I’m from the north, we don’t do cheering up. Haven’t you heard… it’s grim up ‘ere…

Sorry Cheesy… Go and re-read Agent Picolax. That always cheers me up.

I’ve worked for two outsourcing companies and, from my personal experience, I have to disagree with TSIS. Sorry matey.

The first (CSC), I was TUPE’d across to. I tried for almost three years to make it work but it just didn’t. I tried really hard to get off the account of my pre-tupe employer and onto other clients, but ‘they’ wouldn’t release me – I was deemed “account critical” ( :roll: ). As for the terms of the TUPE, it’s not worth the paper it was written on. After the first 12 months we were issued with new contracts and told to sign or leave – many changes to T&C’s. It was probably the most stressful period of my (20 year) working life to date. I ended up a mess and on anti-depressants.

I left CSC to go and work for EDS (I know, I know) and they were a bit better but bureaucratic beyond belief. To the extent that nothing ever seemed to get finished – projects just seemed to fizzle out.

I’ve since left them and gone contracting – happier, but still have the scars created by working for CSC

One piece of advice is to try and get away from the account (within the outsourcing co.) after you’ve transferred. My former colleagues who managed to do it are still with CSC and doing okay. Good luck.

Well done!

Me and MrsG had a team talk about our plan of attack with MasterG. However, the little bugger slept through anyway!! Result! He must have heard us.

Zedsdead – Member

I recently saw a vauxhall Vectra estate not even 1 year old. New price was £19k

Yours for £6.5k!

Now that’s a good deal.

True, but they’re still rubbish.

Anyone got one of their sleeping bags? I’m torn between the 400 and the 600 Skyehigh. I am a bit of a gayer and will only camp from spring to autumn; will the 600 be too hot or can you unzip from the foot-end up wards?

Will do the same – good luck!

We’re having very similar problems with our 3 year old. He keeps coming in to our room and waking the missus (not me though – I sleep with plugs in ‘cos the missus snores like a beast!) citing things like too hot/too cold/needs a wee/monsters in the cupboard and a big-bad wolf under the bed.

So far the only thing that works is my missus taking him back and stroking his head until he dozes off; as has been said, this has made a rod for her own back. I’m going to suggest the silent treatment tonight.

“… and they seem to stifle the windy after-affects too… “

Why on earth would you want to do that?