how's the last year been for you?

[doug boardley]

last year was my first 12 months part time tiling- full time house hubby,,,,,what a bloody juggling act :mad2:, getting the lads up, dressed, breakfast, faces washed teeth cleaned, on the bus, me flask in hand ushering them onto the bus as I go to my yoot. Having to get home from work at (the latest 3:40pm) to get 'em off the bus, outta their school clobber, get tea ready,(we always have a proper sitdown roast summat with veg at teatime), Mrs Doug not usually home till 6:30pm, kids to bed about 7;45, KIDS ASLEEP ABOUT 9;30!!!
,,,but on the positive side, we only had 3 weekends at home this last summer, and that was only because we'd probably got back with the caravan from a week away somewhere, on the friday.
On the whole, it's been an educational year for me, not a money making year, but it's certainly been an experience:smilewinkgrin:
what's your year been like?

 

[nybor62]

well were to start, cant wait for this year to end
work wise not been to mad , a few companies i subby to been a bit naughty with money, my work partner decided to do a bunk ,

my wifes younger brother lost is 6 month fight with cancer, only 42 , heart breaking died 7 weeks ago , emotianally been very hard

c,mon 2012 hurry up ,and bring me some look , merry christmas

 

[DHTiling]

It's been a good year work wise and cannot complain.

Had some really nice stone jobs.

Been a tough year home wise as my missus health is very poor and trying to work and help her isn't easy but we cope.

So here's wishing you lads/lasses a top 2012.

 

[Mike]

i was going to moan saying i've not earned enough this year but luckily we all (here) have our health so i guess that makes it a good year. i do need to charge more for work though, it's okay when i'm busy and doing the odd weekend (which i don't mind) but if i get a quiet week it takes weeks to catch up. it's a hard balance as it's not an affluent area here. i've been busy all year bar a couple of weeks

 

[steve187]

I think this year has been ok, I sold up and moved from the UK to Thailand 2 years ago,where it is a lot cheaper to live, i now return for the summer and find enough work to get me through the winter, resting in the sun. Having no ties in the Uk, means i can travel about for work.

All the best to all, and i hope 2012 is better for our trade. think of me eating a turkey sandwich on the beach xmas day.

 

[Rich]

For me 2011 has been the hardest year I have every had (work wise), been very busy all year through but trying to get a new business off of the ground has really taken its toll. However the end of the year has been very very rewarding and it is starting to look like we are heading to where we want to be (making a little money!) so I am over the moon.

Apart from work, my dad has finally won his battle with ill health and has come out the other side, I have the perfect relationship with my partner and I am very close to my family.

All in all, I am a happy bunny at the end of 2011 but I think I have earned it!

I hope we all make 2012 an improvement on this year

 

[Andy Allen]

work for me has been very up and down, ive had more than a few days off through lack of work, however ive been looking through my diary, and although ive worked less days than last year ive earnt more money, down to the fact that i refuse to drop my prices to the silly levels some customers want.

ive had to battle with a couple of non payers, mainly builders, which has made me think about only taking on private work, and work for builders i know pay from now on, i really can't be doing with the stress of chasing money thats owing.

my wife was made redundant from her job 2 months ago, a place where she had worked for nearly 30 years, i thought she would walk into another job, as shes highly qualified, she must have applied for 50 jobs, and half dont even bother replying, brings it home how tough things are, thankfully she now has another job, for a large insurence firm, which she starts in the new year.

biking this year could of been better, i got out more in the lovely spring weather we had, than the dismal summer, lets hope next years better..

i hope you lot have had a good year......

happy christmas, ..

 

[Rich]

Here here to the biking weather Andy

 

[CJ]

Been a good year for work, after a slow start Jan/Feb.........then flat out nearly all the time. Home life has been a rollercoaster, mainly due to son leaving home to train for British Army, then getting his posting to Germany, then off to Afganistan. Not seen him for nearly 5 months, and they keep putting his R&R back.

Hopefully 2012 will be a good one...........already booked up for a lot of Jan.

