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

In two months' time, I'll take over as manager of my little department of the NHS. We take in and ship out prescriptions, medical stationery, needles & syringes, Needle Exchange equipment, health promotion leaflets, Bookstart packs, and retain medical records of the county's deceased. It's probably the biggest responsibility I've been charged with, and begins with a starting salary of £15,500 a year. It's an embarrassment of riches to me, and I'm proud to have got to this point; but it's depressing when I think of what I *could* have achieved, had I not spent the better part of half my life off my face. How the mighty are fallen.

Finance forgot to pay some bills so the printers, whose contract expires this month mercifully, cancelled an order for a grand worth of badly needed stuff but forgot to tell us.

>>it's depressing when I think of what I *could* have achieved, had I not spent the better part of half my life off my face.

'If I still had all the money I'd spent on drink - I'd spend it all on drink.'
(Viv Stanshall)

Touché.

At least Sigur Ros and teh Breeders are at Latitude this year. On the same day I hope, I ain't camping again.

>begins with a starting salary of £15,500 a year<



They expect you to run the place for that? I'd at least expect them to offer a decent salary, rather than bare sustainance. What a crock.

Still, the work experience involved can take you upwards and onwards.

I know your frustration, though. I would never have anticipated the entire radio industry suddenly switching from analog to digital and rendering all of my training virtually obsolete within months of graduation. Nor would I have anticipated landing in accounting, and liking it. I guess we go where the flow takes us, and do what we can with it. Good luck to you.

Comparing salaries I'm extremely guilty. But I won't let on - because then you'll be angry.

And we expect to staff the NHS...how? Ah yes! By stealing skills from the Phillipines and Poland.

It's not a massive lot higher than an entry-level admin job round here, where cost of living is not great, but it is as they say Not Rocket Science. I might do better if I could drive (or get permission to learn).

I don't doubt you earn what you do Ed. Your reputation precedes you.

I don't *earn* it.

I'm fortunate to live someplace where not driving is in no way an impediment to getting to a good job. Though there are some for which it doesn't hurt. (K can get a bus to work but it takes twice as long than driving, so he drives. It'd take me twice as long to drive, and would cost at least four times as much)

There may be some entry level admin jobs around these parts that pay that little, but running the place is surely worth twice that.

Really, Ed? You do all that travel and stuff. I know I earn every penny I make... I should be getting more than I do, but I don't mind because I like what I do.

People who hate what they do should get a special bonus... hazard pay or something.

You have to factor in the Trust and the PCT's endless capacity to want their cake and eat it.

Google "Agenda for Change".

I think he meant 'drive' as in 'get up and go', PC.

(right?)

Yeah...I do some travel...but less than most at my place. Having said that, when I was made to work away from home for long periods and with no extra recompense, it did some severe damage to my mental health. Now I'm in compensation mode - continuing to get paid while contributing little to company profits (while making it seem like I'm more essential than I actually am, of course). I'd hate to think I was any real use to the b******s...and I still haven't admitted what I do for a living.

Ah, no. As in actually drive. . Misread. , C.

" I think he meant 'drive' as in 'get up and go', PC."

I'd hazard a guess he'd say he could've used a bit more of that, too.

(Can't we all! )

My get up and go got up and went.

I've more or less admitted what I do for a living, but I try to be careful not to identify who I work for too publicly...

Yeah, but they make little blue pills for that.

Naughty!

Guilty as charged. Especially after 7am.

I did actually mean 'operate an automotive vehicle', thanks to the epilepsy I've not suffered from since 1999. But, I was refused a learning licence in 2001 and haven't applied for one since, can't afford to now.

Ed, the words "Children's Panel" have swooshed by on occasion. Having had case conferences of my own, where I had to take myself into care, I have a vague notion of what I believe it is that you do, and ultimately, better you do it than it doesn't get done. Or I'm missing something, it wouldn't be the first time.