spunky
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 posted on 7/8/06 at 07:45 PM |
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What would you do....
thought about posting this a while back but changed my mind.
However it appears that most of you lot are of a similar background (engineering) and all drawn together for a similar purpose (building stuff)
Therefore I figure you can help me make decisions.
This year has been pretty life changing. After 18 years I find myself redundant. The missus has found someone else and is in the process of moving
out. I have no kids, no mortgage, no debts, and thanks to the redundancy package a fairly healthy bank account.
38 years old and still healthy.
HND in mechanical and electrical engineering, and a fisful of other mini qualifications, welding, auditing, man management that sort of sh!t.
So what should I do?
Options i've considered are;
take a job locally that will pay significantly less than i was earning, but still plenty to live on.
Change of direction, i'm actually enrolling at the local college for a 'teacher training' course evening classes.
Work for myself: I'm fairly handy, and can turn my hand to most things (except plastering :mad i can get my ticket for domestic sparky work
fairly easily.
emigration; I've had a look into it and I may be able to fastrack into Canada, which would always have been my first choice anyway.
Toss it off for a year traveling around and partying.... made quite a good start at this one in the last couple of months
Finally; relocate and look for a well paying job somewhere else in this country.
Really struggling as to what i should be doing, but at the moment I'm spending money that is not being replaced, so i need some advice/ideas,
before the partying bit becomes an addiction
Cheers
John
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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DIY Si
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 07:53 PM |
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Since you're in a relatively free and open position, what would you really like to do? As you've said you have no ties anywhere and the
money to bugger off the sunnier climes should you wish. Is there anything that really floats your boat? If so try it!
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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iank
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 08:06 PM |
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I spent 4 years living in Vancouver. Brilliant experience especially if you are an outdoor type (skiing, hiking, sailing, kayaking etc etc).
Fasttrack took around 3months to sort out. Most Brits do well out in Canada.
Very few people end up regretting giving living abroad a try. Plenty never come back (often wish I hadn't).
Spend a while making sure there are employers hiring wherever you are thinking about moving, maybe contact a few to make sure your qualifications are
transferable.
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 08:07 PM |
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get the first plane outa this country while you still can.failing that work for yourself,its nice when its going well and pays well if you get the
work,do your homework first tho
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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MikeR
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 08:17 PM |
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cover your bases...... get a job abroad but try to make sure that if you don't like it, what ever you do / skills you learn will be accepted
back in the uk.
Most people here are saying the same when you look at it. You've got one life, do something enjoyable. Life is about the journey and not the
destination.
(which is bloody rich coming from me, same job 11 years, does my head in, the only tie is a mostly paid off mortgage and i'm still here
!!!!!!!!! Ok, the great group of friends & steady determination to complete the damned locost are the real reason)
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Aboardman
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 08:25 PM |
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quote:
The missus has found someone else and is in the process of moving out. I have no kids, no mortgage, no debts, and thanks to the redundancy package a
fairly healthy bank account.
if the missus is leaving you and you have a healthy bank account then you need to loose the money some how before she claims half, i have a nice empty
bank account that you could use.
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Lawnmower
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 09:17 PM |
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emigrate, you'll only kick yourself if you dont.
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MikeR
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 09:22 PM |
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p.s. i'll look after the car while you're away
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andyharding
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 09:33 PM |
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As said I'd make sure my healthy bank account was off-shore so the ex can't touch it and then go to Canada!
Are you a Mac user or a retard?
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 09:45 PM |
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A good friend of mine emigrated to Canada three years ago. Moved over there with his family and has not looked back. He lives in Vancouver, and has a
fantastic lifestyle. Don't waste your time on teaching courses, taking time out etc, etc. Take the plunge, go for emigration. Canada is a
fantastic place. I'd be there in a shot if I had the same opportunity.
Take a chance, what've you got to lose? Best of luck.
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graememk
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 10:32 PM |
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sell up buy a bar in cyprus or kos.
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Simon
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 11:00 PM |
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John,
First off, what a bummer, if I was in your shoes, I'd be slightly depressed, and probably very angry too.
Saying that, a fresh start may be a good thing. Travelling/emigration may be a good option, though it's not something I'd consider (me
English, live in England - sort of thing).
Could you do consultancy/probsolver work or suchlike, working for yourself - own hours, hopefully sensible income.
Difficult situation, as can be seen by the number of replies/suggestions, though unfortuately the only one who can decide what's right is you.
Even then, you may not get it spot on!
ATB
Simon
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gazza285
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| posted on 7/8/06 at 11:37 PM |
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Come contract engineering with me, the hours are long and the pay's ok, you don't need much money for socialising as you work 84 hours a
week, but on the plus side you're absolutely knackered all the time as well.
Forgot to mention the work is hard, heavy and hot with the chance of danger and death within easy reach, H & S are all over you for the petty
things while huge discrepancies in working practice are glossed over, and the foremen are usually brown nosed, jumped up twats who got the job because
they are willing to bully the workforce into submission with the threat of instant dismissal and docked wages and, rather bizarrely, I still enjoy it.
Plus it's a 140 miles round trip to get to my current workplace, and will be the same to get to the next.
DO NOT PUT ON KNOB OR BOLLOCKS!
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zetec7
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 02:17 AM |
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Don't come to BC - we're full!! -Just kidding - I'm in Victoria, a great place to live. No snow (but plenty of skiing a couple of
hours away), boating, fishing, kayaking, etc. etc. Also a great place to build a Locost. Except for the rain in winter (you'd be a stranger to
rain, I suppose...) you could drive it year-round!
