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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: d s windowcleaning on August 23, 2007, 10:38:51 pm

Title: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 23, 2007, 10:38:51 pm
while out working today id just finished when i seen this old man who i found out was 68 up a ladder cleaning windows . i thought i would pull up and offer my services to be told its how he makes a living as the pension he gets is no good . we was talking for a while when he told me he had been a cleaner for  40 years and that he was still in the old days . shammy leather & a bit of cloth . i was even more surprised  to find out he only charged £1.50 per house . he still had 6 houses left to do which out of kindness i did for him . what  took me 45 mins would have taken the old man some time to do . i didnt want anything in return . but due to my kindness ive now been offered a few rows of shops & a rew pubs and clubs . all through being kind  :)  :)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Captain Scarlet on August 23, 2007, 10:42:28 pm
nice to hear, somebody actually being nice to another human! not too common in this strange world. Did you use wfp for his jobs, because if you did it would have been like showing fire to a caveman!!!Luke
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Captain Scarlet on August 23, 2007, 10:45:43 pm
I hope when I'm old some bloke turns up and I'm still using the old wfp and he does my jobs with a pure water bazooka that fires bombs that explode pure water onto windows!!! Luke
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 23, 2007, 10:46:31 pm
yes i used wfp & he loved it  :)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Captain Scarlet on August 23, 2007, 10:49:11 pm
what did he say? did you show it working?
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: NWH on August 23, 2007, 10:52:32 pm
Luke that showing fire to a caveman line made me LOL. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Captain Scarlet on August 23, 2007, 10:59:40 pm
yeah, I could just imagine the van door opening and his eyes lighting up, and him finally realising the potential of window cleaning! the back of our vans looks more like a firetruck than anything else! Luke
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: NWH on August 23, 2007, 11:02:53 pm
Luke are you and your dad giving all the houses the WFP treatment.
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Captain Scarlet on August 23, 2007, 11:08:22 pm
yes, the lot. I can't believe how good it is, my dad does days on his own and yesterday he came home 3 hours earlier!!! we havent had any spots at all, after reading some horror stories on here I thought it was going to be a real learning curve but they musnt have been doing it right because all my windows are coming up perfect.

I did a job today that leeches black from the seals on the consevetory, I thought we would have to do it trad because it really makes a mess of the applicator and cloths and the finish but with wfp it didnt leech it just came up perfect, the finish is much better than trad too, just more consistent and more shiny!!Luke
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 23, 2007, 11:38:06 pm
yes he loved it said he wished it was around 40 years ago . i had total respect for the guy to be cleaning windows for 40 years takes some doing .
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: windowwashers on August 24, 2007, 02:34:53 am
nice to hear, somebody actually being nice to another human! not too common in this strange world. Did you use wfp for his jobs, because if you did it would have been like showing fire to a caveman!!!Luke
lol loved that comment Luke
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Pat Purcell on August 24, 2007, 02:47:38 am
Dave, a lot of people think about being helpful, even more talk about it, you are to be commended for actually doing it
Not wishing to sound nit-picky the old saying "give a man a fish and you fed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a life time" comes to mind
A good discussion with him about pricing may have served a better purpose
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: windowwashers on August 24, 2007, 03:00:36 am
Dave, a lot of people think about being helpful, even more talk about it, you are to be commended for actually doing it
Not wishing to sound nit-picky the old saying "give a man a fish and you fed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a life time" comes to mind
A good discussion with him about pricing may have served a better purpose
Can't teach an old dog new tricks comes to mind on that comment Pat
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 24, 2007, 08:26:19 am
68 isn't old!! my Dad is 74 and is still working, he's a builder and still climbs ladders carrying a hod full of bricks or a load of tiles on his shoulder!! He thinks window cleaners are wimps!!!! :(
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 24, 2007, 10:04:49 am
pat purcell i did speak to him about pricing and he just says hes been thinking about increaseing for some time but dont no by how much . i charge £8 for all the same type of houses as the old man wae doing so thats a £6.50 increase would the custom be happy with a increase like that ,think not. even if he was to put them up by a couple of pounds a lot of cusstie wont be happy . groundhog total respect to your dad if hes still working at 74
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: ScrimShady on August 24, 2007, 12:16:43 pm
i just think its a dam shame that the older generation have to work to top up their  pension to be able to live!! :'( :'(
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: jeff1 on August 24, 2007, 05:04:06 pm
while out working today id just finished when i seen this old man who i found out was 68 up a ladder cleaning windows . i thought i would pull up and offer my services to be told its how he makes a living as the pension he gets is no good . we was talking for a while when he told me he had been a cleaner for  40 years and that he was still in the old days . shammy leather & a bit of cloth . i was even more surprised  to find out he only charged £1.50 per house . he still had 6 houses left to do which out of kindness i did for him . what  took me 45 mins would have taken the old man some time to do . i didnt want anything in return . but due to my kindness ive now been offered a few rows of shops & a rew pubs and clubs . all through being kind  :)  :)
Dave
You have my full respect for doing that for the old guy?
If it wasn't for 2 old guy's that gave me my full round and all the trad gear, I wouldn't be a w/c today.
You have my full respect, its a shame there wasn't a few more guy's like you around, the world would be a much nicer place. :)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Russell Macdonald on August 24, 2007, 05:45:31 pm
Nice one mate, your a top bloke.  ;D

