Ready Steady Go / CRE Sandown / CRE Telford

– – – – – ADVERTORIAL – – – – –

Ready Steady Go is the theme of the CRE Exhibition at Sandown 2011 and Telford 2011 and this year the organisers claim that ‘Possibly everything you require will be available at this unique resource exhibition’.

That is, with one HUGE exception at least. WorkHope won’t be there! I can’t afford it, although I might be tempted to stand in the Car Park and give out the odd advertising flyer whilst dressed up as an ‘Unemployed’ person…

I jest…  All is not lost,,, you can follow my ramblings, encouragements and real life traumas associated with being made redundant and how (so far) I have survived it, on this very blog. More importantly others facing job loss or redundancy might find this stuff useful. If you do get to attend CRE, great. But that’s no reason to quit browsing now.

I won’t claim to be able to get you (or your friend) back into employment at the flick of a switch, but I hope that in parts at least should be equally entertaining as some of those late night Sci-fi TV movie offerings such as Rabid Frogs of Doom, Anaconda 999 or Destination Hornets Nest.

(Oh yes, you can search by topic to the right of this message)

If you are keen to get an abridged copy of this in handy book format… or you publish handy little books of relevance = do get in touch, I want to share the love with others struggling with real life issues associated with losing employment.

If you’re not sure where to start, how about here:-

Now What? (Sept 2007)

D Day (June 2007)

Signing On – My first time…

Dress to Impress?

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Our Family At The Museum

I will only be working two days this week, but I can’t be bothered to sign on again – it really is too much hassle.  Instead I’ll try make the most of the time available, by job hunting and spending time with Mrs. W and our boys… Half-term holiday has arrived.

One planned outing involves the cinema, timed perfectly to coincide with half term with zillions of children wanting quite rightly some care and attention from their parents. Maybe they’ll take time to play with their toys, zap or punch baddies on computer games or watch Pink Panther or Garfield on Boomerang. What they will not be keen to do, will be the chores, any homework or food or charity shopping something us grown ups have to do. No 1 on our boys hit list over the next few days is the film ‘Night At the Museum 2’ – even though the reviews of this aren’t particularly glowing. It’s been panned as neither fun nor exciting, but is stuffed with the expected special FX. If I can convince everyone to wait 6 months or so,  we’ll see it on dvd or put it on the Christmas list.

Saturday however, I did a car boot sale and promised that the profits would help pay for cinema tickets, for us all. I better keep my part of the bargain.

To make the week a go with a blast, I propose we do our very own Museum experience… Surely I can, after seeking appropriate permissions, organise a family outing to the National History Museum and Science Museum – (for free of course) and have a glorified sleepover – with our sleeping bags, torches, toothbrushes, video cameras and vivid imaginations. When morning comes we will contact the papers with our stories…

That should do it…

50 Things to do on a Bank Holiday

1 Wash the car
2 Wash the kids
3 Go to work. Double time after all!
4 Look for work – (A legitimate way to meet the bills)
5 Take a walk, on the wild side
6 Take a short walk to the corner shop or the off licence
7 Shop
8 Go shopping again. You forgot something after all.
9 Go to the bank. Er, maybe not
10 Pass Go. Don’t pick up £200/
11 Wash the car
12 Wash someone elses car. They might pay you for it.
13 Mmm A Bar BQ. Yes, just the thing for a Bank Holiday
14 First cut the lawn
15 Check the weather forecast
16 Look out the window
17 Get better soon. You’ve caught the lurgy
18 Call NHS Direct. they confirm it’s not serious.
19 Not even a hint of Pork Flu
20 Fix that bookshelf that fell down in 2005
21 Get someone else to fix the shelf
22 Cut the front hedge
23 Write an email
24 Who’s available on Facebook?
25 Lets go to the Park
26 Or LegoLand if your feeling flush
27 Er the toilet beckons, briefly.
28 Visit a National Trust property
29 Watch a film on television. Even though you’ve seen it before.
30 Go badger watching
31 How about a picnic?
32 Or a trip to Maccy Dees
33 Ah, the washing!
34 The ironing!
35 A gig?
36 Is there a Sale on somewhere?
37 Play with the kids
38 Trip to the seaside?
39 A spot of decorating maybe
40 Or go for a drive. Nowhere in particular. Dream of owning a Camper Van.
41 Visit a friends or relatives. In your own car.
42 or both
43 Eat crisps. Lots of them. At least 3 packets should do it.
44 Drink Cola Coka, or something similar.
45 Chocolate
46 Time to visit the gym
47 Maybe go inside
48 Threaten to seek a ban on neighbours from lighting bonfires on ‘Washing’ days
49 Stay indoors and wonder how to spend the day
50 Write something on your Blog, hope someone reads it.

The flip side

I have written elsewhere about the tremendous support we as a family have received over the last 18 months or so while I have been out of work. There are those who have prayed for us, given generously in different practical ways, listened to us and encouraged where they can.

