tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2009-11-12:/MokoFeed2009-11-12T15:24:44+01:00tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2007-05-29:/2007/05/29/ok_so_i_am_rubbish_at_keeping_this_updat~2353892/soundman2007-05-29T12:27:06+02:002007-05-29T12:27:06+02:00 <p>but i did find this the other day which made me chuckle!<br> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2007/05/29/ok_so_i_am_rubbish_at_keeping_this_updat~2353892/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-11-16:/2006/11/16/thursday_16th_november~1338207/soundman2006-11-16T23:31:04+01:002006-11-16T23:31:04+01:00 <p>Wow! Do you realise something? It is almost exactly a whole year since I was sacked...and oh boy! what a year that has been.</p> <p>It has FLOWN by. I have been through SO much and after a cold, windy afternoon in Eastbourne yesterday (long story, will explain later) I feel it is time to do what I have been talking about doing since I started this whole adventure - put it down in words...</p> <p>So many bizarre, funny, sad, happy and down right strange things have happened. I have been very reflective of late. I have learnt to help myself. I suppose, therefore, that I am about to embark on creating the ultimate self help book.</p> <p>I started with nothing. Now I have everything. I'm not wealthy, nor do I live in a castle; but in my heart and mind, I am king. Would you like to hear my story?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/11/16/thursday_16th_november~1338207/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-03-01:/2006/03/01/wednesday_1st_march~604940/soundman2006-03-01T23:00:20+01:002006-03-01T23:02:25+01:00 <p>It is exactly 3 months since I was sacked. It is also now the time to call an end to this blog. Thank you everyone who has logged in and left messages. I've read them all and enjoyed the fact that I was not alone. But the creative energy I put into this blog was the creative energy I suddenly found myself with by virtue of the fact that I no longer had a job to go to everyday.</p> <p>I have a full time occupation as all of you probably know by now and it's an occupation I thoroughly love doing; something I haven't been able to say for a good 6 years of my life. Like a lot of things in my life, I didn't choose to be where I am now. </p> <p>After my Grandad died (I was abroad at the time of his death), I think it was my mum who said to me, that it was decided not to contact me as I was probably doing something I loved and there was no need to cut short what I was doing to attend a funeral. I think it was he himself who said it was better to leave me to do what I was doing.</p> <p>To some people that might sound harsh. But not to me. It is now beginning to make some sense to me. This is what it means to me: life is short. You do get more than one chance at things, but if you screw things up when you're trying them out, learn the lessons. Always keep starting something new. Eventually you'll find something you love doing; maybe if you keep trying you'll find lots of things you love doing. I didn't stop trying, I just remained in neutral for a while. Call it a traffic jam if you like. They happen, you can't avoid them, but keep your foot on the peddle and one day, the road will open up again.</p> <p>So that's where I'm heading. Out of the traffic jam and back on the open road and I can't wait to see what lies ahead...</p> <p>JVx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/03/01/wednesday_1st_march~604940/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-27:/2006/02/27/monday_27th_february~596966/soundman2006-02-27T12:02:41+01:002006-02-27T12:02:41+01:00 <p>I could easily get used to having Mondays off. Had a lie in this morning and have just finished a long, leisurely breakfast. </p> <p>I just heard Green Day's 'When September Ends' on Radio 1 (er, why is Coxy on? Where's Jo Wiley - this is like the weekend still!) - I hope the doctor who's just moved in next door isn't on nights at the mo because I had to have it on full blast.</p> <p>For those who don't know the song, download it and have a listen. It's not my usual taste, but I remember hearing it last December and it has become one of those 'changing tracks' songs to my life, only in my head the song is entitled, 'When November Ends.' </p> <p>Or in other words, when I lost my job at the end of nov (ok beginning of december, but that doesn't scan as well) it became a song associated with the whole affair. I don't really know what the song is meant to mean, but to me, it means losing my job at the end of november was a wake up call, i.e. 'Wake me up when November Ends'. </p> <p>Well, it makes sense to me. Get your own song!</p> <p>JV </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/27/monday_27th_february~596966/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-24:/2006/02/24/friday_24th_february~589215/soundman2006-02-24T12:42:57+01:002006-02-24T12:42:57+01:00 <p>Haha! I just walked from my living room, to my bedroom, to my kitchen - Radio 1 on in all 3 rooms in varying degrees of quality to the sounds of This Is The Last Time, Keane.</p> <p>Exactly like those opening bits from Eastenders/ Hollyoaks/ Corrie!</p> <p>Well life is a bit like a soap opera at the mo. When I was travelling I often used to think of life as a soap opera and I was just another character in the plot.</p> <p>Also during this time I used to wonder how I could bottle the essence of travelling - the care free attitude, the good feelings. Without intention, I seem to arrived back at that feeling. Maybe it's working for myself? Or maybe it's lots of indescribable events all melting together? Whatever it is, I love it!</p> <p>JVx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/24/friday_24th_february~589215/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-23:/2006/02/23/thursday_23rd_february~586969/soundman2006-02-23T17:07:14+01:002006-02-23T17:07:14+01:00 <p>I haven't worked out a good way of linking my new site back to this - don't know if I want any potential customers to really know how I got into it all of this in the first place!</p> <p>So I'll link via this site for now...</p> <p><a href="http://www.jonnyvantastic.com">www.jonnyvantastic.com</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/23/thursday_23rd_february~586969/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-21:/2006/02/21/tuesday_21st_february~580021/soundman2006-02-21T12:14:47+01:002006-02-21T12:18:43+01:00 <p>Morinng everyone. Something happened to me lastnight. I was again reminded of my past life only this time it hit a nerve. What happened was that I faced the reality of what happened and the speed with which it happened.</p> <p>I've said before that being sacked can lead to a re-birth; a chance to start again, which is true, but if it happens in any way like the way it happened to me, you don't plan for it or get yourself prepared. It's just wham bam thank you mam and you have to hit the ground running.</p> <p>I'd like to think I've done things pretty well and I'm not about to deny the happy feelings my new life has brought me, but I will admit to this - there's a void in my life where once there were good friends. I discounted old clients as just that, clients. But that's bollox; some of them were good friends and it upsets me now that all those times together seem to mean nothing now. </p> <p>The problem now is that I think too much time has passed by and I don't have enough faith in myself to get in touch with any of them. Whatever happened to me didn't directly involve any of them, so why am I being denied access? Well I know the answer to that. I'm not being denied by anyone but myself. So for all the outward happiness and contentment, I'll admit that there is still something missing; old friends.</p> <p>::UPDATE:: How spooky! No sooner had I just written this than my phone rang - an old client! Isn't life funny sometimes?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/21/tuesday_21st_february~580021/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-17:/2006/02/17/friday_17th_february~569731/soundman2006-02-17T13:29:37+01:002006-02-18T10:35:56+01:00 <p>GO JONNY! GO JONNY! GO JONNY!</p> <p>JV had a name check on the Jo Wiley show today (even if she did pronounce it 'Von'tastic) and I quote:</p> <p>"What rocks? Seeing Orson in Brighton lastnight. What sucks? Getting drunk and telling the lead singer they were rubbish. I have no idea why. Jonny Vantastic."</p> <p>So naturally there will be a link on my new site, 'as heard on Radio 1.'</p> <p>It's the little things in life that make me happy! You can listen to it here if you like <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368848"><img src="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/img/audio.gif" align="" alt="JV_Radio1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>JV</p> <p>p.s. Ant, H - how does the cutting in look this morning?! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/17/friday_17th_february~569731/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-16:/2006/02/16/thursday_16th_february~567052/soundman2006-02-16T13:23:48+01:002006-02-16T13:23:48+01:00 <p>Right now I'm meant to be on the A23 hurtling towards Brighton to go and paint my sister's living room walls, however, I have detoured home as I had to get what just happened off my chest. I promised myself I'd keep it a secret, but i'm crap at that, so fuck it.</p> <p>I just had an 'audition' for Deal or No Deal. Really all this involved was filling out a disclaimer and then doing a short piece to camera; a screen test if you like. That's how I saw it at least. Not Christine in front of me and her 'agent', Michael Kaye. He was going through her disclaimer with a fine tooth comb and questionning every aspect of it, for example, 'so where it says here, today's date, I don't think we have to necessarily agree withthem that today is the 16th because I know how these things work, trust me.' </p> <p>*MASSIVE JOEY DEACON SIGN!!