dj7bee

As for the food. An update. Canteen was shut down. So far 3 mice caught and 8 found dead in the food area. Even they couldn't hack canteen food!!!

Also although Oxford is more mileage it takes about same amount of time to get to.

I'm about 50 miles away from Oxford and 35 away from reading. Relocating sounds like a nightmare. Would you not be better off staying with your in laws for a while. If successful you sometimes find notice boards in staff rooms etc that might suit your needs. How would your family feel about relocating???

So you don't think that mice running over your food would enhance the flavour in any way? If I am successful it would mean re-locating to Oxford or close by for the time that I am supposed to be at work, so I will need to find somewhere to live which in itself is going to be a nightmare. I have had a quick look at accommodation and the only thing I can find is shared houses that are a decent price I might have to look further a field but I am trying not to think too much about that until I have have to, or should I say if I have too. How far from Oxford do you live? Will you have to move or is it close enough? Also if we train at Reading does mean having to live there? So many questions

Phew! Thought I might have to dispose of you and then do time!! Yep FGW 1st one I saw with open applications. To be honest they were on my list of top 5 so that was just a bonus. I think to be lucky enough to be successful means you would happily go with any of the companies. Once qualified and the minimum period allowed with any company as I'm sure they'd have some clauses, then as a qualified driver at least you can apply if you were really that unhappy. Takes a lot to push me to be honest so it wouldn't be the first thing on my mind to be changing. Got to admit prison work sounds quite tough. Not sure I could handle 23 years of it. Was looking at our work comparisons and apart from abuse from irate passengers (more to other people than me) and the fact that we seldom see natural daylight, I think it stops there. Oh no and my boyish uniform!!! I'm at work at the moment and dealing with 3 complaints from staff about a mouse seen in staff canteen. Glad I bring my own food in!!

Your secret is safe with me. FGW for me is just because I literally stumbled on the advert by pure chance so I have to have a good look at who they are and what they are about. The SJE is a strange one I think they use your responses to help them form the questions they put to you on interview but that is only me guessing and probably way off the mark. I wonder what the forum police look like and where they hang out they could be everywhere if that's the case then I am in real trouble

Heehee loving the idea of a forum police hunting me down!!!
Just another thing about assessment, I'm not sure how I feel about the situational judgement exercise. The example given and answers were really bad. Think I'm overthinking it and that's probably not good.
Also have to brush up on why FGW as a company! If I'm completely honest it was recruiting. Ideally I'd love to work for DB Schenker or Freightliner and drive freight trains!!! But I'll deny that if it came to a show down between us!!!!

I agree to go without a back up plan is mad, although sometimes people really have just had enough and say **** it. I think that's a great idea just let rip all,your swear words next Wednesday and I will totally forget where I am and think I am back in jail. The forum police must be on to you if you have lost your messages let's hope we can get away with a few curses on my thread

Same age as me then 44 I would love to walk into work and hand my notice in, but I will make sure I have something else to go to first. Having worked in a prison it takes abuse of nuclear proportion to offend me and even then it probably wouldn't. I have been called and threatened with all sorts over the years I just tend to laugh at them now. I don't think there is a day goes by in our place when someone says they wish they were somewhere else and doing a different job

I'm not easily offended but guess I was they realised nothing could control my potty mouth! I got to work today and watched somebody hand in their notice as he has had enough after 26 years and says the place is not what it was!!! We all feel a bit like that here today!! I asked him if he had something lined up and was shocked when he said no!!! He's only 44!!! Guess we all deal with things differently!!!

I am trying to think of all the swear words I know now and wondering if they would be censored but don't want to risk it ........just in case they print them

Its going to be a long day today not back in the land of the til gone 8 tonight. Hope you have a great day don't work to hard

Love it they don't censor you.

Sorry for crudeness but never thought it'd go through!!! Lol

Obviously bollocks is not that offensive. How about criminal wankers.

Swearing thing is too funny. Gonna try. Bollocks.
I'm in total agreement on the criminals. I say that from my own stories and experiences. They make a laughing stock out of honest decent people and in my opinion they seem to get things handed on a plate. I preach that if unhappy in life or work then you are the only person able to change that. So I have to practice what I preach! You wouldn't want to stay put and never tried at the very least. No regrets that way.

Did you know if swear on here it puts asterixs in instead.....brilliant I have been censored

My story is I am fed up with criminals. I have been listening to them and reading about there crimes for the last 23 years and have come to the conclusion that they are horrible. I want to do a job where the people I am working close too aren't thinking about how they can inflict misery the next time they are free. Does that sound bad? Prisoners really do **** me off now. A friend of mine left the prison service a few years ago to drive trains and I was so envious so I thought I might try to do that myself so here I am, the salary is nice as well though. Not cadburys......is there anything else worth eating no wonder you sat next to me imagine being passed over for a galaxy or something, doesn't bare thinking about.

