Last night I was having an email conversation with a friend and something in that conversation prompted me to review my blog today. As I was reading through it I found this post here and I must provide a brief update.
The TRS 2.0 is still very much on the agenda. I shared my plans with a couple of the mums at my son's school who know of the hardships I've endured recently and they've all commented that this decision is the best I've made in the 5 or so years we've known each other, and they've further commented that I'm so much happier since making that decision. I can't help but agree with them on that count - I have been happier.....there's something nice, comforting, about having a direction to head toward. And I'm so, so, so excited about having my own thing again. My own career, my own identity, my own goals, dreams and aspirations.
Anyway, at the beginning of this year I set about updating my education (with my husband's full and complete support and encouragement). This was all simple enough. I explained to the trainer about my previous qualifications and education and he made me sit 5 exams to test me. I passed (naturally) and got a piece of paper that says I'm now smart enough to apply for yet another piece of paper that will allow me to work in the industry.
I applied for that piece of paper at the end of February 2015 and was requested to submit additional further information due to the fact that my empire collapsed in 2010 and I was a director of the controlling company. I expected it. I submitted a 100-page submission in mid May.
Finally, finally I got my precious qualification last week. It was really bizzare. I was sitting here at my desk at 10.15 in the morning feeling somewhat frustrated at how slow things move and I decided to just do a quick on-line check of how my application was going. I kid you not - the qualification was approved that morning. Given that it was only 10.15 when I made the check, one can only assume it was approved in the preceding hour. Nice little sign from the Universe, I thought.
And I got the hard-copy of my precious qualification just this morning, so I'm super excited now. Since making the decision about establishing TRS 2.0 I've held the view that once my qualifications are sorted out the right opportunities will make their way to me - I now need to be on guard and receptive.
In other parts of life I've returned to the gym with renewed vigour. I dumped all my group classes and graduated to the free weights and power racks section of the gym. This week I recorded my first weights....60kg deadlift from the hang, 30kg deadlift and a 30kg front squat. Pretty proud of my efforts given it was actually the first time I've ever deadlifted!! And I'm back doing HIIT a few times a week - managed to get back up to 10 rounds, plus reduced the off time to 1min50sec down from 2min. My body is becoming very efficient at the cardio. And people have started to comment and compliment me on the changes in my body composition, which is always nice to hear!
On the existing work front things are going OK. The move to strictly commercial work has proved to be a sound one. We picked up a factory re-build which is nearing completion, and we're about to start on the construction of a new 5 storey commercial building on the outskirts of the CBD - and we're very pleased with that win. Plus we've been invited to tender on a marvelous factory complex in the inner west as well - and that one is very, very exciting. So, things seem to be on the improve.
So, that's it in a nutshell.
Till next time...
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
What Isis Really Wants....
Naturally people are talking about all the looniness going on lately. A very good friend of mine (thank you McS) passed me this article:
The Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse. Here’s what that means for its strategy—and for how to stop it....
Read the entire article here: http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/ but I warn you in advance that it is long and confronting in parts. But mostly it's very concerning.
Note: there is a 15 second advert before you get to the article.
Till next time...
Friday, February 13, 2015
Happy St. Valentine's Day...
Blah, and bah humbug.
I just can not stand St. Valentine's day. Nor can I stand Halloween or any other "tradition" made up by marketeers to encourage the masses to spend more money. Even the modern day Christmas and Easter get on my nerves because of the overwhelming commercialisation of it all.
But in saying that I won't criticise anyone who does choose to celebrate St. Valentine's day. I will criticise those who celebrate Halloween though!
Now, I have a best friend. Her name is KMHL. As I was driving home this morning it occurred to me that if I say her initials as a word and say them quickly they rather sound like Camel! lol
LOL...oh my goodness, the things my brain comes up with sometimes. Sorry KMHL. But it is funny. I literally am laughing out loud to myself right now.
Anyway, back to the point.
I've known her near on 20 years, and she's the only person who knows me well, and I know her equally as well. There's something so nice about a relationship like that. There's no pretending, there's no filtering, we just are the way we are - and we get each other. She's the funniest person I've ever met.
I guessed last week that she was up to something when she asked me for my postal address and how often I clear my mail, but the thought left my mind....till this morning.
You've been reading my blog, Missy! And that was very naughty of you. But thank you!! I love you, and I'm so glad it's you whose weirdness is compatible with my weirdness!
I was particularly impressed with the wrapping paper and the double sided tape - the detail, hun!! Love it. mwah mwah
And I have to say what a lovely way to celebrate St. Valentine's day; celebrating friendship.
Didn't I say recently that I have awesome friends??
Till next time...
Friday, February 6, 2015
Life, Anyone?...
I don't know about other people but I tend to have roller coaster emotions. Maybe it's hormonal, maybe it's environmental, or perhaps it's just cerebral. I don't know, I don't question it; it just is what it is.
But today I'm feeling an overwhelming love of my life. I can't recall the last time I was this high on life (gosh, how old is that saying? Was it an anti-drug campaign slogan - I can't remember).
