Hard Times

Times are somewhat difficult at the moment for lots of people, I am thankful that we have so very nearly paid off our mortgage (just a few payments left) Its been a long 25 years in some respects and it has flown by in others. We took the decision many years ago to stay put in our house and adapt it to fit around our family. This way we didn't have to continually increase our mortgage. Because of the age gaps with the children we have managed by and large to get by. We had to move ourselves into the second bedroom which has enough room for a bed and not a lot else!! Now we could move back we don't want to . I love to lie in bed and listen to the sound of the rain on the conservatory roof.
Last week two of our friends who have struggled to make a secure life for themselves found that working for the same company that they were now facing a double redundancy situation. They have children and a mortgage and now have all the uncertainty around looking for jobs which seem to be non existent.
This morning another friend called to say that her husband, a director of a major UK company had been made redundant and virtually escorted off the premises, she is devastated and he is simply shocked. His company is one of the few to post major profits in the past year and they are still coming to terms with how quickly this has happened.
Today Carl had his final interview for University, this time Middlesex University. On the plus side its only 30 minutes drive away and there is parking on Campus (major advantage) on the down side the building is old and not in a good way. He said there didn't seem to be much in the way of equipment and it didn't feel right. Again only three male candidates. The grades required for this one is less than either of the other two, so it would be good for a back up. I now realise that he has been very fortunate getting interviews for all three places on his list, some others in his class have not had a single interview and will now have to consider what they are going to do. He is not home and dry yet but at least he has one offer on the table fingers crossed that these last two also offer and he gets his grades.
So we must all count our blessings because you just never know what life is going to deal you. On a positive note I am a firm believer that all these things happen for a reason and that they will all end up with something far more positive out of it, they just can't see it yet.