I've had it up to here with working for The Man and being forced to suffer inhumane working conditions (like "team-building getaways" and "extended deadlines" and "workflow efficiency overhauls"). So I'm throwing it all away, packing my bags and coming to the UK on one of them working holidays so I can be closer to more sessions, trad workshops, teachers and communities. Please can someone from the isles give me a job and a place to stay? Don't worry about the plane ticket, though. I've got that covered.
In the meantime I'm going to go on banging my head against this handy wall I just discovered propping up the roof.
Okay okay, you've convinced me! I'm coming to Ireland, just as soon as I can finish stitching up this gash in my forehead. Have to get permission to stop banging my head against the wall though, which means I have about fifteen forms to fill out first.
Ah lads, the English are not that bad,besides plundering half the world,forcing there way of life on the poor people and coming to Ireland and over staying there holidays by 700 years I think they are all right.
Ah, yes, the weather is always fine over here, apart from the wind, the rain, the drought, the heatwave, and the snow at Christmas.
And do you know what price we have to pay for your fruit over here ?
Still, there is some music, and the Return to Camden Town festival is coming back.
Forms! Matty, you think you've got a sore head now!
I've just had to fill out one 1/2 ream pack of stuff for one kind of personal vetting, then a second 1/2 ream pack for the next level, then a third vetting pack for the place I'm supposed to be working, then renew my passport, then just to be sure, provide at least three forms of ID, 1 each from lists 1, 2 and 3 with yet more forms to get Births, Deaths and Marriages to issue a marriage certificate so I can get the name on my driver's license changed to match my passport (the real certificate from the church won't do for the RTA) , then I have to fill out another form to actually do it, and I may have to get a visa which requires my passport and two passport-sized photos and yet MORE copies of ID, and then there was the eight-page traveller profile form to fill out so my travel coordinator can make bookings, then there was another form for the company Amex card ... I think that's it so far. And there's more to come. I've done nothing for four weeks but fill out forms and copy ID and run up and down the stairs getting photocopies stamped as attested copies.
At this stage I'm ready to volunteer to be microchipped.
Aw Tish, here: you can borrow my bit of wall if you like
at this stage I've only just smashed my piggy bank, counting out how much more I have to save to qualify for a working visa to the UK (which, ahem, is slightly larger than just London, I'm told). I reckon in six months or so I'll have enough, then can head over to Edinburgh for the Celtic Connections fest, and then scout around Scotland and Norn Ireland for freelance subbing /dash newspaper work. Or maybe I should wait for Spring.
Here's the weird thing about the working holiday visa: you can *stay* in the UK for two years on it, but only *work* for one year of that time. So then the plan's to spend the non-working time in Ireland, for which I don't need a visa to visit apparently (but would need a working visa to, er, work, which they won't give me cos I'm not a radiographer or somesuch).
How difficult is it to find a job in Ireland anyway? For someone who is not Irish that is? I'm planning to make the move in about a year, maybe next summer, God willing. Any advice?
Wait a min - isn't Celtic Connections in Glasgow? Or have I got it wrong?
Despite what Brian says about fat aggressive beshaven lager louts standing at and thus hogging bars (which is a fairly ubiquitous phenomenon I guess from South Uist to South Africa), there are many fine sessions to be had in London, so if you do decide to head here at some point, Matt, try and get down to South London and The Blythe, it would be great to meet you.
My guess is that you'll find the same work pressures anywhere, for your chosen career path. So maybe it's job you need to change, not country..... maybe both. I personally have come back to the view, after a good few years pretending otherwise, that Arbeit most certainly doesn't Macht Frei. Nor do I agree with Germaine Greer that women are the "natural workers" of humanity and men are the natural administrators, empire builders.....
I've got a good mind to throw it all away
I've got a good mind to throw it all away
I've had it up to here with working for The Man and being forced to suffer inhumane working conditions (like "team-building getaways" and "extended deadlines" and "workflow efficiency overhauls"). So I'm throwing it all away, packing my bags and coming to the UK on one of them working holidays so I can be closer to more sessions, trad workshops, teachers and communities. Please can someone from the isles give me a job and a place to stay? Don't worry about the plane ticket, though. I've got that covered.
