I’ve led a blessed life - share yours!
Discussion
I’ve been pretty lucky, in the scheme of things!
Still married after 35 years. The ‘current ‘ ! wife turned out to be a bit of a catch ( out punching
)
Kids turned out ok, both have good jobs/family/homes. None in prison yet..
Career wise panned out.
An engineering apprenticeship when I left school. Was bored, a mate said BT were after people so I applied.
Engineering company were then relocating, gave me a years wages & the BT job offer came through. Deposit on first house.
10 years later.. Other companies paying more. Can I take voluntary redundancy BT? Sure, here’s a years wages to leave. Cheers, used it to upgrade from 3 bed semi to 4 bed detached. But had to commute into London to double wages. Roughly equivalent to a GPs salary.
A couple of years later, relocated to local office on same wages.
25 years later, thinking of retiring @ 60.
But wfh & quite happy. But technology changes, i’d made myself obsolete.
Awfully sorry but we’re making some cutbacks. A years salary redundancy to go ?
Cheers, where do I sign !
Share your good fortune.
Still married after 35 years. The ‘current ‘ ! wife turned out to be a bit of a catch ( out punching
)Kids turned out ok, both have good jobs/family/homes. None in prison yet..
Career wise panned out.
An engineering apprenticeship when I left school. Was bored, a mate said BT were after people so I applied.
Engineering company were then relocating, gave me a years wages & the BT job offer came through. Deposit on first house.
10 years later.. Other companies paying more. Can I take voluntary redundancy BT? Sure, here’s a years wages to leave. Cheers, used it to upgrade from 3 bed semi to 4 bed detached. But had to commute into London to double wages. Roughly equivalent to a GPs salary.
A couple of years later, relocated to local office on same wages.
25 years later, thinking of retiring @ 60.
But wfh & quite happy. But technology changes, i’d made myself obsolete.
Awfully sorry but we’re making some cutbacks. A years salary redundancy to go ?
Cheers, where do I sign !
Share your good fortune.
Why not!
Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
Bluemondy said:
Why not!
Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
A bit off topic, but my most fun French car was a Chocolate Brown 2 CV with suicide doors, get one.Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
Middle-class parents, dad doing mid-level management, mum looking after us, a good start in life;
got a job young that I held for 30 years, I went with the flow, the company got taken over by the largest in the business. I worked hard without chasing promotion but got fairly looked after for getting on with the real work that mattered.
married a woman who also got on with her work, and had her own small house already
pooled our resources to buy a nice house;
I'd learned to do a bit at cars and DIY at home, so got on with that sort of stuff without paying tradesmen;
Dabbled in a side-hustle I enjoyed and could do in my own time and earned a few quid from it;
Got laid off from 30 year job with a great package;
Continued in my industry long enough to understand I needed to get out, so went to something more down-to-earth and part-time, and realised I don't need to chase a big salary.
It's true what they say : success is about skill, effort and good luck.
It's only when I get to this stage in life I look back and think : yes, that worked out alright.
got a job young that I held for 30 years, I went with the flow, the company got taken over by the largest in the business. I worked hard without chasing promotion but got fairly looked after for getting on with the real work that mattered.
married a woman who also got on with her work, and had her own small house already
pooled our resources to buy a nice house;
I'd learned to do a bit at cars and DIY at home, so got on with that sort of stuff without paying tradesmen;
Dabbled in a side-hustle I enjoyed and could do in my own time and earned a few quid from it;
Got laid off from 30 year job with a great package;
Continued in my industry long enough to understand I needed to get out, so went to something more down-to-earth and part-time, and realised I don't need to chase a big salary.
It's true what they say : success is about skill, effort and good luck.
It's only when I get to this stage in life I look back and think : yes, that worked out alright.
Freedoms.
I went self employed at 21 and never looked back. It takes a chunk of work for those of us with average talent but perseverance pays and it brings choice and opportunities for those that are willing to live outside of a salary.
30+ years later I’ve a regular income and I’m with the same brilliant wife who doesn’t seem to mind how many cars I have, in a house that we renovated from a ruin and hoping for the opportunity to spend more time together in retirement as soon as possible!!
