Posted: Fri 23 August, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Business, Change, Charm School, Cynicism, People, Work-related |
In a small dose of retribution, coupled with a bloody huge dose of schadenfreude, today I’m working back at my ex-employers. They’ve had some problems, and there’s no-one there who can fix them, so I’m going in to get it done.
Needless to say, having been told that they didn’t need my skills any more, this is all very funny. It also massively illustrates to everyone else in the office what a complete bunch of twunts the company (or at least the people driving the company) truly are.
This has all made me very happy, and very amused.
Posted: Thu 22 August, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Business, Domestic, Driving, Finances, Getting Organised, Work-related |
With the new contract starting on Tuesday, and knowing I’m going to be doing about 50% more driving than I have up ’til now on the Saab, I’ve spent some time this week getting things organised, catching up on stuff I should’ve done a while back.
I’ve already written about getting the replacement windscreen, and today I’m getting it serviced, making sure everything’s OK for the increased commute and so on. I’m vaguely optimistic that I won’t need much doing on it – I know it needs a complete oil change and so on, but that’s part of the service cost. I’ll update later when I know the full story…
[Updated : Complete oil change, as expected. Replacement front and rear brakes (pads and discs), as not expected, but all fine]
As well as that, this week has involved
- That interview
- Talking to bank about changing bank account (Doing that this afternoon)
- Sorting out finances, bills, umbrella companies and payment structures
- Taking on another couple of bits of work
- Starting up a Cash ISA, with the aim of starting to build up finances again. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even become a fiscal grown-up. (Don’t hold your breath on that one though)
Really it’s all been about getting myself organised, I know I’m going to be busy for the next six months, and I just want to have everything in place for starting on Tuesday. And yes, I know I’m a real saddo for doing so. I don’t care.
Posted: Thu 15 August, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: 2012/13, Business, Domestic, Getting Old(er), Work-related |
It’s now been confirmed that I’m gainfully employed in a long-term contract from Tuesday 27th August. It’s a six-monther, based in Cambridge, and stands to pay me more than a year with my previous employer – and that’s before taking into consideration the expenses thing and so on.
Going through this whole process again has been really good for me, as it turns out. I was beginning to wonder whether I was still in the right place/industry, and while those doubts still remain to a degree, at least my own personal confidence has been somewhat restored.
All told, the events for this last month have been :
- 17th July : Made redundant
- 19th July : Last day of employment
- 22-29th July : Week off, no CVs sent out etc.
- 29th July – 4th August : Send out some CVs, talk to some agencies
- 5th August – Phone Interview with Company X
- 7th August – Interview with Company Y, with immediate job offer and immediate start for a short-term contract
- 12th August – Interview with Company X.
- 13th August – Phone Interview with Company Z. Job offer from Company X. Interview offer from Company Z
So – two face-to-face interviews, both of which have led to work. One further phone interview, leading to face-to-face interview.
It took me three weeks (including a week off) from notice of redundancy to getting work. I could’ve done it quicker, most likely, but I took it slow and was wanting something that I wanted to do, rather than just whatever comes next.
All told, I’m really quite chuffed with that.
Posted: Sat 8 June, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Business, Domestic, Insomnia, Travel, Work-related |
Yet again, it’s been a long old week. I’m not complaining, because it’s also been a good week, but man alive, I’m shattered right now.
The week started normally, allbeit with some very bad nights’ sleep. It then involved (another) trip up to Manchester to visit one of the partner companies, and get a load of stuff done. I went up there on Wednesday evening, ready for two full days in the office.
Thursday night I went out with colleagues from the office, ended up getting back to the hotel by about 1.30am, and eventually to bed about an hour after that, and up at 6am. That was followed by another full working day, and then visiting an old friend (a long-term friend, rather than an old one per se) which was great, but again meant not actually crashing out ’til 2ish. I slept insanely badly, went downstairs at 5ish. read until 6, then slept on the sofa for another hour and a half or so.
Today I’ve driven home, and got back about 4pm.
I don’t know why I’m sleeping so badly in general – I’m no more stressed than usual, there’s no real reason for it, it’s just one of those “wonderful” periods of insomnia that hit me every so often. But right now, as a friend used to say, “In every single plane of existence right now, I’m knackered”.
Posted: Tue 8 January, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Business, Domestic, Own Business, Travel, Web Development, Work-related |
Usually around this time, I’d be looking at hitting the Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, which kicks off at the start of February.
I’ve gone a few times over the years, usually building up some contacts for building websites etc. Sometimes I made use of them afterwards, most of the time I didn’t. (to be honest) It’s always an interesting trip, what with one thing and another.
This year, I’m not planning to go. Partly it’s on a week that is already madly busy, but also I’ve got enough on my plate for the moment without adding to it.
2014 may be a different matter, but 2013 is one where I definitely won’t be going.
Posted: Sun 14 October, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: 1BEM, Advertising, Business, Commuting, Cynicism, Driving, Thoughts |
Travelling on the M1 today, I saw a truck for a company called “Fly By Nite” (a courier company)
Now in my mind, “Fly by Night” (regardless of the spelling) is synonymous with something really dodgy – usually smuggling, and the like.
So it seems like an odd choice for a name, but maybe I’m wrong.
Would you use a company where the name was (in your perception) dodgy?
Posted: Mon 28 May, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: 1BEM, Advertising, Business, Customer Services, Cynicism, Thoughts, Weirdness |
Over the weekend, I was in Sainsbury’s, and saw a fine example of weird savings…
I’m sure I’ve waffed on about this before, but I can’t be chuffed to double-check. (Turns out, July 2009) Anyway, it’s hardly news.
In this case, a 4-pack of 2L Diet Coke bottles is retailing at £6.50. (And let’s not get onto the price-increase side of things – It’s not long ago that that 4-pack was £5) As a 2L bottle on its own is around the £2 mark – I think it was £1.98, but who’s counting? – then £6.50 for four isn’t a bad deal.
Except – except! – that if you pay a bit more attention, they’re also doing “3 for the price of two” on the individual 2L bottles.
So you can get six bottles for £8 ( or £1.33 a bottle) , instead of four for £6.50 ( £1.62 per bottle )
Supermarkets are very strange places when it comes to saving money…