₦airaland Forum

LagosismyHome:
Is this Nigeria or UK?..... because UK taking leave is part of their culture. Very odd for me to hear read the room ontop time off.

Are sure some of these are not presumption brought from abroad. Do you think a born and breed British will blink and not take time off that has been earned because its probation. As long as you have accrued it , its your entitlement. I have also managed several people under me. As long as they have that entitlement or there is adequate coverage while would anyone manager be bothered

Work is not slavery and what you describe up is toxic abeg

A colleague who is just about a month took medical off last week and some days ago she wrote on the team chat that she’s logging off to take her aunt to the hospital due to health emergency. We all wrote on the chat that she should take care and be calm that everything will be fine.

I have only spent 2years here and one of my biggest learning is that your family should ALWAYS come first. I have seen two managers resign for unfair treatment in two different companies. In both cases the reasons from the company n owners was same “ It’s not personal”. And these are hard working staff who gave their time and everything to the company. One of them did not go for leave in the last 2yrs just to keep the business running after the covid loss.

AlphaUno:
What an epistle!
Your epistle is relevant but someone else’s take is irrelevant as adjudged by you? Hmmm

Anyways, the Op knows life must go on after all is said and done. Wishing the Op the best

You don’t have to take offence all the time. I never said your take was irrelevant. It was the line I said was irrelevant. I purposely did not dwell on your post as it wasn’t the issue, but since you want to talk, I will just go ahead and tell you. It’s not cool to make negative comment about people’s spouse. Especially when the issue is something serious. Everything no be play. Imagine if the OP use that your line when discussing it with her husband, tell me what the response from her husband will be. You can tell from OP’s post that there is a little sprinkle of something else on it, but that’s not our business, you will just respond to her question and advice her like your sister or brothers wife. Shikina.

AlphaUno:
Sorry, but your hubby is still ‘living’ n ‘breathing’ 9ja.
If you must go, do your homework and ensure you have a job to come back to.

That line is IRRELEVANT. I don’t think one should throw away their custom/tradition simply because they live or are based abroad. And I am saying this if it’s his tradition.

@Osoderi
Your situation is a valid reason to get some days off from work. And I am not talking about traveling as it’s a very good reason to take a week leave to attend to family situation. People here (I mean the UK people or whites as we call them) won’t think for 2 seconds to call their manager to get some days off to deal with “family emergency” as they like to call it (even if they joined the job a month ago). There are so many areas in your offer letter or contract that talks about calling or speaking to your manager about situations like this (not clearly stated as this, but this falls under emergencies). If I were in your position I would be more concerned as to why I think my manager won’t approve something like this. So speak to your manager, you have every right to take some days off to mourn your Father-In-law. People here will take some days off to mourn their pet or great grand parents, quoting that the person or pet was their source of joy during a trying time in their life ( and I consider that’s to be a very valid reason). How you present your “Second Father’s” passing to your manager may influence his/her decision and I just gave you a hint.

Not something I normally like to comment on but I just can’t ignore for some reasons. If your reason for not attending your “Second Father’s” burial is work based and not family (kids n their needs ), then I think you should do some more thinking. your spouse should not have to start quoting traditions and rules for you to want to attend his father, your father-in-laws burial. I understand that work and finance is very important in our daily existence, but we also need our spouse n family to be happy so that they can celebrate with us when we get those big offers and promotions. Your family should always come first, and if your present manager thinks otherwise (which I doubt), then your main concern right now should be getting a new job with a reasonable manager before January. People here don’t play with valid reasons like this.

Apologies if you feel judged in anyway, but I wrote based on “how I” read your post. Unfortunately, we can only reply by what we read, without knowing the person. Blessings

CowbellY:
You can use it because I don't think BNPL cards work like credit cards. Its like Klarna or Afterpay. As long as you meet the repayments. Should be okay. In my opinion. NFA

You know these Argos still call theirs credit card. Klarna’s own is clearly advertised as buy now pay later payment option. Plus, klarna doesn’t advertise any use limit for you. They just check if you qualify and set the payment plan up for you.

Estroller:
It is 30% of your credit limit and not your available credit. So going by that logic and £800 credit limit you sighted, you'll have £40 left to spend until you clear your balance.

