Cool

After over a month of depression due to lack of funds/life/weather/future plans I've had a phone call today from a little Spanish island off the coast of Africa that I used to call home. You would think it'd be a no brainer, (especially with the wettest June on record set to continue into July) but I can't stop thinking about whether it's the right move...

Ern, I've upgraded the HDD in my PS3 from the measily 40GB to a larger one (can't recall the size now) with no issues.

You don't happen to have an idiot's guide that you worked from do you?

ION, the Hulk film on ITV2 is even worse than I remember

I can't remember but I just googled it. I looked for one which had loads of pics to make it idiot-proof and I used another guide from a PS3 forum which had loads of extra info from users.

Heh, that was my plan of action too, probably throwing in a YT vid just to be safe

I think it's the right move, it's got to be an improvement on this hasn't it? What would you be leaving behind that is causing you angst?

My freedom, essentially. Once I say yes to that, I can't leave the island. I can't take a break, go on holiday. Train ninjutsu in the evenings. My entire life becomes the property of TUI UK Ltd. And yeah, initially it'll be a massive improvement on this. I'll probably get a car, likely my own apartment and I have friends there that it would be great to see again. Fuel is 1€ a litre (that's if I even have to pay for it) and obviously the weather rocks. But here, I'm free to do whatever comes up. Of course the problem is here, I don't have the money to do that, and so I haven't been.

I'm really confused!

Focus on the positives, and go for it.

The sh!tty weather will still be here when you come back.

Lolwut?

Which island is this? The one that EU legislation forgot?

True story. I'm thinking about it.



Actually, you're not far from the truth. The Canarian government isn't big on implementing EU legislation. It's probably the only body they like less than the Spanish goverment.

The point is, I'd work a 6 day week and have no vacation time. So I'd be stuck there until either the end of my contract (likely October) or when I quit. Problem is, if I quit, I risk pissing them off and then will never have this opportunity again. The only reason I'm potentially being offered work this late in the season, is because they know me and they like me.

Hmm, that's a difficult one. I suppose the thing is that it's work you enjoy? Weather is good and although you work 6 days out of 7 you a) get paid for it and 2) can hit the beach during your off-time? I am presuming those to be the case and we're talking about now until the end of the year max? I am not sure if you're the same type of person as me but I can stick anything for a few months if it gets me out of the drudgery and into the sunshine. Fair enough you may not be able to leave on vacation, but you'd be making some money, getting some sunshine, visiting friends and I can think of at least 4 people who would kill to be in that position.

It is difficult. The work is not exactly my favourite thing. I'd be dealing with Joe Public who's spent too much money coming on holiday to do nothing but moan about how the Canarians don't understand the needs of the British holidaymaker. On a ski holiday, people are more about the conditions and providing they can get on the mountain, it's generally less hassle. Summer holiday people snap a lot easier, coz it's generally their only respite from their crappy jobs/lives and they end up with too much time on their hands to think about the negatives, without enjoying the beautiful weather/scenery and the relaxation.

That said, the rest of your points are valid. Weather is basically good 24/7/365 and great for at least 70% of that time probably. I would get paid, although not a great deal. I might be able to save a little, but probably not a lot. Yes, I can hit the beach during my off time, and if I end up living where I was before, the beach is walkable and largely empty as it's right in front of the airport runway. Beautiful little spot for walking/running/swimming and great for plane spotting. Max contract would be until end of October at which point, I'm currently due to ship back out to Italy on December 1st to be a ski rep again (although that's a whole nother post, coz I'd really rather not be a rep, of any kind, at all).

And yeah, normally I'm the kind of person who can stick anything for a few months too. However, that's usually it. And I've been here before. And in a better paying job with more freedom. For 10 months! So not sure how long the veneer of "escaping the drudgery" would last this time.

very good result today

finds:

aircraft canopy

50 cal bullet shell

oxygen container

Waiting, waiting, waiting. This is really starting to kill me now!