But that’s the point – price of postage is decided when you pay not when you use the service so stamps with prices on are unfair.

>One of the least pleasant things I’ve ever done. The most unpleasant was serving an eviction and turfing a family with a young child onto the streets…..
Is that your decision or someone else?

To be fair in these cases it’s never a surprise when they’re turfed out – plenty of time to sort something out but if they don’t then who’s faults that? I am not a landlord – partly as would hate to have to deal with things like this.

I have about 250km to do by the end of the month to hit my 12,000km for the year; doubt I’ll ever have the time to do such a decent distance again as usually work gets in the way.

Well turning into a car is never anyone’s right! Not sure either of you were in the best lane for where you wanted to go but you’re not in the wrong so let insurance sort out.

No these are just mails saying I should find a project to go on automatically generated by the computer system. I was told after the 1st one to just ignore, so I am, but yeah the idea that this will happen whenever I finish on a project is not appealing. Obviously couldn’t join a project for a few weeks anyway but there are only 2 for which my skills are relevant in the UK so it’s pointless. I’m used to being allocated to projects with bench time just part of the way these things work. Not concerned really for the moment but is making me think about looking for a contract to go to.

Well this will amuse some – recruited for a project for which I need security clearance so can’t start on that until clearance comes through, just had my 3rd automatic warning for being on the bench. With each warning a more senior person is copied in, the latest 1 is only 2 away from the CEO. My manager said he’ll call me about it, wondering if he’s getting hassled now.

Bad things happen in threes right?

Out of cities mentioned here I’ve lived in Chester, Sheffield, Hull, London and Coventry, loved London but maybe as I had a bit of money and lived in a fairly well off, quietish area so could get enjoy London without being in the noise. Many like that of course and choose to live in places like Soho despite the high costs. Hull and Coventry were both a bit unappealing but clubbing was quite good in Coventry when I was there. But places like Derby and Middlesbrough beat them I’m sure.

Actually – London’s a truly great place to visit, just walking around is interesting with so much to see and do, don’t really need money for that. Also lived in NYC for a while which was great but after the novelty of that had warn off London seemed to me the better place.

Any recommendations for a good PC buy that’ll play this game?

Yeah mine’s usually out shopping.

I’m impressed that people motivate themselves to use home gyms. I trained in gyms for years before getting into cycling, bought some home weights in the past but never used them much; to get big I had to use a gym. Once I decided to give up the gym for cycling I did get a basic set up for 2 months gym fees – from Decathlon who are pretty good for weights I think – and do manage to use sometimes in the winter when bored.

Thought of getting one but decided the C-Max was a better option. Ended up getting a Roomster.

Where in France can you rent a place out most of the year?

A mate just bought a one bedroom apartment in Chamonix for a low six figure sum. The rental income is between £500-750 a week depending on season.

Well I think that’s not quite right – maybe there are months of no rent? Or at least much less than £500/week.

How anyone can have religious faith after something like this is beyond my comprehension.

Really?

Got a family coming over for evening meal later as their kitchen is being re-done – they’re bringing washing too. Dinner Parties are quite formal things, don’t do those.

Some sort of training diary to plan or log what she does(n’t) do.

I was told this time last year I’d be made redundant, mostly happens in December it seems. Place I’ve just finished contracting at has announced redundancies – closing an entire office with some offered relocation but some people with vast amounts of knowledge specific to the company are going. They’re bringing in Accenture and and Indian company to replace. Good luck with that.

I’m currently waiting for security clearance to go on-site so my 1st week has mostly been at home, told it’s not likely to be until 5th Jan that I can go on-site so a month on the bench over Christmas 🙂 Met my manager today and someone else I’ll be working closely with – I recognized him and turns out we both worked for the same consultancy and left earlier in the year, I gave an overview of some work I’d done to him and some others. Not sure if he’s getting expenses, should be more senior to me so will have to subtly find out. Anyway, our roles on the new project sounds pretty interesting so quite hopeful all will work out well.

People can interpret that as being out of his depth, I wouldn’t.

Hmmm, well he looked very much out of his depth to me – I was hoping he’d say something useful but no.

I assume all emails warning about scams and asking to be forwarded are spam and ask the person who sent them to stop wasting my time.

I also ask for evidence when people make claims which seem a little dubious, usually of the ‘bloke in pub said’ type – happens too much on here.

how hot’s OK?

