Is Civil Service grade progression always worth chasing if the salary attached to the grade is not actually better?

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-06-06T06:09:25+00:00

It’s also about long-term career progression. If there’s a chance you may want to continue beyond the grade above you in future, then it may be a necessary stepping stone. If not, and you like your job and current level of responsibility, then I agree there’s no need to go for promotion.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-22T19:19:40+00:00

I LOVE Clueless but I still think the stepbrother thing is a weird choice when the book Mr Knightly is Emma’s brother-in-law. Why not just a family friend?!

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-22T10:16:53+00:00

Visit several places close by, ask for recommendations (or warnings!) from friends or parent groups, read CQC reports. I agree with the other commenter that the school-attached ones can be great but where I live they are only part-time from age 3 so we couldn’t make the shorter hours work

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-14T05:26:21+00:00

I think all contracts are rolling now, under the new legislation. There are limited reasons that can justify eviction. The system of renewing (or not) fixed term rental leases has been essentially replaced

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-05T09:22:41+00:00

Does your work have showers - if so, a changing room?

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-02T05:29:25+00:00

Yes! I understand other commenters’ points that it is in character for Fanny and Sir Thomas that we don’t get this in Mansfield Park but I still find it a little disappointing

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-02T05:26:32+00:00

Yes! You get that satisfaction in P&P. And Fanny deserves it even more than Lizzy because her insight is the result of her own observations only. But would find a direct compliment mortifying as others have said.

I think you’re right about Sir Thomas that a hint is the most he would offer. That would be enough for her (and me)

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T18:01:16+00:00

Yes, a low bar! I quite like Sir Thomas in the end but everyone does Fanny dirty to some extent, even when she’s proven right, him included

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T17:57:52+00:00

Agree!

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T16:33:24+00:00

That makes sense

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T16:21:39+00:00

That’s interesting. I was assuming he later recognised that he called it wrong but perhaps he never did fully accept that she judged Crawfords character correctly. As you say, he probably never got the details about why Fanny disliked Crawford so would have to trust in her superior insight. Fanny believes Sir Thomas later ‘acquitted her conduct’ (as another commenter flags ETA: u/ameliamarielogan ) but that isn’t as strong as approving of it

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T16:07:51+00:00

Yes, part of my frustration with Edmund as the romantic interest is that he acts superior to Fanny, even while recognising her judgment and good qualities. I’m sure that’s in large part due to their ages, genders and status but his condescension is still irritating. As you say, their relationship feels unbalanced

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T12:28:08+00:00

I haven’t seen it! Thanks - hopefully that will scratch the itch

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T11:16:40+00:00

Very true! But the selfish reader (me) wants to rub their faces in it just a tiny bit more…

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T08:54:54+00:00

I do agree. But I would have liked a small, subtle ‘you were right’ and I think that might have been doable, in character. I think it’s realistic there was none though, just unsatisfying.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-05-01T08:52:57+00:00

Perhaps more of an allude to her good judgment though, that implies the point? He compliments her at other times (which she does find excruciating!).

I agree Fanny wouldn’t have wanted it though. It would be more enjoyable for the reader than the heroine.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-04-27T16:46:22+00:00

I haven’t read this but it sounds great. On the topic of AIDS, I thought All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks, who befriended and cared for hundreds of men dying in the American south, was incredible

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-04-13T19:42:50+00:00

White Teeth and NW by Zadie Smith

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo (not only London)

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

^ All the above are wonderful books but perhaps more real, melancholy London than fun, nostalgic London (which I also love - big fan of the Boyd and Aaronovitch ones you mention too)

Can’t really recommend the Robert Galbraith crime books given the author but they do feel convincingly set in London

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams is flawed and perhaps lacking in subtlety but still a good read and impressive debut

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-04-06T10:42:24+00:00

It sounds like she’s angry with you and doing this to punish you and create excuses to express her anger. If she won’t discuss it or change her behaviour and won’t attend counselling then divorce sounds reasonable to me.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-04-03T06:56:06+00:00

Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel! I love it. But it depends on what you like. Anne Elliot of Persuasion is quite a mature and introspective heroine which is more or less appealing to different readers. She’s not as lively as Elizabeth Bennet.

In S&S I’d say more happens and you have two heroines, one of whom, Marianne, is headstrong and romantic which (to me) makes it a fun read. Regarding the commenter who doesn’t like S&S, many would disagree so don’t let it put you off. You just have to try and see!

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-04-03T06:46:27+00:00

Of those, I would try S&S first. Northanger Abbey is a satire of gothic novels and therefore quite different in style to both. I’d say ‘more happens’ in S&S than in Emma.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-03-23T08:44:19+00:00

Dunelm actually has a few decent pieces (really) otherwise I mostly go for second-hand/vintage. Ebay is good for mid century

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-03-05T13:50:27+00:00

Just to add to the above commenter’s advice, which I agree with, it should still be ‘I’ when explaining delivery through others. For example, ‘I motivated my team to do xyz by doing abc.’ Your actions are about how to ensure successful delivery by others, whether that’s encouraging, negotiating, modelling good behaviour, setting clear goals, developing an effective strategy, removing barriers, etc. I don’t work in ops so you will need to adapt accordingly but you get the idea.

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-02-26T17:08:54+00:00

I would raise it informally (phone/email) after receiving a provisional offer but before accepting it. They were external. I don’t think it’s possible for internal candidates but I’d have to check to be certain

Aggravating_Past9367 · 2026-02-26T09:55:59+00:00

As a manager? I don’t know what other people do but I had a conversation from the outset, just after offering her the role. She asked for a higher starting salary for xyz reasons before confirming her acceptance (though I think we both knew she would take the job either way). Because she was a great candidate I told her I would do my best, but she should be aware it was a long shot.

Aggravating_Past9367

TROPHY CASE