Disappointments in life that turn out for the best
Discussion
Ever had anything happen to you, that, at the time, you regretted, but looking back it turned out for the best?
For example, several years ago we were selling our house and went to view another several miles away which we fell in love with, which had uninterrupted stunning views at the back all over the hills.
We had an offer on our house which we accepted, agreed a price with the (very nice) vendor of the new one, but our buyer pulled out, so we had to pull out of the new house, to say we were gutted was an understatement.
Two months on, exactly the same thing happened, the chain had broken down with our buyer further down the lane, so again we had to give back word and apologise to the vender of our intended new purchase.
Three months on, we found another buyer, told the vendor again, but he basically said "Sorry but you've messed me about twice, I accept it's not your fault but I don't want to sell it to you."
Fortunately, our sale went through OK (Third time lucky), and we bought another house which we are still in and love.
The vendor of the house we originally wanted, found a buyer a couple of weeks later, so that was the end of that.
A few weeks back we went to see the house we would have originally liked to buy, (for old times sake), and were staggered to find a very large 500 pupil Junior school had been built right behind his house, spoiling the views, with the playground right against his back fence and at playtime the noise was deafening, plus all the parents were dropping off their kids in their Chelsea tractors right outside the front of his house.
So, in our case, we were very glad we never ended up buying it.
For example, several years ago we were selling our house and went to view another several miles away which we fell in love with, which had uninterrupted stunning views at the back all over the hills.
We had an offer on our house which we accepted, agreed a price with the (very nice) vendor of the new one, but our buyer pulled out, so we had to pull out of the new house, to say we were gutted was an understatement.
Two months on, exactly the same thing happened, the chain had broken down with our buyer further down the lane, so again we had to give back word and apologise to the vender of our intended new purchase.
Three months on, we found another buyer, told the vendor again, but he basically said "Sorry but you've messed me about twice, I accept it's not your fault but I don't want to sell it to you."
Fortunately, our sale went through OK (Third time lucky), and we bought another house which we are still in and love.
The vendor of the house we originally wanted, found a buyer a couple of weeks later, so that was the end of that.
A few weeks back we went to see the house we would have originally liked to buy, (for old times sake), and were staggered to find a very large 500 pupil Junior school had been built right behind his house, spoiling the views, with the playground right against his back fence and at playtime the noise was deafening, plus all the parents were dropping off their kids in their Chelsea tractors right outside the front of his house.
So, in our case, we were very glad we never ended up buying it.
For me, it was being paid off from my first engineering job.. 7 years from leaving school and going through college. All seemed comfortable and thought I was set until the big R word came along..
2 weeks to myself filled with golf/netflix and I landed a role that pushed me to go contract. I haven't looked back since, and that's as good as one year on.
We'll see if it lasts...
2 weeks to myself filled with golf/netflix and I landed a role that pushed me to go contract. I haven't looked back since, and that's as good as one year on.
We'll see if it lasts...
BBenzzz said:
For me, it was being paid off from my first engineering job.. 7 years from leaving school and going through college. All seemed comfortable and thought I was set until the big R word came along..
2 weeks to myself filled with golf/netflix and I landed a role that pushed me to go contract. I haven't looked back since, and that's as good as one year on.
Same TBH.2 weeks to myself filled with golf/netflix and I landed a role that pushed me to go contract. I haven't looked back since, and that's as good as one year on.
Being made redundant from my first Director role after the senior US lead decided he didn't like me.
As he didn't understand UK employment law I left with 6 months pay in lieu of notice, a bonus for the 6 months past, and a bonus for the 6 months I was going to be on gardening leave. And because they screwed up my compromise agreement, I wasn't restricted during my gardening leave so promptly got a 6 month IT contract with the NHS which meant I was basically on double pay for 6 months and led me into a whole new business arena!
I believe they got rid of him 3 months later too
As he didn't understand UK employment law I left with 6 months pay in lieu of notice, a bonus for the 6 months past, and a bonus for the 6 months I was going to be on gardening leave. And because they screwed up my compromise agreement, I wasn't restricted during my gardening leave so promptly got a 6 month IT contract with the NHS which meant I was basically on double pay for 6 months and led me into a whole new business arena!
