With the evil I just mean the whole encouraging people to gamble thing really, and the advertising of it. It's not exactly selling land mines to dictators, but still.

Anyway, yes, the football and job security. Very very very much so indeed. The Hundred and NFL having things cancelled for this year has put a large enough hole in my employer's income already. On the other hand, not dying of awful virus, I suppose! But given our lovely tory overlords make noises about cutting furlough already, things don't exactly look great.

All internal communications are very much about trying to make sure we're leading the way when it comes to safer gambling, and I know they invest heavily in it - but on the other hand they have to advertise to stay in the competition. It's not really something I have much involvement in at all, nor want to.. sounds like a nightmare.

We've not used the furlough scheme, presumably because of the bad optics of a gambling company using tax payers money to keep people employed. I imagine they've got another couple of months of full employment left until they have to start making some big decisions if sports haven't properly started returning.

Each day there's noises about some leagues coming back, so hopefully I'll be able to stop holding my breath soon.

Yeah, I'm somewhat involved in how the footy (and cricket and rugby) might come back (like, really really far down the chain obv not in any decision-making capacity) and it's sort of hopeful for some kind of thing in neutral venues in mid-June. Maybe.

It was strikingly noticeable to me during last year when Sky Bet suddenly switched all the adverts we made with them to responsible gambling messages when they'd previously been about all the handy and fun ways to bet, etc. I assume shitting themselves they'll be all banned from advertising again sooner or later. Some teams have about six or seven different betting/casino ads per game, it's nuts.

Hey Mikee, when the lockdown's relaxed and we can all do tongues again, we should meet up for a refreshing beverage. Working at Leeds Uni.

Hey, long time no speak! Sounds like a good plan.

I know a load of people at Sky Bet, my current place has haemorrhaged people over to Sky Bet in the last year, lots of senior management, architects and devs. Our loss, your gain I'm sure.

I'm also in central Leeds (normally anyway). A lunchtime mini-meat with Throb would actually be doable. (bounce)

 

Do you have anything to do with the library there?

Edit - actually I think he might be at Leeds Beckett.

I know the guy who heads it up - I do karate with him.

This is shaping up as a Meaty plan

If he's Uni, then I'll know him or know of him. We're thick with libraries & archives. But sounds like he ain't.

He's a chap by the name of Eric. Ring any bells with you?

Not promising so far...

:C

I'm at my 15th year working for Timpson in a workshop, what was originally a graphic/CAD type job has slowly transitioned into a dogs body laser engraver, house & business sign maker. A lot of my time is spent making vinyl signs. I want a career change as I'm bored silly, but the job is fairly easy with decent hours :/

Hello Woggy!

Hello Ant  :-) , just decided to log on for the first time in a long time, took me a few seconds to remember the url 

With the sign making do you offer any sort of proof reading for the client, or would you make a sign verbatim no matter the spelling/grammar they present you with?

Eyup Woggy. Brew?

We usually contact the customer if we spot something, but stuff does slip through. Also customer insist on having things a certain way, even when it's incorrect, so we're usually always second guessing ourselves

Alreet Steve, don't mind if I go

Evening all. Glad to hear everyone is safe and well for the most part, and I've really enjoyed reading where everyone is these days.

I currently find myself as a Development Manager and Head of Solution Architecture at a Newcastle-based gambling platform company with over 40 poor sods relying on me to keep them busy and look after their welfare. We've unexpectedly won a bid to take over the 4th largest lottery in the world, which goes live in August. So things are a bit... hectic. Before this I've been pretty lucky to be honest while working as a Developer and then as an Architect which allowed me to see some bits of the world I'd never have expected to see.

I still haven't got a fucking clue how to get a printer to work mind.