Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dean Taberner on January 10, 2014, 07:36:39 pm
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Somebody told me today that window cleaning is a form of begging.
Its pretty shocking what the public think of us. In some peoples eyes we're on par with big issue sellers.
Dean.
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Used to be "beggars with ladders"
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Yes defo we are all legalised beggers.
I love it being a begger lol.
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Today i put up 4 houses, with scruffy notes and all called up to say "yep carry on"
They didn't get the official letter as the average price increase was £4.50. I wanted them to think times are hard lmao.
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Why would anyone think that? We offer a service that either the home owner can't or doesn't want to do.
I consider myself a business man ,the same as a wheelie bin cleaner,an accountant,or solicitor,and we can earn the same.
If someone said I was begging I would tell them to go away begging with F,those people are just jealous that we have got off of our arses and created a business out of nothing and also we are our own person and in control of our own destiny
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I actually find it funny when people think I'm poor cause I'm a window cleaner.
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to be honest i couldnt care less what other people think of me.ive got off my back side and im making a half decent living for myself with no benefits claimed.i pay my taxes etc,etc and i can afford to take my girlfriend and her daughter on holiday which is a lot more than her waste of space so called dad whos never seen her for over 8 years!! >:(
we provide a service that most people dont want to do.the demand for a good reliable window cleaner is still very high.its not essential but people like clean windows!! ;D ;D
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to be honest i couldnt care less what other people think of me.ive got off my back side and im making a half decent living for myself with no benefits claimed.i pay my taxes etc,etc and i can afford to take my girlfriend and her daughter on holiday which is a lot more than her waste of space so called dad whos never seen her for over 8 years!! >:(
we provide a service that most people dont want to do.the demand for a good reliable window cleaner is still very high.its not essential but people like clean windows!! ;D ;D
Well said DAZ, well said. :)
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Who cares what they think of you....?
Clean there house, take there money, and make your riches.....
:)
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Let's be honest, we ARE all scum! :P
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Let's be honest, we ARE all scum! :P
lowest rungs on the ladder ;D ;D ;D
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I've also heard it called a "Mickey mouse business"
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Let's be honest, we ARE all scum! :P
lowest rungs on the ladder ;D ;D ;D
One notch below "Benefit Street"!! :o
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Let's be honest, we ARE all scum! :P
lowest rungs on the ladder ;D ;D ;D
One notch below "Benefit Street"!! :o
lets all crawl under those rocks and keep everyone happy ;)
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I was working in Birmingham yesterday and actually went to James Turner St (Benefits st) in Winson green. I had to go just to see what it was like.
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I actually find it funny when people think I'm poor cause I'm a window cleaner.
Me too. How much we can earn is the biggest secret I know.
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I was working in Birmingham yesterday and actually went to James Turner St (Benefits st) in Winson green. I had to go just to see what it was like.
and?
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Let's be honest, we ARE all scum! :P
+1 lol
we are all scum and we know we are
We are gipos in disguise.lol ;D
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That comes from knocking doors and asking if you can clean the windows.
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I was working in Birmingham yesterday and actually went to James Turner St (Benefits st) in Winson green. I had to go just to see what it was like.
and?
Your manor Gaz?
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Somebody told me today that window cleaning is a form of begging.
Its pretty shocking what the public think of us. In some peoples eyes we're on par with big issue sellers.
Dean.
I'd agree, its a form of begging. Traditionally physically disabled people where give some sort of token employment by polishing brass door knockers, letter boxes or cleaning windows.
Follow through to modern times and its still erstwile unemployable people carrying the trade on. The venacular has hardly changed ....... from ....loyalty, provide regular service,never let you down, i have a living to make.
The difference between us and big issue sellers is that the big issue sellers are up front about it. ;D ;D
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Just because a customer says it, it doesn't mean that its right.
Wikipedia says, "Begging is the practice of imploring others to grant a favor, often a gift of money, with little or no expectation of reciprocation. Beggars may be found in public places such as transport routes, urban parks, and near busy markets. Besides money, they may also ask for cigarettes or other small items.
There have been times when I have certainly been made to feel as if I am a beggar. This doesn't bother me, although the irony that some customers expect extra or add-on jobs to be done for free is not lost on me.
John
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I was working in Birmingham yesterday and actually went to James Turner St (Benefits st) in Winson green. I had to go just to see what it was like.
and?
I've seen worse places in Stoke-On-Trent. It wasn't that bad to be fair.
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U been watching too much ricky gervais
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How can doing a job of work in exchange for money be begging?
Begging is asking for money while giving nothing in exchange.
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Free enterprise, We are all free to enterprise as much or as little as we want.
Shag the begrudgers.
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I was working in Birmingham yesterday and actually went to James Turner St (Benefits st) in Winson green. I had to go just to see what it was like.
and?
