I feel like I know one or two of you after speaking to you all online over the past few months. What I don't know is what you all do when you're not on here, and I feel I'm missing out on something.
Mark's a lawyer of some sort, DavidW is a professional fenman and Toad is a country landowner with thousands of acres of rolling countryside, but apart from that, no ideas.
I'll start - I'm a salesman for a large computer manufacturer, selling the kind of thing that keeps your bank account running (please don't blame me for any mistakes your bank has made recently) or the goods on the shelves of your local supermarket (ditto complaints about lack of Kelloggs Cornflakes in Tescos).
Anyone else prepared to confess? Remember, in the anonymous world of cyberspace you can be anything you want to be...
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Mark's a lawyer of some sort,
[*snigger*] Of the barrack room variety, I believe!
Sportswriter, me.
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>>and Toad is a country landowner with thousands of acres of rolling countryside, but apart from that, no ideas.
I wouldn`t say Toad had *no* ideas, just strange ones !!
As for me, TelCo - startups, mergers & acquisitions, usually the Americas, but not always, typically interim CIO or COO, occasionally CEO.
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Finance director of a company which makes equipment for pharmaceutical research. Didn't intend to end up here - I had set myself up as a consultant to help dotcom start-ups wanting to establish a finance department. Turned out that none of them were interested in having a finance department, which helps explain why they all went bust, and I ended up buying and selling cheap old cars to pay the bills (motoring link). This job came my way in time to stop me starving to death, after a deal involving a Nissan Micra went badly wrong...
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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I'll confess to being an accountant, now much out of practice, working as finance manager for an organisation in London representing magistrates.
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I work for a large American IT services company, you can work out which one from my email!
Main area is as a DBA, but often have several "projects" on the go at the same time.
Chad.R
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Mother of two, MD of a translation agency and of a company that publishes automotive regulations (true motoring link!)
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Student at Nottingham University, just finished my second year in Electronics and Telecomms (BEng Hons). Guinea Pig on a new sponsorship course ran by Marconi (they started doing this before the company decided to turn) where I work at Marconi Optical Networks 2 weeks of every 3 and go to Uni the other. In turn they pay my fees and give me money!
No motoring link as of yet but I hope to move into employment with something to do with cars - just a big, big interest in them at the moment.
Cheers,
Mark.
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Me? I'm in that splendid situation where all of you are paying for my pension. However, looking back on that 65 years, I do seem to have fiddled around at lots of things. The engineering apprenticeship, making oil drilling rigs in the late fifties and supplementing my 37/6 a week (Sorry all you youngsters, £1.75) by building E93A based "specials" and making a small profit so that I could run my Vincent series C. Some sea time with Esso on those decrepit T2 tankers, left over and rusting away, after WW2, and getting a bit fed up after surviving one of those hurricanes off the American coast and ending up spending six weeks in Trindad while the battered ship was put right. Come to think of it, that was not too bad. The "currency" was cigarettes (you could get "anything" for fags)and we had tins of 50 which only cost us 1/3d on board ship (Sorry, about 8p). Getting back on shore in time to get involved in tarting up a succesion of Hillman Minxs's and Austin A40's, imported from the Republic of Ireland with, for that time, enormous mileages, but very saleable in those car starved times.
Somehow, after that, what seemed like ten years but, in reality, thirty four, with that great Company Castrol, in the engineering division. Now, that WAS fantastic and it will all be revealed when I write my book ! ! !
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Me I am corporate lawyer for my sins. Working in PFI etc.
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£1.75 is only thirty five bob. Says the man who has to check every time his father says something is 'X pounds ten'. Does he mean £X.10 or £X.50? After 31 years!
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>>....and supplementing my 37/6 a week (Sorry all you youngsters, £1.75)
£1.87 and a half pence, surely ?
Old of RLBS.
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'96-to present...
I'm now in software training & support for specialist billing analysis packages for Mobile & Fixed Wire Telcos and their customers (UK & Europe).
