19 Aug 2020

And Then A Passing...

I’ve learned from other Blogs that another Blogger has left us. Farewell Raedwald, you’ll be missed. My commiserations to family and friends.

I know you’ll live-on in many a Blog sidebar link list. Hope wot’s below makes you smile and reach for the spoons wherever you be. Rest well.

I done died one time
Ain’t gonna die no more
Ain’t that good news?     

        

As for the quote below, would those that would rule over us, please take note.

Quote;  Jimi Hendrix.

“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”

4 comments:

Ripper said...

Must be the time of year for it Mac, I started back at work on Monday after the 3 week summer shutdown. It was announced that one of the lads, 25 years old, had hung himself the day we broke up.

I work in the next bay to this guy, on the day we broke up everyone was in high spirits, me and him and a couple of others had a kick around with a ball made of masking tape. Earlier he had been telling me that he's buying a house, and about the high jinks his 2 year old son gets up to. Completely rational, cracking jokes and looking forward to the break. He was found dead the morning after.

I've had enough myself, and decided to take early retirement. I leave at the end of the month, grab a load of money on my way out, then start looking for an easier job.

Mac said...

Ripper,
Sad news. Happened to me back when I started on the rigs. Young guy, hard worker, always smiling, hell of a hand in the pub on cre change just went home one trip and ended it...
Good luck to you going forward. Wot to do with the money as interest rates are pants right now. Think about Premium Bonds. Money safe and, slight chance as a big win may be, who knows? Treat as a lottery but you don't lose your bet...
Again, very best wishes to you for the future. Take care my friend.

Ripper said...

Mac, thanks for the kind wishes. Interest rates don't bother me since the payout is too small for things like that. I've taken a calculated risk, my job there now being untenable as far as I am concerned. I took the early retirement as a means to leave there and find another job which suits my lifestyle better and where my skills as a welder of 45 years will be appreciated, instead of having:

Compulsory overtime
Shift changes at a minutes notice
Forced to wear a face nappy for 12 hours solid - yep, even under an air fed welding visor.
A corrupt union who's reps live on company bribes
'Banked' hours - meaning that if you are put on a 'stand down' shift, those hours of overtime are used to pay you whilst stood down.
Reduced overtime rates from 1.5 to 1.2
Reduced shift allowance from 7pm - 7am to 11.30pm - 6:30am

Go to work there for a real Orwellian experience.

The fact that I only have another 2 years to retirement age helps, as if I have difficulty in getting employment then I can survive on the payout alone until pension age. House/car is paid for, no debts or commitments. I just want to avoid eating into savings. My works pension is useless to live on for any length of time so that will be cashed in to finish work on my house, in spite of the tax.

So, I'm far from a lottery winner, the next 2 years might be very difficult, depending on whether I get work or not, but I know I will come through the other side, either way. As a fellow worker told me - "Its alright for you, you already have a foot out the door".

The young guy who died was named Gage. He was a likeable fellow who always had a joke or two lined up and no one would have had any idea of what he was planning. But I must say, I'm getting out while the going is good - Gage's suicide is not the first in that company, and am sure it won't be the last. It really is that bad there now.

Mac said...

Ripper,
You are more than welcome good friend.
Sounds a lot like me. The offshore game went from a free rolling, get the job done while watching out for your work mates and yourself to a job where getting the paperwork done was more important than the job - a job that was getting strangled by the obsession with H & S. Enough already.
As for jobs, the one that I always fancied if push came to shove {pun} was the guy who spent his day walking round supermarket car parks collecting the trolleys. Fresh air, exercise and pretty much your own man...
Whatever, once again, may good luck, good health and good fortune be your constant companions as the years quickly roll along.