My turn, at last
Discussion
Big news from little ol me.
I’m being made redundant on 31st May, but…
I’ve known about it for a long time, as the maintenance contract on the D model Apaches had an end date. There was hope that most of the workforce would be taken on by Boeing who are running the contract for the new E model. Unfortunately, the MoD is extremely short of funding, and employing a large civilian workforce on Apaches isn’t on their menu for the time being. This might all change over the next year or so.
I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
We think we have the maths right, but I’ll get a part time job if necessary, volunteer if I get bored lol.
I’ve had enough of the responsibilities, the paperwork, the rubbish IT, and with everything only ever getting worse.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
I’m being made redundant on 31st May, but…
I’ve known about it for a long time, as the maintenance contract on the D model Apaches had an end date. There was hope that most of the workforce would be taken on by Boeing who are running the contract for the new E model. Unfortunately, the MoD is extremely short of funding, and employing a large civilian workforce on Apaches isn’t on their menu for the time being. This might all change over the next year or so.
I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
We think we have the maths right, but I’ll get a part time job if necessary, volunteer if I get bored lol.
I’ve had enough of the responsibilities, the paperwork, the rubbish IT, and with everything only ever getting worse.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Congrats! Hope it's a long and happy one...
Until they realise they've shot the fox by letting a skilled workforce go and have no one to fix the shiny new ones and offer you a very big lump of cash to come back.
Thank you Until they realise they've shot the fox by letting a skilled workforce go and have no one to fix the shiny new ones and offer you a very big lump of cash to come back.
I hope that for the sake of the other guys that it happens, and happens soon.
Me? Well, after deductions I’d be worse off financially than I am as a crumbly old pensioner. I’m lucky: my joints still work, and I can walk all day with my camera gear. My eyesight is good. So I intend to ride my good fortune on this one. Being scrunched up in the CPG’s footwell on a hot n humid day REALLY isn’t my thing now!
A retired doctor friend told me a few years ago that every year early you retire is an extra two years on your life. I like the sentiment in that.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Congrats! Hope it's a long and happy one...
Until they realise they've shot the fox by letting a skilled workforce go and have no one to fix the shiny new ones and offer you a very big lump of cash to come back.
UK engineering seems to be really good at this, well certainly the part about getting rid of skilled labour only to replace with lesser skills and experience and wonder why projects are late and cost more. Congrats OP, see it as a well timed opportunity. Enjoy your retirement!Until they realise they've shot the fox by letting a skilled workforce go and have no one to fix the shiny new ones and offer you a very big lump of cash to come back.
I can feel the op's pain, with all the struggles, however I've got another 25 years of 'walking through treacle'. Before I'll be able to retire.
Cats_pyjamas said:
UK engineering seems to be really good at this, well certainly the part about getting rid of skilled labour only to replace with lesser skills and experience and wonder why projects are late and cost more. Congrats OP, see it as a well timed opportunity. Enjoy your retirement!
I can feel the op's pain, with all the struggles, however I've got another 25 years of 'walking through treacle'. Before I'll be able to retire.
See nuclear sector as an example. I can feel the op's pain, with all the struggles, however I've got another 25 years of 'walking through treacle'. Before I'll be able to retire.
Tony1963 said:
I’m being made redundant on 31st May,
I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
Great news. I got out at 58.5. 61 now, never been happier. I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
A friend of mine in his 60s was made redundant, and then they changed their mind. He's absolutely gutted. He's considering legal action against them for unfair reinstatement.
Congratulations OP, I'm a similar background to you by the sound of things. Throughout my working life there has been a hire and fire mentality in conjunction with bringing people in from lower skilled industries. Overall it makes it a very frustrating environment to work in and the likelihood of being rehired at vastly increased rates never seem to manifest due to the aforementioned de-skilling. I doubt that you will miss it much.
Well done I retired at 54 and two years later do not look back
A good thread below for you
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
A good thread below for you
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I retired at 47 not quite in the way I planned, now approaching 60 and wake up with a smile on my face every day (apart from when the sciatica kicks in lol).
The biggest decision some days for me is, should I turn left or right out the gate when taking the dog for a walk :-)
The retirement thread is a decent, casual read.
The biggest decision some days for me is, should I turn left or right out the gate when taking the dog for a walk :-)
The retirement thread is a decent, casual read.
Exiled Imp said:
Tony1963 said:
every year early you retire is an extra two years on your life. I like the sentiment in that.
I like that too Love that sentiment! In that vein, I guess I have been 6 years out now (#onlyreallythree).
See you over here any time!
Tony1963 said:
Big news from little ol me.
I’m being made redundant on 31st May, but…
I’ve known about it for a long time, as the maintenance contract on the D model Apaches had an end date. There was hope that most of the workforce would be taken on by Boeing who are running the contract for the new E model. Unfortunately, the MoD is extremely short of funding, and employing a large civilian workforce on Apaches isn’t on their menu for the time being. This might all change over the next year or so.
I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
We think we have the maths right, but I’ll get a part time job if necessary, volunteer if I get bored lol.
I’ve had enough of the responsibilities, the paperwork, the rubbish IT, and with everything only ever getting worse.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
I wouldn’t normally offer congratulations when the redundancy word is mentioned but in your case happy to make an exception !I’m being made redundant on 31st May, but…
I’ve known about it for a long time, as the maintenance contract on the D model Apaches had an end date. There was hope that most of the workforce would be taken on by Boeing who are running the contract for the new E model. Unfortunately, the MoD is extremely short of funding, and employing a large civilian workforce on Apaches isn’t on their menu for the time being. This might all change over the next year or so.
I’ve had a look at my pensions, juggled one of them, and now I’m giving retirement a go, from the end of the month.
We think we have the maths right, but I’ll get a part time job if necessary, volunteer if I get bored lol.
I’ve had enough of the responsibilities, the paperwork, the rubbish IT, and with everything only ever getting worse.
At 60, I feel I need to get away from everything to do with work.
Best of luck in your new chapter from next month.
lrdisco said:
Good luck. Enjoy retirement.
I’m working hard on my plan. Possibly need a little job to keep me out of the pub.
If I reach 55 and I’m still working then I will have done something very wrong.
Thank you. I’m working hard on my plan. Possibly need a little job to keep me out of the pub.
If I reach 55 and I’m still working then I will have done something very wrong.
One of the reasons this all feels surreal to me is that I had no plan, just work until I can afford to retire. If Boeing has been given the funding to recruit, and if they’d taken me on even a month ago, I’d have carried on working. A good 80-90% of the job was enjoyable and with some very good people. But job hunting at 60, outside aviation, was proving difficult. Thankfully, as it all turns out. Going from happy (ish) to carry on working for another two or three years to retired in under three weeks is just plain weird.
I bloody love it!
That’s it, cleared, pizza in the oven.
A few of us are meeting up in a nice waterfront bar Saturday afternoon for a bit of reminiscing and silliness, but the incredible times of supporting the Apache force with a couple of hundred-plus well motivated civilians is over, for now at least.
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