Tell us about the time Lady Luck smiled on you
Discussion
Looking back I see I've been very lucky at times during my life.
For example, in the seventies, when my first wife decided living as hippies was a bad idea and I needed to find a well paid job, I applied for a job with an engineering company as a trainee draughtsman. The advert asked for school leavers to train and draughtsman to retrain. I was neither of those things but they gave me a job anyway. Thus began my forty years in the oil and gas industry.
What I didn't know was that I was applying during the North Sea boom and they were taking anyone who could hold a pencil the right way round.
Just luck.
For example, in the seventies, when my first wife decided living as hippies was a bad idea and I needed to find a well paid job, I applied for a job with an engineering company as a trainee draughtsman. The advert asked for school leavers to train and draughtsman to retrain. I was neither of those things but they gave me a job anyway. Thus began my forty years in the oil and gas industry.
What I didn't know was that I was applying during the North Sea boom and they were taking anyone who could hold a pencil the right way round.
Just luck.
Fairly similar. Internet was starting to become a big thing. I thought I want to do that, learnt programming from books, had no degree or relevant qualifications at all, practically walked into one of the first few jobs I applied for.
20 years later its not hard to find jobs as there are still not enough people with the skillset to keep up the demand.
20 years later its not hard to find jobs as there are still not enough people with the skillset to keep up the demand.
I finished Uni with a less than great grade, but 2 weeks after graduating I got myself a fulltime position in a small software company. Turns out I was better in the real working world than academia.
One year later, that company was acquired by a corporate, which proved to be a massive stepping stone in my career and got me where I am today.
One year later, that company was acquired by a corporate, which proved to be a massive stepping stone in my career and got me where I am today.
I did 20,000 fast, fun miles (commuted on the train) on a motorcycle each year for about a decade (average UK motorcycle mileage is 3,000) and only ever had a car park drop and a single accident where I didn't hit anything and actually limped the bike home afterwards. Even ran away from French police a couple of times without any consequences.
I consider that bloody lucky, looking back.
I consider that bloody lucky, looking back.
Running for the bus to school I was knocked down by one of the 5% who slowed to turn right not one of the 95% who went past at 60. Although briefly hospitalised and thoroughly checked over there were no ill effects. 1967-ish. It was a Mini Traveller. Two dents in the front bumper from my shins, a collapsed bonnet where I doubled over and the windscreen came out in one piece after I head butted it and landed in the driver's lap. I was told later he was in shock. I never ran for a school bus again.
Expelled from school, no qualifications at all, long criminal record (as a minor) , pretty much alienated all my family because of my behaviour , stole from my family , did a short stint in the military, as a private contractor did some dodgy stuff in Africa , got a stable job with a Arab family which I ve had for 10 odd years, and started a business that’s done quite well in the last 12 months.
By rights I should be dead or in prison . So I consider myself very fortunate .
Had a medical issue when I was born which, 46 years ago, should have been unsurvivable.
It kinda reared its head ago over Christmas when I had back surgery. It is thought due to the anaesthetic, and the opiates I had been taking (prescribed before anyone asks ...) + scar tissue from the issues I had when I was born, caused my bowel to twist, which makes you very very unwell, quickly.
Seems lady luck was there again as it pretty much sorted itself out, at one point they were talking about emergency surgery. Messed xmas up as I was in hospital, but that was a tiny price to pay.
It kinda reared its head ago over Christmas when I had back surgery. It is thought due to the anaesthetic, and the opiates I had been taking (prescribed before anyone asks ...) + scar tissue from the issues I had when I was born, caused my bowel to twist, which makes you very very unwell, quickly.
Seems lady luck was there again as it pretty much sorted itself out, at one point they were talking about emergency surgery. Messed xmas up as I was in hospital, but that was a tiny price to pay.
mph999 said:
Had a medical issue when I was born which, 46 years ago, should have been unsurvivable.
It kinda reared its head ago over Christmas when I had back surgery. It is thought due to the anaesthetic, and the opiates I had been taking (prescribed before anyone asks ...) + scar tissue from the issues I had when I was born, caused my bowel to twist, which makes you very very unwell, quickly.
Seems lady luck was there again as it pretty much sorted itself out, at one point they were talking about emergency surgery. Messed xmas up as I was in hospital, but that was a tiny price to pay.
My FiL was in hospital over Christmas for the exact same condition. You have my sympathies - looked like a It kinda reared its head ago over Christmas when I had back surgery. It is thought due to the anaesthetic, and the opiates I had been taking (prescribed before anyone asks ...) + scar tissue from the issues I had when I was born, caused my bowel to twist, which makes you very very unwell, quickly.
Seems lady luck was there again as it pretty much sorted itself out, at one point they were talking about emergency surgery. Messed xmas up as I was in hospital, but that was a tiny price to pay.
messed up our Christmas too, but in a way it was kinda nice. Everyone we met was exceedingly kind to our 2yr old after they learnt why we were staying in a hotel over Christmas rather than staying at the grandparents 
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