Expecting a serious lightning strike any time soon but until then……..
I went self employed at 21 and never looked back. It takes a chunk of work for those of us with average talent but perseverance pays and it brings choice and opportunities for those that are willing to live outside of a salary.
30+ years later I’ve a regular income and I’m with the same brilliant wife who doesn’t seem to mind how many cars I have, in a house that we renovated from a ruin and hoping for the opportunity to spend more time together in retirement as soon as possible!!
Expecting a serious lightning strike any time soon but until then……..
Great idea for a thread.
Although once divorced, my current wife is 12 year younger and properly amazing.
Four gorgeous kids from previous marriage, and step son is absolutely sound.
Decent job, respected (hopefully ha) and good standard of living.
All happy, healthy, and looking forward to the future.
Enjoyed some decent cars, and will again in the future.
Both parents alive, and happily married after 48 years, and it's this that makes me blessed I think.
Amazing couple, supported me through everything. I owe them more than they could ever know.
Blessed, absolutely.
Although once divorced, my current wife is 12 year younger and properly amazing.
Four gorgeous kids from previous marriage, and step son is absolutely sound.
Decent job, respected (hopefully ha) and good standard of living.
All happy, healthy, and looking forward to the future.
Enjoyed some decent cars, and will again in the future.
Both parents alive, and happily married after 48 years, and it's this that makes me blessed I think.
Amazing couple, supported me through everything. I owe them more than they could ever know.
Blessed, absolutely.
jeff m said:
Bluemondy said:
Why not!
Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
A bit off topic, but my most fun French car was a Chocolate Brown 2 CV with suicide doors, get one.Started badly, 1st Child at 20, council flat and married. No real career to speak of.
Some luck found me working for Carlsberg in the midlands in the early 90's, made redundant and moved back
south and found a career in utilities and worked myself through an engineering degree to become a network designer.
We had another two children and Mrs Blue worked through her Nursing degree. All our children are now adults,
and we have a grandchild. Mortgage paid and combined income that puts us in a very lucky position.
Mid to late 40's and we both know how privileged we are, we also remember the days of no money, cold flat
and having to make choices on food or heating.
No exciting cars yet, but I'd love something french and 80's (yes, I'm a sadomasochist!) We purchased our first new car
in 2020 (A Bright yellow Kona (Yes, I know it's a bit marmite, but we love it. Yes a 1.0T can be fun)) I've had company cars for
about 12 years or so (Focus/Mondeo and I think the next will be a Mondeo hybrid).
So it's been a lot of work for both of us, but I do consider ourselves very blessed.
not sure I'd fit in a 2CV
Born in wales dad left before I was year old, mum met possibly worst human in the world but we escaped down south at 11, was average at school but got to uni found I was ok at economics, went on did a masters, 911 happens no grad jobs spent a year doing dead end jobs (has anyone ever been to hemel Hempstead), kept applying got s job at Lloyd's in the city, 2 years went to Credit Suisse 2 years went to HSBC (bought a new Impreza WRX with bonus only fast far ever had) investment bank 2008 financial crisis demons from childhood caught up had s nervous break down after 4.5 years leave HSBC an alcoholic mess. Next 2 years therapy and AA no job more than 6 months (one lasted 5 weeks lol), got married, bought second home, had kids, got sober, got into gym, bought 3rd home. IR35 comes along kills contracting wife gets perm Dir role at consultancy, 12 months I stick out inside contecating, find a proper outside contract, start work with a start up at same time. Kids doing fine at school mid 40s maybe be able to retire in 10 years. Comfortable don't think about childhood, alcohol or other s
t, would like a bike or caterham before 2030 otherwise happy
t, would like a bike or caterham before 2030 otherwise happy
Nice to see a positive post on PH for a change instead of all this doom and gloom.
If you are healthy, get a good night's sleep, have a decent roof over your head and plenty to eat you have nothing to moan about,
George Harrison once said ambition is overrated (As he lived in his 120 room mansion Friar Park)
If you are healthy, get a good night's sleep, have a decent roof over your head and plenty to eat you have nothing to moan about,
George Harrison once said ambition is overrated (As he lived in his 120 room mansion Friar Park)
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff