Benched!

[wobbegong]

Thanks for your comments chaps, the majority confirm what I secretly felt; crack on until the offers dry up, while BrowneIssue sums up perfectly how I'm feeling at the mo'.

[MarillionFan]

As above. Depends on your funds.

BUT!

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Contractor my son!

[OrangeHopper]

Simple, look for work. Don't miss out on any opportunity in this climate. In the meantime, keep an eye on the war chest. Do you have enough savings to cover 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years?

From someone who fell foul of the post dot com bust.

[ferret]

Sorry to hear that wobbegong. My suggestion is to look for work straight away, if you find something then take it. If you are lucky enough to get something now then thank your lucky stars and stash more cash away just in case things get worse. If the market picks back up you can afford to have the time off secure in the knowledge you will be more likely to find a contract when you want to work, if things get worse you can come back and thank me for helping you stash some more away while you could

[BrilloPad]

Sorry to hear that. I hope whatever choice you make is the right one.

[TheFaQQer]

You only live once. Why waste it at work?

WHS.

Plus - is there a fray to get back into?

[BrowneIssue]

You only live once. Why waste it at work?

[shoes]

If you've got the option start another contract, you can always leave. Make me feel better about my decision to do that instead of taking time off by doing the same as me.

It'll get worse! There will be more folk chasing the same work as the year progresses... take it whilst it's going. If it is.

[oracleslave]

Is there room on the bench for a <*ahem*> "little" one?

Benched today, now the dilemma, take some much needed 'me' time off to recharge , or get staight back into the fray?

I'm tempted to go for the former.

What do the panel think is the best course of action?

If you have a war chest the size of The Millionaire Dimprawn take some time off. Otherwise get back out there you lazy git

[wobbegong]

Is there room on the bench for a <*ahem*> "little" one?

Benched today, now the dilemma, take some much needed 'me' time off to recharge , or get staight back into the fray?

I'm tempted to go for the former.

What do the panel think is the best course of action?