Everything has changed

[cariad]

Thanks, Aleta - we are trying to rip the disguise off and will let you know once that's been done.

Chilling article, MM. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, and for thinking of us. I did not read all of it, as I do try to avoid articles that offer little in the way of hope. Gwyn and I discussed the possible scientific innovations on the horizon. Speaking of maybe not trying to flee the country: when I mentioned possibly moving to Australia to Liot, he burst into tears. That was weird as this is in no way like him. When I said I thought he would like going to Australia, he retorted "I don't want to stay there forever!" I had to back pedal and say that a move of any sort was not going to happen for quite some time. I am always learning new things about my children.

Love the graphic, jbeany. Thanks for the laugh (much needed). Yes, Gwyn's field is nothing if not incestuous. It makes racehorse genealogy look straightforward!

Gwyn is outside hopefully working on the vintage cars. I so want those things gone, so perhaps I will FINALLY get my wish with all of his extra time.

[Rerun]

Have I been spelling Plow wrong my whole life??

Plough?

[cariad]

Have I been spelling Plow wrong my whole life??

Plough?

You're fine, Rerun. They are two equally accepted variants far as I know. But wow did this strike me as funny the way you phrased the question.

[CebuShan]

Oh, Cariad, I am so sorry I just found this. I understand. My husband's company has sold off part of its operations. They are keeping control for 2 years but after that... Of course it all depends on IF the purchasing company can come us with all the money by the 2 year mark (the announcement was made at Christmas last year, so they have another year) My fear is that when the company gives up control, the new company will decide to "restructure" and all the old employees will be let go in favour of cheaper labour. My husband doesn't believe that will happen but I've always been a glass half empty person. I do try not to worry about things too far in the future (sometimes I can't look beyond tomorrow or I'll go crazy!) Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is: Be patient. As difficult as it may seem right now, be patient. Things will work out for you, I just know it! I'll be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.            

[MooseMom]

That's a very interesting reaction from Liot.  What do you make of it?

How are your kids holding up?  Do they seem fairly confident about life these days, or are they anxious?  I know we parents hope to keep our tumultuous emotions from affecting our children, but kids are so damned perceptive.

[rsudock]

Cariad sorry for being a crappy internet friend and just now seeing this! Sending positive thoughts your way!!!   

xo,
R

[RichardMEL]

I'm sorry the Australia job thing didn't work out. I *am* surprised there's no preference given for UK citizens - I can understand of course if they found someone here that could do the job and offered them the gig - that is usually the way it works - heck maybe they will say no!! I had a quick look but couldn't find evidence of my feeling that we (oz) would accept you based on Gwyn's UK citizenship because I am pretty certain we would, but it is a long way to go and obviously no guarantees here for work etc - and given the kids may be so so about such a big drastic scary(to them) move... yeah not something to contemplate quickly.

Also please tell my mate that I'm sorry Australia beat Wales in the rugby. I was actually barracking for the Welsh with you guys in mind!!!!

[cariad]

Cariad sorry for being a crappy internet friend and just now seeing this! Sending positive thoughts your way!!!   

xo,
R

Rachel, my dear, you are the furthest thing from a "crappy" internet friend. Thanks for the positive thoughts. We certainly can appreciate them more now that we are out of the fear and despair stage and have moved on to "what next".

Also please tell my mate that I'm sorry Australia beat Wales in the rugby. I was actually barracking for the Welsh with you guys in mind!!!!

Aw, Richard, that is a true mate there, at least in Gwyn's universe. Gwyn says "He's a better man than I."

*speaking very softly now so Gwyn won't hear* At least Australia undoubtedly deserved to win. Gwyn was inconsolable when France narrowly beat Wales after some dodgy call from a ref. Definitely we want to give a move out of country plenty of thought, and were not really ready to move for that one job, so we'll wait for the right job at the right time.

MM, I think with little Liot, he enjoys his current life so much, what 5-year-old would want to pull up and take a chance on a foreign land. He has great friends, fabulous teachers, a nice (though perpetually cluttered) house. A few weeks ago we were at one of his favorite parks and there were kids in a range of ages there. At one point, about eight of them were all on one of those big spinning structures, and Elliot was sitting in the centre while the kids were all going over who knew whom and from where. It is incredible to me how effortlessly social Liot is, talking with four year olds and 10 year olds with equal ease. Australia is just an abstraction, a place that he can find on the map because he studies exotic animals any chance he gets. Gwyn and I joke that Aidan will be Australia's soccer star fighting off the girls with a stick, and Liot will be the next Steve Irwin (remember?).

CebuShan, I would be concerned, too. Any time my husband tells me 'the company is being sold, but they say nothing is going to change' I break into cynical laughter. When my father sold his business, they told the employees nothing would change and within a year everyone had been sacked and the company operations had been moved cross country. They tell employees this so they will not panic and find other employment before the company is ready to get rid of them. Nauseating but true. Thanks for the support. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your husband's company is one of those rare exceptions.