My husband and I had a lovely conversation last night - a debrief of each of our lives. And as I was chatting away he said 'I love you so much when you're happy. You're a totally different person. You're the woman I met 15 years ago'.
I like me when I'm happy too, was my reply.
I was sitting at my desk this morning thinking about that conversation and why I am so happy at the moment. (I wonder whether I should even be questioning it...but anyway).
It's exercise mainly. No, exercise doesn't make me happy, but is certainly supports and promotes a good disposition. And when one has a good disposition it follows that everything is seen through rosier glasses, doesn't it?
Having said that, what's not to be happy about? I have beautiful, clever children, a husband devoted to their well being, a roof over my head (albeit rented), a car (that does leak due to a defective panel beating job though). And I have beautiful, awesome friends in my life.
Tell me, what's not to be happy about?
Till next time....
But today I'm feeling an overwhelming love of my life. I can't recall the last time I was this high on life (gosh, how old is that saying? Was it an anti-drug campaign slogan - I can't remember).
My husband and I had a lovely conversation last night - a debrief of each of our lives. And as I was chatting away he said 'I love you so much when you're happy. You're a totally different person. You're the woman I met 15 years ago'.
I like me when I'm happy too, was my reply.
I was sitting at my desk this morning thinking about that conversation and why I am so happy at the moment. (I wonder whether I should even be questioning it...but anyway).
It's exercise mainly. No, exercise doesn't make me happy, but is certainly supports and promotes a good disposition. And when one has a good disposition it follows that everything is seen through rosier glasses, doesn't it?
Having said that, what's not to be happy about? I have beautiful, clever children, a husband devoted to their well being, a roof over my head (albeit rented), a car (that does leak due to a defective panel beating job though). And I have beautiful, awesome friends in my life.
Tell me, what's not to be happy about?
Till next time....
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Love, and other drugs...
That's the name of the movie I watched on TV the other night.
It was about a young man who fell in love with a young woman who had been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease.
Aside from the Parkinson's curve ball, it was a typical movie with one partner wanting the other partner more than the other, and then the resisting partner eventually falling for the pursuing partner.
Quite some time into the movie the young man came across an older man who'd been looking after his wife who had stage 4 Parkinson's disease. Naturally the young man asked the older man for some advice.
The older man's advice went something along the lines of "pack your bags and run....save yourself and your own life. It gets a whole lot worse and is not a fun experience".
And this started me thinking about what I would do if I were faced with the same situation; ie: I was young (I assume the characters in the movie were 30 or less) and I discovered that my new found boyfriend, who loves me, who understands me, and with whom I've fallen in love, was diagnosed with early stages of a degenerative disease.
Would love be enough of a factor for me to stay and commit myself to a life that will ultimately result in me caring for this person, and have this person ultimately rely upon me for everything?
The answer?
I honestly don't know if I could ever love someone that much that I would sacrifice my whole life like that for them....
Selfish? Yes.
Wrong? I don't know.
Honest? Yes.
It was about a young man who fell in love with a young woman who had been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease.
Aside from the Parkinson's curve ball, it was a typical movie with one partner wanting the other partner more than the other, and then the resisting partner eventually falling for the pursuing partner.
Quite some time into the movie the young man came across an older man who'd been looking after his wife who had stage 4 Parkinson's disease. Naturally the young man asked the older man for some advice.
The older man's advice went something along the lines of "pack your bags and run....save yourself and your own life. It gets a whole lot worse and is not a fun experience".
And this started me thinking about what I would do if I were faced with the same situation; ie: I was young (I assume the characters in the movie were 30 or less) and I discovered that my new found boyfriend, who loves me, who understands me, and with whom I've fallen in love, was diagnosed with early stages of a degenerative disease.
Would love be enough of a factor for me to stay and commit myself to a life that will ultimately result in me caring for this person, and have this person ultimately rely upon me for everything?
The answer?
I honestly don't know if I could ever love someone that much that I would sacrifice my whole life like that for them....
Selfish? Yes.
Wrong? I don't know.
Honest? Yes.
I feel like a cow, but it is what it is.
Till next time...
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus....
Or are they, really?
Speaking with a male friend over coffee recently he made a remark during our conversation that men really are as simple as they're made out to be; most times all that goes through a man's mind is sex. There was one other thing that goes through the simple man's mind as well, but I can't recall what he said it was!
I'm wondering just how different men and women really are...
Recently I've been an observer of a rather intriguing relationship between a man and a woman. They met online on a dedicated relationship site.
My girlfriend finally met someone; someone she actually liked. By all accounts they had great conversations, they shared a similar sense of humour, had similar morals and values, and shared much in common. She finds him quite attractive (and she tells me he found her attractive as well), and she said that communication between them is open, honest, and pretty straight forward (always important, in my opinion), and they'd both discussed their options and decided to develop the relationship further.
