So it was time for our
trip to Belgium and France.
I don't really know
what happened, but the trip didn't really 'gel' as well as previous
trips, and didn't really work out as well as planned. It's hard to
put a finger on what happened – over expectation, the format
getting stale, us all wanting different things from it? Looking back,
some days we did too much riding, it was very hot which didn't suit
riders or bikes, and one of the hotels was very poor, all of which
didn't put us in a very good frame of mind.
However, I had a new
job to start when I got back. I was working for a small company
repairing and maintaining electrical equipment, and although it was
only 3 days a week, it would be better than not working at all. The
idea was that I would do a two week 'trial' whilst their existing
engineer was on holiday, and they were happy with me, I would get the
job as he was planning on leaving.
I enjoyed the work, the
employers said they were very happy with what I'd done, and they
would get back to me to arrange a starting date. However, after them
phoning me a couple of times saying that they were just about to get
things organised, they never got back to me with a starting date.
Meanwhile I'd arranged
another lunch date and we both had a lot to talk about having both
been on holiday. Unfortunately it didn't quite work out that way.
Although I had thought we had been getting on well and had become
good friends, the meeting was a bit cold and I felt a distance
growing between us. After that she declined to meet me again and
wouldn't even discuss it. I was really perplexed by this as it wasn't
as if we were having a relationship that had gone stale, we were
friends who met for lunch so it all coming to an end without
explanation left me baffled. If I learned one thing from it, I
understand women even less than I did 20 odd years ago!
So that was it – a
disappointing holiday, no job, and a friendship inexplicably coming
to an end. I don't really know what happened at this point but I kind
of retreated into myself and became a bit reclusive. I rarely went
out (sometimes for days at a time), hardly spoke to anyone, and
stopped doing any worthwhile work on my bikes. All I seemed to do was
scour the Internet searching for jobs, sending off applications, and
getting no replies. By the time the anniversary of the end of my last
full time job had come in August, I had applied for around 700 jobs
but had only had 5 or 6 interviews.
I did manage a bit of
work on my CL 350, and it is now a rolling chassis.
In October I managed to
get a job as a Telecom Installer, and had to go for a two week
training course in Coventry. It was a very intense course, and I was
trained in installing telephone and broadband systems for domestic
customers. The work would be hard and you were paid on a job basis
rather than a salary, but we were told that there was plenty of money
to be made.
I completed the course
and started at the local depot. I
seemed to spend a lot of time hanging around or working as a
glorified labourer/driver, before eventually being sent out with
another installer to 'learn the job'. During this time I was paid a
very low 'training rate', but was always being told that once I was
out by myself I would be earning a good wage.
Eventually
I was sent out on jobs by myself, but rather than base me locally, I
was sent to Manchester for a week. This meant having to leave on the
Sunday evening, work long, hard hours (12 – 14 a day), in an
unfamiliar city, with no local contacts or assistance. I eventually
got home on Friday night at about 22:00, totally worn out by the
experience. The follow weeks I was based more locally so could go
home each night, and the workload was more realistic (8 hours a day).
Eventually, I got first 'proper' wage, and it was pitiful! No-one
would give me any explanation of how my wages were calculated, but
said that 'things would be worked out later'. The next two weeks'
wages were barely better, so as nobody would give me an explanation,
I left. Although I was supposed to be paid a 'job rate', if you
calculated it on an hourly rate I was being paid about half the
Minimum Wage, so could earn twice as much stacking supermarket
shelves or mopping floors!
So
I end this year like I ended last year – unemployed, on my own, and
not knowing what the coming year will bring!
A
quick round up of what state my bikes are in:
Silver
Traveller – Much as before. Will probably fit the higher bars this
winter (didn't I say that last year?), give it a service in the
Spring, and it's ready to go.
White
Traveller – Same as this point last year. I haven't needed it in
the last year, so haven't taxed or MOTed it. Bodywork is stored in
the loft to prevent it getting scratched in the garage. If I get a
job that I need a 'commuting bike' for, then it'll only take a
weekend to put it back on the road. I start the engine every 2 weeks
or so just to keep oil circulating.
Honda
CL 350 – Getting forward slowly. Have nearly finished paining,
cleaning up, etc, so can start reassembling it. Once I get a job I
can get the more expensive jobs done (respray, rear shocks, etc),
then get it registered for the road.
Yamaha
SZR 660 – Not really done anything on it other than buy a few bits
and turn the engine over now and again. Probably won't start proper
work on it until the Honda is finished.
Looks like it's ready for the engine. I'm only one and a half steps ahead of you. I imagine Iain's having trouble finding the 350 he was working on, wedged as it is between all those Kawasakis....
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