So some of you (if anyone is in fact reading this...) may have heard our news on my facebook page...
Nick has a new job.
That's the first bit of news.
It all came a little suddenly, since he applied for the job last Tuesday, went for the interview on Friday, and they sent him an email to say they wanted him this Monday morning!! He's really lucky to have got it, since it's gaming week this week and there's so much going on promoting it all, that the company have actually had so many applicants this week they've put a hold on it all! He had insider knowledge (it's never been what you know, but who you know, let's be fair here) and managed to apply before the job was actually posted in the papers etc.
The job is as a Games Tester. This is not as easy as you might think (from what I've been told) No, he will not get to play games all day. He will probably be testing the same part of a game over and over in the week... following and writing reports about any bugs or other issues. This is the front door to the gaming world apparently. Everyone starts here, and if you're any good, you progress up into higher fields. Nick is so excited he's been grinning his head off all week.
It starts out as a 12 week temporary contract. Scary. This is just so they can sort the chaff from the wheat, and get rid. This leads on to a longer contract and then a permanent job. It's just like starting from the beginning again. He's done it once, (in a place he didn't have much love for) I'm not particularly worried about him being able to do it again. He will fit in great with all the other geeks :D :D :D
Anyway, so when we looked at the benefits we'd be entitled to on a lower wage... we found we actually would be bringing in as much as before. Which shocked the heck out of me, let me tell you. I can't believe that someone earning so much less than us, in a far less responsible job would have their earnings made up to what Nick has been earning in his job. Doesn't seem fair. But something I'm willing to use in the short term to get us out of a hole I suppose. I'm not willing to stop paying the mortgage just so we can lose it (and be branded with bad credit ratings etc.) just so the council can put us up in one of their houses. I want to choose where I live, and who my neighbours are. I don't want to be living off the forced charity of others. It just seems incredibly wrong, on so many levels.
Which brings me onto the next big change. We're selling the house. I actually feel a lot better about this than I thought I would. It's funny because ever since we moved in, whenever we've done DIY, at the back of my mind on a very concious level has been the idea of having to choose something less our taste and more something that would work "when we sell the house". I'd just got past all that, and started to feel like it was ours and we could do what we wanted with it, no matter how kooky... then this happens :D
We've got a few jobs we want to do with stuff we've already bought, like the folding doors inbetween the living and dining room we bought a few weeks ago... possibly some carpet in the upstairs bedrooms, and just general tidying... but the main thing that needs doing is serious decluttering. I have to be fair, most of it is mine, and the kids. Nick has a lot of old computer stuff, which he's actually been through the other night and got rid of the majority of. I have craft stuff, and books... I actually get really attached and sentimental over stuff. Which I am really trying to deal with. Reading about Tophats big move earlier in the year really helped. I couldn't believe how little they moved with. I'm not going to have to get rid of nearly as much, or move nearly as far... but it just helps to see that someone else has done it... and survived... and isn't complaining... see i know it's just stuff... and that I won't miss it once it's gone... but it's the actual getting rid of... ha ha. The "What if I desperately need it next week!!" Mad really.
Anyway, so I've dumped a load of stuff already this morning, and Nick is working on the doors. The girls are being remarkably independent, which is nice. We're meant to be going round estate agents and seeing the benefit people today, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen. Eve still hasn't napped and I don't fancy dragging a grotty child around town.
Just to reassure you... or perhaps it won't... We've prayed about these big changes, together as a couple... and I've prayed alone as well... especially when someone says something and I start to worry. What happens is I get this feeling of overwhelming peace. I know it's going to work out. I know we're going to be fine. I also know it's going to be really hard work at times.
Oh, and the good news is that Nicks parents who live literally up the road are happy to take us into their home for a few months. We might do this so the house is clean and tidy at all times, and doesn't get re-grubbified. It will also act as a buffer after we've sold and before we've found somewhere good to rent :) I'm actually excited to try living in a village somewhere.
So who knows where we'll be living in a years time... exciting stuff!!
Nick has a new job.
That's the first bit of news.
