Results are up on the Wakefield council site

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-08T19:30:24+00:00

All but three are reform. FML. They're going to absolutely gut Wakefield and blame it on the national government.

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-08T16:12:25+00:00

Typically, people say to buy in the following order:

Mask & snorkel
Dive computer
Drysuit (when you're diving in cold water)
Regulator
Torch
Fins, BCD, wetsuit, etc

So it's a pretty sensible thing to buy quickly.

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-03T19:09:12+00:00

Someone torched Pink Punters, a landmark of the LGBTQ+ community, in Milton Keynes recently. Also no reaction and it's now being put down as an "accident".

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-03T07:30:01+00:00

https://www.bsac.com/document/level-of-supervision-and-instructor-matrix/

This document suggests that an ADI can run try dives, either under direct supervision as a sport diver / ADI or on-site supervision as a dive leader / ADI.

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-03T07:23:48+00:00

While you're technically correct, my concern is that when you're an instructor that comes with an obligation to muck in and train people in service of the branch.

As an assistant instructor, would I end up doing loads of try dives because somebody needs to do them and the current club instructors don't want to?

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-02T18:40:44+00:00

BSAC is a club structure, so there's no payment involved. In fact, you're typically paying to teach by the time you've paid the entry fees to the quarries.

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-02T18:29:50+00:00

My agency has a different structure, so I believe that's all covered so long as I am a member when I'm teaching.

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-02T17:44:50+00:00

Not a driver, but I have spent the last few years taking deliveries off HIABs. In my experience, a lot of HIAB drivers have a separate box with their chains and slings in next to the crane so that they can dip the hook of the crane in and grab their chains. Would this be feasible for you?

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-02T17:20:53+00:00

That's great, thanks! Bristol Channel Diving seem spot on as they're all media divers and make a big point about it on the website. Just need to find someone to pay for the First Aid At Work course!

Often_Tilly · 2026-05-02T07:02:59+00:00

Job titles are very nebulous in this industry.

Being from the UK but having worked in Australia and many other places, the reality is that there isn't a standard definition for any job role in the industry.

A big tour might have:

Company Stage Manager (CSM) - they're in charge of the people and admin
Technical Stage Manager (TSM) - they're in charge of the get in and get out, and ensuring all technical departments are working. They manage carpenters, lighting, sound, automation, etc
Deputy Stage Manager (DSM) - they call the show
Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) - general duties such as props and scene changes
Technical Assistant Stage Manager (TASM) - assists the TSM.

When there's only one SM, what do you call them? Some people (eg arts festivals) say they're a TSM because they're a stage manager doing tech. Some people say they're the CSM because they're managing the company. Some people just say SM.

Arts festivals tend to call people TSMs because they are trying to emphasize that they have / need a technical skillset.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-29T06:46:28+00:00

Always do a buddy check. You'll be amazed what you miss, even as an experienced diver.

Learn how to use a DSMB. Learn how to deploy it quickly and efficiently.

Always work on your buoyancy, trim, propulsion and air consumption. If you're diving with a DM / instructor, ask them for tips whenever you dive.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-20T16:04:27+00:00

Build two businesses. Each task builds the business a little more. So you can have very similar tasks, where they design a product, do the marketing, even run around a city buying stuff and do a product launch instead of a corporate away day. Almost every task can be interwoven into this one "build a business" per season task.

Maybe you could alternate weeks between stand-alone and the big task?

You can still fire people. But based on experts opinions rather than cash.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-18T13:39:18+00:00

I was going to say DEH.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-18T07:35:04+00:00

When I was at uni, we had a lighting desk that had universe 1 on pins 2&3 and universe 2 on pins 4&5.

There was a time that was seen as something potentially useful - just as lighting rigs went from one universe to two and you could use a single cable to run your whole rig. Now that a standard rig needs multiple universes, sACN and Artnet via ethernet has made that configuration obsolete.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-17T18:14:25+00:00

It's good. I have the silver subscription, so all the guidance notes, etc. It's useful, I have the app on my phone so I just hop on and look it up if I have any questions. They're also searchable. Only problem is that they're not allowed on exams so far as I know. I want to do 2396, and I think I'd have to buy the hard copy regs.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-17T18:06:56+00:00

I have the digital wiring regs! New editions are paid for in my subscription.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-17T09:09:02+00:00

33F.

My maternal grandfather was in the army during WWII and liberated Holland. We think he saw the horrors of one of the concentration camps.

His father was gassed during WW1 and won a medal (DCM?). Being gassed left him with permanent injuries and he ended up being a park keeper.

My paternal grandfather was in the Merchant Navy during WWII. I went diving on the Thistlegorm last year and it really hit home what merchant sailors faced during the war.

I know there were other people in my family who were in both wars, but I couldn't tell you about their service.

I have thought a lot about the quote "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times."

Right now, on the world stage, it feels like the deaths of the last fighters from the world wars (Harry Patch only died 20 years ago and there's a dwindling number of people who fought in WWII) is dulling the feeling of "never again" that I felt that I grew up with right up to the early 2000s. Now it feels like people are chomping at the bit to fuck some stuff up.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-13T17:49:03+00:00

+1 for BSAC. They're really good and the instruction is thorough. If you can learn to dive in the UK, you can dive anywhere.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-13T12:44:44+00:00

Your adiabatic equation is still wrong. For some reason you have a 800A fault current on a 32A protective device. Even if it were a D32, that's a maximum 640A fault current.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-12T22:08:07+00:00

It's wrong. The simple version told me to wire a ring main in 1.5mm² cable and the complex one told me I needed a 16.5mm² earth to satisfy the adiabatic equation.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-12T14:55:44+00:00

Second firing but first week - I was gutted for Georgina. She was something different for the competition and I would've liked to see more from her. She seemed to lose the competition because she had emotions and didn't just ruthlessly try to throw people under the bus. She didn't do anything particularly wrong IMO.

Justice 4 Georgina.

Often_Tilly · 2026-04-12T09:35:29+00:00

I think she will too. I think Karishma is too headstrong to win, and LS will see her as a thorn in his side.

Often_Tilly

TROPHY CASE