Comments for WorldWideWaterCooler

Comment on On the Move by Jen Watkiss

Jen Watkiss — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:56:35 +0000

Hah. Must be something in the water this month! At least you’ve got until October to figure something out. July feels *awfully* soon!

Comment on On the Move by Michele

Michele — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:31:40 +0000

Yesterday must have been some sort of “boot Canadian renters out” day in Oxford because we got an email from our landlord’s son telling us they won’t be renewing our lease (they’re going to gut and totally renovate the house) in October. Even though we had sort of decided we really wanted to move out of our freezing cold falling apart house, it’s still suddenly become very real. Holy shit and all that. So I completely empathise with you. And obviously the immigration stuff doesn’t help. If you want to talk to Canadians who have been there/done that, just shout.

Comment on On the Move by Jen Watkiss

Jen Watkiss — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:46:53 +0000

Thanks. We have actually been enjoying renting, just not the part about not having much control over how long we can stay. We do feel a bit duped, because we asked, and were told when we chose this place, that the owners bought it as an investment property and had no desire to live here. Unfortunately, tenants rights are pretty bad here, compared to BC (they are heavily skewed toward the landlord), so it seems like something we’ll just have to get used to.

As for length of stay, we certainly didn’t plan this to be a for-ever-ever move, but always planned to be here longer than a short secondment. Thing is, when you come on a spousal visa, it’s only good for 28 months, and is non-renewable. So we’d need to get the ILR stuff done anyhow, and figured it’s better to get it sorted sooner than later with all the rule changes.

Comment on On the Move by Laura

Laura — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:31:46 +0000

Awww Jen I’m so sorry to hear. Somehow I didn’t realize that you guys were considering this a permanent move; I assumed (don’t know why?) that it was a temporary “secondment” or similar for a couple years.

I think this kind of news is always most stressful when you first hear it. It’s unexpected and bad news and it’s super painful while your brain struggles out of denial and into acceptance of the new status quo. And of course the uncertainty of not knowing how it will all shake out in July is awful, and your brain plays that worst-case-scenario on repeated loop. But once you’re there, it becomes business as usual.

As a single girl on a modest income living solo in Vancouver, home ownership is not an option for me either… but it never has been, not yet anyway, so it’s not stressful, it just IS. There are wonderful things about renting too… furnace broke? NOT YOUR PROBLEM! I have no doubt that as smart and resourceful as you guys are, you’ll find a good solution and things will start looking up.

Comment on On the Move by Sue

Sue — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:15:58 +0000

I find it interesting that you’re allowed to vote there. Beats Canada where you have to have citizenship… you can pay taxes, drive cars, buy property, employ people etc. but you can’t vote. Strikes me as taxation without representation.

Comment on Buckling Down by Liz

Liz — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:57:28 +0000

This is something that I struggle with too! I’ve had some small improvements trying out a few techniques:
1) the 45/15 rule — focus intently on the task at hand for 45 minutes, then flip-flop around on other small tasks for 15 minutes. I’m working on upping the “focus” time and decreasing the “flip-flop”;
2) Trying to recognize my natural energy rhythms — I find it easiest to focus between 9am-11am, so I try to schedule my headier tasks then;
3) Watch my diet. I become even more scatterbrained when I’m over-sugared, but can often focus more if I’m caffeinated (just not too caffeinated or I buzz!).

Looking forward to seeing what others recommend! Good luck.

Comment on Buckling Down by Phil B

Phil B — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:32:15 +0000

I don’t use Pomodoro (but will be checking it out). If I need to knuckle down I close email, twitter, phone on silent etc and then set a timer for 20mins. Same principle as using the app, gives you a set time and it is surprising how much you can get done!

I will then check twitter, get a cuppa and repeat.

Comment on Buckling Down by Chris

Chris — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:56:59 +0000

+1 Pomodoro. I also suggest meditation. I’ve heard good things about the book “Personal Kanban”, but have yet to read it.

Comment on Buckling Down by Beth

Beth — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:11:12 +0000

I’ve been using the Pomodoro app to keep keep me focused lately. I’m writing up a big report and would find myself writing a single bullet point and then thinking “I wonder if anyone has tweeted anything good in the last 16 seconds while I wrote that one point? Better check!” I turn the Pomodoro app on, sit my phone by my computer screen and it serves as a visual reminder that I’m not “allowed” to look at anything else but my data and the Word document that I’m writing my report in until the 25 mins are up. And often working through those 25 mins is long enough to gets me into the writing zone so that even when the buzzer goes off, I just keep writing rather than taking the break. (I’m actually on one of those breaks thatvi did decide to take right now, and now it’s time to get back to that report!)

Comment on Buckling Down by Jen Watkiss

Jen Watkiss — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:05:37 +0000

Well, you guys are no help at all! Though I do enjoy the idea of blaming it on age, too. With the double-whammy of age and kid to blame it on, I’m surprised I’m even…..