Are we too busy?

Hi,



When I applied for my last job my mining mechanical engineering qualifications weren't accepted but having just married with a huge mortgage I needed a job having moved into the district. It was my late father in law who recommended me to the company he was a wagon driver.

I was set on as wagon loader loading electric motors of sizes I could lift to huge motors needing overhead cranes. The job was hard and terrible often in winter with the bay doors wide open getting snowed upon.

As the years started to pass and I was seen to be a conscientious grafter never having time off or arriving late I started to take notice of what was happening around me. I put in a suggestion the company having suggestion boxes around the works. I received £10 and my suggestion was implemented saving the company a lot of money but this was just the start.

I started to be noticed and it wasn't hard as my work chums only saw the job as a means to an end. We had a big fleet of vehicles from a pick up truck to 38 tonners. Most of the country was covered by delivery at least once per week but a lot of the country was covered by two deliveries per week. We had to memorize all the routes and to load the trailers in drop order. One day I requested an A4 hardback ruled writing book. I set about noting every route from #1 to #25 and in the book under each route added all the customers in drop order. A colleague took this a step further credit to him and had the computer department add the route number to customer orders so everyone could easily check which route the motor would take and on what day/s.

I really got into this and 24 years after starting work as a wagon loader I was in charge of three departments. Unfortunately for me the job gathered lots of stress and by the time I retired aged 53 in 2000 I was working every day of the year because even at home I was working for the job I couldn't switch off.

Strong rumours were circulating that I was about to be given a fourth department? Now I came down with shingles and saw this as a sign to get out before I was carried out. I had five phones to torment me plus a pager so there wasn't any escape; if I was on holiday I was contacted at home to sort problems out. After any holiday it was a nightmare returning to work. If my colleagues were off site they would leave their pagers with me so I often had three pagers. We became central despatch hub for our other six factories.

We saved hard over many years and I finally requested voluntary redundancy and also accepted a pension lump sum but by now I could draw my final salary pension so we lived a very quiet life until our state pensions kicked in now we're better off than ever we've been. All the hard work finally paid off and I left the company leaving behind the guys who were still loading wagons with no interest to try to do better for themselves; many times looking at my monthly salary and their weekly wages who was actually paid the most for least effort?

I've now been retired 19 years and never returned back to the factory. Life for us now is excellent and I'm not feeling smug but we've both earned it Bron has been by my side throughout.

Just a little story until dinner time; after dinner I'll be busy once more.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

I think that its always been the case that if someone wants to get on, they will get on.

I did a similar thing in the IT industry, moving from junior engineer through to managing multi million pound contracts. The problem was that, like yourself, I couldn't switch off. We found ourselves going on holiday every three months to recharge but even then I would be contacted whilst in foreign climes.

We were both made redundant in 2008 which is when we started our company. Ironically I went back to the company that made me redundant to do the same role but on much less money. Needless to say, my heart wasn't in it and I was never as committed as before.

Our business took off and I was working weekends doing the accounts for our business and not switching off.

I left the IT industry 4 years ago and work full time on our company now. We don't have as much income but we have a far better quality of life

 

Hi,

The very best of luck to you andrews. You and I and others like us should have been footballers then we'd have been treated much better?

Bron and I haven't had an holiday away from home for the last 42 years enjoying our time together spending our money on our home to make life better for us; one thing we have noticed over the years is people work like mad to enjoy their holiday only to return home just as miserable as when they set off; we remained happy at home improving ourselves but it's a personal call.

At work it was endless meetings amounting to little other than to listen to those higher up the pecking order promoting themselves; then of course seminars of equal little use and lots of training when in fact the best training ever is to get on with the job and stop wasting time talking about it. A real highlight of my career was to be subjected to a week (5 days) of intensive Kaizen training;

Kaizen Training | Kaizen Courses

Having gained my Kaizen certificate and been awarded a Kaizen polo shirt; back on the job the guy in the next higher pecking order told me Kaizen didn't apply in my three departments and if I implemented what I had been taught he would have "Words" with me. That did it for me and I wanted out; I tore up the certificate and gave the polo shirt to a team member who sadly later committed suicide; another guy hung himself he being an alcoholic; yet another guy shot himself in the head playing Russian roulette with his revolver; the job was horrible in the extreme but we had bills to pay and better the devil I knew.

Now we're fully retired having earned our retirement and paying our dues we still can't have any peace; most who visit our door are wanting something; put TV on it's endless begging charities from £3 per month to wanting our blood or body organs; I've often said to Bron if we got away to a remote desert island there would be a shipwreck during the night and we'd be expected to supply food and shelter for 2,000 people.

I don't want to turn this into a moan but just how many people are actually happy with their life these days?

