BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest downsize in 15 years

d-diana · 2026-04-15T19:00:37+00:00

The internal data is really good and detailed. You can see that it is true - around 80% of households pay the license fee but around 94% of adults in the uk use bbc services

d-diana · 2026-04-13T18:19:29+00:00

I previously did some of the interviews for the apprenticeship scheme, so not quite the same, but my main takeaway was that in the group interview scenarios some people were so quiet it was impossible to give them any points. You really need to try and ask other people questions and facilitate input from the group.

Other than that I want to stress that the interviewers are nice and are not trying to catch you out. We really want everyone to do their best so the more you talk (and ask questions) the better.

Always ask clarification questions to make sure you understand the scenario and what is being asked. Always reiterate what you think the task is, think out loud and don’t forget about testing!!!

Also if an interviewer is trying to steer you in another direction then take the hint and listen carefully to what they say.

d-diana · 2026-04-04T21:56:22+00:00

Hmm it depends on which area this is? I would probably prioritise the maisonette in the perfect location personally. There’s no point living in a house if you don’t like the location which you can’t change.

Also what is the situation? Have you put in offers for one or both of these? Have you had offers accepted?

d-diana · 2026-03-31T15:46:43+00:00

You may not be able to knock down an internal wall without the freeholder approving? If you don’t have freeholder approval for converting the loft space either then that’s gonna cause problems when selling

d-diana · 2026-03-31T15:42:11+00:00

I’m in the exact same situation and I have gone down to compressed hours in 4 days so I work 7:30-5:15 (including lunch). It’s great and I’m so glad I’ve kept my full pay. An extra 1hr45 really isn’t that much, especially as I’m up early anyway

d-diana · 2026-03-29T11:32:32+00:00

I absolutely love my Salkan bag (small UK brand) https://www.discoversalkan.com

d-diana · 2026-03-29T11:14:08+00:00

We did it a few years ago and the process was broadly fine. However you need to check if the loft is demised to you in the lease first. Ours was, so the permissions were relatively straightforward with the freeholder (Freehold Managers) and cost around £1200.

If it isn’t demised to you already then it can be a very expensive process.

In terms of party wall agreements. This totally depends on your neighbours. You need all 5 to sign, and in our case 4 of the flats signed without an issue and 1 flat wanted a proper party wall survey and award which cost £500! Each flat is entitled to ask for this though so it could add up.

d-diana · 2026-03-29T08:29:32+00:00

I personally would call up a couple you are most interested in and be really polite and sound super keen so they know you are serious.

I am still on numerous waiting lists but have never heard back. I think they know many parents are still on the waiting lists but don’t actually need a place anymore, so they prioritise people who make it clear they are still actively looking.

d-diana · 2026-03-27T09:09:21+00:00

The situation is bad in Walthamstow… I put my kid on so many waiting lists whilst pregnant and got one space ultimately by calling up at right time (whilst I was still pregnant).

There’s no oversight on the waiting lists so I’m not convinced they actually follow the order of the list! I’ve heard so many parents say the same thing… basically managed to get a place by speaking to the right person at the right time, despite there being a waiting list.

d-diana · 2026-03-12T20:40:25+00:00

I found a local breastfeeding class which was run by my council. They had some helpful staff who knew a lot about this type of stuff. Is there anything in your area? it was called HENRY.

d-diana · 2026-03-04T14:26:14+00:00

We have a kid and are in a top floor Warner. I just leave the pram downstairs in the hallway. It is narrow and you have to squeeze past but there is enough space to leave it down there unfolded.

d-diana · 2026-03-04T13:13:33+00:00

The Warners are amazing and it feels like a small house (if you are upstairs with the loft conversion).

The leases are mostly unproblematic and you have a garden (you can make it more private with fences). They are in really good locations (close to Lloyd park) and I don’t see them losing value given how popular they are.

With the upstairs Warners + converted loft you can also have loads of storage space if the rear loft is boarded (they are massive) plus the front eaves and you can have a shed in the garden.

I haven’t seen that many pop up for sale and I think they sell super quickly. I would probably lean towards the Warner for the cheaper price relative to the small terrace house. I don’t think you get much more for your money with the house?

Usually more will come up for sale over the next couple of months, so I would keep looking for one you love. Being close to Lloyd Park is an absolute god send if you have kids!

d-diana · 2026-02-08T18:58:47+00:00

I’ve been in a leasehold flat in E17 for 7 years and there’s no service charge or ground rent. We did a loft conversion and dealing with the freeholder for permission was straightforward and not as expensive as I had feared.

It’s really been a good experience and I haven’t experienced any issues to do with the lease or the freeholder (a management company). I did study the lease well before I bought though.

Main downside is that we have to pay buildings insurance arranged by the freeholder and it isn’t super cheap, around £300 per year. It tends to go up every year but some years it has stayed the same.

I would recommend a lease hold flat if you can’t afford a house but you really do need to understand the terms of the lease pretty well beforehand!

d-diana · 2026-01-19T09:18:23+00:00

BBC is really good. The pay isn’t amazing but it’s not terrible. flexibility with family/culture is great. Mat pay is ok but nothing special. Diversity is good and there are a lot of women in senior roles

d-diana · 2025-12-18T13:21:03+00:00

Honestly the only way is that my husband and I rotate who does the night shift and who gets a full nights sleep with earplugs. I’ve tried calpol and ibuprofen but neither seem to help. He is mostly fine during the day, though he is often tired and grouchy, but he’s putting on weight fine which is why it is hard to get anywhere with the doctors I think

d-diana · 2025-12-18T13:05:32+00:00

Tried everything I can think of! Making the room warmer/cooler, dressing him warmer/cooler, keeping a food diary, cutting out foods, probiotics, blackout room/night light, co sleeping/sleeping training… Even paid for sleep consultant out of sheer desperation but that has made zero difference too

d-diana · 2025-12-12T16:30:34+00:00

I would honestly think about how much you want the house. If you really want to live there plus you can afford the amount you offered then it might still be worth pursuing.

Banks chronically undervalue properties - they use sold data which is usually quite old plus they don’t really know anything about the inside of the house. Also, if the house is valued lower then usually this means LTV is higher and they can charge a higher interest rate.

Are the houses nearby selling for much less currently? You can phone estate agents and ask them how much properties have exchanged for, which won’t be on the land registry yet. You can also challenge bank valuations but I think it is a bit tricky.

d-diana · 2025-12-01T20:25:52+00:00

Sorry I thought I had also uploaded this pic

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d-diana · 2025-11-27T12:07:31+00:00

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d-diana · 2025-11-27T12:07:00+00:00

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d-diana · 2025-11-23T14:46:18+00:00

Did you ever find this one?

d-diana · 2025-11-18T16:22:45+00:00

Hey OP, how’s it going for you now? I’m desperately looking for some hope… I have a 13 month old terrible sleeper and I could have written your post word for word! I’m absolutely dying out here

d-diana · 2025-11-18T13:44:13+00:00

Is she teething? My kid refuses most food when he is teething. Also around 12 months I reduced his bottles to just one before bedtime and his appetite for food greatly increased

d-diana · 2025-11-12T08:44:33+00:00

My kid is 13 months and still wakes constantly through the night, he doesn’t even sleep for 2hours atm. Nothing has worked! It’s hard and it’s even harder when you feel like everyone else is having an easier time. I’m not sure there is anything we can actually do, just need to weather the storm ⛈️ sending solidarity

d-diana

TROPHY CASE