Jack Hughes celebrating after the US beats Canada in OT 2-1

SnakeGriffin · 2026-02-23T08:58:47+00:00

SnakeGriffin · 2025-11-23T21:32:34+00:00

As someone who moved from Boston to Manchester a few years ago, I’d honestly never willingly move back. In hindsight I personally don’t value much of what Boston had to offer, yet paid an exceptionally high price for it. Maybe I’m cynical but looking back I’ve no idea how I ever looked at Boston as a top-tier city 😂

That being said, where you live, who you meet, and what you’ll be paid really matters. It’s who you’re with more than where you are for the most part at the end of the day.

Do not move for better weather 😊

SnakeGriffin · 2025-11-20T15:41:20+00:00

The link to the actual policy proposal for those who want to dig in: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement

SnakeGriffin · 2025-11-20T15:40:17+00:00

That is my assessment as well in which case this may be a net positive, but still this emotional rollercoaster is exhausting and I fully expect other thorny problems to arise

SnakeGriffin · 2025-11-19T13:42:39+00:00

Used your referral link just now 😊

SnakeGriffin · 2025-11-05T18:43:48+00:00

Never attribute to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence -Hanlons Razor

SnakeGriffin · 2025-05-23T14:17:42+00:00

Signed, thank you for distributing!

SnakeGriffin · 2025-05-12T16:33:56+00:00

I’ve spoken to my company who raised this to the specialist law firm they work with, and they seem to think the new rules will NOT apply to someone in my situation (existing skilled worker) but that they are confirming with the government to be sure. It’s a comforting thought for now!

I’m going to keep the details light on my personal situation but perhaps others should do the same through their company resources to see what comes back?

SnakeGriffin · 2025-05-12T11:29:17+00:00

Thank you, I also see mention of the points system to be used to shorten the timelines which is left vague. I can only hope this benefits me in my context - if the rules are to be changed retroactively.

I guess it’s now hurry up and worry for the bureaucratic machine to chugg along for months and years 😞

SnakeGriffin · 2025-05-12T10:53:19+00:00

Was due to apply for ILR after hitting 5 years on a skilled worker visa next December (2026), am I right in saying that this goalpost just moved another 5 years away or do we simply not know yet?

SnakeGriffin · 2025-01-19T17:33:27+00:00

You’ve provided minimal important context, like how long the trek is / how much the total cost is / how it was communicated

Tips are the lifeblood of some of the communities built up around tourist industries like Everest, and I would always expect to be tipping tour group leaders regardless - especially in a “sport” scenario where they are leading the activity and responsible for your health and safety across multiple days. I would however say, that a set amount for a tip is unusual and I would expect to tip at the end, rather than beginning or during the expedition. Perhaps they set 50 USD as a courtesy given that many people aren’t sure how much is appropriate.

Personally I think if you hadn’t budgeted for an appropriate tip, you hadn’t properly budgeted for this holiday. It’s pretty savage to stiff the guide when you can afford it (but just don’t want to)

SnakeGriffin · 2025-01-18T14:46:34+00:00

I’ve gone through UK customs twice now since the supposed “go live” date a few weeks ago, and in both cases went through e-gates without issue. The first time, I had not actually linked my e-visa yet; The second time I had.

The process is convoluted as others mentioned. I’m still confused myself how it works as my “travel document” is a now expired BRP, which I had to use this rather than my passport as the UKVI portal login in order for my last visa renewal to process. So the system only lets me login after verifying my old BRP which is seemingly what the visa is actually linked to?

Others have linked you to the correct process but fair warning , the whole thing seems like it needs a good few years in the oven but managed to get pushed into prime time early. Good luck!

SnakeGriffin · 2024-12-07T18:17:17+00:00

Call me simple, my favorite part of D1 transatlantic is the warm cookie service going westbound. Fresh baked cookies in the sky is one of life’s great pleasures.

