An update.

[camelsac2002]

Hi all.

Firstly, belated Happy New Year to you all! Hope everyone is fit and well!

 

This is not so much a car update as a me update as I know some have been following my journey through cancer.

I've been relatively quiet on this excellent forum up until now. In the weeks running up to Christmas, my fatigue hit me quite hard - so much so that I didn't feel like doing much. Last year was my first full year of being back at work full time - and I over did it. I worked some Saturdays as it's good money and it's nice to have some extra. (More on that later!) But it was sometimes like walking waist deep in treacle and on some mornings, I really didn't feel like getting out of bed. Then the final week before Christmas, I picked up what I thought was a cold but turned out to be a chest infection - not nice for most but worrying for me as it could've turned into pneumonia which wouldn't have been good - although I've had a pneumonia jab so might have been okay. There was nothing to be done as it was viral - then it turned bacterial so five days of antibiotics gave it the kick - I'm now much better. As a result, I've made a resolution to take more time off when I need it - the company have been completely on board with it and I can afford to take the hit financially as the mortgage isn't much now, even with interest rate rises and overpaying. I count myself lucky as someone I know of who had the same type of leukaemia as me took five years to get back to work - so I've listened to everyone around me - Mrs Camel, my mum and my boss - and shall not be screwing the nut as hard this year!

 

Now - that extra money! I had a cunning plan of.......selling the BM and buying the new Civic type R. However - trying to order one is nigh on impossible as the 500 allocated appear to be spoken for and none of the dealers know if they'll get allocated more - some people have even had deposits returned! Which led me to think that whilst that car is awesome for a back road blast - great handling AND a proper gearbox (three pedals!) I would miss the six pot in my current steed and the fact that after a hard day at work, I can just slide into my car, stick it in D and cruise home - even more so on longer journeys - so I've 99% shelved that idea! Plus I'd miss the comments I get on my Beemer - it still attracts attention even nearly two years on!

 

Anyway - enough of my rambling! Stay safe all and keep enjoying your cars, whatever they maybe!

[Shug]

Nowhere near the same position as you Camel, as know you have the health issues hanging over you, but I did similar from 1st Jan as was shattered at the end of every week, just getting older.

 

In my case past 60 now and a fair bit of pressure / stress at work and monthly long haul trips taking their toll (even in business class) as taking me longer to get head straight and back on time zone after each trip. 
 

So I took a 15% pay cut and gained 39 days extra holiday.  So basically I get a week off every 4 weeks and 2 weeks off three months of the year. 
 

Luckily (or maybe because I was working damn hard and saved a fair bit when younger) no mortgage since my early 40s on any of my properties, so cash isn’t the most important thing.

 

Long term happiness is key

 

Stay safe Camel

[tweaked9107]

Glad to hear you are taking the right steps.

 

Like Shug and yourself I can echo the sentiment of having more time off if you can afford it. I'm not particularly old (even if I do feel it mentally) but I made the decision after being made redundant from my last job of 13 years that I wanted something less stressful and more flexible which is exactly what I got. Thankfully I managed it without having to take an expected pay cut but then I did buy some extra days off this year as well. I've also made it very clear to my new employer that I have no intention of working weekends unless it's an absolute emergency situation. 

 

You only get one life and all that, so you need to strike the right balance between financial security and physical/mental health. I've seen too many former colleagues drag out their retirement to eek those few extra £££ and then never make it.

[Booth11]

The mrs and your mum are always right Camel!  😂  Seriously, I’m glad you’re listening both to your nearest and dearest, the boss (well maybe thats stretching it a bit far regards your boss), and most importantly your own body, and have decided to ease off a little and have a bit more time to relax and slow down.  After such a major illness, even a nasty cold can be a cause of worry about longer term effects, so I’m sorry to hear you’ve been unwell over Christmas but glad you’re feeling a lot better now, and ready to enjoy more time away from work.  It’s very good that your employers are supportive and of course your family.  I’m pretty sure you’re not going to look back and wish you’d worked any longer or harder than you already have.  
 

Like the others above I also echo the sentiment of cutting back on the work a bit if you can afford to.  A few years ago I dropped a day from my working week and the difference that one extra day at home makes is amazing.  Just a far better balance all round.  We’ve luckily paid our mortgage off and have a few investment properties so in a reasonably comfortable position and I have thought about dropping another day but atm it’s still working ok for me and I’ll save that perhaps when I edge closer to 60 (I’m 56).  A couple of my colleagues who are 60 plus have just gone down to 3 day weeks and I’ve never seen them happier.  I’m a little envious but we like to have a good few holidays a year so the pennies still need to roll in.  Mr B has had more than his share of health issues (3 heart attacks and cancer) and though he still works full time (his own business) it’s on his terms and holidays are his stress release, so the balance is good atm.  We enjoyed a nice Christmas but book-ending that was a lot of worry with my mum very ill and poorly pets.  Sadly we lost a cat before Christmas and my lovely mum died a couple weeks ago, and another cat is currently having major surgery, so it’s been a bit of a shaky start to 2023. 
 

Anyway, enough introspection……cars!  
 

Even though you rudely turned your back on VW for the warm embrace of Bayerische Motoren Werke, you didn’t abandon us altogether (although never forget you’re still banished to the dungeon of Other Marques for BMW speak 😝), it’s great to hear that the BMW is still your choice of luxury cruiser and isn’t yet to be jettisoned for a Type R, although being honest I’d take the latter any day of the week over a BMW!  
 

So welcome back after your absence.  😄  And here’s a belated new year toast to your current and future health and happiness!  🥂 🍻 

 

[Pinky1959]

As said to those with health issues look after no 1 as most companies don't care and you are just a number.

I semi retired six years ago and now help my wife run her after school tuition business and absolutely love it, after working in the Ambulance service for 27 years I got early retirement as having a bad back was starting to cause issues with heavy lifting etc.

Mr Camel , glad you are feeling better and enjoying life and sometimes taking it easy which is good for the mental health and wellbeing.

[NRW]

Like you Camel, I’m a chap who has to learn their lessons the hard way. 
Shifting work/life balance must be made easier when you’ve the BMW to enjoy in your leisure?
Think about extending a bit mechahanical sympathy to the Camel😂?
Go canny, go easy mate. 

[Cogito]

Thanks for the update Camel.  We value your friendship and contributions to this group and wish you well.  Keep paying attention to your inner needs as well as the sound advice of Mrs. Camel, your mum, your boss, etc.  It sounds like you're attuned to what's important to your life.  Bec, so sorry to hear of your mum's passing.  Our thoughts are with you in these challenging times.  Although I've never met you in person, I'm confident you have what it takes to rise to the occasion and come out strong and ready for whatever the future brings.