General Chit Chat

[General Mannerheim]

My precious beautiful 3 year old daughter fell down the stairs this morning and broke her leg in two places. Never mind guy-cry films, I've never felt emotion like it, still feel it writing this. Worst day of my life, I'd have done anything to take her pain away.

[bobo the clown]

Awful to hear ... I suppose "it could have been (even) worse is little consolation.

Hopefully you can be home with her and your missus.

Best wishes to all of you.

[TANGODANCER]

Lousiest of luck General, but kids are so resiliant. She'll come through it fine. It'll take time but she'll be good as new at the end of it. Chin up.

[General Mannerheim]

I've stayed up north, they are still in the hosp. She's been incredibly brave. To think the amount of X-rays I've had in agony then there's been hardly fkall wrong, she's inspirational. Worst part was we didn't see it, only heard the thuds!

[malcd1]

My precious beautiful 3 year old daughter fell down the stairs this morning and broke her leg in two places. Never mind guy-cry films, I've never felt emotion like it, still feel it writing this. Worst day of my life, I'd have done anything to take her pain away.

Sorry to hear that General I hope she gets better soon. It is hard to see your child in pain.

[Bruce Rioja]

Really sorry to learn that, Chief. Hope she makes a speedy and hassle-free recovery.

[Gooner Girl]

Sorry to hear that GM, especially as your wife is quite heavily pregnant too isn't she? Newborn and child in plaster will be tricky, but as others have said, she sounds incredibly brave and resilient and she will be ok, scary though huh? Hope she gets well soon. These accidents happen and are totally random. My Jessie has fallen down stairs and been fine but Mr GG broke his leg aged 2 falling down the stairs. Theres nothing you could have done so I hope you are not beating yourself up about it.

[Bijou Bob]

Hope you're all ok General. Chin up mate. Sadly, I can confirm that she Will bring this up at every possible opportunity in about twenty years time

[Raven]

Best wishes from me too, my daughter at about the same age broke her arm, forgot about it in days and carried on as normal, had to watch out for that cast though! (I still have it too)

[Bruce Rioja]

Right. I have a dilemma which I'd like to share with you with the purpose of canvassing opinion.

I hope this makes sense.

Let's say that I work for Company A. About a year ago we were approached by a Company B with a view to them sourcing a product from us to apply their own product to and to then sell on to the end-user, Company C. Overall the value of the project is potentially very lucrative, it is to us anyway.

After much to-ing and fro-ing, product trials, test runs and tweaking of specifications it has been realised that as far as we and Company B working together on this project is concerned it simply isn't going to happen. However, we further realise that it's Company B's component part that's leading to the finished product being rejected by Company C (You'll have to trust me, we know this).

Throughout proceedings Company B has been, quite understandably, very guarded as to who Company C is, and although I have an idea, we don't know for sure. We are, of course, looking to approach Company C now on a direct basis in conjunction with our own partner company to carry out the role of Company B.

Does it make sense so far?

Anyhow, here's the dilemma. One of the guys that currently works for Company B has applied on spec to see if we've any positions available, which we haven't. However, at this morning's meeting my MD has instructed me to invite him in and interview him for a job that doesn't exist simply so that I can extract as much detail as possible out of him regarding the project and, of course, the exact identity of Company C.
In all, this'll involve a 400 mile round trip for the guy not to mention the building up of his hopes when all along I'll be simply stringing the guy along for our own ends.

I'll be honest, I'm extremely uncomfortable about it.

[Gary the Enfield]

Right. I have a dilemma which I'd like to share with you with the purpose of canvassing opinion.

I hope this makes sense.

Let's say that I work for Company A. About a year ago we were approached by a Company B with a view to them sourcing a product from us to apply their own product to and to then sell on to the end-user, Company C. Overall the value of the project is potentially very lucrative, it is to us anyway.

After much to-ing and fro-ing, product trials, test runs and tweaking of specifications it has been realised that as far as we and Company B working together on this project is concerned it simply isn't going to happen. However, we further realise that it's Company B's component part that's leading to the finished product being rejected by Company C (You'll have to trust me, we know this).

Throughout proceedings Company B has been, quite understandably, very guarded as to who Company C is, and although I have an idea, we don't know for sure. We are, of course, looking to approach Company C now on a direct basis in conjunction with our own partner company to carry out the role of Company B.

Does it make sense so far?