'95-'96, Customer Support for a PC supplier
'90-'95, (In-House) Systems Trainer
'83,'90, TV & Video installer
'79-'83, Delivery Driver (7.5 tonne)
'72-'79, RAFP (QPD)
B4 that I was being educated (???)
Regards
John R
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Graphic Design/Desk-Top Publishing @ The Open University in sunny Milton Keynes!
Only on here today because it's a rest day in the Tour de F...
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Astronomer
Yes really! Building hi-tech interuments for large optical and infra-red telescopes and doing a little astronomy research when I can squeeze it past the project manager. It is really a jack-of-all-trades type of job...mech engineering, electronics, software, instrument commissioning.
Doesnt pay well, lousy job security but I do get to travel to wonderful places and do interesting types of work.
Ian L.
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Ian,
Been to Atacama yet ?
Mark.
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Mark,
Nope, ALMA (to be built in the Atacama desert is a series of millimetre wave telescopes....I am currently a poor optical/infra-red specialist, hope to get out to Chile
(Cerro Paranal) soon. If I can pull the trip off then I will almost certainly take some holiday and visit Atacama as I have an old friend (mech engineer) who recently started working on the ALMA project.
regards
Ian
ps did you get anywhere with importing your truck?
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If you go to Chile make sure you consult with me first - there is a lot of great things to see & do, and, if its a holiday, I can tell you about cheap yet good accomodation.
As for the Truck, in principle it is arranged, but I haven't actioned it yet. Purely time pressures.
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Ah, can't turn up a chance to indulge in this. Brit, old enough to know better, but not too old to quit. Early work life (late 50's through mid 60's) spent in m/c and auto trade in UK. Left UK in '65 to drive a 90 quid CA Van London-Nepal and came back up the Gulf and Iraq on a pilgrim ship. Did it again, and again, and again, for money, running overland India trips in the hippy heyday. Spent time in Australia with Goodyear and drove 27,000 miles round it in 10 months in a $150 55 FJ Holden. Further hippiesque trips Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Trans Siberian railroad. American Express Card Division OPs and HR, 9 years in Europe, Iran and Gulf, then DHL 19 years in Gulf, Saudi, HK and Philippines where came to a halt and retired. Have visited most countries except Latin America. Have gorgeous partner last 5 years half own age (less actually), biker chick and formidable businesswoman by turns, am currently changing Harleys from a sedate Road King to a custom monster with straight thru pipes - yee-ha-- (pick it up tomorrow), own 2 1966 Mustangs, a Honda trailie and a Ford Lariat 4WD. Fascinated longtime by blues music and currently writing ahistory of the genre in between posts to the Back Room. That's far too much already and if you want more you'll have to wait for the book. Sorry if I often send you flippant posts but anything I say about Philippines traffic is all true and anyway you guys living over there with the PC-freaks, the eco-loonies and the ethnic minority-chip-on-the-shoulder traffic wardens under the Wise Guidance of Your Great Leader (N. Korea's got nothing on Blair for the cult of personality -- I know I've been there) deserve any attempt to give you a laugh.
I did remark once that one does feel one "gets to know" fellow posters somewhat. Nice to see others with the same vibe. So I like this place. Hope they let me stick around. That's more than enough already. Use good rubber, drive safe and for those of you are bikers too, remember to keep the shiny side up.
Single guys-see the Philippines while you can. Older ones, this is the age of Viagra, so your cool too.
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Like John R a Snowdrop (RAFP) then 22 yrs on and off powering a jam sandwidge in my 30 years in the most hated profession by motorists and wrong doers alike.(Give me a break guys no threatening phone calls in the middle of the night etc as I am now an OAP). Then driving a Merc Van, servicing HMPs with victuals, until full retirement last year.
Nice to see I am amongst the elite here.
John R - why aren't you a member of the RAFP Association? Check its Web Page and get signed in or your on a 252.