In the meantime I'm going to go on banging my head against this handy wall I just discovered propping up the roof.
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by Q
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Begad, life in the continuum sounds pretty grim!
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by breandan
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Not too long ago I found myself responding to the question of where all the good, experienced computer scientists have gone to with the line:
"Usually over in the corner banging their heads against the wall."
Welcome to the club, brother, pass the aspirin.
KFG
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by KFG
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Okay okay, you've convinced me! I'm coming to Ireland, just as soon as I can finish stitching up this gash in my forehead. Have to get permission to stop banging my head against the wall though, which means I have about fifteen forms to fill out first.
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by Q
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Ah lads, the English are not that bad,besides plundering half the world,forcing there way of life on the poor people and coming to Ireland and over staying there holidays by 700 years I think they are all right.
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by Bog_Trotter
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
I thought that was the Normans?
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
I heard Ireland is a nice part of England.
Phil
# Posted on May 28th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Ah, yes, the weather is always fine over here, apart from the wind, the rain, the drought, the heatwave, and the snow at Christmas.
And do you know what price we have to pay for your fruit over here ?
Still, there is some music, and the Return to Camden Town festival is coming back.
# Posted on May 29th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Forms! Matty, you think you've got a sore head now!
I've just had to fill out one 1/2 ream pack of stuff for one kind of personal vetting, then a second 1/2 ream pack for the next level, then a third vetting pack for the place I'm supposed to be working, then renew my passport, then just to be sure, provide at least three forms of ID, 1 each from lists 1, 2 and 3 with yet more forms to get Births, Deaths and Marriages to issue a marriage certificate so I can get the name on my driver's license changed to match my passport (the real certificate from the church won't do for the RTA) , then I have to fill out another form to actually do it, and I may have to get a visa which requires my passport and two passport-sized photos and yet MORE copies of ID, and then there was the eight-page traveller profile form to fill out so my travel coordinator can make bookings, then there was another form for the company Amex card ... I think that's it so far. And there's more to come. I've done nothing for four weeks but fill out forms and copy ID and run up and down the stairs getting photocopies stamped as attested copies.
At this stage I'm ready to volunteer to be microchipped.
# Posted on May 29th 2005 by Tish
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Aw Tish, here: you can borrow my bit of wall if you like
at this stage I've only just smashed my piggy bank, counting out how much more I have to save to qualify for a working visa to the UK (which, ahem, is slightly larger than just London, I'm told). I reckon in six months or so I'll have enough, then can head over to Edinburgh for the Celtic Connections fest, and then scout around Scotland and Norn Ireland for freelance subbing /dash newspaper work. Or maybe I should wait for Spring.
Here's the weird thing about the working holiday visa: you can *stay* in the UK for two years on it, but only *work* for one year of that time. So then the plan's to spend the non-working time in Ireland, for which I don't need a visa to visit apparently (but would need a working visa to, er, work, which they won't give me cos I'm not a radiographer or somesuch).
# Posted on May 29th 2005 by Q
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
How difficult is it to find a job in Ireland anyway? For someone who is not Irish that is? I'm planning to make the move in about a year, maybe next summer, God willing. Any advice?
# Posted on May 29th 2005 by derpayatz
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
Wait a min - isn't Celtic Connections in Glasgow? Or have I got it wrong?
Despite what Brian says about fat aggressive beshaven lager louts standing at and thus hogging bars (which is a fairly ubiquitous phenomenon I guess from South Uist to South Africa), there are many fine sessions to be had in London, so if you do decide to head here at some point, Matt, try and get down to South London and The Blythe, it would be great to meet you.
My guess is that you'll find the same work pressures anywhere, for your chosen career path. So maybe it's job you need to change, not country..... maybe both. I personally have come back to the view, after a good few years pretending otherwise, that Arbeit most certainly doesn't Macht Frei. Nor do I agree with Germaine Greer that women are the "natural workers" of humanity and men are the natural administrators, empire builders.....
Check, check...before I go off on one.
Phew!
Message ends.
# Posted on May 31st 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: I've got a good mind to throw it all away
LOL. I'm pretty sure I'll rock up at the Blythe sooner rather than later, Danny.
# Posted on May 31st 2005 by Q