What was/is your Job/Career?

ewemon posted:

Music was a difficult business in those days.

It's worse now, let me tell you!

Barman, Dustman, Trainee Manager for Fatstock  Marketing Corporation,Buyer with British Steel (as was!), same for Ford Motor Company. Good Cop (most of the time) with Essex Police for 31 years, retired 7 years ago at 58. Now living the dream in Cornwall, especially having rediscovered a love of music, and discovered Naim at the same time!

About to become a trainee volunteer with the National Coas****ch Institution, which will be flexible enough to allow for all the international travel on my bucket list.

AndyP19 posted:

Bob the Builder posted:

Was thrown out of school age 15 and left home at 16 and did not do much of anything except partying until my mid twenties and so went into the only industry open to someone like me that paid a reasonable wage then met my life partner and knuckled down.

After many years of self employment in the building industry I returned to working for someone else 18 months ago and am very happy I did,  as when I clock off I clock off.

At the moment I'm working for a large Northern Irish company as a remedial Bricklayer which is a posh name for finding and repairing other Bricklayers f*** ups so I see things in the course of a days work that would make your hair stand on end but the varied and solo nature of the work makes it tolerable as laying brick after brick can be a sole destroying task especially when listening to the exploits of the sexually fantastic, pugilistic and Keith Moonesque drug and drinking  exploits of my fellow workers.

Hey Bob,

Having worked in the City for 35 years, I decided once I retired, I’d do a bricklaying course. After all it was one of Winston Churchill’s favourite hobbies.

What a rewarding time it was and I take my hat off to you, it is a work of art and skill. Now whenever I pass a building and look at the brickwork I am blown away by the beauty and craftsmanship.

Andy

Thanks Andy,

Like most things there is a skill to it but unfortunately work of real craftsmanship is expensive and so not much called for nowadays as in many things quantity over quality is the way of it.

Timmo1341 posted:

Barman, Dustman, Trainee Manager for Fatstock  Marketing Corporation,Buyer with British Steel (as was!), same for Ford Motor Company. Good Cop (most of the time) with Essex Police for 31 years, retired 7 years ago at 58. Now living the dream in Cornwall, especially having rediscovered a love of music, and discovered Naim at the same time!

About to become a trainee volunteer with the National Coas****ch Institution, which will be flexible enough to allow for all the international travel on my bucket list.

Wow, that’s some censorship algorithm! Perhaps it will let pass, unhindered, the National Coast Watch Institution?

Joined the GPO at 18 as a Telephone Engineer, moving into IT (with BT) in 1986, Been in IT & Networking since then, certing in Cisco & Nortel (whatever happened to them ?) Three years ago I downshifted into an easier, less demanding role - all part of the plan to coast gently into retirement in a couple of years time. Last year, the company I worked for lost the IT contract but I was invited to stay on as a contractor, my first non-PAYE work in 40 years. I must say that it's great to be out of the corporate bo11ocks that has infected the workplace in the last few years. I should have done it years ago.

Popeye posted:

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Concord pilot, astronaut, porn star.

There’s always one who thinks he’s funny! ????

Quite a few of us thought it was funny too, as it happens. 

tonym posted:

Popeye posted:

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Concord pilot, astronaut, porn star.

There’s always one who thinks he’s funny! ????

Quite a few of us thought it was funny too, as it happens. 

Eventually ....... yes !

But I did wait a day or so, just in case he was able to solve the Astronaut brain teaser and prove it wasn’t a funny diversion after all 

Don Atkinson posted:

Eventually ....... yes !

But I did wait a day or so, just in case he was able to solve the Astronaut brain teaser and prove it wasn’t a funny diversion after all 

I thought it was humorous.

Don, how would he prove the porn star bit if he had solved the brain teaser? 

Southweststokie posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

Eventually ....... yes !

But I did wait a day or so, just in case he was able to solve the Astronaut brain teaser and prove it wasn’t a funny diversion after all 

I thought it was humorous.

Don, how would he prove the porn star bit if he had solved the brain teaser? 

Let's all (desperately) hope it never gets any where near that situation

Don Atkinson posted:

Southweststokie posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

Eventually ....... yes !

But I did wait a day or so, just in case he was able to solve the Astronaut brain teaser and prove it wasn’t a funny diversion after all 

I thought it was humorous.

Don, how would he prove the porn star bit if he had solved the brain teaser? 

Let's all (desperately) hope it never gets any where near that situation

I have faith in Richard to delete the video link.

My first decade or so after leaving school was spent between banking, steel manufacture, Germany and back in the UK with mobile pallet racking (!)

The last 20 years has seen me employed in the automotive industry.

17 of which has been selling parts to / engineering solutions for all the major vehicle manufacturers, the last 3 of which working for a funding organisation that supports UK companies developing low carbon propulsion technologies. There’s some fantastic stuff going on at the moment, it’s a privelege to be part of it and hopefully making a difference.

(ps. Really enjoying this thread by the way, we are a proper varied bunch on this forum)

Retired after 42 years in Aviation, all with BA.  One company for my whole working life, quite rare these days !