DVD
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I am a scientist working for the government. I specialise in identifying land that is contaminated, identifying who should pay for it to be cleaned and getting it clean so that either the people who live on it are no longer at risk or developers can build on it without risk of harm to health.
Nothing motoring related except a love of cars and a b***** of a commute every day.
Jonathan
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Vying with DVD to have one of the most hated professions as a Town Planner (policy) for a Council in South East & part time Msc student at Reading. Fighting the system and challenging the current theories of 'sustainable transport' etc!
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Mechanical building services engineer, mainly designing fascinating stuff like heating, ventilating, air conditioning, compressed air, steam, clean rooms,, etc..
C**p pay. Gizza job.
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Gosh, what a fascinating spectrum of careers, I think I must be at the bottom of the pile.
Mechanical Engineer (Failed)
Motorcycle Courier (Failed)
Dog Handler (Failed)
Driving Instructor (Struggling)
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>>Gosh, what a fascinating spectrum of careers, I think I must be at the bottom of the pile.
No you're not - I'm a teacher!! Even worse my subjects are Geography and games!! Though I've now dropped the games 'cos I'm getting on a bit! No abuse please, I get enough of that in the day job!!
PhilW
And I also have owned Citroens for the last 15 years!!
I'm having another glass of red!!
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PhilW - were you ever a teacher in Esher?
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Rebecca,
Nope, never taught in Esher - Northampton, Manchester, Leicestershire. But I was an estate agent in Bournemouth for a few years!! That's even worse than admitting to being a teacher!!
PhilW
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Rebecca wrote:
PhilW - were you ever a teacher in Esher?
Gor blimey, so you're a poet as well as them other clever things! Almost!
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
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mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk
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It rhymes perfectly when you've had as much red wine as wot i've had
philW
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In that case, somewhere out there there's ANOTHER wine-drinking, geography-teaching, citroen-driving chap called Phil W.
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Independent Financial Adviser. Part time steam engine driver, part time Land Rover something or other. Spent some time as a long distance lorry driver. (Always wanted to drive the big ones since I was a Kid, so I did) Served an engineering apprenticeship and ended up in the finance department of the company.
Cracking idea for a thread Vin.
Alyn Beattie
I'm sane, it's the rest of the world that's mad.
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Cracking idea for a thread Vin.
Indeed!
And I'm glad it's been expanded to include "WORST JOB"!
Mine? Dismembering chickens in a food processing plant for a few months.
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That reminds me. Working in the dark in mushroom sheds with a hand-held lamp picking out the brown diseased ones. 4/4d per hour.
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Traffic Warden and lay preacher. I love you all.
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Early (very) retired from looking after outdoor Engineering work/projects.
Now at various times.....House-husband...Motor Engineer...Grassland Smallholder...Unpaid motoring writer.
Today/this week?? Haymaking like mad!
David W
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Started to write it all down, it bores ME, so I'll let you all off!
Tomo
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Designer of limited edition motoring books such as:
Aston Martin DB3S, (Chris Nixon)
Bristol Car, (L.J.K. Setright)
Richard 'Dick' Seaman, (Doug Nye)
Compleat [sic] Car, (Alan Archer)
Rivals, (Chris Nixon)
etc...etc
Stu.
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... oh, and ex slaughterhouse man.
(Bizarre but true).
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is there life outside the forum?
Well after reading the speed bump thread now lost the will to live!
Materials Scientist (what was known as metallurgist in old money)
Now working mainly with power industry providing solutions to corrosion problems and as you see get all over the place.
Can I start a new category of most interesting job.
Mine was forensic support to accident investigation and other general engineering failures.
worst job?
one summer spent painting holiday caravans, in the sunshine coachpainting the exterior was bonzer but crawling underneath and doing the chassis, yeeeuch!.
Total petrolhead (OK diesel then, chunter chunter!)
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Impressive Website/Portfolio/Clientele Stu.