Thanks. Thought of it this way, but it was hard for me to accept because I felt like it actually defeats the whole buy now pay later option. cos after one item, Then you will have to clear that before another usage, which I think will reduce their chance of making more from the customer. I think plans like this will be cool on like a 2k card limit where you can buy an item for say £300 n still have something for normal credit (daily groceries) monthly.

Thanks.

Is the 30% credit card rule applicable to shopping cards that offer buy now pay later plans. E.g the Argos card with say £800 credit limit. Cos when you buy say an item for £200 for 3 months, the £200 is deducted from you limit. Does that mean you won’t use the card till you pay that off in the assumed 3months. Or the £200 is just for that month n you can continue you 30% rule the following month on the other amount left.

Cos I believe if you have to pay the first monthly 30% off before making another purchase then it beats the whole buy now pay later offer on the card. Anyone with knowledge on this subject.

Mamatukwas:
Nursery Hack: If you have ONLY nursery aged children and so can afford to place them in any Nursery school essentially without worrying too much about pickup for older kids; consider putting them in a private nursery that partners with your local council.

For instance, if your council or town has a private/independent primary school, it’s nursery unit could be partners with your council hence your child can still attend free. You’ll have to ask or check their website to see.

Trust me, everything is better on that side. They eat good. Hot meals + desert. Worth checking.

X.

To confirm and add to this info. This is very true. When our son was attending a private nursery before the free 1140hrs, he use to come home neat with maybe paint stains on his clothes and they took care of his wet clothes as we dropped extra for him. The private nursery had dry cleaning and cleaners to sort their stuffs too. They also had better lunch meals with alternate options for kids who refuse the serving for that day. But since he started the nursery here, they just give him his accident clothes like that. No adjustment or even trying to wash or clean them. Tho the nursery has clothes to change him to if he runs out of his, but no washing for you, they just tie it in a nylon. Also no multiple option for meal especially if the child refuses the served lunch. So yeah that would be a good option.

The reason why we moved him from the private (because our council had it as an option) was because it was a bit far and required us connecting buses. While the new nursery is just adjacent our house.

Mamatukwas:
No Nursery feeding is not Public Funds.

Edited to add that I mean the ‘snack they give here’. At nursery levels you will have to pack a lunch for your child. But they give them endless fruit and drinks that is not counted as a meal.

The rule is: if you need to ‘apply’ specially for the benefit it prolly counts as public funds.

Cool. Thanks

semmyk:
It's called the more you 'look/read', the less you see! How do you want those lawyers to be in job when it comes to ILR!
Away from 'legalise' terminology, Scotland's 1140 ELC ain't public funds in the ordinary sense of thing, when it comes to 'free meals' for primary 1 to 5. We can safely go via Freetown for this based on the extract and as supported by @Mamatukwas [update: I just saw TheGuyFromHR. We seemly cohered on this.]
... how do you have a group of kids in same space and have a different rule for something as “special to kid” like group meal ... Hence, part of the reason they make it universal to all. Well, I guess!!


Kindly pay close attention to the message from TheGuyFromHR. He correctly got the 'message' of my screenshot. Essentially, to highlight the difference between normal school term 'free meals' for 1 to 5 and where special benefits are required.

Shey you de whine me ni. So we are working partly for lawyers. Thanks man. Sometimes this UK de tire person when you read some things.

TheGuyFromHR:
In Scotland, the 1140 hours is not a special benefit you have to request for, i.e. it's NOT public funds for persons with NRPF. All nursery school age children get it automatically, and I gather you only have to decide on how it is allocated (spread over 50 weeks of the year or 38 weeks). No need to pack lunch for your child, they'll get a meal in school.

The free school meals for Primary 1 to 5 is also NOT public funds for NRPF purposes.

The screenshot above referred to meals for schoolchildren OUTSIDE term time, i.e. when school is closed, and that's a special benefit.
At least you get something for the higher income tax and council tax you pay in Scotland.

Thanks bro. I always thought of it to be normal and not public fund. I don’t know why I always go back to read the meal thing.

semmyk:
[
Infant free school meals in England: www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
Your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:
reception class | year 1 | year 2

Seemly, there're nuanced differences btw Scotland and England
Insights from Scotland's School meal: www.mygov.scot/school-meals
Linked to Early child care
www.gov.scot/policies/early-education-and-care/early-learning-and-childcare/
It means that parents and carers – including those of eligible two years olds – will be able to choose to use their child’s entitlement at any ELC provider that ...