Unfortunately, circumstances changed and the man wasn't able to move to the next stage as they'd discussed. They're both upset by the change in circumstances but it turns out that they both value the friendship they've formed and they've decided that they'd like to maintain that friendship...
I told her it was fantastic as she's always enjoyed the company of men much more easily than the company of women, and she needs someone else in her life other than me to have all those interesting conversations with. Afterall, my opinion doesn't always suit everyone.
Anyway, she had her first coffee since they'd made this decision with him last week.
When I quizzed her about it last night she said some really interesting things about it that got me thinking about the relationship between men and women.
She said that the whole time she was sitting opposite him, and at random times throughout the week since, she's been thinking about what it would be like to kiss him, or have sex with him.
I started wondering whether men and women really can be friends.
Growing up, my father always said men and women can not be friends; my mother on the other hand always thought men and women could be friends. I've always thought they could be friends, but now I'm starting to wonder...
Can men and women be friends?
I think the answer is it depends.
It depends on the level of sexual tension or desire between them. I have male friends that have been my friends for many years without any issues or naughty thoughts whatsoever. Well, I had better clarify that statement: there have been no naughty thoughts on my part therefore no struggle on my part, and if there were issues on the mens' sides then I'm unaware of them. And in saying that, I'll also say that I've always been pretty clueless on picking up any "signals" from men so if the men were struggling then I'd be none the wiser anyway unless they wore flashing neon signs above their foreheads.
On the other hand, I've had other male friends where we've also had sexual relationships at one time or another, and those friendships have also operated equally as well once the sexual element has ceased.
Actually, casting my mind across my friendships with males, I'd have to say that those friendships where sex has been an element at one point or another have been more open and more intimate (in a platonic sense) and far deeper than those where sex hasn't been an element of the friendship. I guess all the barriers and inhibitions get removed when people have sex?
So, my friend is struggling with this new friendship, and personally I think she'll continue to struggle with it until the sexual tension is dealt with; ie: removed.
And she's also proved one thing to me: men and women really aren't too different; women think about sex just as much as men do.
Till next time...
Speaking with a male friend over coffee recently he made a remark during our conversation that men really are as simple as they're made out to be; most times all that goes through a man's mind is sex. There was one other thing that goes through the simple man's mind as well, but I can't recall what he said it was!
I'm wondering just how different men and women really are...
Recently I've been an observer of a rather intriguing relationship between a man and a woman. They met online on a dedicated relationship site.
My girlfriend finally met someone; someone she actually liked. By all accounts they had great conversations, they shared a similar sense of humour, had similar morals and values, and shared much in common. She finds him quite attractive (and she tells me he found her attractive as well), and she said that communication between them is open, honest, and pretty straight forward (always important, in my opinion), and they'd both discussed their options and decided to develop the relationship further.
Unfortunately, circumstances changed and the man wasn't able to move to the next stage as they'd discussed. They're both upset by the change in circumstances but it turns out that they both value the friendship they've formed and they've decided that they'd like to maintain that friendship...
I told her it was fantastic as she's always enjoyed the company of men much more easily than the company of women, and she needs someone else in her life other than me to have all those interesting conversations with. Afterall, my opinion doesn't always suit everyone.
Anyway, she had her first coffee since they'd made this decision with him last week.
When I quizzed her about it last night she said some really interesting things about it that got me thinking about the relationship between men and women.
She said that the whole time she was sitting opposite him, and at random times throughout the week since, she's been thinking about what it would be like to kiss him, or have sex with him.
I started wondering whether men and women really can be friends.
Growing up, my father always said men and women can not be friends; my mother on the other hand always thought men and women could be friends. I've always thought they could be friends, but now I'm starting to wonder...
Can men and women be friends?
I think the answer is it depends.
It depends on the level of sexual tension or desire between them. I have male friends that have been my friends for many years without any issues or naughty thoughts whatsoever. Well, I had better clarify that statement: there have been no naughty thoughts on my part therefore no struggle on my part, and if there were issues on the mens' sides then I'm unaware of them. And in saying that, I'll also say that I've always been pretty clueless on picking up any "signals" from men so if the men were struggling then I'd be none the wiser anyway unless they wore flashing neon signs above their foreheads.
On the other hand, I've had other male friends where we've also had sexual relationships at one time or another, and those friendships have also operated equally as well once the sexual element has ceased.
Actually, casting my mind across my friendships with males, I'd have to say that those friendships where sex has been an element at one point or another have been more open and more intimate (in a platonic sense) and far deeper than those where sex hasn't been an element of the friendship. I guess all the barriers and inhibitions get removed when people have sex?
So, my friend is struggling with this new friendship, and personally I think she'll continue to struggle with it until the sexual tension is dealt with; ie: removed.
And she's also proved one thing to me: men and women really aren't too different; women think about sex just as much as men do.
Till next time...
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Bits and Pieces...
Back to it....well, sort of.
I started back at work this week, although I'm wondering why I bothered.
All the consultants are back, but a large majority of the tradies aren't coming back till after the Australia Day long weekend.
