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The good morning, good night thread

Started by Ed, October 22, 2007, 03:49:05 AM

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Geoff_N

If my bike has a puncture I know straight away by the banging on the road followed by the bike and me lurching into the hedge. Still a hassle cos my fingers aren't so strong and the tyres so damned tight these days.

On our car, it's not so easy to tell if you have a puncture. At Tesco's carpark I thought the near rear tyre looked flatter than the others but kicking it sounded the same. I drove home not exceeding 60 - mostly - and then checked the pressures. Aarrrgh, 10 psi if that instead of the 30 it should be. Fancy being able to drive with a flat tyre - amazing.

Took it to ATS, who had a special offer making them cheaper than QuickFit for a change. I left it with them so I could buy a paper. On my return they said there was a nail - Mr Nelder. Umm, how did they know my name? If they put in my car reg and found it on computer isn't that a breach of the Data Protection Act? I was about to query when I noticed he was grinning. The mechanic poked his head round the door: Remember me, Mr Nelder? You taught me Geography in the 90s.
I didn't remember him. I taught over 5,000 people in 30 years. Many I do recall even their names - the very good, and the very bad.
So it goes.

Geoff

delph_ambi

"If my bike has a puncture I know straight away by the banging on the road followed by the bike and me lurching into the hedge." You know what -- that would be a brilliant story opening. Here's me, trying to get inspiration for the last round of the Whittaker, and I read your sentence, and think 'yes!' swiftly followed by, 'oops, no!'. On the one hand, I'm delighted that you're judging the contest, but on the other, it's bloody infuriating. Not that I would nick your sentence, of course. Perish the thought. But still...

Ed

Scary to think a single teacher influences 5,000 kids in 30 years - imagine the widespread damage a bad one could do. The former student obviously had fond memories of you, though Geoff, otherwise I'm sure he would have had something to say about it. Tyre fitters aren't known for their reserve or finesse, are they? :smiley:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

delboy

Is it me, or is the depression getting worse? Last few days I've heard that Lloyds and Virgin are cutting jobs as are Diageo and Corus, as are three engineering companies with local depots round these parts. Pearsons are asking people to work for nowt - something BA have already done. Jaguar land Rover want to delay paying people. All of this on top of everything else that has already happened. Every time someone mentiones greenshoots then the next week seems to be full of even more gloom. I wonder where it's all going to end?

Having said that, I know two people who have bought new cars (and not cheap ones either) over the last two days, so there is some money still out there.

D
"If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish it or get it published. Don't send it to me. Don't show it to your spouse, or your significant other, or your parents, or somebody. They're not going to publish it."

Robert B. Parker

Rev. Austin

Morning all.  I live in Scunthorpe, which is 'renowned' for the massive steelworks we have, and that's owned by Corus.  500 people are losing their jobs, apparently.  My friend who works there was told they'll all know in 90 days who keeps their jobs and who goes, which is scary for him because he's just become a dad, and obviously needs the money now more than ever.

I'm not really bothered by politics, but when something like this recession hits, it's hard not to take notice.  In my town, for instance, there are so few jobs that the amount of people applying for them is so insane it's almost not worth bothering in the first place.  Almost.
facebook.com/waynegoodchildishaunted
Stay in touch! I don't mean that in a pervy way.

Ed

#1040
I think it might be getting worse in certain areas, but around here (dare I say it?) things seem to be picking up a bit. House prices are holding firm, and some reports even say they're rising slightly.

What I really don't understand is why companies like BT feel the need to lay off thousands of workers - how is the recession affecting them as a company? Surely the infrastructure work carries on regardless of outside factors, and I'd have thought revenues are hardly changed from what they were a year ago. Maybe I'm missing something, but I really don't get why they have to lay people off.

Corus I can understand, because demand for steel has dropped right off with manufacturing industry winding down.

The drop off in construction must have wide ranging effects, too, because it's the biggest industry in the country, employing more people than any other, so when that workforce is kicking their heels the knock on effect must be felt in the retail sector. Perhaps that's part of the reason why our highstreets are suddenly full of boarded up shops? More seem to be closing down every week. It's quite alarming to see.

I'm still scraping by on the work front, helped in part by specialising in new technologies, namely heat pumps and solar panels. I'd dearly love to take some time off, but daren't right now, because I feel like I have to keep going in case the work dries up and I need my savings for us to live on. Can't feel too sorry for myself, though - there are plenty of people worse off than me.

