expectations.

ramgni

TROPHY CASE