Thanks everyone. I'll return when I have news!

[cariad]

Two employment-related episodes this morning, one horrible (with the previous company) and one very nice, though perhaps a touch ironic.

I won't get into details with the first one, just that it was an attempt on the part of his previous employer to make something out of absolutely nothing. HR can be like that.

Gwyn received a call first thing this morning about a possible job. The nice thing is that this was the company calling him direct, not a recruiter, though I do think they got his information via a recruiter.

The job is back in California (d'oh!) but would be a dream position for Gwyn in many ways. I really don't see a way that this could work out financially unless this company is positively loaded, but we'll see. They claim that they will be calling to set up a phone interview between him and a company director or vice president or something. I'll let you know if that happens. Don't really want to return to California, though, so most of this is academic. I think it gave Gwyn's ego a nice boost if nothing else.

Oh, and he also phoned a rep from a recruitment company that he's had past, ghastly experience with. He rang the guy up to say that recruiters at this place always want him to take a position way below his abilities, and recruiters only seem to last a few weeks there, so that when he tries to follow up, he hears that his contact person no longer works there. I think Gwyn enjoyed telling one of their reps what an awful company they are, and that if he has a job in mind for him, great, but he's not holding his breath.

I guess that was actually three job related incidents.

[willowtreewren]

Ah, this IS encouraging news! As talented as Gwyn is, I have great expectations that whatever job comes his way will be even BETTER than what he had.

 

Aleta

[MooseMom]

Where in California would this be? 

I must have the wrong end of the stick because I was under the impression you liked California!   Didn't you spend quite a few years there?  Maybe that's why you don't like it!

[cariad]

I do like California, not necessarily this part of it, but my trust in American companies is at zero. We cannot afford to go through the whole moving process again if there's any chance (and there always is) that six months from now, the company will say "we're merging/we're dissolving/we don't like you/we need to cut staff/our CFO absconded with all of the company's money/we're blaming you for something that we did because it means that we will keep our jobs and who cares what happens to you". All of these are possible, even probable, in the current work climate. The only way I'd be willing to move my family again is for a job that is guaranteed to last, and such a job does not exist in most fields today.

(At Gwyn's last job in California, they tried to blame him for the decision to purchase a machine for a quarter million dollars that was next to worthless for what they did there. The machine was purchased before Gwyn was even hired, and they knew that. There are a great many individuals out there with no shame whatsoever.)

[ToddB0130]

I REALLY hope Gwyn finds the job he needs whereever you are now so that there's no relocation necessary.  You're right .... no job offers any guarantees or security at all,  so there will always be risk in relocating.  Best of luck to you ...........

[lmunchkin]

Still plugging for you guys!  Hope something good comes your way sooner rather than later!  That is my prayer!  Just hope it is a job that he will love, you know?  So many people just work to be working, but hate doing it!  Im hoping he gets one that he can be passionate about.

lmunchkin   

[kellyt]

Cariad, I am just reading this thread for the first time.  I only read the first page and then decided I had to respond.  I am praying as I write this that something has changed and things are better for you and your family.

I am so sorry you all are going through this.  My husband and I are self-employed, so there is no fear of being the result of "reconstructuring", but every day I live with the fear of everything just...going away.  Losing everything!   That's just me...a pessimist at heart.  :/  I can only imagine what y'all are going through and, again, I'm so very sorry.  Look into San Antonio for jobs.  For some odd reason San Antonio, or maybe it was Texas as a whole, has done okay in this horrible economy (or so I've heard).  I hope I'm not wrong or giving poor advice.  I'm sure others on here know more.  And as much as I love this country, I have had the same thoughts as you mentioned.  It's terrifying.

Hugs to you and your family.   

[Rerun]

Just throwing this out there because Gwyn is an automotive engineer........  The fumes from gasoline are what really ignite.  So we should only need a cup of gas to run a car for miles and miles.  Instead of fuel injectors they should have fume injectors.  Then we would not need so much gas because we would be running on fumes which are really what ignite.

He can have this.   

[willowtreewren]

we would be running on fumes

I've been running on fumes for years anyway! 

[rsudock]

Continuing to think of you, Gwyn, and the boys!! Hang in there!!! 


xo,
R

[cariad]

Thanks for the continued support and interest in our personal struggles. It is so appreciated, everyone.

News, news, news!!

Gwyn has a phone interview this evening with California. That was fast.

He also spoke to two different placement agencies this morning. I am not clear on which one said what, but the gist: they want him to consider a job in Indianapolis. I said no! Gwyn had anticipated this reaction and told the person that that would be incredibly unlikely. Then this might have been the same agency, but the guy has a position in South Wales. Really? Who knew? Gwyn tried to guess which company and was told he was wrong, so now he thinks he has it sussed through process of elimination. This time last year I was saying that I could picture myself living in Wales. Perhaps I should have kept that to myself. I had NO IDEA the universe was listening, as it never has listened to me before.