I believe they got rid of him 3 months later too
Wacky Racer said:
Ever had anything happen to you, that, at the time, you regretted, but looking back it turned out for the best?
For example, several years ago we were selling our house and went to view another several miles away which we fell in love with, which had uninterrupted stunning views at the back all over the hills.
We had an offer on our house which we accepted, agreed a price with the (very nice) vendor of the new one, but our buyer pulled out, so we had to pull out of the new house, to say we were gutted was an understatement.
Two months on, exactly the same thing happened, the chain had broken down with our buyer further down the lane, so again we had to give back word and apologise to the vender of our intended new purchase.
Three months on, we found another buyer, told the vendor again, but he basically said "Sorry but you've messed me about twice, I accept it's not your fault but I don't want to sell it to you."
Fortunately, our sale went through OK (Third time lucky), and we bought another house which we are still in and love.
The vendor of the house we originally wanted, found a buyer a couple of weeks later, so that was the end of that.
A few weeks back we went to see the house we would have originally liked to buy, (for old times sake), and were staggered to find a very large 500 pupil Junior school had been built right behind his house, spoiling the views, with the playground right against his back fence and at playtime the noise was deafening, plus all the parents were dropping off their kids in their Chelsea tractors right outside the front of his house.
So, in our case, we were very glad we never ended up buying it.
Same, nearly bought a house in a gorgeous waterside location, views of field, character, cheap price (do-er upper), only in our instance, got gazumped even though it seemed we got on really well with the vendor. Gazumper failed to get finance, we umm'd and ahh'd when vendor came back to us (they did offer to pay our stamp as apology) but too weird for us at this point and we went for another property (*).For example, several years ago we were selling our house and went to view another several miles away which we fell in love with, which had uninterrupted stunning views at the back all over the hills.
We had an offer on our house which we accepted, agreed a price with the (very nice) vendor of the new one, but our buyer pulled out, so we had to pull out of the new house, to say we were gutted was an understatement.
Two months on, exactly the same thing happened, the chain had broken down with our buyer further down the lane, so again we had to give back word and apologise to the vender of our intended new purchase.
Three months on, we found another buyer, told the vendor again, but he basically said "Sorry but you've messed me about twice, I accept it's not your fault but I don't want to sell it to you."
Fortunately, our sale went through OK (Third time lucky), and we bought another house which we are still in and love.
The vendor of the house we originally wanted, found a buyer a couple of weeks later, so that was the end of that.
A few weeks back we went to see the house we would have originally liked to buy, (for old times sake), and were staggered to find a very large 500 pupil Junior school had been built right behind his house, spoiling the views, with the playground right against his back fence and at playtime the noise was deafening, plus all the parents were dropping off their kids in their Chelsea tractors right outside the front of his house.
So, in our case, we were very glad we never ended up buying it.
House is now under blight from the HS2 route, a junction embankment comes through the kitchen!
(*) Surveyor told us to pull out prompt on this one, now you know how surveyors caveat their reports.............he wouldn't even charge us as his advice was walk away (mortgage company surveyor so the mortgage was getting pulled as well). Gable wall fell down in the storms of 2007. Surveyors main warining was that had made a loft conversion, but to get the stairs in they'd taken out the inner brick layers and built the stairs into the cavity leaving only a single layer of bricks supporting the roof and transverse forces on the terrace block (1900s houses). So lucky a second time.
Third house has turned into a moneypit though. the curse of Stan may have finally hit home.........
Edited by StanleyT on Tuesday 19th March 17:25
I worked my butt off in a job I started back in 2010, suffered a few very unpleasant characters and a complete change in management. The new line manager I ended up with was a nightmare, causing multiple long standing members of the team to leave before she was binned. I was one of those members and during my 3 month notice I bagged a very promising role.