Hope 2012 is a good one for you all............and have a good Christmas.
I've just finished until next week.

 

[The D]

Its been up and down like a dogs hind leg. Feast or famine.:mad2: But having the forum has made it easier to cope with, there is always some one to give good advice when it is needed on any subject not just tiling, always someone interested how things are going and not looking to condemn you, and always some one to tell me to wined my neck in when I am loosing the plot. So all that said it has been a good year

 

[doug boardley]

Its been up and down like a dogs hind leg. Feast or famine.:mad2: But having the forum has made it easier to cope with, there is always some one to give good advice when it is needed on any subject not just tiling, always someone interested how things are going and not looking to condemn you, and always some one to tell me to wined my neck in when I am loosing the plot. So all that said it has been a good year

I've got a wife that does that...frequently:lol:

 

[Ian]

Terrible start to the year, same as CJ, but brilliant since March. Booked well into next year now so that's nice. All in all had a successful year business wise, personally all is great, bought a new home and the family and I are all healthy. The best bit of the year is, without doubt, getting a tx700 and a d24000 :drool5::lol:

 

[user123]

Workwise, I've loved this year, loads of challenging commissions, each one being a learning curve and each one dealing with the nicest of customers. I think all the work experience this year has taught me enough to become faster next year at what I'm doing, not needing to repeat those mistakes again. The best thing this year has been how much people like what I do, that's been truly magical.

Family wise the last 12 months have been a *****, with losing both my parents and son getting married in Australia without me being able to be there, but he is here visiting now, so helping to blow all the cobwebs away. Got some tough stuff to go through re my Mum's estate and all that in January, but then I hope I can just live and work in peace in the new year. And health, yes, as long as we have that, and this lovely forum to be part of ... 🙂

 

[andy8758]

Up and down describes every year for me for the last 15 years.... Surviving parents (just) need the kind of attention they gave us as children - what worries me is being like that in a few years time. Wasn't it better when parents seemed to be the font of all wisdom and able to deal with everything? Now it seems our children demand the same from us too!!

Workwise very much hit and miss - tried my first commercial work and discovered just how crooked some commercial tiling companies are! Great experience working my *** off tiling to get ripped off when time for payment came :lol:

Domestic market is very slow, but had some excellent jobs - and private customers always tell you how pleased they are with your tiling work - ever had that much praise from a builder anyone? Great experience but hard way to earn a living sums up my work this year. Looking forward to better work and earning more next year. Well. Can I can hope cant I?

 

[advancetiling]

steve187, i stayed at my ex partners brothers in korat last year where he was having some tiling done. Found out the going rate. equivalent to £2 a metre.Thats my early emigration plan foiled then.
This year workwise has been good up until about 3 weeks ago.Planning on doing more commercial work and topping up with domestic.Just had website updated so raring to go in the new year.
On a personal note,been a terrible year.my mum passed away 4 months ago after a bad stroke,then my aunty followed the next week.Next year can only get better

 

[White Room]

The year started quite well then got progressively worse, I know so many trade guys that just blew out the building game to whom I was doing there plastering and tiling. I will see what the new year brings and take it from there.

 

[strummerman]

Workwise its been a very busy year new showroom next year so things can only get better , personal life just fantastic got married turned 50 lifes great

 

[kilty55]

workwise for me has been very up and down,on the whole it has ended up being a decent year but with 2 periods of very little work that lasted for months and the other time making up for it i found very stressful ,all came good in the end though

i have full month january and some work booked in for feb so i am pleased as punch with that as i am generally very quiet in these 2 months

new addition to the family with our new daughter and a cracking resting holiday made this year a good one!!

roll on 2012 and lets see what youve got!!