Your manor Gaz?
no im in souh birmingham,was just curious
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U been watching too much ricky gervais
yeah my mate seen that film and was taking the p out of me :D
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id think begging could be quite a decent living
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Im lower than a snakes belly.... but thats only because of all the money pinning me to the floor.... lol
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This bloke manages to scrape a living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbXTcomqgPc ;D
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That comes from knocking doors and asking if you can clean the windows.
Theres only one thing lower than a window cleaner and thats the little blighters that knock the door, :-X
"Please guv'nor, clean ya windows for ya guv'nor" doffing cap
Thats how they think we should be and really dont like it when my cleaners collect in brand new bmw's 8)
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That comes from knocking doors and asking if you can clean the windows.
Theres only one thing lower than a window cleaner and thats the little blighters that knock the door, :-X
"Please guv'nor, clean ya windows for ya guv'nor" doffing cap
Thats how they think we should be and really dont like it when my cleaners collect in brand new bmw's 8)
Exactly. But I am pretty sure that's where the idea comes from. On a few occasions I have had customers that showed initial disappointment that the cleaning cycle had come around so quickly say to me, "Go on then. Clean them if you want to". ;D I feel like saying "I couldn't give a flying @@@@ if I do or not", but of course I just doff my cap and say "thank 'ee sir". ;D
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THIS THREAD REMINDS ME OF THE STORY OF THE KINGS NEW CLOTHES.
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It dunt matter what 'some people' think. 'Some people' are just ignorant and false knowledge is worserer.
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Let them KEEP calling us window cleaners beggers, suits me.
Well this begger just booked 17 nights in Thailand with missus, 2 weeks in Olu Deniz (family) and bought another van. ;)
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I do a lot of shops and some of the staff do sneer a bit, which makes me want to laugh out loud.
I must admit when I worked in shop 20+ years ago I was stunned when our windy was off to Florida for his holidays again.
Don't worry about it, it's a low status form of work even if you have a nice van some people will try and make you feel bad.
If I have an unpleasant customer I just charge them more. I had one I put up by 40%, he canned me and I said 'Thank you' with a big grin on my face
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"At least you're working, its better than being on the dole"
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Who is still begging or have you all moved on as planned?
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Who is still begging or have you all moved on as planned?
I think most of us have gone from begging off our customers to stealing from them now ;D
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I've had quite a few innuendos this month such as : a bit cold to be cleaning windows! I mumble a few words and get on with the job. I sometimes feel a bit self conscious when I feel that some customers would happily have their windows cleaned less often but say nothing as they feel they might hurt your feelings. I honestly do sometimes feel a bit like a beggar by the way ( some) custys belittle you but I don't dwell on it!
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An interesting thread to revive.
As said in some of the threads back in 2014, begging is trying to gain a reward for no return. Others have said maybe its down to door knocking asking for work. Either way that doesnt apply to marketing your service as a business as you canvass from door to door. Does that imply that telesales is a form of begging??!!
Your always going to get the odd negative comments or suggestions from grumpy negative cant be arsed jealous folk behind the doors. Yet that doesnt imply begging for work either.
Be proud of what we do and the business your working hard to maintain. Let them think its a poor mans game, just nodd the hat, "thanks govner" and just carry on ;D
Then later climb back thru the open window n steel their valuables or their phones which the idiots just leave hanging about 😂😂
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i think ill get a few more comments off certain customers when i turn up to clean their windows in a brand new van(and a price rise for them in april) ;D.
on topic of course its not begging.when you ve spent £££££££ on all your equipment/van etc.
its a regular cleaning service that most people are happy with. one less job for them to do and you just happen to scratch a living together out of it.
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I've had quite a few innuendos this month such as : a bit cold to be cleaning windows! I mumble a few words and get on with the job. I sometimes feel a bit self conscious when I feel that some customers would happily have their windows cleaned less often but say nothing as they feel they might hurt your feelings. I honestly do sometimes feel a bit like a beggar by the way ( some) custys belittle you but I don't dwell on it!
i think your reading too much into it .i too have had the same.i just reply ive been working outdoors for 30 years and ive worked in a lot worse weather than this sir/madam! ;D
im a grafter and just get on with the job and try not to second guess customers. ;)
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if people don't want to climb ladders and clean their own windows, we should charge them as much we can to clean them. when we walk away rubbing our hands together after another easy job they can make their snide comments !
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Who is still begging or have you all moved on as planned?
I think most of us have gone from begging off our customers to stealing from them now ;D
May seem that way but still as like with any service based trade price varies quite a bit.
What some may think is expensive others more often than not think a price is quite reasonable and others think it's to cheap.
You can't bloody win sometimes ;D
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i think ill get a few more comments off certain customers when i turn up to clean their windows in a brand new van(and a price rise for them in april) ;D.
on topic of course its not begging.when you ve spent £££££££ on all your equipment/van etc.
its a regular cleaning service that most people are happy with. one less job for them to do and you just happen to scratch a living together out of it.
