Commiserations fella ... just a year since I lost my lovely cousin who was 3 weeks younger than me ... still think she is up in Warrington living her life ..
That’s a bastard. At 31 too, ffs. The disease is a **** and hopefully it can be eradicated or at least managed far more successfully.
I don't mind the cold. I like it when it's proper ice crispy cold. It's that ****ing endless grey wet windy ****e I can't stand.
How do you lads balance work and family life? I feel like I’m putting far too much time into my work at the minute. It has it’s obvious perks but I feel like I’m definitely missing a lot of things at home. An hour a day with my little girl before she goes to bed is not enough. I might just go back to self employed and do consultancy/contract work.
That last bit first mate, I was in the same position working in the NHS. Earning good dough but only seeing my daughter for an hour in the mornings and she'd be in bed by the time I got home. I ditched it and started my own business. I probably earn 1/3 of what I did, but I've got a great work/life/family balance and I wouldn't swap that for any amount of money. All depends how you measure your wealth I suppose.
Everyone's different mate and only you know what's best for you, and it sounds like you've half made your mind up anyway. I mentioned the other week that they're trying to push me for a promotion at work at the moment but I'm not interested as I know it will involve working longer hours and I'll see my boy less etc.
I don't see mine at all (well except for video call each day) yet always skint. just paid the school fees again this month, so totally skint now.
I spent years chasing the promotions and pouring loads of energy into my work. I ended up in one of those classic middle/senior management positions where you're carrying loads of stress because you've got several teams to manage as well as developing the service and having to report back to the directors. It was decent wedge Band 7 salary and it was good whilst it lasted. But I wouldn't go back to that lifestyle now, not for any amount of money.