Thankfully and unfortunately I have now found a job at a local golf club. So I've been busy trying to earn a living (thankful bit), annoyingly new boss refuses to guarantee me fixed hours (unfortunate bit), currently been very busy as other staff are taking holiday. Don't think I'll be so busy there once they are back. Sadly this seem to be the curse of zero hour contracts , and obviously the kids are vastly cheaper on the hourly rate. It seems these days professionalism and experience don't mean much now in the hospitality sector. He did seem very confused that I wasn't replying to his What's App messages while I has working, or indeed when I finished the shift. I had to explain that when I'm working, I'm working not constantly checking my phone and that I won't reply to his messages outside of work as I'm not paid enough to do so. Very surprised/miffed/confused, when I told him if he wants to speak to me at work to either do it in person (he tends to work from home watching the cameras and micro manage) or phone the club landline. Plus is all the staff and customers seem to really like and appreciate what I do, shame the boss doesn't see it. It's a job for now, until something else (hopefully better) comes along. It seems since covid that earning a living is a lot harder these days, I really do appreaciate not having rent or a mortgage to have to pay every month. Its hard enough to find money to pay my sky rockets utility bills, I've cut them as much as I can, just got into a fixed rate contract before everything really shot up. Gas and electric used to cost me £700ish a year with hot water on every day for 3 hrs and heating on in winter month keeping the house around 12c, now I'm hot water on for an hour twice a week maninly luke warm showers, and heating very sparingly (me and the dog are usually under a blanket on the sofa or go to bed early). Doing this looks like it will still cost me about £1k a year. So to sum up work and worry, and yes an occasional beer to keep me sane.
Just down sized our house and settled in had a short break to Cornwall for a week middle of May meet up with some friends one id not seen in person in 52 yrs but had been in contact with on FB .On the car front i changed my 530d msport to a later model 530d msport xdrive mid hybrid and i cant complain its been faultless up about 3mpg on my work commute on the trip to Cornwall and home including a detour to Croydon area it was averaging 52mpg and i was not hanging about only down side was speeding ticket in Saltash tunnel but no big deal idiot course booked course price is cheaper than the fine so win win
Am lucky enough to be retired. Am now 58 and we downsized 4 years ago by building a new house in the garden of the old one and selling the big house. Car (G31 520d) has recently taken us faultlessly to Pembrokeshire for a week and I have just got back from a weeks sailing with a long standing pal. Chichester Harbour to Poole with some great stops in between. We are planning next winters get away and have tickets for The Rugby World Cup in autumn 2027 in Australia. I play tennis and padel to keep fit plus walk the old pooch.
Things have moved forward on the job front, on the 31/08/26 I will finish my current work and retire, on the 01/09/26 I will be fully retired, for 24 hours! On the 02/09/26 I start a new full time job as a Director of Education, frying pan and fire springs to mind. This new job wasn’t on my radar at all, but it came along and was too interesting to ignore. Fascination role that will re-fire my professional passion and as an added bonus it is term time only. This will be a 3-5 year role, I’ve been very open with my new boss and he is keen to keep my in role for as long as possible, maybe with some further flexible arrangements in a few years. Exciting times!
