Nearly Two Years update.
Jun 23rd 2012 | 9:44 am
#1
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,097
From: Back in the UK!
Nearly Two Years update.
Where the hell does the time go?
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
Jun 24th 2012 | 12:20 pm
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Where the hell does the time go?
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
Jun 24th 2012 | 11:01 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 401
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Hi geeandtee
It sounds like things are going well for you - you don't 'know' me but I have been lurking for ages and have had a look through your old posts. I'm curious about your work from home position, I saw a report from a council in the North West of England which said the total proportion of employed people working from home was something like 9%. I was kind of gobsmacked at how high it was! Did you deliberately look for a work from home position and if so did you have to go through a lot of duds/scams first?
Cheers
Almo
It sounds like things are going well for you - you don't 'know' me but I have been lurking for ages and have had a look through your old posts. I'm curious about your work from home position, I saw a report from a council in the North West of England which said the total proportion of employed people working from home was something like 9%. I was kind of gobsmacked at how high it was! Did you deliberately look for a work from home position and if so did you have to go through a lot of duds/scams first?
Cheers
Almo
Jun 24th 2012 | 11:07 pm
#4
Thread Starter
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,097
From: Back in the UK!
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Hi geeandtee
It sounds like things are going well for you - you don't 'know' me but I have been lurking for ages and have had a look through your old posts. I'm curious about your work from home position, I saw a report from a council in the North West of England which said the total proportion of employed people working from home was something like 9%. I was kind of gobsmacked at how high it was! Did you deliberately look for a work from home position and if so did you have to go through a lot of duds/scams first?
Cheers
Almo
It sounds like things are going well for you - you don't 'know' me but I have been lurking for ages and have had a look through your old posts. I'm curious about your work from home position, I saw a report from a council in the North West of England which said the total proportion of employed people working from home was something like 9%. I was kind of gobsmacked at how high it was! Did you deliberately look for a work from home position and if so did you have to go through a lot of duds/scams first?
Cheers
Almo
It was pure luck. I am a published author. (E-Pubs). I was bemoaning our impoverished state to my friend, who also happens to work for that publisher and she suggested that I write to the boss and ask if there was any editing work available. It just so happened that two editors had just left and they were looking for replacements. So, I took some tests and did pretty well so I was taken on as a Content Editor.
So, it was just being in the right place at the right time. I don't earn enough from my books so full time writing is out of the question. This position is just a perfect fit.
Jun 25th 2012 | 10:56 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,718
From: Charlotte,NC
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Glad that things are working out for you - I remember reading your posts and feeling so bad for you 2/3 years ago going through that traumatic time..
Just got back from a trip to Sedona, even though it was beautiful I have no idea how people cope with the heat and also the desolate landscape of most of Arizona.
Just got back from a trip to Sedona, even though it was beautiful I have no idea how people cope with the heat and also the desolate landscape of most of Arizona.
Jun 25th 2012 | 7:33 pm
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,390
From: Canberra
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Gosh, time does fly when you are having fun! Hard to believe you have been back that long (still, I've been back 10 months almost!).
Good to hear that things are falling into place and that you have some security and feeling that you are winning - you certainly didnt do it easy!!! Great news that your son has taken it all in his stride and is happy here too.
Good to hear that things are falling into place and that you have some security and feeling that you are winning - you certainly didnt do it easy!!! Great news that your son has taken it all in his stride and is happy here too.
Jun 26th 2012 | 6:11 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,393
From: England
Re: Nearly Two Years update.
Where the hell does the time go?
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
We've been back in the UK for nearly 2 years. When I last posted, I mentioned that I'd finally found a job. Unfortunately, the job wasn't as advertised. You cannot do the job of one and a half people in 36 hours a week. So, my contract wasn't renewed in October. We were back to struggling until the bank finally gave us an overdraft facility at the beginning of the year. Not ideal living on an overdraft but it helps.
Anyhow, I did eventually manage to find an ideal job. I am a self-employed editor, retained by an e-publisher. It's great, I work from home and, after three months 'probation' I am now paid a monthly retainer, rather than being paid by the word. I love it. It's crazy busy sometimes but it's better than sitting in a too-small office trying to reckon up the petty cash while answering phones, getting up every five minutes to answer the door, talk to any resident who happened to wander by, etc. etc.
Our son is doing really well at school...so far. Next year he starts his preparation for GCSEs. He's made friends and he's even decided he likes watching football. My husband is still in the same job. It's very hard work for 9 months of the year but it's a job and he loves working with racehorses.
I really don't miss the US. I miss my family but, thanks to Skype, we talk twice a week. It's not the same but it's better than nothing. I still love being here, even though it rains all the time. After 8 and a half years in the AZ desert, I never tire of the rain and never take it for granted.
All in all, it's taken a long time to find our feet and it's been a struggle sometimes, but there's no point in looking back. We came back at the right time and it's still good to be Home.
