Commute ?

[oliverson]

265 miles on a Monday and 265 miles on a Friday. Got digs near to office.

Similar here - 250 miles each way, Monday to Friday with occasional day WFH. 20 mins each way to client site midweek.

I often wish I was on a contract local to home but here's the rub:
'Away' - total commute = 10 hours
'Home' - total 'likely' commute = 12 hours (where likely = one of the two large cities near home.

The obvious pro's of being at home are, well, being at home but the pro's of being away are setting my alarm clock for 08:00 each day and doing my own thing on an evening. Then when you consider the difference in rates, after deduction of expenses, I could work 18 weeks less on the 'away' contract (but as a contractor I never do!)

[BCT]

Current contract, about ten mins cycle each way, next contract, 1hr50 each way, but that's what I get for living near rubbish rail link.

[bracken]

I need a shorter commute...

Client is in London City, I live in sleepy mid-sussex where trains are a rarity...so, it's roughly 2 hours door to door -15 min drive to the station, an occasional 5 mins arguing with a local resident about why I have to park outside their house rather than pay £80 per month to park at the station, 5 mins to walk to the station, 5 mins having a dump in the station loo (although I do really try to retain it for expulsion 'on client time' as it's more satisfying) 80 mins on 2 trains (1 change), 15 min walk over London Bridge to get to the office (or another train into Canon Street if it's raining / I need to get to the office quickly to have a dump).

In the 7 years I've been contracting, I've always had a long commute and never managed a gig close to home although I do 'Shirk from home' one or two days a week...Best I've had was a gig in Birmingham where I left at 5:30 in the morning to get to the office for 10:30, took digs so worked my arse off until late afternoon Thursday, worked from home Friday. I only managed it for 6 months before I jacked it in...

I now feel depressed about my commute...

B

[Old Greg]

2 hours each way door to door but I work at home 2 to 4 days per week and I do less than 9 to 5 when on site.

[aytri]

10 minute walk to the station, 20 minutes to London, 15 minutes on 2 tubes, 5 minute walk to ClientCo.

About 50 mins door-to-desk.

[alluvial]

110 miles each way.
I used to be in B&B but realised that driving a banger up and down is cheaper and I may as well sit for two hours in the car and listen to the radio instead of in some tulip room watching crap TV.

[MicrosoftBob]

Current contract about 330 miles each way, so have digs a 5 minute walk away from the office

[I just need to test it]

Most of you have it easy. Tsk.

An hour's drive, a 90 minute flight and another hour's drive, every Mon and Fri, except when I am in our Eastern European office which requires a 3 hour drive, a 2.5 hour flight and a 30 min drive Mon and Fri.

It's kind of killing me actually. Setting the alarm for 3am is tough but the staying awake until close of play and being productive is the bit that I find even harder.

[Lockhouse]

Normally two hours each way - Hampshire to Canary Wharf\City. Sometimes I cycle the tube bits. Been doing it for ten years now but that's where the $$$ is.

[GlenW]

10 mins drive to Crossflats station, 20ish minute train journey to Leeds and a 5 minute walk to the office.

Journey home can take longer on a Friday as Wetherspoons is too tempting to miss.