Contractor Dilema

[Platypus]

Summer holidays don't last a year

Ah, but when you're a kid, summer holidays seem to last forever

[vetran]

take a contract / permie job abroad?

must be a AUZ/US customer for your Niche skills. You have £250K deposit and are wanted individual can you get sponsored?

Assuming your war chest is strong enough do 6 months work 6 months travelling in the school holidays.

1 year over there, enrol them in the local high quality fee paying school. They come back with a proper attitude to education. Your wife gets her tan, you rent your house to pay the mortgage.

You come back with exposure to another market which enhances your skills. And probably kiddie number 4.

It does sound like she is getting restless. are you spending enough couple time? Kids to Grannies, send your wife to La Senza with the credit card and then both of you to a nice little hotel.

He is right it doesn't just mean catholic, confused me when I went over to Ireland first time, to hear a protestant jokingly calling an ex boxer with 3 kids a left footer.

Urban Dictionary: left footer

[Old Hack]

take a contract / permie job abroad?

must be a AUZ/US customer for your Niche skills. You have £250K deposit and are wanted individual can you get sponsored?

Assuming your war chest is strong enough do 6 months work 6 months travelling in the school holidays.

1 year over there, enrol them in the local high quality fee paying school. They come back with a proper attitude to education. Your wife gets her tan, you rent your house to pay the mortgage.

You come back with exposure to another market which enhances your skills. And probably kiddie number 4.

It does sound like she is getting restless. are you spending enough couple time? Kids to Grannies, send your wife to La Senza with the credit card and then both of you to a nice little hotel.

You are right it doesn't just mean catholic, confused me when I went over to Ireland first time, to hear a protestant jokingly calling an ex boxer with 3 kids a left footer.

Urban Dictionary: left footer

I am too old, I think, to get a kiwi work permit, but worth a gas. I actually said to the wife, I believe I should be looking at a foreign role as an adventure, and was ironically offered one not long ago which we discussed. I guess, maybe, her looking back with the decision we shouldn't do it, has played on her mind.

We have only, realistically, got one set of grandparents (mine too old and would probably forget they have them), who have offered to take the kids for a week, so yes, I thought something like Madrid and an open wallet would be good.

I am starting to think maybe the 4 weeks this summer, and a promise to take next summer off would be ok. We have the 4 odd weeks this August, and she may hate the idea by the end of August, so we'll see. I'd actually like a little adventure, she's sown a very good seed!

Some great advice here, which was refreshing.

Thanks.

[SimonMac]

Left Footer is anyone who is deemed to be not normal or wrong, for example the tiag's call us prods Left-Leggers too

[vetran]

VISA no age limit if you have money.

They changed it a bit so it may not be as generous

Business Talent (Permanent) (subclass 132) visa


Well heeled, self sufficient business / retired people are quite attractive migrants.

Should imagine if you have > £1m assets any country will want you (you mentioned place in France & UK)

[NotAllThere]

My plan is to give it another five years. By then the kids will be old enough for me and the missus to leave behind, while we tour the world.

[Old Hack]

Left Footer is anyone who is deemed to be not normal or wrong, for example the tiag's call us prods Left-Leggers too

Precisely. I have heard the term used, pretty much, exactly that; as a polite term for those not considered normal...

[Old Hack]

They changed it a bit so it may not be as generous

Business Talent (Permanent) (subclass 132) visa


Well heeled, self sufficient business / retired people are quite attractive migrants.

Should imagine if you have > £1m assets any country will want you (you mentioned place in France & UK)

Place in France was cheap as chips (€150k~). I would be retired had I had £1m in my pot, I must admit. Slightly shy of that.

[VirtualMonkey]

FWIW I think the year out is a real no-goer. Too much disruption for the kids...school isn't just about academic learning, it's life skills that you might not consider.

I'd do a big 6 week holiday in the school break...North America and Hawaii somewhere.
The a short break at half term...New York, Prague, some nice city with lots to do.
Christmas this year we are going to lapland for 3 nights so I'd recommend that.
Then there's another half term afterwards, etc....you get the picture.
You'll probably see more of the world and get more excitement from the "What's next" conversations.
In between you can still work the contract.

Just my 2c though
HTH

[Old Hack]

FWIW I think the year out is a real no-goer. Too much disruption for the kids...school isn't just about academic learning, it's life skills that you might not consider.

I'd do a big 6 week holiday in the school break...North America and Hawaii somewhere.
The a short break at half term...New York, Prague, some nice city with lots to do.
Christmas this year we are going to lapland for 3 nights so I'd recommend that.
Then there's another half term afterwards, etc....you get the picture.
You'll probably see more of the world and get more excitement from the "What's next" conversations.
In between you can still work the contract.

Just my 2c though
HTH

I appreciate it. Thanks.

I took the eldest to Lapland in 2010. Apart from the flights, it was magical. If we stay here, then I'll be taking #2 to Lapland this year too. If you get your head around the commercial side of it, its really quite wonderful.

Now it's persuading the wife what to do. I think she actually needs to stop being a full time mum. Shes gone from being a commited contractor, to full time mum, and I think the lack of social interaction with her peers, and not other stay at home mums, is getting to her. I also think her vetoing the big gig in Holland is coming back to haunt her.

Cheers for the advice, it's all welcome. Well, with the obvious caveats...