My reading is that the operative words are #eligible, #could, #can, #might, #may.
For anything public funds or not, I recommend using the duckling rule (which is used in computing). Essentially, if it quacks like a duck, it most reasonable be a ...
NB: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ought not count as public funds.

One of the things i dislike about the UK is the inability to clearly state things. And it’s shocking cos I will expect them to be better at it since they are English and the language is theirs. If you go by definition/explanation of public fund, you get confuse the more. This is not a benefit from getting low pay, neither is it a request from your part. It is tied to an early learning fund that they claim you qualify for. It’s crazy how you have to start translating English grammar to conclude if you are entitled or not.

Since my son started the nursery in august, it’s been a missed feeling for me. Some times I will go back to the site to read with hope of getting different understanding. Now if we are to go by the ducking effect, we should just proceed to pack him lunch. What about the milk n fruit snack. the schools don’t want meal they will have to heat, they don’t want biscuit and some kind of snacks. They want sandwiches, why d F will I want to give my child sandwiches for 8-6. Growing up I never liked taking food to school cos most of the times you don’t feel like having the meal or the meal gets spoilt before you have the appetite for it.

For a country that prides itself on caring for kids and having them at heart, how do you have a group of kids in same space and have a different rule for something as “special to kid” like group meal.

Mamatukwas:
In Scotland. Free school meals is for P1-5. Outside that is public funds.

Hi

Does this mean that the meal offered in Scotland nursery as part of the 1140 funded hours is public fund?

Cos it’s clearly stated to be available for every child (from 3yrs) who qualifies for the funded early learning.

Amarathripple0:
Oh wow, that must have been annoying. Thanks a lot. I guess I have nothing to worry about then.

Yeah, it was frustrating. But I don forgive them .

Amarathripple0:
Hi @ Chreze , quick question please: is there a fast track for PSW? like a priority service, as opposed to waiting for 8 weeks. Thanks

I don’t think so. Everyone I know got it like 2 days after application except me. Even my dependents got it months before mine. I don’t think I know or heard of anyone who got delayed PSW.

Stevepop:
Hi everyone- will appreciate every input or tips I can get especially from experienced parents.

Our little one (9 months plus) started day care last month when wifey's maternity leave ended. Ever since she started, if it's not cough today, it's cattarh or fever, infact there was a time she had conjuctivitis (apolo) also. It's just two months now and we are tired. We are currently battling cough, cattarh and fever (2nd time in 4 weeks). We've taken her to the GP twice and the doctors more or less just said "welcome to the club" and that it's normal. Just said we should continue to use calpol, calcough or nurofen.
To be honest, the cough/fever is not weighing her down as she feeds and plays normally, just that it's always worrisome having to watch her breath with blocked nose and bouts of cough. If it were to be in naija, grandparents would have swung into action with different remedies but over here, na only calpol we here .End of rant!!!

Please is this normal? What other home remedies can we explore? Looking forward to your responses

I can imagine how you feel. We had same feeling when our son started nursery. They claim here you should expect that fever and flu 10 times in a year. So that’s like ruffly once a month. They see it as normal and doctors too told us “welcome to the club”. I have accepted it as normal. For our son we use honey for everything, food and sometimes some spoon to clear cough. It’s not a good feeling but I will advise you to join the club like they said.

We started giving our son fruits when he clocked 6months, that was in Naija, we gave him blended apple and banana. Avocados and tangerines on a regular too. The aim was/is to boost his immune function and it worked cos he didn’t fall sick at all till he joined nursery n covid. Just ask doctors if it’s fine to give your child fruits like tangerines, apple, bananas, avocados n its likes. I think it will help fight some of those little ones.

kode12:
Thanks. The chair is cheap though, seems a bit dodgy, the price doesn't go with the looks lol . I'll wait for you to take the leap

Hahahaha. Na why I gat ask too, cos the price is very affordable. I don order. Atleast someone from here gave good review.

kode12:
Abeg send me the link. Let me expense it

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4657112?clickSR=slp:term:ergonomic%20office%20chair:2:51:1

AgentXxx:
So no be only me Dey feel like this

No worry we plenty. People wey no won miss anything.

HollyMadison:
I’m using the chair, in pink, it’s really good and I had horrible back pain from being a banker for years. I’m also fully remote

Thanks. I will proceed to order before e finish.

See as una just scatter everywhere. Something wey I been don read finish, now I just read 4 pages about Nigerian and India. Comparison that will never end, even when there is no need to compare.

