R
RayL12
Hello all 
My name is er, Ray. I'm in Rochdale, 10 miles north east Manchester, aged 64 and, 'kicked' into looking at being employed for the future. Which, upon reflection, may be better than the option I had planned for this time. Deciding on a future career and my up and coming pension, I took on a level 2 diploma; wall & floor tiling course. 3 days a week; 16 weeks. I am in my 6 week and I am learning as we go
I have been reading some threads in here and learned from them. I have also read and seen stuff that is daunting, things I feel are years ahead of me. Therefor, I think this is the place to be.
Between 81 and 98 I was a roofer. A slater & tiler with a soul trader until 87 when, I set up for myself and took on design & build. Mainly floor-level flat roof conversions which, were, a satisfying piece of work. Working with lines and profile brought out some nice finishes.
2005 I found myself in hard landscaping. I spent some nice times in scenic areas and waterways. Then there were the times when I was part of large area clean-ups which, were not so pleasant. The recession of 2009 put paid to that. What I had as a pension had to be spent just to stay in my flat. So, now I have to make new plans.
I need a skill I can take into pension age. And tiling seems a well balanced form of work and, it has it's creative side. All previous types of work came back to haunt me when I stopped doing them, including 22 years of dancing for many, many of hours a week. Having done very little since 2010, other than lie down or, sit at the PC, by the time 2013 came, I had a very painful frozen spine. I knew what was happening because it happened when I gave up 18 years of roofing; the heavily used joints grew into each other. I knew it would be a 7-8 year journey in and out and, now, I'm 'out'. Very loose and flexible. Just shy of work strength.
So I look forward to where this may take me. I can see it being a really satisfying job that, because it's enjoyable, isn't work at all. And, it's simple minded enough, -when you know your trade, that is-, to have your mind to yourself while producing something nice. Time flies. Win win.
I prefer to hook up with some one who knows the trade, and be a side-kick. Maybe mix things up? I don't have interest in site work. I've done some of that under agencies and suffered one way or other. Not for me.
So, I'll keep reading and, I'm sure you will hear from me one way or other
...Ray.
My name is er, Ray. I'm in Rochdale, 10 miles north east Manchester, aged 64 and, 'kicked' into looking at being employed for the future. Which, upon reflection, may be better than the option I had planned for this time. Deciding on a future career and my up and coming pension, I took on a level 2 diploma; wall & floor tiling course. 3 days a week; 16 weeks. I am in my 6 week and I am learning as we go
I have been reading some threads in here and learned from them. I have also read and seen stuff that is daunting, things I feel are years ahead of me. Therefor, I think this is the place to be.
Between 81 and 98 I was a roofer. A slater & tiler with a soul trader until 87 when, I set up for myself and took on design & build. Mainly floor-level flat roof conversions which, were, a satisfying piece of work. Working with lines and profile brought out some nice finishes.
2005 I found myself in hard landscaping. I spent some nice times in scenic areas and waterways. Then there were the times when I was part of large area clean-ups which, were not so pleasant. The recession of 2009 put paid to that. What I had as a pension had to be spent just to stay in my flat. So, now I have to make new plans.
I need a skill I can take into pension age. And tiling seems a well balanced form of work and, it has it's creative side. All previous types of work came back to haunt me when I stopped doing them, including 22 years of dancing for many, many of hours a week. Having done very little since 2010, other than lie down or, sit at the PC, by the time 2013 came, I had a very painful frozen spine. I knew what was happening because it happened when I gave up 18 years of roofing; the heavily used joints grew into each other. I knew it would be a 7-8 year journey in and out and, now, I'm 'out'. Very loose and flexible. Just shy of work strength.
So I look forward to where this may take me. I can see it being a really satisfying job that, because it's enjoyable, isn't work at all. And, it's simple minded enough, -when you know your trade, that is-, to have your mind to yourself while producing something nice. Time flies. Win win.
I prefer to hook up with some one who knows the trade, and be a side-kick. Maybe mix things up? I don't have interest in site work. I've done some of that under agencies and suffered one way or other. Not for me.
So, I'll keep reading and, I'm sure you will hear from me one way or other
...Ray.
