Reply to: Advice from long commuters

[courtg9000]

Which is true 80-90% of the time. Then the other times are leaves on the line, snow, faulty trains and the Friday evening jumper.

If commuting by train, leave early on a Friday or WFH. Jumpers tend to pick Friday about 3pm.

Oh and 8 in the morning on any week day

[ladymuck]

Commuting via train isn't too bad as you can at least read, work, etc, and not be sitting in traffic.

qh

Which is true 80-90% of the time. Then the other times are leaves on the line, snow, faulty trains and the Friday evening jumper.

If commuting by train, leave early on a Friday or WFH. Jumpers tend to pick Friday about 3pm.

[Gibbon]

The cavern is almost next door to the old Racing Post site has a rep for drugs and music memorabilia. About 500 yards from Raynes Park Station if you are heading toward your old site (Just before the left you need to take).
The Fountain was still open just before Lockdown.
I never seemed to like drinking in Surbiton
More of a Wimbledon Village man

Yeah I know what you mean about Surbiton, but the few contractors who went out lived round there, so used to bus it. Fountain was starting to be my downfall as once I got to know a few of the regulars I was never allowed to just walk past on my way back from site. That's when I started OU to keep me out of it until 10pm. Used to eat at a Sardinian place just before the railway bridge on Kingston Road. Used to down 3 course for £11 mid week, very good fish, used to see the owner early on a morning coming back from Billingsgate at 6am as I was walking to site.

Was actually one of my favourite contracts there, both work and environment, just paid crap.

[courtg9000]

Old Racal site, was Thales when I was there, then they moved down to a super site at Crawley, but there's nothing super about Crawley. Did a quick 6 monther and made some excuses around a poxy 1 month renewal, and never went back!

Don't recall the Cavern Pub, had digs in New Malden, so used the Fountain as a local, think it shut once spoons opened up. Did most of my heavy drinking in Surbiton and the West End.

The cavern is almost next door to the old Racing Post site has a rep for drugs and music memorabilia. About 500 yards from Raynes Park Station if you are heading toward your old site (Just before the left you need to take).
The Fountain was still open just before Lockdown.
I never seemed to like drinking in Surbiton
More of a Wimbledon Village man

[Gibbon]

I would argue you did, you mislead the hotel in to thinking you were working for them, granted they didn't ask but that's because they trusted you, and when asked to provide evidence you ran off. Rather an extreme word but if the definition is 'fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain' then you technically commited fraud. I can see why you think you didn't but looking from the outside it's about as clear as it can be.

We'll have to differ on that.

[Gibbon]

Raynes Park? My old stomping ground! Racing Post? Racal as was?
Were you introduced to the delights of the Cavern pub?

Old Racal site, was Thales when I was there, then they moved down to a super site at Crawley, but there's nothing super about Crawley. Did a quick 6 monther and made some excuses around a poxy 1 month renewal, and never went back!

Don't recall the Cavern Pub, had digs in New Malden, so used the Fountain as a local, think it shut once spoons opened up. Did most of my heavy drinking in Surbiton and the West End.

[courtg9000]

WHS, back a few years when I started being interested in the arts and stuff, deliberately took a tulip contract at Raynes Park so had access into central London. Made enough but not loads over 4 days as two days were nearly half day excursions and the next morning's nursing hangovers.

Raynes Park? My old stomping ground! Racing Post? Racal as was?
Were you introduced to the delights of the Cavern pub?

[northernladuk]

I didn't commit fraud as I didn't pretend to work for them in any way, just asked that I could book a room at their rate. Anyway turns out I had done myself as I went to another better hotel and said how long I was there and they gave me a cheaper rate, doh!

I would argue you did, you mislead the hotel in to thinking you were working for them, granted they didn't ask but that's because they trusted you, and when asked to provide evidence you ran off. Rather an extreme word but if the definition is 'fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain' then you technically commited fraud. I can see why you think you didn't but looking from the outside it's about as clear as it can be.

[Gibbon]

So you are saying you should get a commercial rate and then admit you didn't fraudulently and got caught? Proper smart that is.

I didn't commit fraud as I didn't pretend to work for them in any way, just asked that I could book a room at their rate. Anyway turns out I had done myself as I went to another better hotel and said how long I was there and they gave me a cheaper rate, doh!

[quackhandle]

Commuting via train isn't too bad as you can at least read, work, etc, and not be sitting in traffic.

qh

[vwdan]

You were completely ****ed that weekend I met you.

I'm still hungover!

[psychocandy]

97 miles? Massive swerve for me. But I hate commuting in a car, I'd moan if it was 10 miles.

Just so much wasted time.

qh

Two days a week though - so just 2x 97miles if I stay over. 3.5 hours a week pretty much.

My last/current gig is about 15 miles away. I reckon that used to take me a combined total of 1 1/5 hours per day due to traffic. So x5 thats even more.

Saying that gig before as Im sure I mentioned, 90 mins door to door (albeit via train) each way. Adds up a lot. 15 hours a week travelling.....

[psychocandy]

Interesting it always seems the contractor types that prefer these gigs away from home are the ones that are sick of the kids and spouse and looking for an escape / "bit of an adventure"

Cant you search for dogging sites?

[caffeine man]

Decent gig but they want someone in the office two days per week.
1hr 45 mins each way (without traffic) - 97 miles.

I've done gigs in the past about 1hr 15min away and that did my head in. I did one for two years that I caught a train, but was still almost 2 hours door to door every day. Got used to sleeping on the train.

This one, alas, train isnt an option.

I'm guessing two days a week is going to make a huge difference to five? Probably too far to drive though for each of those two days and better to stay over maybe?

Looking for opinions here....

IF you are in the office two days I week, you only need to stay over one night. As you are working inside, you need to cut costs. Try looking for a room on airbnb?

[northernladuk]

Same, there's obviously a lot of drawbacks about staying away - but actually I found when both my wife and I were working full time I might aswell stay away than have a huge commute because at least I'm not completely ****ed on a weekend.

You were completely ****ed that weekend I met you.