do u enjoy your job? wat wud ur ideal job be?

[heebiejeebie]

I used to love my job - I'm a teacher. I always said that if I turned into a cynic I'd quit. It took 10 years, and I won't be teaching for much longer.

Ideal job: something that pays the bills and doesn't require me to keep copious written records just to prove that I'm doing my job.

[TonyF]

I have my ideal jobs. I'm sort of retired from my previous lives, live in a wonderful part of the world, have an academic/genealogy research company which keeps me intellectually stimulated, edit an international genealogical journal, research and write articles and papers and then in the spring/summer/autumn get to grow veggies and fruit, 'cook and sow, make flowers grow and understand my pain' for those real Dylan afficianados.

Today I am 60. In 1983 I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, sort of leukaemia in reverse and given 5 years so every day is a bonus.

[Mrs Dobby]

I'm a Manager of a Halfords Superstore in Congleton, Cheshire, been with Halfords for 19 years, 16 as a Cycle Specialist (I got paid for playing with bikes, one of my hobbies!), 18months as a Deputy Manager and now been a Manager for 18months and things are going well! I enjoy a lot of my job, but it can be frustrating and stressful (but so can any job), but it does just about pay the bills!

Ideal job, hmm, I used to think being a Pilot was my dream job, I even had a PPL at the age of 17 (RAF Flying Scholarship) and went through the RAF Officer Training College at Cranwell at the age of 19 (I was too young really so didnt quite enjoy it as much as I thought I would, so left!).

Current dream jobs, given the money I'd love to take on a small holding, grow our own veg and food animals, but I know we'd not be able to make enough to pay a mortgage to do it, so unless we win the lottery I'm afraid the best I can hope for is to progress in my career with Halfords and reach a level that I can earn enough to one day retire to the countryside, prefferably sooner rather than later!

[Earthbabe]

I enjoy my job (nurse) when I'm allowed to do it properly, hence still trying to find a job to allow me to move off the ward and do my job properly.

Ideal job - well Mr EB and I are working towards owning a complentary therapy school and clinic including making our own range of flower essences and other products (hence the growing).

Yes we'd also love to go for the small holding but would end up with a sort of retreat type thing as we'd end up combining it with the therapies. LOL!

congrats on becoming an Early Fruiter Mrs D - even if it is 40+ posts late.

[HeyWayne]

Right now I'm a marketing manager, but given the opportunity I quite like the idea of running a small record shop - you know, something like in the film Hi Fidelity. That or running a buying/selling/hire shop for Volkswagen beetles and camper vans in Cornwall somewhere.

[bubblewrap]

Unemployed at moment I am finding it difficult to get a job, I think my Age (58)has something to do with it.
On the bright side there is always my allotment to spend my time on.
My ideal job working for Cask Mark going round pubs "testing" beer(dream on sunshine)or working for a brewery in quality control!!!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi BW,

I know it must be hard trying to find something, but dont despair, I've taken on 2 guys in their late 50's / early 60's in the past 18 months, their attitudes and experience are priceless, much better IMHO than most of the snot nosed kids we get applying for most of our jobs! There are some of us out there that appreciate those with a bit more experience!

[zebedee]

I teach what is politely known as 'disaffected' teenagers. They have all sorts of problems and anger and stuff, and it's great, I love it. They are a great bunch, who like doing community stuff.

[bubblewrap]

Hi BW,

I know it must be hard trying to find something, but dont despair, I've taken on 2 guys in their late 50's / early 60's in the past 18 months, their attitudes and experience are priceless, much better IMHO than most of the snot nosed kids we get applying for most of our jobs! There are some of us out there that appreciate those with a bit more experience!

Thanks Mrs D I also think my long hair & beard put a lot of people off. I am still quite fit (for my age) & willing to graft. But some employers see how old you are and the think "decrepit" I can still do a 30 mile bike ride without a problem.
And enjoy working my allotment.

[OverWyreGrower]

I'm a Director's PA at a North West university.

Short of winning the lottery and not having to work, it's pretty much my ideal job!

It always makes me laugh when people say "you're only a secretary though".

My job is actually so much more than typing and answering the phone. I manage a whole administrative department: finances, budget, people. I organise several large university events, plus I manage the Directors diary, paperwork, university policies etc.

I have no formal "secretarial"/typing qualifications (although I have a degree), and before taking this job, had never been a PA before. Not bad really!

[moggssue]

OWG - I used to do that job too (at LJMU) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Left to move to be with my OH fulltime and now spend my days being bored in an office behind a computer and dreaming of a smallholding so I can be Felicity Kendal! Failing that, I'd love to travel more, just pack a rucksack into a campervan and head off into the sunset. The two aren't compatable Iknow, maybe thats why I havent done either yet! Being more realistic, owning a pub with lots of land would be good, growing and serving my own produce. Maybe one day ......

[MrsC]

what wonderful posts, lots of people from different walks of life yet we all have one thing in common - gardening!!!! i work as a teaching assistant in a local mainstream primary with children with complex special needs, very rewarding! would like to progress further in this area and doing pretty well at the moment. i always manage to bring in the plants/seeds and the whole gardening thing whenever i can into class, they love it and respond really well. hoping to build a sensory garden at school very soon. i love my job but sumtimes dream of a nice little place in the country with the chickens running free etc, one day maybe, but i'm really happy now, so why would i want to change

[g51065]

Cleaning up the local rivers.... we have huge problems with fly tipping and I hate to see the riverbanks where I spent my childhood being used as a tip, I also hate to see ducks swimming among old tyres and shopping trollies, my current job keeps me stuck indoors in a shop.

[shirley]

I work as a district nurse....yes USED to love it..but no more. Need to retire I think and spend more time gardening and learning more complimentary therapies.

[moggssue]

Oooohhh, to retire .... to a weedfree, fox free, slug free smallholding - NOW who's dreaming!!!