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Aboardman
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 06:48 AM |
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couple of question
how do you move aboard,
where do you look,
how do you find a job.
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nick205
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 07:39 AM |
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John,
Personally, I'd be working as hard as possible to get into Canada. As has been said, Brits generally do well over there, it's a very
hospitable place with lots of space, sooooo much space, soooo soooo much space - it makes you seriously sick when you look at the postage stamp plots
we live on in the UK when you see what you could have over there.
On the down side if you're employed, the holiday (or vacation) is pretty poor, averaging 10-15 days leave a year.
If you can, then leave a house in the UK rented out, which gives you an easy route back if things don't go as planned. Rent a place wherever
you move to until you get a feel for where to live.
Vancouver isn't the only place in Canada either - a friend of mine moved to Toronto 5 years ago and hasn't looked back. He now has
Canadian citezenship as well as British, which makes it very easy travelling back and forth.
In short - you have the opportunity and if you don't try it you'll forever wonder what might have been.
When you get set up over there you can have us all over for a holiday 
Cheers
Nick
PS - dod I mention how muuuuuch spaaaaaaaaace you will have out there? Just think, that triple garage with full workshop facilities and armchair are
within reach.
PPS - The Canadian women are very very nice too
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mackei23b
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 07:45 AM |
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Got to say Candada sounds good to me, just make sure you do what you really want, but it sounds a fantastic oportunity, above all, make sure you enjoy
life
Good luck on what ever you decide!
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wyatt
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 08:36 AM |
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You have put all the options down so ask you’re self which one would you like to do
As for emigrating the best thing to do is contact the embassies of the country’s you fancy going to they will give you good advice on looking for work
www.bynxy.co.uk
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spunky
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 09:58 AM |
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Thanks guys
So if this was a poll post it would appear that Canada leads
I am leaning towards that choice, I love the country, been a few times skiing, was over there in Feb and spent a few days in Calgary. Just have a much
better standard of living. (and the girls are cute) considering the ammount of time I spend moaning about Blighty it should be a simple choice. But I
too have deep rooted patriotism, and its tough for me to up sticks and leave. However the work that they are after and that I should fill the
criterior for is mainly over in the West. Alberta and BC...Gods own playground
Forgot to mention the one decision i made... no more shift work, been doing them for 20 years now. (unless exceptional money) I looked at off shore
work, as i have friends fairly hi ranking on the rigs. But although the money is good and you get loads of time off. calculate in the hours worked and
add in premium rates the money is actually average. I fully appreciate that its a totally different enviroment, but sticking to my guns. NO SHIFTS.
There is method to the madness of 'teacher training'
You know the sickening stories you hear about where juvenile delinquents (joy riders, muggers, vandals and the like are sent skiing in the Alps and
rafting in the Himalayas to teach them a lesson 
Ever wondered who takes them? Well i found out and the basic TT course is required. So as a skier, paraglider pilot, scuba diver, comp crewman and ex
enduro racer, the thought of being payed £30k+ for taking rotten kids on adventure holidays, outward bound and working through DofE award scheme was
to much to resist
So considering the thoughts of my peers and my own ponderings. I reckon emigration should be seriously looked at. As has been said, damn certain
i'll regret it if I dont give it a go.
Got interview tomorrow for quality engineer locally and a 14 week college course starting in Sept. Get the timing right and I might pull it all off
while bringing in some money.
Would never sell my house, I see this as additional £6k income if rented and a permenant escape route if it all goes belly up.
Thanks for taking the time to post chaps, much appreciated.
John
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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emsfactory
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 10:02 AM |
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Try and get a job at boyd codingtons. Then leave in a bit huff and work for foose. could be a laugh and you might get on the telly.
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02GF74
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 10:41 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by spunky
Options i've considered are;
Change of direction, i'm actually enrolling at the local college for a 'teacher training' course evening classes.
wot, be a techer? schools have changed a lot, not for the better I hasten to add, then how you remember them. DON'T DO IT.
as said, pack your bags to Aus or NZ.
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DavidM
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 11:54 AM |
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If I was in your position, I'd go to Canada.
I never thought I'd say it but England (Britain) is turning to Sh*t.
Get out while you can.
David
Proportion is Everything
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 11:58 AM |
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Every country has it's own particular problems - I'm sure that Canada has its fair share (e.g. its southern neighbour, for a start!).
However, if I was in your position I'd certainly try it for a few years at least, keeping one foot in the UK just in case it doesn't work
out.
You'll only regret not doing it...
David
[Edited on 8/8/06 by David Jenkins]
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Syd Bridge
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 11:59 AM |
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Get yourself a passport, then a job as an engineer on a large cruising yacht.
See the world and get paid a good salary, all your keep included. You'll end up settling anywhere but here.(My sojourn is temporary. )
I did this at the start, after a few years working as an engineer, and never regretted it. I'd jump at the opportunity again, if I weren't
married.( Then again, would the wife notice me missing,..????? )
You'll settle in Aus, without a doubt.
Cheers,
Syd.
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spunky
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| posted on 8/8/06 at 02:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by spunky
Options i've considered are;
Change of direction, i'm actually enrolling at the local college for a 'teacher training' course evening classes.
wot, be a techer? schools have changed a lot, not for the better I hasten to add, then how you remember them. DON'T DO IT.
as said, pack your bags to Aus or NZ.
I realise teaching sucks now, I know some teachers. In a mainstream school I wouldn't stand a chance. but check my second post. There is another
side to the teaching thing. The government wont let you near kids without the course i'm enrolling for.
'engineer on a yacht/cruise ship'.... hmmm sounds interesting
John
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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