YES!!! The "I'm so happy" thread. 2009

[Paddy Tobin]

We have had a red letter day here today.

With the dreadful economic situation and government cutbacks my son was made redundant from his job in June - along with seven others in his school. He began applying for positions in other schools  immediately, was called for interview on Wednesday and was told today that he had been successful. We are thrilled and delighted - and very relieved (he might have suggested moving back home)

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

That is really wonderful news, Paddy, congratulations to your son to have come through such a difficult time    I assume he is a teacher and am doubly delighted that he is back in business as we so desperately need to attract young people into teaching.

We have had a similar situation with other son over the past few months and it is very nerve wracking in the current climate; however well qualified they are and however hard they have worked. Thankfully we have just had good news too - so that makes two families 'so happy' today 

I hope that all the other young people who find themselves in this situation are not despondent - it's particularly hard for those starting on a career when being accepted as part of society and feeling you are contributing is key to how you view working life.

[Ragged Robin]

Thank you Maggi, I am very thrilled - I shall have to live up to my title now 

[Paddy Tobin]

Thank you, Robin, and delighted to hear your own good news.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

So good to hear happy family news from Paddy and Robin.
 I hope we soon hear that Mark has found another job .... or else all of Antrim will disappear under new troughs! I'd like to learn that  Paul will get another contract for the ANBG too.......velvet cloaks being so expensive and all.....

[Paul T]

Maggi,

So would I.  Won't hear anything until at least the end of August at the earliest, I would imagine, and then contract might not be until December.  If I have another job before I hear from them (have been applying for a couple and dropping resume in at other places) I will be in a quandry.  I don't like to chop and change jobs, so I would probably stick with someone who has given me a job, rather than dropping that and going back to the Bot Gdns until next June when I would be in the same boat again.    Unforunately contracts seem to be the way people are going now, which makes life difficult at the end of each one.

Congrats to those here who are reporting family members getting jobs.  Not much fun not having one when you want to work, that is for sure.

[Paddy Tobin]

We have had a day of the most torrential rain. A wheelbarrow left close to the back door had about 10 cm of rainwater in it after the day. Despite the rain I went for a walk, came back soaked to the skin and have spent the rest of the day reading, watching television, visiting the forum, of course, and eating!

Also, I spent a little time looking at recent photographs and am posting two which I hope  may lift the mood of anyone who has had a wet day such as I have had.

The first shows the enthusiasm with which my dog, Sid, greets the game of "Fetch". He will play when it suits him but the day of the photograph was a hot one and he had more sense than I.

The second two show a raised bed which I made earlier in the year, earmarked for snowdrops on the higher side and general planting on the lower. However, Mary got in before me and planted something not usually seen in such a raised bed. View the photographs and see if you can identify her planting.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

I  don't mean to make a puzzle of the photograph and so will tell you that Mary put potatoes in my raised bed - "Harlequin Pink Fir Apple". They are just ready to be lifted but can wait a little while as we are eating "British Queens" at the moment - lovely simply boiled and served with butter with chopped applemint.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Spuds, Paddy? My Mum's started shoving in potato tubers here and there around the garden when there are a few left over that we couldn't fit on her allotment - usually close to snowdrops to help give them a dry summer rest.

[Martin Baxendale]

Rats!  You answered your own question while I was typing my answer 

[Paddy Tobin]

Well, Martin, they will taste nice - even better than snowdrops!

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

Well done on the job front, sons of Paddy and Robin. It is a difficult time for so many people. Our govt having promised not to cut frontline staff in any department, has set about doing just that in many areas such as social welfare, policing and others. Plain crazy. Funny, it's never the bean counters or the managers who get the chop. I especially feel for those men and women who are in their 50s and 60s, too young and not sufficiently secure to retire yet in many cases but deemed too old to get another job, often in another field from what they're experienced in. It really stinks. Best wishes Paul for your hunt, and to Mark too.

[Paul T]

I'm so happy.... that the English Test Cricket team is praying for rain!! 

I SO hope they don't get it.

[David Nicholson]

They got it, but later than they wanted it! They played, to quote the bard!, like a man without legs in an ar*e kicking contest.

[Paul T]

Yes David, but what till today bring rain-wise?