The last 12 months

[Jeff Robinson]

We launched our little gaffer on 7 March last year and about 2 months later, started the rebuilding of our house. The exterior was plastered, we painted all woodwork, walls and ceilings, installed a new kitchen and various new windows, rebuilt 2 bathrooms including furniture, built a deck, laid terracotta tiles on the front porch, replaced the broken concrete driveway, and established gardens front and rear. This was all weekend work, but unfortunately, relationships were deteriorating at work. My employment was terminated (one weeks notice) as at 31 December. This gave me time to finish the house off, working full time, and of course we did all this work to sell (and sail). The auction date is 14 March.

We will sell the little gaffer also, and let our plans for sailing the Oz coast and Europe mature a bit and take shape. Lelia will work for another year or two. I turned 53 2 weeks ago. Right now I am sitting gazing out the double doors across the new deck to our sun-lit and colourful garden. I don't get to this forum as much as I used to, and most of my photographs of the gaffer and other things were lost when I lost my job.

I just can't decide whether this has been a good year or a bad. What do you think?

JR

[John B]

Sorry to hear about the job, Jeff. I suppose that if it got so bad that you couldn't even clear your personal stuff out ,then it can't have been much fun being there. So in that respect its good.
Puts the Nereia on hold though ,doesn't it.

good luck and good management for the future anyway.

[Lion]

Jeez Jeff, thats really tough.

I hesitate to offer words of wisdom but contact me direct if you like as I can share some similar experiences. You are clearly too young to retire and, dare I say it, don't sell the (Golant?) gaffer just yet. You won't get 'value' and you need a bit of time to sort things out.

Drop me a line.

Lion

[Chris.]

Mate,
this is really bad news and saddens me greatly despite the fact that I have never even replied to one of your posts let alone met you. I feel your grief, confusion and anger. Something you worked hard for is being taken away from you without your permission. Nearly the same thing happened to me a few years ago, but I have survived and even prospered.
An age of 53 is not a disadvantage these days, work can and will be found. Or, like me, you will use this event to really make a change to your life. And I am not talking religion here.
Very happy to talk through my experinces if you want, just drop me a PM.
Best of luck,
Chris.

[Ed Harrow]

Jeff, sounds like we're kindrid spirits... I've a couple years on you, when I, too, got walked to the door. I was certain it was coming (after being at the place 18 years I could read the tea leaves) but was quite surprised to get whacked just before christmas (no notice). Unlike you, I'd removed all my stuff (except for work reference material) before hand, so I didn't loose my photos, etc.

Is it good or bad? Tougher question. As I was escorted out the door I yelled out "FREE AT LAST, free at last, THANK GOD!!! I'm free at last!" (I'm not certain what my escort thought of that ;)

The downside for me is that I'm damn busy, and I'm making some money and having fun (Like Brad used to say, "Do what you love anda the money will follow." Several of my robotics gigs have had turn-away registrations. I'm also taking a course that demands lots of my time. What's the downside of the downside? Not enough time for SWMTMH, Finbar, and Phoenix (tho I did get help and turned the keel over yesterday).

Most important advice I can give, Keep the sunny side up! Like Brian sang, "Always look at the bright side of life."

[ 03-02-2004, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: Ed Harrow ]

[cs]

Sorry to hear about the job and I can't offer much in the way of advice, except for the old saying that when God closes the door he opens a window. So I guess its time to look and see where the breeze is coming from.

Lots-a-luck.

Chad