Taunton

Awake early. Left the B&B at 08:40. Wore the "uniform" of short-sleeve shirt and tie for the first time since Chase Farm 11 years ago! No too happy about the tie. Took about 15 minutes to walk to the Medical Electronics workshop. Address is Medical Electronics Dept., Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5DA. Tel: 01823-342-486. Fax: 01823-344-812. Received a package from Mike Green containing time-sheets etc. The workshop core hours are 08:30-17:00 Mon-Thu and 08:30-16:30 Fri. With an hour's lunch break that amounts to a 37 hour week. Actual hours are flexible. Some guys come and leave earlier etc. There are 8 techs in all. Gordon, Ray, Richard and Paul were in today. Circumstances are that first line x-ray but not medical gases stuff is done by "Medical Electronics". Some lab equipment is also done. Eg, centrifuges. But mostly it's the "patient-connected" stuff. About 8,000 items on the Asset Register. SEMS 4.0. Adrian Whatmore called in briefly at 10:30. I was given a key to the workshop. Spent most of the morning cleaning out the toolkit. Then had a go at an Ohmeda Gas Analyzer. So that's me back "hands-on" at last! Took a half-hour lunch break at the canteen with Gordon and Richard. Cost less than £ 4. Then repaired a broken Projection Perimeter forehead band with Richard. Last to leave with Richard at 16:30. Looked at Mike Green's stuff. Signed to opt-out of 48-hour working week. Apparently the Working Time Regulations 1998 provide that the temporary worker shall not work on an assignment with the client in excess of the working week (ie, 48 hours) unless he agrees in writing that this limit should not apply. So I have so agreed. Pity that the Taunton assignment looks like being limited to only 37 hours a week! Also signed a confirmation with Capital regarding the general terms of the assignment. The main one being £ 14.65 per hour. The position is called Medical Engineer MTO3+3*. Also filled in the Gabem application form. Hope this does not drop me in the shit with the tax man - but what choice do I now have?