I feel for our oldies, they went through the war & rebuilt this country for us so i respect them. If it was not for them we would be Nazies now, remembering the Frog wimps that would not stand up to them either & still to this day them wimps side with them.

Our Scottish government & unelected PM wont stand up for us & completley dump on our oldies all the time.

Macc
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: djhaydn on August 24, 2007, 08:03:18 pm
wel done dave , you have my respect,

Luke...... you saying fire engines are messy?????? lol.

Haydn
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 25, 2007, 07:26:36 am
Nice one mate, your a top bloke.  ;D

I feel for our oldies, they went through the war & rebuilt this country for us so i respect them. If it was not for them we would be Nazies now, remembering the Frog wimps that would not stand up to them either & still to this day them wimps side with them.

Our Scottish government & unelected PM wont stand up for us & completley dump on our oldies all the time.

Macc

I doubt that this chap would have known much about the war at 68!!  ;D
There is also a few racist comments in this post!!! >:( and I'm not standing up for the French but they didn't have the advantage of being an Island surrounded by sea!! ;)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: dai on August 25, 2007, 05:38:26 pm
Good one Dave, As someone who starts drawing his pension next month I can appreciate the gesture. I switched to WFP 2 years ago and love it.
Many have said, "I hope I'm not still cleaning windows at 65". I tell them I hope I still am when I'm 120. My main ambition in life, is to get laid on my hundredth birthday.
I am not about to let some numbers on my birth certificate stop me doing what I want. Ill health may, Age never. I have even been thinking about a new van. Dai
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Pat Purcell on August 25, 2007, 05:44:03 pm
Jesus,Dai, I hope you get laid before then :o ;D
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Russell Macdonald on August 26, 2007, 12:26:08 am
Nice one mate, your a top bloke.  ;D

I feel for our oldies, they went through the war & rebuilt this country for us so i respect them. If it was not for them we would be Nazies now, remembering the Frog wimps that would not stand up to them either & still to this day them wimps side with them.

Our Scottish government & unelected PM wont stand up for us & completley dump on our oldies all the time.

Macc

I doubt that this chap would have known much about the war at 68!!  ;D
There is also a few racist comments in this post!!! >:( and I'm not standing up for the French but they didn't have the advantage of being an Island surrounded by sea!! ;)

What's racist Hedgehog  ???

Our government are made up mainly of Scotts, FACT.

The french have always been wimps & jumped to in to save themselves, dont you know history. They also do anything that is against the UK, we saved their butts 60 odd years ago & now they side with the Germans to stripp us of our Soventy to give it to the EU.

I see nothing in my comments as racist rather standing up for my country. Very soon that will be a criminal offence the way things are going.

Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 26, 2007, 12:34:04 am
I see nothing in my comments as racist rather standing up for my country.
Quote

OK whatever you say Cacc, your always right aren't you!! ;) and long live the BNP!
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 26, 2007, 12:43:16 am
Good one Dave, As someone who starts drawing his pension next month I can appreciate the gesture. I switched to WFP 2 years ago and love it.
Many have said, "I hope I'm not still cleaning windows at 65". I tell them I hope I still am when I'm 120. My main ambition in life, is to get laid on my hundredth birthday.
I am not about to let some numbers on my birth certificate stop me doing what I want. Ill health may, Age never. I have even been thinking about a new van. Dai
Good on yer Dai!! I think if you look after yourself and have the right attitude to life 65 is still young!! as I said before my Dad is 74 and works full time as a builder, he also still plays cricket for a local village side and reguarly opens the bowling!! If some young wippersnapper came along and tried to help him do his work, I think he would be offended and tell them to clear off!! ;D
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: jouk45 on August 26, 2007, 12:55:33 am
nice one dave, lets hope you have not re kindled his fire, give it a few weeks, and you might see him with a superlite pole and bentley brush, plus a shurflo backpack,  to think by the time we get to our sixtys, all the wfp equipment will be so light and convienient, just think we can all work until we are 80 years old  ;D ;D ps did you give him the link to this form  ;D bet you did, lol
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Russell Macdonald on August 26, 2007, 12:56:37 am
I see nothing in my comments as racist rather standing up for my country.
Quote

OK whatever you say Cacc, your always right aren't you!! ;) and long live the BNP!