Brand wouldn’t want the pay cut – not that he’d get voted in or he’d think he had a chance. Maybe a way of getting more exposure though? Anyway, seems to me he’s just a critic with no useful ideas.

Well if there are enough of them I suppose they can cover all the bases

The chap in the picture isn’t doing himself any favours with that pink cartoon-like top and the cap.

Do see a few Windy Milla riders when I’m riding around Surrey, not sure why some people find them so appealing though.

Some people are in a different world!

He he I’m in a different world to some of my colleagues now – assuming all is honoured as agreed.

Well I started on Monday, currently all seems fine in theory around expenses and now told I can claim 45p/mile for my car. I can only claim £75 per night for a hotel outside London which isn’t great but there’s a decent per diem which could make up for that.

Much of the problems seem to be that I’m dealing with Indian people who don’t know how things are done here – there are UK HR people so bit odd. Latest issues I’m trying to resolve are that I am unable to enter my bank details as they only have a subset of sort codes set up to validate against. Also trying to get my email name to be the name I’m known as rather than the one on my passport – computer says no so far.

Had to pay £25 for background check, wonder if they’ll mind if I put that on expenses?!

How much for just BB? What speed?

I got my price increase letter yesterday so rang to moan, they fiddled a bit with deal, took off the 2nd TV box I don’t really need, and took about £15/month off my monthly cost. I mostly cared about keeping the broadband, as it is good, and also do like Tivo and Eurostar for the cycling.

It’s a good change, shame for those who just missed out on benefiting but always happens that way. Wondering what impact it will have on properties over £1m, for those with properties at that level but more modest incomes stamp duty can be a year’s + income which is hard to justify.

Rarely take a waterproof unless proper rain forecast. In winter I use a soft shell which is pretty water resistant. In summer I might take a water proof but prefer to use a Gabba short sleeve top – or even on cool days I’ll have that with arm warmers. I live off cereal bars and gels which I carry, rarely buy food when out.

Some guys I ride bought some Strava gear and got with quite a bit of import duty.

Well I’d just leave.

Today’s excitement is around what travel they’ll reimburse – trains not mileage as they want receipts. Trying to explain that the train cost would be a lot more expensive and take longer for the project – Surrey to Cheltenham. Computer says no.

Well it looks like I’m getting expenses so I’ll join then leave if it all goes wrong, salary does make up for lack of holidays.

Maybe they’ll get rid of me anyway when they decide I’m too expensive!

It’s an American company who bought a large Indian one – don’t want to say but maybe you can work it out.

OK I didn’t get the other job (as I wasn’t focused enough on the area they wanted me for!) so looks like I’ll be taking this. Wish me luck…! 🙂

I am in the fortunate position of knowing a contractor on the project, he was positive about the when I asked him about the company/project before, will try to have another chat. I’m hoping I get a good offer from the other job I’ve been looking at but even that isn’t ideal as it’s focusing on one functional area whereas I’d rather stay more general.

It can only be a regret if I take it in place of something that could have been better so keeping my options open for now.

Got this back:

I have spoken to the business and we will go ahead with the reimbursement of Travel/Accommodation on actuals with the receipts of bills .

We had a phone call and HR person is expecting train receipts – I explained that it’ll be cheaper and quicker by car, they don’t seem able to deal with that.

I’m also told that they have a number of people who are joining on the same grade as me joinin on lower salaries and accepted that there are no expenses. It will be interesting to see what these people are like if I do join – best keep quiet my better deal!

Salary is pretty good though – and role interesting. Obviously wouldn’t take without the expenses issue resolved to my liking.

Yes I’ve been told 20 days hols, agent says that’s becoming normal for IT – really?! Always had 25 but know some who get 23.

It’s actually an American company but mostly people based in India – certainly in my area of work – it is the result of a takeover where the company bought was larger than the one that bought it.

Update this morning is that travel expenses will now be paid – but there seems to be disagreement about whether hotels/food are part of that! If I was to drive to my first project daily the mileage would be as much as the hotel costs with food – not that I would commute for 100+ miles. It is a struggle dealing with them and I put this down to ignorance of how things are in the UK. If I did join I would be having a discussion about what I think would need to change for them to grow here – they do have some more junior people who just rent where they work but it’s the more experienced people they’d struggle to get.

As I haven’t now got a job I am not losing anything by taking it – I could resign quickly enough. I have another offer of a job that I don’t want but I may get another offer today from a good company who I like – feels like that one could involve tougher travel commitments but at least I’ll get my costs covered without an argument! Just have to see what their offer is.