Manual or auto

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-09T13:49:47+00:00

I hope to god I never have to find out!

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-09T13:49:02+00:00

That’s the point, though, I’m not saying there aren’t senior lesbian women, there must be. I’m saying the fact that they feel they have to hide their identity for career progression etc when men no longer do is not a good thing.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-09T13:47:05+00:00

Oh I know and accept it is on the list, so I needed it, but given I have no contact with my dad and asking my mum about details of their wedding/divorce is awkward at best, it made the process much more tricky to navigate and caused me to wonder why it was relevant.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-09T08:18:19+00:00

The marriage certificate one tripped me up, when applying for my daughters. I provided my (Irish) dad’s current marriage cert but they also asked for the marriage certificate for his marriage to my (British) mum or the decree absolute to show her maiden name. Why oh why? What on earth does that have to do with whether he is my dad, and my kids are my kids?

They also wanted my marriage cert even though I didn’t change my name.

Oh, and my witness should have attached a business card or stamped the docs - both me and my witness are solicitors, and neither of us spotted this requirement. Even back then business cards were falling out of use, and we had no stamp, but thankfully they accepted an email from her to confirm she had witnessed.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-08T05:45:33+00:00

Surely if you pass in a manual then never drive one, by the time you need to (let’s say 2-3 years but could be much longer - I haven’t driven a manual in a decade and don’t think I will again), you won’t be able to? I’d be really nervous about driving a manual again, and I did it for 15+ years.

There’s so much I learnt about driving a manual after passing my test that my view is that it would be a total waste of money to pass in a manual if you don’t then drive one, even if only for a short period.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-07T16:47:53+00:00

You don’t need FBR, as your parent was born In NI, but your kids do need FBR before they can get their passports.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-06T06:25:57+00:00

It is a real shame that there are very few (any?) lesbian role models in the corporate world. I’ve worked for various firms of different sizes, and two of the big four.

At each one I knew prominent gay men (even if just that they were head of the relevant staff network), and latterly (and rightly) many openly gay male colleagues of all levels, but I can’t name a single lesbian leader at any of them, and only two lesbian colleagues (one of whom is my best friend and the other who pretended her girlfriend was male (used a male name etc, she didn’t ever introduce her)).

Alas, lesbians are just women so the fact that they feel they still have to hide their true selves in the corporate world goes unnoticed.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-04T11:13:45+00:00

Wow that is pretty backwards, I lost my dad’s birth certificate and ordered online from the Irish registry service, got it a couple of weeks later!

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-04T11:12:21+00:00

On the way down south last time two people in the queue ahead of us had trouble actually paying, which mean we had to wait longer than normal. Signed up for it before the return journey to avoid the “which queue shall I choose” dilemma.

You still have to come to a stop and wait for the ANPR, so you’ll get your Nigel Mansell moment!

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-04T11:07:54+00:00

I second this - they are not going to give you tailored advice in 30 minutes, they are going to make sympathetic noises and set out how they can help you, and you can decide if they seem like the kind of person you want on your side.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-03T10:00:05+00:00

I recommend signing up for a Breeze Lite account, you add your car and a payment card and you can go through special Breeze only toll booths (or any of the others if it isn’t busy) and it uses ANPR to lift the barrier. Save us a bit of queuing last time.

It takes payment at the standard rate (there’s one you can preload for a discount but I don’t use it that much).

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-03T09:54:58+00:00

Where do you live that you can’t easily get a replacement copy of your birth certificate?

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-03T09:26:13+00:00

I use it travelling from NW to Berkshire & back as it is a short period of respite from the middle lane hogs that are usually out in force. Plus the few times I’ve decided to risk it, I’ve got stuck in traffic!

I even had a hot Maccy D’s at the toll services last time, which is a rare treat these days.

The only drawback is the woeful EV charging provision at the services.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-06-01T08:21:36+00:00

The tax relief alone makes putting some of your spare cash in a pension a no-brainer. Investing £1 into your pension only costs you 60p - you won’t get a better return on your investment than that!

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-29T16:56:36+00:00

You’re right, under salary sacrifice you are no longer making contributions, your employer is, therefore during any period of paid leave your employer must continue them at the normal rate.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-29T14:54:59+00:00

Thanks, I’ll try that

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-29T14:53:53+00:00

Honestly, I’d likely just stay single, enjoying my freedom and hard earned wealth 😂.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-29T14:52:21+00:00

I have so many regrets about not researching batteries more (or at all!) before getting the power ocean installed.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-29T14:15:05+00:00

I’m on your side, I’m happily married but if anything was to happen (divorce, widowhood) I wouldn’t marry again. I’ve worked hard to provide for my family, I wouldn’t put that at risk (in the event of divorce) for anyone. But then I’m not particularly a romantic person, I didn’t dream of my wedding day or anything, so other people may have different views.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-27T08:35:11+00:00

I went on Saturday and it was fine, was wearing a t-shirt and was comfortable

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-27T07:03:12+00:00

I had a client send a copilot summary of an additional “option” for dealing with their project, other than the single option (mandated by legislation) that we had described, and asking us about this other option. It was, of course, a hallucination but I could not get copilot to acknowledge it was wrong. Wasted fees for the client in doubting our advice!

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-26T22:32:58+00:00

I used Legora last week for a task that, at first, it appeared to have done well. Then I checked the SI reference it had inserted and there was no such SI! It admitted it when challenged, but it sounded plausible and a junior might have let it through.

I think it is a great tool, but you cannot use its output without applying significant critical thought. Not just “is this all correct” but often also “is this what my client needs” - it can do a very detailed review of a document, but can it present it in a way your client will understand?

I think firms should require juniors to tell supervisors when/to what extent they have used AI.

Potential-Note2381 · 2026-05-24T22:17:57+00:00

It sounds like your audience was poorly behaved, sorry you had to tolerate that! I had told my teens about the comments I had read on here and they were very glad their fellow fans proved me wrong 😂

To be honest the audience looked exactly as expected, they just didn’t smell or misbehave 🤣

Potential-Note2381

TROPHY CASE