The Waiting Game

This contract of mine, which was to last me three months, finally came to an end two weeks ago.  In total it had lasted me fourteen months and gave me a financial security blanket as I transitioned to full time nomadic living.  Thus now I was jobless.  Great.  A few weeks to get into the camper and explore some more of this great country of ours.  But it was not to be.  The van was due its MOT and I hadn't thought it would take three weeks to get everything sorted.  For those who live abroad, like most countries here in the UK you will need to check your vehicle in once a year to ensure it meets various safety requirements.  I think this is a very good thing since an unsafe car, ofcourse, is a danger to the driver and also other drivers on the road.  Unfortunately a beam the mechanic called 'Front Cross Member' had to be replaced due to excessive corrosion.  The mechanic invited me in to check it for myself, and indeed, it was falling apart.  The Ford Transit is a fine vehicle, but it does have a reputation for rusting away.

So it was a waiting game and the weather was not very good at all.  Infact it was a drizzle everyday.  My previous manager said he was trying to get a new contract sorted out for me.  And I was waiting for this in a caravan on a very muddy field.  I am not very good at waiting, and so it became a walking game.  Every day I would put my hiking boots on and walk, and walk, and walk, and of course, wait.

How does one cope with unemployment?  Some folks seem to adapt to it very well indeed, and do not seem to mind living in the reduced material world of the benefits recipient.  Week one of this life of leisure was quite enjoyable.  To get up in the morning, and set a direction and simply walk along the road, or the beach, or through the various rambling paths in this area - this was very fine indeed.  To allow the dampness of that office culture to dry out of my being.  Yes it was a fine thing.  And nor was I bothered with money issues since I had taken the wise precaution to save a bit of my salary every week - I simply transfered a percentage into a savings account and there it remained.

But midway through week two and this unemployment game was becoming a bit tiresome - and still I was waiting for the manager to make the call so that I could commence my duties again.  And then a collegue from a previous company I worked for put in a word and I had another offer of work.  This was a five week contract in Yorkshire.  Bonanza.  This is an area I have not explored in any detail.  So now this nomad gets paid to explore a new area.  Hopefully if all goes according to plan, and the paperwork is sorted, then I should be starting next week.  Time to start checking out camp sites.

Peace to All.