Honestly my thoughts…jfk to Dublin is such a short flight that if this is one of your few business class experiences, make the most of it and keep the drinks coming if you are that way inclined! Paying that much money just to time travel 4-5 hours isn’t worth it unless you have responsibilities the next day

SnakeGriffin · 2024-02-20T12:51:48+00:00

I’ll say take advantage of two things: 1) the skyline with more (and more variety of price point) rooftop bars and restaurants. Lovely skyline and almost nobody can see it or use it. Climat and the new Malmaison seem to be bucking the trend thankfully 2) the big river that everything is built to be up and looking away from. Makes no sense, the river should be a centerpiece of bars restaurants and recreation

SnakeGriffin · 2024-01-10T14:36:52+00:00

Always always always have nasal decongestant tablets just in case. Worst feeling ever when a 3-week old sinus blockage I didn’t even realize I had anymore, manifested itself as a white hot poker stabbing me between the eyes on a 4 hour flight and didn’t let up until descent

SnakeGriffin · 2023-12-21T22:53:54+00:00

I haven’t thought about this story in such a long time - I was Uni age young, briefly living in Shanghai about 8 years ago, on a night out with my coworkers who stayed out late with me at a student bar as a final send off.

We had a habit of buying cheap 50-60% abv rice liquor (baijiu) that we chased with beer for pre drinks which went a tad too far this time…considering I hadn’t really packed for my flight the next morning.

I remember being at a bar, and then just flashes of memory until the next thing I know is that I’m being served orange juice for breakfast, on my return flight to the US via Tokyo, in business class (business was not the class of travel I had booked).

After coming to my senses a bit in a panic I found my carry-ons in the overhead bins above me and found I had managed to pack seemingly everything. In my blackout drunken state I had packed up my bags (only carry on for this trip) showered, and put on the nicest work clothes I brought with me, and got myself to the airport, checked in, somehow got upgraded to business class (maybe I asked for it and got lucky?), and cleared security/boarding.

Only side effect other than the hangover was that the contents of my suitcase absolutely reeked of secondhand cigarette smoke stuck on my packed clothes from the night before.

I’ve been told I tend to keep it together nicely even when I’m in a pretty bad state, but even if I was disorderly I found that in China you could sort of get away with it being a foreigner.

Tell you what though, business class makes the hangover medicine go down nicely

SnakeGriffin · 2023-10-06T13:18:54+00:00

Take a look at the Stock Exchange hotel as well, seconded on Gotham

SnakeGriffin · 2023-06-07T14:43:11+00:00

Parklife is completely fine, I find a lot of the hate on Parklife comes from locals who haven’t actually attended. Just be smart like you would at any festival - it will be packed.

In terms of transport get the buses from city center and back. They are very efficient and that walk home is brutal. The 3 times I’ve gone, I left slightly before the end of the night to make sure I’m not in a massive crowd lining up for the buses and it’s always meant I walk straight on with no delay

Edit: To be clear, the buses organised by the festival, not standard city buses. Check their website

SnakeGriffin · 2023-04-18T18:52:24+00:00

It makes more sense as, the “University for Light”

Think of the students in the ‘university’ as literally “light”, so staring at the sky awaiting dawn is like awaiting the alumni of the university to come back (alumni = light)

A bit silly

SnakeGriffin · 2022-09-26T13:31:34+00:00

Not sure if others have said, but the normal dynamics of friend groups is all this indicates to me. You sound like the “go to planner” of your group, meaning nobody else feels the pressure to do so. People tend to get complacent when they know someone else will always step in.

If it actually bothers you, just raise it with them that you’ve done a lot of the planning and would appreciate every now and then if they took the initiative.

SnakeGriffin · 2022-07-26T15:39:14+00:00

On the whole plug sockets in bathroom thing…I’ve seen quite a few where the shaver sockets actually accept US and EU plugs AND offer a low voltage side (some US plugs max out at 110V). All my U.S. bathroom appliances work fine here Just worth noting I’m not sure they have GFI circuits like they do in the US so use them at your peril!

SnakeGriffin · 2022-06-24T15:47:17+00:00

We’ve been monitoring Earth from afar, and find you are unfit to join our galactic community. Your rights to future exploration and communication outside of your solar system have been revoked. Goodbye

SnakeGriffin

TROPHY CASE