Una do well.

Sorry amara didn’t mean to quote you. I de read your post before I write.
===

Please is there anyone here using this chair. The reviews are just up n down. The few people that spoke negatively went hard. I need a chair and want to take advantage of discounts. I want the one people have actually used and can recommend.

Note: fully remote role. So I need something to avoid waist n back aches.

HollyMadison:
Hello sir,

Longtime no see. Please can you check your inbox, I sent you an email.

If I tell you say I have been on this site since two days trying to cover pages I missed you no go believe. If you no read am you go just de feel say them don talk something wey de important to you and your family.

TheGuyFromHR:
Basically, when you have an outstanding application with the Home Office, a company needs your UAN so they can contact the HO and get the so-called statutory excuse, i.e. evidence that they are allowed to employ you pending the outcome of your visa application.

Usually, it is only an employer that really wants you very much that will employ you at that stage, because to them it's basically tantamount to your needing sponsorship and a COS. Most often, it's employers which have already employed you prior to your having to change your visa that go checking with the HO when your right to work expires and you are in the process of renewing/replacing it.

And yes, not all employers are up to speed with all immigration rules. Some simply just want to play it as safe as possible: - either British or Irish passport or ILR, nothing else, because they don't even want to come close to anything that could involve them with immigration matters. Glad it worked out in the end, but the call centre lady was right - you can't do anything other than to keep trying other employers.

Men she said it in a way like she’s not aware of the fact that companies want to play safe. Once you are asked your visa status and instead of Just saying two word, you start to explain, recruiter will just round up conversations. In fact to even get a spot for interview I kept replying visa related questions with “yes I have the right to work in the UK and then laugh it off” . In fact I lied to a recruiter that my visa was valid till 2024. After the success of the first round interview, I became scared cos of the lie.

Well all those ones don go. I thank God. I am just letting people know I tried the contacting MP plan and it worked. So everyone can try and just pour their heart to their MP. The person might feel your pain and write the home office in a way that it will favor you with immediate response from the home office.

bigtt76:
Please what type of visa were you applying for? I thought the company engaging you issues you with CoS which in turn you use for your visa application right?

Graduate visa. All the story of providing your Unique application number (UAN) in replacement for share code is trash. Very few people understand what that is. Most company want share code for proof.

If the visa department /Home office is really out to make life easier, they would provide a form of proof “ something to show to employer that you have the right to work”. Just like share code. I went bloody on my mail to the MP, if she had issues with Home office before, I gave her enough proof to kill them. I gave her dates of all my mails to different department, their replies and the ones they ignored.

I am just getting over everything. One day I will tell all the story. Even the yeye customer support center that one of the lady told me “if you are not accepted by one company, then try another company” as if e easy to pass interview for job. No wahala sha, na where I de find better life for my pikin. God de

If you are having visa delay, you might wanna try contacting your MP. I contacted mine, with a clear explanation of how the delay has frustrated me and resulted to losing opportunities. She replied sympathizing and apologized for the difficulty. She contacted the home office and the next day my visa approval mail was in. One of these days when I am in better mood I will tell the full story. But in summary.

Visa was delayed for over 4 months. Wrote different visa department’s (verification, complaint and complaint review), only complaint replied and apologized with a partial promise that didn’t come thru. And yes you miss offers but it is not clearly stated that they are not moving on for the visa thing.

One of the company told me, to apply for the new visa and let them know when it’s out (that’s after I have told them it will be out in a short time because one of my friend got in 48hrs and another in 10days, so I assumed 1month max). Well long story short, after 2months I just comot mind. 4months later, after the visa came, I wrote them and as you will guess no reply (me am not surprised)

2nd company story was painful, but I can’t really blame them. After two core technical interviews with manager and his own manager (lead). Both manager and lead were very ok. The visa delay story came later after I had earlier stated that I had the right to work. Well my visa story led to the lead discussing with the company about it and as you can guess, story changed.

Like I said, one of these days I will tell the whole story about how frustrating the whole situation was. Even my loving neighbor couldn’t do anything as he confirmed and his company will need a valid visa to accept a foreigner. For the home office format that you can work/ get a job while waiting visa decision. I believe that will only work if you were in the company before you applied for renewal. Most companies don’t understand that and are not willing to risk anything for you.