It all came a little suddenly, since he applied for the job last Tuesday, went for the interview on Friday, and they sent him an email to say they wanted him this Monday morning!! He's really lucky to have got it, since it's gaming week this week and there's so much going on promoting it all, that the company have actually had so many applicants this week they've put a hold on it all! He had insider knowledge (it's never been what you know, but who you know, let's be fair here) and managed to apply before the job was actually posted in the papers etc.
The job is as a Games Tester. This is not as easy as you might think (from what I've been told) No, he will not get to play games all day. He will probably be testing the same part of a game over and over in the week... following and writing reports about any bugs or other issues. This is the front door to the gaming world apparently. Everyone starts here, and if you're any good, you progress up into higher fields. Nick is so excited he's been grinning his head off all week.
It starts out as a 12 week temporary contract. Scary. This is just so they can sort the chaff from the wheat, and get rid. This leads on to a longer contract and then a permanent job. It's just like starting from the beginning again. He's done it once, (in a place he didn't have much love for) I'm not particularly worried about him being able to do it again. He will fit in great with all the other geeks :D :D :D
Anyway, so when we looked at the benefits we'd be entitled to on a lower wage... we found we actually would be bringing in as much as before. Which shocked the heck out of me, let me tell you. I can't believe that someone earning so much less than us, in a far less responsible job would have their earnings made up to what Nick has been earning in his job. Doesn't seem fair. But something I'm willing to use in the short term to get us out of a hole I suppose. I'm not willing to stop paying the mortgage just so we can lose it (and be branded with bad credit ratings etc.) just so the council can put us up in one of their houses. I want to choose where I live, and who my neighbours are. I don't want to be living off the forced charity of others. It just seems incredibly wrong, on so many levels.
Which brings me onto the next big change. We're selling the house. I actually feel a lot better about this than I thought I would. It's funny because ever since we moved in, whenever we've done DIY, at the back of my mind on a very concious level has been the idea of having to choose something less our taste and more something that would work "when we sell the house". I'd just got past all that, and started to feel like it was ours and we could do what we wanted with it, no matter how kooky... then this happens :D
We've got a few jobs we want to do with stuff we've already bought, like the folding doors inbetween the living and dining room we bought a few weeks ago... possibly some carpet in the upstairs bedrooms, and just general tidying... but the main thing that needs doing is serious decluttering. I have to be fair, most of it is mine, and the kids. Nick has a lot of old computer stuff, which he's actually been through the other night and got rid of the majority of. I have craft stuff, and books... I actually get really attached and sentimental over stuff. Which I am really trying to deal with. Reading about Tophats big move earlier in the year really helped. I couldn't believe how little they moved with. I'm not going to have to get rid of nearly as much, or move nearly as far... but it just helps to see that someone else has done it... and survived... and isn't complaining... see i know it's just stuff... and that I won't miss it once it's gone... but it's the actual getting rid of... ha ha. The "What if I desperately need it next week!!" Mad really.
Anyway, so I've dumped a load of stuff already this morning, and Nick is working on the doors. The girls are being remarkably independent, which is nice. We're meant to be going round estate agents and seeing the benefit people today, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen. Eve still hasn't napped and I don't fancy dragging a grotty child around town.
Just to reassure you... or perhaps it won't... We've prayed about these big changes, together as a couple... and I've prayed alone as well... especially when someone says something and I start to worry. What happens is I get this feeling of overwhelming peace. I know it's going to work out. I know we're going to be fine. I also know it's going to be really hard work at times.
Oh, and the good news is that Nicks parents who live literally up the road are happy to take us into their home for a few months. We might do this so the house is clean and tidy at all times, and doesn't get re-grubbified. It will also act as a buffer after we've sold and before we've found somewhere good to rent :) I'm actually excited to try living in a village somewhere.
So who knows where we'll be living in a years time... exciting stuff!!
The "What if I desperately need it next week!!" Mad really. - made me laugh.
ReplyDeletetis fine you can just come and borrow it from here. Whatever it is I am bound to have at least one of 'it'!
You'd be helping me to declutter too. yaaaaaay!
The "What if I desperately need it next week!!" Mad really. - made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteTis fine you can just come and borrow it from here. Whatever it is I am bound to have at least one of 'it'!
You'd be helping me to declutter too. yaaaaaay!