*</p> <p>Christ alive! I had read something recently about how celebrity 'agents' were springing up all over the place on the back of reality TV, but I'd never seen it. The hopes of one woman and stardom all resting on celebrity 'agents' like Michael 'Mike' Kaye. It makes me want to cry! There were 150 other hopefuls along side me all nervous about their audition.</p> <p>Fuckin' ell kids, it's just a game show! That said, I'll be disappointed if I don't make the cut. There's £250,000 at stake in this game.</p> <p>Right, they've had their day out in the big city;I'm off to sunnny Brighton.</p> <p>JC x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/16/thursday_16th_february~567052/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-14:/2006/02/14/tuesday_14th_february~561742/soundman2006-02-14T14:54:12+01:002006-02-14T14:54:12+01:00 <p>Happy Valentine's Day! Colin & Edith are doing a straw poll on Radio 1 today to find the best British romantic song. Tough one. All my favourites are by foreign artists, with Uptown, Uptempo woman by Randy Edelman being my #1. I'll keep thinking...</p> <p>But that's not important right now. Life really is a rollercoaster at the moment. Some ups, some downs, some loop the loops, some white knuckle moments, some exhilerating moments - and just like riding a rollercoaster, I want to keep on going and going.</p> <p>I've been a bit worried that I'm not doing enough jobs, but it's good for me to remind myself that I've only just set up. The ideas I've got in my head for the business are good ideas, it's just that they're gonna take a bit of time to implement. My problem is that I want it all NOW!</p> <p>My brother, James, helped me make my first flyer today and I have to tell you, it looks wicked! Each time I see my logo in print it excites me - I have a lot to thank Cris for who did all the computery bits but I can still slap myself on the back as it was I who first drew the logo (albeit badly and in pencil). And the website is coming along just how I imagined it. Trevor promises me it'll be ready by the end of this week...</p> <p>Did I mention a job I did lastnight? I got atext from Louise in Clapham saying, 'can you help? i'm locked out, Louise Clapham'. I'm not a locksmith, but I do have a ladder and I like climbing and stuff so I said, 'Sure. What floor do you live on? Is the plan to break in through a window?'</p> <p>'Yes,' came the reply. Only at this point did I start to think, 'hang on - am I assisting a break in?' Anyway, I turned up when asked to (8.30pm) and met Louise. She didn't look like a burglar, but then again she could have been a deranged ex breaking into her former boyfriend's place to cut up his clothes or something. </p> <p>I didn't question her. I just shimmied up the ladder and let myself in through an open window. I made sure she had keys for the place so as to put my mind at rest and then told her I felt bad about charging her because it only took 2 minutes. What I meant to go onto say was, 'let's call it a tenner,' but she had already offered something in exchange, not cash. Turns out she's a shiatsu masseur, so I'm popping round next week for my free massage - not a bad exchange in my book.</p> <p>What made me laugh the most about the whole affair was her shouting, 'Go Jonny Vantastic!' as I climbed through the window!! Who needs money when you've got a hero worshipper!</p> <p>Anyway, that was yesterday. Today someone called out of the blue and asked if I could pick up a piece of garden furniture from Bushey and deliver it to Willesden Green. I was away from my computer so had to get my little sister, Doris, to do an RAC route planner thing to get the distance - 40 miles from mine to Bushey to Willesden. So I quoted £40. This, it turns out, is way under the nearest competitor (£70). So maybe I've missed a trick. Or maybe I haven't. You see I'll work whenever, day or night. The customer called me back and was over the moon at my quote and even more pleased when I suggested she contact the seller and between them work out the most convenient time and I'll work around them.</p> <p>A satisfied customer. And she'll tell her friends and they'll tell their friends. Do you get my point? I set this whole thing up to help people, not rip them off. And it's making me a very happy man.</p> <p>Right. Better do some work. I'm off now to speak to Julie at Riverside Despatches to see if I can get some courier overspill work. </p> <p>Oh and I've thought of a British track. Got to be Fix You by Coldplay.</p> <p>JVx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/14/tuesday_14th_february~561742/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-13:/2006/02/14/monday_13th_february~560568/soundman2006-02-14T00:05:22+01:002006-02-14T00:05:22+01:00 <p>I have a new hero to look up to. His name is Jason Poole and whilst I abhore the war in Iraq, he is a victim of the whole atrocity. I don't want to, or, have to care about his politics, but his story is one of courage overcoming adversity. If I can track him down, I will add his link here. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/14/monday_13th_february~560568/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-13:/2006/02/13/monday_13th_february~559229/soundman2006-02-13T16:01:39+01:002006-02-13T16:01:39+01:00 <p>Weird - am feeling the same today as I did last monday. I feel a bit like I want the day to end so I can have a beer, but feel a bit guilty because I haven't really earned it. I haven't done anything you might call work today; at least I haven't earned any money. I'm convincing myself that this is ok though as I worked on Saturday morning and, being my own boss, I don't <em>have</em> to work if I don't want to...</p> <p>But this is 2 mondays in a row now. So I have decided to get some GIT insurance - that's Goods In Transit insurance for the laymen among us. I'll need it if I want to do any subbie multi drop work - HA HA! I'm losing you, aren't I?!</p> <p>Courier companies often take on more work than they can really cope with so they sub contract (subbie) out work for drivers to do several drops (multi drops) in one day (n.b. not next day - I'd need public liability insurance for that sort of work and I can't keep forking out money - although this is quite a NLE as you can charge for o/n storage).</p> <p>Listen to me?!@~</p> <p>So I don't feel that bad after all. Just a bit bored. I tried a good boredom busting exercise earlier today. The aim is try on as many pairs of socks as you can, one pair over the other. My record is 16 pairs. The trick is to start with thin cotton or light wool socks and then build up to footy socks. Then try and walk, or better still, put on some slippers and go and buy some cigs from Winston over the road. Tell him there must be a storm approaching as your bunions are playing up like hell!</p> <p>What does everyone else do to kill time? - tom you're excluded from this - I know what you do...you 'go to work'.</p> <p>JV</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/13/monday_13th_february~559229/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-12:/2006/02/12/sunday_12th_february~556878/soundman2006-02-12T17:08:19+01:002006-02-12T17:08:19+01:00 <p>Time for a little perspective. Btw - I'm knackered at the mo - just got back from standing in the pissing down rain for 45 minutes acting as linesman for my football team. I SO don't get the off side rule so had to put up with abuse not only from the opposition, but from my team as well!</p> <p>Anyhow, it keeps me fit and that's important in my new role as a man with a van. But perspective - it's now yonks since I waved goodbye to my old job. I'm meeting people in my new role and they can have no idea what I used to do, nor any interest. I am to them, a man with a van. It's time to start taking it seriously.</p> <p>The honeymoon period is over - the moments when in my head I'd be saying things like, 'yeah, I'm a man with a van' and then chuckling to myself when people called saying, 'are you a man with a van?' Seems daft, but it was novel, to say the least. I still cherish those moments - like when I first picked up the van and went to a timber merchant with my friend Clare and felt like a total fraud and then the plumber's merchant when I laughed out loud whilst saying, 'yeah put it in my van!' like I was some kid with the best new toy in town.</p> <p>I still love my van, just that it's work now. Hey, this whole experience really is like splitting up with the love of your life - it's gone full circle. When I lost my job and wallowed and all that - that was the splitting up bit. And now I've got my van, it's like getting a new girlfriend. I've had the enjoying it every minute of the day for a few weeks, but now it's just a work thing - always there, I just cherish it a little less. Just like a new girlfriend.</p> <p>Some days I leave it parked in it's parking space and nip off to do things like going to the cinema in the middle of the day with another girl, like an affair. My God, is the rest of my life going to be an analogy for a girlfriend? I wonder if we can become better people if we treat our work like our girlfriends and vice versa? Am I going mad? Questions, questions...</p> <p>I've had lots of ideas for my business this week. The main one is a crazy idea, but I think it might just work. I won't go into details because I don't want to jeopardise the outcome. This week will be a telling week; but again I don't want to go into details - all will become apparent.</p> <p>So what else can I say? My website is almost ready to go live. I met Trevor today after football to thrash out the final details. Touch wood it'll be coming very very soon.