(I don't normally finish work until 4:10.)
No wonder you think I'm insane for contemplating a lengthy commute.
OK, so if you're on the train, you'll probably be heading out from Piccadilly. Although, TBH, there isn't much in it when getting to Victoria of Piccadilly when in the city centre.
If you're in Salford, will you be near the tram? If so, that's as good a way as any to get into Manchester. Depends, then, whether you want a pint in an identkit bar, or somewhere more original? Latter suits me best.
If you are on the tram, how about you get off at GMEX (might now be renamed Manchester Central), and I can provide directions to the Briton's Protection, where you can make a head start on the whisky (they have a couple of hundred malts)?
If you are on the tram, how about you get off at GMEX (might now be renamed Manchester Central), and I can provide directions to the Briton's Protection, where you can make a head start on the whisky (they have a couple of hundred malts)?
I was going to suggest just wandering down Bridge St and heading to the Chophouse - great beers and the food is not bad at all. However the Briton's Protection is a fine Boozer 🙂
As there's plenty of time, I'll probably walk into the centre. Train is from Picadilly - will get an open return so no set time, but don't want to be too late home.
i'm tempted to show up for this (although obviously i can't eat stuff pretty much anywhere and i'll be drinking softie's beer!)... earliest i could get into manchester after work would be 5.30 though, probably...
As there's plenty of time, I'll probably walk into the centre.
You do know Salford is aka The Wild West. 🙂 What you need, Mr McT, is a folding bicycle. Although that wouldn't be allowed in the Sandbar, unless it's fixed with dayglo pink rims 😉
NBT/XHX - we can go wherever suits, assuming that XHX won't come out in a rash if in the presence of meat pies and ale..! 🙂
you could always invest in a new business, work from home, no salary but peace of mind and nice luxury sock 😉
iDave - that does require having money to invest. Not something I have yet managed to amass.
I think you would grow tired of the commute vey quickly. If you and the Mrs are looking to have kids, will she want to continue to pursue her career anyway ?
Tijuana. Are you a Welfare Rights Officer for the Taliban?
No, just a realist, not many jobs are very fulfilling and I see too many people working mental hours and losing out on life
Life is just a one off show, no dress rehearsal, so make the most of it
Gave up the pursuit of fame and fortune many years ago, small house, ten year old motor, but loved every minute watching my nipper grow up
My missus felt the same, packed up work to see the kid through childhood and never regretted a minute of it
I'm fifty one at the end of the month, but can now retire at 60 or before with no mortgage and the chance health permitting to have some more good times
Careers and so called success ain't everything if life is crap and you are unhappy
Hope the OP gets what he wants without missing out too much on the good stuff
So Tom, I don't think that commute is a great idea and if you do move down to Cambridge come and have a pint.
Nice place to raise a family, sorry I was a bit harsh sounding, but not always best to just sympathise
Have a good weekend all
assuming that XHX won't come out in a rash if in the presence of meat pies and ale..!
only time will tell mate!
no really, as long as there's no stupid dress code, i'm happy to go anywhere really.
Ahhh, just spotted it's a wendesday. That's Pub Quiz night, I'm not entirely sure I'll be allowed a pass out 🙂
my 1st 'real' job was in darlington and I lived in newcastle....80 mile round trip. it was a nightmare, made me change careers. That was 10 years ago and the most i've ever commuted since then is 4 miles (the republic of chorlton into manc) I don't think I could put money on what that is worth to me.
As for Manc to Brum....we put a system into the RAC and spent a load of time at that building on the M6 (Bescot). I was there one and off for the best part of a year...the best I ever did it in was just under an hour and that was late one evening, you are looking at 2 hours of the most tedious and frustrating driving known to man.
either stay down there during the week or suck it up and stay where you are for now.
just for the record....my commute now consists of a park, a small bridge and 2 sets of traffic lighs. nightmare I think you'll agree 🙂
i am currently doing Cheltenham to Chester go up monday return friday, the idea of doing that section of the M6 everyday would be my idea of Hell, I have done the journey in 2.5hrs, but more normal is 4! particularly as most of the M6 is on 50 mph speed limits.
Have taken to coming down the through Oswestry as it is quicker, but not if you follow the sat nav and come through Hereford?
