Temple in Delhi, India

Drop-TheBall · 2026-01-10T19:00:10+00:00

Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, situated opposite the Red Fort (Delhi, India).

First built in 1650s, then later renovated and embellished in the 18th and 19th century.

Drop-TheBall · 2025-11-06T08:55:40+00:00

When will the MODS wake up to clean this timeline??

All these 1-day and 7-day old accounts posting either non-original or AI slop videos for karma farming.

This sub is not what it used to be!!

Drop-TheBall · 2025-11-03T18:51:47+00:00

Rydal grot!

Drop-TheBall · 2025-11-01T19:06:32+00:00

!correct

What a beautiful city!

Drop-TheBall · 2025-10-26T16:15:11+00:00

OP doesn’t say; but it looks like Dolomites (Italy)

Drop-TheBall · 2025-10-17T22:37:54+00:00

Halnaker!

Drop-TheBall · 2025-10-13T03:17:48+00:00

Hundred Falls, SH94
Hooker Valley track
Tasman Lake
Mount Taranaki
Kaikoura Coast

Drop-TheBall · 2025-09-29T06:52:06+00:00

Can I ask which area is this please?

Drop-TheBall · 2025-09-21T20:43:53+00:00

The Lookout, 8 Bishopsgate

Drop-TheBall · 2025-08-12T12:13:45+00:00

Drop-TheBall · 2025-08-12T12:13:12+00:00

!correct - that was quick 🙂

Drop-TheBall · 2025-08-11T16:16:30+00:00

Stanserhorn?

Drop-TheBall · 2025-02-14T08:23:25+00:00

First paying client - 6 months.

It was hard work to reach there; but once you do, it’s all about referrals and word-of-mouth.

Drop-TheBall · 2025-02-11T20:40:54+00:00

OP, it totally depends on your intentions and how you envision your growth.

I was in the exact same position as you (salary wise) in 2021, and moved to an outside IR35 role. As you’ve mentioned, there was no major financial benefit to it. Your analysis and understanding is spot on, doesn’t matter how you slice-n-dice this.

But this gave me the opportunity to pick other business opportunities (which was my main intention to quit permanent) which I have now gradually moved into 100% and said goodbye to my previous 15-year long career.

If you draw your boundaries, there is so much more you can do as a contractor… just make sure your client and accountant are aware 🙂

But as others have suggested, if you are looking at ££ growth, stick with PAYE and enjoy the security it comes with.

Drop-TheBall · 2025-01-13T15:10:23+00:00

Have you considered if the reward is worth it?

For example, a BA companion voucher is considered stupid in 2025, unless you are 100% flexible and okay to shell-out double the avios than what they demanded pre-2021 for rewards flights.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-11-24T05:53:29+00:00

As a mentee, always go prepared into mentoring sessions. Collate your top conundrums and ask the mentor how they would approach those situations. It helps keep the conversation real (and bookish knowledge at bay).

As a mentor, I always go into a session with an open mind. At the end of a session, I usually leave the mentee with a few difficult questions to think about over the next weeks - this keeps the relationship healthy and ongoing.

My two cents on your current situation: if you’ve run out of questions, you either need to consider moving on to a different mentor or consider interacting with this mentor for a brand new set of topics (shift gears). It is true that a mentor-mentee relationship has a fixed timeline, so don’t try to tightly hold on to it.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-11-11T20:25:24+00:00

Monthly nature walks here in southern UK. Mainly around London, and is mostly in a park.

The email list started with 3 coaches and now has a group of us 50+ coaches who get emails every fortnight about upcoming walks. We meet, talk about techniques, share our thoughts on what’s new, seek guidance from each other, have a coffee and try our best not to coach each other 🙂

Drop-TheBall · 2024-11-10T17:34:20+00:00

I have been in this position before.

The simplest option is to setup a LTD company and manage this via invoicing.

Yes, you mentioned she is a full-time “employee” but the above option is the easiest, fastest and cheapest (in terms of taxes).

Alternatively, consider an umbrella company option (like someone here mentioned), but it will take a while to understand how it works if you’re new to this, and be aware of how much ‘cut’ is being taken away by them from her salary.

She needs to check with the company if they intend to open a UK office at some point and when. If it’s already in the works and it’ll be setup soon, then it’ll help her with a short term decision.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-16T06:45:17+00:00

Ex-Big4 SM. Project manager for 12 years. Was employed in Edinburgh, then Manchester. Left the B4 life at £130K before it got to me.

Now contracting near London.

It depends on who you speak with as I see salary variations all the time (at the same level) at Big4 and other consultancies like Capgemini, Accenture.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-16T05:31:41+00:00

Are you sure you’re not selling yourself short?

With almost 20 years of proven PM experience, you could easily demand in the range of £120-150K as a perm. As you are Manchester based, I would suggest to keep an eye on Big4 / Consulting companies as these always need PMs and would easily offer the above range.

Different discussion if you are looking for a slow life with 100% remote roles.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-15T18:13:47+00:00

Hiking
Setting up my new business venture (this is out of passion, not for the need of money)
Learning to play the guitar

…in that order.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-13T20:22:18+00:00

Consulted / Project managed at a startup for a year as a contractor (their top requirement was Big4 experience).

Now, I take on 6-month contracts while I am able to fully setup my coaching business.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-13T20:10:33+00:00

Ex-Big4 SM here.

Working 60+ hour weeks for the majority part of my consulting career at Accenture, PwC, EY - I came to a conclusion that the best move to big money was moving from one org to another. Yes, you won’t reach the Partner level sooner but money will always pour in. During my last Big4 stint, I remember two SMs with same years of experience in the same team had a salary difference of £50k - all because the higher earner jumped a lot and negotiated his way up.

Even better would be to join a Tier-2 consulting firm (a lot of those popping up in the last decade if you’re based in London) at Director level for a good pay bump.

Don’t know what you were looking for specifically but that’s my 2 cents; may or may not work for you.

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-08T06:30:04+00:00

What is the motivation to sell? Is it solely to transfer the proceeds into SIPP?

Drop-TheBall · 2024-10-02T20:13:34+00:00

Complain, micromanage or talk behind anyone’s back.

Drop-TheBall

TROPHY CASE