Are you getting a new van Dazmond?
You kept that quiet ???
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i think ill get a few more comments off certain customers when i turn up to clean their windows in a brand new van(and a price rise for them in april) ;D.
on topic of course its not begging.when you ve spent £££££££ on all your equipment/van etc.
its a regular cleaning service that most people are happy with. one less job for them to do and you just happen to scratch a living together out of it.
Are you getting a new van Dazmond?
You kept that quiet ???
;D ;D ;D
Dazmond just tell your custards it's leased and you will never own it because you are to poor to buy a new van after your other one died.
That should do the trick. ;)
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Please sir pay me £1.00 a minute to rinse the dirt off of your windows. :)
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Interesting thread this. I used to think that window cleaners were a form of charity. Back in 1997 i used to have a saturday job working in a phone shop, and an old fella used to come and clean the windows, scruffy looking think we paid him 4 quid or so. I remember thinking to myself, ill never do that, lol.
As i started in window cleaning, in 2003 i did it to just tie myself over really between jobs to start with. Then i went on my own, and in 2004 bought a water fed pole system, by 2006 id gone from renting a 1 bedroom house, to buying a 3 Bedroom house in Surrey at the age of only 26. It was amazing how much money i was pulling in, id say that 2004-2007 were really the golden years of earning big money on wfp, especially where commercial work was concerned . A few of my private customers got a bit narked at me, and cancelled as they thought i was making too much money off them. Then everyone started jumping on the bandwagon, now window cleaners are everywhere where i live all with brand new vans and well to do attitude, it is getting saturated.
These days i just keep my head down, i lost it all in 2008 wife, house, car and ended up with a large tax debt i could not repay. Now i rent, bills are high, life is expensive, and work is so much more saturated, and nowhere near as lucrative than in 2005 but im happy as i have two wonderful kids, a new (ish) missus now been remarried 8 years, and we get by.
Going Ltd in April, and hopefully will be expanding the business. At the moment though there are quite a few window cleaning firms in my area that seem to be expanding rapidly, more than me, but on looking at their work patterns, i dont know how they are doung it a couple of firms vans are mostly at the home address of the business owner, and they dont seem to be massively packed out schedule wise...
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Interesting thread this. I used to think that window cleaners were a form of charity. Back in 1997 i used to have a saturday job working in a phone shop, and an old fella used to come and clean the windows, scruffy looking think we paid him 4 quid or so. I remember thinking to myself, ill never do that, lol.
As i started in window cleaning, in 2003 i did it to just tie myself over really between jobs to start with. Then i went on my own, and in 2004 bought a water fed pole system, by 2006 id gone from renting a 1 bedroom house, to buying a 3 Bedroom house in Surrey at the age of only 26. It was amazing how much money i was pulling in, id say that 2004-2007 were really the golden years of earning big money on wfp, especially where commercial work was concerned . A few of my private customers got a bit narked at me, and cancelled as they thought i was making too much money off them. Then everyone started jumping on the bandwagon, now window cleaners are everywhere where i live all with brand new vans and well to do attitude, it is getting saturated.
These days i just keep my head down, i lost it all in 2008 wife, house, car and ended up with a large tax debt i could not repay. Now i rent, bills are high, life is expensive, and work is so much more saturated, and nowhere near as lucrative than in 2005 but im happy as i have two wonderful kids, a new (ish) missus now been remarried 8 years, and we get by.
Going Ltd in April, and hopefully will be expanding the business. At the moment though there are quite a few window cleaning firms in my area that seem to be expanding rapidly, more than me, but on looking at their work patterns, i dont know how they are doung it a couple of firms vans are mostly at the home address of the business owner, and they dont seem to be massively packed out schedule wise...
good on you bud :)
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Some people like to make you feel as if you are the lowest life form, but I don't let it bother me, as these are not the kind of people I want as customers.
It is not begging if you are offering a service for payment. It is begging if you are asking for something and giving nothing in return.
John.
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Interesting how one lot of bs merchants and boasters have gone and been replaced by a few others in 3 years. ;D
Nothing changes does it.
With the exception of Marc Stock.
Interesting life story mate.
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Interesting thread this. I used to think that window cleaners were a form of charity. Back in 1997 i used to have a saturday job working in a phone shop, and an old fella used to come and clean the windows, scruffy looking think we paid him 4 quid or so. I remember thinking to myself, ill never do that, lol.
