r/england

I've been struggling with depression for a long time, and during a particularly difficult period I spent £20,000 on a giant 9 foot wide Star Wars statue from Japan. I know it's a huge purchase, but unboxing it and finally having it has genuinely brought me some happiness. I'm proud of it, and it's been helping my mental health by giving me something positive to focus on.

The money I used came from my PIP payments, and now HMRC has contacted me about the purchase. They've sent me a large booklet to complete and are asking questions about whether I'm running a business. They've also said I may owe around £2,000, which has left me feeling frightened and overwhelmed.

I don't have any spare money left to pay this. After buying the statue, the remaining money I have is needed to cover my bills, food, and other essential living costs. I'm really worried about what will happen and don't know what to do.

St Margaret’s Bay and the South Foreland Lighthouse pictured from the cross-channel ferry

I've been exploring random UK towns for my channel (not tourist hotspots), just places people drive through and never stop at. Berkhamsted was on my list mostly because it's 30 mins on the train from London and I'd never heard anyone talk about it.

Didn't expect much. The castle (what is left of it) is literally free to walk into, right next to the station. William the Conqueror's half-brother built it. Nobody was there. Just me and a dog walker. Then I found the old police station and genuinely had to do a double take.

Curious if anyone else has been or what others think…

Channel if you want to see what I mean (sub if you want to come on the journey with me too)