Only 2 days left at my current job, then I’m off to work for the Environment Agency. 12 years in retail is TOO long!! Finally using my degree in a job I know I am going to enjoy.

Couple of questions;
1) 12 mile commute for me, overweight and unfit. Any advice? From Marsh in Huddersfield to Elland Road in Leeds
2) I have never worked in an office before. What’s it like?

Don’t commute down the M62/M621 on your bike.

😉

well done robdob!

1) 12 mile commute shouldn’t be too bad, depends how bike friendly the A62 is.
just take it easy and add quite a bit of extra time (maybe an extra 30 minutes). I’m looking at occasional commute across manchester 18 miles, downhill to work and uphill all the way home!

2) they’re concrete or metal boxes with windows. People go there to work together. A bit like a shop, but without customers, having to stand up all day and limited tea breaks.

You’ll be fine, offices are great as long as there aren’t any politics involved and the group of people you are working with are nice.

Enjoy it.

Why not? Google maps say it’s the quickest way. 😉

“wanders off into daydream”

no customers, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm aaaaaahhhhh

😉

What job are you going to be doing in the EA. Iam an EO in Thames region. Sorry to say you havent left customers behind as yet. Hope you have fun in Leeds I trained with a few from there and they were a good laugh.

they’re a different type of ‘customer’ though….

Yeah I’m going to be an EO. I know I’ll still get customers but it’ll be a world away from what I do now. My sis is an EO too in Newcastle.

I have 4 weeks left in my job before “retiring” to look after JnrI. I can’t wait. Already have the child seat on my bike ready to go.

Have you seen that documentary called ‘The Office’?

It’s getting more and more difficult to do work these last days, but I do want to handover my work in a good situation.

Never watched it, no. Don’t really like “cringe” comedy.

someone in the office will irritate the hell out of you.

You’ll be fine.

Just don’t fart too loudly in the first week or two.

There’s a lot more than one person who irritates me here!!

Hmmmm PP, that may be a problem. I already have a guff zone in my current work. It’s not an area of the store we sell much from. Well, not while I’m in anyway. 🙂

I used to be an EO in Thames, back in the day when we were EPO’s and before that waste regulation officers, or pollution officers.

Ah! happy days getting threatend by men in diggers and standing in waders in deisel filled rivers!

You’ll be fine,there will definately be someone in the office that you “would”…so that will pass the time !

being the environment agency i would guess they will expect you to ride to work and provide suitable faclities for this.

you are probably well suited to an eo role there, they offered you the job, so i am sure you will be fine. the hours are probably very flexible so there will be lots of scope for taking the long route home.

have fun.

Yeah, about 12 miles there but the obvious route is the a62 which is a bit crazy. Probably should be plenty of scope for commuting in first 6 months as I will be training. As far as I know there is the bike to work scheme too.

you’ll be fine ont’ pitch pro!

Its common practice in offices to have a photocopy of your arse pinned above your desk. People tend to hide these from new starters so they don’t feel ill-at-ease, so best thing to do when you get there is to photocopy your own arse and pin it up where everyone can see, and you will fit in very quickly.

They will need a very large format photocopier in that case!!!!

Last day today!!
Woo hoo!!!!
😀

Are you straight to Boot Camp next week?

No, week after that. What’s it like? My sister said they have changed it recently, new venue or something. Wonder if I get free food? 😉

take some decent coffee with you and some posh biscuits, that’ll make everyone love you. 12 mile commute will hurt like hell for a week. then youwont notice it. then you’ll notice when you ride for pleasure you’re suddenly loads fitter than your friends. All is good, enjoy your new job!

Boot Camp rocks, free food but it is not great. Your trainers will be Glaz and Bernard and a n other. Take your swimming gear as there is a good pool. The Firemen are pretty cool but the Cops on riot training are just d*cks. You will be group 30 something I should think. Enjoy.

Hmmm. Won’t bother with swimming gear as I can’t swim. I’ll just have to sit around instead. 🙂

They will stick you in a life jacket and you will be in the pool, you have to do it.

Eh? Why? They never said swimming was a part of getting the job. What on earth is jumping in a swimming pool got to do with being an EO?

Health and Safety for working near water, dont worry one of the guys who trained with us couldnt swim and he did it. You go in, the jacket inflates and you float easy peasy.

I’m going to look great doing that. I am well scared of deep water, for obvious reasons. Oh well, it’ll be fun. Hopefully. 🙂 Maybe they will introduce a MTB skill section where you have to ride a bike down exciting rocky paths to get to a chemical spill. On an EA provided downhill bike, of course.
I can dream….. 🙂

I think they might be winding you up about the swimming thing.

(Me = Safety Rep for large quarrying company….Plenty water round here!)

🙂