Everything is somebody else's fault

[Marco]

Ain't that the truth, bro... Bet you're counting down the days to your retirement!

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

Stress is the killer.

100% agree with that - stress brings on all sorts of health troubles.
Many of which will confound medical specialists. But so hard to avoid stress - even if you are laid back like I am it is difficult to “let go”.

[Marco]

Had mega-stress, from about 1992-1999, from the pressure of running and building up my business, and paying a huge mortgage on a 'posh' house we had, while Del was in a fairly low-paid job working in computers for Glasgow City Council, plus finding wages every week for 10-15 members of staff (sales guys and girls I had working for me at the time), and often working 17-18 hour days in the process...

Del and I hardly seen anything of each other during that time, and my health suffered. But it was worth it in the end, as I managed to earn enough money to semi-retire early, and now I have no stress whatsoever, and feel so much happier for it

A lot of folks would still keep going though, just to earn more and more, but for me it simply wasn't worth the stress, and I valued my marriage more, and the close relationship I wanted with my wife, than any amount of money, as did she. When you've got enough to pay the bills and live comfortably, why continue running yourself into an early grave?

Like you say Alex, making sone nice MEMORIES is worth so much more!

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

Amen to that brother! You can’t take it with you...

[stairpost]

Had mega-stress, from about 1992-1999, from the pressure of running and building up my business, and paying a huge mortgage on a 'posh' house we had, while Del was in a fairly low-paid job working in computers for Glasgow City Council, plus finding wages every week for 10-15 members of staff (sales guys and girls I had working for me at the time), and often working 17-18 hour days in the process...

Del and I hardly seen anything of each other during that time, and my health suffered. But it was worth it in the end, as I managed to earn enough money to semi-retire early, and now I have no stress whatsoever, and feel so much happier for it

A lot of folks would still keep going though, just to earn more and more, but for me it simply wasn't worth the stress, and I valued my marriage more, and the close relationship I wanted with my wife, than any amount of money, as did she. When you've got enough to pay the bills and live comfortably, why continue running yourself into an early grave?

Like you say Alex, making sone nice MEMORIES is worth so much more!

Marco.

That's a great reward for your hard work, congratulations.

My boss is 70 this year, he's a multimillionare. He still "works" 6 days a week most weeks, despite the business completely outgrowing him, and now being run by several different departments, he hasn't the slightest understanding of how they work and how much work his staff do for him, but in his mind he can do everyone's job and we are all dispensable (he isn't shy about telling us that). His business has cost him his family and he has no real friends that I know of, he has a girlfriend that is considerably younger (nothing suspicious there). He has no intention of retiring so he'll just keep going to work till he drops. I would genuinely feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a nasty piece of work.

[struth]

Had a boss like that once. He was an ass

[Marco]

That's a great reward for your hard work, congratulations.

My boss is 70 this year, he's a multimillionare. He still "works" 6 days a week most weeks, despite the business completely outgrowing him, and now being run by several different departments, he hasn't the slightest understanding of how they work and how much work his staff do for him, but in his mind he can do everyone's job and we are all dispensable (he isn't shy about telling us that). His business has cost him his family and he has no real friends that I know of, he has a girlfriend that is considerably younger (nothing suspicious there). He has no intention of retiring so he'll just keep going to work till he drops. I would genuinely feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a nasty piece of work.

Thanks, Rich. Your boss though, is a very sad man...

However, you tend to find that with a lot of multi-millionaires, as to get into that financial position, unless you've won the money on the Lottery or inherited it, will almost certainly have involved tramping on a few toes, and in the process making enemies - but worst of all, is the effect the continual 'drive' to be ever more successful and make more and more money, will have had on your marriage and/or relationship with your kids.

Quite simply, you can't throw your heart and soul into your job without it impacting negatively on your personal life (something has to give, as there are only so many hours in a day), which is why the world is full of lonely millionaires, whose 'lives' revolve around work, because out with of their expensive material possessions, they don't have anything else (other than often failed relationships and kids who resent them), and so will work until they drop to escape from having to face facts.

They fool themselves into thinking that they're 'workaholics' and love their jobs, when often the reality is something quite different and rather more depressing....

The fact is, they're working simply to hide their deep-down unhappiness, and often also to make up for the effects of an unhappy childhood, when they too were neglected by their parents. That's why many millionaires are rather unemotional 'cold fishes', simply because they've put all their energy into making money and building their careers, rather than nurturing their personal relationships with their friends and/or family.

And often they don't realise that they're in that position before the damage has been done and it's too late to fix it.