However, there is also a flip side, and it is worth noting as a matter of record, that not everyone who we thought would stand with us during hard times and ‘trials’, demonstrating ongoing support has actually done so. There is surely a lesson here for us all.

When hard times come in life (and they do!) it is these moments and situations that are the testing grounds for our relationships. In these times we may of course be pleasantly surprised and truly blessed, conversely we might feel let down by those who we once viewed as our dependable ‘rocks’. Instead we find ourselves growling and muttering, at those who by their actions (or in-actions) have shown themselves to be rather indifferent, uncaring, unsympathetic, selfish and self absorbed…

Before we consider lashing out at those who’ve failed us, it’s possibly worth re-adjusting our own wonky halos, and taking a longer than usual deep breath and look at our own actions. After all we don’t know everything that’s going on in their lives – do we?

Finally, obviously or otherwise, there is actually a rather positive flip side to the flip side itself.
When we face trials, the people who stand along side us, are quite probably the very best people to do so!

World Domination and WorkHope

WorkHope/ Working Through Unemployment is getting hit. That is, hit on a daily basis, online by bloggy blog readers, thrill seekers, casual enquirers, by those who either stumble upon the Blog my mistake or have been prompted to do so by some wonderful friends, or some pretty nifty guerrilla advertising.

WorkHope employs some accepted forms of publicity in order to get the message of Hope across to those out of Work, (geddit? WorkHope) or those struggling after being Crunched by the Credit crisis.

Don’t be suprised if you or your associates come across a handsome chap, bearing down on you with either his business card, or a wad of small white flyers encouraging you to share the love of WorkHope with others. This service is free of course and borne out of a desire to entertain yet encourage those out of work to keep pressing on in what are, frankly, hard times..

Leaflets might appear in a coffee shop near you, on the bar of your local pub, shoved through your letter box, be seen on the side of a bus or on a banner trailing across the sky on the back of a Flora sponsored bi-plane, (well, maybe not!).

WorkHope is everywhere – nearly everywhere. And a very reliable contact in the pub two weeks ago assured me that this very blog is read and enjoyed as far away as a place beginning with ‘B’. Can’t remember, sadly the exact details, suffice to say it’s the other side of the world, somewhere. just left (or is it right?) of Borneo.

In all seriousness, given the times we live in with Unemployment and Redundancy an ever present, or clear and present danger, I trust this blog will achieve its original objectives which were to:

1. Encourage the job seeker to keep seeking, with his/her head and chin up
2. Share real life situations and observations from my (ongoing) time out of work
3. Point out possible hurdles and pitfalls
4. Expand on the reasons why I have Hope
5. Cause a smile
6. Get me a publishing deal which will set me on a new career path, leading to fame and financial security.

Do get in touch, maybe tell me where you are (county, state, country, continent, hemisphere  etc). If you have any comments or questions…

WorkHope (Mr)

http://www.workhope.wordpress.com

Life’s a breeze… (Sept 29 2007)

One week and one day after leaving work – what better than a family day out. With lunch packed and coins for the pier amusements in good supply, we took a trip down memory lane, or rather the M23 to Brighton, and, as we did, so we joined the merry throng that was primarily VW and VW enthusiasts. Our destination, The “Brighton Breeze” (organised by The Split Screen Van Club).

Our car is not (at all) blessed with great acceleration, so imagine the excitement when we overtook Camper Vans of every hue, year and condition en-route. As we did so, we rang out hearty cheers, and waved frantically as we overtook some at high speed. Well, 50mph was quite fast enough in most cases. The vehicles that had pulled onto the hard shoulder with engine problems I guess weren’t so impressed at our enthusiasm. It was raining too, which may have dampened some spirits, but not ours!

On arrival at Brighton, we drove past a few spluttering machines and took our place in a free car park before starting our stroll amongst the now resting, and sometimes worn out vehicles. My camera was poised, the boys got ready to pose beside their favourite “Splitties”… Ah Camper Van heaven.

Overall we were mightily impressed by the exhibits. The immaculately restored and the customised were parked in close proximity to some of the more, how shall we say, forlorn looking specimens, still being lovingly attended to by their owners. It truly was a sight to behold, and a great display. Fortunately we were able to mark our visit by purchasing some suitable event memorabilia. I decided against buying a spare door panel, steering wheel, headlights and tool kits in favour of two t-shirts for Daddy and one for each of the boys. Mummy had a button badge or two. You must understand the family passion for VW nostalgia is shared by the whole family. Once we were done, we visited the pier, to shoot to smithereens some Dinosaurs, race the Gran Tourismo and eat some overpriced and heavily battered fish and chips to conclude our grand day out.

The only disappointment (if there was one), was that we didn’t end our day driving home in a Camper Van of our very own. Neither, it later occurred to me, would some of the exhibitors…

See also
Brighton Breeze 2009

Busing it – part 1

Due to limited funds, there was no way I could afford to take our car into BigTown, let alone pay for parking. So, I had two options, walk or bus it. The bus won.

