My first job after graduating was an insurance loss adjuster. Motor and household insurance were pretty run-of-the-mill, especially as I was office based. But when I moved into personal injury, I saw some proper sights. I used to investigate no win, no fee claims. Went in so much council and housing association property. My patch was Sheffield, Nottingham, and everything in between. Nottingham was rough. I saw some ridiculous sights in the Meadows, including a woman who said that she couldn't offer me a cup of tea as her daughter had sold the kettle to buy crack. Said daughter turned up with her boyfriend about ten minutes into the interview, clearly very high on crack. I'm pretty sure the sofa I was sitting would have been sold not long after. But to be honest, I reckon the Manor in Sheffield topped the lot for desperation and deprivation. Because St Anne's and the Meadows are so close to the city centre, the poverty and huge income divide are impossible to ignore in Nottingham. But the Manor and most of the other less salubrious areas of Sheffield are tucked away, well out of sight. Most of the city centre is very sanitised and middle class, but the Manor is probably the biggest concentration of human suffering I have ever seen in the developed world. A sprawling mass of unemployment, mental illness, alcoholism and hopelessness, just a short walk from the fancy bars and luxury apartments. But it's a up a hill on the far side of the city, and the two worlds very rarely collide. Modern Britain in a microcosm.
In my travels, I've worked in various bits of Leeds and Sheffield and the two worst were Osmondthorpe and Wyborn. Osmondthorpe was getting dark and dodgy-looking people were just appearing out of bushes at the side of the road, and Wyborn had 2/3 houses boarded up.
University Lecturer in Creative Writing. On the side, staff writer and curation at a digital generative art studio.
One of my former clients is one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in Russia, specialising in dermatology. I've helped prepare so many lectures and presentations on cutting edge anti-ageing technology.
Unemployed footballing centre half… there’s still time! 30 years in the Navy and now I’m masquerading as a Systems Engineer contracting to a defence firm making stuff for the Navy, it never leaves you. oh and me old man worked at the pit.. wages office mind with inky not down it
Mine not on people though. Houses and automotive. Chips / damage to worktops, baths, shower trays upvc etc and car, bike paintwork and repairs.
Some right states. Not sure what goes through there heads for all of them to start looking like Vincent from the Beauty and the Beast TV series.
Work in Broadcasting & Media as main job. Then a couple of sidelines of singing / guitar and also a hypnotherapist.
A very interesting thread this. One of the best on the BBS. I have to say, before giving up corporate life, although not entirely really, as I do have a limited company, I did 13 years at Yorkshire Bank, whilst trying to make it in various indie bands. Only the last one was half decent, Famous Dead. We did sone big gigs & tours around 94/95 with Shed 7 / Dodgy / Longpigs & a few with Pele (the band). I owned a record shop eventually, after going back to Uni in Leeds & having the best, debauched time in my life, after quitting making music & just talking crap about it & buying & selling it. That came to an end eventually, with me having to sell my flat to pay off debts & set up a DJ company. https://www.thehi-life.co.uk I still DJ a fair bit, but it is either top dollar, or no dollar, depending what I'm doing. 4 Points In Punk has been a move into the blog world, which is no money either, but great meeting the people who made my world revolve in the late 70's / 80's. For me that is priceless in itself. Thanks to everyone for their stories. I worked a bit in lockdown for my brother's company Cindercone & a few of the IT posters sound to come from a similar world in integration. For now though, I'll leave you with Slaughter & the Dogs, first track with a Tony Davidson interview show going out in Lisbon on Sunday. Will bore you later on a listen again. He's a bit nervous first 5 minutes & it all comes out, all the Manchester dirt & gold of the 70's / early 80's.
She! And knowing her political leanings, she'd "accidentally" administer an overdose of something very unpleasant if he (or even one of his doubles) found his way into her clinic!
That's interesting, I am convinced my grandson is autistic but through our battle to satisfy the professionals I've come to the firm belief that the neurodiverse are actually more "normal" than the neurotypical.
That's one of my sidelines in retirement, getting spiders wasps and other sundry creatures out of the house without harming them. Even a hedgehog once which the dog brought in!
Secondary history teacher, Strictly Come Dancing podcaster. Previously wedding venue host for local museums. Me dad is a pit engineer.