It's a complicated contractual structure, but it would be something like a 13-14 month payout, of which I would potentially work for six. In any event they would try and put me somewhere else first or let me look for something. Not so bad.

It's amazing how things changed in January.

This is why I'm not going to get anything that will involve local debt. I think it's wise to be able to leave at the drop of a hat if needed.

Debt doesn't stop you being able to leave Jimmy, it stops you being able to come back.

I remember 2008-2009.

We all went home for Christmas in good cheer, things were slowing certainly but no one was panicking.

In January within a 10 day period about half the contacts were suddenly cancelled or put on hold

I survived the cull. But about 50% were made redundant in early February.

Haha. Touche.

Let's just say lesson learned.

I fully expect to be let go this year, I'm so quiet (work wise), e.g. right now I'm sat on the sofa watching the Superbowl highlights. I'm pre sales (ERP software).

That's not so bad then, you're relatively insulated from an immediate shock. I don't think that things change that fast, it's more like people put off looking at the hard decisions until forced to and then have to act fast.

Work situation has been dire for the last 12 months, much worse than the last recession which seemed to just clear out the idiots. Would have left 6 months ago if it wasn't for the fact we need to consolidate everything into a family home to go back to and Brexit is ballsing that up.

Didn't unemployment in the UK just fall to a 42 year low?

I've a few mates who're getting offers left and right back home because there's a big drop off in interest from EU job seekers and firms are also more reluctant to hire EU nationals.

Returning to the UK without a job offer in hand is always daunting at the onset but it also always works out at the end. Same was true in the glory days.

New projects, contracts etc all very limited.
Client shakedowns causing issues to projects we're one.

All just negative press. No big project wins for us at the moment.

I don’t want to pick cabbages.

It’s a massive cushion, no sleep need be lost.

That side of thing doesn't bother me, it's more having to move the wife, kids, dog and cat into a one bed flat. Also, they're a lot less keen to go than I am. Not sure about the cat, she's sitting on the fence at the moment.

...or contribute to the huge influx of people to the UK before they leave the EU?

If you abandon the cat to the streets of Dubai may the demons from the 9th circle of hell raise out of the ground and drag you down to spend eternity frozen in ice.