Length of service

[Mr. Smith]

At the end of this week I will have completed 33 years service with my current (and only ever) employer. Can anyone out there in 'cyberland' beat that?

[Patrik Havander]

Mr Smith, good to see you back! I hope you had a good vaccation. Well If I put it like this I am 43 and this year I have 23 years of service with the same employer. That would mean when I am 53 years I have 33 years of service with the same employer.

To answer your question, the answer is no....

[Mr. Smith]

I had a very good holiday indeed thanks Patrik. If & when I am 53, and assuming I am still with the same employer, I will have completed 35 years service!

[Flemming Lippert]

Interesting information! I cannot compete unless you add up my 7 different employers over the years!! :-) But... and this may count for something... sort of the man who had known another man who's uncle was married to a lady whos mother had once see a picture of Napoleon!! Here it comes: I have a relative who in 2009 celebrated 50 years anniversary with the same employer! He actually was scheduled for pension on THE very day of his anniversary! Imaging that! As it came, he had to stay on another month to finish some things, but that's another story.
Again, you could (but you shouldn't) discuss the value of "staying on" instead of getting experiences from the field. Guess a little of both is the best, but not always we have these opportunities and possibilities.
SO - in other words.... I cannot compete with you either :-)

[Flemming Lippert]

PS: He went to the Queen to collect a service medal, something he will now have to wear when/if participating in official arrangements...

[Mr. Smith]

50 years is impressive. Also, interesting to hear of the medal from the (Danish, I assume) Queen. In the UK you receive a message from the Queen on one's hundreth birthday.

[Flemming Lippert]

Yes, Danish Queen, handshake (he had to wear a white glove on the shake-hand only.... he had to buy the glove himself for this once-in-a-lifetime handshake!)... and he had to wait 3 hours while being served nothing but pure water. But... his shot of fame I guess. Impressive really. But ... even I have shaked hands with the Danish Queen, 28 years ago. But that's another story :-)
I once saw a TV-programme about how the English Queen prepares these celebration letters..... actually these are not prepared by her at all! She has a staff of some 10 people who prepare, sign and forward these letters. It's sort of an "industry". Interesting ... and really not surprising, considernig all the letters and other official duties the Queen and her staff has to attend and prepare.