S
Smiffy
Well-known member
Particularly with construction, the government has turned it into a dumping ground for those that struggle at school. Rather than a well paying career you can be proud of like in some European countries.
Particularly with construction, the government has turned it into a dumping ground for those that struggle at school. Rather than a well paying career you can be proud of like in some European countries.
6
6feetdown
Well-known member
I think it's been like that for a long time.
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
I stayed on to do A Levels (badly) for my sins. I was vaguely aware that somewhere round the back of the college there was a building where the 'thick' kids did bricklaying and suchlike. It was never put forward at careers nights.. schools just want you to go further education. I would have been MUCH better off on a vocational course at 14 or 16 than I would have been at Sixth Form. Probably some of those lads are better off than me now.
Not much has changed in the last 25-30 years. I've trained 7? Apprentices since then (4 still with me) and we struggle to find decent hardworking motivated students. Schools STILL try and steer them away from ' blue collar ' trades.
Lancs Lad
Well-known member
At long flippin last.
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
On a lighter note...back at the farm project today. Relatively casual day, 9-6.30 so positively part time.
Got the access ramp roughly built and lost 25t of waste hardcore in there. Digger started pissing out fluid, but just a 3/8 nut slacked itself off on hyd hitch so easy fix.
Big wacker plate earning its keep and doing some work. Its amazing how it packs it down. Swear its better than a 1200 roller.
Got the access ramp roughly built and lost 25t of waste hardcore in there. Digger started pissing out fluid, but just a 3/8 nut slacked itself off on hyd hitch so easy fix.
Big wacker plate earning its keep and doing some work. Its amazing how it packs it down. Swear its better than a 1200 roller.
Attachments
S
Smiffy
Well-known member
Two big secondary schools in the town I grew up in. One was sports orientated. One was academic. I went to the academic one as tbh I was quite good at school. But in hindsight it was completely the wrong place for me. I started 6th form as I was encouraged to do. but dropped out after 6 months to go to an agri college to do forestry. Again not the best course for me but I did love the college. Don't think anyone ever gave me any careers advice other than what university course are you going to do. Unless as a teenager you do your own research,which lets face it is highly unlikely, then you are stuffed.
hiluxman
Well-known member
From leaving school, I've never worked for anyone, for that alone I feel proud of everything I've done, success or not.
Lots thought I worked from my dad. I didn't, he was busy driving a jcb for others. But he did fund the first digger and put my name forward wherever he could. From 2008 he started to help me out when I was busy, then he retired but still came driving as required until he couldn't anymore last year.
I'm not one for correcting people, but i always had the it's dads firm stigma so I found it funny in my way that they thought that and they didn't think I'd done it myself.
There's many blinkered eyes in construction, lots of jealousy and lots of idiots and rubbish talked, so it's understandable why it's classed as a s**t job from those looking from the outside
Lots thought I worked from my dad. I didn't, he was busy driving a jcb for others. But he did fund the first digger and put my name forward wherever he could. From 2008 he started to help me out when I was busy, then he retired but still came driving as required until he couldn't anymore last year.
I'm not one for correcting people, but i always had the it's dads firm stigma so I found it funny in my way that they thought that and they didn't think I'd done it myself.
There's many blinkered eyes in construction, lots of jealousy and lots of idiots and rubbish talked, so it's understandable why it's classed as a s**t job from those looking from the outside
L
Lurch
Active member
Done your best Doob
They reckon it's 3 a week in farming this brings some reality to those figures.
Unspeakably horrific and something needs to change in an industry we litterally can't
VeryYesterdays job was bittersweet. A funeral for the lad who’s worked for me on and off the last ten years and full time the last six months, who I’ve known since he was 15 and came down the yard looking for work. Such a wonderful lad, would help anyone but sadly couldn’t help himself or ask for help
This is on top of another lad taking his own life a day apart. He worked weekends on my landlords farm. Both smashing lads, both cases unrelated but Jesus it’s hit the farming community hard.
We gave him a great send off. I had the churchyard looking great, we had a convoy of thirty trucks follow him. I drove ahead and stopped traffic (with his wide load sticker that he used to love using) whilst the convoy took the back roads that he used to love to the church in the village where he was born.
