Spakka's Beaker-thread
Just to let you all know I've been made redundant from my job. The scope of the project the company has been working on has been reduced considerably and as a result, about 15 people were made redundant. I've applied for a different position at the company, but I don't think that's going to lead anywhere. I've decided to spend my newly-found free time working on my own stuff and going travelling again before I have to face up to the rinse-wash-repeat of finding a new job.

In other news, I've returned from a 2-week backpacking trip to Japan - the highlight of which was the last night where I Karaoke'd the night away.

How's everyone this evening?
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:20, 43 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Sorry about the job.
Sounds like Japan was fun, though. I'd love to go there some day.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:27, Reply)

Evening Batty
It's a pity about the job. The thing I'll miss the most is the people. For most of the time I was there, there wasn't a single person at the company who I disliked. But then again, some of my friends at the company were also made redundant, so it wouldn't quite be the same.

As for Japan - go for it! Even though I didn't speak the language or couldn't read the Japanese writing, I still found it easy to get around.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:36, Reply)

Sorry to hear that - still, at least you've got time to prepare your application.
On the subject of work, today I got all these goodies for the princely sum of £1:



Get in.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:35, Reply)

How the hell did you get all those for £1?
Also, why, other than them being cheap?
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:36, Reply)

I work for the manufacturer
and every week, they sell bags of overproduced stock/unused lab samples to employees for £1 each.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:40, Reply)

Awesome
Are they manufactured by one of the big 2 manufacturers in my head, then sold by the company I know sells these?
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:42, Reply)

They're sold on to a lot of different companies,
mainly UK supermarkets (if you look closely, you can see some of the retailers' names under the felt-tip scribbles.)
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:52, Reply)

Yeah, I made out a few
One of the guys on my course is off to work for one-of-the-two-manufacturers-in-my-head. I feel sorry for him.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:54, Reply)

This reminds me of when I was in Istanbul
I was followed around by someone trying to sell me aftershave. At first, they were offering one bottle for about £10, and they were very persistent in trying to sell it to me. In the end, they were offering about 6 bottles for £1 when they gave up.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:43, Reply)

Did they think you smelled that bad?
Evenin' Spakka.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:49, Reply)

Evenin' Chainey
If I smelled bad, that would have been one way to ward off persistent sellers. But this wasn't an ordinary looking aftershave - this looked quite expensive. The only way it could have been reduced to it's final price would be if it was stolen or just a bottle filled with water.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:56, Reply)

Snazzy, ta.
Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet properly at the bash in Cornwall. I spent most of my time gassing with Kaol, Mel, CHCB and V and didn't really mingle much. Hopefully we'll meet properly in the future.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 20:58, Reply)

My sentiments too
Was feeling exhausted after a day of cycling in the hills of Cornwall in the rain and just ended up sitting in the same place most of the time. With luck, fate shall direct us to share another bash.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:08, Reply)

so you can completely avoid eachother then too?

( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:15, Reply)

So we can circulate
but we'll just have to make sure our circulation speeds are not the same or we risk avoiding eachother again.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:21, Reply)

typical busy bodies

( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:27, Reply)

oooh I hope you find something you like!
I'm ready for work to be over so I can get home to ze pooch.
She cried so much when I put her in her pin today :'(
( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:12, Reply)

Kristiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
At least now I know what sort of job I like and what sort of company to look for, but finding another company just like the old one is going to be hard.

If you were in my shoes, you'd have all the time in the world to be with your pooch.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:21, Reply)

mistaspakkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaman
THAT is great news! I'm not sure what sort of socks I want to wear in the morning let alone what sort of job I want.

oh MAN, I'd love that
( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:28, Reply)

Do you have different morning and afternoon socks?
And do you have an elaborate mid-day sock-changing ritual?

As for what job you'd like - think back to when you were a kid ... what job did you want to do then?
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:36, Reply)

Nah, just ones I put on before I go to work and take off when I get home
I wanted to be a singer.
( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:38, Reply)

Have you Karaoke'd lately?
Find your local Karaoke joint, be one of the regular singers there, and keep it up until a passing record-executive notices you. Until that happens, just enjoy yourself singing to a crowd of random drunkards.