Sadly that role wasn't all it was cracked up to be and after just 18 months I changed roles. Fortunately into a role I had really wanted to be in, it's hard work but worth it.
So yeah two disappointments in the career to end up in a job I'm really pleased with.
Sadly that role wasn't all it was cracked up to be and after just 18 months I changed roles. Fortunately into a role I had really wanted to be in, it's hard work but worth it.
So yeah two disappointments in the career to end up in a job I'm really pleased with.
Long term relationship ended when my girlfriend at the time threw me out because she found someone supposedly better.
Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
First job out of uni, year and a bit in and loving it - super busy. Rest of company doing rubbish and puts one of two of us up for redundancy.
The guy I was up against had been in the job nearly 4 years.
Had 3 days to kill before decision was made so applied for a couple of roles. I ended up 'winning' and the other guy got made redundant.
2 months later I handed in my notice having been offered one of the jobs I applied for. I had effectively a 70% instant pay rise, double in just over a year and nice onwards growth.
A year after I left, the bottom fell out of the market for my original work and most of the team got made redundant anyway.
5 years on and still going well.
The guy I was up against had been in the job nearly 4 years.
Had 3 days to kill before decision was made so applied for a couple of roles. I ended up 'winning' and the other guy got made redundant.
2 months later I handed in my notice having been offered one of the jobs I applied for. I had effectively a 70% instant pay rise, double in just over a year and nice onwards growth.
A year after I left, the bottom fell out of the market for my original work and most of the team got made redundant anyway.
5 years on and still going well.
Left a company nearly a year ago for greener grass, It didn't pan out that great and I realised I should have stayed in the role and fixed the issues instead of trying once and leaving.
Went to work for a third company, old boss from first company phoned and said issues resolved and we want you back on extra money, said I would think about it.
The next day the 3rd company goes into administration (on christmas eve of all times!) No job etc, phone old boss back and say I will start after christmas.
Lessons learnt.
Went to work for a third company, old boss from first company phoned and said issues resolved and we want you back on extra money, said I would think about it.
The next day the 3rd company goes into administration (on christmas eve of all times!) No job etc, phone old boss back and say I will start after christmas.
Lessons learnt.
Recently posted from another thread.
Four lots of IVF, lots of money and emotional b
ks - no particular reason, just wasn't working. Gutted, an understatement.
Re-evaluated life, retired at 47
.
Look after more kids lives now and do voluntary stuff that saves more.
Four lots of IVF, lots of money and emotional b
ks - no particular reason, just wasn't working. Gutted, an understatement.Re-evaluated life, retired at 47
.Look after more kids lives now and do voluntary stuff that saves more.
Edited by Mothersruin on Tuesday 19th March 23:00
slopes said:
Long term relationship ended when my girlfriend at the time threw me out because she found someone supposedly better.
Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
And yet you still occasionally wake up at 03.10, look at Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
Frank7 said:
slopes said:
Long term relationship ended when my girlfriend at the time threw me out because she found someone supposedly better.
Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
And yet you still occasionally wake up at 03.10, look at Had to move back home, found a job, moved on to a better job and met my now wife.
The ex? Since 2011 when she threw me out, she's on to fella number 6 apparently and includes a marriage of all of 9 months so whilst at the time i was very very angry, she did me the biggest favour ever.
the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
2012, worked for the local council amid savage budget cuts by the government, which meant one thing. Redundancies. I went for voluntary. It was rejected, at that point I was interviewed for my own job, and then just before they announced who was going, they pulled all of us in who had wanted VR and asked if we still wished to leave. At that point, I was persuaded (by my parents) that staying was actually probably the best option. Unfortunately, that option was off the table, and I along with the others who'd asked for VR were all finished the following day.
I was out of work 3 weeks when I landed a contract role at another council that I was basically unqualified for, but was a 50% pay rise
not only that but it paid off what debts I had at the time (unfortunately I didn't learn from my mistakes but that's another story).
I got nearly 2 years out of that (doing very little actual work I might add), before that contract ended. I then did another 9 months at another place which was very interesting and I met some great friends there.
