Earl
Off topic I suppose - sorry.
I ran into an 'Earl' who is/was an FE for Midex in Paris when I was doing the A300 sim late last year. He looked at my iPod, then bought one.
I just wondered if he was you. Please disregard.
Good luck.
In this financial climate, needs does as needs must. Every month you get paid, is another month you get paid. Simples.
Ignore the carpers, they're not worth the effort. It's a choice, work until you don't have/want to anymore.