My early interest in HiFi, gained through music after learning the Trumpet at School, played a large part in me being successful when i applied for a Radio Apprenticeship.

Left school at 16 for an Engineering Apprenticeship with BA.  Then, Radio/Radar Technician, Flight Engineer on Tristars, CoPilot on 737, 747-400. Captain on A319/320/321 and finished on A380.

I don't miss the flying, I do a bit in light aircraft, but maybe the people.

 Still playing Music though !!

I have to add to this thread that I'm very fortunate because I actually have a job that I'm both good at and enjoy and also spending at least 8 hours outside in the fresh air almost everyday being reasonably active is good for both mental and physical health.

At the moment I'm working in the middle of lots of office blocks and when I look through the windows around me and see all the people sat at their desks or in their little cubicles it makes me realise how much that type of job wouldn't suit me at all, yes it can get cold but you can stay pretty warm with the right clothing and whenever the sun does come out I always feel the benefit.

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Concord pilot, astronaut, porn star.

And many replied, with various good- and not-so-good-natured responses. Happy New Year to you too.

FTR it wasn't an especially funny line, but then it wasn't meant to be a Gerald Wiley moment to break into the world of comedy script writing. It was a throwaway gag, but it's ruffled a few to which I say good. There's a lot of smugness on this forum, one which appears to comprise almost exclusively middle-class middle-aged grey haired men each jostling for their little bit of primacy, either by smugly displaying their deep and wondrous musical tastes in the what're yer listening to thread, or their magnificent ability to choose and describe various wines, and latterly the look how clever how I [think I] am brain teasers thread. I've had to stop reading the first two, and never bother with the third.

It was interesting to see who replied in a -ve light to my joke above, but not a surprise. There were only a couple of posters on here who I routinely avoid due to their inherent dullness & stupidity, and there are now a couple more to mentally add to the ignore list. As for not doing the astronaut brain teaser, there'd be a reason for that. Anything that DA contributes is guaranteed to be any combination of smug / wrong / a bit stupid so is on my ignore list by default. It's a bit difficult to solve a childish riddle if I haven't looked at it and don't have any intention of engaging in the willy-waving that a Look How Clever I Think I Am thread encourages, esp when it was contributed by Air Farce One.

Cheers, Happy New Year. 

Red Kite posted:

Retired after 42 years in Aviation, all with BA.  One company for my whole working life, quite rare these days !

My early interest in HiFi, gained through music after learning the Trumpet at School, played a large part in me being successful when i applied for a Radio Apprenticeship.

Left school at 16 for an Engineering Apprenticeship with BA.  Then, Radio/Radar Technician, Flight Engineer on Tristars, CoPilot on 737, 747-400. Captain on A319/320/321 and finished on A380.

I don't miss the flying, I do a bit in light aircraft, but maybe the people.

 Still playing Music though !!

 

I started my Engineering Apprenticeship with BA in 1979 (avionic/electrical).  Worked on Concorde, VC10 and B707s  in TBB and did a stint on B747s in TBJ/K.  I left BA at the end of my apprenticeship as they were privatising the airline and they didn't have any positions in Engineering for us.

CHRISR-EPL

Your right. Job or career is a lifestyle choice that really only means something to oneself and those closest.  Although there has been much positive advice given from those who know what's what.

I would imagine being a Concorde pilot, Astronaut and a Pornstar would not leave me any time to listen to music, and if It did - sitting down for any length of time would sure to be uncomfortable - given being a certain type of Pornstar. 

TOBYJUG posted:

CHRISR-EPL

Your right. Job or career is a lifestyle choice that really only means something to oneself and those closest.  Although there has been much positive advice given from those who know what's what.

I would imagine being a Concorde pilot, Astronaut and a Pornstar would not leave me any time to listen to music, and if It did - sitting down for any length of time would sure to be uncomfortable - given being a certain type of Pornstar. 

ChrisR_EPL posted:

ChrisR_EPL posted:

Concord pilot, astronaut, porn star.

And many replied, with various good- and not-so-good-natured responses. Happy New Year to you too.

FTR it wasn't an especially funny line, but then it wasn't meant to be a Gerald Wiley moment to break into the world of comedy script writing. It was a throwaway gag, but it's ruffled a few to which I say good. There's a lot of smugness on this forum, one which appears to comprise almost exclusively middle-class middle-aged grey haired men each jostling for their little bit of primacy, either by smugly displaying their deep and wondrous musical tastes in the what're yer listening to thread, or their magnificent ability to choose and describe various wines, and latterly the look how clever how I [think I] am brain teasers thread. I've had to stop reading the first two, and never bother with the third.

It was interesting to see who replied in a -ve light to my joke above, but not a surprise. There were only a couple of posters on here who I routinely avoid due to their inherent dullness & stupidity, and there are now a couple more to mentally add to the ignore list. As for not doing the astronaut brain teaser, there'd be a reason for that. Anything that DA contributes is guaranteed to be any combination of smug / wrong / a bit stupid so is on my ignore list by default. It's a bit difficult to solve a childish riddle if I haven't looked at it and don't have any intention of engaging in the willy-waving that a Look How Clever I Think I Am thread encourages, esp when it was contributed by Air Farce One.

