Be Excellent To Each Other

I know how distraught I was when I had to have my pet rats put down, so I can't imagine what it must be like with a dog. Very sad news Nick.

Sorry to hear about Tigs, Nickachu.

Sorry to hear that, Nik. My colleague had to have one of his dogs put down last week too. You know it's for the best, but it doesn't make it easy.

had our daughter last year and this year started working 3 days instead of 5
last year was weird money wise because of the time off for baby and had a bit of a pay rise at the end of it, so didn't know what to expect for my salary
was pleasantly surprised in the end
tonight my manager called to tell me they had made a mistake, I have been getting 80% in stead of 60% so I'm going down 20% and have to pay back 6 months * 20%
very, very unhappy about our new financial situation ...

Ouch! That's a huge amount to be suddenly dropping by, especially with the repayment!

Aww Miki, are they actually allowed to take the money off you if they are at fault though?

Aww Nick I'm really sorry, wish I could give you a big hug xxx

Yes, but you should have a fair amount of leeway to set your own terms of repayment.

I know in the UK that a woman who was being paid twice as much as she should be by a bank took them to court and won the right for them to keep paying her what they had been, as she had things like mortgage based on it.

The rules should be sort of similar across Europe, I'd imagine - at the very least talk to a lawyer, because I'd be fairly surprised if they can force you to pay back the difference unless you signed a contract saying so.

And even if you have to pay it back, you ought to be able to negotiate to pay it back over a longer period in smaller amounts.

Same here, on both counts. My thoughts are with the Family Grim...

Christ - just read this - I'm so sorry to hear about Mrs Grim..., Grim... - fingers crossed the antibiotics help in the meantime. My sincerest best wishes to you all.

We're just back from hospital again, actually, and she's improved enough for them to take the IV line out, which is good.

She had a sharps bucket full of all the stuff she's used in the past nine days, but the photo I took doesn't convey just how much stuff was in there at all

Glad to hear she's improved.

The bucket was two feet high, easy - and full up

I should have taken a proper photo - you wouldn't have believed it.

Really hoping that the improvements keep coming Grim... thinking of you all.

Brrr
Glad to hear of improvements though, best wishes.

That's good to hear.

I'm so glad to hear she's doing better!
I know my broblem is nothing compared to actuall illness!


thanks for the advice guys. I still don't know the exact numbers, the manager I talked to last night is not from the HR department so she could only give me the jist. She did ask if I wanted her to see about spreading the payment out but I hate debt so I'd rather get it over with as I have the feeling like I would have to pay it in the end anyway. Maybe I'm a pushover.
I am very worried about the actual salary though (which I would have been in Jan had they done it right in the first place). I'm sure we will be ok but it's a very big pay cut and I'm good at worrying.

Good grief Grim..., glad to hear things are looking better though, hope they keep going that way.

My last grandparent passed on earlier this week we kind of knew that it was coming as she has been very ill recently but has still been a pretty big shock

I am seriously kicking myself as i was due to head back to south Wales for work and would have seen her before it finally happened but due to one job i put it back a week and now she is gone, the only good i can see from this is that she is no longer suffering.

Catch you all later.

*sorry for missing the latest game of mafia, will witter more in the next game to make it up*

Aw, man. Sorry to hear that, sad news.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Try not to blame yourself for not being around at the time.

So sorry to hear about that, man.

Sorry to hear it SG. Sympathies.

Off to the hospital in a bit to have some X-rays done of my teeth to see if the proposed treatment (braces, then an operation to break and re-align my jaw) is feasible. Then to register with a local GP as the one I've used for years no longer has me as a patient and I need an appointment to convince myself that I didn't go too far with authenticity at a recent re-enactment and contract a period ailment.

Oh, and I tried on my new DMs at the weekend but they weren't broken in so now my feet are in shreds. Feeling pretty miserable this morning, but compared to other recent posts in this thread I'm counting my blessings.

Best of luck with it all, Kern. Hope they can fix your teeth without resorting to breaking your jaw.

And may your boots soften swiftly.

Thanks. Well, had the consultation today and after looking at the cast of my teeth and the various photos of the inside of my mouth (I ticked the box saying that I'm happy for them to be used for education and research - I'm vain like that) it seems surgery is the only option if I want them corrected. Got three months to decide on whether to go ahead or not, so a lot of thinking between now and then. If I don't do it, there's a risk that things will be far worse in 20 years or so, but it's hard to see that far ahead right now.

I assume you've pissed in them, Kern? Authenticity and all that.

Most things are improved by pissing in them. Exhibit A - Your mum.

Bit of a feeble 'nay!' but a definite one, none the less:

Was giving my teeth an extra hard brush this morning when the false half (created due to me losing half the tooth when I was a kid tripping over an infant in football) of my right inscissor plinked off. Five years faithful service, goodbye Mr False-Half-Tooth! So now I've got a stupid mouth until I can get it feexed at the dentists again.

Boo.

Eurogamer have canned my column

On the plus side, RPS are currently considering giving me a more regular position on the site.

Aww, hope it works out for you Lewie.

Whyfor?

"It's not you, it's me" pretty much.

You're too good for them anyway, you can do far better for yourself.

I quite liked the money they gave me though.

There's plenty more sea in the fish.

Due to start new contract in Liverpool on Monday, now not starting there at all.

Really sorry to hear that.

Oh. That's rubbish - what happened?

The project I was to be working on fell through. They did mention about terminating another contractor in order to fit me in*, but they decided against it. Which is fair enough - they didn't strike me as that kind of company when it comes to their contractor relationships.

They would have taken me on permanently, but I'm not looking to do that.

All part of the fun and games of being a contractor, I suppose. Could end up there in a few weeks, I've got a written promise that if they win another SharePoint client, I can start on the same terms without need for interview.

Onwards and upwards!



*I'm beginning to realise where I lie skills wise in the SharePoint market, which is higher up and in more demand than I thought.

Would have been a bit harsh to kill teh other guy to fit you in.

Still, a job's a job!

How could they tell?

Sorry to hear about that, at least you have a silver lining I suppose.

Only a minor nay, but I slipped - chasing errant tin foil at a bbq - and dislocated my little finger earlier today. Missed the fun and games. But can report that nice dislocations are easily fixed with a quick tug and gas is a fantastic and easy high. "You'll feel a bit dizzy, a little drunk." Not half

Yeah, I know that. I snapped my toe back into place. Took me many "1,2..maybe after the next advert break", but afterwards, four deep breaths and fifteen minutes of manic giggling, all was well. Funny things, bodies.

I often take my mind off minor wounds with a quick tug.