u/Lala_Escargot

The little flute player as you fast travel to the post just by the entrance to the palace in B&W, he's playing the opening bars to The Moorlough Shore, a traditional Irish song.

Just generally blown away by the musical references in this game. The composers have done a brilliant, brilliant job, picking up on international styles and instruments all over the map and either reusing or making it their own with new interpretations. Not to mention their own original compositions.

I raise a glass of Sangreal to them.

Anyone round the Worthies area know of any fires? I've just had to close the window because of the smell of smoke. I would be very surprised if it's coming from the New Forest fire as I've just been in Weeke which is further south and it was all fine. Got back home and it hit me as soon as I got out of the car.

This is my second playthrough but first time coming across this quest.

It’s not complex and there’s no moral dilemma but I found it quite moving. Really got me in the feels. Honestly thought it was going somewhere bad, like she’d turn out to be a vampire or something but no.

Wish I’d had the option to refuse to take the reward from Lessy but fair enough.

Love how even simple quests in this game can evoke strong emotions.

I worked at a fairly well known company for two years, leaving in 2000. I basically forgot about it (I had a horrible time there, erased the memory). Whilst gathering all my financial details recently, thanks to this sub, I suddenly remembered it. It looks like there's some DCC element to it and when I log in to the dashboard, the figure I'm given is £3k. Not a lot but better than nothing. But then, when I drill down into Pension Summary, I see 12k. I cannot for the life of me remember signing up for DC benefits or hearing any mention of them at the time, but it is over 25 years ago. My question is, can I transfer the whole lot out? It doesn't seem to be performing very well tbh.

First off, I realise I won't be retiring before 67. I've never earned a lot so haven't saved much into a pension. When I could, I did, but most of the time I didn't.

I've consolidated everything on a spreadsheet and this is where I am
Total of all pensions as of now - 114,500 which is terrible
Total of all savings as of now - 64,100 which is also terrible

I'm earning 47k at the moment which is on the high side for me. My outgoings are high but my partner is sharing and whils I can't splash out much I'm doing ok.

I'm contributing to a workplace pension and intend to keep doing so

Of the savings, I have an S&S ISA (3k), about 52.5k in cash ISAs of which more in a moment. The rest are scattered about and I need to do some stuff with those

Two mistakes - 15k of the cash ISA amount is rather stupidly invested in a 4% ISA which I accidentally locked in for 5 years. Don't ask, I feel like a twat. But I can't do anything about that now. The other 40k is in a standard, accessible 1 yr ISA.

Second mistake, which I realised when I started trawling this site - I opened a vanguard account recently, lobbed 1k into two funds (a life strategy 60 and the FTSE global all cap acc). I am tempted to transfer those to a SIPP if it's possible as I think that would be a more sensible option.

As for the rest of the savings which are not in an ISA, that's 8.5k sitting in useless low interest savings accounts whilst I wonder what to do with them.

My house will be paid off by the time I retire but I want to sell up and move up north. My house is worth about 460k with 90k still outstanding. So I'd take about 370k but there are complications there which I won't go into and involve another person. I would opt to buy at around 350k but put a deposit down of 300 and take a 50k mortgage (which would still be paid off by 67) and would give me 50k immediately to invest.

Including my state pension (and I've got 35 years at least of NI contributions so should get full) I'm looking at a minimum of 21k per year but this will really stretch me. 25k is doable. Just.

1, Am I right about changing those vanguard investments into a SIPP?
2. How can I optimise that 8k in 6 short years (that doesn't count as long term, I take it?)
3. Yes, I know the 15k 5 year lock in was a really, really stupid move and it keeps me up at night whilst I curse myself.

Every so often I earn a tiny amount from writing - anything between £80 - 150 per month and intend to throw that straight at savings somewhere. I can definitely save more than I have been.

I didn't learn about any of this until recently. I just blindly took company pensions when they were offered (thank god I did) but never put in the max which was idiotic. But it was never explained and now here I am.

As above. I've always been overweight, not massively, but I've never been slim or anywhere near it. Recently I've put on about 10kg, tried desperately to lose it but it seems to be going up and up and I'm getting worried. I'm 60, post menopausal and being treated for sleep apnea (which I've had for many years but it was undiagnosed). My BMI isn't terrible - 28. But according to my fancy weighing scales my body fat is 35% which is in the obese range and my waist is now 40". My cholesterol isn't great but since I gained the 10kg I suspect it's very much not great now. I am very, very uncomfortable. I was checked for ovarian cancer a year ago once the bloating started, twice in fact, and it isn't that. I'm just gaining weight and the more weight I gain the more miserable I get and the less I feel like going out and exercising. I looked in the mirror just now and my stomach is enormous.

As far as the NHS is concerned, I don't qualify, which is fair enough. But that 35% is worrying, as is the waist measurement. I'm seeing a private GP and I know they run a weightloss clinic which offers mounjaro with monthly checks for the first few months so it feels like a safe way to do it.

Thing is, with those statistics I expect to be told no. I know there are people in a worse position weight/bmi wise than me and I feel like a fraud but I've never felt so miserable. I've never been able to diet so if the doc suggests it I'll just laugh at her. It won't work. I read a post on here from a cynic saying food noise doesn't exist it's just made up to sell the drug. Yeah, well, my food noise is even louder than my tinnitus and believe me, that's too loud as it is.

I guess my question comes down to should I bother even asking? I need to lose about 15kg.

i've read plenty of empathetic comments on here from people who understand how dieting just doesn't work for everyone and I'm one of them, so I'm comfortable admitting it.