Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The 183 Day Rule

Found out today that because of the 183 day tax rule here in the USA, my return date to the UK is 20th March (or there abouts). However, sometime after 15th April I will be coming out again (probably for two or three months)

Aparently, after 183 days my company will have to pay tax to Gordon Brown *and* another 24% to the IRS, which sucks a lot, so I can see why I have to come home. Its a pain though, because there is still such a lot to do out here, Im also getting work on another up and coming project, which will mean more time out here in the future - its good to know my skills are required on different projects - oh to be busy and loved!

Had a meeting today with the technical manager about the new work, and towards the end of the meeting he told me a story about how he was bitten by a spider this time last year as he sat in his cube. The guy next to him was bitten too. After a couple of hours, he started to hallucinate, so he decided to go home. The next morning a colleague decided to take him to the hospital, as he was swelling up and his arm was black. To cut a long story short, he was 3 hours away from having his arm amputated and was on life support for 5 days! It was only the actions of a professor realising the problem that saved his life. he other guy who was bitten died - how scary is that?! When I got back to my cube, I checked it for spiders!

Im only working half a day tomorrow (1st Feb) because I have to pick my mate up from DFW for the skiing trip! I can't wait for that. Tomorrow night will be spent at the Londoner and maybe the Sherlock, and we'll probably visit a restaurant in Addison for some food. We will then be setting off at about 2am on Friday morning for the long drive to Colorado.

Check out the blog for pictures of the trip. I intend to take a photo for the 'Malvern Gazzelle' and have the words 'We *heart* Malvern Gazzelle' written in yellow snow!

5 comments:

phil said...

if he had lost his arm you wouldnt have had anything to fear from him because he would have been armless..............i know, but the old ones are the best!!!! (sometimes)

Mark T said...

No, Phil, the old ones are usually yours :-)

phil said...

peolple like you make me sick!!!! you want to go to a country and take take take. we have people like you here they are called kosavans and live on spring bank, they call themselves assylum seekers but they are just spongers. you are happy to take all the money uncle sam is willing to pay you but not willing to pay back, stay and pay all you are supposed to you slimy little toad, after all you must be earning it, you could afford to go out and spend 20 notes on a curry the other night, no such thing as an eat as much as you can for a fiver for you, no you have to be flash and splah your cash around, well its about time you paid wot you owe!!!!! p.s have a great time ski ing will talk to you when you get back, love uncle philip lol.

Mark T said...

Screw you Phil, I can't think of anything witty to reply as Ive just got up from being in the pub last night :-) Right, where did I put my Gold Leaf Bog Roll? Oh sod it, I'll just wipe with a $50 note :-)

phil said...

i hope it isnt the $50 note you are gonna use to buy my xmas prezzie....sorry one of the notes you are gonna use