New Horizons

I've had my bonus, been promised a payrise and confirmed I am taking over the flat on my own....

..but I also got something else I wasn't expecting.

I met up with the boss on Wednesday and as promised he had a cash bonus for us all. Differing amounts for each person, based on experience and work performance (apparently) which meant I received the lions share. It fell right in the middle of the two figures I had in my head, the highest I imagined it would be, and the lowest I thought he could get away with. Certainly not an amount to sneeze at.

He also paid me a back-handed compliment. He commented that my own shifts on the rota seemed to be the worst, and that I shouldn't do it just to make the rest of the team happy. He then said though that the shops in Germany (the betting shops I do the work for) know when I have done an early shift because the work is always better, more complete and input faster than if someone else has been in since dawn. I wonder why he never bothered to tell me that before? Doesn't he realise compliments help keep morale up and improves performances?

But there was something else, something I wasn't expecting. When we got onto the subject of the flat he suggested I could always move to Malta. I always knew that if I said I wanted that, he would bend over backwards to allow me (the more staff he has over there, the better it is to keep the authorities happy). He made me an offer - an offer I can't refuse as Marlon Brando would have said.

All moving expenses covered by the company.
First month would be rent free (in the staff flat) while I look for my own place.
...and most importantly, a minimum of 1,000 NET per month extra on my salary.

Ok, I'd be paid in Euros, and if the pound gets it's value back it would mean my salary would be going down month by month, but it would take a long time before it was at the level it is currently at.

..I can refuse it though - moving to Malta is a big step. I'm not sure it's what I want to do. I may not like Southampton that much, but I do like being in the UK. My family is here, and I'm closer to IOM for my friends. I have people I want to visit more often in Bournemouth and Wigan, and happiness can be far more important than money sometimes...

...I'll keep you all posted.