</p> <p>I'll have a link to this blog, naturally, but the new site will also have a sort of blog type diary thingy on it so this one may get even more neglected - wow I used to write everyday on this one, but do you know why? Because I had all this creative energy bursting to get out when i found myself without a job in an instant. I'm putitng all that energy into my new business now, that's all.</p> <p>Which makes me feel like I've not got a lot to say anymore. I've still got loads on my mind, I always did - I just don't feel the need to spill my guts so much. And I find it difficult to unpick the thought processes in my head in order to write them down. Even now just writing about nothing I'm struggling with grammer and language and ideas - it's all a jumbled mess in my head and only makes sense to me!</p> <p>I oculd tell you, for example, about a girl I met recently, but it would come out wrong, I know it would. Suffice to say, I met this girl recently and I like her. I think she likes me too. It might come to nothing, but who knows. Life's rich tapestry and all that.</p> <p>Oh man I really am tired. I hate sleeping on sunday afternoons, but I might just have to, just for a while. Maybe I'll write more later...</p> <p>JVx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/12/sunday_12th_february~556878/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-07:/2006/02/08/tuesday_7th_february~544330/soundman2006-02-08T00:14:57+01:002006-02-08T00:14:57+01:00 <p>What's to say? Today has been a day of mixed emotions. I woke up not feeling entirely on top of the world, and I'm ending it like not much is new. I'm not down in the dumps; just reaching a plataeu maybe. I'm thoroughly contented, but not on a high. Whatever was getting me down this morning didn't last because a swim at lunchtime lifted my spirits.</p> <p>I tried for months to get gym membership for my colleagues and I in my last job, but no-one seemed at all that interested, which is a shame, because after a burst of exercise this lunchtime and a free exit from the car park, I felt on top of the world.</p> <p>I heard other people's news and it wasn't so great. I listened to other people's aspirations and it wasn't so inspirational. I'm fairly well set in what I want to do and I'm achieving it - not massive unobtainable dreams, just little steps.</p> <p>So why the big change? I don't really want to admit it, but it might have something to do with an ex. I've only been in love with 2 people my entire life. One is my best friend and that will never change. The other is someone else. And we still get on. But too much water has passed under the bridge and now things can never be picked up fom where they left off. And I'm the current advocate of following your dreams and saying what you really feel.</p> <p>That pretty sums up what's happened to me since I lost my job; saying how I really feel. But even I'm guilty of falling prey to my doubts. Worrying about the reaction I might get and not allowing myself to be exposed to those reactions. I guess life isn't always a bed of roses.</p> <p>I apologise now if anyone has drawn inspiration from my ramblings and now feels I'm a fraud. I'm not destitute. I've got my van, my plan, all that nonsense. I just haven't got the one or 2 people I'd really like to be a part of it all where I really want them. I've said before that money doesn't matter. It doesn't matter one iota if you haven't got someone to love and who loves you back.</p> <p>I should have been a God. I know the things that matter in life. I think we all do, we just sometimes forget. I'm not saying anything else tonight. I'm going to bed.</p> <p>JVx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/08/tuesday_7th_february~544330/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-02-05:/2006/02/05/sunday_5th_february~536626/soundman2006-02-05T16:39:21+01:002006-02-05T16:43:40+01:00 <p>I'm getting lazy at keeping this blog up to date, but there's a reason for that. The main reason is that I am just so busy at the moment. Not right this minute, but in general. I had planned to use the bulk of the last week to work from home on setting up my website, getting stuff done for the business and generally get my office up and running so I could concentrate on the real work. However, things didn't turn out quite as planned...</p> <p>Let me take you briefly through my week. Monday morning I picked up a set designer and some of his gear and took them to a location house in Wandsworth before getting on my bike and heading to the office's of BMG where I was transferring some old vinyl to wav files. Later that day I had to drive up to Hackney to pick up an upholstered sofa for the shoot in Wandsworth.</p> <p>On Tuesday morning I delivered the sofa (got stuck in rush hour traffic the night before) to Wandsworth then headed to BMG again for more transferring. I was back at the shoot on Tuesday evening to pick up a whole load of gear; some of it to be delivered to Clare's house in Clapham Junction and some it to a house in Twickenham. Btw - met a girl at the shoot called, Stella, but Clare won't give me any more details about her so I might just have to let that go. Lovely girl though.</p> <p>When I got home on Tuesday night, about 8ish, I went straight round to my neighbours (with a bottle of champagne - they got engaged last week) to talk about their big move on Thursday, a gig I picked up by chance when I popped round to let them know about my new venture. That meeting sewed up a few loose ends and then I headed home - tired but utterly satisfied with my 2 days work so far.</p> <p>Wednesday saw more of the same at BMG plus a quick house move for a friend of my sister in the afternoon. Gig on Wednesday night at Plan B in Brixton - can't remember the name of the band but the lead singer was amazing. Great voice, great stage presence.</p> <p>Thursday was a biggie - Clare and Hugo's (my neighbours) big move from London to Birmingham, via Bournemouth to collect some boxes in storage. And it was a breeze. A real pleasure to help them out. We got the whole lot done by 5 and I was sat at the kitchen table at mum and dad's by 7.30pm. Cheers Doris for cooking dinner!</p> <p>Drove back from Bowdon to London on Friday lunchtime and went out with Little Sam (younger brother) for a well earned beer at my local, The Landor.</p> <p>What a week! I won't say how much I earned, but trust me, it was a good week's work! But as I write this, I have nothing in my diary for the coming week. That's not such a bad hting as there is still lots I have to do from home. I've never worked for myself before and all the work I've had this last week has fallen on my doorstep. Selling myself is something I think will come naturally. The amount of ways to make money though is staggering - really. The trouble for me is focussing on what it is I really want to do. I've not done anything yet that I would happily avoid in the future - not even the traumatic house move on Wednesday when Gavin hadn't even packed by the time I showed up. Packing someone else's belongings is easy - I have no emotional attachment you see.</p> <p>But anyway, that's not why I decided to update today. A few weeks a go when I started this blog, I said that I had a vested interest in my old company, so it would have been unwise of me to divulge the reason why I was sacked. I no longer have any vested interests in the company so by rights I could freely say why I was sacked. But that was then - now I don't really care so much. What's happened to me since I was sacked has been life changing - a change for the better. I look back now and wonder just how I allowed myself to work for someone else for so long.</p> <p>So instead of me saying what happened, I'll leave it to anyone who reads this to ask. Do you want to know why I was sacked? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/02/05/sunday_5th_february~536626/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-28:/2006/01/28/saturday_28th_january~514050/soundman2006-01-28T17:24:54+01:002006-01-28T17:24:54+01:00 <p>Wow. I have just re-read this blog from the very first post. I really have been on a journey. Going back to the beginning of December 2005 and reliving all those feelings and dreams is a very therepeutic experience. Why don't ALL people keep journals? It's helped keep me in focus - helped me to talk (write) about how I feel and talk (write) about my aspirations - it's like a personal measuring tape for life.</p> <p>I'd like to re-visit some of my earlier entries. December 5th 2005 for example (oh and btw - Doris - happy birthday! Sorry I missed you out on 4th December 2005 - had a few things on my mind!):</p> <p>"You've got to have a purpose; a badge maybe. A badge with your name on it and why your work is important"</p> <p>I didn't know back then what I was going to do, but how prophetic. Do you want to see my badge? Need to work out how to do this...</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/s/sacked/img/JONNYVANTASTIClogook.jpg" title="my badge"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/s/sacked/img/JONNYVANTASTIClogook_small.jpg" border="0" alt="my badge"></a></p> <p>And how could I forget Moses?! I just loved re-reading my experience with good ol' Moses. And I said this on 12th December 2005:</p> <p>"'Perhaps dere is someting else you want to do?' 'No - i need to get work experience as a delivery driver as at some point in the future I want to set up my own company doing light removals and deliveries in and around London."</p> <p>Guess what folks? That's exactly what I'm doing now and wish I'd been doing for years. The pay's good, there's no stress at all, I get to meet loads of interesting people and above all, I'm helping people. And that makes me happy. But let's go on...</p> <p>Remember this from 4th December 2005?