It was the most frustrating time of my life as I hate being handicapped in a situation. But hey, that’s life, like we say in Nigeria “We Move”.

tushqueen:
Please, how do you wash carpets (I assume you are still referring to rug)?

I have vax platinum smart wash. It’s good for washing carpets and it doesn’t consume much electricity.

Peerielass:
Message me. I have one you can have for free. You will need to arrange delivery/collection.

Thanks for this. Sorry I didn’t reply. It turns out we had covid, but due to being vaccinated we didn’t have the hash feelings, only our son showed some little signs, but the coughing was the last stage of covid. we are good now.

My wife’s colleagues had covid, but didn’t say it as they didn’t want to stay home and not get paid. First it was one of the baker and then a manager. The manager declared his when the thing hold am, but my wife friend didn’t declare hers. Am writing this so that everyone will be careful. Due to the high cost of living, I think people (especially hourly paid roles) don’t declare covid because they don’t want to be asked to stay home. Also some don’t know they have it if it doesn’t break them down.

Peerielass:
Ebac is supposedly the best dehumidifier though a bit pricey. Where are you based? I have one that is now surplus to requirement. Message me for details.

Hi Peerielass thanks for the offer. Glasgow based, south of Glasgow.

Ticha:
Air out the house everyday. Keep all the vents in the windows permanently open. In each double glazed window, there's a small vent usually at the top and sometimes it's at the bottom, slide it across and it should open the vent.

For example our bathroom windows are permanently cracked open. And our bedroom windows are open on a latch especially as we also have black out blinds and thermal curtains. UK homes are built to retain heat but that also causes dampness and mustiness.

Do that for about a week before spending money on a dehumidifier. In fact, spend that money on a electric airer. It's coming to winter and you'll definitely start drying more clothes inside.

See link to a reasonably priced one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homefront-Electric-Heated-Clothes-Indoor/dp/B07P5NQKNM/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=heated+clothes+airer&qid=1662934803&sr=8-7

Hi Ticha, thanks for the info. I have a similar heater in the bathroom for clothes, But it is connected to the central heating and since we have not been having the heaters on cos of summer (even tho glasgow didn’t have summer this year) hence why we have not been using.

Have been airing the house and done some intentional cleaning on the window edges that could house those dust and all that. There was improvement yesterday during the day and at night too. I believe with more airing, and the Wednesday carpet washing will add more to the air quality.

wallg123:
Try opening the windows regularly even in winter. You don’t need a humidify at the moment. When the dampness dries up. Get a little can of anti-damp pant and go over the surface…
Use this indoors

Thanks wallg123 for this. I will try this. Thanks @TheGuyFromHR.

A little twist, so they have been delivering mails to the apartment for the previous occupant. We try to return the mails and it comes back to our house. On Thursday they delivered Hermes clothes and I knew they were gonna come pick it up. Today they came for it and I asked them question about the house and they said no damp or mold issue, but that they installed the heater by the staircase recently because it gets cold when you just walk inside the house.

I will try this options and hope it is solved. I have done some crazy vacuum today. On Wednesday when oga goes to nursery we will vacuum again and wash the carpet. And hopefully it gets cleared. Also sent a message the LL to come around during lunch break tomorrow so I can show him. He said 3pm. Will also show him and see how it goes.

Thanks for the inputs. I really do appreciate.

Lexusgs430:
Maybe one of the divorced, no sell am with clean heart ........

I won’t be surprised.

Lexusgs430:
Have you spoken to your landlord about the mould ........

The LL might try to blame your habits, don't tell the LL you spread clothes the Nigerian way + you also open windows, to allow fresh air in ........

It's your LL responsibility to sort out mould, especially if it's presenting health challenges & it's also illegal......

Not really spreading cloth like that, na underwear. The landlord responds fast to anything I raise tho we have not had much to discuss as the house was properly set by the couple previously occupying. When I told him about the wet ceiling. He sent someone immediately to check and the person said it was the chimney after climbing to the roof and came to fix it the next day. The house was sold to him n I think we were the first tenant. Normally story from neighbors, the couple in the house sold it after divorce and we moved in. The landlord doesn’t even know about anything in the house cause he bought it renovated (ikea kitchen and bathroom) from the couple. So he didn’t do anything and he told me it was move in as is.

I called him I think when we spent half a year and I asked him if he wont visit to be sure everything is going well. His response was he met me and my wife and we seem like people that will do just fine.

I think I will call him and discuss it first like you suggested.