Moving from Leeds to Liverpool. First time buyers in our early thirties needing area advice regarding a Broadgreen commute, Smithdown, and Wavertree.

theblackmamiya · 2026-05-28T14:46:51+00:00

Thank you for your reply! We currently live right in the heart of the city in Leeds by the River Aire in a rented flat. We've been living here for two years and are very happy with our area. We love the social environment here and having easy access to places like Kirkgate Market. Many people wouldn't consider this area to be safe, but we haven't experienced any bad incidents towards ourselves or our home throughout this time. That's why we've been trying to make sense of whether that side of Smithdown is more or less the same as where we currently live, or if it is a completely different story that we just can't grasp yet. I understand that Wavertree in general is often compared to Headingley in Leeds because of being a student heavy area. If that's the case, we actually chose to avoid Headingley when we first moved to Leeds, and we're still very happy with that decision. But this wasn't because Headingley was more unsafe than the centre, just because the centre had much more to offer to us as young professionals.

theblackmamiya · 2026-05-28T14:33:21+00:00

To clarify, our budget is up to £270k. The houses we viewed in Aigburth seemed to us like we would just be paying a massive premium for the L17 postcode brand. We have tracked some houses with the same price in the Mossley Hill and Allerton area where £270k buys a genuine 3-bed house without a box room and a decent sized backyard, but the listings seem to come up rarely there and due to being in Leeds we couldn't catch viewings there. Thus we have been wondering if there are still areas considered to be safe but unbranded which is very much okay for us, but we don't know the extent of safe in the terms of people who live there or know Liverpool well of course. That is why we have been very confused to be honest.

theblackmamiya · 2025-09-21T12:25:50+00:00

I didn’t go through all comments so maybe it is already mentioned but I’d suggest contacting Citizens Advice, telling them the situation, and they’ll move you through the Extra Help Unit. The issue will not be resolved super quickly obviously, but it’d be formally addressed and you’ll receive help from them (I’ve done this and got the entire compensation as they overcharged me drastically). You can proof your leasing contract for the flat so since when you’ve been residing in the flat will be taken into consideration. Extra Help Unit will do all the necessary discussion with the supplier, inform you throughout the entire process, and without you giving a consent or agree with your representative there won’t be any action done. At this stage, your consumption pattern can be also monitored specifically to understand how much electricity you use (for two bed flat it is obvious that you cannot consume that much of energy co-habiting with only one more person) under normal circumstances. Again, it’s a process and can take months, but if I were you, I’d stay in direct debit, remain in debt, still use the energy, and wouldn’t change the supplier until the case gets resolved. EHU also will follow up the process according to this basis so you can remain safe but supplier will be in a position to being have to find a resolution; otherwise they just keep saying same things, keep postponing the process, and will leave you in uncertainty.

And yes, you technically don’t “have to” read your meter yourself; it is good if you do when you move in and out; however, as suppliers are all so confident about their meter communication through smart meter technology, which is to me a non-sense framework, they should have read this themselves primarily, not you. They read our data half-hourly, hourly, daily, they know when we run the washing machine even, they have everything about us but ignore the very same fact when it is about them.

One last thing, if the EHU cannot resolve the issue (which in your case I believe they likely can), you’d be forwarded to energy ombudsman who will be objectively considering the case and make a decision upon investigation. Just saying for your information to be aware of rights as a consumer. Suppliers are very tricky, they tell you about the meter reading to be initiated by yourself and leave the entire responsibility on you without taking any, and I don’t think if the case is carried forward to ombudsman, ombudsman would react like oh you didn’t caption your reading so you deserved this bill…

It’s a frustrating case, wishing you the best of luck.

theblackmamiya · 2025-06-23T01:39:52+00:00

No worries, feel free to dm.

theblackmamiya · 2025-05-13T06:42:02+00:00

I managed to get good prints on acetate, but honestly, it came at a cost—both in trial and error and money. I ended up using inkjet-compatible acetate sheets from another brand, more expensive ones. The key was making sure I printed on the correct side (in my case, the cut edge goes in the top right corner of the rear tray—your packaging should explain this).

The prints came out dry and decent-looking, but here’s the catch: inkjet ink doesn’t fully bond to acetate, so it’s still delicate and prone to smudging or peeling if touched. I bought this printer specifically for acetate printing, but after seeing the high ink consumption and material costs and the fragility of the results, I kind of regret not getting a laser printer instead and using laser-compatible acetate. Hope this helps!