Ever done any cycling books?...
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"Ever done any cycling books?..."
RickyBoy,
Not yet, although I see there is an Aston Martin mountain bike, hmmmmm.
Stu.
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Mechanical Engineer - worked for Electricity Supply Industry (CEGB, National Power) for over 30 years. Moved from power station engineering to renewable energy and then to power station construction and operation consents, hence an interest in environmental issues. Took early retirement in '99, and now funded partly by a pension and partly by work as a consultant for the ESI.
Regards
John S
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Bus driver, hated by most other road users and even my own passengers, insults and threats of violence every week, all for the princely sum of £4.98 per hour.
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I work for a companing that deals with the lightning threat to aircraft. We subject exterior parts, avionic systems, and sometimes whole aircraft, to realistic high-current discharges in order to verify flight-worthiness as part of the certification process. The job does have its moments, but they tend to be pretty brief! Presently struggling to support an ageing Golf GTi.
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Hello all
I've been out of the loop for a while, since I'm currently working in California and have been away from easy internet access. What at, you ask? I'm a freelance writer and editor, specializing in books on American history and culture. Quite a weird job for a boy from rural Yorkshire. Oh, and I also do some teaching, among other things to help adult learners into higher education, just because I like it.
I used to be an academic, but I got fed up with the pay and conditions. Having said that, my worst ever job was picking tomatoes for £2 per hour in the mid-1980s. And I quit being a waiter after one day. And my best? This is it.
Chris
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"in books on American history and culture"...
Part time job then is it?
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Oooh, you are a one.
As it happens there's a lot more work on the American side than the British, and American publishers pay properly, too. British reference publishers use more academics than freelancers, and academics will work for free. I know, because I sometimes hire them for writing work. On top of that, American schools and universities spend a lot more money per student on books than ours do, so the market is far, far bigger.
Chris
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Many years ago I worked at Lewisham Hospital in the then Nurses Home. I worked for three hours each evening 5 days a week for the princely sum of two shillings eleven pence and three farthings per hour. Farthings were no longer legal tender then so how the heck they calculated my wages, god only knows. It was work of the most menial kind.
I stuck it out for 10 months then reached crisis point one evening after an altercation with the head honcho during which I think the words incompetence, lying, couldn't organise the proverbial in a brewery passed my lips in reference to his managerial abilities.
I got my resignation in a second before the words 'your sacked' reached his lips.
Life has been all downhill since then!
As an total inadequate - well, nobody else I know could get sacked from a non-paying position as an advisor for the Volunteer Bureau - could I still join your club?
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Rita,
By the very act of posting, you're in the club, oo-er!
But what do you do now?
V
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Teacher for 38 years,(Art and Technology)and retiring in one and a half days time! I intend to spend my time gliding(former A.T.C. instructor) aeromodelling,and painting.(aviation subjects).
Regards,
Peter.
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Good old PM,
Thought I was bottom of the pile as 30 years as a Geog and Games teacher but Art and Technology!!
My wife is an Art teacher so I'd better post this quickly before she sees what I've written!!
Mind you, wish I was retiring that soon - enjoy your "free" time!!
PhilW
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Vin -
The least amount possible.
I have found that keeping to my pre-ordained role in life which is to get up peoples' noses and aggravate the life out of them, whether inadvertently ot otherwise, is more or less a full time occupation.
Well, someone has to do it!
Rita.
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I have found that keeping to my pre-ordained role in life which is to get up peoples' noses and aggravate the life out of them, whether inadvertently ot otherwise
I thought that that was my job!
I can't cope with all these career changes!;-(
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As an total inadequate - well, nobody else I know could get sacked from a non-paying position as an advisor for the Volunteer Bureau - could I still join your club?
Sign here, Rita!
Martyn [Back Room moderator]
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mailto:webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk
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Rita,
I think your wages would have come to £6.00 for a 40 hour week so it depends how far back your'e going.
