Forums Social/Farewell drinks

PasturesNew

Generali wrote: »

I thought I'd start a new thread for this. As many of you know I'm off to Aus in a bit and there seems to be some interest in a meet-up (possibly to make sure I am actually leaving).

So if anyone wants to buy me a drink or give me a smack in the face then I'll be in the Market Porter (next to Borough Market/London Bridge) from 3pm in a fortnight, Sunday 9th November.

I'll write MSE on a bit of paper and stick it on the table I'm sitting at. If anyone gets there before me then please do the same. If anyone has top brewery connections then perhaps we can do this MSE style and get 2-for-1 beers or something.

I had picked up the other day that you were going to Aus, but I hadn't realised it was so soon.

It seems like only yesterday you started a new well paid job in London.

To save me stalking you through all your posts, can you precis the last year for us please.

I wish you well, but I doubt I'd go that far (London). And I don't know my way round, and I'd get lost. And the tube'd be scarey. And there'd be lots of foreigners that I am not used to. And I look like a victim so would be bound to be mugged/murdered for looking all confused and lost

So... spill the beans... what's occurring?

GDB2222

And I don't know my way round, and I'd get lost. And the tube'd be scarey. And there'd be lots of foreigners that I am not used to. And I look like a victim so would be bound to be mugged/murdered for looking all confused and lost

There's forward thinking, which is positive, ie working out the downside and coming up with strategies to deal with problems before they occur, and there's ... well, umm, paralysing anxiety?

Generali

PasturesNew wrote: »

I had picked up the other day that you were going to Aus, but I hadn't realised it was so soon.

It seems like only yesterday you started a new well paid job in London.

To save me stalking you through all your posts, can you precis the last year for us please.

I wish you well, but I doubt I'd go that far (London). And I don't know my way round, and I'd get lost. And the tube'd be scarey. And there'd be lots of foreigners that I am not used to. And I look like a victim so would be bound to be mugged/murdered for looking all confused and lost

So... spill the beans... what's occurring?

22 months works better if that's ok. Chop off the 1st year if it's helpful.

Back Story: Golden Boy (aka Generali) marries a beautiful Aussie girl. They plan to move to Aus but his father is diagnosed with Alzhiemers. Wracked with guilt, he is unable to desert his doting parents so elects to stay in the UK. Mrs Generali reluctantly but loyally decides to stay.......

Dec 2006. Our fresh faced hero is working at Goldman Sachs. He has a baby daughter and a toddler. They've moved from Wapping to Sevenoaks and Daddy is fed up with commuting already. (Australian) Mrs Generali has post natal depression and life is pretty hard. UK Grandad has Alzheimers and has gone into a home which he will never leave unless it turns out that the home should be funded by social services rather than the NHS blah blah blah.....

March 2007. Grandpappy Generali dies of 'flu/pnumonia aged 67. The Generalis start to discuss the future and Aus starts to rear its head once more.

June 2007. The decision to go to Aus is all but made when Generali gets an offer of a job running the back office of a hedge fund. It pays eff all (£30k) but it comes with a slug of equity meaning Generali will be very rich if the hedge fund does well. Generali takes the job although it is about 16 hours a day.

May 2008. Mrs Generali is clearly very ill. Generali has to quit the job for something with fewer hours and in July gets another working for a couple of idiots. I mean seriously, those guys were dumb.......

Aug 2008. Generali is no longer working for Tweedle Dumb and Dumber and the move to Aus is back on the cards.

Now. Am waiting for the visa to come through and enjoying my time as Mr Mom. Cooking is great. I'd like to have more time for cycling though.

GDB2222

One or two questions, Gen:

1. Do you still have the equity in the hedge fund?
2. Did it prosper?

Generali

GDB2222 wrote: »

One or two questions, Gen:

1. Do you still have the equity in the hedge fund?
2. Did it prosper?

1. Nope. I left before I was given it it and would have been required to return it on leaving.
2. No. They are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange (as many hedge funds are) and are down about 15% since I quit and about 30% since I started. As most hedge funds have as a stated aim that they will preseve capital this is quite poor although having said that I hope they do well as the PM is a really decent chap.

PasturesNew

It must be the picture by your name, but I always thought you were an old bloke

PasturesNew

GDB2222 wrote: »

There's forward thinking, which is positive, ie working out the downside and coming up with strategies to deal with problems before they occur, and there's ... well, umm, paralysing anxiety?

And then there's Aspies
I do force myself to do normal stuff etc. It's just hard, tiring work. And sometimes it's easier to just realise the issues and accept that some things are just best left undone.

Generali

PasturesNew wrote: »

It must be the picture by your name, but I always thought you were an old bloke

Lots of people say that.

Here's me a year ago:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/richardstant/ClaphamJuly2007

fc123

I'm coming..I think that's the week I move back to London too.

GDB2222

PasturesNew wrote: »

And then there's Aspies
I do force myself to do normal stuff etc. It's just hard, tiring work. And sometimes it's easier to just realise the issues and accept that some things are just best left undone.

You have my sympathy. I think most of my family is somewhere on the Autistic spectrum. Dealing with the anxiety seems to be the most difficult bit.