drpeterwardle
Unregistered
21st January 2006, 03:49 AM
On another thread it was suggested that consultants are fat and drive range rovers. One of my archaeological friends has suggested to me that consultants driving nice cars demonstrates that there is a career structure in archaeology. So here are the statistics for the week to show what some consultants do.
Miles travel 500
Projects worked on 14 Charity projects 3
Pages of reports printed 1800
Photographs taken 750
work emails recieved 37
work emails sent 12
telephone calls made 30
Telephone calls recievbed 20
Letters sent 6
Work mail recieved 18
quotes 1
Invoices 2
Emails read on BAJR & Britarch
Indifferent meals eaten in motorway services, resturants and cafes all very fattening. 6
Total hours worked 70 or so
Chargeable hours worked not enough
The weekend
Hand delivering reports
Completing tax return
Sorting web site
Car of Choice Honda Civic automatic. Comfortable, reliable, nice to drive and relatively cheap to buy. The heated leather seats are a bit of a luxury but ....They are very good in mud and in the wet.
Daimler - the interiors are not well laid out if you sit in the passenger seat. Very expensive.
Porches - too uncomfortable and expensive to run
Mercedes - dealerships unhelpful but cost effective cars. The Stuggart Taxi.
Landrover - too unrealiable according to the statistics
Skoda Fabria - Brilliant to drive but the automatic with a 1400 engine is unpowered. The fabrics let them down. The heated/cooled glove compartent is a plus.
Peter
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2005
21st January 2006, 04:24 PM
you seem very defensive Dr. Pete. In my humble opinion anyone who has the balls to go it alone deserves all the rewards they get. Why are you trying to explain/justify your wage? You are responible for everything from wages, pension, mortage etc, a termendous responibilty! If you are as unhappy about your conditions/pay etc as your post suggests then why not take a job with an established organisation? Let someone else take the stress of bidding, budgets etc.
Are the 500 miles per week, month, year?? I routinely do 200 miles a day.. I charge generously per mile so i don't lose.
Inicidentally, what is your web address which you refer to maintaining?
I think the purpose of my reply is to ask what is the point of the original posting??
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2005
23rd January 2006, 02:24 PM
its a great life being a consultant!
I work as an archaeologist for a large company I get 30`000 plus and have the pleasure of working with ecologists and landscape architects. I travel to site for meetings etc and get involved in a every aspect of the project. I enjoy my job hugely and yes its hard work and yes I miss the actual discovering getting dirty side of it but I have found there is progression within this proffesion and ok i dont work for a unit and yes there will be people who say i work for the dark side but if you have a family you want to provide for and have a comfortable exsistance with then i make not one apology for doing it.
Up the consultants!!!
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2004
24th January 2006, 01:31 PM
Agreed trowelhead, consultancy can be tremendously rewarding. I think it's a healthy thing that we get to mix with other disciplines. Field archaeology by contrast seems a very closed little world looking back on it. I had a mixed time in the field and consultancy is mixed too, with doing a good job a rewarding experience but being occasionally ignored by some colleagues in your own company definitely a down side
Dr Pete - there was no need to be so defensive. There has been a lot of abuse levelled at consultants on this board, mainly from the ignorant, but there's no doubting the work we're generating for field archaeology or the hours we sometimes have to put in.
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2005
24th January 2006, 03:01 PM
I had a very mixed time in consultancy. First job absolutly excellent; my second job was probably one of the worst experiences of my entire life so i ran hard to a County authority and am really enjoying it - despite not having enough staff, resorces or time and being overworked.
Posts: 1
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2005
25th January 2006, 03:03 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardle
Porches - too uncomfortable and expensive to run
My porch is quite comfortable thank you very much and relatively cheap to boot!
D. Vader
Senior Consultant
Vader Maull & Palpatine
Archaeological Consultants
Our geophysicists have completed their scan of the area and found nothing
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2004
25th January 2006, 03:39 PM
Ah Roy, nice to hear your getting on well these days.
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
25th January 2006, 04:45 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Sith
Quote:quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardle
Porches - too uncomfortable and expensive to run
My porch is quite comfortable thank you very much and relatively cheap to boot!
My porch is also cheap to maintain, but it is very slow and draughty, and I prefer to use a car to travel in.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Antique
"All human endeavour is futile"
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
25th January 2006, 04:52 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Sith
Quote:quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardle
Porches - too uncomfortable and expensive to run
My porch is quite comfortable thank you very much and relatively cheap to boot!
D. Vader
Senior Consultant
If I came and did it at night, could I boot your porch for free?
Posts: 0
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2004
26th January 2006, 01:17 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Digger
Ah Roy, nice to hear your getting on well these days.
Yes thanks Digger. Increased pay is now constructively funnelled towards credit card debt repayments. The more you earn, the bigger hole you dig yourself in :face-topic: - forgive the pun.
Hope all that winter sun didn't relax you too much. If ever you want to pay for me to fly down under just drop me a line [:p]