As i started in window cleaning, in 2003 i did it to just tie myself over really between jobs to start with. Then i went on my own, and in 2004 bought a water fed pole system, by 2006 id gone from renting a 1 bedroom house, to buying a 3 Bedroom house in Surrey at the age of only 26. It was amazing how much money i was pulling in, id say that 2004-2007 were really the golden years of earning big money on wfp, especially where commercial work was concerned . A few of my private customers got a bit narked at me, and cancelled as they thought i was making too much money off them. Then everyone started jumping on the bandwagon, now window cleaners are everywhere where i live all with brand new vans and well to do attitude, it is getting saturated.
These days i just keep my head down, i lost it all in 2008 wife, house, car and ended up with a large tax debt i could not repay. Now i rent, bills are high, life is expensive, and work is so much more saturated, and nowhere near as lucrative than in 2005 but im happy as i have two wonderful kids, a new (ish) missus now been remarried 8 years, and we get by.
Going Ltd in April, and hopefully will be expanding the business. At the moment though there are quite a few window cleaning firms in my area that seem to be expanding rapidly, more than me, but on looking at their work patterns, i dont know how they are doung it a couple of firms vans are mostly at the home address of the business owner, and they dont seem to be massively packed out schedule wise...
all the best marc
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No window cleaner should ever feel anything but a serious professional doing a good job, the people who should feel like beggars are the buggars who try to get out of paying with their huge myriad of ridiculous excuses.
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When I tell people (socially) I am a window cleaner, I can sense a slightly disappointed response.
This is because we all prejudge and stereotype people...which is fair enough. If someone told me they were an estate agent I'd think they were a loaf of bread. 'Thick Cut' but spelt slightly differently.
So it works both ways.
Personally, it doesn't bother me, I just pop down to M&S for another excellent bottle of red wine and then off to the butcher for two exceptionally large fillet steaks. Cooking soothes the soul. I can live with it.
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How the hell is it begging? What a stupid thread.
Its supplying a service and being paid like any other tradesman.
Fair play Marc top man.
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When I tell people (socially) I am a window cleaner, I can sense a slightly disappointed response.
This is because we all prejudge and stereotype people...which is fair enough. If someone told me they were an estate agent I'd think they were a loaf of bread. 'Thick Cut' but spelt slightly differently.
So it works both ways.
Personally, it doesn't bother me, I just pop down to M&S for another excellent bottle of red wine and then off to the butcher for two exceptionally large fillet steaks. Cooking soothes the soul. I can live with it.
Yet i imagine you have given far more to an estate agent either renting or buying than he has to
You. Definitely not thick.
::)roll
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When I tell people (socially) I am a window cleaner, I can sense a slightly disappointed response.
I know what you mean. I've not cleaned a window for money since 2009 but when people ask what I do I say "window cleaner". I could say "I run a small business" or whatever but 1. I'm not an arse, and 2. If they've some kind of issue speaking to a window cleaner they can take a running jump.
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I paid over £5000 for my system and van and another 500/£1000 for all the other bits and pieces.
I've been on health and safety courses wfp courses to learn my trade and yes I do call it a trade.
I have over 300 customers. Domestic and commercial of which I have canvassed.
And have built up a very good business. I wouldn't class that as begging.
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Interesting how one lot of bs merchants and boasters have gone and been replaced by a few others in 3 years. ;D
Nothing changes does it.
With the exception of Marc Stock.
Interesting life story mate.
And then there's those that impart nothing, offer nothing and give nothing away. They lurk, take and criticise.
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I must be a very talentent beggar that's all I can say,I have a lot of very well to do customers that give me respect and thank me for what I do that's all I want from them. Would you give a beggar 24hr access to your property by giving them the gate code to get into it or leave them to lock up when they go out half way through the clean,would you if you were a woman walk round with a see through blouse on with no bra and say does this look to tight on me lol 😂 my husband is always working away you know,god I must stop this begging game it's making me go blind lol 😂
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Interesting how one lot of bs merchants and boasters have gone and been replaced by a few others in 3 years. ;D
Nothing changes does it.
With the exception of Marc Stock.
Interesting life story mate.
And then there's those that impart nothing, offer nothing and give nothing away. They lurk, take and criticise.
Oh dear. Touched a nerve eh.
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I'm only in this job for the sex nothing more 😂 ,honestly I don't think all people think like that though.
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I don't care if people look down on me their the ones working for a boss they hate doing a job they don't like for 4 weeks and bank hols off . I work 4 weeks then have 5th week plus bank hols away in brand new caravan with a discovery to pull it so I look down on them .
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I'm only in this job for the sex nothing more 😂 ,honestly I don't think all people think like that though.
More like a quick Barclays Bank in the van after you've just seen 80 year old Martha with no bra on 😂😂😂😂😂😷😷😷
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I don't care if people look down on me their the ones working for a boss they hate doing a job they don't like for 4 weeks and bank hols off . I work 4 weeks then have 5th week plus bank hols away in brand new caravan with a discovery to pull it so I look down on them .
Do you like dags? ;D