Just a little hello :)

[LisaPC]

Thanks for the advice so far. I realise that if I can't find something commutable I may need to spread my wings a little. Not sure how that would go down with the missus as we have a 16-month-old toddler, but if the choices are travel or starve, I know which makes sense to me. She can't have it both ways

[ExPermie]

Might by worth discussing with the other half about the possibility of contracting further south and/or London. Investigate rail travel and stuff and/or look into Mon to Thurs accomodation costs...

but then again, you might find something 5 mins away from you LOL!

My view is to make myself 100% flexible on location but I understand that is not everyones' cup of tea.

I really am limited to up north due to family commitments. Although, depending on how long it takes me to find my next gig, I may have to search further afield. So far I've been looking at 50-mile radius/90-min drive.

[quackhandle]

Welcome. You may need to sort your cars out, that should save you a fair bit of ££££. ;o)

Good luck

qh

[LisaPC]

I really am limited to up north due to family commitments. Although, depending on how long it takes me to find my next gig, I may have to search further afield. So far I've been looking at 50-mile radius/90-min drive.

[ExPermie]

Welcome aboard!

Downside is that there is so little about for us poor Problem Managers.

Where are you looking? Just up north or UK-wide?

[LisaPC]

(I do hope that's not your real photo LisaPC, we keep that kind of thing for our LinkedIn profiles. Still if you're happy being associated with CUK...)

Edit: ah, fully reading your biog you probably aren't really a Lisa....

OK I've changed the avatar. Obviously I'm showing a little too much of my... ahem... naivety

And thanks for the welcomes (forgot my manners there)

[cojak]

(I do hope that's not your real photo LisaPC, we keep that kind of thing for our LinkedIn profiles. Still if you're happy being associated with CUK...)

Edit: ah, fully reading your biog you probably aren't really a Lisa....

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Nice to have you on board from another Lisa

[BrilloPad]

Hello

[cojak]

Welcome to CUK LisaPC!

[LisaPC]

Good morning lovely people! I only found this forum a few days ago and have so far been impressed (and sometimes amused) by the wealth of experience here, and the apparent camaraderie.

So that's the brown-nosing out of the way, so here's a little about me...

My current gig ends next Friday so I'm trawling the job boards like I'm sure we all do. What started as a 3-month contract has turned into 19 months, after multiple extensions, so I must be doing something right. They've now appointed a permie and I'll be disappointed to leave, but that's the nature of this business.

I'm fairly new to contracting; this was my first after being made redundant in December 11. I was offered this a week after I actually left my permie job, so I landed lucky. I contracted for a year between 08-09, but at the end of that I couldn't find another gig quickly enough, panicked and ended up in a permie job that I hated.

I haven't yet got fully into the contractor mentality of building a warchest... I have a very expensive wife, 3 grown-up kids and a toddler! It hasn't helped that I've had to buy 3 cars in the last 12 months. Two died and one was stolen.

In the 3 weeks since I found out that I would be gone at the end of this month, I've found the hunting really hard-going. My CV is everywhere, I've been applying for stuff that I don't really want, but I've come to realise that that's not the best when you're contracting. I need to stick to my specialty as that's what I'm best at. Downside is that there is so little about for us poor Problem Managers.

Anyway, I've realised that this has turned into quite a waffle - sorry about that! I look forward to learning from you lot.