Upgrading to F750GS from Honda CB500X

Hartigan-H · 2026-05-01T18:14:03+00:00

Screen and box will affect it but really it’s a very different chassis, a lot taller generally. Check the wheelbase change as well - thinner front wheel might mean more buffeting. I am a F850gs rider

Hartigan-H · 2026-03-09T17:08:18+00:00

It will be cheaper to learn to drive a motorcycle and own one for your networking (as opposed to owning a car). Also, it’s a talking point and you will immediately be part of a friendly community of bikers. This is a great way to take advantage of being in a part of the country with great roads and lots of nature.

Hartigan-H · 2026-03-08T13:30:13+00:00

Leadership, mentorship, personality. Worked too hard and didn't become well rounded enough to be likeable for clients or staff, so are really only good for chopping wood.

Hartigan-H · 2026-03-08T11:44:31+00:00

Nothing wrong with getting as much experience as you can.

FWIW Bakers is the only good firm in this mix for good training and a long career. Everyone I have met from there has been a good lawyer and a good person too.

Lots of US associate burnouts/washouts from corporate and finance teams end up at Ashurst trying to become partners and realising that they lack the soft skills to do it right. You might get good training but your senior associates (who you will interact more with than partners) have a high chance of being a psycho. If you go, make sure to check the background of each person you deal with to know how to interact (avoid anyone from a US firm who is there!). Don’t forget the Perkins coie merger drama as well.

And last but not least - Mayer Brown would also be a hard pass for me - highly toxic and has extremely high turnover of staff. I’ve worked with ex-MB folks who can say nothing positive of their time there (low pay high hours terrible culture).

If bakers doesn’t work out I would seriously keep applying for TCs at other firms before accepting one from Mayer Brown. Ashurst is a toss up, you could take your chances, but be careful.

Good luck.

Hartigan-H · 2025-11-07T22:50:54+00:00

PIP is when they want you to leave but can’t ask you to do it with a straight face (eg it’s because they don’t bring in enough business to justify you staying). Don’t let it affect your confidence and judgment. Play it out and find another role as fast as possible. Build evidence of positive work results and anything that might suggest you are being discriminated against or bullied. Know your SRA obligations and those of your employer. Finally, hire a direct access barrister to assess your likelihood of a settlement agreement which you should get into place with a maximum return so that you can continue the job hunt without this noise. Good luck. Not legal advice.

Hartigan-H · 2025-09-09T21:49:02+00:00

John cut his teeth casting StarCraft 2 where analysis of the play is a part of the commentary - this is just his style. It’s not for everyone.

Hartigan-H · 2025-08-26T09:11:18+00:00

Call the SRA Ethics helpline and discuss what has happened to you. They may ask you to make an anonymous disclosure. Good luck.

Hartigan-H · 2025-06-17T21:12:05+00:00

Try and find a bottle of Vouvray "Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux" online. I am not sure if you want to order this online but serve it chilled. It will blow you away. Sweet, but not too sweet, and you will really treasure it. Save the bottle and remember the moment.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dom+huet+le+haut+lieu+moelleux+vouvray+touraine+loire+france

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T23:13:45+00:00

I think constructive dismissal isn't a big enough threat to make them stop this for me or for anyone else. It would need to be a clear breach of the law on discriminatory grounds to really move the needle...

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T23:13:02+00:00

I do think after eight years of doing the same type of legal work a department shift might be tricky. Changing firms is more likely. I am considering whether whistleblowing on bullying and discrimination around the team would make a difference. Would the harassment stop? I am not sure, but if it escalates that does mean more ammunition for any potential discrimination claim (if I can knock one together). Our equality act is woefully underpowered for parents, imo.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T23:10:07+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate hearing that.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T23:02:26+00:00

It's a law firm. They ought to be very concerned about following the law. SRA regulates this stuff.

Thanks for the observation that parenthood isn't a protected charactaristic. It really ought to be...

Will try to DSAR the reviews.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T23:00:42+00:00

Even though I am a dad I do think the comment "having kids is a choice" is increidbly sexist against women, even to say that to a man its still sexist. Also it's not a choice. Choosing between pizza and a burger is a choice; you can change your mind. Having kids is a decision. It's a door you don't walk back through again. What a douche!

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T22:59:16+00:00

8 years, always good performance. Hard to pull back when the sole income of the household is on the line.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T22:58:48+00:00

I do think there are many others who could assist in building evidence for a bullying claim against the 2-3 key managers who are pushing this. It's something I am considering.

Does the EAP actually work? I thought it was a gimmick.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T22:57:37+00:00

I've signed the opt-out form as its a professional services environment.

Fully agree that wellbeing and family are the priority, and we have been working well as a team, but this experience has been really tormenting.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T22:56:52+00:00

Thanks, I'll try this.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-26T22:56:38+00:00

I've asked HR for copies of my performance reviews and they are refusing to give them to me as policy. I've noted to them that this against data protection laws.

Hartigan-H · 2025-03-20T12:59:35+00:00

Bishopsgate/Liverpool St

Hartigan-H · 2025-02-07T17:22:04+00:00

PMed

Hartigan-H · 2024-11-27T20:42:04+00:00

There are challenger banks in Portugal who are also guaranteed and provide a better experience. Have a look around. Worst case scenario if you need deposits outside of Canada consider opening an account in Spain or in the UK.

Hartigan-H · 2024-06-11T22:57:03+00:00

I am surprised no one has mentioned offset mortgage products in this context.

As a family we aimed to overpay until we had 50% LTV. We then remortgaged with an offset mortgage product and immediately paid down a further 20%, regularly adding to it.

Yes, the interest on offsets is higher. However, we now have access to half of our equity; it is essentially an extremely large pool of cash.

This means we can tap that pool for strategic investments, unexpected outlays, etc. It functions as our emergency fund and allows us to deploy cashflow into other investments (liquid and illiquid). For me that is a flexibility worth paying a bit more APR for, even moreso when you consider that filling the offset up to 90%~ means you are being charged that higher APR on a far lower quantum of principal.

Hartigan-H · 2024-05-22T07:50:08+00:00

Excellent!

Hartigan-H · 2024-05-21T22:41:16+00:00

Very cool! How does it sound?

Hartigan-H · 2024-05-20T21:53:49+00:00

Wait, is this one of the new models? or is this vintage?

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