General Chat - February 2016

[SarahLu]

Couldn't find a thread for Feb so thought I'd start one - Happy February

What are we all looking forward to this month? I'm on holiday countdown (25 days to go!) and expecting delivery of my tent for Glastonbury today, so a very exciting start to the month for me!

 

[Twiggy]

Husband should be starting a new job this month (been out of work since Nov!), and Feb is quite a month as it's his 50th birthday, our wedding anniversary, and dog's birthday too (well the date we got her) ;D

 

[SarahLu]

Husband should be starting a new job this month (been out of work since Nov!), and Feb is quite a month as it's his 50th birthday, our wedding anniversary, and dog's birthday too (well the date we got her) ;D

Lots going on then! Hope he goes on OK in the new job. My other half has been out of work since 1st Nov too, he hasn't found anything yet

 

[Twiggy]

Having Christmas right after applying for jobs didn't help, hope your OH finds something soon. Luckily mine is in the social care sector so always plenty of work about, allbeit part time.

 

[Chammy]

Booked tickets to see Deadpool next week for date night - I'm just a tad excited

Also booked in a girly day at the end of the month where we will be hitting The Great Escape to do the Mad Scientist room

 

[katykicker]

What is that [member=277]Chammy[/member] ? Sounds interesting.

My mum has come on leaps and bounds...! No more oxygen, infection markers down from 400 ish to 150 (5 is normal), which means she *may* be able to go home tomorrow. She will need a bit of help at home and things but I'm so pleased It would be great for her to be at home, as I can visit at a convenient time rather than x strict visiting times.

I'm really pleased

I've also got SPD so I'm suffering hugely with a painful pelvis etc, but soon be baby time (NEXT MONTH!)

 

[Chammy]

What is that [member=277]Chammy[/member] ? Sounds interesting.

My mum has come on leaps and bounds...! No more oxygen, infection markers down from 400 ish to 150 (5 is normal), which means she *may* be able to go home tomorrow. She will need a bit of help at home and things but I'm so pleased It would be great for her to be at home, as I can visit at a convenient time rather than x strict visiting times.

I'm really pleased

I've also got SPD so I'm suffering hugely with a painful pelvis etc, but soon be baby time (NEXT MONTH!)

[member=920]katykicker[/member] It's a real life puzzle experience, you have a certain amount of time to solve it and escape. We did the serial killer room for my friend's birthday which we got handcuffed to the floor/walls/ceiling and then had to solve clues to release ourselves and get out of the room. We failed, only just so have been looking forward to giving another room a go

 

[katykicker]

That sounds AWESOME!

 

[Flitterbug]

Is it really baby time next month [member=920]katykicker[/member] that's gone so quick! (Maybe not for you - sorry XD) SPD sucks, just don't over do it and see how many people you get get to wait on you ^_^

 

[katykicker]

[member=362]Kelzky[/member] I know! Amazing isn't it! The time has gone quick, despite the pain now. I am suffering but I'm still SO grateful for my pregnancy and being able to carry a baby

Not much chance of rest at the moment, with my mum being in hospital etc, but I'm doing my best to spend a few hours relaxing each day if I can I'm fortunate that I don't have to go out to work either so I'm thanking my lucky stars mostly, despite the pain.

 

[Twiggy]

It must be a relief feeling knowing your mum is living nearby and you can pop around and help out etc, Katy.

 

[asajj]

Hi everyone, hope all well Just popped in to say hi. Flying to India week on Friday - both nervous and excited. Nowadays, I have crap internet usually. Katy, not long to go =) Hope your mother feels better soon too.
And good luck and congratulations for new jobs, anniversaries and birthdays Take care.

 

[Jon]

Off to the first Leeds rhinos game of the new season tonight

BRING ON THE HALF TIME CHICKEN!!!

 

[spike241]

Apologies for bringing down quite a happy thread but I really don't have many people to talk to.
After over a year of working from home I think I've finally had enough. My motivation and earnings have dropped a lot in the last few months, to the point where I can barely pay the bills. The past few days I've literally been worried sick, crying all the time and I barely slept last night.
I can't even really do matched betting because of an issue with my name, my legal name isn't the same as the one on my bank card or birth certificate but my change of name deed went missing years ago so I have nothing to tie the 2 together.

