Reply to: Contract extension grass-is-greener syndrome

[psychocandy]

Port Talbot to Gloucester, 93 miles as the google maps.

Hour and a half, downhill with the wind behind you.

I think I'd find that a bit much on a regular basis.

It sort of grinds you down.

Especially if the weather is bad.

Bad traffic day used to take him 2.5 hours. Nuts.

Gig we did was CRAP CRAP CRAP rate too.

[psychocandy]

As I said, I left when it closed.

It was part of AB Electronics on the Gellihirion estate, namely the Wolsey Comcare bit, concerned with alarm telephones for the elderly & infirm.

It was ok.

Ah Rhydyfelin.....

Funnily enough I went to school there too and lived not quite on but near Glyntaff Farm estate - one of the worst in Europe apparently. Probably posh now.

But

[psychocandy]

I'm curious - what kind of work / contract was it? Can't imagine Ponty having much in the way of contracts there but would be pleasantly surprised (and amazed!) if there was anything there I could look at..

Nah nor me. Arse end of nowhere it is Im afraid.

University maybe? GE (but thats nantgarw not ponty)?
Couple of IT companies nantgarw end as well?

[Mattski]

Dunno.

I wanted to bail after 6 months, but then the permie left so I felt a bit stuck.

And it was easily commutable from Neath, being in Pontypridd.

So I stuck around until it closed.

I'm curious - what kind of work / contract was it? Can't imagine Ponty having much in the way of contracts there but would be pleasantly surprised (and amazed!) if there was anything there I could look at..

[vetran]

book yourself an expensive holiday, take Mrs MF away and have a Ball..


A decade as a permie, same wamey but guess what I have a decent pension and work in my underpants if I want.

[AtW]

18

[Steelman]

Bird in the hand

Maybe you just need a holiday? I find a few days off work a treat.

If you can secure another good contract before leaving then go, but don't leave yourself adrift without something on the horizon. Bird in the hand and all that.

But at least you're not training offshore chappies (or r u?)

I'm also thinking about abandoning ship - manager is promising a new shiny project; however the old project updates are now immediately going to some bobs in the middle east (they're not always from dia) No way in hell they're going to get there without serious hand holding. the realisation dawned that maybe the *new* project is just a ruse and when the new cheaper bods are running they will can me on the week's notice thing. the extension is for a few months (on paper). once they know the old project they will be able to grasp the new one effectively making my more expensive ass redundant (its related). they are irritatingly super keen.

I dislike having to train new people for my role (I shouldn't - i know- but it sticks). BUT mainly cos its boring and I will be doing little dev which isn't great for my skillset. I just have a bad feeling in my gut that once the handover is sorted I will be packed off - clearly the new guys are FAR cheaper than my onshore resource, and I really think the manager's endgame is to save money and get the new guys in quicksmart. I think he said a few mths just to get me to stay - he admitted we need to transfer knowledge.

Cynic or pragmatic?

Anyone else been left to train the offshore dudes and find themselves benched sooner than they thought?

[psychocandy]

Dunno.

I wanted to bail after 6 months, but then the permie left so I felt a bit stuck.

And it was easily commutable from Neath, being in Pontypridd.

So I stuck around until it closed.

The next contract was in Cheltenham, which wasn't commutable, though I did try for a week.

Born and brought up there!

Yeh cheltenham- neath is bit of a trek. Did work with a guy who drove port talbot - gloucester every day.

[psychocandy]

I'm the same. The only downside for me is the five hundred mile round trip every weekend.

Also, the longer one stays at the same place the more one's unused skills rust, and the less chance there is to learn new things

Ah if I was away from home it'd make the decision easier for me. No brainer. Got a few quid in warchest = bail.

Thats the other thing. Cough up a gig just about daily commutable then be forced in few months to take a mon-fri. Not cool for me.

[TheFaQQer]

Also, the longer one stays at the same place the more one's unused skills rust, and the less chance there is to learn new things

That's the thing that concerns me most about staying in the same place.

He says as he waits to see if the extension is going to happen to take me to over three years...

[psychocandy]

It's even worse if they're doing extensions by the month.

I had gate fever at that place.

Then it closed & I woz free, free I tell you, free.

And happy with it.

Isnt this better at least from a decision point of view? ITs only a month and its crap so more reason to bail.

[Bunk]

Then again, my other mind is thinking, bail from this one, spend months on the dole then be forced to take a tulipe rate because Im skint!

FTFY

Well, if I didn't say it, someone else would have

[unixman]

I can only describe it as cabin fever, if it's not the permies being miserable as their next restructure starts to bite, it's the reality that despite the money you're getting homesick and there's only so many pub dinners you can manage

What he said.

Nothing at all wrong with my contract, and I know I am lucky to have it. Great client, same-ish work. okay rate, nice landlady. But oh I dunno...

On the subject of clients, I think those in the telecoms sector are more friendly than others.

[OwlHoot]

I'm on my 6th extension, with possibly a 7th coming up, I've managed to stay out of client politics, negotiate some home working, but still the urge to move is strong in this one

I can only describe it as cabin fever, if it's not the permies being miserable as their next restructure starts to bite, it's the reality that despite the money you're getting homesick and there's only so many pub dinners you can manage

I'm the same. The only downside for me is the five hundred mile round trip every weekend.

Also, the longer one stays at the same place the more one's unused skills rust, and the less chance there is to learn new things

[MicrosoftBob]

I'm on my 6th extension, with possibly a 7th coming up, I've managed to stay out of client politics, negotiate some home working, but still the urge to move is strong in this one

I can only describe it as cabin fever, if it's not the permies being miserable as their next restructure starts to bite, it's the reality that despite the money you're getting homesick and there's only so many pub dinners you can manage