That role finished and I am where I am now, on what is technically a better and more secure role than the one I left in 2012. It's not perfect, but what I did get from it all was a lot of extra experience, but just as importantly, I met a lot of new friends, many of whom I still keep in touch with today regularly, and through them, I have met even more new friends.
Had I stayed at the council, I would have had to deal with year after year of wondering if I was going to survive, and would never have met some of the fantastic people I did and gained the experience I got, so although I do miss the camaraderie of my original workplace (which is apparently long gone now anyway), I am almost certainly way better off than I was before.
I was out of work 3 weeks when I landed a contract role at another council that I was basically unqualified for, but was a 50% pay rise
not only that but it paid off what debts I had at the time (unfortunately I didn't learn from my mistakes but that's another story).I got nearly 2 years out of that (doing very little actual work I might add), before that contract ended. I then did another 9 months at another place which was very interesting and I met some great friends there.
That role finished and I am where I am now, on what is technically a better and more secure role than the one I left in 2012. It's not perfect, but what I did get from it all was a lot of extra experience, but just as importantly, I met a lot of new friends, many of whom I still keep in touch with today regularly, and through them, I have met even more new friends.
Had I stayed at the council, I would have had to deal with year after year of wondering if I was going to survive, and would never have met some of the fantastic people I did and gained the experience I got, so although I do miss the camaraderie of my original workplace (which is apparently long gone now anyway), I am almost certainly way better off than I was before.
Gameface said:
Frank7 said:
And yet you still occasionally wake up at 03.10, look at
the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
What a snide comment.the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
Mothersruin said:
Look after more kids lives now and do voluntary stuff that saves more.
Mind if I ask what that is? As for the thread topic, 27th May 2018, the local weather forecast shows rain incoming. Later that day we have a reported 6-12 months rain over our estate in Milton Keynes in the space of 2 hours, we end up with 2ft of water at the front door and 8 inches of water throughout the house, because we live in a bungalow it really is the whole house. Loss adjuster is appointed who were woefully incapable. Drying company try to issue a drying cert that for a house that is still soggier than an Otters pocket. Fought, won, due to move back in around the end of June this year. It's been a very hard fought road with an enormous amount of stress (no one actually touched the property for almost 6 months!!)
The silver lining to all this disruption and stress, we will be moving back in to a full renovated property. In the meantime we have been living in a lovely area in a stunning bungalow that has shown us exactly the next step we want to take on the property ladder in a couple of years.
EDIT - Also forgot to add that in amongst all of that the inlaws house burnt down and my father in law was diagnosed with 2 separate types of cancer and the wife was made redundant! 2018 really sucked the big one!
Edited by geeks on Wednesday 20th March 11:12
Edited by geeks on Wednesday 20th March 13:23
Two from me:
Aged 19, having wanted to be a pilot pretty much since birth, I make it through to the last round of BA Sponsored Pilot Training selection (last 100 of of 70,000 applicants for about 20 positions). Totally due to youthful arrogance, I utterly stuff the interviews and am rejected. Gutted doesn't even come close. Roll forward 10 years I finally come to realise that I always wanted to be an airline pilot in the 1950's and that the job in the 21st century was never really for me in the first place. I get my PPL, a share in a light aircraft and fly for fun, enjoying both my non-flying career and my pleasure flying.
A few years ago, finally looking to buy my first house, I eventually find an almost perfect place - in budget, right area, slightly too small garden but nevermind. Offer accepted and all looking good until mortgage survey shows a small bit of subsidence which the vendor agrees to get fixed and guaranteed - that's good enough for mortgage complany. 6 months later there is nothing happening and all comms have stopped so I reluctantly decide to start the search again thinking I'll never find something as good. That day a 17thC, thatched cottage in the perfect location, with 1/3acre, needing a bit of TLC (I'd never be able to afford it in good condition!) drops out of SSTC and I'm first to view - couple of very lucky circumstances later I'm the proud owner. 3 years further on, the complete rethatch turned out to just need a new ridge and all of the other potentially expensive jobs turned out to be (pretty) minor. It's turning into a fantastic home that I really should never have been able to afford. I sometimes drive past the first house and remember how upset I was when it fell through.