And I just got an email from one of the consultants I'm currently working with on a project, and he's off from today until next Tuesday, so really I should have just extended my own holiday as well.
I think that's something my husband will need to consider moving forward.
I was watching a show on TV last night called Olive Kittridge and as I was watching I googled it and discovered that it's based on a book. I said to my husband that I'd like to buy the book, and he made some smartarse comment about me always reading.
Well, I am in a reading frame of mind at the moment, but I'm not always reading, otherwise I wouldn't have a stack of books 10-high that I need to finish. Seriously.
If you look closely you may see that a number of these books have bookmarks in them. I've commenced reading probably half of the books in my unread stack, but for whatever reason have put it back down again, unable to complete it at that point in time. I find that I need to be in a certain mood to read some books....it's like I need to be drawn to the book and feel compelled to pick it up....like it's calling me.
I guess if I extended my annual break I'd have more time to fit in a few more books. This break I completed reading a book called Outliers, and I started and completed the Hunger Games trilogy, and I also read a book that my husband bought me for Christmas, called Chasing Shadows (written by a Sydney lady), and I've just in the last few days picked up and commenced my most favourite book, Thick Face Black Heart, for the umpteenth time. Again, I feel compelled to read it. I've read it a dozen times, yet something inside me is telling me to read it again, so I am.
So, instead of ordering the Olive Kittridge book (which is what I'd usually do) I added it to my "Books To Buy" list (yes, it's an actual list I keep). There are now 17 books on that list. I doubt I'll ever get to them all, though.
Till next time...
I started back at work this week, although I'm wondering why I bothered.
All the consultants are back, but a large majority of the tradies aren't coming back till after the Australia Day long weekend.
And I just got an email from one of the consultants I'm currently working with on a project, and he's off from today until next Tuesday, so really I should have just extended my own holiday as well.
I think that's something my husband will need to consider moving forward.
I was watching a show on TV last night called Olive Kittridge and as I was watching I googled it and discovered that it's based on a book. I said to my husband that I'd like to buy the book, and he made some smartarse comment about me always reading.
Well, I am in a reading frame of mind at the moment, but I'm not always reading, otherwise I wouldn't have a stack of books 10-high that I need to finish. Seriously.
If you look closely you may see that a number of these books have bookmarks in them. I've commenced reading probably half of the books in my unread stack, but for whatever reason have put it back down again, unable to complete it at that point in time. I find that I need to be in a certain mood to read some books....it's like I need to be drawn to the book and feel compelled to pick it up....like it's calling me.
I guess if I extended my annual break I'd have more time to fit in a few more books. This break I completed reading a book called Outliers, and I started and completed the Hunger Games trilogy, and I also read a book that my husband bought me for Christmas, called Chasing Shadows (written by a Sydney lady), and I've just in the last few days picked up and commenced my most favourite book, Thick Face Black Heart, for the umpteenth time. Again, I feel compelled to read it. I've read it a dozen times, yet something inside me is telling me to read it again, so I am.
So, instead of ordering the Olive Kittridge book (which is what I'd usually do) I added it to my "Books To Buy" list (yes, it's an actual list I keep). There are now 17 books on that list. I doubt I'll ever get to them all, though.
Till next time...
Monday, December 29, 2014
It's that time of year again...
Yes, it is.
And I'm stunned, not to mention a little embarrassed to see that it's been over a year since I've updated my blog.
How very shabby of me!
Let me give you some updates on what's been going on - 2014 has been an awful, awful, trying and testing year - and why I find myself not writing here for a year....
You may recall this post here that I made in October, 2013 (!!) where I was complaining that a client owed me $140k in delays.
Well, let me now finish the story for you....
I never did hand over the house to the client in November, 2013 as they expected. Or December, or even January, February or March in 2014.
In fact, sitting here now in December, 2014 they still do not (legally) have their house.
Eventually the client caused even further delay to the completion of their house, and in total those delays equated to an invoice to them in the order of $240k in delays alone.
On top of that, they were refusing to pay me some $100k in contract sum that they are contractually obliged to finalise.
In the end my final claim against them was in the order of $357k (including GST). Can you believe it??
They simply, point blank, refused to pay. The nerve of these grubs. I saw the worst of the worst of humanity in these grommets - they disgust me so much that I can't even call them people. I'm still so angry over this matter (so much so that this blog post has been stopped and started on several occassions because I just couldn't continue thinking about it all).
I eventually took it to my lawyers, which upset the client. For some reason they thought I'd just roll over and give in to their position. Of course, I should have expected it....afterall, the wife did once say that she hoped I'd go bankrupt so I'd accept any loose change she throws at me!!!! Bitch. Cow. <edit>. <edit>.
Anway, I took it legal and told my lawyers to go for the jugular. And they did. The clients ended up ringing me directly in February 2014 requesting a settlement meeting. I agreed, naturally. Anything to settle the matter quickly, inexpensively, and to get these pricks off my books.
After much argy bargy and difficult discussion - which was all conducted very maturely, I must say - we reached agreement at $200k.
