Though I have heard that its because they've eaten so many lemons? We are still talking about the wives right?
Ok, I'll poke my head above the parapet, so Zues what did you have as a gift this last Christmas, what was the highlight of your break, obviously other than interacting with the forum members and did you go anywhere.
Feeling your pain Nasher, I was in a similar situation, I had worked somewhere for 18 years and used to love my job, however a new 'engineer' decided to make my life very difficult at every opportunity, regularly being dragged into the office for character assassination, constantly being patronised, thinly veiled threats of sacking, given all the worst jobs, he had already sacked a couple of people, but it's hard to bite your lip all the time, I don't suffer fools gladly and nearly lost it a couple of times but thought better of it, fortunately for me I was in a position to take my pension early and jump before I was pushed, within a month of me leaving he sacked a couple of other people. Ride the storm pal, they're not worth losing your job for, I used to say "If it comes from nothing, it means nothing " Good luck
Why thank you for asking. I didn’t get anything as it’s just me and the wife and we decided to stop all that years ago, the highlight was a lovely dinner made by said wife and watching the dogs open their presents. We then had a couple of days between chrimbo and new year walking in the Lake District. Quiet,simple, just the way I like it.
Nice to hear that like us there is no exchange of gifts, although we do have secret Santa between us 4. We go out for Christmas dinner have done for the last 5 years, just really so my partner doesn't have the stress of cooking on that particular day as we usually had my parents round. I need to get up to the Lake District this year for a bimble.
I'm glad it's not just us. Buying gifts at Xmas now feels totally meaningless to us. We see little things through the year that we know the other would like, and get them then. And yes, that does include a bunch of Supermarket flowers occasionally if they catch my eye. It feels like the gifts, no matter how small, mean so much more when they are completely random. Hearing grown adults boasting about what they 'Got' for Xmas just sounds childish, Selfish, Gross, and frankly, Pathetic.
But finding another job at 58yrs old on good pay for a 4 day 30hr week with a great Pension and Bupa etc isn't easy. I'll do my Porridge for another couple of years! A little older at 66 but very similar situation. my job is well paid but pointless which is more soul destroying that i thought it would be. The day i can afford to retire i will walk out. Probably give them about 5 minutes notice.
It's a Dilemma isn't it? They know they've 'got us' for the duration at our age with the simple things that maybe others wouldn't appreciate so much. The Bupa is a particular benefit that until you've had it and used it you don't think it's a deal breaker. I dislocated my shoulder 2.5yrs ago when I had an accident on my 999. It's never going to be completely right at my age, it still hurts every day, but when I tweaked it again during the summer and tore the already scarred Rotator cuff again I got a video consultancy within an hour of making the first call, Keyhole surgery within a week or so, and 6 sessions of Physio. Yes I pay the tax on the cost of the benefit, but I'd still be waiting on the NHS. Yes I know the NHS do a great job, but are completely buggered by their funding etc, and I like to think I do my bit by not contributing to their work load.
After being sick with arthritis issues I had a return to work with my manager. He said "are you with beneden" . I replied I havn't worn one of their shirts since the eighties! He looked at me with a stern face.
I'd also find it hard to walk away from a job that included health care. Salary, pension, healthcare all add up to some very nice golden shackles.
Just gone through this thread and I would have said the best present i had was 2 weeks with people I like rather than 2 weeks with people I don't.
Yes - the best response but, of course, not one to make working life any easier! Fortunately I was able to walk away from the (mostly-toxic) working environment I'd worked in for the previous 10 years. An arsehole company owner, lots of snowflake priviliged 20-30 old wannabes, etc. That was 3 years ago at 66, and I can't remember ever having the feeling of being so free once I'd left! I think that a lot of us take jobs that we can do because of external pressures and aren't able to really judge what sort of work would have been best for us in the long term - only able to persue our real paths once retired. @Nasher - you have my heartfelt sympathies and hope that you can get out with your dignity (& bank balance, etc) intact.
My arsehole boss was walking through the canteen at lunchtime saying to each individual "have a good Christmas" with people saying "the same to you boss" my response to him was "I intend to" ;-)
That is the problem these days. Apprentices are trained up to be team leaders and managers. Instead of being " hands on/can do attitude".