I'll be very glad when things get back to normal, all the same.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Caz

I heard the other day about another small building firm that's gone bust. Not sure of the reasons behind it but a guy I know who worked there hasn't got a hope in hell of seeing his last two weeks wages. It's always the guys at the sharp end who get shafted. The bosses haven't got any money to pay out what they owe but they all live in big houses and drive flash cars, strange that.
Some may say slaughtered is too strong a word...but I like the sound of it.

Ed

Yeah, I was surprised to find out how easy it is for a company to go bust and then spring back up the following day with the same premises, vans and tools, etc. The directors do it by privately buying all these things and then leasing them back to the company. That way they make an income from all these things as well as drawing a salary. Then when the going gets tough they shaft the little guy who works for them and all their suppliers, while their liability is limited to only £1500 by the companies act. They walk away with everything, leaving the empty shell of a company behind them. And the worst part is it's all perfectly legal.

The average working man can't afford to lose two week's money, especially when it's followed by unemployment. They are the people who end up losing their houses.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Ed

I'm really glad we made the effort to get our kids interested in learning a musical instrument. It doesn't seem like very long ago that they were complete novices, but more and more lately I've been turning down or off whatever I'm listening to so I can hear one of them practising. The eldest play guitar, and the youngest plays keyboards/piano - it's him that I'm listening to as I write this. He's playing the piano beautifully. Not a note out of place, perfect tempo, soothing, melodic. Great stuff. Wish I could play something.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Rev. Austin

I've been in bands for 15 years and I still wish I could play an instrument  BOOM BOOM!  But seriously, I'm very good  :cheesy:

Now, on with helping my dad paint a fence! 
facebook.com/waynegoodchildishaunted
Stay in touch! I don't mean that in a pervy way.

Geoff_N

My son, Robert, played sax and clarinet - not simultaneously, though I did suggest it - for the Chester Schools Concert Band. He travelled Europe with them and particularly enjoyed a gig above the Arctic Circle at the Norwegian rocket range place. My daughter played flute. Both kids accompanied my efforts on piano and it succeeded in keeping cats and vermin from venturing near.

Agreed, Ed, it's great to hear your offspring springing off musically.

Geoff

delboy

QuoteMy son, Robert, played sax and clarinet - not simultaneously, though I did suggest it

Check out Roland Kirk! One of my favourite artists. Sadly a lot of people don't see beyond the two/three horns at once gimmick and realise that the musical mind behind this astonishing physical facility is one of the greatest that ever lived.
"If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish it or get it published. Don't send it to me. Don't show it to your spouse, or your significant other, or your parents, or somebody. They're not going to publish it."

Robert B. Parker

Geoff_N

I have just taken on the role of administrator and equal partner at small press, Bewrite Books.
http://bewrite.net
It's a challenging job and puts me on the other side of the desk from being a writer. I'm told that once established I'd only need to spend a couple of hours per week day at the job then I'd have plenty of time for writing my own stuff. I'll have to represent the company at book fairs in London, Frankfurt and  America, which might be interesting. BeWrite currently don't  publish many scifi or fantasy books except as favours to editors and friends such as John Grant. I intend to establish a sci fi and fantasy imprint. Not sure any of my work would be published by BeWrite though. My earlier humorous thriller was rejected.

If I recall correctly, Ed and I first met in the BeWrite forum. In fact BeWrite started about 10 years ago as a writers' community but the owners, Neil Marr and his son, Alex, used it to launch the small press, mainly print-on-demand literary novels. We are to experiment with some short print runs too.

Full press release is in my blog and written by Neil Marr.  http://geoffnelder.wordpress.com/

Wish me luck - please.

Geoff

delph_ambi

Oodles of luck, Geoff. You'll do a fantastic job.  :afro:

Ed

Absolutely - loads of luck and congratulations to you, Geoff. I'd say you were made for the job and vice versa. Exciting times ahead for you and Neil.

BeWrite Books forum was one of the first writing forums I joined, and I have some happy memories of the place, though sadly I joined quite near the end. It was where I met a few people for the first time - Geoff, Delph, Donna, Robert Blevins, Neil, of course, among a few others.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]