*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Hi KC

Yes, that's exactly it... they squeeze every last drop of goodwill out of you.  Glad you've found a way out, they kind of brain wash you with 'the good of the patient' and things like the pension and AL entitlement (which are very good), but you sell your soul in the meantime.

I got into a bit of an impasse with my boss this week (who is lovely).  The school decided to tell us this week when sports day is and it's less than 3 weeks away.  Of course it's on one of my work days, boss said a firm 'no' to my leave request.  I was unimpressed as I've done so many shift swaps over the last few months to cover for others and this is the first time I've asked in return.  I basically said that I'd swap, take it as AL or unpaid, but I would not be in that day.  
She started with 'well I'll just tell the 25 patients on your list that you decided to go to your childrens' sports days shall I?'.  I do get the fact that lists are prebooked, but you can't expect flexibility and then not give it back.  
Anyway, in the end, one of my colleagues agreed to a swap... I'm having to swap several other shifts in her favour (basically anything on the rota she didn't like the look of), but whatever.
I'm literally counting down the days!

savingholmes

I sympathise. I am very glad I'm in a back office role. I couldn't cope with someone else dictating my annual leave.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks SH

It is frustrating as there's no room for spontaneity... if I wasn't leaving I'd have to be thinking of 2023 annual leave booking soon (for main holidays).  As long as I have a couple of months notice I can pretty much get what I need off if only the odd day.  DH can pretty much take what he wants off and I'm always quite envious!

I think my new role should be a bit more flexible, but my entitlement will be lower, so I'll have to be careful so it stretches.
Because I've been in the NHS over 10 years, I get 33 days AL plus 8 days BH, works out nearly 9 weeks a year because of the days I work.  Very nice!  New role is the standard 25 plus 8 BHs.  I believe there's the option to buy extra days though, so will check that out.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Nice half term so far, did 2 Merlin attractions over 2 days (those passes have been a good investment) and a NT place yesterday. I bought chips and ice cream at the Merlin places and an ice cream for them yesterday.  Total spend over the 3 days was £50... but I managed to get all 5 of them out with no problem and there was no arguing/aggro which is priceless!
Having a chore day today so that the house is presentable for the long weekend and they all have clean clothes to wear , we have friends over for a BBQ tomorrow and family over on Sunday.  Hosting is always pricey, but it's fine and is budgeted for.

mark55man

enjoy your long weekend - its only Thursday and I am already confused as to what day it is - goodness knows what state I will be in on Sunday

savingholmes

Glad you are getting the benefit from the passes. Hope the hosting went well/goes well and you get time to relax too. 

I buy extra annual leave when I can - makes a big difference.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

DH and I are in a quandary... we are desperate to move away from home counties (boring) suburbia.... somewhere calmer where our money stretches further and with more greenery and peace around us.  DH is now home based and my job can be anywhere.
We've had our house valued last week at £800k and are researching other areas, but our tiny minds are struggling.  We want more land, with potential income (holiday let(s)?)... not so remote that our kids will struggle to get to education/work, but remote enough that we don't have our current constant flow of people.
Any ideas?  We need 5 bed minimum (with some land), within a few miles of a decent town and good schools.  I think if we don't do it within next 12 month, DC4 will start secondary and then we'll be stuck here for another few years.  DC1 is about to finish school. DC 2 and 3 are very up for a move.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

PS I'm much more adventurous than DH, when I first went into radiography, it was with a plan to qualify and to move to NZ.  He eventually (after I'd retrained) admitted he had no compulsion to move abroad as we could get that lifestyle in the UK.  At the time it caused massive problems... I'd studied 4 years with an aim and he shat on it at the last minute.  
13 years on we're still living in the endless circle of home counties hell and I'm done, have been for decades (and so is he - finally!!).  He's thinking Wales (I'm not so sure without a lot of research, especially with education and whether we'd need to learn Welsh?).  I'm thinking more Devon, Yorkshire or Peak District (just because I've been regularly and find them all beautiful)

enthusiasticsaver

We moved away from the South East more than 30 years ago to Cornwall and never regretted it.  I know several people who moved to Wales too and don't think they needed to learn Welsh.  The prices of houses have  gone up a fair bit here though since Covid as many people are now able to work from home and are moving away from the cities. 

savingholmes

Lots of beautiful places. Sounds exciting