Hi guys. My husband and I are looking for newly built properties under £1800 pcm in Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, Raynes Park and Mitcham to rent. I know there's Vonder Coombe Lane. Would there be any other options that anyone knows of? We need a 1 bedroom place.
Hey everyone! I recently moved to London from Karachi, Pakistan and I'm looking to start a small business selling traditional Pakistani textiles, jewellery and pottery, things like Sindhi rallis (hand-stitched patchwork quilts), ajrak shawls, mirror-work pieces and Sindhi embroidered cushion covers.
I visited Camden Market recently and could see there's real appetite for this kind of thing, but I'm not sure what the best route to market is. Would love to get some advice from people who've been through it:
Pop-ups vs markets vs permanent stalls - Has anyone done pop-up markets in London? Is it worth it for handmade/artisan goods or is the stall cost too high to make decent margins early on? Camden specifically seems promising but I've heard the fees can be steep.
Etsy vs other platforms - Is Etsy still the go-to for handmade and ethnic/artisan goods or are there better platforms now? I've seen some listings for similar items but the quality and authenticity varies a lot. I'd be sourcing directly from artisans in Pakistan.
What actually sells? - For those of you who sell (or buy!) South Asian textiles or similar handmade goods, what moves fastest? I'm thinking quilts/throws, cushion covers, shawls, wall hangings but I don't want to overstock the wrong things.
Price ranges - What do people realistically pay for something like a large hand-stitched quilt or an ajrak shawl in the UK market? I've seen Etsy listings anywhere from £30 to £145 for rallis specifically and I'm trying to figure out where authentic, well-presented pieces should sit.
Any advice from sellers or even just buyers would be massively appreciated. Still very early stages so all input welcome!
My mom has been a single parent my whole life to an only child (me). Her and I have shared a pretty complex relationship. I never had space for my emotions since it would all go as per my mom's mood. There was no space for my own emotions or needs. She comes off as a narcissist tbh. Eventually, I grew up and started speaking up which led to insane fights between us. I would even sign up for toxic relationships because they felt like home lol. Then I met my now husband who's genuinely the best choice I could have made. My mom had ruined my engagement and nikkah by throwing passing comments about something bothering her etc. since I'm someone who's been extra sensitive to making sure she's okay, my nikkah (legal marriage papers signing) night was the worst I've ever had.
Anyways, then I had my rukhsati (cultural wedding) and moved out. My mom had severe anxiety during which she had blocked me out completely only to give in after my persistent efforts. This and constantly thinking about her had affected my mental health and contributions in the marriage a lot. I would randomly have a break down.
Now, my husband has moved out of Pakistan. I had moved back in with my mom for a year until my paperwork was done. I'm now in a new country and she's gone no contact again. This time, it's because she'd told me there was no gas and she was going to her sister's. Turned out, she expected me to tell her I'd place a food delivery order for her. I told her she could have openly communicated this instead of having me solve a riddle. She didn't like this response and has not been taking my calls since. She sent me a vn saying I'm only worried about not finding out if she's dead (she lives alone) and shouldn't worry because someone will inform me and to not bother her. I'm so so exhausted and don't know what to do. I've had multiple crash outs. I'm constantly just sad regardless of any effort from my husband to make me feel at home. I do plan on bringing her to the UK with me but this whole thing is making me so anxious.
I have already received my approval and they're sending me this email???
Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some honest feedback on my mum’s chances for a UK Standard Visitor visa. I’m currently in the UK on a spouse visa and want to invite my mother to visit me for a few weeks.
Her profile:
Visit details: Purpose: visiting me (her daughter) Planned duration: short visit (around 2–4 weeks) I’ll be hosting her during her stay
Concerns: She doesn’t have a job The house she lives in is not in her name anymore I’m her immediate family and I’m based in the UK (worried this might raise overstay concerns) Financially she’s stable and not dependent on me, but I know UKVI focuses a lot on ties to home country. For the shared family house, my uncle manages it and collects rent
Would really appreciate advice on honest chances of approval or any similar experiences. What I should strengthen before applying?