Redundant...

And so the job bonuses were cut, then the work began to drop off and last month I was given a 30 day consultation period with the risk of redundancy. If no new contracts came in then I was for the chop right about now. But hold on to your beanies, a new contract has come in right at the bells!! 2 months worth of night-shift in Dundee. At least that'll take us over the Christmas hurdle and the hope is that while we're doing this, some more work may appear. Eyes and fingers crossed.

I'd like to post another text I wrote on the fated work trip up north from May last year. I suppose the writing had been on the wall for years, but it has only been recently that I'm of a stable enough state to analyse any of it. Probably due to the fact Errol's local pub 'The Old Smiddy' has been closed for about a month now and I keep getting these unusual moments of clarity!!

Anyway, here is what I wrote the following night, 18 May 2010:

May 18 2010

The Cromarty Firth was like a sheet of glass this morning as I drove across it on the way to Tain in the Sun. It hit 20 deg C by mid day by which point I was in Invergordon where White and Mckay is made. What a difference a full breakfast makes to your day. Instead of worrying my way to work I could enjoy every bit of scenery and road ahead of me and bounced from site to site with ease. Tain to Invergordon to Muir of Ord to Beauly. The weather helped admittedly, although I’ve yet to experience weather that could get me down. The more extreme, the more I love it.

I got a call yesterday from the office to say that all evening meals on stays over are to be paid by engineers at the time and claimed back. I was already away before I got the call and although he apologised to say I should have been told earlier, I am still at a loss as to how the company expects anyone to work away. A measly £7.50 per night for evening meals is allowed for. The cheapest meal I could get here was £10.95 without a drink. What a fucking joke. So with lunch as well I could easily spend £60 for the 3 nights away and be out of pocket for a month and then get  £22.50 back – Fucking hell. Sadly, I won’t be doing it again. I won’t work away at cost to myself – fuck that. So tonight I ate within my budget: Butteries with ham (x2), one Pepperami and one Pot Noodle (Donner Kebab flavour). Now I know it’s not healthy but it can all be eaten in a hotel room with no cooking. Talking of hotel rooms. You know the bathroom is tight when the bog roll holder is nailed to the end of the bath!

Nicola told me she got Wayne to paint all the fences and shed in the garden. Can’t wait to see it. At the weekend  I put up a new security light on the back wall looking into the garden and 4 solar lamps around the grass perimeter. Looks nice at night, bit more atmosphere.

Nicola is also anxious we get our graphic design business going. We’ve both worked in that field since we left college and when we got our new Mac we were going to start a part time business. Done nothing for it yet except go through the motions at the Business Gateway for 2 nights months ago. Tonnes of stuff to read from them but we should just advertise and do it!

Just saw images of Dave Cameron talking for first time in House of Commons with Nick Clegg sitting awkwardly behind him. I don’t know who looked more embarrassed, but they both were. They knew the day would be upon them when they had to face their peers. All their talk of a ‘brave new way to do politics’ made good sound bites but in the cold hard fluorescent light of day, they looked somewhat sheepish, although it was a bit early for any ‘Baaahhh’s’ from the lads. We’ll see.

11:00pm “Hi Steve, Caitlin and Jade have decided to pitch the tent in the garden…..do you know where the tent pegs are?….they can’t find the pegs…”