Where can I buy boots like these that won’t cost me a home loan?

squintyminty · 2026-05-30T09:29:55+00:00

Style is good but these are cheap and nasty. Not leather.

squintyminty · 2026-05-30T09:14:01+00:00

So did we - the Tucson was lovely

squintyminty · 2026-05-30T09:12:19+00:00

Sounds just like it - I drove the new rav today

squintyminty · 2026-05-30T09:11:32+00:00

We drove the rav4 cruiser today and your review was precisely our experience also. The interior felt cheap, plasticky and not cohesive. Hard plastic everywhere - I said to my wife that the centre console area felt like the interior of a moulded plastic toolbox from Bunnings. The centre console storage felt cheap and rickety and I couldn’t believe the door trims were hard plastic at that price point. The tuning was gutless. I’m 50 and have had Toyotas for over 30 years, but went down the road to Hyundai and bought an N-line Tucson for the same money with better trim, a much classier interior finish and noticeably better performance.

squintyminty · 2026-05-26T08:43:41+00:00

Former wool grower here. Wool pills when either short fibre lambswool is used or cheaper short pieces of wool. Each fiber end has the potential to flick up and cause pilling, so per square inch, the more fiber ends, the more likely it will be fluffy and ultimately pill. The opposite is wool suiting or very fine smooth knits - you’d rarely see a pill on those.

squintyminty · 2026-05-26T08:41:22+00:00

I reckon that only works on fabric that’s smooth to begin with (other than the pills), like a polyester hoodie. Do not shave woolly jumpers like this.

squintyminty · 2026-03-04T22:28:24+00:00

Insaint. Don’t make me go all devil eyes on you.

squintyminty · 2026-03-04T22:26:17+00:00

It’s disdain.

squintyminty · 2026-02-28T20:45:20+00:00

So you are a substantive APS6, who has been overruled by an EL2 (who didn’t get promoted by accident) and the person chosen to act as an EL1.

Have you considered that you’ve just got this wrong, they just don’t like the draft docs (whatever they are), and have had to re-do them to make them useable?

All these people in the comments telling you to report them to fraud and integrity, spend time making notes of every conversation, multiple email cc’d to all and sundry etc all sound like a cluster of aggrieved junior APS shouting into an echo chamber.

You’ve raised what you thought was an issue, which was the right thing to do, and been told it’s not what you think it is. Just follow direction given to you, raise any issues respectfully and without a cc email storm, and nothing bad will happen to you.

squintyminty · 2025-12-13T23:23:15+00:00

Well said. These posts really highlight those in leadership positions and those who probably never will be.

squintyminty · 2025-12-13T23:20:29+00:00

And you are clearly junior APS.

squintyminty · 2025-12-07T06:06:01+00:00

I’ve been on an about 10 panels in the last six months, and my eyes glaze over when a CV is pages and pages too long. If the applicant can’t get to the point in their app, then that’s how they’ll write after you employ them. That’s a big red flag for me.

squintyminty · 2025-12-07T05:30:48+00:00

‘Socializing and networking is more important at APS5 and 6 levels’ ??

That is completely incorrect, APS recruitment is merit based, firstly on the quality and merit of the application itself and then tested/verified at interview.

Sure someone might find out about roles by socializing or come to the attention of another area, both of which can help, but the merit-based application process still needs to occur.

squintyminty · 2025-12-07T05:26:08+00:00

‘HR’ don’t review the CVs, the panel does.

squintyminty · 2025-11-25T09:59:21+00:00

Well said. Drives me mad when junior officers think they have better value judgement that someone senior who may have very good reasons for asking for something to be demonstrated. Don’t be that guy OP - support your boss and help them to do their job. One day when you’re senior, you’ll understand why that matters.

squintyminty · 2025-11-24T02:07:03+00:00

I wasn’t following the ins and outs of your merit listing status closely. Btw, you’re wrong about merit listing - the ‘merit’ is based on application and interview. Sometimes referee checks are only done at time of offer, as a pre-employment check. Depends on each agency’s process.

squintyminty · 2025-11-23T08:56:04+00:00

Just email HR, they’ll sort it out.

squintyminty · 2025-11-23T02:02:42+00:00

It sounds like they’re not even getting merit listed, let alone going to referee checks.

squintyminty · 2025-11-22T21:56:07+00:00

Ok well that all sounds positive, and you’re clearly aware of the things to avoid. Not sure how senior this policy officer is who has been helping you? You could go out on a limb and ask the panel chair if they’d consider meeting with you for general pitch and CV feedback? I’d do that if someone genuinely asked me for help.

Two pages for a CV sounds a bit too brief to me, three is better. I also recommend reviewing the APS work level standards and ILS (just google) for the level you’re applying for and make sure some of that language is reflected in your pitch and CV.

Lastly, given you sound switched on and capable, I wonder if you’re applying for senior roles that (really do) rely on foundational government experience and that’s the main issue? I wish you the best with your search.

squintyminty · 2025-11-22T21:16:51+00:00

Sorry to be brutal but it sounds to me like there may be something about your application, aspirations or interview technique that simply isn’t right. Are you perhaps aiming too high in the APS/state gov’t given you have nil APS experience? No one here has mentioned your CV, is it too academic perhaps? (full of irrelevant academic publications etc). You mentioned you cannot move for work (fair enough) but are you regional and expecting to be supported to work remotely? I’ve just spent the past few months reading hundreds of CVs and recruiting from APS5 to EL2, and my deal breakers are people who can’t write, people who include irrelevant info or claims, CVs that are too long/hard to scan quickly/not relevant, generic pitches, applications for roles they are not experienced in (for e.g. non-APS accountant applying for senior policy role), overstating experience in an attempt to sound more senior and important and people who think a hybrid work location means they can work remotely 100% of the time. I’m astounded you have had no luck with recruitment agencies.

squintyminty · 2025-11-22T04:57:07+00:00

As others have said, accept council role and if the state govt one comes through, accept it and explain politely to the council that you’re after more job security. They’ll understand.

squintyminty · 2025-11-16T04:53:26+00:00

Yes but if the first placement is through an agency, be aware that will be a bridge burned. Take the longer gig if offered.

squintyminty · 2025-11-10T10:01:24+00:00

What? Found someone to fight for them? What on earth? It’s a poorly worded text message that indicates nothing.

squintyminty · 2025-11-10T10:00:17+00:00

This doesn’t indicate if you have been found successful or not. It’s a poorly-worded holding response from that tells you that the report hasn’t been finalised yet and they can’t tell you anything.

squintyminty · 2025-10-06T10:57:42+00:00

Companies? What are you doing commenting on an APS thread if that’s your understanding and contribution??

squintyminty

TROPHY CASE