</p> <p>"We got home and I got a call - a call inviting me to The Trinity. Well I had to go. So I did. And there I met a famous rock group who one day you will all know. But I'll let them introduce themwelves over the coming weeks. Their name is Orson - and you heard it here first - the next big thing."</p> <p>Heard of 'em yet? They just finished a tour supporting Duran Duran andhave a few more gigs lined up before their single, 'No Tomorrow', is released some time in Feb. Their single was Jo Wiley's pet sound all this week on Radio 1 and I'VE met them! One day they'll say 'WE'VE met Jonny Vantastic!' Ooh, that's my first mention of Jonny Vantastic, my new business. What do you think of the logo?</p> <p>Argh, I wish I had more time to write today. I picked up my flatmate from Gatwick this lunchtime - she broke her wrist snow boarding - and just dropped her off at A&E, but I have to go have a shower and get changed as I'm taking my ex up west tonight to see The Producers. It's her birthday present. Tomorrow's a hectic day, but i'll find the time somewhere to look back at some of your kind comments. Might just add this one today though before I go:</p> <p>"Seems to me you must have done something very bad indeed to get sacked so suddenly and just before Christmas.</p> <p>Was it gross misconduct?</p> <p>Still you can always get another job."</p> <p>That was from a post backdated to the day I was sacked from 'very tall fella' who didn't have a link to a blog or an email address. Who are you 'very tall fella'? I wonder now if you're my old boss?!</p> <p>See you all tomorrow</p> <p>Johnx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/28/saturday_28th_january~514050/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-25:/2006/01/25/wednesday_25th_january~506230/soundman2006-01-25T23:44:12+01:002006-01-25T23:44:12+01:00 <p>Today's update is dedicated to Lyndlj.</p> <p>Yes I intend to keep writing. My journey started with this blog and the encouragement I've had from friends and strangers (friends I've just not met yet) has helped get me where I am today.</p> <p>Today was a day of revelations. This morning I agred to help an ex girlfriend fix a bike safety thingy to the paving slabs in her front garden. I hope she doesn't read this - but between you and me it was Frank Spencer par excellence. It was one of those steel bars which you can lock a bike to. The premise is simple - drill 8 holes in the slab and put hte bar in place over 8 self tapping bolts and screw tight. 7 out of the 8 holes were in the correct place, however, I used a hammer to whack them in and found out later that by doing this I would knacker the thread and not be able to screw the bolts on.</p> <p>Least of my problems. Once the bolts were in I couldn't get any grip on them so the nuts were just going round and round. And this was just at one end. When I finally got enough grip on 4 of them, I tested the grip by pulling up the bar - which in turn pulled up the paving slab. Oops.</p> <p>Having totally knackered the thread on the opposing 4 I decided to use cement to weigh down the steel bar. I'm not that familiar with cement. Apparently you need to mix it with sand as well as water, but I didn't have any sand so the mixture was just cement and water; mixed with a teaspoon and applied with a butter knife. I tested the solidity of this a few moments after application and found the whole lot - metal bar, cement and paving slab - come away freely and easily. A monumental fuck up you mihgt say.</p> <p>It was made even more catastrophic when i realised hours afterwards that the 4 bolts I had screwed in semi-firmly were largely redundant as any cunning thief wanting to steal the bicycle attached would only have to unscrew the nuts and he'd have his quarry. </p> <p>The lesson I learnt is this - I don't have natural DIY skills and I should stick to what I know best. MOst of the time. Another friend has offered me some freelance work next week transferring some vinly ot MP3 - £12 an hour for about 30 hours. I could do this with my hands tied behind my back and it's easy money, but if today is anything ot go by, I'm simply not going to have the time.</p> <p>For today, on my return home from the fiasco in Wimbledon, Clare called me and asked if I oould do a job my reaction was, 'actually I've just finished one job and I'm off to another', which was a complete lie as I had just finished one job but was off to the pub. It took a few seconds, but I eventually worked out that this wasn't a friend sympathising with my financial position and offering me an olive branch, but a friend in a very useful position putting some business my way. And so I took it - picking up a very expensive foot stool from a very posh shop on the king's road, storing it in my depot (flat) and then delivering it to a house in crouch end tomorrow for a photo shoot. </p> <p>Oh yeah, I thought, this is what I do now! And with that came the sudden realisation that I am now firmly in business - and I like it! I get to do the things that make me happy AND I get paid - I get to drive a white van, work outdoors, meet people AND get paid. </p> <p>Random aside - my friend Gemma's brother did a report on Radio 1's newsbeat today about advance driving lessons for white van men - I intend to take up this government initiative to help bring my insurance down a bit - am hoping he'll do a follow up story with me, Jo...have we done my compnay name yet? I don't think we have, have we?</p> <p>Must get on to Trevor about my logo - then I can stick my link up here...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/25/wednesday_25th_january~506230/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-24:/2006/01/24/tuesday_24th_january~501301/soundman2006-01-24T14:00:09+01:002006-01-24T14:00:09+01:00 <p>Happy Birthday Charlotte! (my flatmate). She's away snow boarding at the mo so I'm turning the flat upside down - have radically overhauled my desk and got rid of the massive fancy dress television prop that took up half of it and cleared out all the drawers so that I have a proper office environment.</p> <p>It's just gone midday and I have just returned from the job club. Remember the woman who told me that it's only women that can sell themselves that are likely to get jobs these days? Well she's obviously a 12 a 'clocker, or maybe an 11.45er. I'm an 11.30er - anyway, she signs on after me and we met again today to put the world to rights. You get a ticket like at the deli in supermarkets which, she tells me, is akin to slavery, irrespective of skin colour, 'white, black, indian - dem makin' us all slaves, like zombies.' Fair enough I thought, but then came this: 'it's de toothpaste!'</p> <p>What? 'Dem putting all deeze chemicals in toothpaste and we walkin' round like zombies, slaves y'see?' </p> <p>'Erm, yes. Exactly that.' She suggested I use lemon to brush my teeth if I didn't want to be part of the zombie state.</p> <p>Next week I will ask her what her name is. I don't like seeing familiar faces without knowing their names - a bit like what's beginning to happen at my local Sainsbury's, but at least they wear badges - I'm going to come on to that in a bit.</p> <p>Still at the job club, I sat next to Eugene while I waited to sign on (again - they didn't bother asking if I was seeking employment - just sign this, get your money and go). Eugene must have been about 18 or 19 years old. He was clad in all designer labels (leisure wear) and bling. He strolled in clutching car keys, car stereo and 2 mobile phones. And he's unemployed. At least I had the decency to silence both my phones, leave my stereo in the glove compartment and park around the corner. I'm beginning to enjoy my fortnightly excursions to the job club.</p> <p>But let's go back to first thing this morning. I woke up at about 9 and tidied the flat a little. I chucked out the rubbish and headed off to do the weekly shop at Sainsbury's. I have to walk past a derelict house to get to my van and yesterday there were some workmen there beginning a clear up operation as a property developer has bought it from the council. I had a little chat with them yesterday so this morning they all nodded and said, 'morning'. I replied, 'morning' and got in my van. Why am I telling you this? Because anno-van, I don't think they would have even noticed me. There's a fraternity once you're a van man and i have to say, I like it. Van drivers are like cabbies - out on the road they let you in or turn right on busy roads - lots of flashing lights and waves and nods - if you want to know how to avoid congestion in London, get a van. </p> <p>So, Sainsbury's. Saino's on a Tuesday morning is THE time to shop. Hardly a soul there and all the shelves fully stocked. It is so pleasant shopping like this. And it got me thinking. You often hear people saying that London is such a crowded and busy place. Well it is - if you work 9-5 and only travel in rush hour and only do your grocery shopping between finishing work and going out, like the millions of other people all doing the same. Do it at 10 in the morning and you'll see a whole new London. I drove back from my second favourite Sainsbury's*, in Wandsworth, and didn't slow down once, apart from at the lights. I used to enjoy having random days off work and just wandering about locally (not like a mentalist of which there are loads near where I live) - but just seeing how people go about their business; people who aren't stuck in an office all day.