I just can't deal with the uncertainty every month so now I'm having to look for a new job. I have very little confidence which really doesn't help. I'd like to think I'm intelligent and capable but I look at job listings and I don't feel confident that I can do the jobs well. Even my fall back of McDonalds (where my partner is a manager) isn't hiring at the moment

 

[Jon]

Apologies for bringing down quite a happy thread but I really don't have many people to talk to.
After over a year of working from home I think I've finally had enough. My motivation and earnings have dropped a lot in the last few months, to the point where I can barely pay the bills. The past few days I've literally been worried sick, crying all the time and I barely slept last night.
I can't even really do matched betting because of an issue with my name, my legal name isn't the same as the one on my bank card or birth certificate but my change of name deed went missing years ago so I have nothing to tie the 2 together.

I just can't deal with the uncertainty every month so now I'm having to look for a new job. I have very little confidence which really doesn't help. I'd like to think I'm intelligent and capable but I look at job listings and I don't feel confident that I can do the jobs well. Even my fall back of McDonalds (where my partner is a manager) isn't hiring at the moment

[member=839]spike241[/member]

Firstly, how have your earnings dropped? Has something happened in terms of being excluded from doing various online earning opportunities

Working from home 24/7 isn't for everyone. I couldn't do it, I crave human interaction throughout the day and enjoy management and all that that entails as well from a personal development point of view so earning from home mon-fri certainly isn't for everyone.

What is your work history before you ended up working from home all the time? Do you have any prior experience in any work sectors you could go back to?

[member=920]katykicker[/member] or [member=277]Chammy[/member] will probably have some good advice.

 

[spike241]

It's motivation, especially with uTest. I just don't feel like spending hours looking for bugs, which is where the money is.
I haven't been able to get into any of the WSE places either.

I'm the same. I started to enjoy being at home all the time but now I'm just depressed. I hardly ever get out and I think I need to be working with people again.

Not a lot of experience. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 4 years (2 as an apprentice) but it would be very difficult to get back into that. I have the photography business which obviously involves working with customers so I'm trying to focus on that when applying.

 

[Jon]

It's motivation, especially with uTest. I just don't feel like spending hours looking for bugs, which is where the money is.
I haven't been able to get into any of the WSE places either.

I'm the same. I started to enjoy being at home all the time but now I'm just depressed. I hardly ever get out and I think I need to be working with people again.

Not a lot of experience. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 4 years (2 as an apprentice) but it would be very difficult to get back into that. I have the photography business which obviously involves working with customers so I'm trying to focus on that when applying.

Yeah that would the major downside. I would just end up dreading every weekday when the other half goes to work and I get left alone at home again so I fully understand your problem here

 

[spike241]

That's exactly how it is, but he works throughout the week

 

[askgar]

It's motivation, especially with uTest. I just don't feel like spending hours looking for bugs, which is where the money is.
I haven't been able to get into any of the WSE places either.

I'm the same. I started to enjoy being at home all the time but now I'm just depressed. I hardly ever get out and I think I need to be working with people again.

Not a lot of experience. I worked for a pharmaceutical company for 4 years (2 as an apprentice) but it would be very difficult to get back into that. I have the photography business which obviously involves working with customers so I'm trying to focus on that when applying.

Given your experience on uTest is there anyone hiring Software QA staff around you, sounds like the perfect fit for you and you'd get a lot of social interaction with other staff, especially developers?

I understand the feeling of spending hours looking for bugs, I tend to go for Testcase projects, then any bugs I find during the TC I'll submit, I'm using uTest for supplementary income and it's working really well for that, no stress if I don't find bugs, or only managed the Test case, because it's not my main income.

 

[spike241]

No, there isn't
I started just taking test cases but there's not enough money in them. The couple I have had recently have had technical issues so I haven't been able to do them.