Posted in June 2008

Norfolk Resident - Caravans Go Home

Source: knightrider45
Monday 30th June 2008, 8:07am

Once again I have to report that my basic European Right to a free and unhindered life has again been compromised by the tin can on wheels owners.

Again I set out for work early, and again I arrived at work late. Why do we tolerate such a public menace?

Last night for instance I was the 9th car stuck behind one of ......these,...... these, people. Doing 37mph in a 60 mph zone.And because we only have single lane roads around here, I couldn't overtake it safely. So I had to follow it. For miles and miles, despite the road in front of it being clear for as far as the eye could see.

But I did use the enforced entrapment time usefully. I thought I might lower my normal high standards and write to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and highlight his tax income oversight to him.As we know, Labour are always open to new tax income ideas.

And this is what I'd suggest:

Firstly, that caravans are treated the same as they are in America, Canada, Europe and Austrailia. We'll reclassify them as trailers. Because in the rest of the world, trailers are taxed separately, and in addition to, the towing vehicle.

We'll split the trailer group of vehicles into two sections: beneficial and non beneficial. Beneficial trailers such as lorries and all other commercials will be exempt from taxation, except if they're used, even once, in caravan manufacturing industry, when they'll be subject to double the non beneficial trailer taxation rate, for life. Other Beneficial Trailers, such as those used for keeping the nation stocked up with food and fuel and keeping industry going will never be taxed.

Non Beneficial Trailers, such as the tin can on wheels, boat trailers and horse boxes will be subject to a separate road tax. Of, say, £2,500 per year.

Complete with enforced quarterly MOT tests costing at least £250.00 each.

And we'll bring in the new Trailer Law, prohibiting these trailers from all roads from 6am to 9pm daily. Owners who break this law will be subject to immediate imprisonment, and the trailers scrapped, crushed and the metal sold to the highest bidder, with all proceeds going direct to the NSPCC to give some kids a brighter future.

Any non beneficial trailer over 2 years of age will automatically be scrapped, again with the funds going straight to the NSPCC.

All non beneficial trailers will have to comply with extra stringent safety factors, as they cause a lot of accidents, and we'll make these new standards a flat cost of something like £5,000, again with the proceeds' profits going direct to the NSPCC

Anyone concerned with the distribution or sales of non beneficial trailers will undergo psychotherapy with the intention of eventual re-integration into Society.

And anyone involved in the actual manufacturing process of non essential trailers will be seconded to a more useful job to serve the nation by making toilet rolls, because toilet rolls are more useful to the country than the non beneficial trailers.

And, finally, I'm thinking of forming a campaign group to push these improvements through, and I thought of calling it the Citizens Against Caravans, CAC for short, reminds you of caravans, doesn't it?

I think it's a really good idea, because one of the country's most important charities will benefit, as will every single road user in this great country of ours. Gordon Brown, watch out for my letter.

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Friday 13th? Just superstition, right?

Source: knightrider45
Friday 13th June 2008, 8:22am

Well, the work problem's been sorted out, to a fashion, anyway.I Just can't believe the speed and ferocity of what's happened over the last few days.

The working roster's been sorted out first off. The company I work for have lost their contract with the customer. Seems the customer's got really fed up of the problems constantly created by the contract firm I work for, and have given them notice. We work for someone else, having transferred under TUPE law, from the 6th July. And the new contact firm has been given strict instructions to leave the procedures alone for at least three months. I'm being interviewed by the new company at work tonight.(Yes, I'm being interviewed for my own job).

BUT

The firm I work at had emergency meetings all day yesterday (Thursday) - and they're closing a division down in September, resulting in the loss of about 70 people's jobs at the end of the month.Just as people start thinking about, and saving for, Christmas. Shop floor workers, warehouse personnel and HGV lorry drivers are all included.

And that means......

My and colleagues workloads will lessen to such an extent that - and we've already been warned about this as well yesterday - our department will "be considered" for downsizing from a 24/7 operation to just 12 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Which in turn means that our department will be overmanned by three men.......which means that 3 of us will also be leaving at the end of September as well (although it's not likely to filter down to us until the end of October).

Watch out for the Lynn News - you'll see the (carefully edited) press releases there.

