Scuba Shifts North and Debt.

scubaangel

It's Stirling nothing in the town centre changes because most of it is really old But most of my haunts were out in the countryside and its all protected from development so should still be pretty much the same.

ZTD

scubaangel wrote: »

It's Stirling nothing in the town centre changes because most of it is really old

You'd be surprised. Post Offices turn into student flats, quiet pubs turn into a neon rave bar, and the local Social Security offices turn into apartments and the local radio station.

scubaangel wrote: »

But most of my haunts were out in the countryside and its all protected from development so should still be pretty much the same.

Have you always favoured the countryside then?

scubaangel

I'd be surprised if there were major changes but for the most part my drinking spots were the smaller pubs which were mostly used by locals not students - the sorts of places which had been there forever (likely with the same odd old bloke at one end of the bar since the day it opened too).

Pretty much I've always been happier in smaller towns, or villages with lots of countryside to go out and explore. Some of my happiest days as a student were when I'd no lectures after the 9am compulsary horror one and then spent the day out on the Trossachs with a map and a packed lunch.

ZTD

scubaangel wrote: »

I'd be surprised if there were major changes but for the most part my drinking spots were the smaller pubs which were mostly used by locals not students - the sorts of places which had been there forever (likely with the same odd old bloke at one end of the bar since the day it opened too).

That's because he'd died on opening day and nobody thought to move him...

scubaangel wrote: »

Pretty much I've always been happier in smaller towns, or villages with lots of countryside to go out and explore. Some of my happiest days as a student were when I'd no lectures after the 9am compulsary horror one and then spent the day out on the Trossachs with a map and a packed lunch.

Do you do anything like that these days, or do you just go places you know?

scubaangel

Could well be, he smelled bad enough to be dead!

Round here it'd be tough to find somewhere I don't know, by the time I left Scotland there weren't many areas up on the hills I wasn't completely comfortable in without the map either although it was much more remote than round here so I always had it with me just in case.

Once I'm more settled again I'll think about taking myself off further afield to explore again, the last time I did anything similar was two years ago when I went down to Swanage for a couple of nights mid week - walked the coastal path east the first day then to the west on the second before I drove back to Surrey, loved it but haven't had the appropriate combination of time and money again since.

ZTD

scubaangel wrote: »

Could well be, he smelled bad enough to be dead!

Obviously the pickling was sub-standard...

scubaangel wrote: »

Round here it'd be tough to find somewhere I don't know, by the time I left Scotland there weren't many areas up on the hills I wasn't completely comfortable in without the map either although it was much more remote than round here so I always had it with me just in case.

Indeedy. Always take a map. Even with GPS.

scubaangel wrote: »

Once I'm more settled again I'll think about taking myself off further afield to explore again, the last time I did anything similar was two years ago when I went down to Swanage for a couple of nights mid week - walked the coastal path east the first day then to the west on the second before I drove back to Surrey, loved it but haven't had the appropriate combination of time and money again since.

Probably where you are now, has plenty of places you haven't explored. Scotland has wide open areas, so you can see the lie of the land from quite far away. Places like the dales and the lakes and places like that are quite folded, so you have to get close to see everything.

Just a couple of months ago, I took the first right out of Middleton in Teesdale, rather than the second, and ended up in a place I'd never seen before.

I like trees, and if you turn off the trail 100 yards too early in a wood, you're in completely a new place you've never seen before.

It's also what's stopping me going out to newer places. If I get into trouble, the lines of sight are very restricted.

scubaangel

Not so sure there are many places within a 10 mile radius of here I've not visited, given my family have always been in this area (with the exception of the three years we were in Walsall), and my Dad is much like me in preferring to walk out of the front door and get out on to the moors to explore/find a rural pub for lunch before walking home again as a plan for a day out over my Mum and sisters preferred days out of going to town and window shopping.

I do agree about woodland though, I hate it, never feel comfortable until I get out of it again. I was living on the south of the Trossachs the wide open area was generally hidden behind the hills and several miles away, I think I possibly felt as comfortable up there as I do at home because it is so similar - open moorland with lots of steep up and down scrambly bits and the odd sheep looking at you like you're a mad person.

ZTD

scubaangel wrote: »

Not so sure there are many places within a 10 mile radius of here I've not visited, given my family have always been in this area (with the exception of the three years we were in Walsall),

Dark days...

scubaangel wrote: »

and my Dad is much like me in preferring to walk out of the front door and get out on to the moors to explore/find a rural pub for lunch

Unfortunately, the rate pubs are closing round here, you could starve to death if you tried that.

scubaangel wrote: »

before walking home again as a plan for a day out over my Mum and sisters preferred days out of going to town and window shopping.

It does seem rather better.

scubaangel wrote: »

I do agree about woodland though, I hate it, never feel comfortable until I get out of it again.

Don't get me wrong - I like woodland. Still, quiet, tweety birds, deer that bounce in out of nowhere, then give you a look like "What the hell are *you* doing *here*?" It's just if I am on my own somewhere remote and wooded, and I break something, then I'm in *real* trouble.

scubaangel wrote: »

I was living on the south of the Trossachs the wide open area was generally hidden behind the hills and several miles away, I think I possibly felt as comfortable up there as I do at home because it is so similar - open moorland with lots of steep up and down scrambly bits and the odd sheep looking at you like you're a mad person.

I used to live at the edge of the moors near(ish) here. It had nice views, and plenty to see - but the weather was bleaker than a bleak thing at times... :eek:

Gives you some respect for people who live in the middle of it.

scubaangel

True I'm very happy to live on the civilised edges of the moorland wherever it is I happened to be living.

In money news I really need to make a big payment off my credit card, got my insurance renewal, £400 (well a little less but near enough) so I want to clear a chunk of that debt while I can.

Also hit redemption on one of the survey sites I use so waiting for them to transfer £10 by BACS in to my bank (they usually take a couple of weeks to pay up).

Just realised I've hit my swagbucks target too so will be redeeming for another £25 paypal.

ZTD

scubaangel wrote: »

In money news I really need to make a big payment off my credit card, got my insurance renewal, £400 (well a little less but near enough)

Is that a good price? What sort of car do you have?

scubaangel wrote: »

so I want to clear a chunk of that debt while I can.

You may as well while you're earning. Any further job opportunities on the horizon?

scubaangel wrote: »

Also hit redemption on one of the survey sites I use so waiting for them to transfer £10 by BACS in to my bank (they usually take a couple of weeks to pay up).

Just realised I've hit my swagbucks target too so will be redeeming for another £25 paypal.

That's good news. A reward for your patience...