h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

With all your work woes, I'm touched that you managed to find me that lovely site for booties. I'm greatly enjoying the small knitting bit of this faraway pregnancy.Perversely, it's making me feel very young as the last time I indulged in a layette was for my own 30 odd years ago, although I did make a 2ply shawl for a friend about 20 years ago.
A Chinese colleague has just introduced me to a website for craftwok from Hunan which includes wonderful cot quilts with rampaging tigers. So I think my patchwork skills will have to wait until I am retired and thinking about great grandchildren.
I think I'd add (along with my very best wishes)my advice on the side of those of your friends who are telling you to lose the job, but, whatever you decide, the best of luck

Thank you, too, for your concern. I don't want to stop working at the place I'm at, because

(a) at over 50 in Germany, it's almost impossible to get a new job

(b) I have a 10 minute cycle ride to work, and can walk it in half an hour - most people would give their eye teeth for a job that near home. For any other job I'd have to get a car.

(c) The alternative of not working at all any more is blown to bits every time I get a statment of my pension outlook. For a very high input all my working life, I shall get a comparatively small amount from two or three pension schemes - but only if I keep on paying in up to my 65th year.

Dear TC, I understand completely. I got this job when I was 55, after being out of work for nearly a year. It has got steadily more and more bureaucratic, and I am now hanging on to a job I actively dislike solely because it will pay me until I am 65. I am looking for ways to supplement my income, but I fear I shall have to sell the house to one of those companies that pays an income as the only way of staying alive for what will probably be the last third of my life. (long-lived family) This job also pays generous sick benefits. So I'm not really complaining. Nothing like your frustrations, especially as the sun is streaming through the window over my shoulder.

- at least we've got some nice weather. Lovely European Autumn sunshine at the moment.