I'm unemployed.....

[Motu]

After nearly 11 years in my own business - I walked out tonight a free man.I'll go in tomorrow and pick up my tools (2 roll cabs and top box) and MIG and gas plant,put my office into a fishbin,and wrap up this period of my life.I'll go in for a few hours each day next week and do a few WoF's,then I'm out of there for good.

It hasn't really sunk in yet.....but waking up monday morning without an alarm going off is gunna be heaven on earth.

[Madness]

Congratulations, I'm happy for you.

[KLOWN]

WOO HOOO party time!!

[Grahameeboy]

So you have retired?

[Colapop]

Yes but how long will it last?? Better have a 'fill in your time' plan handy... just in case...

No, hanging out on KB doesn't count.

[limbimtimwim]

Must be like ULTRA AWESOME CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

What now?

[Storm]

Congratulations mate- enjoy the sleepin without the alarm after 11 years its the least you deserve !!:D

[White trash]

So you have retired?
Ahhhh eet's goood, you let the ree-taards eat have de chobs....

[boomer]

Congrats.. welcome to my world.

i've not worn my watch, set an alarm or queued in traffic for 6months... fan bloody tastic i say..come to think of it i dont think i've answered me phone for that long either :shutup:


Congrats are in order i suspect..!!! :beer:

[Ixion]

Congratulations. Now, mind, do not forget TO HAVE SOME FUN!

And when are you going to get that Stornello going?

[digsaw]

Oh yes retire and get more work than before :gob: yes and its all for cash:whocares:

[Big Dave]

....bludger

[digsaw]

:bleh:.........

[merv]

So what are you going to do now to pay for your biking habit? Or did you win Lotto or something?

[Drum]

Hey thats great! I can't wait for the day when I can say the same.

[digsaw]

If yar got a wife SHE WILL have a list of jobs sooo long yar wont know if yar punched or bored:whocares:

[Vagabond]

Whateva you get upto enjoy it!

[cowboyz]

congrats.

Its been 2 years already since we gave up the farm. Very liberating not having so much responsibility resting on your shoulders. Have fun with the break. If you are anything like me it should take about 3 days before you are wondering what you are to do with your day. 2 years later I couldn't be happoer.

[Motu]

I left today on highs and lows.....even shed a tear on some stupid sentimental song on the radio.I was hoping to have time to go around the neighbourhood saying goodby,but a lot of people came in to wish me luck.My fellow tradesmen - the autosparky,panelbeater,and the 2 engine rebuilders I've worked with over these years.Good firm real man handshakes,eye contact and ''good on ya mate''...I felt like I had finally grown up,to have respect from these men.Good customers and friends,even Ixion came in this week....I've spent a lot of time talking.A good friend came in to day with an overflowing clinking backpack,and one of her special cards she writes for me,it's nice to have someone say nice things.One of my customers even shed a tear.

And then I have a major fight with a customer,he was threatening me with consumer rights,Fair Go.....I accused him of lying and told him to fuck off out of my shop.He probably has a forum like Kiwibiker he goes to where he will start a thread about how he was mistreated.But fuck him,this sort of thing is why I want out of this game.

I want my shed :crybaby: :crybaby: :crybaby:

[Deviant Esq]

Good thread, good read. Thanks mate.

Best of luck for the future... it's hard to walk away from your career.

[xwhatsit]

Congratulations, of a sort! I'd imagine it's a pretty scary feeling in a way. At least that's how I think I'd feel. Now you can get that Frankenstein Yamaha motor going within ten years :D

Got something else lined up? Or is time to retire? Surely you're not as old as Jim2 yet? ^_^

Good luck.

[Swoop]

That's wonderful to hear, Motu!
You will look forward to missing the morning commute completely.

Lucky bugger!
EDIT: Best of luck with "the shed". Every bloke must have one!

[ajturbo]

hey matey.. only met you once when you had BabeB's bike in and we picked it up...
have fun out there!!:scooter:

[Dodgyiti]

I never had such well maintained cars and bikes since I went off the tools, I wish the same to you Mr Motu.:yes:

[Dooly]

Good stuff mate, you'll enjoy not having to put up with customers.
Until you get the bug again.

Find a job locally now is it?
Should'nt be too hard.

[_Gina_]

Congratulations and commiserations Motu. :yes:

Parts of me still miss the mechanical repair business I owned back in the 'Bay 6 ish years ago.

Had to close up due to money really, and cause after 9 odd years I was sick of the crap that came with it, living, breathing, eating the business and no clear home head space.