</p> <p>This was one of the things I addressed shortly after I was sacked, 'what do I reeally want to do?' One answer was to drive a van and another was be out of an office and in amongst the daily lives of my local community. That's not job specific you see, but it does go a long way to describing what I do now. And it's utterly satisfying. </p> <p>Anyway, these were just a few thoughts in my head today. I have to get on and do some work now. I got a parking ticket yesterday whilst I was waiting in Lambeth Parking Shop to get a parking permit and I don't think that's fair so I need to write a letter appealing against it. Even the traffic warden seemed to sympathise when I lost my place in the queue to come and tell him I was queuing to get a parking permit - how lousy is that? Getting a ticket while you're waiting to get a ticket which permits you to park?! That was my most stressful moment in a long while but I quickly got over it. Other than that episode, life is pretty sweet at the mo. </p> <p>And so I suppose I should add as well that Tom (his brother) and Polly (his brother's wife) had a baby boy on Saturday. Joseph (Joe) William Patrick Barton. Well done all involved! Can I put his photo in my gallery for all to see?</p> <p>(* 2nd favourite Saino's. First is the Saino's in Fulham just north of Wandsworth Bridge, but I can't return there until I have a Ducatti 999 - long story).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/24/tuesday_24th_january~501301/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-19:/2006/01/19/thursday_19th_january_2006_more~487159/soundman2006-01-19T20:56:23+01:002006-01-19T20:56:23+01:00 <p>Just got back from Saino's with my shopping:</p> <p>Bog Roll (2 extra free)<br> Bottle of vino (red - half price)<br> Kingsmill Square bread<br> Orange Juice (with bits in)<br> Saino's own brand crisps<br> Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (chocolate fudge brownie)</p> <p>Why? Partly because I'm hungry and my brother-in-law is taking me out to dinner later and partly because I felt the need to celebrate. I know Champagne is traditional in these circumstances, but truth is, I don't really like Champagne.</p> <p>And why am I celebrating? Because for a few weeks now I've been mulling over what date did my new company come into being. Was it 16th December driving along the M62 when the name popped into my head? Was it before then when I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do? Was it the first time I felt any real conviction in what I answered when people asked what I planned to do with myself? Was it when I slapped down a £500 deposit on a van? Was it when I signed a new mobile phone contract for my business line? Was it 30th December when I first asked someone to secure the domain name and commit myself to my first real business outgoing of £20 + VAT (that was a pretty crucial moment). Was it when I walked into the bank I opened my very first savings account in Hale some 18 years ago and opened a business account - ah, Steve - remember turning me down for that £100 overdraft in '93? Well it's MR. Barton from now on, right?!</p> <p>Answer? None of the above. It was 5.09pm today, 19th January 2006, when I got my first look at my new logo (even though I'm going to tweak it slightly). Being the boss, of course, I reserve the right to change my mind. I might get even more excited when I get, say, my first embroidered shirt, or when I've got my name splashed across the side of my new van, or when I bank my first cheque (yeah, Steve - when I pay money into the bank for the first time in 18 years!)...who knows? Whatever - I'm the boss so I'll decide. But I'm celebrating now nonetheless. Admittedly on my own in a somewhat sad way - crisps, wine, fags, typing an online journal - it'll be different next year, I promise (myself).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/19/thursday_19th_january_2006_more~487159/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-19:/2006/01/19/thursday_19th_january~486913/soundman2006-01-19T19:43:41+01:002006-01-19T19:43:41+01:00 <p>Q. How many kids with ADHD does it take to change a light bulb?</p> <p>A. LET'S RIDE BIKES!!!</p> <p>THAT is exactly how i feel right at this moment and have done since 5.09pm today when Trevor sent me the first proof of my new logo - it's happening. It's <em>really</em> happening - my new business is not days, but hours away from coming into being. I'm picking up the van tomorrow and as soon as the logo is OK'd, it'll be all systems go.</p> <p>I feel like i just won a massive outside bet; like why? Why did it happen? Well I can bring my own self down to earth and answer that one now - because I believe in it and myself. This venture isn't going to make me a millionaire, but do you know what? It's not about the money - when people say winning the lottery doesn't make them happy (and we all say it'd make <em>me</em> happy), I know what they mean. Find an activity or a job which makes you happy and no amount of money in the world will beat that feeling. Trust me, I'm skint. And yet I feel on top of the world right now.</p> <p>If I was in love with someone, I'd ask them to marry me, right here, right now. Only that's not going to happen because I don't have a girlfriend and I'm at home alone with no-one to share this mini launch party I'm having in my head.</p> <p>ARGH!!!!! I feel like running around with a loud hailer yelling the name of my new company and saying just how god damn happy I am at this point in time - properly like an ADHD kid!</p> <p>Unfortunately my stereo is still round at my ex's place so I can't listen to Coldplay's 'Fix You' or Orson's 'Tryin to help' at full blast whilst running around the flat with my air guitar - damn my lending it to her! My ipod just doesn't cut it, plus Charlotte could walk in at any time and if she sees me throwing shapes with my imaginary 6 string in utter silence, she might think I've turned into a mentalist. Should I take the risk? I might have to - I've got so much energy bursting to get out - it's only taken me 4 and a half seconds to write this update here so far!</p> <p>LET'S.RIDE.BIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/19/thursday_19th_january~486913/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-16:/2006/01/16/monday_16th_january~477313/soundman2006-01-16T19:27:12+01:002006-01-16T19:27:12+01:00 <p>By the end of this week, I will be in a position to reveal all about my new business. Today I had a meeting with my web design man and he reckons he'll have something up and running in a matter of days. I have been anticipating this week for a while now - a lot of things are going to come together in a short space of time - like buiding a house. It looks like a mess for 90% of the time and then all of a sudden it comes together.</p> <p>So it's going to be a rollercoaster week. I'm off to see my parents for a couple of days tomorrow and will include in that trip a visit to <a href="http://www.anyembroidery.com">www.anyembroidery.com</a> to get some polo shirts made with my logo on the breast. In theory, I'll be picking up the van on Friday and subject to approval, the leaflets will follow shortly after. And then that'll be it - I'll have my company up and running and working all the hours God sends to make a success of it. I can't ignore the groundwork - I mean in theory I've already started - but I'll have my main asset by the weekend and no excuse but to work, work, work.</p> <p>7 weeks have passed since I was sacked. So I'm going to tell you about the weekend I just had because for the first time since I was sacked, I've reflected on the past few weeks and THAT day when I was sacked.</p> <p>On saturday night, my sister and her husband had a house warming/ birthday party. The theme was a race night which I can heartily recommend. And karaoke of course. No party is complete without a microphone. Not that I love the sound of my own voice or anything. But I don't want to tell you about that. It was the day after which had more interest.</p> <p>Ant, Doris (sisters), Danda, Dave (brother-in-law's siblings) and I headed to Brighton Pier (after a fantastic breakfast - cheers H) to muck around on the rides and waste all our 10 pence pieces on the push penny thingies. Did the Turbo Coaster, The Mouse and the Dodgems and then headed for a beer in the pier bar (never allowed to do this when we were kids).</p> <p>Most people I see regularly know the full story behind my sacking, but Dave and Danda were in the dark. So I told them. I re-lived the worse day of my working life when the heat was firmly on me and the remainder of that week up until the Thursday afternoon when I was finally rumbled. It bought back all the stressful feelings and anxiety I felt at the time, which was in some way uncomfortable, but at the same time hugely therapeutic. What I did wasn't <em>that</em> bad, but the fear of being caught was a huge strain. But now I can laugh about it - I can laugh at the thought that I didn't hurt anyone and no-one died, but at the time I felt under SO much pressure. Life has gone on and it's now yesterday's news.</p> <p>But what made this particular Sunday interesting was the fact that it was the first time I had addressed my past actions. They seem so trivial now and it's only been a handful of weeks. My life feels so far removed from the career I had been forging for 6 years. Therapy session over, I headed back to London with Dave. My plan for lastnight was to meet, for the first time since I was sacked, a former colleague. Or at least that was how it had been arranged - having spent a part of the afternoon exorcising my demons it now felt more like I was going to see a friend, not a colleague. In fact when we met, the last thing I wanted to talk about was the company I used to work for. Which is exactly what happened - it was the last thing we talked about. </p> <p>There's always been a part of me that wants to know what life was like after my sudden departure. I've wanted to know what people have said about the whole affair and what their opinion is of me after the incident. It didn't really affect anyone apart from the one person it involved and judging by my television guide this week, it hasn't had an adverse affect on his career. Quite the opposite in fact. I didn't hurt the hundreds of other people I've met over the years and yet not one of them has tried to get in touch with me.