Leeds Ram

The problem with your example here is that we didn't negotiate terms of surrender with the Nazis... their surrender had to be unconditional and absolute for us to accept it. I was merely highlighting that it's very easy to say let's get a ceasefire. Almost everyone can agree with that tbh. The bigger problem, besides stopping the clock for a few months or even a few years, necessitates trying to dig out a form of a solution from this mess. Finding a solution that both Israel and Palestine can stomach is further away than it likely has been since 48 itself if current surveys are to be believed. 

read two faces of liberalism by John Gray and This is Europe by Ben Judah which are both great books. Although Gray's critiques are a bit worn these days. About to start the novelist by Jordan Castro which has had strong recommendations too.

Always hate this month as it would have been my dad's birthday. This year he'd have been 60. Also got the additional stress of my academic job contract running down and trying to work out if I'll get an extension or not... with my industry in the doldrums it's not a fun time to say the least. Also been feeling really down generally with work and struggling to find the motivation to finish what needs to be done. 

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

This does help 🙂 Thanks for the kind words I really appreciate them 🙂 

Oh wow, that's excellent for your lad massive congrats! Yeah, I finished my PhD in 2022 and currently a teaching fellow at the University of Leeds. It would be great to get to work there as it is very prestigious and the project looks right on what I'm interested in 🙂 Thanks, it is stressful but trying to manage it 🙂 

Kings is where my lad did his postdoc - pharmacology. If I understand you correctly, you've completed your DPhil and are looking to remain in Academia? In any case, it's a highly prestigious seat of learning and if you can secure work there, I'm sure it'll make things much easier in the future, as you'll be even more employable. Hopefully you get the nod soon anyway, as I know how stressful the wind down period of any contract can be. 

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it 🙂 Yeah, I'm hoping my contract will either be renewed, or I'll get some postdoctoral funding or I'm applying for a research job at Kings College London. If none of these work out, then definitely I'll get a skate on looking at other things! 🙂  

Hey man , hopefully you get what youre looking for. But in the worse case scenario another door will always open. Even if you have to get a rubbish job just to make the bills pay till you get something else. Theres always stuff at supermarkets and stuff ( i know its prob nothing like what youre doing but atleast its money in the bank).

Chin up lad. It's hard at certain times of the year. My mum went very early and despite that, I still dread October. All I can offer by way of encouragement is to think about what your dad would want for you. He'd not want his memory being something that weighs you down, I'm sure, at least that's what I tell myself when I get morose.
As for the work thing, that's the nature of contracting, I'm afraid and most I know have seen things slow down recently. Contractors do earn a pretty penny when in gainful employment and there are lots of benefits to not being tied into one entity, so my advice would be squirrel as much away as you can while you're contracted, to carry you through the periods when you're not. Also, don't be afraid to spread your wings and look outside the UK. Most other countries are not being crushed by high interest rates and you might well find gainful (and very well paid) employment elsewhere and you're young enough to take a risk or two, though not knowing what it is you do, I'm not sure whether this is relevant.

Really don’t know if this helps ( probably not ) , but how it is for me ,
with a devastating loss I kind went with the well trodden phrase that it gets easier with time ,,, it didn’t / doesn’t and I came to the conclusion you learn to survive it , anniversary s are hard but I allow myself to feel the way they make you feel ( not sure you could stop it anyway ) , there’s also something a bit freeing and needed about those times where I can open the box and just be with the stuff that I probably wouldn’t survive if it was running round my head all the time,
not really sure I explain it properly 🤷🏻‍♂️

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

Always hate this month as it would have been my dad's birthday. This year he'd have been 60. Also got the additional stress of my academic job contract running down and trying to work out if I'll get an extension or not... with my industry in the doldrums it's not a fun time to say the least. Also been feeling really down generally with work and struggling to find the motivation to finish what needs to be done. 

Always hate this month as it would have been my dad's birthday. This year he'd have been 60. Also got the additional stress of my academic job contract running down and trying to work out if I'll get an extension or not... with my industry in the doldrums it's not a fun time to say the least. Also been feeling really down generally with work and struggling to find the motivation to finish what needs to be done. 

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

Yeah the anniversaries are never fun but as you say soldier on! I'm sorry to hear about your losses too. I've got some friends coming over on the date of my dad's birthday for a few drinks so will likely raise a glass to him and try to enjoy the day as much as I can 🙂

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

Need to follow our work on from Portsmouth. Don't get drawn into Wycombe's games, stay above the fray and knock them out with a clean punch. Attack with pace and movement and they simply won't be able to cope. 

My mistake. I assumed it was in response as it touched on the very same topics I posted about 🙂 

Such anniversaries are never great mate.  We just have to soldier on, I guess.
Not long passed both my parents birthdays (late Jan & early Feb), and whilst it does technically "get easier" as the years go by, the fade is admittedly minimal, and it still smarts over 4 decades later (Yeah, they both failed to reach their 50's!)
Personally, I go for a little nod towards "a birthday celebration", be that a short-sharp happy memory, a raised glass, or even a cheery wave skywards (if nobody's looking!).  It doesn't do to dwell on the negatives, but I appreciate that can sometimes be easier said than done.
Hang on in there buddy... and give the wave a try to the (not-so) old man, on his birthday!  🍻

not wishing to downplay your worries in any way shape or form, and would never tell you how to feel about a beloved family member, but I have vast experience in the contracting/redundancy and general lack of security, and as s*** as it is, I've found that as long as I pick myself up, dust myself down, and conduct myself properly, the rewards will come and the situation resolves itself, I hope that whatever happens workwise, you back yourself and your ability and you are fine.

Always hate this month as it would have been my dad's birthday. This year he'd have been 60. Also got the additional stress of my academic job contract running down and trying to work out if I'll get an extension or not... with my industry in the doldrums it's not a fun time to say the least. Also been feeling really down generally with work and struggling to find the motivation to finish what needs to be done. 

Hope he has a great send off Mucker 🙂