It's a miserable dark; wet cold day here but as I said earlier after dinner I'd get cracking; well I did; I pulled the petrol rotavator from the hut and fuelled it up; having dragged it to the top of the mountain I finally got my breath back in order to start it; it wouldn't start so out with the spark plug and back down to the hut to clean the plug; back up the mountain it still wouldn't start so this time down to the kitchen and heat the plug on the gas hob; no it still wouldn't start so down to the workshop; wire brush the plug; gap it then put the blow lamp on it getting it hot; still it won't start and now it's too dark to see what I'm doing so the rotavator is back in the hut; living here I find it hard to understand anyone needing a gym; it's tired me out and not a bit of soil turned over.

Tomorrow is another day but the weather forecast is bad as usual; one thing is certain the rotavator will run before I drag it back up the mountain; it's an Hyundai and virtually brand new only having been used in our garden; fuels getting through so is there a spark; it's tormenting the right guy because it'll end up in bits; I decoked both my petrol mowers last year; these things are sent to test me.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Totally agree. At the time we were getting away for my wife to have a break from a job that she hated in a field that she loved. Visited some amazing places but the reason for going was wrong

 

We are, especially since we left work and moved to a beautiful country with welcoming / humbling people, a more economical lifestyle and with fabulous weather, which is good for the old bones!

 

We are getting happier as time goes by, a few years back we had nasty neighbour for 20 years, now the person is not around and a better neighbour in place life is better but the 20 years were the worse times of our live's

We too worked hard and we can not worry to much now if we keep thing simple's in retirment

 

Each of us being so individual. I tend to think that, we all have what might be called, different forms of enjoyment. Yes in my own way. I have to be honest and say, that I do enjoy my life now. So many aspects involved.
True I miss my Valerie so much and it's nearing ten years since her demise. We both worked for the Civil Service. MOD. Income was poor, but in those days, if you kept your nose clean, you had a job for life. Back in 1984 I was struck down with shingles. It broke out on the left side of my scalp, completely covered my left eye. So half of my head was bald and covered in these leaking, stinking blisters. My face looked like a very large rotting potato. I was confined to my bed for three months. Medication would knock me out, then as soon as I came to, the pain would be too much. I literally screamed the house down. More pills and back to oblivion. In time I had a terrible fight to get off the medication. Even now, all those years later, I at times still get those firey burning poker pains. Such memories promt me to say. Should I ever get shingles again, then I'd take all the pills in one go.

At the same time, Michael Hestletyine MP decided my job was no longer viable. Thankfully, welfare saw to it I got a good deal. I became medically retired and drew my service pension from then onwards. Not a lot, but better than nowt.
We bought a caravan and despite having dreams of touring Scotland etc. We stored it in the New Forest and each year spent time there. Val was content to catchup on reading, I would wander off, playing my part as the great plant hunter. Amanda and her kids came with us, and as Kerry, our eldest lives in the forest, we could spend time together. Funny perhaps but, after say three days away. I had that gut feeling. I miss my garden. I miss my shed/workshop.

Now here we are January 2020. Financially. My monthly income is around £750.00 per month. Who cares. I have no debt. I am even able to assist Amanda with her outgoings.

That smiling gent in my avatar is now 80yrs of age. I have my beloved books, a tiny garden and a host of friends on Gardeners Corner. OK, I have a form of cancer, and yes a bit of a heart murmer. I love and take care of my/our little home. True I have as most, my up and down days. In all honesty. Having also read medicine. Our bodies really dictate our mood. Our perhaps frail and feeble bodies always put up such a fight to survive. Friends. Let your body guide you. Perhaps. Not what you'd prefer. Try and take life as it comes.
'''''''''''Trust me. I'm a doctor.' Smile, laugh. Please continue to enjoy and appreciate what you have. GOD BLESS

 

Hi,

Great replies and it's nice to learn others too are like Bron and I enjoying the simple life being mostly unstressed.

Jiffy you have my sympathies. Our previous house we suffered bad neighbours for 11 years before moving here. A couple two doors away were decent enough and we were friendly; they had a snobbish daughter whom we thought looked down on us? We told the couple our new address and said we'd invite then to visit once we moved but they turned up very shortly after we moved in. At the end of our new street was a house for sale and they liked it so much here they decided to buy it with the intention of they and their snobbish daughter selling both their houses and combining funds. Between them they couldn't afford the house.

We've now had really nasty neighbours for the last 32 years; just one family living next door; they own everything including our gardens and trees; and they know everything. Over the years we've tried to be friendly and rub along with them; our trees and conifer hedge were blocking light from their windows; I felled the trees including two at 80' and others at 30' tall; I removed the 80' long conifer hedge. Removing the hedge I then needed to replace the old fence; I ran a line down the mountain and then was accused of stealing their land and legal action would be taken against me; we now have a fence located in the same holes as the old fence; still not good enough I was even told what fence was acceptable; they got a cheap wire netting fence to look at.