Isn't that just a massive, massive concession to them? If you were them wouldn't you be jumping for joy and get the settlement done pronto so I couldn't re-neg on the deal? I certainly thought so.
As part of the settlement we negotiated a number of terms; some favourable to them, others favourable to me. I've been taught to always leave something on the table - and that's what we both did.
BUT....there's always a BUT....
When it came time to finalise the settlement document they re-neged on the deal! Those terms that we all agreed upon - they didn't want some of them in the settlement deed. They were quite happy to keep the ones favourable to them in the deed, but the ones that were favourable to me...well, no....they just couldn't seem able to include them.
Needless to say - the deal didn't proceed and they didn't get their house; but I didn't get paid either.
Remember that I've already paid my subcontractors for this job. See what an arse the construction law is? I have to pay my subcontractors - but I have to wait OVER ONE YEAR BY THIS STAGE to be paid...My cashflow is screwed, and I have effectively funded the construction of their home. Where on earth is the sense in that? This is what our stupid laws result in. I hope to goodness that one of these dumb politicians stumbles across this blog and reads this - I swear they don't live in the real world.
Anyway - back to the point.
I went legal again...and this time we had to spend even more money getting expert consultants to shore up our position. More $$ down the drain.
I turned up at the house one day in around June or July, because legally I'm still in possession of it, as I had to meet one of these consultants there, and I couldn't get in. These people changed the locks!!! I eventually gained access and changed all the locks. The following week my husband attended the house with another consultant, and these grubs had changed the locks again and taken illegal possession of the house. The wife was actually sitting in the house and guarding it when my husband arrived there. Then they had the nerve to send me a letter accusing me of trespass, break and enter and threatened legal action should I gain access to the house again. OMG!!
Of course, their possession didn't mean all that much because they couldn't legally reside in the house. I still have all the certificates and documentation they need in order to obtain an occupation certificate.
Anyway, we're going through the slow legal processes, preparing our claim, getting our ducks in a row so to speak and we finally lodge our claim in the courts. Our total claim for our outstanding contract sum, approved variations, approved adjustments to provisional sums and prime cost items, and delays as a result of tiling, joinery, toilet exchanges and a few other bits and bobs is circa $360k including GST. And then we have to throw interest on top of that, too.
I have to be honest here - I was dragged to the lawyers office kicking and screaming. I did not want to go the legal route. Going the legal route is just an emotionally draining, financially draining exercise - and I just didn't want to endure it again....but we had no option in this case. All hopes of an amicable settlement were well and truely gone.
The matter is now about to settle. We didn't make it to a hearing. In fact, I don't think the matter even made it's second directions hearing. The grubs put in an "Offer of Compromise" through the courts. The offer was insulting, disgusting, and just plain rude. But it was accepted. Only to save the effort, expense and emotional tax of a hearing. We've signed confidentiality agreements so I can't even disclose the settlement amount (which is roughly a third of our claim).
Then, in an attempt to get more from me whilst I'm already bent over they asked for a quicker settlement. I told them to get F'ed...they can wait the full 28 days and they're not getting anything from me a moment earlier. The nerve of some people.
So, the matter will officially be over around the middle of January, 2015. I don't even know the settlement date - I just don't give a damn any more.
This, my friends, is the construction industry in all it's marvelous, wondrous glory. It's the powerhouse of the country, the driver of the ecomony, and it's run like a fucking brothel. As a direct result of this particular matter (and a few others involving residential work) we have completely pulled the pin on residential work. We've declined the opportunity to renew our eligibility for home warranty insurance, and we've surrended our licence. Now we're only taking on commercial work.
Mind you, commercial is also wrought with danger. But in my view it's less risky. At least we have the Securities of Payment Act to help us with our cashflow when someone decides to withhold payment. All we need to do is be vigilient in our debt recovery/accounts receivable.
We did finish that juicy little commercial job that I've previously mentioned. It turned out to be quite a profitable job....thank goodness....We completed and handed over in March, 2014, and haven't picked up another job till just last month!! That particular client still owes us $10,000. Why? Because he feels like not paying it.
Then, we have this post here in which I discussed the search for my groove.
As I already said, I abandoned the idea of JGF. And I'm thankful I made that decision. I have no regrets at all about that one.
I also completed my investigations for DSW. I made a decision not to proceed given that it would be entirely reliant upon my husband's qualifications, and it would entrench me in the construction industry even further.
As you can probably gather - the sooner I get out of this terrible, disgusting industry, the better off I'll be (regardless of the move to commercial work only). I have honestly struggled with the industry. It's turned me into a person I'm not happy with - a person I don't like.
Is that a reflection of my own weak, malleable personality? I don't think so. To survive in this game one has to be strong, tough, ruthless even, otherwise you simply won't make it. I admit I am those things, and then some. But I don't like being that way any more. I never used to be like that. Yes, I've always been strong, tough, and ruthless....but in a different way....a softer way, if you will. I can't quite articulate it properly. Perhaps it's a matter of degrees.....perhaps I've become just an amplified verson of strong, tough and ruthless. Whatever it is - I don't like it, and I want to be the old me again....the me that gave a damn about people, the me that wasn't always stressed and cranky, the me that could laugh a little more freely and relax a little more quickly.
Anyway, back to my point.
I do believe I've rediscovered my groove.
I've settled on a business that is easily systemised and procedurised. It's a business that can be run by others (in due time). It's a business that generates revenue month in, month out, without fail. It's a business that doesn't suffer during economic hardship. It endures. Always. Managed correctly, it's very profitable.
I've made the decision to re-establish TRS. I've gone through the process of re-branding it. I've purchased 1300 and 1800 smart numbers. I'm currently going through the process of updating my requisite qualifications. I'm finalising my service offerings and have commenced preparing system and procedure documents.
And I've never been more sure about something than now.
I'm over my "running out of time, I'm 40" mentality. How dumb. When I think about how I feel, I certainly don't feel like I'm 40. I have the same energy as I did when I was in my mid 20's - the difference now is that I have a couple of kids that I need to fit in amongst my work - but that's certainly not impossible to do.
The other major difference is time, and life. I'm smarter and more experienced now than I was when I was in my mid 20's.
I do recall when I sold TRS back in 2002 (it was actually 2002, and not 2000 as I said in my original post). I recall being stuck. I was young and I was in a very successful business, but I couldn't move forward. I couldn't expand it. Some people may think that ludicrous. But it's true. I didn't know HOW to employ someone (thanks, Dad, for the trust issues!!). I didn't know HOW to manage expansion. I didn't know HOW to deal with banks to even explore a debt funded expansion. And even worse is I didn't have a support network or mentor that I could turn to and talk with about the issues I was facing. So, I was stuck, with no where to go, and felt totally overwhelmed. So, I cashed in.
Today as I sit here typing I have no doubt that having experienced all of life's extremes over the last 12 years (and moreso in the last 5 years) it stands to reason that I now possess so much more knowledge and experience than I did back in 1997 when I first started TRS. So, bringing all this acquired experiernce and knowledge to TRS 2.0 can only be a great thing.
I've told Hub (who supports me completely) that I'll be doing this 100% this time. Not that I didn't give it 100% last time, but this time I will be making it a major enterprise. I won't be selling out when I get stuck.
I'm reminded of a saying I use all the time - When You Know Better, You Do Better. I believe that definately applies to TRS 2.0 and I couldn't be more excited by it.
Naturally Hub is concerned about what will happen with his business. We're just going to have to employ someone to take over my role in his business. My mental health, my professional satisfaction, my career, my self-worth is far too important to me to not do this.
Then of course, I've been kept very busy with my various family and school committments. School life can be quite consuming. And so can club sport. My son is involved in club sport and I put up my hand to be the age group co-ordinator. And I've been asked to take on the role of Treasurer in 2015 for the club as well as maintain my age group co-ordinator role. So 2015 is already going to be a busy year and my daughter hasn't even started club sport seriously yet.
I remain cigarette free. In February 2015 it will be 4 years. I'm still amazed at how easy it was. Unfortunately I did pile on the kg's as a result. I spent the last 12 months getting rid of them. It's been a yo-yo ride with the scales. Up, down, up, down. But, I've joined a gym. I do pump classes twice a week and I was doing HIIT on the treadmill 3 times a week. I managed to work my way up to 10 cycles runninging 30seconds full pelt between 13 and 14klm/hr and walking 2 minutes, which is pretty bloody good. But for some reason I stopped doing that about 3 months ago (I think time just got the better of me on one or two occassions and then it was just easier to not go).
Anyway - I'm currently on my annual holiday right now (arrived yesterday afternoon) and this morning I went for a run and realised just how much my fitness has plummeted as a result of not doing the HIIT. I'm totally devestated. I ended up power-walking instead of running, and did a few rounds of stair sprints. No need to tell you what one of my goals for 2015 will be.
So, there's my year in brief. Well, this could only ever provide just a brief snapshot. It's been far more busy, far more difficult, far more consuming than I could ever possibly regale here.
Till next time...
And I'm stunned, not to mention a little embarrassed to see that it's been over a year since I've updated my blog.
How very shabby of me!
Let me give you some updates on what's been going on - 2014 has been an awful, awful, trying and testing year - and why I find myself not writing here for a year....
You may recall this post here that I made in October, 2013 (!!) where I was complaining that a client owed me $140k in delays.
Well, let me now finish the story for you....
I never did hand over the house to the client in November, 2013 as they expected. Or December, or even January, February or March in 2014.
In fact, sitting here now in December, 2014 they still do not (legally) have their house.
Eventually the client caused even further delay to the completion of their house, and in total those delays equated to an invoice to them in the order of $240k in delays alone.
On top of that, they were refusing to pay me some $100k in contract sum that they are contractually obliged to finalise.
In the end my final claim against them was in the order of $357k (including GST). Can you believe it??
They simply, point blank, refused to pay. The nerve of these grubs. I saw the worst of the worst of humanity in these grommets - they disgust me so much that I can't even call them people. I'm still so angry over this matter (so much so that this blog post has been stopped and started on several occassions because I just couldn't continue thinking about it all).
I eventually took it to my lawyers, which upset the client. For some reason they thought I'd just roll over and give in to their position. Of course, I should have expected it....afterall, the wife did once say that she hoped I'd go bankrupt so I'd accept any loose change she throws at me!!!! Bitch. Cow. <edit>. <edit>.
Anway, I took it legal and told my lawyers to go for the jugular. And they did. The clients ended up ringing me directly in February 2014 requesting a settlement meeting. I agreed, naturally. Anything to settle the matter quickly, inexpensively, and to get these pricks off my books.
After much argy bargy and difficult discussion - which was all conducted very maturely, I must say - we reached agreement at $200k.
Isn't that just a massive, massive concession to them? If you were them wouldn't you be jumping for joy and get the settlement done pronto so I couldn't re-neg on the deal? I certainly thought so.
As part of the settlement we negotiated a number of terms; some favourable to them, others favourable to me. I've been taught to always leave something on the table - and that's what we both did.
BUT....there's always a BUT....
When it came time to finalise the settlement document they re-neged on the deal! Those terms that we all agreed upon - they didn't want some of them in the settlement deed. They were quite happy to keep the ones favourable to them in the deed, but the ones that were favourable to me...well, no....they just couldn't seem able to include them.
Needless to say - the deal didn't proceed and they didn't get their house; but I didn't get paid either.
Remember that I've already paid my subcontractors for this job. See what an arse the construction law is? I have to pay my subcontractors - but I have to wait OVER ONE YEAR BY THIS STAGE to be paid...My cashflow is screwed, and I have effectively funded the construction of their home. Where on earth is the sense in that? This is what our stupid laws result in. I hope to goodness that one of these dumb politicians stumbles across this blog and reads this - I swear they don't live in the real world.
Anyway - back to the point.
I went legal again...and this time we had to spend even more money getting expert consultants to shore up our position. More $$ down the drain.
I turned up at the house one day in around June or July, because legally I'm still in possession of it, as I had to meet one of these consultants there, and I couldn't get in. These people changed the locks!!! I eventually gained access and changed all the locks. The following week my husband attended the house with another consultant, and these grubs had changed the locks again and taken illegal possession of the house. The wife was actually sitting in the house and guarding it when my husband arrived there. Then they had the nerve to send me a letter accusing me of trespass, break and enter and threatened legal action should I gain access to the house again. OMG!!
Of course, their possession didn't mean all that much because they couldn't legally reside in the house. I still have all the certificates and documentation they need in order to obtain an occupation certificate.
Anyway, we're going through the slow legal processes, preparing our claim, getting our ducks in a row so to speak and we finally lodge our claim in the courts. Our total claim for our outstanding contract sum, approved variations, approved adjustments to provisional sums and prime cost items, and delays as a result of tiling, joinery, toilet exchanges and a few other bits and bobs is circa $360k including GST. And then we have to throw interest on top of that, too.
I have to be honest here - I was dragged to the lawyers office kicking and screaming. I did not want to go the legal route. Going the legal route is just an emotionally draining, financially draining exercise - and I just didn't want to endure it again....but we had no option in this case. All hopes of an amicable settlement were well and truely gone.
The matter is now about to settle. We didn't make it to a hearing. In fact, I don't think the matter even made it's second directions hearing. The grubs put in an "Offer of Compromise" through the courts. The offer was insulting, disgusting, and just plain rude. But it was accepted. Only to save the effort, expense and emotional tax of a hearing. We've signed confidentiality agreements so I can't even disclose the settlement amount (which is roughly a third of our claim).
Then, in an attempt to get more from me whilst I'm already bent over they asked for a quicker settlement. I told them to get F'ed...they can wait the full 28 days and they're not getting anything from me a moment earlier. The nerve of some people.
So, the matter will officially be over around the middle of January, 2015. I don't even know the settlement date - I just don't give a damn any more.
This, my friends, is the construction industry in all it's marvelous, wondrous glory. It's the powerhouse of the country, the driver of the ecomony, and it's run like a fucking brothel. As a direct result of this particular matter (and a few others involving residential work) we have completely pulled the pin on residential work. We've declined the opportunity to renew our eligibility for home warranty insurance, and we've surrended our licence. Now we're only taking on commercial work.
Mind you, commercial is also wrought with danger. But in my view it's less risky. At least we have the Securities of Payment Act to help us with our cashflow when someone decides to withhold payment. All we need to do is be vigilient in our debt recovery/accounts receivable.
We did finish that juicy little commercial job that I've previously mentioned. It turned out to be quite a profitable job....thank goodness....We completed and handed over in March, 2014, and haven't picked up another job till just last month!! That particular client still owes us $10,000. Why? Because he feels like not paying it.
Then, we have this post here in which I discussed the search for my groove.
