It’s been quite a year so far, and yes compared to world events I’ve nothing to moan about, but that doesn’t stop events from taking up time and energy.
I’ve got a new job, not entirely by choice, My lift engineering gig has been put out to contract and I didn’t want to be TUPED over to the new firm. Thanks to the Union (UNITE) and support from my workmates, I have got a new position in a different department.
Only problem is, I am having to retrain as an electrician…! I am now a 50-year-old apprentice!
Jan 4th and I got knocked off my scooter leaving me without personal transport for 3 months, having to use the bus was a massive pain. 15-minute trips taking over an hour due to Cambridge traffic.
Add to that by the middle of Feb even the adults weren’t wearing masks, (the 6th formers never did) and my anxiety levels were through the roof. ( I’m not bothered one way or the other about masks I just can’t stand being the odd man out, and that conflicts with my terror of breaking rules).
Good job Big Vern could give me lifts home!
The last week at my old job was unpleasant, to say the least, The management who had spent the previous 6th months telling everyone I was unqualified for my job, (they didn’t check my qualifications, in fact, I have more than enough), along with other inaccuracies, didn’t even have the good grace to be glad that I and my fellow lifties, were finally out of their hair being all square peggie and not fitting in nice round easy to contract out holes…
on the other hand, the rest of the maintenance team were great and made the last few days bearable.
The new job is going to be a challenge, Me and Vern are starting new careers, in a new building with new people. (Verns doing plumbing). Starting at the bottom means fitting around new coworkers and the Union stuff is getting more difficult to keep track of, everything needs so much more arranging.
I wanted to try my hand at being a learning rep, but I don’t know how I will fit it in with having to go to school full time in September to retrain. Ironically flexible working is less flexible than you would think as you have to keep dancing around everyone else to keep numbers up…I would prefer to start at time A and go home at time B. have lunch at 1, and that’s that. all this vagueness is not for me and I keep not using all my flextime.
I’ve started to lose track of Zoom meetings as I no longer have my big year planner and whiteboard set up. and some of my zooms have turned out to be in-person things that I have been in the wrong place for.
I’m not sure how I feel about real meetings, I can just about cope with going to London with Vern, (although I don’t enjoy it as much as he thinks I do) but one of the committees I am on has meetings in various places like Newcastle and even Belfast. I really want to do more with the union, One of the reasons I fought TUPE so hard was to keep up my union duties, but now the thought of having to deal with people is worrying me sick.
I’ve noticed the OCD creeping back recently, hopefully, I can squash it now I have spotted the little bastard.
I got the scooter back, from the insurance people, found the lights didn’t work, Haywards https://www.haywards.co.uk/
were great and got me back on the road, is a Royal Enfield on the horizon, it would have to be the Himalayan as I need the luggage space, shame as I really like the Interceptor.
I’d quite like an old Harley Sportster to tool about on, we shall have to see, last week I fancied the Honda Forza
I miss my old Guzzi
Peeking Over The Parapet... 