Can it really be done?

I'm really not an expert on these things, but I believe I may have sussed out a way to leave my job when I want to, screw them over by not coming back AND still keep them as a reference! Will elaborate more on this when the time comes!

There is certainly a nice buzz of excitement in our house right now. The Trans-Siberian is really an option, provided our journey doesn't collide with the Beijing Olympics (if anyone's even going??) and my girlfriend and I are really geared up for a change. We're both massively in 'save mode' right now. I can't believe it's taken me the best part of 25 years to figure out the best way to save money is to pocket a lump straight after pay day, and then try and make do with what is left! I've saved thousands already this way!

For help with booking a trip on the Trans Siberian, we've been using this really really great website: The Man in Seat Sixty-One... It's seriously useful and really up to date. It also gives directions on how to organise train travel to Moscow from London ("Flying to Moscow to pick up the Trans-Siberian Railway is like agreeing to run a marathon then accepting a lift in someone's car for the first mile...") and onward once you reach Beijing! Since there are no direct flights from Beijing to Auckland, the plan is to pick up a train to Shanghai and fly from there. All in all, I am now looking forward to a fun-packed few months while we begin to plan our trip!

How to travel to the other side of the world?

Further inter-relationship discussions with my girlfriend have also yielded another transport possibility, known as the Trans-Siberian Railway! I've always had it tucked somewhere at the back of my head as existing, but have never really given it much thought. We've chatted about it over the last few days, done a small amount of research and I have to say I love the idea!

Using the Trans-Siberian Railway, it is possible to travel some 1/3 of the way round the world - by train! Add on the journey from the UK to Russia and you increase that figure even more! The basic ticket price from Moscow to Beijing, provided you travel non-stop, is incredibly reasonable (From $250 if bought at the ticket office in Moscow), especially when you consider the scale of the planet the thing takes you across. The entertainment value of a trip like this must be high. You can consider it a kind of 'on-rail movie', constantly rolling, depicting parts of Europe and parts of Asia on a glass screen next to you. Things are all getting a bit exciting now: It really looks like we're leaving for New Zealand and are going to be travelling most of the journey by rail...

Work in New Zealand

I mentioned before that there appears to be a wealth of job vacancies in my field across the continents and the ponds. There is also, rather interestingly, a number of options that would allow me to supplement my income of NZDs with a few GBPs. I am currently looking into applying for an internet based job, which I have confirmed I could definitely take with me to NZ. I'll keep you updated on this...

Disbelief

Today I am a little shocked about a little something that has come out about the company I work for. I will reveal more at a more suitable date.

Why don't I just leave and get a new job here?

You may by now be asking 'Why don't you just fob this job off and find something new?' Good question, glad you asked! The simple answer is that my work involves a number of third parties who are quite heavily dependent on my personal presence within the job right now. Basically, the answer is that I am going to, only there is too much for others at stake right now, so I won't just yet. Aren't I nice?

The girlfriend and I have started looking at transport costs to our chosen land. We want to arrive around September time, near the start of the Southern Hemisphere's summer. Surprisingly flights are coming out pretty reasonable at that time of year, Air New Zealand, which I am told are quite nice to fly with, are going non stop via Hong Kong for £472. I have to admit though, flying all that way non-stop isn't exactly enthralling either of us, so I think we'll keep checking for stop off options on the flight front. Or maybe even another transport method? I wonder if passenger ships still go that far? Wouldn't it be great getting the ferry from Southampton to Auckland? Liverpool to Wellington. That would be amazing!

As much as I dare tell you about my work...

Now, I'm not the sort of person who would put up with the way things are for a year and then just leave without trying to right things first. I've held countless discussions with my bosses in a subtle attempt to work them out. Countless. I feel I'm a pretty good analyser of behaviour and tried I have with these guys. Oh, I have! The only answer seems to be that they harbour issues within. More issues than a comments box in a branch of Northern Rock. The main pointer towards this is the demoralising methods they employ when issuing their commands. I have always, well, since school at least, taken great pride in my work and have such often been complimented on its standards and my professionalism. Boast over. This don't happen with these guys! Oh no. The past year has seen me suffer many a verbal dig regarding, well, regarding nothing really. Just little ones here and there, as if they're frightened of a revolution or something.

The way I understand it, the management's role, to a varying extent, mainly involves the organisation of the staff and ensuring they are aware of their role. Not here. These are a right pair of spare parts! Honestly. They may have the ability to sweet talk all four legs and the tail off a donkey, but when it comes to them having a day to day input into the company, they may as well stay at home. Which they almost do, I mean 10.30 is hardly an appropriate start time for a director, now is it? Maybe once a week, but all five times? I wouldn't mind so much if the office was full of ridiculously happy staff and their arrival wasn't met with a slight glint of disappointment in the eyes of everyone. I wouldn't at all mind if their arrival in my field of senses wasn't the sh*tt*st part of my day. Even if it was second sh*tt*st, that would resemble some improvement.

No, I don't like it when they arrive. Not least because I suddenly see a list of pointless assignments arrive on my 'to do' list; some of which they could easily do themselves, rather than get me to do it then edit it (literally) five times (they could even, at least, do the editing!); and some of which they could easily give to admin, seeing as that's why they employ admin staff (at least, so I naively thought!). In summary, I begin to feel very down when I see one of them walking towards me...

On a positive note, however, it looks like New Zealand is a viable option for my new location. There appears to be loads of jobs advertised in my field, which for my security's sake I won't mention right now on here. (Rest assured I will though, once the AWOL stunt goes down later this year). I also happen to know from a trip to New Zealand House that a working holiday visa is fairly easily obtainable, provided you are fit and healthy (which I reckon I am) and are of good character (never been in trouble, me). I also doubt very much that NZ's more laid back lifestyle will have churned up any monsters similar to those whom I currently work with. Fingers crossed on that one, however...

I am definitely serious!

I've given it a few more days to mull over. Just to make sure I am making the right decision. As if I need to make sure! This is the best decision ever! I am going to 'disappear' off to New Zealand, saying goodbye only to my family and friends. To my employers, my mobile phone will suddenly be 'off'. They will ring it constantly for a while, leaving stupid voicemail after stupid voicemail. I may even record an impersonation of my boss onto the voicemail. What do you reckon? Stick a few of his ridiculous catchphrases on it, so he can really hear how he sounds. Sadly for my parents, they also have their number (I lived with them when I first started working there), so I will have to pre-warn my Mother to shout at them when they call. And they will call. A lot. So my Mother will have to shout. A lot. I'm not a huge grudge bearer, but I do delight in dishing out comeuppances when I feel they are particularly deserved. And these wallies have truly earnt theirs! I've only worked with them for a year, but I can count the number of curries I've had in that time more easily than the number of times they've p*ss*d me off! I'll write more about them in a later post, but for now I'll leave with the thought that they are THE MOST RIDICULOUS people I have ever come across attempting to run a company...

Decision making and me

I came to a decision earlier this week. I'm not the type of person who struggles with decisions, so you could argue that it was more an idea, which I'm going to go ahead with. In fact, it's not like it's a million miles away from an idea I've had before. This week I decided not only that another country is the ideal home for me, but also that I'm going to walk clean away from my job. Without telling them.