Aged 19, having wanted to be a pilot pretty much since birth, I make it through to the last round of BA Sponsored Pilot Training selection (last 100 of of 70,000 applicants for about 20 positions). Totally due to youthful arrogance, I utterly stuff the interviews and am rejected. Gutted doesn't even come close. Roll forward 10 years I finally come to realise that I always wanted to be an airline pilot in the 1950's and that the job in the 21st century was never really for me in the first place. I get my PPL, a share in a light aircraft and fly for fun, enjoying both my non-flying career and my pleasure flying.
A few years ago, finally looking to buy my first house, I eventually find an almost perfect place - in budget, right area, slightly too small garden but nevermind. Offer accepted and all looking good until mortgage survey shows a small bit of subsidence which the vendor agrees to get fixed and guaranteed - that's good enough for mortgage complany. 6 months later there is nothing happening and all comms have stopped so I reluctantly decide to start the search again thinking I'll never find something as good. That day a 17thC, thatched cottage in the perfect location, with 1/3acre, needing a bit of TLC (I'd never be able to afford it in good condition!) drops out of SSTC and I'm first to view - couple of very lucky circumstances later I'm the proud owner. 3 years further on, the complete rethatch turned out to just need a new ridge and all of the other potentially expensive jobs turned out to be (pretty) minor. It's turning into a fantastic home that I really should never have been able to afford. I sometimes drive past the first house and remember how upset I was when it fell through.
Another property one.
Buying my first place, I found a great flat on a brownfield Riverside development. New buildings amongst the gentrified old buildings including a very nice real ale pub opposite.
The vendor turned out to be an utter knob after he accepted my offer so I pulled out of the deal. There followed a series of offered compromises apologies and incentives for me to change my mind. I had no chain, the vendor and his pregnant wife had an offer in on a place.
The guy was such a cock, I really didn't want to do business with him and ended up buying a better place somewhere else though it didn't have the river views. It was still a disappointment.
A year on and I'm flicking through the local paper. A headline read something like: "Resident's Fury At Pub's Live Music License."
The pub next to the flats had expanded from real ale into entertainment of the live rock band variety despite objections from the neighbouring locals
There were also plans to build what many expected to be a Waitrose or M & S Food shop in the development. It ended up being an ASDA. The adjacent business units were let out to small firms but the biggest user of the building ended up being the DWP which opened a huge benefits office there.
Last time I was there the whole place had a shabby air to it, made even worse by chavs socialising over cans of beer in the square next to the benefits office, the pub, and what would have been my flat..
Buying my first place, I found a great flat on a brownfield Riverside development. New buildings amongst the gentrified old buildings including a very nice real ale pub opposite.
The vendor turned out to be an utter knob after he accepted my offer so I pulled out of the deal. There followed a series of offered compromises apologies and incentives for me to change my mind. I had no chain, the vendor and his pregnant wife had an offer in on a place.
The guy was such a cock, I really didn't want to do business with him and ended up buying a better place somewhere else though it didn't have the river views. It was still a disappointment.
A year on and I'm flicking through the local paper. A headline read something like: "Resident's Fury At Pub's Live Music License."
The pub next to the flats had expanded from real ale into entertainment of the live rock band variety despite objections from the neighbouring locals
There were also plans to build what many expected to be a Waitrose or M & S Food shop in the development. It ended up being an ASDA. The adjacent business units were let out to small firms but the biggest user of the building ended up being the DWP which opened a huge benefits office there.
Last time I was there the whole place had a shabby air to it, made even worse by chavs socialising over cans of beer in the square next to the benefits office, the pub, and what would have been my flat..
Frank7 said:
Gameface said:
Frank7 said:
And yet you still occasionally wake up at 03.10, look at
the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
What a snide comment.the clock, and think of the one who threw you over.
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