As I already said, I abandoned the idea of JGF. And I'm thankful I made that decision. I have no regrets at all about that one.
I also completed my investigations for DSW. I made a decision not to proceed given that it would be entirely reliant upon my husband's qualifications, and it would entrench me in the construction industry even further.
As you can probably gather - the sooner I get out of this terrible, disgusting industry, the better off I'll be (regardless of the move to commercial work only). I have honestly struggled with the industry. It's turned me into a person I'm not happy with - a person I don't like.
Is that a reflection of my own weak, malleable personality? I don't think so. To survive in this game one has to be strong, tough, ruthless even, otherwise you simply won't make it. I admit I am those things, and then some. But I don't like being that way any more. I never used to be like that. Yes, I've always been strong, tough, and ruthless....but in a different way....a softer way, if you will. I can't quite articulate it properly. Perhaps it's a matter of degrees.....perhaps I've become just an amplified verson of strong, tough and ruthless. Whatever it is - I don't like it, and I want to be the old me again....the me that gave a damn about people, the me that wasn't always stressed and cranky, the me that could laugh a little more freely and relax a little more quickly.
Anyway, back to my point.
I do believe I've rediscovered my groove.
I've settled on a business that is easily systemised and procedurised. It's a business that can be run by others (in due time). It's a business that generates revenue month in, month out, without fail. It's a business that doesn't suffer during economic hardship. It endures. Always. Managed correctly, it's very profitable.
I've made the decision to re-establish TRS. I've gone through the process of re-branding it. I've purchased 1300 and 1800 smart numbers. I'm currently going through the process of updating my requisite qualifications. I'm finalising my service offerings and have commenced preparing system and procedure documents.
And I've never been more sure about something than now.
I'm over my "running out of time, I'm 40" mentality. How dumb. When I think about how I feel, I certainly don't feel like I'm 40. I have the same energy as I did when I was in my mid 20's - the difference now is that I have a couple of kids that I need to fit in amongst my work - but that's certainly not impossible to do.
The other major difference is time, and life. I'm smarter and more experienced now than I was when I was in my mid 20's.
I do recall when I sold TRS back in 2002 (it was actually 2002, and not 2000 as I said in my original post). I recall being stuck. I was young and I was in a very successful business, but I couldn't move forward. I couldn't expand it. Some people may think that ludicrous. But it's true. I didn't know HOW to employ someone (thanks, Dad, for the trust issues!!). I didn't know HOW to manage expansion. I didn't know HOW to deal with banks to even explore a debt funded expansion. And even worse is I didn't have a support network or mentor that I could turn to and talk with about the issues I was facing. So, I was stuck, with no where to go, and felt totally overwhelmed. So, I cashed in.
Today as I sit here typing I have no doubt that having experienced all of life's extremes over the last 12 years (and moreso in the last 5 years) it stands to reason that I now possess so much more knowledge and experience than I did back in 1997 when I first started TRS. So, bringing all this acquired experiernce and knowledge to TRS 2.0 can only be a great thing.
I've told Hub (who supports me completely) that I'll be doing this 100% this time. Not that I didn't give it 100% last time, but this time I will be making it a major enterprise. I won't be selling out when I get stuck.
I'm reminded of a saying I use all the time - When You Know Better, You Do Better. I believe that definately applies to TRS 2.0 and I couldn't be more excited by it.
Naturally Hub is concerned about what will happen with his business. We're just going to have to employ someone to take over my role in his business. My mental health, my professional satisfaction, my career, my self-worth is far too important to me to not do this.
Then of course, I've been kept very busy with my various family and school committments. School life can be quite consuming. And so can club sport. My son is involved in club sport and I put up my hand to be the age group co-ordinator. And I've been asked to take on the role of Treasurer in 2015 for the club as well as maintain my age group co-ordinator role. So 2015 is already going to be a busy year and my daughter hasn't even started club sport seriously yet.
I remain cigarette free. In February 2015 it will be 4 years. I'm still amazed at how easy it was. Unfortunately I did pile on the kg's as a result. I spent the last 12 months getting rid of them. It's been a yo-yo ride with the scales. Up, down, up, down. But, I've joined a gym. I do pump classes twice a week and I was doing HIIT on the treadmill 3 times a week. I managed to work my way up to 10 cycles runninging 30seconds full pelt between 13 and 14klm/hr and walking 2 minutes, which is pretty bloody good. But for some reason I stopped doing that about 3 months ago (I think time just got the better of me on one or two occassions and then it was just easier to not go).
Anyway - I'm currently on my annual holiday right now (arrived yesterday afternoon) and this morning I went for a run and realised just how much my fitness has plummeted as a result of not doing the HIIT. I'm totally devestated. I ended up power-walking instead of running, and did a few rounds of stair sprints. No need to tell you what one of my goals for 2015 will be.
So, there's my year in brief. Well, this could only ever provide just a brief snapshot. It's been far more busy, far more difficult, far more consuming than I could ever possibly regale here.
Till next time...
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