Topic: Commute Times (UK)

@NedStarksGhost My work is a bit more relaxed, as long as you contact to let them know that you are going to be late, they are usually OK about it.

I've never been more than a half an hour drive from where I work. If I hated my job I would definitely consider travelling further to switch to something better.

@ralphdibny thanks for the good luck! Sounds like you have some similar painful experiences as well. I'm sure we could crossover a lot of stuff. I work more in an industrial environment so bit different but still tech related. Some of the stories are bad.

The company used to be good to work for. But it's gone a certain way and I don't like it. I've had another bad day today just to add fuel to the fire!

But yeah it's scary the idea of moving. I've only ever moved jobs once, and that's because the firm went under. So the idea of changing now after being settled for quite a while is a huge deal.

Likewise I think I'd feel better in a huge company one day. I almost did move but the role got filled internally which was a shame.

I'll be sure to discuss working hours and typical days. I'm also going to ensure there's paid overtime. Current job doesn't pay it, which is hugely frustrating!

@JohnnyShoulder to be fair, that was one incident and this one guy is just one of them annoying manager types. Work rules his life, and he hates young people who prefer to start the day later and end it later. Views turning up at 9am a bad thing (even when working the same hours...)

The others are relaxed about that sorta thing

@LieutenantFatman yeah I'm definitely considering it... It's just a bit of a shift. If working from home wasn't due to change I'd probably move.

I have experience of this. I took a job which was 90% motorway miles before driving in to Chester, around 35 miles altogether. Due to the distance and 9am starts it was an hour at least travel time. It was horrible, especially when you leave at 7:45am and are still late.

I would say it's a toss up. I'm in a great job which is close on proper wages but if say a role came up in Chester for a further £8k a year (put thought into the answer to consider fuel and inconvenience) I would definitely consider it.

@NedStarksGhost Yeah some people can have a problem with it. I get it if it keeps happening, but a one off should be a problem.

Just viewed a property earlier today, 10 mins walk max to work. Sweeeeeet.

@themcnoisy ah yeah thanks for the input. I think it's the idea of motorway driving that puts me off also. Equally it makes it harder to consider leaving for a lateral move, even if I'm not happy where I am now. For more money however, could be worth it!

@JohnnyShoulder that's awesome! I'd absolutely love that

@NedStarksGhost Comes at a price though, more rent to pay per month. I would save a bit by not travelling, but it has all been budgeted for.

@NedStarksGhost The conversation's moved on in my absence, but I just wanted to say...

...yes, I am, thank you! Have you been watching it?

@JohnnyShoulder well good luck I hope the move serves you well!

@RogerRoger I certainly have. I am so so excited. I've really enjoyed this series. I wasn't too fond on the bad batch when they appeared in clone wars but they've very quickly grown on me. And all the early Empire stuff is brilliant to watch. What have you thought of it?

@NedStarksGhost We are of the same mind. Honestly, if I were asked to make a Star Wars, it's so frighteningly close to what I'd end up making. I'm trying to reserve final judgement until the season actually ends, but it's looking ridiculously strong and, with a second season already confirmed, let's just say that I've been one very happy fanboy these past fourteen Fridays!

@RogerRoger totally agreed. It's been phenomenal. I usually want to see Jedi and Sith stuff and it's not even phased there's been none of it. I've just felt like a child watching every episode.

What amazes me is the range of the the voice actor (Dee Bradley Baker — just googled it!). How on earth he makes each clone so unique I don't know. Along with the writing.

I'll be sure to come back to this thread on Friday evening and we can see what we both thought of the finale!

Longest commute I ever did was 1hr 10-15 mins to work for about a year. It was nearly all single track A road and it was brutal, especially in winter when you drive to work in the dark and come home in the dark. I took a job that was much closer and moved house to cut that down to 20-25 mins and it was life changing. When you have family, you dont want to rock up and see kids for about 30 mins before bed every night by the time you get home, when they are knackered, it crushes you long term.

@R1spam yeah I can believe with a family that would be very tough. Can't imagine how frustrating it was driving single track A roads all the time. I've had to do it to get to some remote sites, and I hated it.

@NedStarksGhost Cheers, got a few more properties to look at but they are around the same area. If I were to move in the area I currently live the properties would still be same price range, so makes sense to move closer to work and save a bit that way.

Good luck if you decide on pursuing a new job!

@NedStarksGhost I would definitely recommend doing the drive on a busy weekday at commuting time to gauge how busy and long your drive will be. You have to balance it against how unhappy you are in your present job and whether you would move long term. Get yourself some decent podcasts if you do take it!

@R1spam That's why I'd struggle to go back to an office full time. Having to do a long commute now would totally destroy any time that I get to spend with the kids in the week and also introduces extra pressure trying to get things done for school like their homework etc.

Another bonus being at home / not having a long commute means that I can get some exercise in that would otherwise be relegated to that time after the kids have gone to bed and before dinner time, which is not a great time for motivation, or the weekends. It's especially good in the winter when the days are shorter as I tend to try and use a bit of my lunchtime break to get out for a run.

@R1spam Yeah I will have to try that if I go for it. I'll either grow my podcast collection or I'll have a lot more new music to listen to either way!

@render As a person with no kids, the idea of going full time office again is a daunting one as well. I get more sleep, more time to myself, I can make a hot lunch if I want to. I'm always in for deliveries, can even catch up on house chores.

I've even installed a mouse jiggler app onto my laptop so if I am going to be away from my laptop for 15 minutes or so (which would be fine in the office) I put that on so it looks as though I'm always there!

@NedStarksGhost Those are all added bonuses too, not to mention that I can possibly play a game a bit longer than I would otherwise knowing that I've not got to get out of bed too early 😃

Also glad to know I'm not the only one that does the mouse jiggler thing 😅