Contract Breaks

One of the big differences between this job and others that I've done before is the basis on which I'm employed.
As a kid doing temporary summer jobs, it was cash in hand. But following that, it was continuous employment. By that I mean that you worked for a company until such time as you resigned or were fired. I've experienced both of those things.
One other variation is that you may stay with a compmany for your entire working life with the end being either retirement or redundancy. These, outside of government jobs, seem, to be much rarer situations these days, partly I suppose because of the benefits that are paid out.
With EF, I'm employed on a rolling contract. In this situation I'm given a one year contract as a standard and then each year an extension is negotiated. Last year I agreed a 2 year contract. The reason for this was that it allowed me to plan a little further ahead, but it also allowed me to not have to worry about the whole bargaining session. Frankly I find it boring and also a little unnecessary. I believe that if both parties are happy with each other, and neither one is asking for anything outrageous, then that meeting doesn't need to be a long drawn out affair.
One of the benefits, and I guess that depends on how you look at it, is that I can take a contract break. This is a period of time between one contract ending and another beginning where I can take unpaid leave. The maximum period of time is a month, but if you wanted to take a few days then that would be equally fine.
I have found this advantageous over the last couple of years as it has allowed me to return to the UK to spend time with my parents and friends. My father isn't in the best of health and my mum isn't getting any younger plus two weeks just doesn't seem to justify a seven thousand mile flight. As long as you prepare through the year for the unpaid part then it's a great extended holiday. I suppose you could just accrue your holidays, but the thought of going a whole year without any time off isn't something that I would like to consider.
Back in the days of continuous employment jobs, my work-life balance was definitely off balance. I threw myself into my work with little thought given to scheduling my work commitments with holiday or leisure time. These days, I like to think that the wisdom that comes through a mixture of age, friendly advice (thanks Penny!) and arthritis allows me to be more practical. I still work hard but I know when to say no to unfavourable requests for my time.
Anyway, back to contract breaks and my current situation is that I'm sat in the lounge of the North Staffordshire Hotel at six o'clock in the morning writing this. My wife Yohana and I are here with my parents visiting my brother Glen who has just completed his second degree. We've spent the last two weeks in Paris, London, Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Durham and Yorkshire and we're about to head for the cross channel ferry to spend another eight days touring Brittany. Now that's what a holiday is really about!