Anyhow, here's the dilemma. One of the guys that currently works for Company B has applied on spec to see if we've any positions available, which we haven't. However, at this morning's meeting my MD has instructed me to invite him in and interview him for a job that doesn't exist simply so that I can extract as much detail as possible out of him regarding the project and, of course, the exact identity of Company C.
In all, this'll involve a 400 mile round trip for the guy not to mention the building up of his hopes when all along I'll be simply stringing the guy along for our own ends.

I'll be honest, I'm extremely uncomfortable about it.

I wouldn't be happy either. But I'd do it. There'll be kudos for you for getting the information. Plus this other guy is hardly being loyal to his present company is he?

If it helps why not suggest an informal chat, somewhere neutral, where you can 'guage his suitability and he yours'. That way there's no commitment from you and you still get the information you need.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Good luck, Bruce. One of the advantages of academe is that we can be ethical and take the moral high ground. Much harder in the business world I suppose. This is verging on industrial espionage. It might depend on how much trouble you would be in if you declined.

[General Mannerheim]

i also have a dilemma; theres an opportunity of a job back in the NW, would mean a 25% pay cut tho, half of which it costs me in travel & accommodation expenses anyway, so call it 12% pay cut. Need to decide if getting my life back is worth it???

[Gary the Enfield]

i also have a dilemma; theres an opportunity of a job back in the NW, would mean a 25% pay cut tho, half of which it costs me in travel & accommodation expenses anyway, so call it 12% pay cut. Need to decide if getting my life back is worth it???

Work/ Life balance is a struggle. Are your prospects for advancement the same?

The way I see it I live to work.

Go home.

[bobo the clown]

i also have a dilemma; theres an opportunity of a job back in the NW, would mean a 25% pay cut tho, half of which it costs me in travel & accommodation expenses anyway, so call it 12% pay cut. Need to decide if getting my life back is worth it???

Yes.


Next !!

[General Mannerheim]

yes, especially with the baby due n'that, it would be great to go home. plus ill get my weekends back too for footy, biking etc...

however i dont dislike my current lifestyle, bachelor all week, out most nights doing the london thing, only working 4 (long) days and the jobs good. As for advancement i think ive probably peaked, ive no desire to go any higher, im just on cruise control to retirement now - for the next 30 years! its also a fair few quid to be tossing off - part of me thinks i should just milk it while it lasts...

[bobo the clown]

yes, especially with the baby due n'that, it would be great to go home. plus ill get my weekends back too for footy, biking etc...

however i dont dislike my current lifestyle, bachelor all week, out most nights doing the london thing, only working 4 (long) days and the jobs good. As for advancement i think ive probably peaked, ive no desire to go any higher, im just on cruise control to retirement now - for the next 30 years! its also a fair few quid to be tossing off - part of me thinks i should just milk it while it lasts...

OK, my one-liner was a bit peremptory.

It's no-one's business than your own and you know the circumstances properly but I have done the working away bit a good deal and with a youngster of 3yr old, and another due it's a time you'll never get back. That's ignoring that your little one is injured right now.

I do appreciate the joys of 4 long days, the 4 day bachelor etc. and it's quite a comfortable groove if you suit it and cash matters, of course, but if you want the family life and not to be full of regrets at what you've missed it really does take some thinking through.

[Harry Genshaw]

Don't do it Bruce. I think you're right to feel uncomfortable. The bloke might be a complete to55er but if someone was going to drag me 400 miles out of my way for nowt, I'd like to think someone, somewhere would speak up to prevent it.

[bobo the clown]

Don't do it Bruce. I think you're right to feel uncomfortable. The bloke might be a complete to55er but if someone was going to drag me 400 miles out of my way for nowt, I'd like to think someone, somewhere would speak up to prevent it.

Then .... & you can get a nice trip out of this ... "be in the area" and meet up with him. If the ethics concern you from the 'wasting the guys time' situation you can even do it on a "you've applied, we're interested. Not sure there's anything at the moment" etc., etc. Got to get you dinner at the Ivy from the boss, Shirley ?


Hey, I can put my head-hunter hat on if you're struggling with this. Tell your boss I'll do it ... for a fee.

[Bijou Bob]

i also have a dilemma; theres an opportunity of a job back in the NW, would mean a 25% pay cut tho, half of which it costs me in travel & accommodation expenses anyway, so call it 12% pay cut. Need to decide if getting my life back is worth it???

How does the saying go? "No one ever got to their death bed and said - I wish I'd spent more time at work"

Trust me General, spend as much time with your kids while they are little. You'll regret it if you don't.