The Mad Bull's Blog

May 01, 2004

I'm Out Of A Job!

So, I was made "redundant" yesterday. I am out of my job, which I had held for twenty years!

YIPPPEEEEEEE! Whats your poison? The (virtual) drinks are on me! Wheeee!!!!

Celebrations are in order! Why? Heres the story: Sometime near the beginning of the year, my company decided that it wanted to reduce its employee numbers. It had somewhere in the region of 1700 employees, and it wanted to cut two hundred positions. It decided to offer a voluntary separation package to the employees... employees could apply to be considered for separation, and they would receive a separation package which would be governed by the rules in relation to redundancy which the company had agreed with the unions.

Did I mention that this redundancy agreement is somewhat generous? No? Well, it is! smily

This offer by the company dovetailed wonderfully with my personal plans. I therefore opted to apply for the redundancy, you simi? Anyway, I was told that I would be released on March 31, but that date came and went. I was given the date April 16, but that passed too! The next date up was April 23. That blew by without the desired result, but April 30 was golden! smily

But wait! I'm not done yet!

Shortly after my father died last year, I came to the conclusion that I needed to get a job overseas. I don't want to live in any freezer (cold country), and I don't have papers for the U.S. or Canada anyway, so by the process of elimination, I decided to look for a job in another Caribbean Island. I had been actively job hunting, actually.
Also at the start of this year, Shoma told me about a job in Grand Cayman. I applied for the job, which was for a network engineer. My past experience is really with applications development and maintenance and with database administration though, so I didn't get that job, but the company indicated that they would consider me for another position in application support that was coming up, if I was interested... I was, they did, and I got the job! smily

What I'm saying, people, is that the Mad Bull's Blog will shortly be coming to you from sunny Grand Cayman. Natty, MBJr and I are pulling up stumps here in Jamaica, for a few years at the minimum. Thats not to say I'll never be back! Who knows what time will bring, and I plan to visit often! After all, Grand Cayman doesn't have any mountains, let alone hills... I read in the magazine on a Cayman Airways flight on Sunday that nowhere in Grand Cayman is more that 6o feet above sea level! Hell, the DSS Doc (One of my bredrins that lives there, Shoma's husband) was joking with me that the highest point on the island is the Georgetown City Dump! I will definitely miss the view of the mountains here! Jamaica is such a beautiful country, people. It is also more lush than Grand Cayman, as it has lots more water... I also leave behind some really good friends...

Still, its only a forty minute flight! We can swap visits too, so I anticipate that I will see them at least a few times a year, and for the rest, well, there is always our online meeting places, nuh true? Anyways, thats all for now! I've got to flash as I have some shyte to do! Maybe we'll chat more on this later... for now, SEE YA!

Posted by Mad Bull at May 01, 2004 07:00 AM

Comments

Way to go Bro!!!!!
I am very happy for you!!!!!

Posted by: Ciya on May 1, 2004 10:27 AM

big up, big up!!! shouw!!! what time's dinner bro??? thank god for this - i'll have to check out a trip to cayman when i come home later this month!!! i'm so excited for you!!!

Posted by: seven on May 1, 2004 12:51 PM

Joy?!? at unemployment?? it takes all kinds...well at least you've got more free time have a nice redundancy!

Posted by: Duppy on May 1, 2004 01:36 PM

I will be brief. Happy fe all o you my yute.

Thou shalt be missed....haffi find a new VX partner! Cho, there are plenty of those 'round de place...but dem nuh go back far like de two o we. You are the longset standing bredren that I have (You beat Dr. Spanish by about 5 years! And him flash gone dis week as well....conspiracy to rass!)

Anyway, when you settle 'een let me know, can't say when, but onoo will simi. And, you done know seh when you ready to visit you have place fe sleep and cyar fe drive!

Posted by: Dr. D. on May 1, 2004 03:50 PM

...congratulations to you and yours!!!...how wonderful that your company can be *so* generous and thoughtful :^)...I will glad share a virtual vx with you (although I'm drinking stella artois at the moment :^) )...

(and my comiserations to dr.d on losing a drinking partner)

Posted by: billy on May 1, 2004 05:12 PM

fantabulous!

having uprooted several times and lived in a couple places, i can say that it's a wonderful thing to experience another country, esp. one that is close to Jamaica so you can return often (and will appreciate it more).

please make sure and look up Hector Robinson. He is brother to the fella I was waiting to give the big hug to at the Mound fence when you saw me. Hector is a lawyer, but more importantly, is big into his cricket. Tell him you know me....that will open doors for you (I'm jes kidding, ok!)

happy packing, and a bit of advice....throw weh tings weh yu nuh need! "As you will see on my blog, yesterday while going through stuff, i asked myself what was i thinking when I packed things like past telephone and electricity bills and had them here in grenada for 3 years!. so, if you haven't used it in a year, you dont need it.

just my 2 cents., but very happy for you.

oh, and hector is involved in a group which plans tours over to jamaica for cricket.

Posted by: yamfoot on May 1, 2004 09:03 PM

Thanks for your kind wishes, all!
Michele, I will look him up! BTW, I agree with you on throwing out stuff you're not using.
Billy, Doctor D will be ok, and he can visit whenever he wants... Come to think of it, we can too.
Actually, Duppy, I am already in a new job, in Grand Cayman. Nevertheless, I will try to enjoy my redundancy!
Seven, we'll have your room ready for you... will Midas come too?
Thanks Ciya, love you too!

Posted by: Mad Bull on May 2, 2004 08:58 AM

Well, congratulations on the exciting move! Grand Cayman sounds like a very interesting place to go. What part of the isle will you be? I'm looking forward to hearing about your new home when you get there, and my condolonces to Dr. D for the distance he'll face between he and his VX bud. But, as you pointed out (and he did too) you and he can move about between the two countries for visits.

Posted by: Desiree on May 2, 2004 11:19 AM

Congrats and best of luck on your new job!

Posted by: Trish on May 2, 2004 02:53 PM

MB - Good Luck to you and your family - Change is always good - especially when one is prepared for it.

I have enjoyed reading your take on life in Ja and other happening.

Donald

Posted by: Donald on May 2, 2004 09:58 PM

Glad that you were able have something truly wonderful come of being let go!

Posted by: Da Goddess on May 7, 2004 04:33 AM

kevin... now I will HAVE to read your Blogs! :-) I mean, when you were jus round the corner at work I would come for a chat... now yuh gone all the way to cayman!

I see you guys are settling in... you will soon be talking Caymanian

Anyway, I am VERY happy for you.... Now can we talk about a little borrows from di redundancy thingy (laugh).

Seriously, I really miss you here at work. Uuhnu mek mi feel sey mi shouda
tek di money and run to...to... to.. well that's why I'm staying! Anyway, For many years I considered you one of my REAL GOOD friends here at work (former work) and I aboslutly attribute much of my "success" here to your unselfish sharing of knowledge and verbal encouragment. I knon you will do well and I am HAPPY for your family. God Bless and say hi to the wifey.

Posted by: Kennedy on May 13, 2004 10:43 AM