When I left school I earned 28 shillings a week or £1.40p in new money. Mind you I felt quite rich at the time. In those days we used to pay mother board when you left school and I was left with 13 shillings for luxuries. Youv'e left me wondering when farthings were dropped ??.
alvin
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This cornucopia of personal experience is fascinating. I believe I am right in saying that the Farthing was withdrawn from circulation in 1956, but remained in notional use as currency till 1960. Thus Rita's pay could indeed have been so calculated, even though no coins were involved.
I earned a straight thirty bob when I started in the City, but soon realised I could do better sweeping the motorbike showroom floor for seven quid/week plus commission if I sold anything!
But the petrol station fiddles were the best. Working on the South Coast in the days of triple and quad Green Shield stamps, we used to get all the foreign tourists filling up. They had no use for the stamps, so us on the pumps used to collect the stamps from each sale. Big deal when a large Merc pulled up and bought 15 gallons. I know I got a stereo that way and for some reason I clearly recall, a set of curtains for the front room. Another dodge was to collect all the dribbles from the engine oil cans after someone had bought a pint to top up. Every day or so there would be several "unofficial" pints...........
On the coinage issue, the swap to decimal in 1971 caused instant inflation as everyone rounded up from old pence to new.
1 NP was 2.4 old ones, and 1/2 NP (1.2 old ones) replaced the old penny on price tags. Instant profits. I had returned to UK briefly from Oz, realised my mistake instantly and turned round and went back.
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Formerly systems and network manager for a well know PLC. Now semi-retired layabout pursuing interests in American square dancing, sailing, skiing, travel, and, oh,I nearly forgot, motoring and the motortrade.
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Beautiful, beautiful.....
Confessions, confessions, confessions right left and centre.
Now commit all to a profile....
DVD
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DVD I believe I am right in saying the statute of limitations would preclude my employer (long been absorbed by some group anyway) from laying fraud charges. Anyway I'm pretty sure I can't be extradited from the Philippines even if he does :-)
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In the words of Sir Thomas Buchman, "Try everything once except folk dancing and incest."
I believe this adequately covers it.
(and do-si-do, and sashay down!)
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Hey Ian if you haven't tried it don't knock it! Bucham,Beecham whatever American square dancing has nothing to do with folk dancing.
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Hey Ian if you haven't tried it don't knock it! Bucham,Beecham whatever American square dancing has nothing to do with folk dancing.
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Sorry for the offence Godf!
Merely pulling your chain.
The few occasions I've tried square dancing, it has been an alcohol-fueled good evening out.
You aren't a "caller", by any chance?
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Ian, no I'm not a full-time caller. I do the odd tip now and again when we have "amateur callers" night at our local club. Since we are now well off-topic, (well I do a lot of my annual mileage getting to square dance gigs. - motoring link Martyn), I might as well put the website plug in: www.squaredancing.co.uk
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Been working for various insurance & reinsurance companies since the 70's (not motor!). Ended up running the IT dept in one - not sure how that happened.
The work has led to many good friends & contacts and funds the all important interests (sport, travel, motoring & socialising). Been through the driving decades Scirocco & GTI phase - 80's, BMW & Porsche phase - 90's, now into the Volvo & Merc years. OK, comfort does matter after all!
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I've been watching this thread for the last three days thinking no way am I sticking my head above the parapet. But seeing you have mentioned the 'I' word on this forum, I'll join you and say I too have worked in Insurance for the last 24 years, and much of it in Reinsurance - and yes, some of it motor R/I. The only difference is my time has been with one company; as long as you ignore a merger four years ago. Far less interesting than some of the occupations mentioned so far - but it pays well and that's all that matters to SWHACC (She Who Has A Credit Card)!
Chris M
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Electronic design for wireless apllications with various companies for the last fifteen years.
Also tinkering with various cars that I've owned.
Currently driving a Cavalier TD, and also looking for a replacement for a recently sold Caterham, any suggestions?