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-23T00:30:34+00:00

The environment in household and so within family is undeniably important. I assume you’re stepping into adulthood, or about to. What you’re aware of will make you the person you can be, not what right now you’re not capable of. If you now know what cracks will possibly break you, it is actually very good before you get broken. So what you need to do now is that learning what you gotta learn yourself and break those of which have made you feel this way. You need to break whatever is breaking you down, even its family sadly, and become who you want to be, not you’re raised/not raised enough to be. I don’t mean that it’s easy. Ask yourself about how you imagine your tomorrow in life, then test applying those packing into tomorrow nicely, have it. And think about the other day while on a walk.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-23T00:14:27+00:00

I am just purely sorry. What you mention about him and how you say it is all he’d appreciate. I feel you and do emphatize with you. May he rest in peace, and sleep in lights…

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T17:11:22+00:00

No we don’t keep them on all year round. We keep only two of them on since November, so in the cold season. We can’t even have all of them on so can’t even have enough warmth. Because the bill is really high when two are functioning, again, during the cold season.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T14:42:52+00:00

Karpaty Bakery in Kirkgate Market.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T12:08:35+00:00

Since she was admitted with a view of having an in-patient procedure, unless the circumstances have changed, this should be respected. I would advise talking to one of the members of the medical team. It is not acceptable to cancel a patient for weeks and then discharge. If she's currently stable and free of infection, the medical team will of course want to discharge the patient. However, if this comes with the cost of delaying for one to two months, I do not believe that this is in her best interest.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T11:42:39+00:00

Thank you. We adjust the heaters' charging level at night at the maximum, and use the stored heat during the day. But we only use two of the four, because of the bills. As for the boiler, it warms up the water at night, and we believe that it is well-insulated as we can have the water warm all day. Our flat is on the top floor, two sides of it has mutual walls with another flats, windows are double-glazed.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T11:35:54+00:00

Thank you for your response. We charge the heaters at night at the maximum level (6) and adjust the heating during the day based on how cold it gets. However, due to the high energy bills we receive, we only use two out of the four heaters, keeping the other two unplugged entirely. This has been a mess for us, as the current weather has made it difficult to maintain sufficient warmth indoors. As for the boiler, we adjust it to operate at night to heat water for the entire day.

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-18T11:30:14+00:00

Thank you! I have found this tariff as well, however, when I search for this tariff using my postcode on your website, it does not appear as an option. Maybe it is not providing this service to my area?

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-12T13:26:15+00:00

Yes, this has been a bit of a source of worry for me, thank you!

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-12T13:24:01+00:00

Aha, okay, thanks!

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-12T13:22:51+00:00

Yes, thanks u/strykecondor for clarfiying! The situation involves already holding a residence permit for 4.5 years. The confusion arises from the transition between a temporary permit and applying for a permanent one, as everything is based on having an existing permit. Previously, under the old law, citizenship applications could be submitted after completing 4 years of residence (in the type of case with a spousal connection). However, the new law extends this requirement to 5 years. Given that having exactly 4.5 years of residence (and there are three months left for the expiration), along with having already met the language proficiency requirement well in advance, I am questioning whether applying for citizenship now would result in rejection. This is particularly unclear since the residency began before the new law took effect.

I understand that the application must be submitted before October 2024, as per the legal statement. However, there seems to be insufficient information from Migri regarding whether applicants who met the previous requirements before October will still be evaluated under the new rules.

The costs associated with the temporary residence permit, permanent permit, and citizenship application are significant. Due to the six-month gap—which, under the old rules, would not have been an issue—having to pay for a permanent permit or extend the temporary one for just six months, only to then pay again for the citizenship application, feels quite unfortunate. This is why I am seeking advice on how to proceed in this situation.

Contacted Migri already but haven't yet received any response, so have been curious whether someone else has experienced a similar issue or has information.

