My eldest son has just been laid off. He worked building and installing modular kitchens mostly in new housing developments. The downturn in housing construction has flowed onto his company and they have had to cut back staff. It is a shame in another way in that he had just decided to go to University to study Multimedia, something that he has always wanted to do but couldn't afford it. Now he may have to rethink that and put it on hold yet again.
On the other hand my other son has just been promoted. He works in Hospitality at a management level. He works at Jupiter's Casino on the Gold Coast and started there as a Bar Manager last December. He has been promoted to Services Manager in charge of one of the Restaurant and Bar areas. He must be good at his job because before he took the job at the casino he was offered two jobs and it turned into a biding war to get him come and work for them. He has never been out of work and has been head hunted a couple of times. It must be nice to be in that position.
A couple of other mates have also been laid off or had their contracts terminated. One is a Communications Engineer. He designs communication systems from the hardware perspective for new buildings. Basically the data cabling, data points, server points, telecommunications etc for high rise buildings. (Which is related to my area of Integrated Information Systems, the software side.) He used to work for British Telecom and returned to Australia a couple of years ago to take up a couple of contract jobs. He was saying he can't even look overseas for new contracts or work as ICT companies worldwide are cutting back.
So how does this effect me? Well, I was hoping to be able to go back to work in the next 3 to 6 months. Considering I have been out of the loop for over two years, would need to catch up with some new technology and have medical problems which will be ongoing for at least the next 5 years, I don't like my chances.
Health wise I am feeling better than I have in a long time. There is still a little way to go. I am awaiting to see my Specialists which should be soon but I am reliant on the Public Health system so I am not holding my breath. One of the specialist is the Cancer Dude to get the results of the operations I had at Christmas and to see if I need more Chemo. The other specialist looks after associated medical problems. I still have weekly tests and the numbers have been all over the place so the have been adjusting my meds on a weekly basis.
I have also been trying to get in some exercise usually a walk along the beach and maybe a short swim afterwards. I can do about half an hour to an hour of walking before I start to hurt. Yesterday I decided to go for a walk down to Woody Point, about a 40 minute walk, and have a look at the new jetty and refurbished water front park areas they just spent five million dollars on. Got down there OK looked around, had a nice seafood lunch by the water and then I realised something.... Bugger, I've got to get home. I could have caught the bus back but I decided to walk home. So I strolled home at a reasonably leisurely pace along the beaches; I didn't want to push it. I had a couple of rests on the way and got home about 3 hours after I left. Didn't feel too bad. BUT... this morning I paid for it. Every bone and muscle in my body aches. I move in slow motion, a la 6 Million Dollar Man, and if I stay still for too long I fear I may freeze up and never be able to move again.
Note to self: Take things easy... Don't push it.
That's all I have to say.
Stay good and be kind to each other
12 comments:
You know what they say, it's a recession when your neighbours loses his job and a depression when you lose yours. Good luck to your son, I hope something pops up for him.
I don't how long my job is going to last for, but at least my old employeer strongly suggested today that they want me back in a slightly different capacity.
Glad to hear you are feeling well, hopefully that continues. Take it easy!!!
Hope your son gets a new gig soon. Exercise? Well, it has its place in that it helps build a thirst but the aches and pains can be a nuisance.
We just heard that one of our teams at another client just had 3 people made redundant. That was out of a team of 17. Yep, its happening.
It is starting to bite deep all over the job redundancies. If one firm goes it just has a big knock on effect to everyone else. they say the only people winning over here are the bookies as everybody wants to win to get out of the hole they are in and the takeaways as people can't afford to eat out but still don't won't to cook.
As for exercise, how do you do that again I seem to of forgot!
Yeah, it's hitting everywhere. Business has tailed off a bit at work as well. I'm hoping it picks up some-our clients have some good projects in the works if we can ride out the current mess.
Good luck to the boy and to yourself!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for the lad. It's a bugger how the body decides to push back well after you've done the damage.
Glad the health is on the upswing. Take it easy, Al.
bugger about the young fella BBA. its happening alright. as for the exercise, do try to be a good chap and NOT overdo it. But the little stretch out, may well not be that bad, long term.
Be good, stay safe.
H
Woody Point. hehehehehehehehehe Always DID get a giggle out of that.
At least you're up and about big guy. That's a good thing.
Bad luck on the young fella. That sucks. HAZAAH for the other.
Hope the young guy keeps his chin up, hopefully it's just a detour to where he wants to get. As to you, one day at a time. Sounds like you have the right frame of mind, the rest will come in time.
Welcome DD. Nice of you to drop in.
Thank you everybody for your comments.
The Boy will be OK I think. He has been doing a ring around letting people know he is looking for work and he is still thinking about Uni. A good sign that he is in a positive frame of mind.
A good time to be a public servant methinks.
Hey NB, everybody is saying get a job with the Government. They, Federal, State and Local Governments, will be a big employer in the near future. The Local Council has about 40 jobs listed this week.
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Arrgh!Speak up or hang from the yard arm. Arrgh!