Tuesday at the Winchester

Seb is the first to arrive, I am already through my 2nd pint and ferociously working my way through the third. He orders a pint and steak sandwich, well done. Dressed like a successful business man in many ways he was one. He truely believes in the company ethic, do your time for the man and you will be rewarded. Make the sacrifices and some day you, you will be that man. His suit costs more than my car but I don't resent him for that. He is my best mate.

I break the news to him, he takes a moment or two to take it in, reaches for his pint and takes a healthy gulp, the food hasn't arrived so that gulp could well have been mostly a hungry one.

'So what are you going to do now boy?'

'Dunno lad, you know I never liked that job, but I could ya know tolerate it or whatever'

'Find another one?'

'Fcuk that, in this climate? I could be on my hole for 6 months'

'Australia?'

'It has crossed my mind, wouldn't mind a bit of sunshine you know, have a few bob to cover a few months of it aswell, but how different would it be to here? Honestly, I'd be working at the same shite with probably a bit better weather outside.'

'True, true, why not go somewhere different, somewhere cheap, you could live like a king and forget about this mess, I hear asia is a class spot, women meant to be gorgeous n all'

'Reckon you might be onto something there...'

And so the thoughts began to flow, we sat there and drank a few pints. Watched a shite game of champions league, grabbed a chinese and headed back to the flat not having to worry about work in the morning.. Sweet eh?

Ding Dong my Job is Gone

I guess I could see it coming, the internet rumour sites were predicting 25% cuts of the global workforce but I didn't really think it was going to hit here, at least not that bad.

I got up as I usually do, late! I threw on my rain proofs and jumped on my bike for the 10 mile cycle into the south westerly. It was cold, very cold. The rain seemed to hit me with personal spite, what the f did I do to you. I got into work looking like a miserable rat caught in a sewer. The cute girl from operations pointed and laughed at me, damn I don't mind, she is a nice girl I won't hold it against her.

I got showered and snuck past the breakfast crowd to my desk without the boss seeing me. At last a small victory, but wait, there is something in microsoft calendar. Meeting with Thomas (the boss) at 10.30. What the f does he want?

I grabbed a cup of tea and went to the room. He wasn't alone - the CEO and HR were in there too. My time was up, 5 years cycling through the wind and the rain and this was the last one. They handed me a large envelope with details of my redundancy and the numbers of some accountants that will help me decide what to do with the money. I am numb, its all a bit unreal, they talk away but I don't hear anything, I just nod and avoid eye contact, before I know it they are standing up and beckoning me to the door... I walk back to my desk and wonder what the hell I am going to do with myself.

The word has gotten around, people come over to offer sympathy or congratulations. I make a joke of it! What are you going to do now they ask? I shrug my shoulders or say something ridiculous like 'strippers and cocaine baby!!' I have a fondness for neither, it doesn't matter.

I am 26 and single. The only semi-permanent appendage I have is a 1994 Peugeot. I have never been more free. I call my mates and order them to the pub for a tuesday night session