Joe's collected his last trolley.

[JoM]

After a year at Tesco, doing a bit of everything from trolley collecting to tills to manning customer service, Joe's worked his last shift today. He's come home with presents and a card, colleagues who are off today have popped in to see him and wish him well. It's been a lovely place to work.

Tomorrow he starts his new job. A 4 year apprenticeship at GE (General Electric) in Stafford. He's applied for a number of apprenticeships but he was over qualified for most having already done the required college training plus the money for working 40 hours per week was less than he was getting for 17 hours at Tesco. The GE one gives him a substantial pay increase though, plus he gets his weekends back. He's already planning on going to Cornwall to see Amanda next weekend.

The only negative is that I'll no longer get my 10% family discount off my Tesco shopping (and 20% off clothing)

It'll be strange here at home. Since leaving school in May 2016, he's been around a lot during the day as college was one full day and two half days a week and his Tesco shifts were evenings and weekends, and Tom was around for much of the day after finishing university last year until his course started and now they'll both be out during the day. I'll be talking Bill's ears off

[Gal2]

Oh such a shame about your discount Jo!!

Still, think of it the other way - not as much laundry, or ironing, or meals to cook.....there can be advantages

[saundra]

Hi jo be brave I was totally lost when Jleft home but I had my job so it soon became normal
We got used to being just us to again meals out holidays
So it has it's advantage just think you can do what you like and still do there washing and bedrooms
Take driving lessons join a ladies group enjoy yourself

[TheOstrich]

General Electric - one of the aristocrats of industry! Good luck to Joe for tomorrow!

Waitrose here are just inducting their latest batch of gap-year uni-students - they usually have three or four for shelf-filling and till work.

[jenniren]

Good luck to Joe with his apprenticeship Jo. It will be strange for a while not having him at home. When our youngest left E spent a few days saying 'it's so quiet' we soon got used to it though and they never really leave.

[Ally]

Good luck to Joe with his apprenticeship Jo. It will be strange for a while not having him at home. When our youngest left E spent a few days saying 'it's so quiet' we soon got used to it though and they never really leave.

You are bang on Jenni.

Although delighted Jacob and Conor had the wherewithal to move out, be independent and buy their own properties I don't think a week goes by that one or both of them doesn't comes over. And we love it!!

Good luck to Joe Jo. xxx

[meriad]

Good luck to Joe for today. Jo have you ever wanted to do a part time course or something like that - art, another language, anything? Now's the perfect time to do things you want to do for yourself x

[JanB]

Best of luck to him and well done on doing an actual apprenticeship

Hope he enjoys it.

You'll get used to it Jo. Takes a while, but you'll get used to it.

[cromwell]

Well done Joe! It will seem strange Jo, but onwards and upwards. I'm sure Bill's ears will be fine!

[JoM]

Thanks all for the good wishes, he was up just after 6 and out just after 7. The house is now a hive of activity first thing. A year ago it was just me and Bill creeping around so as not to wake anyone before going for an early walk. Now they're all up by 6.15 and gone by 7.15am

Ria, I've got loads to keep my busy with day to day stuff and dog walks. I've got some decorating to get started on too and I do a lot of crochet for a charity which I found online (I love crocheting but there're only so many scarves etc that you can make for yourself ) so that takes up some of my time too.