I have been very sucessfull in finding a career, the skills and experiences have set me well for being an employee.
And, mostly, my weekends and evenings are my own and fully about my family and not work. :)

I do miss the workshop, was pretty cool for project work, I miss the resto jobs we did for clients that became friends, I miss people bringing in "koha" for us, and them expressing how happy they were to deal with us......
I miss the community of tradepeople too.....

But I don't miss the pressure of the 20th of each month.


Good on you and good luck !
Gina
:sunny:

[MSTRS]

Big step after that length of time. Sounds like it's been brewing awhile. Good luck in whatever you do now.

[yungatart]

Green with envy, I am. To not be controlled by an alarm clock and other people pulling your chain, is my idea of heaven.
Enjoy!

[slowpoke]

...er, now that you've got a bit of time on your hands, there's this funny noise coming from the diff area of my.......

Haha, take it easy Motu....but I suspect you'll be busier than ever, hopefully doing what you want to do rather than what you have to do.

[Macktheknife]

Congrats Motu, hope you enjoy the time to yourself and get into all those things you have been putting off for a while.
Mack

[Motu]

I will gain 4 hours a day - over an hour commute each way,plus I leave an hour early and leave an hour late to miss traffic.I will stick with the mechanics game,after 37 years I'm not sick of it yet.....but dunno if I want to go back to cars.I haven't really applied for jobs yet,but there are some possibilities....I'll wander into a local business on monday as he thinks things will work out for both of us....it's be nice to walk to work again.

Bad news for the new owner today - the money was transfered last night,the money is mine and the business is his.He walks in the door and his wife tells him the landlord has sold and they have to move.He used the house deposit to buy the business.Tough for him.

[merv]

I'll wander into a local business on monday as he thinks things will work out for both of us....it's be nice to walk to work again..

Bike shop??

[Motu]

Shhhhh,there's only one in Huntly remember.

Well,just did the last huge effort today....I've been moving out for the last couple of months,but today I removed all my personal tools and effects,the office etc.I used to shift jobs in the boot of a car,but today my huge rollcab was loaded into the Vanette,the draws have to be removed to lift it,then refitted in the van,removed before the rollcab is taken out,then refitted to fit into my lockup storage unit.Then a second rollcab,and a top box as well,the MIG welder,gas plant and half a dozen bottles,then I filled the trailer with things like Pajero transmissions,some cyl heads and stuff,my pushbike I got this week.Then we put the office stuff in the Pajero.What a hard worker the Vanette is - you don't get to know what a diesel can do until you make them do more than you think they can do....loaded to the bump stops and pulling a trailer,no problem.

Aaaah,it's done - man what a long haul.If you think buying or selling a house is stressfull,try selling a business.My first day of freedom is the Hamilton Swap Meet - see you there!

[Grahameeboy]

Any excuse to reach 10,000 posts eh?

[Motu]

I hoping not to get there - when I have a life I won't spend as much time on this stupid computer.

[kneescraper]

hmmmm well done Motu. Best of luck with be just another worker....its easy being able to work out at 5pm every night and not thinking about the business.

Top effort, best of luck in the future

[merv]

... so you'll be working on Hondas (or will you be helping with Bultacos?) - cool, but yes mum's the word.

[doc]

when I have a life I won't spend as much time on this stupid computer.
I think I know what the next add on the Tui's billboard entering Huntly will say.

[erik]

Congrats Motu, good luck with figuring out what to do next. :)

[Motu]

Got to sleep in this morning,even had a coffee and toast before I went to work,I haven't done that for 11 years.Pretty freaky going into a workplace that was your own only a couple of days ago,now you are an employee.Did a few WoF's and some diagnosis and keeping them on track with parts and the flow of the day....that's the hard part,organising it all so the jobs go out on time.I have only been unemployed for a day,today I got a job at Huntly Honda....finally after all these years I am a bike mechanic.And I can walk or ride a pushbike to work.Thought I would bury that in this thread so only those who are bothered with hearing about my blithering will see it.

Came home to find my shed framed up - wow,it's huge! Takes up the whole bloody back yard.the neighbours behind are gone forever.But they won't be back for a week,then the trusses go up.Then another wait for the cladding.But at least it's happening.

[Mr. Peanut]

Awww, well when you're finished there can you be the official KB mechanic?

[nudemetalz]

Good to hear you're doing what you really want to do, Motu.

And you've given me a different side to the "mechanic vs customer confrontation" to think about ;) .

Hope all goes well for you.