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I'm a consultant systems engineer for an IT outsourcing provider. Jack of all trades where computers are concerned.
Cheers,
Alistair
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Served my time in the Merchant Navy rose to the dizzy heights of 2nd engineer. Came ashore and started at the bottom again in 1987 at Watneys as a Shift Supervisory Engineer in charge of maintenance on a line putting Watneys and Fosters into kegs. Now Chief Engineer for a family run Brewery in the Manchester area, we serve about 450 pubs of our own and the free trade. I avoid the samplings at lunch times due to wanting to get some work done in the afternoons.
Bill
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I spent 41 years with Perkins Engines, then transferred to parent company Caterpillar for a further year before retiring in 2001 when just turned 58.
I started as a 5-year Craft Apprentice in 1959 (£4.6s.7d a week) but decided to opt out after 18 months when I was due to leave the Apprentice School and work in the noisy and dirty factory. I entered the Purchase Division in 1961, first as a clerk and later as a member of the casting purchasing team. Transferred to the Drawing Office in 1965 as an engine specifications compiler, later promoted to senior compiler.
Moved to Design Standards in 1973 with the job title of standards controller but engaged in all sorts of fascinating trouble-shooting, like elimination of asbestos, sorting out engine build problems (hence my recent attempt at discussion on taper threads with FiF), investigating the specification and application of anaerobic compounds (OK, Loctite!), etc.
Set up and ran a dedicated company Patents Dept from June 1993. Also became involved in legal work for Caterpillar Inc from the time of their acquistion of Perkins in February 1998. Appointed as senior patents engineer for Caterpillar UK in early 2000. Retired at the end of March 2001.
Now work, unpaid, for two or three days a week as a steam locomotive fitter at the Nene Valley Railway, ie. the type of noisy and dirty environment that I was so pleased to avoid in 1961 when I skipped going into the Perkins factory!
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Sorry, folks - I've been away for a couple of weeks (not HM prison, either).
I was a retired Quality and EHS Manager for a defence comms company until I got beaten up to go back and do some contract work for them.
I hope to retire again in the next three months!
Ian Cook
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Got our own site, here on sunny Herts/Beds borders,Mrs Vansboy & me.
We sell vans, surprise, surprise!
Consider us to be THE people for Ex government & public utility light commercials!!Elite Van Centres, Arlesey, Beds.
Mark
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Left school at 16 and spent 3 years in the RN as an articifer apprentice. 2 years later, joined the RAF as an electrical fitter and spent 10 years working in Germany, Cyprus and Lincolnshire. I've been an engineering officer for the past 21 years and have had some cracking jobs which have taken me all over the World. However, the good times have gone and I'm looking forward to gaining my freedom. I'm never happier than when I've got my hands dirty - if it's broken, I'll fix it. Any vacancies on the NVR, Dizzy - I'm only a few miles away.
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"Any vacancies on the NVR, Dizzy - I'm only a few miles away."
Mike, we desperately need more volunteers. You'll be very welcome to join us when you escape!
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"Anyone can build a bridge which will stay up.
It takes an Engineer to build a bridge which will just stay up."
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Great thread Vin,
I'm a frustrated software engineer working for local government at present.
Worst job would have to be barman at Sandy Bay Caravan site for a summer, a more depressing vocation or vacation I cannot imagine.
Well, Ian's chicken thing is a bit rancid!
/Lee
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Lee
I once spent a summer selling bingo tickets at Golden Sands Holiday Park, Mablethorpe. I'd rather have been a barman - at least someone might have bought me a drink...
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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Ah, well that's part of the problem. I don't think any of us in the bar were given a tip over the entire summer, I'm sure we're not that unfriendly!
I neglected to mention that the accomodation was a leaky, knackered 3 berth caravan and my diet consisted almost entirely of chips and crisps. Come to think of it, the food was the saving grace...