Your learning, that's twice in one week, well done Hedgehog  ;D
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 26, 2007, 09:07:25 am
I see nothing in my comments as racist rather standing up for my country.
Quote

OK whatever you say Cacc, your always right aren't you!! ;) and long live the BNP!

Your learning, that's twice in one week, well done Hedgehog  ;D

So I was right that you do support the BNP then eh Cacc? :o
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Russell Macdonald on August 26, 2007, 03:22:18 pm
I see nothing in my comments as racist rather standing up for my country.
Quote

OK whatever you say Cacc, your always right aren't you!! ;) and long live the BNP!

Your learning, that's twice in one week, well done Hedgehog  ;D

So I was right that you do support the BNP then eh Cacc? :o

No mate, wrong. If i was to vote it would be Conservative, but i dont cause they are all the same, saying the same thing but not fullfilling what they say.

BNP, alot of their ideas are good but then their racist views are loads too far. I dont aggree with all this sucking up to minorities, cant say this or do that cause it might offend is over the top. their idea the Uk should be white is a joke, many British are not white & that's a fact, equal rights would solve many of our probs but that is not going to happen. Can you blame all these immigrants wanting to come here for a better life, no way but immigration needs to be controled & if they break the rules throw them out.

Rant over  ::)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: windowwashers on August 26, 2007, 04:31:03 pm
Good one Dave, As someone who starts drawing his pension next month I can appreciate the gesture. I switched to WFP 2 years ago and love it.
Many have said, "I hope I'm not still cleaning windows at 65". I tell them I hope I still am when I'm 120. My main ambition in life, is to get laid on my hundredth birthday.
I am not about to let some numbers on my birth certificate stop me doing what I want. Ill health may, Age never. I have even been thinking about a new van. Dai
Good on you Dai,
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 26, 2007, 05:36:20 pm
met up with the old man (keith) last night as arsnged . couldnt belive the amount of work hes put my way . the old man (keith ) said to me he had been on the look out for someone like myself . who as got respect for others & who are willing to help others . said he had been on the look out for someone who looked like they enjoy what there doing (i luv it ) & who would continue for years to come before he would let is round go & have i dropped on by being kind . ;D
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 26, 2007, 06:08:27 pm
I wouldn't want his work if he only charges £1.50 a house!! :o
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Robert Parry on August 26, 2007, 06:12:02 pm
Top bloke!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,

Rob
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 26, 2007, 06:32:45 pm
groundhog i didnt no when i put this post on that the houses he was charing £1.50 were all is family.  hes just wanting to top up is pension was what he told me . turns out keith was topping up his pension by quite a bit .  ;D  i didnt want anything for helping out a old man . he told me who as been looking for someone like me so he could enjoy retirement . he told me quite a lot of storys about his 40 years of window cleaning & it was a plesure to sit & listen to them . so what turned out as me helping out as now turned into something good .
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 26, 2007, 06:45:35 pm
£1.50 is expensive for family!! I do my Mum's for free!!!  ;)
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 27, 2007, 05:59:55 pm
i do my mums for free . but youve got to draw the line some where . what about broters & sisters aunts & uncles . do you do them for free i dont but i do them cheaper .
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: jeff1 on August 27, 2007, 06:03:00 pm
I do all three of my daughters houses free, I can't charge my family, but they have to fit into my plans and understand it.
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: Kwackers on August 27, 2007, 06:05:58 pm
i do my mums for free . but youve got to draw the line some where . what about broters & sisters aunts & uncles . do you do them for free i dont but i do them cheaper .

Yeh puts you in an arkward position as always.

I used to sell retail and always used to give a selected few products at exactly what i paid for them, so i'd make nothing, but only because i knew they were actively pushing business my way.

You have a mortgage to pay, so is it them that should be paying you full to help you out, or you that should be giving the discount?

Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 27, 2007, 06:08:20 pm
i would but when you have such a big family it takes me a day to get round them all . thats why i do them cheaper . as all my family live in the same area i cant just do them to fit in they drop into my round for that day .
Title: Re: felt sorry for the old man
Post by: groundhog on August 27, 2007, 09:50:13 pm
I'd rather do them for free than charge something silly like £1.50 :o