Lost an hour this afternoon because I drove round the back of lockups to clean the back of a house. We used to be able to continue driving down and round onto the tarmac until the boy racers were using it as a race track. The moment I stopped the van and seen the big concrete bollard I knew I was in trouble especially with the rear wheel drive my van has. A few guys came out and helped me by placing fencing boards under the wheels and pushing me out. In the end I lost an hour and think I will design plywood boards that fit together to see if it works by spreading the vans weight. Watch this space!

Personally I would park on a hard surface and use my 100 m hose to get me to the job

Was thinking of cutting a few down to 400mm by 2400mm and then fixing something on top to give a bit of grip.

Just get off roading  mats or boards much easier ,this type of thing

I will still do the job but stay on the tarmac. I was thinking of trying to invent something cheap which I could sell.

Anyway, had a terrible day yesterday. First thing my electric reel refused to reel back in and had to reel it in by hand and use the other reel. Later got bogged down trying to cut corners. Lastly I decided to hose down the wheels and get the mud off so pulled out most of my garden hose. The moment I put it away, the automatic winder was in speed mode and near took my hand off and snapped something inside so that was the end of that. Ordered another on Amazon for £150 so never made anything yesterday bar 40m of spare hose. 🤔

Quote from: zesty on December 04, 2025, 06:56:07 am

Quote from: cgh window cleaning on December 03, 2025, 07:07:34 pm

Quote from: zesty on December 03, 2025, 02:45:56 pm

I just keep going, only doing 7:30am-11am these days. Will take off a few days close to Xmas anyway.

Your average day is only 3.5 hours long?

Yep, that’s the average now, latest midday. This week haven’t been later than 11am.

Leave the house at 7:15am. Or earlier on commercial.

My round is now so well refined, even my domestic work requires less than 4 hours to hit a good wage. I  could earn more, but I’m very happy where I’m at, my work like balance is perfect now.

Would also add, I work fast, I’m very efficient and I don’t mess about. I get it done and get home.

Is most of your work Commercial Zesty? I’m guessing it must be if you’re starting most days at 7:30. I do the same on Commercial but as it’s still dark there’s no way I’d start domestic work at that time especially in the winter.

Yeah about 50/50 mate, but again, I’ve always done the same houses at 7:30am, they are the ones who are either up early, or work in London etc. you know how it is, you know your customers, you do the same routine every month. I’ve always started domestic at 7:30am, means I miss the traffic.

Commercial I’ll often start 7am or earlier, depending on daylight.

Quote from: cgh window cleaning on December 03, 2025, 07:07:34 pm

Quote from: zesty on December 03, 2025, 02:45:56 pm

I just keep going, only doing 7:30am-11am these days. Will take off a few days close to Xmas anyway.

Your average day is only 3.5 hours long?

Yep, that’s the average now, latest midday. This week haven’t been later than 11am.

Leave the house at 7:15am. Or earlier on commercial.

My round is now so well refined, even my domestic work requires less than 4 hours to hit a good wage. I  could earn more, but I’m very happy where I’m at, my work like balance is perfect now.

Would also add, I work fast, I’m very efficient and I don’t mess about. I get it done and get home.

Is most of your work Commercial Zesty? I’m guessing it must be if you’re starting most days at 7:30. I do the same on Commercial but as it’s still dark there’s no way I’d start domestic work at that time especially in the winter.