[MyGSXF]

Congrats Motu.. sounds like your new phase in life is going great so far!! :yes:

Enjoy your new found freedom.. the new job.. & the new shed!!!!!!!!!!! :Punk:

[marty]

only problem is now, you can't (well shouldn't) tell customers to fuck off.....

[Mr. Peanut]

Don't drop the wrench! This is a Honda dealership we're talking about here.


Erm.

[Motu]

only problem is now, you can't (well shouldn't) tell customers to fuck off.....

Yeah,biting my tongue is going to draw blood!

[gijoe1313]

Sounds like another epic in the making! :yes: Congrats on making the switch and enjoying some of those "little" things in life that you never did. I think you're about to write another interesting chapter!

[Fub@r]

Well I resigned today with two other managers...............threw the toys out of the cot so to speak............they have now seen it my way!

Only problem is I now wonder now about future job security :)

[oldrider]

God luck Motu, but it wont be long before you wonder how on earth you found the time to go to work, life is like that! :yes:

Us men always thought busy women are happy women but while you back was turned she was learning to "delegate"!

The worm has turned, now busy old men are happy old men, according to them indoors! :shit:.............Enjoy your new life! Cheers John.

[Deviant Esq]

I have only been unemployed for a day,today I got a job at Huntly Honda....finally after all these years I am a bike mechanic.And I can walk or ride a pushbike to work.Thought I would bury that in this thread so only those who are bothered with hearing about my blithering will see it.
I bothered reading your "blithering", and am glad I did. Would bling you for this post, but apparantly I'm supposed to spread it around a bit before blinging you again... :mellow:

Onto a new job already?! That was fast! Congrats on finally getting to work on bikes - I'm sure it'll make a welcome change of scenery. :) That, and cutting back on those 4 hours you used to burn commuting. It's like that in the UK, people commute to work for hours and just don't think about it... I couldn't bear to burn that much of my life just commuting! Crazy. And you were driving it as well... riding the pushbike or walking will save you plenty of money you would have otherwise spent on fuel and tyres etc.

Sounds like it's all moving along nicely. Still, shame you couldn't have a week off just relaxing at home in between... no rest for the wicked, I guess! New workplace for all those folk to come in and visit you at. Maybe as an employee and therefore less responsible for the running of the business, stress will be less of an issue? Either way, all the best for the future mate. :niceone:

[Sniper]

Congrats sir...

[Motu]

Still, shame you couldn't have a week off just relaxing at home in between...


My wife says no way can I work 11 years without a break and just go straight into another job,she insists we go for a holiday.Legally I am obliged to help the new owner for 10 days.My new boss has a plan for new directions and will be setting things up for that,2 or 3 weeks is fine by him.

When you get to my age (53) and have been your own boss for 11 years,and running other peoples businesses for 10 years before that - you wonder how employable you will be.But having to employ people myself,I know the standard out there in my field....I know I would employ me,and just hoped others would too.I want to try local businesses first,and my cold call to another down the road was unanswered,so was hoping my second attempt would fare better.Our talk over the phone sounded hopeful,and last night we just talked for a couple of hours,not an interview at all.

My tools are right next door in the lockup,I could just roll them down the footpath.But they have a fork and a tail lift truck,so shifting my tools will be no problem.

[Flyingpony]

Congratulations Motu !! (And I read the "blithering" post too)

:rockon:

Now as an employee you'll rack up 4 weeks annual leave per year ... take your Mrs for a holiday around Christmas for three weeks :yes: Get her to plan it so it involves what she wants to do.

[_Gina_]

Blithering...?

Pffft!

[crashe]

It is not blithering at all.....

It has been a wonderful write up, of you, ending one chapter of your life and beginning another chapter.

Congratulations on your new job at Huntly Honda bike shop... well done.

Good luck with your new shed going up to plan without any hiccups along the way and then setting up all your tools, as to how you want them to be set up. Don't forget to get the damn shed fully alarmed.


It all started with you moving down to Huntly.... so all the very best in your new ventures and new beginnings in your life.
:yes: :scooter: :yes: :scooter: :yes: :scooter: :yes:

[mstriumph]

Good luck, fella .....
....... great big SCAREY step but you sound as though you have it all under control :yes: ....

...... gonna be great doin what you want to do and being able to turn it off at 5pm daily
...people that say that it must be great working for yourself because you 'don't have a boss' overlook the fact that every single customer is your 'boss' [and some of 'em can be downright nasty! :shutup: ]

.... stress levels waaaaaaay down :Punk:

[Robbo]

Good luck in your new venture Motu. Do they have a good coffee shop at Huntly Honda?

Cheers