New job, new beginnings.

Nottoobadyet

How annoying!!! What a pain, I hope the job and your dad get sorted. Welcome to diary land!

patman99

My dad is a law unto himself.

Last week ended well, with the U's finally winning at home. Here's hopping for two on the trot when Daggers visit tomorrow night.

My eye-op is now a 'definate' as I had the appointment confirmation call this evening.
Will have to miss the JPT clash with old rivals Wycombe though, as not sure if my eye will have settled-down enough in 24 hours.

I know this may sound really strange, but even though I hate hospitals with a vengance, I am looking-forward to my op as it means that for the first time in my life I will be able to see without my glasses. As a keen photographer it will make using a camera so much easier.

patman99

Got a 'free' bus ride on Tuesday night as the service bus driver couldn't find the 'Match day rover' entry on the ticket machine. However, it still cost £1.50 each for me and my son to travel the last 'mile' on the shuttle bus. The game was a real derby-day bruiser, with 2 U's players picking-up a nasty injury (Okuonghae - clash of heads with Vincelot, and Tierney - dislocated shoulder in sliding clearance).

We decided to walk back to pick-up the service bus rather than catch the shuttle. It took us 1/2 hour, but was a really nice walk. As we didn't have a match-day rover, it cost £3.60 to get back on the service bus. Found out the next day that parking at Colchester's North Station is only £2 after 6.00 pm, and as it is only 1/2 hours walk from the stadium. Ohh well, I live and learn. Anyway, by the time the next home game happens, I will have had my eye op, so may park at the station (£2 all day Sat & Sun) and cross the road to catch the shuttle.
The game after that will be easier, as I will be able to park at work, which is only 5 mins walk away from he ground.

One good thing, a long-term friend is starting on a work placement at the same employer as me on the day I have my op, so I will get a good insite into how the company operates prior to starting.

Just realised that as I will no longer need to wear spectacles, I will need to invest in a pair of safety glasses (in case my new employer doesn't provide them). Luckily there is a 'Screwfix' in Colchester, so no probs there then.

Ordered 4 LED bulbs for my GU10 ceiling lights this week. Cost £106, but only use 9w and output same light levels as 50w halogens. Will save me about £10 p/month in electric so worth the investment. Will order another 4 to fit in son's bedroom.
Have also been looking at a device that plugs-in in between a device and the power socket and reduces the voltage to 220v (anything made between 1995 and now will work between 176v & 250v). As we are running at 230v at present, I'm not sure if the savings would be worth it.

One thing I have noticed though, since I cannot clearly see the screen on my main PC & have switched to using a laptop, my power bills have gone down by £10 a month.

boredofbeingathome

Hi Patman- you are being very positive about everything.

Absolute pain about the car and i can't believe how quickly they managed to move the garage-*gulp*

I agree with saving electricity last year i managed to get my bills right down and saved a fortune. I then looked around for a good deal when my capped rate went( with cashback ). I now pay £62 a month for gas and electricity and i asked to up it to that so i will be in credit with my bills. It is worth looking at all power consumption and the libraries are lending out free energy monitors if you haven't already got one.

Good luck with your cataracts op- i hope it works for you.

patman99

Thnx Bob.

Cataract op cancelled at last minute due to a minor complication.

Last night our Hoover washer/dryer packed-up again as the dryer failed for the 5th time in 12 1/2 months. Luckily, last time the Comet engineer turned-up, he told us that Hoover admitted to them in April that there was a design fault and were sending-out a complete set of new parts. Comet even gave us an extra 30 days cover with the agreement that should it break down with the modified parts, they would allow us to choose a new machine free of charge.

Got a phone consult with GP tomorrow, will be asking for a re-referral re eye-op (want it done under general anesthetic this time), also realised ust how low I've been feeling since losing my job, so will ask for anti-deps. as well.

This just shows that it pays to complain.

patman99

First day in the new job and I'm knackered. My original position of brake press operator is somewhat 'fluid' as the machine in question is still in Romsey.
So, spent the first couple of hours stacking cylindrical sound-deadeners, then the rest of the day helping an old friend gluing thin sheets of fibreglass to sheets of steel mesh.

On the down side, the car has developed another problem, the speedo stopped-working when I set-off for a meeting, but strangely, it worked on the way home.
Have now stuck a years tax on the van just in case.
Will stick the car in my local car auctions and see what I can get for it. At least I won't have to point-out any faults with it.
Am quite happy to trundle back and forth to work in my van until I have a large deposit saved for an ex-demo or nearly-new motor (don't want to get stung with 17.5% vat or £2k new vehicle tax). Quite fancy a Mitsubishi Warrior, 4 doors, diesel-powered & only £205 to tax.

patman99

Day 2 of the new job, and the boss has hit us with a big downer. With immediate effect, all morning breaks are now unpaid. This means I will be short by £10 p/w, and all thanks to the fact that my Polish colleagues have been systematically taking the rise by taking longer breaks than allowed.

patman99

First week in new job was a real downer, I've never felt so depressed in my life.
On Thursday the car problem re-occured so lost a days work on Friday. Spoke to my mechanic, and he reckons it is the speed sensor on the gearbox. If it is, then it is likely to cost me £95 to fix.
That will leave only £4 in the new car kitty.

Started job hunting again as I've no intention of staying in my currant employment due to the back-stabbing attitude of the production manager. I said to my oh last week that if I were employed by an agency I would have phoned them up Tuesday and informed them that I would not be completing the assignment.

patman99

Our hoover washer/dryer is now fixed again (8th time in 11 1/2 months). Added about £17 worth of change to new car fund.

Just found-out that my van will run on waste veggie oil, it's a pity I have nowhere to set up a filtering plant, or I could have free motoring for a year.

Might have a way out of my current job. An agency sent me an email about a sheetmetal vacancy (just hope it isn't at the place I'm already at). Will have to email them my phone number.

patman99

Found-out today that the agency placement would be at Guilform. As this particular company is known to me due to having friends who have worked there, and who have all told me how bad it is, I think I will stick with Acoustica for now.

Have decided that priority number 1 is to pay-off one of my credit cards before Christmas.
I must check to see if my first weeks wages are in yet, if not, then will complain to the management tomorrow.