</p> <p>But as I've said, my life is now as far removed from that time as it could be so I've no need to dwell on it. I just hope they don't hate me. I can't see any reason why any of them should, but having had zero contact, I can never be certain. But hey ho; life goes on.</p> <p>I've said it before and I'll say it again - I wouldn't trade places with my old self. I miss the interaction with certain people; but there's not a lot else I miss. Being pushed rather than jumping has been an awakening for me. I've struggled for years with a lack of self belief but in the space of just 7 weeks I've discovered things about myself I never knew were possible. What's exciting about this is that the future looks rosey. Once I've established this business, who knows what else I can achieve. And I'm still only 30 years old. I just thank God it happened now and not in 10 years time.</p> <p>Right, I'm off now. I'm nipping next door to see my neighbour who's moving next week. Gonna see if her new tenant's will need the help of Jo....ah, it'll have to wait!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/16/monday_16th_january~477313/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-13:/2006/01/13/friday_13th_december~467907/soundman2006-01-13T18:46:39+01:002006-01-13T19:36:34+01:00 <p>Unlucky for some? Not me, touch wood. I just drove back from Shoreham-on-Sea where I was babysitting William & Thomas (who were very behaved - I know their parents read this). I had a new rear tyre fitted in Lewes as the old one was bald. Riding a bike in this weather is hard work - the cold gets right through to your bones and makes the journey quite uncomfortable - but it was made bearable by the route I took home. I followed the cross country B road route the cyclists take when doing the London to Brighton bike ride for the British Heart Foundation.</p> <p>It really is a lovely ride. I picked it up 8 miles north of Brighton at Ditchling Beacon. The route then takes you through laods of quaint little villages, through the stockbroker belt and then I detoured slightly and hit the A22 to go through Croydon and Purley and on up to Brixton. I really wanted to know where London starts/ ends. I was on the lookout for postcodes on the street names, but decided that London starts and ends at Purley Cross. From here on in, there are no more rolling hills and lush green trees. There's no postcodes on the streets at this point, but it was where I witnesssed my first bit of road rage and where instantly my concentration switched from being transfixed on stunning country houses to dickheads turning right without indicating.</p> <p>But I love coming back to London. The countryside is pretty and all that, but once you've looked at a field or had a pint in a country pub, there's really little else to do. And where would you find your nearest Lahori style barber shop?(Norbury, in case you're wondering). There's something embracing about the overcrowding of London, like it welcomes you with big hug. Some people often say it's a lonely place. I agree that cities can be very lonely places if you don't know anyone or don't socialise; but that's the key really. If you do find it lonely, join a club or something. If you really don't like it - leave.</p> <p>Anyway, I digress. On my journey back I wrote in my head reams and reams. These were either ramblings of places I'd recommend people go see (to look at the fields and have a pint in a country pub) or what I would otherwise have been doing a few weeks ago in my old job. For example, it's Friday. Fridays used to go one of 2 ways. Either they were really quiet and dragged on and we'd end the day all talking about our plans for the weekend - mine usually involved a multitude of activities, none of them with colleagues - or they were insanely busy with my boss having a heart attack paranoid that the business was going to fold because we'd upset this client or failed that client. And I used to care! I used to do everything in my power to placate situations just to give myself an easier life - and it was exhausting.</p> <p>But not today. Today I rode back through stunning countryside with all the excitement of a child having just gotten a scalextric set for Christmas because yesterday I bought a van - check it - I bought a van! A white Citroen Relay 2.2 litre diesel, long wheel base high roof van. It even has a CD player and electric windows. </p> <p>When I say bought, what I mean is I put down a deposit. I don't have the money yet, but that's not important. What's important is that in a few days from now, I'll not just be talking about buying a van and setting up a new business, I'll actually be doing it. The big difference between talking about something and actually doing something. Needless to say, I've given myself today off for all the hard work I've done in recent days. I got home just in time to see Justin (my landlord) throw some arrows with Bobby George at the BDO Championships. He got a thrashing in case you didn't see it (but didn't do as bad as that actor from The Bill the other day).</p> <p>I'm a bit worried I'm heading towards an anti-climax now though. I feel I've really got to keep the momentum going and that people will actually want to pay me for my services. I came up with some ideas for art work on the van on my down to Sussex, but I'll keep those to myself for now. I can share with you all though that the colours I'm going for in my new logo are those of Superman, red, blue and yellow.</p> <p>Anyway, I feel like I'm just rambling now so I'm going to sign off for the day. I'm going round to my brother's house to exchange his son's rabbit for an Orson t-shirt. Ransom if you like.</p> <p>I'll say one last thing though - given the choice between this Friday and any Friday over the last 6 years - I know which one I'd choose. This one - everytime.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/13/friday_13th_december~467907/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-11:/2006/01/11/wednesday_11th_december~461946/soundman2006-01-11T18:36:45+01:002006-01-13T19:36:13+01:00 <p>I have had a FANTASTIC day. Or should that be VANTASTIC?! Stayed up 'til 3 lastnight watching Celeb Big Brother so didn't surface until 10 this morning. Watched a bit more CBB over breakfast. Oh, btw - since I left my job/ was sacked, my normally OCD-esque breakfast routine has been well and truly shaken up. I had scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and OJ - but get this - I didn't care what order it all happened - I finished my coffee BEFORE I'd even put the eggs on!</p> <p>Only those who know me well will understand the chains I have broken free from there. So anyway, had my breakfast, then sat and read a few emails. The 'deal' I struck yesterday had been niggling me. Something didn't feel quite right; it was all a bit too easy and if I'm to spend £8.5k I need to be 100% sure I'm getting the best deal. So I decided to do a cursory scan of the interweb to see if I couldn't get the same model at a better price. The first few sites I checked made me feel good - to be honest the price seems pretty average give or take a few quid. And I now have an acute radar for dodgy sales pitches - contract hire, finance lease and the like. You never really own the vehicle, at least not at the price they publish.</p> <p>But then one site got my eye. North Star, a van sales company working out of a field near Hassocks on the south coast. By chance, I'm babysitting a few miles from the site tomorrow afternoon, so I thought I'd have a hunt through their vans. Guess what? They've got an '03 Citroen Relay lwb hi-roof with all the specs I want, 40k miles on the clock - and the price? A cool £1762.50 cheaper than the deal offered to me yesterday.</p> <p>So I made a quick call and have arranged to go see it tomorrow morning on my way to my sister's house. So that's a good thing. And my day had only really just started when I found that out. Starting the day on a high is a real bonus. It spurred me on to get a few other things done. After lunch I rode down to Carphone Warehouse in Clapham Junction. A friend of mine has worked for Carphone Warehouse for eyons and she went through all the deals on offer and found that O2 were offering the best deal based on me using my initiative and claiming back 50% of the tariff at 2 points during the contract - it's not advertised btw - you have to be in the know. Little tip for you there.</p> <p>Plus with O2 you get a wider choice of mobile numbers - I hope I've chosen well. It will be spread across the sides and back of my new van. I hate it when you see a number on a car or a van and you want to make a note of it but you don't have time. Anyway, hopefully the name of the company will be more memorable. I'll spill the beans soon - I'm going to see a man about leaflets next Monday so perhaps once they're done I'll reveal all...</p> <p>So, van seen, phone done, I went on to see someone at Big Yellow Storage to talk about long term rental of a storage unit. Another tip - Big Yellow? Don't bother. A classic 'computer says no' company. </p> <p>Too escited to hang around to discuss rates, I went onto the dump at Vauxhall to check prices, then onto Lassco - a shop I've been meaning to visit ever since it opened in May. It's slap bang in the middle of Vauxhall Cross so virtually impossible to get to unless you're quick - the car park is off a major main road. It's brilliant - go visit: <a href="http://www.lassco.co.uk">www.lassco.co.uk</a> - it sells loads of reclaimed furniture and antiques and stuff - it really is an amazing shop (and if you buy something from there which you can't fit in your car, I can recommend a very good van delivery service).