The chocolate nearly won... Had it been cadburys you'd have lost!!! Yes I'm hoping the images on the day stay on show a tad longer... Doubtful but here's hoping!! I'm completely in agreement about the kids working. In our current economy it's a god send. I remember being their ages and going to 4 or 5 interviews and getting offered 3/4 straight away. How times have changed. Now it's so impersonal!
The worries of a parent!!!! Although mine and their gf/bf and friends tend to like hanging out round here! Think it's because I'll always cook for them!!! Love it though. This whole train thing may look like it's come out of the blue but the story behind it was in conversation with the kids round the table I was asked when I was young what did I want to be. Told them that I either wanted to be a journalist travelling the world or a train driver. My eldest son said it's never too late and there you have it!!! Mad but true. What's your story? (Also earning potential did play a big part!!!)

My kids are 21 and 19 and both working thankfully and still living at home although they spend half their lives around their boyfriends/girlfriends house the other half of the time they are all here. You are right time does fly so it is nice to spend time with the kids although mine are not so bothered anymore (to busy being in love). Let's hope your Mum is right about you picking a winner although I don't think I have ever been picked over chocolate before. You definitely give the right impression out and made me feel very relaxed when my stomach was in knots so as far as selling yourself just be you and it's in the bag. Those images were quick I am glad you thought that as well I have watched it a few times and still get it wrong ha ha

Jeez checked out YouTube and the images really are quick!!!

Ok are you ready.... My kids are 22, 21, 19, 17, 15, 13 and 11. Yes all from same dad before you ask and we split up when youngest was 2 months old and no he has nothing to do with them. So although it sounds hard, we run a tidy ship and they are all really helpful. 2 working 1 on an apprenticeship, 1 going to uni in sept other 3 in highschool so they are all quite sufficient! But yes I like to set time aside for them because time really flies!

As for that guy, I saw the post too and felt so bad for him. Think that would be worse then leaving through the day early! Especially since he has no idea why he failed. Like I said if I fail at selling myself I've no hope. That sounded wrong but you get the gist!
What you said was very kind but honestly I don't think I give out the right impression sometimes! Still just being myself. If it makes you feel better my mum always says I can always pick out a winner a mile away and I did sit next to you as oppose to chocolate man Frank!!!

Yes mmi is my concern as well. Like you the computer stuff will take care of it self if that's failed then so be it, but to get to the interview and then fail when talking about yourself is a bit gut wrenching, however, from I know of you you will come across excellent in an interview of that I am confident. I was just reading the forum and some guy passed all the assessments and the mmi then went and failed the dm interview, now that is a disaster. My kids are both grown now and working so I haven't got that added pressure thankfully, but I feel your pain I know how hard it is to try and make time to do something when there is know time. How old are your kids? You must be knackered working so early then having to do all that at home as well, next Wednesday will be a breeze compared to all of that.

Lol. I can only imagine!!! I'll check that out. I'm literally 4.30 till 16.30 all week. Then it's pick up youngest (his school finish at 5) home to cook, clean, wash, iron. No time to sit down and focus on all the material. Between my own kids and their constant flow of friends, I think I'd get more thinking time at the airport!! Oh well I'm determined to try my best so going to make some time if it kills me! MMI is my concern as other things you'll either get or fail and end of. But to succeed in the unknown then fail when representing myself seems a bit harsh!!!!

Have a look on utube and put in ATAVT there is a video on there by the company who developed the test and it shows pictures of traffic scenes. They are not on there for long so you will defo need some observation skills. We will push each other on the day for sure, after the day I have had driving a train is getting more and more attractive by the second.

Hate predictive text. Meant ATAVT

You definitely need to get out more!!! As for off to prison well.... These websites are full of unsavory characters!!!! Only bit of info I've picked up is the AVVT test is like pedestrians, motor vehicles, bikes, road signs and traffic lights. So although I spend a hell of a lot of time in a kitchen, I also spend a lot of time on the road using more concentration so hoping that it will be second nature when it comes to it. We will have to push each other on the day!!! Think you're wise staying at your in laws the night before. I'm about 75 miles away so will have to leave extra early to assure I get there!!!

I know exactly what you mean, stage 1 was a "if I pass great if not oh well" now it's like I really want to pass! I am off to prison now (sounds bad) have a good day I am going to try and not think about next week until later but I have even started dreaming about it. I need to get out more

Pencil test was ridiculously bad!!! Pictures again rubbish. So yes think I'll tackle it on the day as it comes. As for early starts I'm so used to it. My only problem is I struggle to sleep!!!
Was thinking about reaction test and now wish I'd participated more in computer games with kids but I'm more a scrabble/board game person if playing with them!! Although my eldest would say my reflexes are good but that's a long story!! Kind of just want to get it out of the way now as feels like its building up and building momentum! Truth is with last stage I had no expectation of even passing so when I did it suddenly got serious!!

I can relate to that. A 4.30 start is very early, even in the summer it's only just light then. You defo need a new job. You must have to go to bed early, although it's not often I see past 10. I don't think there is too much prep you can do for the computer tests I read through the material they sent through and have done the practice tests I think I will try the two handed pencil one again as need a bit of practice at that one the other two I think I might wing, the pictures aren't that clear and I stare at a computer screen for a lot of the day I just must remember my glasses.