When you say birmingham which bit, north would be bad enough, but south and having to get past the m6/m5 junction, don't bother.
Sod that for a commute. wouldnt do that for any job.
And one other thing no one else has mentioned, the air quality round the Midlands and Brum in particular is shite!
I agree with the comments or work to live etc and you may have invested heavily in your studies etc etc to get your qualifications but at the end of the day dont become 'institutionalised' to your job. Try something completely different for a while, something that allows you to stay in your nice house, still retain your current social life but also allows you to relax and enjoy work and that covers the bills and some little luxuries. Once you have decided that law stuff is what you miss then go back to it. All this financial mess will be behind us by then.
Some interesting perspectives. You peeps are giving me a consistent message.
Thanks. As always, this place is enlightenment itself. Truly appreciated.
Tom
PS Tijuana - get where you're coming from, but it's not something I feel I can change overnight. Need to transition into something else.
I'm at B on [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=manchester+picadilly&daddr=M50+3BF&hl=en&geocode=FYj-LwMdEPnd_ylXYzkWlrF7SDHu8mwc1bGcbA%3BFXvrLwMd8Bnd_ym3knOIFK57SDEhd08gftum-g&mra=cc&dirflg=w&date=29%2F11%2F09&time=20:37&ttype=dep&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=&tline=&sll=53.474585,-2.253165&sspn=0.057011,0.110378&ie=UTF8&z=13 ]this map[/url] for the course.
Can I get there on the tram, and am I right in thinking the train ticket I use to get down there is usable on the trams too?
Who's still on for a couple of post-course/work drinkies? I'm probably aiming for the 7:42 train home, as that's direct.
ourmaninthenorth - banking/corporate/syndicated lending wouldn't be part of your background, would it?
Mike, not sure your ticket will be ok on the tram - nomally train & tram ticjkets are "central zone", I'm not sure where the central zone ends. If you've bought it already, you should check - if not, then make sure you ask for the right ticket when you do buy it
You can get the tram to Salford quays, yes, the tram stops are marked to the north and south of your destination - if you use satellite view you can see the tracks and stations more clearly.
From where you are, OMITN's suggestion of the Briton's protection is a good one, not sure if it does food though? It's ajust a couple of stops on the tram line that goes from picadilly to salford, so pretty direct
Evening wise, not sure on the logistics / permissions. will have to confirm, but if I do go, my train would be from picadilly a couple of minutes after yours so pretty good timing
2tyred - no, I'm a (mainly) M&A lawyer, rather than banking. Why, got a job for me? 😉
The Britons does food after a fashion, but it is a very old fashioned boozer really. Slightly along the road, there is a the Rain Bar, a more generic type of place (being a JW Lees pub), but that does food. We could always go there.
And then to the Temple (a converted public convience) before tipping you onto a train or a tram back to Piccadilly.
Your walking route, Mike, though not one I'd be massively keen on taking, does effectively deliver you to the Briton's Protection, so isn't a bad option.
Like NBT says, the tram would be a good option. You can go from Salford Quays tram stop to GMEX tram stop. The Britons is but a cockstride from there.
so close...
Shame - what is it. I am pretty adaptable, you know. And besides, lending is all LMA these days, isn't it? 😉
YGM
i'm still up for popping in for a drinky; going to a gig at the retro bar later on that evening but it's easy enough for me to get into town for 6ish. just let me know where/when you'll be and i'll come over.
Shall we got for the Briton's Protection then?
fine by me.
i'll email/PM you my mobile number later mike, just to make the meeting up a bit easier.
Tom, have you got the message yet? don't do it 🙂
ask for a sabbatical - 2-3 months off, time to ride, de-stress from work and look for a new job. all else fails, the break should mean you can keep at it for another 6-12months and keep looking.
the commute is not worth it.
Tom, have you got the message yet? don't do it
Kinda. Still got my CV in, though.
ask for a sabbatical
Cracking idea, but I'm not sure the finances could take it. And besides, I'd probably never go back to work...anywhere.
Not being funny (and I've not read the entire thread) - is another legal job going to be [i]that[/i] much better?
I'm not keen on mine, mostly because my boss is difficult to deal with, but I've worked for worse.
