Alex, Haven't read it yet, but will shortly. I think I get the drift. About a year ago I decided to
get out of the rat-race. I had got to the dizzy heights of being an assistant manager of a
data-centre in Birmingham. It was a place I really didn't want to be. OK, the pay was great, but I
hadn't seen daylight during a working day for 23 years. My stress was set by faceless senior
management, agreeing largely unachievable deadlines. If the deadlines were achieved it was as it
should be and only to be expected, if they weren't, then some faceless ars*hole would expect people
to jump *real* high. And this was a "our people are our strength" company. Anyway, to cut a boring,
long story short, I took voluntary redundancy and have gone for a total career change. I am
currently a leisure attendant at a local leisure centre (pool lifeguard) and looking to gain various
qualifications (canoeing, rock climbing, mountain leader etc.), to enable me to work in the outdoor
pursuits field. Money is no longer my 'driver', personal satisfaction is. The only time I get a
personal buzz now is when I'm outdoors, doing outdoors things. So, I won't be looking to do the job
to make ends meet, more to be out on the bike, pushing myself for my own ends (i.e. fitness levels).
If someone wants to pay me while I do that, great. I'm currently working part-time in the leisure
attendant role and can make ends meet with that income, despite being a very poorly paid job. I
would look to do the couriering in addition to this, also part-time. I would absolutely refuse to
get stressed out over it, it's one of my new 'life rules' since making the change. Anyway, thanks
for your feedback. I do have children, so I'll go and read your reference now. I don't think we have
sufficient business requirements around this area to warrant the use of cycle couriers...ah well.
Cheers, Dave.
"Mr R@t (2.3 zulu-alpha) [comms room new build]" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In
news:[email protected], Dave <
[email protected]> typed:
>
> > Hi, I'd like to work as a cycle courier but have never actually seen any locally. Presumably
> > they are used in bigger cities with congestion problems, such as London, but in smaller cities
> > and towns ?
>
> I think in London there are more media and legal firms where stuff is time-critical to the *hour*
> or *minute* (or those in charge like to *make* it that way to boost their egos) rather than just
> to "morning/afternoon" (which is easily handled by normal couriers or the Royal Mail)
>
> Incidentally, I'd *really* suggest you look at this site (especially if
you
> have any kids)
http://www.ahalenia.com/memorial/index.html
>
> Its depressing reading - but I'd rather warn someone of the dangers of a course of action at the
> start. A lot of the RTCs happen because the
courier
> wages are so low that people have take a few risks on the road to make
their
> targets - and the amount of heroin use amongst couriers seems worrying
too,
> its almost as if some *need* the stuff to calm down presumably so they
don't
> take out aggression from the roads on their friends and partners (bear in mind that on the
> street *everyone* will hate you apart from the other couriers, and this *will* rub off on the
> way you act).
>
> Even some of my more hardcore cyclist friends who really have lived on the edge won't become
> couriers because of what it can do to you (and the personal risks)
>
> Do you *really* want to risk your *life* to deliver parcels for the
minimum
> wage? Frankly if its adrenalin rushes and the "thrill of beating the
clock"
> you want I'd take up some kind of cycling *sport*; that way *you* are (slightly more) in control
> rather than your bosses and their fat corporate clients.
>
> Alex (aka Wolfie)