The last time, I had been anywhere near a bus, must have been when visiting Amberley Working Museum in West Sussex, before Christmas. (The buses weren’t actually working, which itself is rather ironic ). Prior to this it must have been May 2000, on the occasion of Paul’s 40th Birthday, when he (a bus fan) hired a Party bus to take us to London’s South Bank, for a spin on the Millennium Wheel.

It also happened to be FA Cup Final day, the last to be played at the old Wembley Stadium, (which, sadly, was not part on our itinerary) and my team were in contention against Aston Villa. Thankfully, Chelsea went on to secure their second FA Cup in three years courtesy of a goal from Roberto Di Matteo. But I digress.

On Monday this week, with my virgin ‘Oyster’ card in hand, I boarded the suggested bus at the suggested bus stop. This would be my first proper bus ride in years, and other than the bus driver, the only voice I heard came from the bus itself, which announced in a digitised but vaguely friendly voice our route number and our destination, and as we progressed, every stop.

In under fifteen minutes we had reached journeys end, suffered no traffic hold ups, and the driver for his own good reason, had seen fit to drive warp speed where possible, adding to my excitement. I began to anticipate the return journey in five hours time.

D-Day – The news headlines

June 19 2007 was decision day, officially at least. In reality my decision had been made a few days earlier over the weekend… and as such my letter (if it’s right to call it a letter at less than twenty words!) was delivered to the HR department by 11am. Then I waited.

At 12:08 an email from my boss broke the news to the rest of my department. Some were shocked, but not all. The message said they were sad to see me go, that I had been a good employee and that I would be missed.

I would be off in three months time, I would no longer be on the payroll of this gargantuan publisher, no longer would I have to wait for the dodgy and unreliable lift to the tenth floor. No longer would I tread the same route to work, no longer would I have some long standing friends alongside me on a daily basis. Things were abut to change, and for the better. In the short term (at least) I would have no income, but the redundancy pay off would be a cushion, and because of this I would be in no rush to get straight back to work, but I would start looking anyway. One recruitment consultant recommended taking a break, a short holiday, before contemplating my next move.

He was right, we did, and very soon as a family, we were holidaying in North Wales. Job searching could wait until our return. I felt confident I was employable, the recruitment consultant was too. Let’s see how long it takes…

A Word in Season

Over the last sixteen months or so, I have been uplifted by the the good wishes of others, their prayers and by various writers in the Old and New Testaments. As a Christian I read the Bible where I can anyway, (usually in small chunks), in order to get to grips with what’s been communicated.

The following Bible texts/references are amongst those that I have received to my mobile from a number of different friends. I include them here as they might just lift you, or encourage you, they might just be what you (or someone else) needs to read at this moment…

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalms 9: 9-10
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 71:14
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Jeremiah 17:7
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Psalms 66:20
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalms 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalms 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalms 63:1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

One Year On…

The 21st September 2008, came and went without any fanfares or celebrations. Jose and Avram have both been and gone, and now Mr. Scolari is at the helm. Good grief, one year i’ve been doing this, that is sitting at my computer checking emails, sending emails to faceless online job boards, chasing recruitment agents, and when catching them asking what they’ve been doing on my behalf. Added to this my phone bill  must have taken a battering by now and the redundancy money has gone. Brilliant.

Acknowledging the above facts actually spurred me on in a number of ways, I need to get that Methodist Church job now, but I have 2 weeks till the application needs to be in. Mine has been received by the Personnel Department, I know, I’ve phoned and checked. There was little I could do other than contact some faithful friends to pray.
In addition I applied for Temporary Christmas work in a local garden centre, our local Debenhams, M&S (tell you about that another time!) and even Tescos – only to be told they’re not looking ot recruit till January 2009 – if at all! Things were getting desperate and gloom began to descend. ARRGH, I had run out of hot leads applications, and ideas.

In an effort to make some cash I enlisted the help of Mark to do a car boot sale with me, at 6.15 am on the appointed day I picked him up and we made our way to the large boot site. Thankfully the weather was to be dry and sunny, there were customers and we ended the day with a significant profit. In a couple of weeks maybe we’d do another. Thanks Mark, you’re a star.

After a few weeks popping Neurofen tablets, on the 25th september, I mustered the bravery to see my Doctor, as it turned out he was fine, my stomach gripes, however were becoming a concern. Thankfully, after a few prods (was that a punch?) around my body, he diagnosed nothing sinister, in fact he was totally mystified at the symptoms, but his best guess was that I might be suffering from something or other, but there again might not. Boots would be my next stopping point and I purchased the necessary medicines. Hopefully they would help. Quite possibly my body was stressing more than i felt, and stressing more than ‘I was’ in my head and heart, Maybe what we collectively as a family, were going through was taking its toll on me. Let’s see if the pills sort me out.

In the afternoon I contacted 6 recruitment agents for updates on new opportunities. Zippo.