Warblers woe is the Autumn of his discontent

W

Warbler

At the Start
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
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I tried to find the original (gone) - I know i supposed to mod now, but my contribution is in judegement and balance (I hope) not IT!!!!!

Anyway, cut a long story short, the black spot arrived today (RS Stevenson for the unitiated) and 31st of October tis the day when your loyal correspent will be disposed of gainful employ.

Pissed off? yes, but then again anyone who lives under that regime, deserves them.....more to follow .... I hope
 
Plans a plenty nothing thats come to wash.

When I've finally gone I might be able to tell you more?

Ardross Can you PM please, I'm not terribly impressed by a certain law firm (again) Doesn't relate to me, but one of the few genuine cases of race i've seen.
 
Commiserations Warbler, but at least you have know it has been coming for a while and at least been able to put plans into motion.
 
True ... The plans of little fruit I'm afraid..... but as you say..... no shock

Enough no more 'tis not as sweet as t'was before.

I think what annoys me, is I wasn't one of the credit crunch grabbers, I've lived within my means, and yet ..... alas .... thy perish on thee sword.

Anyway, leaving the woes of yo behind, for they will surely bite. Your humble correspendant has bethroathed unto a fine serving wench of many years loyal service behind the taps of damnation, a truso that one day he will take ye gal a racing. For she do'th want to partake (allegedly). Before he doth venture forth from this parish of Oxfordshire is any one (Headstrong) well to furnish thy companion with a freebie???? or for that matter else, within thy vicinity. For young Sarah is but a virgin in this tried and trusted game, and slightly older warbler, but a skinflint likely to fall upon times of hard. I have'th promised great experience and merriment, but alas, time and good weather be thy enemy.

I've got a couple weeks left down here, but look like making Yarmouth of all places on the 28th of October (different story) but my nieces allegedly demand now, that uncle Warbler doth accompany them on holiday.

More seriously, I'm on the look out for a couple of badges in a 60 mile radius of north Ox, because I would like to make good on my promise, but not Kempton :D And before anyone says Towcester (yes.... it is my thoughts). I'd like to give the fair maiden a fair exposure though :D It's called promoting racing, and after that, I'll disappear into thee murky world of moderation

Cheers folks see what you can do for me please
 
Commiserations! There was an Editorial Assistant's job going in the RP jobs section - Timeform iirc. Probably too far away from you though

Not sure what I can do in the way of badges, a couple of my 'usual sources' have dried up a bit of late, esp Lambourn based, as owners have moved trainers, I'm not there much, and I no longer have a horse etc etc. Will put thinking cap on... might be short notice!

Since when did you become a 'super moderator' LOL - seems an odd position for an Anarachist to take up :^0 But I'm sure you'll be 'super'
 
Unemployment rises again :D Rejoice, folks, jolly capatalism will sought it out, God bless America ..... The land of brave and the home of the free.... They're nationalising :cool:
 
Im afraid there are no vacancies in siberian tractor factories warbler....

You will be fine. Just keep believing
 
I'm leaving my current position soon, and would probably prefer to stay in London. I have an offer to work in geneva (need to decide by this time tomorrow), and will quite likely take it as London is currently not a place to be looking for work when you consider the number of recently unemployed, soon to be unemployed and market forces pushing salaries down.

What do you do Warbler?
 
Economic Development/ Planning/ Regeneration for a local authority.

Ironically we feel off the radar a bit during the good times, but history suggests they tend to come back to us when we nose-dive into a recession. My fear however, is that this one could be very deep given the structural weaknesses of the UK.

Ultimately, I'm half coming round to the idea that a break out of the public sector might be the answer, it's just that right now I can't see what the transferable experience would be? In fact I don't believe there is much, although I've probably got transferable skills if you include things like a degree of intelligence, ability to communicate, diagnostic skills, problem solving, creativity etc I'm half tempted to say most have these, but then again, I'm not so sure they have
 
The latest Racing UK package came today Warbs, I could send you the following vouchers to acquire tickets

Free ticket and half price ticket for friend Warwick Mon 6th Oct
Free ticket and extra ticket £10 only Huntingdon Wed 5th Nov
Free ticket and half price ticket for friend Warwick Wed 31st Dec

Presume Ludlow, Carlisle, Ayr and Musselburgh would be too far :)

The other freebies are south of Oxford
 
I lost the original thread (even though I doubtless have the access to re-find it)

Update then;

Warbler appears to have lost out again in another interview (didn't do badly, answered some well, but got tripped up on a couple) can't lie, or can I? Starting to loook as if I should, as I'm increasingly of the opinion that others are doing.

Tomorrow is the so called "exit interview" I laid in to them at the staff conference, it wouldn't have made any difference either way, but caused a degree of embarrasment with awkward questions, and supplementaries. I was eventually removed from this silly procedure by a manager who conceded i was "clever, articulate, and analytical" but he said I "Could'nt possibly allow you to continue, as you were geting too close to the truth"

The manager concerned has requested a written briefing 'for his eyes only'...... Yeah

Spent most of today framing ET stuff, for an employee whose resigned with (IMO) outstanding cases of discrimination (can't enlarge on that for obvious reasons).

