New Job

[Doggy]

That's enough, Welton. BACK TO WORK!

I know what you mean tho......

[Welly]

Thanks* Doggy.

Speaking of jobs; years ago I used to sell loose onions until I got the sack, I worked as a Pantomime Horse but quit while I was ahead, I used to repair Typewriters; I hated the job but met lots of Characters, I sold Trampolines on and off, I used to be a Plastic Surgeon which raised a few eye brows, I was a Trapeze Artist but was let go and I used to install Mirrors which was always something I could see myself doing.

[annie]

so so so cheesy....lol

[waue1978]

Pick up the keys to the house sometime before 4:30pm Tues (as specific as they could be) so going to move as many of the boxes after work during the week as we can & have a big blitz with the furniture on Sat & Sun with a 7.5t truck.

On the job side of things, it got a little hazy over the past couple of weeks. Put my resignation letter in 2 weeks ago giving a finish date of 31st July (Co-op do their inductions at the start of each month so had to start on 3rd August). Less than a week later my manager called me in to say that they wanted to offer me a driving job (although they may look to me for assistance in the office in times of need). Got it in writing earlier this week & I've accepted the offer.

Sounds ridiculous, but once the 48hr contracted hours & premiums for weekend & pre-6am starts are taken into consideration I'll end up with an extra £4k a year for this "backwards step". I can also stick to rigids until I feel comfortable enough to make the step up to artics (was going to be straight out in artics once my induction was finished with Co-op). I also keep my 14 years of service, shares & don't have to mess around with my pension.

The other not-so-obvious benefit is that I'll be staying at a place where my skills would obviously have been missed (otherwise they would have just let me go) & it's so nice to feel wanted. That's something that's hard to find in any workplace.

[GingerMagic]

Hi Stu, congratulations on the house..

Job wise, I think staying put and doing what you prefer for an extra 4K a year is a good choice, if you move to the CO-OP then you would have to learn a whole new set of rules/regimes/idiots....

How does the missus feel about the different hours?

[Doggy]

Nicely done Stu, both on the house and the job.

[waue1978]

Hi Stu, congratulations on the house..

Job wise, I think staying put and doing what you prefer for an extra 4K a year is a good choice, if you move to the CO-OP then you would have to learn a whole new set of rules/regimes/idiots....

How does the missus feel about the different hours?

The move to the Co-op was only £400 a year more than what I'll be getting driving where I am anyway, but also had to jump straight into artics on store deliveries. She's fine with the different hours as it's actually less disruptive than the Co-op would have been with the 1pm-4pm starts. This way I may not be home to pick Jack up from school (which we already had covered ready for Co-op), but I'm 95% certain to be home to keep an eye on both boys while she does her 5pm-7pm cleaning job (which was something we were very nervous about as the 15 year old isn't ready to look after a 7 year old yet).

[waue1978]

Well, 4 weeks in & all seems to be ok so far. Had a very shaky 1st day where I wrote off a poor woman's 407 while trying to get across a roundabout that I was unfamiliar with & was also under roadworks, but all been ok since.

Days are longer now - usually finishing at 3pm after a 4am start now, but the bank account should certainly be healthier for it. 4 weekly take-home pay was over £200 more than my last 4 weekly wage as a manager & that was with my wages being £200 short on what it should have been!

Wife has now decided to quit her day job & look for another cleaning job to go with the afternoon one that she has. When we worked it out, her overall income will reduce by £10 a week, but that is made up for in the fact that she won't be spending it through the week - in her job as a support worker she was constantly having to buy cups of coffee when they visited cafes, drinks for clients that didn't have enough money & there was always a collection going for somebody's Aunty's birthday or similar.

Had a look recently to see what cheap motors (estates) were about, just in case the Zafira bit the dust in the next few months & it appears that cheap good condition cars aren't around anymore. Not many 406s left (would love to know what state my old one is in now) & thought I may be in with a shout of a new shape Zafira for less than £3k, but they're all either low spec or high mileage. It looks like my best bet is to make sure my Zafira lasts for a good while as if it bit the dust tomorrow, I'd still be looking at paying the same as I did for mine to get another old shape one (must have been a bargain considering I've had it 2.5years now).

[Welly]

Sorry but I had to chuckle:

...1st day where I wrote off a poor woman's 407...

And then you calmly go on to talk about the rest of it

Sounds like you're getting on ok and you have a sensible approach to working and finances which is always nice to hear. I know what you mean about the lack of decent cheap motors, I've been having a half-arsed squint around at replacing our old Disastra and there's slim pickings out there. I wonder if people have been hanging on to decent motors through the recession and have been spending regularly on them to keep them reliable.

[Doggy]

I noticed that too, but I've seen Stu's driving and he's a lot more careful than me.

[waue1978]

It was a weird combination of events that led to the 407 incident really. As it was my 1st official day driving (although I'd been out on deliveries when we were short) I was out with the driver-trainer. I had a heavy day (5 drops in Wales & Glos), wasn't familiar with the area & leading up to the roundabout there were signs telling me to get into a different lane for where I was going (which it turned out everybody ignores). I just got totally flustered & pulled out with the traffic that was alongside me, but for obvious reasons, I wasn't as quick as they were & ended up hitting the 407 which was coming round the roundabout. It's made me extra careful on roundabouts now though!

[GingerMagic]

Could be worse - on my first day driving at my new depot I had a suicide attempt / jumper ( a patient from the local mental hospital on day release ) and I drove over him, well I sort of stopped on top of his arm and dragged him down the road, he is now a one armed bandit. Then a week later I dropped a pallet of paint from a great height, 32 tubs at 15ltrs each, which was an environmental* issue and a £6,500 clean up bill...

I'm still there though

It seems things are working in your favour at the moment the Stu, apart from still driving a Vauxhall..

[waue1978]

Nowt wrong with a Vauxhall when its as reliable & economical as mine is. Much as I liked my 406, it used to cost me a bomb in maintenance as there was always something at MOT time.
Meanwhile I have 2 friends with VWs. The 99 Golf has had a full top end rebuild after a cambelt slip & the 07 Passat has needed a new turbo & may now need a steering column.
If only everything in life was as reliable as... a Vauxhall!

[Welly]

I have to say our 2003 Astra 1.8 Pez has been very trouble-free in the 8 years we've had it and it's NEVER failed an MOT.

Just thinking what its needed (from 60K miles to 100K miles):

Eggsauce front section.
Eggsauce fannimold gasket.
Thermostat.
A/C compy 'clutch'.
2 x drop links.

That's it really and it always starts, stops and still handles tidily and never leaks fluids or rainwater. Biggest issue now is we're thoroughly bored with it

[Doggy]

.....Biggest issue now is we're thoroughly bored with it

Now, you're not trying to tell me that took 8 years are you?