MORE GOOD NEWS

My contract was due to end tomorrow, the last working day before Christmas.  "We need you around here," I have been told and the contract has been rolled a further 3 months to the end of March 2012.  The project I am working on has been extended into a new customer grouping and they want me to do the financial analysis.  I am very relieved as that will get me over the Christmas/New Year holidays with work and get me well into the New Year. 

Had I finished tomorrow, I would have faced the probability of no work until mid-February at the earliest.  Money is still tight as we recover from our housing issue and there is now a mortgage that is twice what we had previously thanks to those bastard lawyers, builders and council.  As a contractor I do not get paid if I am not working so the holiday period means my income drops in half for December and January.  The company I am working at has an obligatory close down for 3 weeks to ensure their staff use up annual leave and to manage the balance sheet liability.

The job/contract market out there is very thin at the level I operate at.  Accordingly, I was very concerned that I could have no income for a substantial period.  I have found that I cannot simply go after lower level jobs .  I have been told on numerous occasions that "you would get bored doing this job," and so have not been offered the role or contract.  I think "you would get bored" is the new euphemism for too old or too experienced or too expensive. 

When I was initially being interviewed for a contract in this organisation, I was told as they read my CV, "We cannot afford you," even before we had discussed rates.  I replied, "How much can you afford?  Make me an offer."  They did so at a rate of 60% of my normal chargeout rate.  I accepted on the spot as I had been out of work 3 months, my house was being rebuilt and we were renting elsewhere.  After 2 years I negotiated a 12.5% increase and am up to 67% of my previous chargeout rate. 

Anyway, my oldest son is home for Christmas, I have work for another 3 months, the weather is fine, I still have my teeth and my hair and my lovely wife still seems to think I am ok.  I have much to be grateful for and am looking forward to 3 weeks off work and to the opportunities of the New Year.  Merry Christmas everyone and all the best for 2012.