Yes I love my job. I'm listened to and respected. I'm challenged and have to be creative and creatively work my way around problems either before they arrive or when they do. I'm king of my own castle, can direct others and I'm a piece of a well oiled machine.

Although I do love my holidays. (All 12 weeks)

i hate my job but it will have to do for now becouse after all it is steady work and it alows me to save up some money for a trip. but when i do give my notice it will be with a massive smile on my face

I used to like my job. It was a good laugh with the lads on our shift. We got through loads of work, customers were happy and the shift pattern we worked allowed us to get good family and holiday time.

Then the last recession hit.

Shifts were changed, lots of people left and were not replaced. Customers are no longer happy as we're not open when they want us to be. Most of the highly skilled lads have moved on, and now the company is trying to recruit more. Not many in our trade any good now, lots of fitters not many mechanics.
Funny we said to the management this would happen when they were cutting back, laying people off, messing with lives.
But they're all bloody accountants, that wouldn't know what a truck was if it landed on them.

Funny how every mechanic knows that if you lose 5 men that 200 hours labour a week less that you have to sell. Office staff now outnumber the workshop staff.

They have really screwed a good company up.

Already got 2 possible jobs lined up.....

Since the thread is still going I thought I'd write an update.

I was new to offshore life and hoped it would give me more time off.
It does, but its not the same …...

I've been working in Africa for about a year. Gabon and now the Congo and I work 28 days on / 28 off.

I was originally looking for another way to manage my time and thought that 28 days on 28 days off would be pretty sweet. Pay is good and time off is good …. right?

Well, offshore life can be quite challenging and not very sociable. Days are hard and we never get enough sleep! But when your off, your off … for 28 days !

So ….. whats the problem I hear you say? Got a bike , some spare cash Yup, but sadly, no ones ever about when I'm off.

Go on your own …… Yes, true, but I spend 28 days 'alone' and want to spend time with friends when I'm back…doing stuff

I've been on a few trips in this year, Spain was fantastic and the highlands of Scotland was too. Right now I'm looking at Tunisia again to play in the dunes or India maybe, but I'm a sociable person, I like to share lifes experiences.

You also miss stuff! Organisers rarely check with me before agreeing dates for events …. and I've missed a ton this year !!! …. not to mention births, deaths and marriages.

My wife rides her CRF250 every day to work, she's a dental student and loves travel and bikes too, but we find its never easy to line our lives up so we can do more. Even in the summer when she's off I worked and the same this Christmas.

The long and short …… I keep the dream alive and look for the opportunities, when one comes along … I pounce !

Is working offshore better for me …. Not better, just very very different with new challenges.



ps, there is a very very small feel good factor knowing that I'm helping to keep our bikes going!

Thanks for the update Platypus,
Working in the natural gas industry myself, I was looking into doing the same as you.
Your post gives me food for thought

Bit sad that over 20% of the voters hate their job.

I wouldn't say I'm madly in love with my job but I've been doing the same thing for 10 years with 4 different brands. The only thing I truly dislike is the hours and the fact that 60% of my time 'at work' I'm not actually doing anything just waiting for others.

After many years of doing something that I hated ( plus having to work with some people I'd normally avoid ) just to pay the bills and raise a family and .then have the turmoil of a divorce thrust upon me

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Out of the blue came a great job offer.
Don't let yourself stay stuck in the doldrums .
Get out of a lousy job and do something you love .
Life is too short.
PS I hate tapatalk!

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

What I want to know is where is Touring Ted????

Well my friends.

I'm currently in a shit hole town of Pakbang in Cambodia. Being treated like a walking ATM stuck on the gringo trail. All because I thought it was a good idea to try out 'Backpacking'..

Biggest mistake ever. I pay double or triple for everything, get herded around like a sheep going to market and have my face stuck behind bus windows for hours on end with no idea where I am or where I'm going.

Never ever ever ever again !!

Was meant to be back in the UK in mid march. Now I'm thinking mid Feb.

At least its not snowing haha

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Bugger public transport mate, trust me, you'll go nuts within days


Fancy a trip to Oz mate?

I backpacked in SE Asia a few years back and know exactly what you mean about the gringo trail...it's hard work to get off. It feels like everyone wants you there so they can make money off you.

If you don't want to go home straight away but are fed up with SE Asia you could try India for a few weeks. I'm sure there is a gringo trail there too, but it's easy to buy train tickets yourself and travel with the locals.

I've actually been checking flights. £500 return from bangkok. Cheaper from Bali though.

Darwin/Kimberleys are not looking good this time of year eh ??

And its sooooooo expensive !!!:??

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

I spent a month on the west coast of India in 2012. Less of a trail as you say. Visa is too expensive again for a couple of weeks..

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Mate you know you're welcome to hang out here, plenty to see and do!


Forget the Kimberly this time of the year! keep working on it Ted you'll find a flight, one way from BKK-DRW and return to DPS maybe? I'll start stocking up on T-Bones and Coopers!


Cheers