Stored 200ltrs of water today,probably my weak point but as I live in Scotland it's always raining
Put away another 20kg of rice.bought a new leisure battery for my solar set up with a inverter hopefully I will get started on it this weekend..got some metal tape so I can seal up some PMRs in a faraday tin,EMP is not something I'm worried about but it pays to prepare.
I need to step up my preps. We got told on Thursday about a merger involving our department at work. Boss said 'does anyone have any questions?' and muggins here was the only one with the guts to say 'So, if there's going to be duplication of roles, doesn't that mean redundancies?' I got a very grateful look (it meant he didn't have to broach the subject) and the vaguest answer ever - basically the merger is about growth, not cost cutting, but nothing is certain. Afterwards, I had other staff coming up to me and saying 'I'm so glad you asked that. I wanted to ask, but was too scared.' So, I'm going to treat that meeting as notice of notice of redundancy (IYSWIM). If it comes, then it'll be a couple of months away. There's a good chance I'll keep my job (I've taken on extra work recently and I work directly with my boss so he knows me), but I'm realistic enough to not think I'm invaluable. Time to think about alternate wage sources and to look at the job market (and try not to cry at how crap it all is).
Le mouse, awful times for you but this is exactly what you and many of us prep for. With your positive attitude and preparation you will be better able to cope with whatever happens than some of your workmates, who will stick their head in the sand.
I hope the outcome is good for you but at least you have a few months to get your house in order!
preppingsu wrote:
I hope the outcome is good for you but at least you have a few months to get your house in order!
Thanks Su. I'm trying to see it as an opportunity. That evening was also the company Christmas do, and I wasn't all that up for partying. I got talking to a lovely girl who works for us as a contractor and a fellow colleague told her that I'm a trained English Language teacher. She immediately asked if I'd be up for teaching her boyfriend who is Algerian (I think) and for helping her with her written English (she's Portuguese). I was a bit taken aback, but said I'd certainly think about it and give her an answer after Christmas - I need to reteach myself how to teach! I'll be saying yes, obviously... Through these two I might be able to build a client base.
I'm also going to investigate how to sell some craft stuff I make (jewellery and suchlike) online through Etsy or Folksy and try and look at that as an income stream rather than just a hobby.
Le Mouse,like you , I am facing the chop ( at the end of January), we are storing and stashing like squirrels on speed!
You are adopting the same approach, the right one I think. Hang in there. Good luck.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Reservior wrote:Sorry to hear that Le Mouse. At worst you've had a 2 months 'heads up' which gives you time to prepare and be pro active.
jansman wrote:Le Mouse,like you , I am facing the chop ( at the end of January), we are storing and stashing like squirrels on speed!
You are adopting the same approach, the right one I think. Hang in there. Good luck.
Thanks guys. I think I've hit the slightly hysterical phase now, but that'll pass. I've been to a housewarming today and I told friends about the merger and the first thing all of them said was 'Oh that's not good. When are the redundancies?' I saw my Mum yesterday and she said the exact same thing. So I'm not the only one thinking that job losses are in the offing! It's strangely reassuring.
At least I'm in a far better position than I was the last time I was made redundant when I was 22: I was already in debt, had unrealistic expectations of how quickly I'd find a job and once the very small amount of redundancy payment ran out got further in debt and ended up depressed. I was only unemployed 3 months! It's frightening how quickly the debt spiral deepens. I promised myself I'd never end up in that situation again.
I think we need a squirrel emoticon because like jansman said we're all stashing like squirrels
I got talking to a lovely girl who works for us as a contractor and a fellow colleague told her that I'm a trained English Language teacher. She immediately asked if I'd be up for teaching her boyfriend who is Algerian (I think) and for helping her with her written English (she's Portuguese). I was a bit taken aback, but said I'd certainly think about it and give her an answer after Christmas - I need to reteach myself how to teach! I'll be saying yes, obviously... Through these two I might be able to build a client base.
May I ask Le Mouse if your English Language qualification is applicable to schools as well? Have you considered privately teaching to help children through their GCSE's as well as foreign adults who need to improve their English skills?
Through these two I might be able to build a client base.