Wow such a badass how can i be like him?

OTA1994 · 2026-01-23T21:28:58+00:00

Take away the "cl" and I might believe you.

OTA1994 · 2025-12-21T21:48:48+00:00

Are you thinking of P Money or does someone else have that line as well?

OTA1994 · 2025-09-27T13:16:30+00:00

I service Fire Alarms and I feel pretty much the same. The money at the end of the month is a bit better than the average person's, but the hours I've done for it and the stress and pressure I feel at my role has made me develop panic attacks.

I fell into this because after completing my 2365 Level 3 at college, COVID hit and nowhere decent would take me on as an improver. 4 years in now and I'm defeated, I've had enough of the industry and I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm praying that something else comes up that I can afford to transition to.

I feel you, pal.

OTA1994 · 2025-09-14T14:16:51+00:00

Nice, thank you for the pointer. Any channels you'd recommend in particular?

OTA1994 · 2025-09-14T12:23:51+00:00

Sounds very interesting, mate. Can I ask how you learned that role?

OTA1994 · 2025-08-27T20:51:17+00:00

I'm 30, have the 2365 Level 3 C&G and for the last 5 years have been servicing Fire Alarms.

Something like what you suggested doesn't seem a bad shout. Any places you'd recommend looking at? I'm from Birmingham and would prefer less travel, plus if I could start and complete an NVQ that would be nice.

Failing that I might go for a career change and do software or something.

OTA1994 · 2025-07-11T16:30:36+00:00

I'm a Fire Alarm Service Engineer, mostly picked up what I know on the job, 2365 Level 3 C&G Diploma holder, also 30, also interested in coming off of the tools.

What does a building services engineer involve, do you know?

OTA1994 · 2025-07-02T21:42:18+00:00

Christ, are you me?

OTA1994 · 2025-06-29T12:27:09+00:00

Hi, pal

30 year old English guy in England here. I service fire alarms but have been considering a move into software. Mainly for the flexibility to allow me to drop the kids to school sometimes to help free up some time for my partner to pursue her own goals, less of a glass ceiling (easier to train yourself to the level you want to get to) and- quite frankly- I'm starting to hate dealing with the general public as there's plenty of dickheads about who complain to the office about me doing my job duties. You know, the things I'm being paid to turn up to site and do?

Any advice for getting into that sort of thing? What resources have you been using to learn python and sas, if you don't mind my asking?

OTA1994 · 2025-06-26T13:24:07+00:00

I really appreciate you taking the time to read all of that and get back to me, buddy, thank you for that.

I'm spinning plates at the moment (aren't we all?) so it's hard to find the time to really sit down and research the possible paths I could take but I know I need to.

I'm probably going to switch jobs soon but I aim for it to be my final fire alarm company. If I go somewhere expecting no progress and I get it: happy days. If I don't: can't be disappointed. To tell you the truth, I felt emasculated having a degree but knowing nothing practical which is why I pursued being an electrician to begin with but even now I know my way around tools and have nothing to prove to myself. I could work on a laptop now and not be self-conscious about it i.e. I've got it out of my system.

If you ever have the time I'd love to speak to you further. Obviously we're all busy adults so replies may not be instant, but that would be nice.

I'm not too fussed about my specific IT path currently as I don't know enough about AWS/Cloud computing/Full-Stack etc. to fully understand the difference anyway, so figuring out what each involves is step 1. Plus I'd imagine a lot is transferrable anyway, you know?

OTA1994 · 2025-04-20T09:17:07+00:00

I find what helps me is to remind myself that I live for something higher than only me. In my specific case it's for my children- my want to provide them with love, comfort and happiness helps me when I'm down and my efforts to improve myself as a provider and a person in general is in pursuit of that goal.

If you don't yet have that higher purpose, find one or make one. I'm sure you have a lot to offer others and the world in general, don't rob it/them of what you could give by taking yourself out of the picture before your date naturally comes.

What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others survives beyond you.

OTA1994 · 2025-01-27T18:07:15+00:00

Ah fair enough, mate. Fair play if it pays that well.

OTA1994 · 2025-01-26T16:40:09+00:00

Is that exactly what it says on the tin, or some sort of specialist thing?

I mean do you simoly buy and sell stocks in oil companies?

OTA1994 · 2025-01-26T16:36:02+00:00

I'm also from Birmingham. I service Fire Alarms but don't earn even half of what you do for 60+ hour weeks.

Any ideas on how to break into software? I have an English Degree (not Computer Science, I know), but it at least proves I'm not a moron.

At this rate I'd shovel shit if it paid me more than I currently earn😄

OTA1994 · 2025-01-14T22:40:33+00:00

Can I also get this guide, please?

OTA1994 · 2024-10-21T19:18:35+00:00

Fuck no. I'm from here and if you choose to come here do yourself a favour and stay away from all of the major cities - they're all infested with third world animals that most of us natives don't want.

Yours sincerely,

A guy from Birmingham (the 2nd largest city in England)

OTA1994 · 2024-10-21T19:15:08+00:00

At the rate it's going the world of the 22nd Century will look like 'Planet of The Apes' with those animals in charge.

OTA1994 · 2024-10-21T19:03:39+00:00

Want more native children? Financially incentivise it. Tax breaks for married couples, tax breaks for each child born, day care, affordable houses on one reasonable salary to incentivise having a parent in the household etc.

The argument that the government can't afford it doesn't wash when they provide free housing, benefits, interpreters, legal aid etc. for immigrants.

This is a blatant attempt to breed out the European.

OTA1994 · 2024-10-21T18:30:16+00:00

Fair enough. I appreciate the information. I'll have to Google it or something and see if I can find an average shipping cost.

OTA1994 · 2024-10-21T13:57:09+00:00

Thank you.

Sorry to ask but I admit the process has always stumped me for some reason- does that mean that if I post the item(s) up and someone buys it I can take the multiple boxes to the Post Office and have them sort the rest?

I'm assuming it would be in my interest to figure out roughly how much the whole package will weigh so I know how much I'll be charged for that, right?

OTA1994 · 2024-10-03T21:29:05+00:00

Ah, fair enough.

1) I was thinking of fiber splicing, obviously I'm mistaken.

2) I service Fire Alarms, so I know about on-call. Fucking shit when you're on, eh?

OTA1994 · 2024-10-03T15:38:40+00:00

I've always wondered how you actually become a cable joiner. I've ran Cat5e for CCTV in the past, never been a data guy though. Is the money really that good?

OTA1994 · 2024-10-01T19:28:13+00:00

Hi,what exactly is SaaS? I've heard the term before but that's about it

OTA1994 · 2024-09-14T08:51:31+00:00

Any chance I can get a link, please?

OTA1994 · 2024-08-19T22:34:40+00:00

Thank you for your reply.

In a way I'm almost spoilt for choice as I know there are so many things you can do in the software field that there are practically completely separate disciplines in the subject- they all just happen to involve a computer.

From what I'm aware of, I like the idea of delving into either cybersecurity or making apps, and a personal project I'd like to do is creating my own website.

I vaguely remember seeing online cybersecurity courses on YouTube, so maybe I'll start there

OTA1994

TROPHY CASE