 

[peteablard]

Started off quiet for me which was always the plan as we moved house 12 months ago and I spent approx 4 months doing it up. Tried getting back into the domestic market but things very quiet so went back into commercial work. Have been very lucky and apart from a couple of weeks I've been stacked out. Finished now for christmas but have a lot of worked booked in for next year.I'm very lucky with the companies I work for and apart from taking a risk with an unknown geezer who has taken me for £300 (Will be persuing through small claims court) I've been paid on time for everything I've done. Commercial work all the way for me in 2012 with hopes of taking on a labourer or maybe an apprentice withing the first half of the year.

Merry Christams to everyone and all the best for 2012

 

[lcjohno]

Been my best year yet tiling, feel like my reputation has grown alot, get alot of jobs from word of mouth now, i also have working coming in from builder, joiner, plumber, electrician, kitchen firm so alot of different avenues of work. Started the year a bit slow but finished mad busy, been working 7 days a week but finished now for xmas :8:
Got quite a bit of work booked in for Jan so happy days.

I also got married in June in the lake district followed by my honeymoon in Mexico for 2 weeks which was amazing!! So all in all been a good year and looking foward to 2012.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year to everyone on the forum!!:santa_smiley:

 

[MTiler]

work wise it started off pretty well, then the last few months its been very bitty, be glad to see the back of this year.

 

[Thespanishtiler]

well had my works xmas do last night (me and kev for a couple of pints and a curry :lol🙂

we reflected on a great year of quality jobs all of which we have enjoyed delivering on.

half of jobs where solo efforts and half joint ventures.

never had a spare day all year and had to decline over 8 weeks of work due to lead times.

Booked to end of april and loads more in the pipe line so looking forward to a great 2012

 

[Gall.B]

Year started of with the Death of the Wifes brother, only 25 from a really close family and its been quite hard all round. Christmas is going to be hard in a lot of ways, but everybody will be at ours on Christmas day and we try hard to have a good time with a lot of Whiskey and wine

Work on the hole has been good, had a lot of time of at the start of the year but ive always got numbers I can call to help out.
From May has been maniac doing work for all the Usual Contractors and 3 New regular clients with plenty coming up in 2012.
As Andy mentioned ripped of in Bristol , my first venture in to the big Comercial/dig job proper since our Daughter was born in 2009, that was the only low point work wise but at leat I had plenty on anywaya all in I was out £300 and 3 days labour, lot of guys taken bigger hits than that this year.

Finding the forum has definetly helped this year and helped me more than I realise, so all the best to all of you for the New Year!

 

[beanz]

It's been a really busy year for me, not that i made any money!?! Maybe next year.... 😀

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

I must say 2011 was not to bad for me, didn't break any records. But managed to keep going OK, bit of a far cry from the days when I was turning work away on a daily basis. I am lucky that I get a lot of high end work, mostly recommendations.

I do see a lot of cheap competition in my area, but luckily most can only talk the talk. I have seen some horrendous work by so called tilers. Some of whom may soon be living in caravans after the legal battles.

I hope 2012 is a better year, and things start getting back to the way they were. People (the general public and builders) will realise you get what you pay for.

Either way I hope you all have a good break, and a healthy and wealthy 2012

 

[Ajax123]

obviously I dont work for myself so it is slightly different but in all honesty I have had the best year ever workwise. More people moving to Gyvlon screeds than ever before. Acheived my targets by Mid November, ha most of december off on holiday and looking forward to more of the same next year......... . Started singing semi professionally as part of a duet with one of the most tallented singing partners I could have wanted. Done several gigs and about to make a record..........couldnt have asked for better workwise

Sadly personal wise thats a whole different story. Dad fell ill at CHristmas last year and passed away in Feb, Very good freinds wife died April, Wifes Grandfather died, Mum taken ill, I been diagnosed with Crohns disease, My uncle died, Several freinds made redundant, one lost his house, Sn continues to be challenging due to ADHD, Daughter cant find a job, leaky roof and the shower drain blocked up. Wife Nan taken into hospital early this week due to social services incompetence, nothing wrong with her just very very old but they now have to keep her in untill they sort out the right equipment at home, Christmas in hospital - not nice..........

No wonder i enjoy my work so much......