</p> <p>By the way - I feel a bit like a kid who's just drunk a glass of orange cordial at the mo - a bit too excited to concentrate on anything for more than a few seconds.</p> <p>On the way back I dropped into a storage place also at Vauxhall Cross. It's run by Hussein who was a top salesman - he took me seriously and took me on a tour of his building and without prompting me offered me a monthly deal on a room - fab. I like this world of one man bands all wanting a bite of the cherry. It's like a big club and everyone in it is having fun.</p> <p>I'm sure there's going to more times of hardship and days when I'll feel down, but for now, I'm enjoying the ride. I might at this stage steal a line I heard from my friend, Clare, recently: 'Who makes it happen?'</p> <p>I do.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/11/wednesday_11th_december~461946/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-10:/2006/01/10/tuesday_10th_january_2006_more~459121/soundman2006-01-10T20:58:30+01:002006-01-10T20:58:30+01:00 <p>Ok, so I've not been updating my blog. Why? Because I've been really really busy setting up my new business (and watching the darts on BBC2).</p> <p>Now I'm at an interesting crossroads. I'm done doing just about all the things I can with no money - thinking about what services I can offer, finding the nearest municipal dump which accepts vans, working out the cheapest mobile phone deal, securing the domain name for my company, chatting up potential customers to see me through the early days (Griff, Sarah - I'm counting on you!), deciding on the correct van and doing a deal (this took a long long time - there's so much to consider), finding a company to do the sign work on the van, getting a decent insurance quote; I could go on, but I won't. </p> <p>During all of this, I haven't been paid, but my rent still has to be paid and the bills meanwhile have been piling up. Thanks mum for helping me out with this month's rent - tom, james, ant, doris, sam (dad) - please don't be jealous - it's just a temporary loan. This time next year I'll be a millionaire. And for those who don't know me btw, that list is a list of all my brothers and sisters.</p> <p>The loan part of it is because I still plan to crack the welfare state and get what's owing to me - I'll not go into the fun and games I'm having at Olive Morris House, but I will tell you about signing on this morning. </p> <p>I sign on at 11.30am every fortnight on a Tuesday. I'm meant to spend 10 minutes looking for a job at the jobcentre before I sign on but as I have said in previous instalments, they don't care. So today when I strolled in at 11.28am, I had a big beaming smile on my face. Like I was walking in there and going, 'Yeah - I'm here for my money, fuckers, and no, I haven't been looking for a job cos I don't want a job and do you give a shit? No, you don't, do you? You'll just get my paper work out and I'll just sign the box and hey presto, I'll be £56 a week better off!</p> <p>Had a brief chat with a West Indian woman while I waited who told me that these days, to get a job, you have to be a) a woman, b) able to sell yourself and c) living at home. Well that's me well and truly screwed then, isn't it?</p> <p>So I got my money and headed off to Citroen City on Whitechapel Road to meet Andy who I've spoken to a couple of times on the phone. If you're thinking about buying a car (and this is only relevant if it's a Citroen), then head to Citroen City (you know where it's at). It's brilliant. A car dealership slap bang in the city, next to a mosque. Andy and his sidekick, Bob, work out of an office next to the main sales floor and they deal with approved used vehicles (aka second hand car dealers, innit?).</p> <p>I've only ever bought cars abroad and even then it was from friends or fellow backpackers. So this was my baptism, if you like. I was expecting a Swiss Tony-esque saleman, but I was way, way off the mark. Andy and Bob were like a comedy sketch show. They looked like they'd had their lunches packed by their mums. Don't get me wrong here - they were lovely blokes. And I suspect the circumstances of my ending up there affected the way they behaved towards me - you see I was there because my brother-in-law knows one of the big cheeses at Citroen. And he had emailed another big cheese who had told Andy to get in touch with me. </p> <p>For a while, Andy thought I was a mystery shopper and went out of his way to do things 'the Citroen way'. He kept saying this, 'The Citroen way.' I assured him I was nothing more than a regular Joe who had been sacked from his job and wanted to buy a van to set up a new business. He did eventually relax as we sat in bumper to bumper traffic on my test drive. I told him what I used to do for a living and how I was sacked. He laughed and then said something which I've never understood why people say it - 'yeah, my brother's fiance's uncle's brother used to do that, you know, work in sound and production and all that. For those of you who don't know, I was a sound engineer. Very straight forward - I sat in a studio and pressed record. His brother's fiance's blah, blah, blah - was a security guard for an events company. What?</p> <p>Anyway, test drive over we went back to the office and talked figures. I am a crap negotiator. Trust me - in the summer I went to collect a dozen t-shirts from a t-shirt print shop and the print man had made a spelling mistake on 4 of the shirts - I paid for them. I paid for faulty no use goods because he made me think that I wanted them, at cost.</p> <p>So when he told me the cost I suddenly reverted to a mode of behaviour veyr unfamiliar to me. I felt like I was in a film - I said something crap like, 'so that price on the screen...is that your final offer?' I am such a spazz brain. He did, however, very kindly take off £500, which in percentage terms is sweet f.a. but he did also mention at this point the name of the big cheese who I have never met and said that it was him that was offering the discount. But what do I know? I trust people. He's got to make a living, I've got to make a living. If that's the price, then that's the price. We don't live in south east asia where they haggle over the price of everything - we live in England where middle men screw the little men. For all I know it could only be worth £5000, but I'm going to pay £8,500. It's 2 years old, looks in good shape, will have a CD player fitted if I agree to buy it, but above all, it'll be mine. My very own white van (man).</p> <p>So that's what I've been up to lately. That and thrashing our West London foes at darts lastnight. I'll be busy now for the remainder of the week and possibly well into next week as well. I'm taking Thursday afternoon off to babysit 2 of my nephews so my brother-in-law can take my sister 'up west' to see a show for her birthday, but other than that it's all systems go. Oh - and the name of this new business venture? Well that will have to wait I'm afraid. Not until it's emblazoned on a white van parked outside my front door will I divulge that mega-exciting information.</p> <p>Do you want more? how about what's on the menu for me tonight (lived on spaghetti bolognaise for the whole of last week)? Pork Stroganoff. Simple to make:</p> <p>First, dice a leek and gently fry in oil and butter (the oil stops the butter from burning) then leave on a side dish. Next, saute the thinly sliced tender loin of pork and add a glass of white wine and let reduce. Whilst this is reducing, add a teaspoon of dijon mustard and whole grain mustard to a pot of creme freche and stir. When you think the wine has reduced enough (I find the time it takes to smoke one cigarette is roughly the right amount of time) add the mustard/ creme freche combo and stir in on a low heat. Add the leaks and let it bubble gently away. On your chopping board, chop up a load of fresh tarragon and, at the last minute, sprinkle in the tarragon.</p> <p>I should have mentioned that while you're doing the pork, you should also have a pot of boiling water on the go. When you add the mustard creme freche combo, throw in some Sharwood's thin noodles. They take 3 minutes - the same amount of time you need to finish off the dish. Et voila, pork stroganoff. Don't thank me - I got the idea from my sister-in-law who in turn got it from a recipe card at Waitrose.</p> <p>Phew. I'm exhausted. Better get my dinner on before I pass out...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/10/tuesday_10th_january_2006_more~459121/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-10:/2006/01/10/tuesday_10th_december~458527/soundman2006-01-10T18:23:32+01:002006-01-10T18:23:32+01:00 <p>Alright already! I'll update it tonight. Actually, I had quite a good day today. Woke up with a hangover, but that doesn't matter because the Gentlemen of The South whipped The Pikeys of the West at darts lastnight and I won my all important singles match AND I spent 2 hours at the Citroen garage on Whitechapel Road talking vans. I think I may have found the van for my new business.</p> <p>It's a 2.2 litre LWB hi-roof Citroen Relay; 2 years old and white. Slowly but surely I'm reaching my dream - to be a white van man.</p> <p>But I'll tell all later - Richard & Judy are on the box and I still haven't fully recovered from lastnight's excesses. Who thought tequila was a good idea on a Monday night? A married man with children, that's who. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/10/tuesday_10th_december~458527/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-04:/2006/01/04/wednesday_4th_january~439666/soundman2006-01-04T14:04:56+01:002006-01-04T14:04:56+01:00 <p>Man, the pressure is building. I just nearly cried in the housing office. Cried?!! It seems my claim isn't as water tight as I thought and now I'm going to have to find the money to keep paying rent and council tax until I can 'prove' that I'm a tenant in a flatshare and not a whatever in a whatever - WHATEVER! </p> <p>One bit of my form didn't count and it's up to me and my landlord to come up wit the information. The man I was dealing with could see the strain on my face when he told me I was liable for the £144 payment leaving my account tomorrow and I would be liable for my next rent payment at the end of January. They speak a language I clearly don't understand. How difficult can it be. I was a taxpayer. I lost my job. I have no money and now I have to pay rent and council tax with money I don't have. "Can I have some help please?"</p> <p>"Yes, just learn our language that looks like English but follows a logic pattern which you must first decipher and until then it's backwards and forwards until you've sussed it out. Bye!"</p> <p>I'm hemorrhaging money I don't have. I'm suffering sleepless nights. I fear the next fucker who crosses my path and annoys me, I really do. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/04/wednesday_4th_january~439666/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2006-01-03:/2006/01/03/tuesday_3rd_january~436197/soundman2006-01-03T12:00:03+01:002006-01-03T12:00:03+01:00 <p>AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p>I wanted to say/ scream this at 3 o'clock this morning when I couldn't get to sleep. Sleepless nights brought on by stress - worse thing in the world EVER.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2006/01/03/tuesday_3rd_january~436197/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2005-12-29:/2005/12/29/29th_december~424339/soundman2005-12-29T15:17:08+01:002005-12-29T15:17:08+01:00 <p>2 entries in 2 days. Just like the old days when I started this blog. And almost a month since I was sacked. This feels like a difficult time of the year to get anything done. I hope it is just that - 'this time of the year' - and not a reflection of me. Clare just called asking if I fancied a beer later on. I haven't done anything I'd call work yet today but already I want to go for a beer. Must be that time of the year I guess.</p> <p>I have one main goal today. That is to write a business plan. Maybe not the whole lot - one site I just read said a business plan can take weeks to write. Fuck that, I need to get on and start earning. </p> <p>I think about starting this new business almost every second of the day. Sometimes I feel like it's the most daunting prospect ever and at other times I think it's straight forward and a breeze. Like just this morning in the shower I was mulling over the name of the company and feeling all confident and happy that I could do it and that I would be my own boss. The thought also crossed my mind of how cool it was going to be.</p> <p>Sometimes I feel like becoming self employed is like being welcomed into a secret club of other self employed people. Like we've all seen the light, but we must keep it a secret from the millions of people who go out to work everyday. That might sound daft, but it keeps me going. Like I've got to go through this painful period of no money and no company salary to rely on so that when I start making money for myself I'll truly value it. My decisions, my risks, my hard work. And all the rewards coming to me.</p> <p>And there's a weird thing - making decisions for myself. Having to spend money that isn't from someone else's coffers. When I went to Keens (they sell vans) in Battersea a couple of weeks ago I must have looked like a complete joey. I had no idea what I was really asking for. Now, 2 weeks on and after hours of research on the net, I feel confident - as if I'm really the boss. This may sound daft to anyone who's ever leased a vehicle, but I haven't. And now I've got to do it for real. I'm going for a finance lease arrangement. </p> <p>A very good friend gave me some invaluable advice recently (is that right - invaluable? i mean really really valuable advice). I had visions of setting up a business and having an all singing all dancing service up and running in one fell swoop. It doesn't work like that in reality (my reality). I have to start with the basics. Van, phone, leaflets, graft. And insurance, parking permits, printer which I don't have and artwork skills which I also don't have. But it's steps isn't it? One step at a time. Nothing happens without action. I always tell myself I'm a do-er not a talker, but sometimes I'm guilty of the latter.</p> <p>So without further ado, I will end this entry. I have a van to buy.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2005/12/29/29th_december~424339/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2005-12-28:/2005/12/28/28th_december~422470/soundman2005-12-28T18:49:30+01:002005-12-28T18:52:41+01:00 <p>Been a few days, hasn't it? Sorry - Christmas duties. Was feeling a bit low going into Christmas and that's not fair on the others around me. In particular my two young nephews for whom my circumstances don't matter one iota. For them, Christmas is a magical time when unlike the rest of the year they're allowed to be spoilt beyond their wildest dreams and I for one wasn't going to let that experience be ruined. Not that I had any money to buy them anything, but fortunately for me, my sister and her husband very generously bought them something and said it was from me - thanks. And thanks too for a wonderful Christmas.</p> <p>I got a tool kit in case anyone's wondering - I don't own any tools. Crazy isn't it? 30 years old, proud owner of one tool belt, but not a tool to my name. Makes me wonder how I got this far in life without tools? But wonder no more - it's the fullest set of tools you could possibly imagine. Now I can hang pictures on any wall I like. </p> <p>I got back Tuesday lunchtime. Very cold it was too in my flat. I sat with the electric heater inches from my feet and watched some rubbish on tele for a couple of hours. My flatmate came home the same day and we decided we'd be better offf in the pub as it would be warmer in the pub and we could play pool. The Landor is great for that. 2 minutes walk from my front door, 2 pool tables, decent guiness and good clientele. Very good clientele as it turns out lastnight, but I won't go into details...it came to nothing anyway.</p> <p>Got back and had a chinese take away and paid for a movie on Sky - Hitch. If you haven't seen it, get it. It's brilliant. Especially good if you're a bloke - some great tips on wooing women successfully.</p> <p>Blah, blah, blah. I've not said much on how I feel at the moment. Up and down in short. Generally down, but buoyed up by the possibility that my new business might just work. Whenever I talk about it to friends the general response is positive. But it's a big undertaking. As a friend recently said to me, 'if running your own business was that easy, everybody would be doing it.' And I can see her point. But I'm determined to make it work. I can't stand the thought of having to work for another living soul for as long as I live. How many joey's have you come across in your life who have set up on their own? Loads in my experience. And how many times have you looked at your boss and thought, 'what a tosser - I could do it better than him?' </p> <p>Well the answer for me is, 'yes I can do it better. And I intend to.' Not that I've ever worked for anyone in the field I'm about to enter. But the point is that I just don't respect people who can control my salary and financial security. I've looked after myself for years now so why can't I look after my own employment? </p> <p>It's these questions that are keeping me sane at the moment. I have no money and in a few days I will have to find a few hundred pounds to make my monthly payments, but friends and family have said they will help. I'm rubbish at asking for help - most of all asking for money - but I'm fast approaching a point where I'm going to have to bite the bullet and ask. I'm living on one meal a day at the moment (with the exception of the last 3 days where I ate my sister and her husband out of house and home - hibernating like a gerbil you see).</p> <p>So tomorrow I'm off to Keens in Battersea to see about leasing a van. I need a van, insurance, a parking permit for Lambeth and a little help with printing some leaflets. Then the plan is to do door to door deliveries of said leaflets in and around the posher parts of Wandsworth and Balham and see what bites. Obviously there's a bit more to it than just that - it's not gonna happen overnight. But as that wise old Chinese man once said, 'the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step'.</p> <p>Once I have my website secured I'll share with you all the name of my new venture - some of you reading this know this already and I'd ask for you to keep it under wraps for a while - plus I've had to vary it slightly to make sure I get the domain.</p> <p>That's all for now folks. Off to treat myself to a cheese toastie. Might pop out later to The Royal Oak on Clapham High Street (on the off chance anyone reads this in the next 2 hours and lives locally and fancies a pint...and knows me and wants to see me - come along - drinks are on you!)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2005/12/28/28th_december~422470/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:sacked.blog.co.uk,2005-12-19:/2005/12/19/one_more_thing~400451/soundman2005-12-19T22:23:59+01:002005-12-19T22:23:59+01:00 <p>I know the answer is to get a job, but I think I'm just getting in touch with what's happened to me. I lost a job I was devoted to (for most of the time). It was an extension of who I was. And now I don't have it. I said it earlier, it's like splitting up form the one you love.</p> <p>So give me some space, yeah?! I'm just getting over the healing period. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://sacked.blog.co.uk/2005/12/19/one_more_thing~400451/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>