Bingo is a funny old thing though - it seems to be booming in throughout the country, but it looks decidedly boring to me. And I can see your problem trying to flog tickets - "Yes, it's great. You sit in silence while someone reads numbers out to quickly and if you're lucky you might win a Gonk* "
Whatever happened to all the gonks? :-)
Lee.
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Gonks were bought up by council cleansing departments and are now standard livery for refuse truck grilles ;-)
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Richard,
I went on holiday to Golden Sands in 1969 and broke my arm (I was six).
Don't remember you, though.
V
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Vin
Probably because I was only one year old at the time... I may well have been to Mablethorpe in 1969 - used to go to the coast quite often with my parents and grandparents when I was little, all crammed into an Austin 1100 or Triumph Herald - I have dim memories of my father's 1100 (actually the MG version - I have pictures) boiling up somewhere in Lincolnshire, and being bought an ice cream while a local garage tried to fix the car.
All this nostalgia - I fear I am becoming middle-aged.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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(earliest first)
Rhodesian Customs & Excise.
Royal Rhodesian Air Force Navigator - when the people we were fighting got SAMs I decided it was time I was employed elsewhere.
Teaching Saudi Air Force pilots. Best moment - unauthorised
ride in an EE Lightning!
Computer programmer (UK & NZ).
Trainer, in programming, then management, for 20+ years.
Now doing something menial to top up meagre pension - hoping to retire to Spain next year.
Worst job? Temp in a call-centre (co-erced by agency coupla times & lasted about 2 hours each!) That really is a hi-tech sweatshop.
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Sorry to come late to this, just back from hols.
I'm a civil servant turned IT professional/manager, still (just) in the Public sector. Hoping against hope for early retirement but not on the cards yet.
Caravanner and Francophile. I also organise group travel for the office social club and am a supporter of the World's Smallest Public Railway (as it used to be billed) whenever I can get down to Romney Marsh.
Love the Grand Cherokee for towing (who cares about mpg at French prices?) but still got a soft spot for Citroens.
Worst job ever? All of them since politics became more important than results.
Terry
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Vansboy: Do your ex-govt etc vans include Land Rovers?
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Graham,
Errr.....is there some space in the front room??
David W
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David: I was a boy scout. It always pays to be prepared.
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Solicitor - senior partner in a firm with several branches, mainley in provincial towns. My own expertise is motoring law, which takes up the vast majority of my practical work, Court work, some Police Station work, downside is a lot of boring admin. work. My reward for being the Devil's Spawn (according to Bogush), I get to choose the cars that the firm lease and consequently have a very healthy relationship with a certain German makerfrom Baveria.
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Reformed environmentalist, no really.. originally my ambition was to work for UNEP, but got disillusioned. After two years doing notsomuchitwouldmakeyoudizzyorsummink, fell into a ludicrously well paid job in e-commerce and still waiting for someone to go "Just kiddin' yer loser!"
dan
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We never did find out what Toad does...
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We never did find out what Toad does...
Toads are private creatures and was hoping to keep my head down on this one but....
I'm a Software Engineer working for a large electronics company that isn't Sony.
Apart from biking I do a bit of Windsurfing, Sailing, Squash & Cricket, Surfing with differing levels of ability. Used to play a lot of rugby but the time commitment got to much for me last spring...
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
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OK guys & girls.
As you probably guessed from the monicker I'm from the cockle capital of the World, Southend, (actually Leigh is the real capital but most people only know where Southend is on the map).
My day job is involved in telecommunications/datacomms plus a bit of Outside Broadcast stuff in the past, there are quite a few good tales involved in the OB days but they're for another time. Unfortunately I seem to be spending more & more time on the road these days as I now cover most of Essex, keeping my eyes peeled for all our friendly cameras!
In my spare time I play badminton (badly), cricket (a little better) and am involved with doing backstage work with one of the local Am Dram's at our lovely Palace Theatre which is unfortunately closed at the moment, temporarily, I hope.