They pestered us about a mature 30' tall Holly tree situated right against the boundary but was our tree; it was disgusting the way it was dropping berries; I felled it and disposed of it; I wanted to dig the big stump out but couldn't make life easier for myself because I had to do it from our side; with days of hard graft the stump was out fortunately whilst they were away on holiday; when they returned I was then accused of damaging their garden wall and if I didn't get it repaired legal action would be the result; it was an hairline crack in a joint.

Shortly after I was just outside the workshop cleaning tools when the wife of these neighbours came to me demanding I accompany her to inspect the damage to the wall; I politely refused so she demanded it louder and started to get angry; not wishing to enter such a discussion I fled into the workshop and closed the doors behind me; now she was banging on the door glass shouting at me; this having no effect upon me she then shouted I'm going up to see Bron; I opened the door and avoided contact as I passed her saying I'm now going to involve the police and left her there shouting at me.

I explained to Bron what had occurred and as we were leaving by our back door this wife was halfway up her rear garden still shouting and now smirking at us.

The local police station was now closed down so we returned home and I opened a police chat line explaining the situation and politely requesting a police officer to attend. The police officer was absolutely marvelous; he listened to us then went round to talk to these neighbours; when he returned he told us he had made it perfectly clear to these neighbours any more trouble from them especially the wife they would be arrested; normally police don't become involved in such matters but this was now regarded as harassment and in such matters police could take action and they would.

Things went very quiet until about two weeks later whilst I was erecting a garden hut; I heard a voice behind me and as I turned it was the husband asking if I was happy with the line of the fence; I politely said no because it's dog leg. He then started on about our Willow tree overhanging their garden and that it was my responsibility to remove the overhanging branches at my cost? I had already researched this and again I was most polite I said I won't remove the branches and I won't pay for their removal; it's your right to remove them and if you do so it will be entirely at your own cost; he huffed and puffed a bit more and I said I'd been reading up on the law; he asked were I had obtained the information; "ONLINE".

A few months later one of his sons was up the willow tree cutting the branches off; we saw him up the tree but left him alone. We now have an open police file against the wife for harassment; the police officer left us a number of forms in order to record in writing any further problems; the forms remain unwritten upon on because life's too short to be petty; because the wife became involved with the police she then had her husband tackle me about the willow tree since then we've finally started to enjoy our home.

These nasty neighbours have a family; they live at #37 and years ago one of their sons burgled #35 the stolen goods found by the police in their garage; the family have been in court for burglary; car theft; beatings and drugs; as a couple we're surprised there hasn't been a murder because the husband was forever losing his temper firstly shouting then actually screaming at his wife as they battled it out; it was often like WW3 just over the fence and the language was absolutely disgraceful; now the husband is 84 years of age and increasingly frail walking with two walking sticks; he's obviously unfit to drive but still drives; just one son lives with them the rest have left to start families of their own.

These nasty neighbours used to go on holiday many times each year including round the world cruises so money doesn't appear to be a problem to them; perhaps had they been without money they would have then pulled together as a decent couple in order to build their life.

It's sad really because all these years they've been nasty with us but more importantly nasty with each other; just this one family like this on the street to spoil things.

The police officer who attended said to us that he didn't mean any offence towards us but people of our age avoid contacting the police unless absolutely necessary and that he was pleased to be able to help us; he not only left the forms but kindly handed us his personal details like phone number and email address saying don't hesitate to contact me.

Our other neighbours along the street are friendly and we all rub along well together; we've often discussed moving but it's lovely here and we've got a wonderful bungalow.

Well said Mike; you're making the best of what you have; your health could be much better but as you say you are living a comfortable lifestyle on a low income but you'll be happier as you are than many £millionaires with all their show and fortune. Like you Mike we you and I have a lot in common; I prefer workshop time to any foreign holiday or any holiday away from home; to go on a cruise ship for three weeks would see me in the engine room otherwise I'd surely jump overboard through total boredom. Bron too loves being comfortable and happy at home spending time on her crafts. For those of us who have worked hard and paid our mortgage off in full it's surprising how little money is needed to enjoy the good things in life not trying to keep up or impress anyone just being ourselves enjoying what we choose to do.

We don't understand the need for flash cars or expensive holidays going into debt for such things whilst still having a big mortgage; the roof over our heads was more important to us; we have lots of neighbours older than us who still work in order to support their lifestyle; their choice but these days priorities have changed.

I think the real point is to make the most of what one has whilst trying to better oneself in an honest friendly way treating others as we wish to be treated.

I'm rambling on because it's nice and comfortable sitting here in peace rather than get off my backside to go out into the cold once more but later I'll wander down to the workshop because I like to keep busy.

Have a nice day and I hope I've not been boring.

Kind regards, Colin.