My final work was submitted and allegedly lauded as the "best bid ever produced" (between the two conflicting authorities). If this is true, then I'd be concerned. It's strong?....... yes, even I believe it is. But to be described as "the best" worries me greatly as regards their capacity, expectation, and what they've been submitting previously. Anyway, it transpire that my own employers failure to sign bid off (or more precisely, running it close to deadline unnessecarily), was due to the fact that they were under the impression that I'd "corrupted" the finance so as to make it undeliverable.

I've made it tight.... sure..... I had to, in order to give them a chance, but if they are dynamic, imaginative and pro-active (none of which they are) they could deliver it. If I'd asked for the amount of money they needed by way of 'incompetance insurance', they'd never see a penny.

Pissed off?

Yes

Twats!!!
 
Dear Warbler

Isn't it odd how such authorities will pay through the nose for identical plans from outside consultancies, yet will happily override the in-house providers who merely cost them an annual salary?

Just looking around my own working environment I see the truth of the saying that "people are promoted to the level of their own incompetence". Unfortunately those are the people who say the right things at interviews and rely on people like yourself to provide the ideas and work. Unfortunately, such people rarely have the vision, scope or balls to carry the ideas through without putting in safeguards to protect their own hides. It must be so frustrating for you to be limited by such f***wits.

Have you considered becoming a freelance consultant and selling the plan back to them at 3x the price? :D

It seems to be the view that if someone's opinion costs £xx amount, it must be worth more than so-and-so's view, because they're only an employee.

It's amazing how much so-called consultants can get away with - and in many cases they are people like yourself who have been made redundant because of a cost-cutting exercise, but the company/authority then finds itself short of the relevant expertise in-house.

Pillocks.
 
Warbs, there is hope.

I worked for the same company for 20 years, until telling them to cram it up their rear-ends last August. I now run my own consultancy, answer to no-one but myself (and sometimes those who hire me), and make pots more lolly than I ever did as part of a 'machine'.

Market conditions are tough enough at present - no doubt - but there is work out there, so keep the faith, have confidence in your talent, go freelance and make a mint.
 
Grasshopper - oops! I didn't mean to make a certain part of that sound like a derogatory comment on consultants (the "so-called" bit).

While I was temping I was called to a staff meeting where it was announced that several of the senior members of the technical team had been made redundant and escorted off the premises that morning.

6 weeks later one of those guys was back in a consultancy capacity, on exactly the same project - and charging 5x the amount he had been being paid! Brilliant!

The derogatory-sounding bit came in after encountering a firm of business consultants who were brought in to change the way a local council operated, with no experience whatsoever of the work undertaken and structures involved. They cost a fortune, caused chaos and nothing improved.

Consultants in a specialised field have a great advantage.

Like you, I would encourage Warbler to sell his expertise and be his own man.
 
No worries, redhead - no offence was taken (on my part, at least).

Making the jump was the hardest part for me - going from a secure enivornment (regular pay, benefits etc) to something where there are no guarantees whatsoever. When I look back to my old job now, the only thing I feel is regret that I didn't chuck it earlier.

Warbler has had his situation somewhat foisted on him, but I think he should view it more as an opportunity than a disaster.
 
In the public sector the consultant is frequently used as a conveninet way for management to abbrogate responsibility for a decision. For some reason, any recommendation I give them, they become accountable for. If a consultant gives them the same advice (as has happened frequently before) then there is considered to be sufficient distance between the two for the council to be able to say 'we took the advice of an expert' etc

The problem with trying to break into the area of work is that few people will take a chance on tendering a contract to an unproven quantity. If someone were to give me a break and I produced shite for instance, they would be quickly had up on value for money (or some other nebulous concept that just ends up costing more money to administer) and asked why they gave a contract to an unproven and unknown quantity. If however they give a contract to established firm (who will usually produce even more shite) they can at least say, ah but they had a track record and have done similar work XYZ etc. It's more often the case that the consultant has done an exercise not massively removed from "Find X" - "Replace with Y" - here we go Y, here's your report, and my fee is £75 an hour
 
So you tout your consultancy services to an established firm, rather than as a direct contractor to a council/whatever organisation.

Let the firm deal with the council - all you have to do is provide consultancy into the firm that lands the contract.

Edit: What is your role, Warbler? Are you project manager, an economist, an accountant, something else..........?
 
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Good advice, Grasshopper.

It is scary to go off and do your own thing without the safety net of a guaranteed salary and other benefits. However, as you have been pushed before having the option of jumping, get in first, Warbler, before everyone else starts following suit and good consultants become ten-a-penny.

Also, get in with as many firms as possible and give them the impression that you are doing them the favour in allowing them to employ you. No need to be arrogant or big-headed but never come across to them as being desperate for the work (even if you are).

Have you actually left your post yet? If not, you have a great advantage in that you have fresh contacts that will be valuable both to you and to any firm that needs your expertise.
 
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