Do you usually walk around at home barefoot?
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 21:43, Reply)

I have terrible stage fright and have to be tipsy/drunk to do kareoke but I've had standing ovations, high fives and lots of cheering
from other tipsy/drunk kareoke-ers

and yeah, all the time
( Lisette von Falcon, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:01, Reply)

I personally wear socks all the time
even in bed. But I get the best out of both worlds by wearing socks with holes.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:10, Reply)

tired and not packed yet
why is there not another day between now and friday night?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:20, Reply)

Greetings Miss Incident
Are you off to somewhere interesting?

I too suffer from concertina-like time dilation when packing for a trip, yet I manage to pull it off in the end (minus one or two small things which I forget).
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:25, Reply)

well, it will be fun, a larp event
but the costume is very last minute and I was planning to leave straight after work tomorrow :(

you good?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:29, Reply)

I'm fine thanks
Despite being unemployed, I've been finding all my time is being taken up by ... things. But on the plus side, my insurance company has coughed up for my stolen/vandalised bike.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:38, Reply)

things are like gas
they spread out to fill the available time
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:53, Reply)

My mate Mike Vortex RIP called his company Amoeba Designs for that same reason.
Just like amoebas his stuff magically expanded to fill whatever space was available.
Fuck, you should've seen his house. It was amazing how much stuff he shoe-horned in!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:08, Reply)

Especially if they're...
Things with Wings

_{and watches too.}
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:08, Reply)

Evening Spazzmo! Good to have you back xxx
You ask how we are?
Sober is how I are.
And not just tonight neither, I've finally managed to kick it into touch.
And I don't even feel the tiniest bit smug.
Just happy!
Sorry to hear about the job. If things get desperate then you should know that I decided not to take the estates management post after all so if you fancy learning how to weld lead or design and install under-floor heating just give me a shout...
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 29 Apr 2010, 22:47, Reply)

Greetings 69'er
Congrats on giving the C₂H₅OH habit the boot.

I think I'll pass on your offer, but I have an idea for a central-heating system for a teepee.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:01, Reply)

I only meant if you got rrrreeeeeaaaaaaallllllllllyyyyyyyy effing desperate!
CH for a teepee?
Tell me more!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:05, Reply)

The problem with burning a fire in the middle of a teepee is that because the walls are at an almost vertical angle and the roof is pretty high, most of the heat from a fire in the middle will be wasted.

You just need a hollowed out chamber under the floor for a fire, with several outlets leading to several places on the floor (but not near the centre), and a pipe from the outside leading to the central chamber from underneath.

But this isn't as fun as watching the burning embers and dancing flames of a fire. In fact, that was what distracted me from further developing my idea.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:15, Reply)

So something a bit like a roman hypocaust (sp?)?
But yeah, watching firey sparks is groovy.
And on that note I'm off to bed!
Toodle pip
x
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:21, Reply)

'night

( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:39, Reply)

hey dude
Alright. Buried my dad this afternoon. Anyway, redundancy is a mixed bag. If you got a decent payout then you can take time to decide things. I'm working again now after being redundified in November last year.
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:29, Reply)

Sorry to hear about your dad
Got paid a month's notice plus the remainder of my salary and unused holiday-allowance. I also managed to save up enough cash to keep me going for a couple of months. The way I see it, I now have loads of free time to enjoy.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:43, Reply)

Sorry to hear about your dad.
Have some internetstranger hugs
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 30 Apr 2010, 0:32, Reply)

A bit of psychochomp drunk musings for you.
I've never been your biggest fan, but I know what being made redundant is like (shit) and I'm very impressed you went backpacking in Japan, it's something I've always wanted to do. You recieve a thumbs up from me.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:43, Reply)

Greetings Chompers
Thanks for that. But I'm now looking at the silver lining and all the free time I now have, but I still have to go through the ordeal of finding my next job. The trip to Japan was something I had been meaning to do for many years and only got round to it recently.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 29 Apr 2010, 23:51, Reply)

lol
scope of the project

is you
( WormuIus, Fri 30 Apr 2010, 18:19, Reply)