Oh, and one of the agencies actually knows his former boss because this person (the guy who let him go and who had to take a parting dig at Gwyn as he was leaving) has also been calling around trying to find another job. Gwyn and I were just discussing last night if that guy had any clue that it seems pretty obvious that his department is being rapidly eliminated. Gwyn went to lunch with the designers who are left, and all are looking for other work, too.

Just throwing this out there because Gwyn is an automotive engineer........  The fumes from gasoline are what really ignite.  So we should only need a cup of gas to run a car for miles and miles.  Instead of fuel injectors they should have fume injectors.  Then we would not need so much gas because we would be running on fumes which are really what ignite.

He can have this.   

Gwyn appreciated this, too! (Although he did then treat me to a short lecture on how you cannot control something or other with fumes, but you can with droplets, and I had to pretend to fall asleep to get him to stop. ) 

Kelly, I so understand your fear. There does not seem to be any safe haven for the middle class any more. I wish I knew what the answer was. I am hoping that you feel more stable in your financial/business situation as the economy recovers.

Off to collect the children. I'll report back when I find out how his phone interview went. Fingers crossed for something positive to come from this! Again, thanks to everyone for your responses, good wishes, and of course, your humor! This has nothing to do with kidney failure, yet all the same, I don't know how I would have made it these past two weeks without IHD. 

[cariad]

Gwyn has been asked to attend a second interview with California. He was unclear whether this was with the company or some third party company, but they want to see him next week. I think they want to fly him to California, but he is not totally sure about that.

Also, the recruiter for South Wales has asked if he would be available for an interview next week. If he does take trips to both Wales and California, we may extend our stay in one of them and take a little holiday. Most likely California.

He is getting slammed with recruiter calls, which is *not* a complaint, just I am really not ready to move yet. Still hopeful about the local opportunity, but have not heard back from them. If he does not hear from them soon, he will call them back and let them know that he is very interested in them but that he will have to take the first reasonable offer that comes along.

[RichardMEL]

Gwyn sure seems to be in demand - which is a wonderful reflection of his obvious talent. I know it most likely will mean a move for all and disruptive for the kids etc, but perhaps whichever way it pans out will be a really wonderful surprise, even for Liot !

My continued best wishes and hopes for awesome news real soon !!!

[CebuShan]

Where in CA? I'm from NorCal originally.

[rsudock]

Gwyn has been asked to attend a second interview with California. He was unclear whether this was with the company or some third party company, but they want to see him next week. I think they want to fly him to California, but he is not totally sure about that.

Also, the recruiter for South Wales has asked if he would be available for an interview next week. If he does take trips to both Wales and California, we may extend our stay in one of them and take a little holiday. Most likely California.

He is getting slammed with recruiter calls, which is *not* a complaint, just I am really not ready to move yet. Still hopeful about the local opportunity, but have not heard back from them. If he does not hear from them soon, he will call them back and let them know that he is very interested in them but that he will have to take the first reasonable offer that comes along.

Your getting farther away from me!!! I hope the local thing works out, but a job period is good! It is stressful to move...every year for the past 3 years I have moved...it gets exhausting moving all my stuff all the time!!! Hang in there!!

xo,
Rachel

[willowtreewren]

I'm hoping the disguise is being peeled away....

This certainly does look like it is shaping up to be that opportunity in disguise! 

And at the very least....a holiday is in the offing! 

Aleta

[cariad]

Your getting farther away from me!!! I hope the local thing works out, but a job period is good! It is stressful to move...every year for the past 3 years I have moved...it gets exhausting moving all my stuff all the time!!! Hang in there!!

xo,
Rachel

Moves are incredibly stressful! Three times in three years is madness!

If we do have to move in a rush, I am hoping that Gwyn and I can meet up with the Chicago crowd before we go. Rachel, you would have to join us! I am still not over the trauma of not meeting you in Vegas.... Watch this space, and I'll let you know. If you need a place to stay for a few days, we will prep the guest room for you, but we simply will not take no for an answer.

Gwyn has his job interview with California next week. Although in some ways it is the perfect time to take a holiday, we have decided to not try to combine. We lived there, so it is hardly a dream holiday for us (although I would get to see my wonderful, wonderful friend Mark!).

So, Gwyn is going to go on his own Monday, coming back either late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Everything is moving so quickly, my head is spinning a bit. UK or California? Fight to stay in Milwaukee? Take a chance on Australia? I did not think I would be wrestling with these issues NOW. Whatever move we make, I want it to be the last move during the kids' lives with us. That means staying at least 12 years, but probably the rest of our lives. I am tired of moving.