Last of the big spenders/spend-ups.

I just posted a message on my favorite eBay message board, titled something similar, to warn my regular eBay sellers that I won't be bidding as often (if at all) from now on. Ken lost his job today at exactly 2.30 pm. The cardiologist dictated a letter to Vic Roads while we were sitting right there: "Mr Wilson is not fit to drive a heavy vehicle due to his heart (medical terms given), although this will not affect his ability to drive an ordinary car", etc. (For those of you overseas, Vic Roads is the State Government authority governing laws that relate to vehicle registration and driving licences, among other things).

When we left the surgery, Ken drove to the bus company and told the boss, who was visibly shocked at the abruptness of the termination of Ken's employment. He worked a shift this morning before going to the doctor, and is out of work this afternoon. He now has to see our local GP to obtain a medical certificate, so the bus company can continue to pay him sick leave (about 2 weeks). He is also owed Rostered Days Off (don't ask me to explain that one), long service leave (13 years) and residual annual leave. So it will be a reasonable payout. But if he can't get another job (and at nearly 63, who is going to employ him?), that will be the last money he will ever earn, apart from superannuation and possibly a pension of some kind. Even that is in doubt, as I am still working, albeit 3 days a week, so he may not qualify for a pension on the grounds that his spouse is still earning.

A number of well-meaning people have said to him "Oh retirement is wonderful - you will be able to travel now!" Well, if you have been lucky (or prudent) enough to save up enough money to travel after you finish work, that's fine. But we haven't, so that is out of the question. Ken has been on the phone to friends and family tonight, and he is trying to sound cheerful about it, but underneath he says it feels "like a kick in the guts". We knew it was in the pipeline, but thought he may have a week's grace at least, to finish up at work with some dignity.