Cheers, Happy New Year. 

Just wondering why you hang around these forums at all since you don’t seem to like that much about music, wine or a bit of an occasional tech talk… ????

nice career you having though

osprey posted:

Just wondering why you hang around these forums at all since you don’t seem to like that much about music, wine or a bit of an occasional tech talk… ????

nice career you having though

Because some of it is quite interesting, and has helped to guide me towards a very satisfactory audio system. And I love nice wines, good music and interesting tech. Wine and hifi bores though can be worse than coffee bores, and the invitation to brag about wine, music, your ability to solve riddles and now about your fabulous career choices have just gone over the mark from where I sit so I thought I'd poke at it with a clearly teasing response. Seems to have worked.

Cheers and a happy new year to everyone with the best of luck in 2019 with your job/career/retirement.  We all need it.

What I find particularly nice about this thread is the opportunity for people to share something about themselves should they wish. Hifi is fundamentally a bit dull and I like to find out a little about people here. I certainly don’t find it bragging at all. Many of the posts are from those who left school without armfuls of academic qualifications and are doing the real jobs that society needs and clearly get great satisfaction from doing so. I have certainly read no bragging about being a director of talking bollocks, and suchlike. That’s why I find the ‘pilot/astronaut’ comment irritating, as it spreads negativity on a thread intended only as positive and interesting. The easy approach is simply to contribute in the spirit of the thread or simply to ignore it. 

I think it’s also wrong to have a pop at Don, who goes to a lot of effort with his brain teasers. Many people enjoy them and surely that’s great. It’s easy to say ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that’ but much harder to come up with ideas that stimulate and entertain others. So good on the OP for starting this. The world is full of shit; let’s try to make the Forum a place of positivity. 

Back on topic.... 

Did a PhD in Zoology - the effects of group size on foraging in stone loach - but perhaps unsurprisingly there were few job openings! Started work with the Audit Commission in 1986 and became qualified as a public sector chartered accountant. Left the Audit Commission in 1990 and worked in local authority finance departments ever since. 

Knocked off my bike by an elderly driver in summer 2016, sustained a traumatic head injury and ended up in a coma on life support, not expected to live. After two years of hell I got ill health retirement and have been rebuilding my life. My mental powers aren’t what they were and I get confused but I’m starting to enjoy things now, volunteering with the local music festival and doing other community stuff. Strangely I do sort of miss work sometimes but it’s not an option. But hey, I’m alive and pretty healthy, and I count myself hugely fortunate to be financially secure. I’m thinking about volunteering for Headway, which supports those suffering from brain injury. It may be a bit close to home, I’m not sure yet. 

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job

And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life.....

Why do I smile

At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye ?

hungryhalibut posted:

 

Knocked off my bike by an elderly driver in summer 2016, sustained a traumatic head injury and ended up in a coma on life support, not expected to live. After two years of hell I got ill health retirement and have been rebuilding my life. My mental powers aren’t what they were and I get confused but I’m starting to enjoy things now, volunteering with the local music festival and doing other community stuff. Strangely I do sort of miss work sometimes but it’s not an option. But hey, I’m alive and pretty healthy, and I count myself hugely fortunate to be financially secure. I’m thinking about volunteering for Headway, which supports those suffering from brain injury. It may be a bit close to home, I’m not sure yet. 

That's dreadful hungryhalibut, I hope you've not been left with any severe side-effects, though you're lucky to be alive. I imagine an "experience" like that might alter one's perspective on life. Two years though....jeez....

hungryhalibut posted:

What I find particularly nice about this thread is the opportunity for people to share something about themselves should they wish. Hifi is fundamentally a bit dull and I like to find out a little about people here. I certainly don’t find it bragging at all. Many of the posts are from those who left school without armfuls of academic qualifications and are doing the real jobs that society needs and clearly get great satisfaction from doing so. I have certainly read no bragging about being a director of talking bollocks, and suchlike. That’s why I find the ‘pilot/astronaut’ comment irritating, as it spreads negativity on a thread intended only as positive and interesting. The easy approach is simply to contribute in the spirit of the thread or simply to ignore it. 

I think it’s also wrong to have a pop at Don, who goes to a lot of effort with his brain teasers. Many people enjoy them and surely that’s great. It’s easy to say ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that’ but much harder to come up with ideas that stimulate and entertain others. So good on the OP for starting this. The world is full of shit; let’s try to make the Forum a place of positivity. 

Hi HH, your comments re the Brian Teaser Threads is spot-on. I enjoy brain teasers myself and felt I could share some of this with others. I hope those that have taken part have enjoyed them (and will continue to do so) and I also know from various comments and from meeting people on the forum, that many others enjoy them from the side-lines so to speak.

Also, thank you very much indeed Nigel, for steering this thread back in a positive direction. It would be very nice if we all could end this year and start next year in such positive spirits.

Cheers, and Happy New Year to all,

Don