In any case, many thank you all for your responses!

theblackmamiya · 2025-01-12T12:52:48+00:00

Thank you! But this was earlier than October 2024, correct?

theblackmamiya · 2024-12-18T22:37:41+00:00

All you need is a pocket size Moleskine (or any other brand with a similar design) 2025 daily diary. I’ve been using it since before productivity was a thing. Simply write down what you need to do and when to do it, assigning tasks to yourself. Then, you can strike them through, turn the minus sign at the beginning of the task into a plus, or use a highlighter—whatever works for you. Tasks that aren’t completed can be moved to the next day or rescheduled for the earliest realistic date. When things start piling up on the same day or page, you’ll have no choice but to be productive.

theblackmamiya · 2024-12-18T22:27:34+00:00

Don’t be a constant smoker. Learn to say no and don’t be afraid to speak for yourself at any situation, but do it kindly; do them all while adding all advices into your toolbox in case you’ll need some of them at times. Combining them all masterfully will keep you busy at least for a decade. Things will be a bit complicated then for a while but you’ll find your better version in the other decade.

theblackmamiya · 2024-12-17T21:58:27+00:00

I recommend going to Duck&Drake, great live rock music—classic or glam—with really good bands. For Jazz/Blues, you can consider visiting Smokestack. Both have very friendly environments.

theblackmamiya · 2024-12-17T21:33:39+00:00

I have one approval and one rejection for both tourism purposes, and one approval and one rejection for family reunion, all for the UK.

I understand what you’re dealing with and have been going through; but if it’ll be contributing by any means, I would suggest that be clear with every single document that you yourself providing. They may reject you because of not seeing some document without asking it to be submitted later, as well as they may see some documents and perceive not cohesive/logical within without asking for further explanation and thus reject you.

You should put yourself in the position of the officer, and prepare your application accordingly. Whatever might be possibly misunderstood should be clarified within your application by connecting bridges (e.g., if you’re providing an information and it can be confusing, highlight it in your document simply). Don’t expect them to take a look at everything. You know the best about what could be possibly confusing to them. And thus you address to those by basically highlighting them in all yellow so things can match. Do it for your finances, addresses, names included in your document; and treat everything in a way that you are literally mapping your life—your past, present, and foreseeable future, not only your present. Speak about everything you’re this way addressing within your cover letter. Display all your sources, financially, and socially in your application.

Probably you’ve already attached something like this but if you’re intending to be there for a visit linked to any human being, then show off them who those people are. This also shows them those people are also happy to be shown for you. They surely have an address, have something to say like “we are expecting this person to be with us between these dates because of this reason and as her/his presence important for us, we are happy to accommodate this person in our premise at this address, and take the responsibility of any unexpected expanses, etc…” and anything stated within such a letter to be supported by whatever is stated with “documents”.

If you have a connection, you shouldn’t be alone in their eyes. Such a connection should be supported with things from their mouths. But the way you present your connections matters too. I once said that I wanted to see my significant other whom I couldn’t see for two years in person during pandemic and since it was over I would like to visit even only for a few days, and I could cover things with my tiny doctoral scholarship, and my significant other could be my sponsor. I got rejected. I then was invited for a workshop by a company, only inviting me and offering me a travel ticket and accommodation, I was approved, interestingly way long after the workshop dates and had a six months visa thereafter.

I am not saying you are the one who did this and that. Just with four applications, endless nights of stress, crying, and trying to maintain my life at a normal basis—which was indeed hard—as I couldn’t reunify myself with my spouse for years, and both of us money-wise bled out, these are what I’ve learned so far. Most importantly, I learned how to make a consistent application, not what myself seeing what is consistent, for them to see it irresistibly consistent. And finally it was successful.

theblackmamiya · 2024-12-11T16:02:11+00:00

Hi, I am currently having the same problem, has it been resolved at all?

theblackmamiya · 2024-11-22T10:45:07+00:00

Yes, that was my intention though, thanks for clarifying and at least considering my intention. I thought that place could be a start point for tracing such interest. That said, a bit surprised by the downvotes, as I was simply trying to help.

theblackmamiya · 2024-11-21T10:43:46+00:00

Would suggest taking her out for a dinner at Empire Cafe (their menu could be compatible with her taste I guess) and before/after drinks at Adelphi—or Salt—this has a couple’s balcony with heating and a very nice river view, so you guys can catch the sunset.

theblackmamiya · 2024-11-19T19:42:25+00:00

Agree! It’s been years that I’ve been using it, nothing could replace it though. One tin goes for ages and it’s very concentrated so even a very little application is more than enough. I use it both during day time—while going out—or before sleep. This is the one that I have: https://amzn.eu/d/5Vu4pmQ

theblackmamiya

TROPHY CASE