Marco.

[stairpost]

Thanks, Rich. Your boss though, is a very sad man...

However, you tend to find that with a lot of multi-millionaires, as to get into that financial position, unless you've won the money on the Lottery or inherited it, will almost certainly have involved tramping on a few toes, and in the process making enemies - but worst of all, is the effect the continual 'drive' to be ever more successful and make more and more money, will have had on your marriage and/or relationship with your kids.

Quite simply, you can't throw your heart and soul into your job without it impacting negatively on your personal life (something has to give, as there are only so many hours in a day), which is why the world is full of lonely millionaires, whose 'lives' revolve around work, because out with of their expensive material possessions, they don't have anything else (other than often failed relationships and kids who resent them), and so will work until they drop to escape from having to face facts.

They fool themselves into thinking that they're 'workaholics' and love their jobs, when often the reality is something quite different and rather more depressing....

The fact is, they're working simply to hide their deep-down unhappiness, and often also to make up for the effects of an unhappy childhood, when they too were neglected by their parents. That's why many millionaires are rather unemotional 'cold fishes', simply because they've put all their energy into making money and building their careers, rather than nurturing their personal relationships with their friends and/or family.

And often they don't realise that they're in that position before the damage has been done and it's too late to fix it.

Marco.

You have just described him perfectly.

He creates his own misery; he is rarely considerate to his staff so we save our support and kindness for those we care about. I know from the odd moment of what seems like honesty from him over the years that he is lonely, but 99% of the people in his life are his staff, and he treats us so disrespectfully that no one has any wish to reach out to him.

I work with a great bunch of people in a job that's within walking distance (I can't drive). The pay is insulting for the responsibilities I have, but I do my job to the best of my abilities every day, sadly it's despite him not because of him. But! It's a job, and these days they are worth hanging on to.

[alphaGT]

Too right, Russell. Nothing beats your own, if you know how to do it right, particularly the base. With pizza, base is king! And you really need a wood-fired oven to do it right. But you can still get good results with a normal oven, or a pizza stone, on a BBQ.

Toppings are of secondary importance. I could always eat a pizza with decent (although not particularly special) toppings, and a great base (thin and crispy and where you can taste the flavour imparted on the dough by the wood oven), but never one with a shit base (too thick and stodgy and that tastes of nothing) and the finest toppings... The base is the foundation for most of the flavour!

In Italy, we enjoy eating focaccia, which when done right/traditionally is simply a wood-fired thin pizza base, rubbed with a fresh garlic clove, and with NOTHING on it, other than some quality extra-virgin olive oil, drizzled on top, plus fresh rosemary sprigs and rock salt... And it's delicious!

Marco.

I’ll agree, after I get my crust pressed into the pan, I make a sauce with oregano and fresh garlic. Then mozzarella and Parmesan, and onions and green pepper. That is my base. I may add many things, but if all I have are the onions and green peppers, Im happy. Pepperoni, or Italian Sausage, (my favorite), are most welcome, and if I’ve got them, mushrooms and black olives, anchovies on rare occasion, it’s all good! It’s driving me crazy because I haven’t had one since before my surgery! I’ve got another month before I can stand to eat one, I’m guessing. I haven’t consumed alcohol, no Italian food, or Mexican, it’s maddening! But something to look forward to, to be sure.

Russell

[alphaGT]

You have just described him perfectly.

He creates his own misery; he is rarely considerate to his staff so we save our support and kindness for those we care about. I know from the odd moment of what seems like honesty from him over the years that he is lonely, but 99% of the people in his life are his staff, and he treats us so disrespectfully that no one has any wish to reach out to him.

I work with a great bunch of people in a job that's within walking distance (I can't drive). The pay is insulting for the responsibilities I have, but I do my job to the best of my abilities every day, sadly it's despite him not because of him. But! It's a job, and these days they are worth hanging on to.

That sounds a bit like my Brother-in-law’s father. He owned a Crane company, had a wife and 3 kids. His wife died of cancer, and he immediately disowned his 3 children! He married some younger woman, (she’s not all that, with his money he could have done better) and her and her daughter are spending his money as fast as they can. My Bro-in-law went to his office, to try and patch things up, and the old fool slipped out the side entrance! He sold the company for $9 million, but still works as the President. He’s over 80 years old! Making money is all he knows, and it has poisoned his life! He lives in suspicion that everyone only pretends to like him for his money, his paranoia has destroyed his relationship with his children, I honestly feel sorry for him! And I may be the farthest thing from rich, but if being rich does that to a man, I’m glad I’m not rich.

Russell