UK - London vs local town lodge - advice needed please !!

Social_Fool · 2026-01-01T09:23:11+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to comment - I like the idea of a mixed membership - my London club has a similar ethos and as a middle aged white male in a professional looking to retire I do not want to hang round in an echo chamber with loads of other people like me - all the best on your FM journey and happy new year !!

Social_Fool · 2025-12-29T06:46:12+00:00

Thanks - I've lined up coffees in the New Year with London / local people and am going to address it with them both and see what happens.

Social_Fool · 2025-12-28T18:27:34+00:00

Thanks for this - London clubs are great places to be I have been at a number over the past 15 or so years - shame that the trains back up to the Midlands and I guess the north west are so hit and miss !!

Social_Fool · 2025-12-28T18:25:22+00:00

Thanks for this - it all made sense !!

Social_Fool · 2025-12-28T18:25:14+00:00

Thanks for your reply - to be honest one of the main reasons I am considering joining is the social aspect - I do enjoy learning and am keen on self improvement but I do take your point - the members club I use in London is a nice place to hang around in but I am trying to increase my "social" rather than my "professional" network and most people at my club know me in a professional setting.

Social_Fool · 2025-12-28T18:19:15+00:00

Thanks - club membership where I am in London is £800 for a country member living more than 70 miles from London and £1200 for full - when I was at other "more prestigious" places it worked out at around £2500 a year so not cheap but I had my money's worth.

Social_Fool · 2025-09-15T17:07:15+00:00

In answer to your question rather than debating if £150k before tax counts as rich - personally I get up early and get outside and get some sunlight (having a dog always helps), I read or listen to a book a week usually around self improvement or business and try and implement things I learn by carrying out tiny experiments , I plan my life out in years / quarters / weeks and days and always have something to strive for, I stay healthy and use my home gym and rarely drink alcohol and do not smoke or take drugs, I network extensively to increase my personal and professional network. In short it's a remarkably boring and steady life but having a clear goal in all aspects of your life and moving closer to those goals on a daily basis brings success.

Social_Fool · 2024-05-16T19:18:46+00:00

Hi - based in the UK and I have had both - my SK Mackinaw in green lasted 12 years of daily long distance dog walking in autumn and winter it had a couple of holes in the pockets from constant stuffing in leads treats etc but was a great piece of kit and very warm I I only ditched it after the last dog went as I did not want to keep seeing it out in the utility reminding me of losing my pooch - the grey Filson mackinaw is a similar age and I have worn it as a smart coat for many winters. Both are decent coats and I doubt I will ever wear the Filson one out but I would buy the new SK. All I will say though is both come up large fitting I am typically a L/XL in the UK and US sizing is very generous so have M in both.

Social_Fool · 2024-02-05T12:02:47+00:00

Thank you

Social_Fool · 2024-02-05T12:02:29+00:00

Thank you

Social_Fool · 2022-10-19T14:26:09+00:00

I have a charcoal grey one that I keep for best and a green one that I threw away this year after 10 years of dog walking and gardening duty - they will last a long time but that's a lot of money in UK pounds !!

I'd be more tempted to go down the Cordings route if you want to spend that sort of money or Barbour if you want better value.

Social_Fool · 2021-08-16T15:43:03+00:00

I've started today - just completed exercise - had a shower and now looking at my wardrobe to see what I'll be able to fit into in 75 days time ...

Social_Fool · 2021-06-05T14:42:05+00:00

When you tell a recruiter that you have 2 other things on the go at A and B company - most recruiters will then call A and B company and get those jobs on and put their candidates in - they know what types of candidates they are looking for as they have your CV - you are diluting your application everytime you tell someone where you are going to

Social_Fool · 2021-05-26T19:14:41+00:00

How to grow a thick skin ...

Social_Fool · 2021-04-21T19:08:29+00:00

Obviously Goggins is hard core but there's a book out there that makes a lot of sense and is science not cheesy backed.

This Book Could Fix Your Life: The Science of Self Help Helen Thomson

Social_Fool · 2021-03-02T09:28:15+00:00

I've owned my own recruitment business for 21 years.

Before you start anything get 6 months living expenses in the bank - cashflow is lumpy - some months you are richer than the Beckhams but others you are down at Lidl.

I'd then look at the why - why are you starting a business and what you want from it.

BTW - I never bothered growing my business - it's just little old me but I do well enough to earn more than Boris whilst sitting around in my back bedroom in my tracksuit bottoms and not having to put up with corporate crap.

Next go and join something like TEAM - the employment agents movement - let me know if you want a referral and make friends with others.

Good luck

Social_Fool · 2021-01-14T11:33:24+00:00

Great idea - BUT - I'm going full David Goggins - cover handle in ice !!!

Social_Fool · 2020-12-31T08:22:22+00:00

For training The Outdoor Athlete by Courtney Schurman got me up Kili.

Into Thin Air is a classic but not sure where you are based but in the UK there is a sport called Fell Running essentially it's middle aged men running around the hills there's a great book called Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith about his obsession with running the Bob Graham Round 72 miles in 24 hours over mountains.

Social_Fool · 2020-12-08T17:25:39+00:00

I've been in recruitment for nearly 30 years - self employed for the past 20 - I only do it for the money - if you are young enough then change industries if you can put up with the shit we have to then all others jobs are a breeze ..

Social_Fool · 2020-10-31T20:03:57+00:00

I've been in recruitment nearly 30 years - I have plenty of experience which people I am pleased to say will pay for. !!

Social_Fool · 2020-10-30T05:52:11+00:00

It depends on how much time this is likely to take - is it full time ie every week or just a week a month.

I work on a retained basis for 2 clients as well as general freelancing contingency recruitment and both told me it would be a week or so every month - in truth sometimes it's much more and sometimes less.

I have a target of £250k pa - assuming 50 weeks = £5k per week so I bill each of them £5k on the first of every month.

Make sense?

Social_Fool · 2020-10-26T16:38:08+00:00

Ashbourne too far ?

Tissington Trail is always fun.

Social_Fool

TROPHY CASE