Friday 13th? Ha, it's only superstition, isn't it?

Know what? I don't (and can't) care any more.

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10th June – Trouble At ‘Mill

Source: knightrider45
Tuesday 10th June 2008, 9:34am

The company I work for have taken on a new manager whoÂ’s really keen to make his prescence felt.

And here we go again. New broom sweeps clean. This new manager is keen to change our working roster and has, in the process, upset everyone of us.

This manager's predecessor, 2 managers back, also tried this. It didn't work then, and it won't work now.

This all started when one of my colleagues received a suprise visit from our line manager who announced the changes he wanted to make. Totally out of the blue, with no reason.

Now, I am different to my colleagues whereas they will just moan about the injustice of the situation, then take action after the changes come in,but, rather than moaning, I rang up my company's head office and asked the magical, all powerful question: WHY?

That question works wonders. As well as the manager realising that at least one of us was going to challenge his infinate wisdom, he also told me that the customer had "complained" (we work for a contactor).

That conversation over, I rang my colleagues at work at explained the situation. One of my colleagues challenged the customer, as he was, like the rest of us, suprised a complaint had been made.

Guess what? The customer has denied making a complaint during a heated conversation with my colleague. No suprise there then. Although the conversation did end with my colleague storming out of the office saying/shouting that "Someone's lying around here, and if it's not them (our company) it must be you. We're all really ****** off with this."

The new manager has annonuced that he's going to implement a new roster, no questions asked. All of us, as a team, have spoken to this manager one by one in turn. The general concensus is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Tha's not good enough. The last time this happened, I resigned as they are forcing me to work more days (I already work 30% of my roster on days, but around my wife's roster, so she's always got a car)- which means my wife either has to walk to work, or have the day off if her back plays up too much making walking extremely difficult. That means less money.

Everyone of us has made plans. This new manager of ours is going to (and is Hell bent on) ruining and interfering with 5 men's lives. Just to make a name for himself.

Know what? It's just not going to happen.

I'll keep you informed........

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7th June - and it's goodbye to May

Source: knightrider45
Saturday 7th June 2008, 10:55pm

Again, the month that has always been the bad one for me is over, at least for another year anyway!

So, we move on.

And here's the summary of the last week or so.

Son's Moving Out

Tomorrow, as it happens. He signed up for his flat in the last few days of May and moves in properly Sunday. That's it then, one chapter over, closed & slammed shut. It's going to be well strange without him - but good luck to him (obviously) - he just hasn't got any idea of how he's going to be missed, by me especially.

The Mortgage

The repo order still hangs over us at the moment, but I've made my first payment under the agreement, the next one's due Tuesday, and once that's paid, then the lenders will suspend the court hearing - provided all the following (6) arrears payments are made on time. Let's hope that, this time, nothing goes wrong.

Computer dies

I use my computer one hell of a lot, and it started playing up over the last week or so, being extremely slow, clonky and basically a waste of time. Fortunately, I make regular back ups, especially running the business, so that wasn't a problem. I've had to reformat my hard drive, I've ditched 2000 professional and upgraded myself to XP. See how it goes now. Good job I know computers.

Black moods have hit me with a sledgehammer.

Permanent depression, feelings of worthlessness, out of control,hopelessness and helplessness. The tablets aren't controlling them very well and I've been really peed off for the last week or so. Made worse, of course, by the repo order for the house, and the extreme lack of money.

Overtime Dies

My three 100 hour weeks have at last come to an end. The money's nice - the exhaustion isn't. I've been so tired lately, I've slept through my alarm five days running, I couldn't wake up when I got up (there is a difference) and breakfast for close on two weeks has been a strong cup of tea with three Pro Plus tablets.

So, now I'm back to basic hours. I can't get enough money together quick enough for the market stall, or the stock, and so I'm going to have to do agency work to tie us over. Especially as I now have to replace the son's board every week

There's trouble brewing at work again. Over the working rosters again. My company's taken on a new manager, and he's seeing fit to change the rosters to what HE wants. That means I have to work more days, which means the wife has to walk to work, or have the day off. All four of my team are really put out over this. And that means major trouble - which has already started. I'll fill you in on that tomorrow.

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