Cockle
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Hi,
Sorry for late contribution.
I'm in Banking, currently Risk Management
regards
Vercin
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WHAT, in real terms, does Risk Management mean. And if you do it for others, why the hell can't they do it for themselves?
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Hi,
Think of a problem, add huge volume of new legislation, stir in a smidgeon of personal liability and round off with an IT system as user friendly as a cornered rat and you have all the necessary bits for Risk Management. Add punters as well and it all gets a bit hairy.
In short; RM's are usually independant of a front office(business getters) and are there to investigate, report, protect the business and its reputation and or clients. Used by senior management and regulators as the grunts who have to do the work and find out how problems came about, what can (should be)done.
Why can't people do it for themselves? The sheer complexity of modern legislation some of which simply does not fit together means that it can be a full time job.
Dangerously close to the old KGB joke of why do communists have to travel in threes? 1 can read, 1 can write and 1 to watch these dangerous intellectuals.
regards
Vercin
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Hi
I do nothing. It suits me best - try it!
Yours aye
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Brilliant thread.....will it make the ton?
:o)
Terry
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Well the first time I've done the ton legally...in the UK
Outside interests include a fanatical interest in WW1 history, part owner of a shooting syndicate (Hence the real need for a 4wd-now in the shape of an imported defender.), a general love of living in the country (i,e, the rural bits)
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I have just finished my degree in Engineering Science and am now taking a year out teaching and tutoring Maths at a school in NZ, where it is bitterly cold but sunny. I hear that in the UK the weather isn't too bad. After this time out I will join the graduate scheme of and Engineering company.
Paul C
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Been away from the forum for a while through lack of free time so apologies for the belated post.
I work for the same company that employs Vin, working on high performance data storage and computing facilities. (Google HPSS)
They sell my time to whoever will pay which, according to SWMBO, makes me a rather unsucessful hooker who should get rid of the pimp.
Kevin...
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Better late than never (good this forum, innit?)...
I am, for my sins, a chartered accountant. Currently working for KPMG in the Channel Islands (Guernsey to be precise).
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Why do you feel the need to keep your head down, r_w ? Come home, all is forgiven.....................
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For almost 10 years a theoretical solid state physicist working at many universities including Montreal in Quebec. Made major contributions to science. Hah. As if.
Grew up, discovered Mammon, and became a software consultant in the telecoms field working on GPRS test equipment. Just don't mention IR35 in earshot ...
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Hi
well im at college on my second year of a computer maintenance course
in my spare time that is thursdays and saturdays u cut about 4 acres of grass "not in one go" for some money (im a poor student)
about to get my first car (the red fiesta thats in the tech section)
enjoy cycling,Computing,Friends,car mechanicals
Thats me
James Stephenson
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I'm in my second year at college doing a design course - i'm planning to be a car / bits for car designer. All good stuff.
I have always completely loved cars and anything to do with them since i got my first red a yellow foot powered one for christmas many years a go. Whatever i end up doing will be car related.
I drive an N reg Corolla that my dad gave me last year as my first car, which was very nice of him and I work in a crumby co-op to earn money to run it.
I spend the rest of my time doing the usual stuff an 18 year old does.
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See if you can guess....
Well it's Private Hire to be technically correct, but it still involves running drunks around (over?) at 2am on Saturday nights!
NOW i know where I've seen you Vansboy, I come from Letchworth originally! Just up the road....
I've always been nuts about cars and driving, hence why I've grabbed this forum with both hands.
Previous jobs:
Courier (Maestro van)
Courier (Transit flat bed)
Plant Hire Delivery (A-Plant transit flat bed)
Bodyshop teaboy/ deliver, collect, strip, refit & prep. technician. ie Everything except repair or paint, basically!
Worked in a scrapyard dismantling cars for 6 mths.
Worked in a bank for 3 years first!!!
Still enjoy my driving too much to move into an office or near a PC for money.
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