Briton's Protection between 5 and 6?
I'll be wearing shades in the corner, surrounded by groupies 🙂 I look like the chap in this picture: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/darlington/4768811.IT_teacher_employed_as_Twitterer_in_residence/, but won't have a quill pen 😉
yes mike, that's the place.
i'll be wearing a ridiculously garish green and white sombrio hat, i reckon...
I live in Suffolk and work in Bracknell, which currently means sitting in the car park that is the M25 on a regular basis. Its 135 miles door to door and can take 4 1/2 hours on a bad day. I sometimes stay over in Watford at a friends which helps, and in the summer I commute by motorbike. I also work from home a lot.
In all honesty, its a pain in the @rse but its something I've done in one form or another for the past 6 years. Also, after a bad day its not always a bad thing to sit in the car on your own for a bit and listen to some decent music. You do get used to it, its not fun but it is bearable. Also, doing what I do allows me to live in a house that I couldn't afford if I had a job in Suffolk and it also puts me nearer Swinley for riding. I also enjoy my job - Swings and Roundabouts....
Hey OMITN, my hubby made the move from private practice to in house a couple of years ago & it saved his sanity, he was soooo unhappy in practice. He now has an 80+mile daily commute across Scotland, but it was a couple of years before it started to really get him down, & the in-house hours are so much better than private practice (he really genuinely works 8.30 - 5.30, its amazing!!)that I dont see that much less of him. He does drive into Glasgow (about 20mins), then take the train over to Edinburgh (about 55mins ,depending on how scotrail are feeling), then a 15min walk to the office. The train is the only thing that made it possible, he would have been a wreck if he had to drive it, but with a crackberry he can get a load of work done before he gets in the office on a morning, then chill out & read singletrack on the way home! We were planning to move to the other side of Glasgow to reduce his commute but make mine still do-able, till the housing market ground to a halt, but they're letting him work a 9day fortnight instead now so all is good. If it's the right job you can find a way to make it work!!
SOrry guys, I'm not going to make it, the logistics just aren;t working out 🙁
SOrry guys, I'm not going to make it, the logistics just aren;t working out
That's a shame. See you at HTN in Feb?
I'll be there with camera and beer, yes. Will you be on your sponsored bike?
Will you be on your sponsored bike?
Not sure when I'm getting it yet. It's "very singlespeed" though - Brant, when he does Brant and doesn't wobble worrying about how it'll be received : http://dabr.co.uk/status/6174491534
stillfallingoff - that's interesting to know.
Though the potential commute - if I get the job - is hefty, and the work itself will be tough, ultimately in-house is where I need to get to, and private practice is where I need to get from.
TBH, if I worked sensible hours, the only extra time added to my day would be getting up and hour earlier - when times were busy, and I was doing deals until they came out of my ears, I used to consider leaving work at 8pm to be an early finish. So, if I was to get this job and get home at 8, that would be much the same effect.
I'm looking into the train. An obvious destination is Wolverhampton station and then another 8 miles, but that asusmes the other 8 miles are rideable. Blackberry, though a PITA a lot of the time, is also a really useful tool for working on the train.
[i]Blackberry, though a PITA a lot of the time, is also a really useful tool for working on the train. [/i]
It's good for quick responses but you can't beat a laptop for getting proper work on the train IMO. And all the virgin trains have wireless on board now. How about a little 10 inch notebook?
Hi again, the only downside I would say to working so far from home is if it is really busy you cant just 'pop into the office for a cple of hours' on a weekend, but, if they'll sort out VPN access for you it's no hassle, & then you're set up to organise an occasional working from home day too. Hubby found the work quite challenging init, but he was moving from com prop rather than corporate, the thing he likes most is the lack of external clients, internal clients can be told their plan is stupid! Good luck with it.
How about a little 10 inch notebook?
For the cash on offer, they can pay.
if it is really busy you cant just 'pop into the office for a cple of hours' on a weekend
A terrible activity at the best of times. These days, the weekends are my own, and I'd rather not change that.
Going to have to work hard at getting this job. Must sort out (1) haircut and (2) new shoes..!
The mrs has just got a 10" netbook. Well impressive, much better than a blackberry.
And the 8 miles could easily be accomplished with a folding bicycle.