Still Im sure lots of people got it worse than me ..... at least I got food and telly and a laptop to access tilersforums.com

 

[user123]

Wow, good luck and strength to you, Ajax...

 

[steve187]

all the best ajax, keep your chin up mate

 

[hillhead]

2011 has been a funny old year for me.
With so much doom and gloom about I started the year as usual, low rates and just keeping head up.
As the year progressed I began upper end work especially in the latter months with some truly spectacular houses etc.
Good outlook for 2012 with plenty booked in thankfully.
Personal wise it's no been bad, my wife still loves me, lol. Or is it my wallet... Oops. Lol.
No holidays taken but I did manage to get a bit of work done in the house and I'll get more done this year.
My youngest of 4 kids started secondary school so at 11 years of age I have a big baby now.( I must be getting old).
More biking needed this year and a new bike in the pipe from last night over a few drinks with a bike shop owner, lol. Get in there me.
Funny I thought, but.......
Happy Christmas to all, I'm gonna enjoy this one so let's get to it folks.
PS is that a reindeer I hear?

 

[bobbynz]

Early last year my wife and I went on 2 week holiday the first time in many years.We had a fantastic time. After we got home I immediately started planning our next one. Things were looking good. HOWEVER!!! Late last year my daughters marriage came to very messy end after 2 years of abuse from her poxy husband and she subsequently attempted suicide once last september and once early this year. We got her home and things were starting to look good again when I had my accident, broken back and shattered left leg and to make it worse my daughter saw the whole thing happen in front of her.She later told me it was the scariest she had ever felt. She had been working with me for about a month and we intended to train her and work with me permanantly. However the accident was to be the end of my 28 year career and any chances of working with my daughter.
Spent three weeks in hospital and to make things worse my wifes mothers health deteriorated and was in another hospital at the same time. I was only home for 2 weeks when she died.
This year has been absolute hell for all of the above but during this time and presently I am in constant pain every day as my injuries were so bad even after nearly 10 months . My wife misses her mum really bad and I've had to step up and be her rock for a change but lately with the constant pain and not being able to work for a living is starting to take its toll on me. Anyway perhaps next year will be better. I will have to look for a job in 3 or 4 months so i've got that to contend with.
After reading your posts I'm really sorry to hear of your misfortunes and tradgedies but as you can see you are not alone, as I would sometimes think, so thanks for sharing your comments and I hope things get better for you. And lets not forget to share our good times too, ay? They will come, because there's always tomorrow

 

[Mike]

Early last year my wife and I went on 2 week holiday the first time in many years.We had a fantastic time. After we got home I immediately started planning our next one. Things were looking good. HOWEVER!!! Late last year my daughters marriage came to very messy end after 2 years of abuse from her poxy husband and she subsequently attempted suicide once last september and once early this year. We got her home and things were starting to look good again when I had my accident, broken back and shattered left leg and to make it worse my daughter saw the whole thing happen in front of her.She later told me it was the scariest she had ever felt. She had been working with me for about a month and we intended to train her and work with me permanantly. However the accident was to be the end of my 28 year career and any chances of working with my daughter.
Spent three weeks in hospital and to make things worse my wifes mothers health deteriorated and was in another hospital at the same time. I was only home for 2 weeks when she died.
This year has been absolute hell for all of the above but during this time and presently I am in constant pain every day as my injuries were so bad even after nearly 10 months . My wife misses her mum really bad and I've had to step up and be her rock for a change but lately with the constant pain and not being able to work for a living is starting to take its toll on me. Anyway perhaps next year will be better. I will have to look for a job in 3 or 4 months so i've got that to contend with.
After reading your posts I'm really sorry to hear of your misfortunes and tradgedies but as you can see you are not alone, as I would sometimes think, so thanks for sharing your comments and I hope things get better for you. And lets not forget to share our good times too, ay? They will come, because there's always tomorrow

Wow that's so sad, 2012 can only be a better year for you bobby, I hope both you and your daughter get better and good luck on the job front

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