The sun was shining, I gave the eulogy and then we went to the rugby club and then the pub where I got disgracefully drunk.
f****ng hell man. View attachment 61265View attachment 61266View attachment 61267
Rip,Yesterdays job was bittersweet. A funeral for the lad who’s worked for me on and off the last ten years and full time the last six months, who I’ve known since he was 15 and came down the yard looking for work. Such a wonderful lad, would help anyone but sadly couldn’t help himself or ask for help
This is on top of another lad taking his own life a day apart. He worked weekends on my landlords farm. Both smashing lads, both cases unrelated but Jesus it’s hit the farming community hard.
We gave him a great send off. I had the churchyard looking great, we had a convoy of thirty trucks follow him. I drove ahead and stopped traffic (with his wide load sticker that he used to love using) whilst the convoy took the back roads that he used to love to the church in the village where he was born.
The sun was shining, I gave the eulogy and then we went to the rugby club and then the pub where I got disgracefully drunk.
f****ng hell man. View attachment 61265View attachment 61266View attachment 61267
I know how you are feeling mate its been a 1 year since my best mate and work colleague took his own life ,
Take care all
6
6feetdown
Well-known member
A lot of the problem has been continuity of work too, people like a secure profession, construction has not really been that unless your direct employed by a local authority or really big outfit
Simon edwards
Well-known member
I’ve always Impressed upon any youngsters coming into this game that you can do as well as you want to through a willingness to work hard and grabbing opportunities as they arise,there is always a chance of extra hours ,shifts, picking up small jobs on the side.There are few occupations where you get the chance to earn more on a regular basis like this as well as constantly learning new skills etc.
V8Druid
do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
some of my blokes were always asking for overtime ... couldn't grasp the fact that work was priced on a std rate and unless they were prepared to work 1.5 times faster (or was an emergency job carrying a premium) the money wasn't there to allow overtime rates.
the crane hire or machine moving side of things was the only thing I could justify O/T on and charge.
Jimbo69
Well-known member
Had the Cormidi out on hire and got a phone call saying there was a funny smell coming from it and sent me this photo. Looks like a stone got jammed and broke the belt cover. Which then melted the pulley 
I think the pulley might be beyond repair. Emailed Molson’s this morning with the part numbers I found online, hopefully get them sent to me soon.
I think the pulley might be beyond repair. Emailed Molson’s this morning with the part numbers I found online, hopefully get them sent to me soon.
Attachments
Left hooker
Well-known member
Just got back from dismantling/ demoing a show stand at the royal Cornwall show
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
Wife was there yesterday. I missed it this year. Good weather!
Left hooker
Well-known member
Yeah didn't go myself this Year
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
Well that’s it all laid to rest for a while.
Changed a little corner of Devon forever. Back later in year to faff with various bits of drainage and add another couple of banks/hedges. About 1500 baby trees to plant in the winter.
Changed a little corner of Devon forever. Back later in year to faff with various bits of drainage and add another couple of banks/hedges. About 1500 baby trees to plant in the winter.
pettsy
Well-known member
Passed this today in town. Massive potholes all over Derbyshire and they’re p*ssing about with a bus stop that’s rarely used 
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
Gravel the easy way.
Furniss
Well-known member
Saved us some hours of hard graft the tilty on this job ....still been plenty mind !
Fair bit to do still but its getting less.
Couple of little ponds next ...be glad to get back on digger
Fair bit to do still but its getting less.
Couple of little ponds next ...be glad to get back on digger
S
Stroppymonkey
Well-known member
I spent half of yesterday on the same machine as BIL had pinched the 360. Actually had a great time and started to feel some affinity for it. He keeps trying to sell it to me. Would make a good all-rounder for the farm I agree. Here is a another sexy shot for @Storrsy (not me driving - nothing is that level with me on it!) It did 9 days hard graft last week. Several 10 hour days running at full throttle raking and rolling the clay I was digging out with the 15t. Just about kept up with it. Lovely turbo whistle on it! Drank 150l a day in those conditions.
Footer block 1