[andyM]

When I watched the YouTube video someone had linked to earlier in this post about the Pylon Painters it seemed the guys they were filming had gone into it because they had limited options. One was ex-army another had a failed conservatory business etc.
None of them seemed sure from one year to the next if they would be continuing or bailing out.
I think that sums it up really.

Yes, I regularly meet window cleaners with jumbo jet pilots licenses who just decided to take up window cleaning.

I reckon I'd rather go outside and bury my head in the garden than take up Pylon Painting. 

I know a lot of folk would say the same about window cleaning.

The world's a safer place with people like me cleaning windows instead of piloting the Airbus taking you and your family to your final destination.   

[Dave Willis]

Plenty of entertainment
https://youtu.be/v_lj77Km0Ao

[Shane sharples]

Plenty of entertainment
https://youtu.be/v_lj77Km0Ao

Wow that was amazing Dave, shame it was only on for 1 minute, I could've easily bopped my head to that for another 10!! 

[AuRavelling79]

Okay, my two cents worth.

Letting Helen have a go on her own for a month or two's trial (in your minds - don't tell the business owners that) is the sensible option. If she gets on with it then everyone is happy.

Why might you not want to do that - let her go on her own into a male dominated "hard" environment? Because you are a protective husband (this is a good thing). A little bit of you is concerned that she might get bullied/mocked and sexually harassed (even if she "can take care of herself".)

Trouble is - if she does make the trial period and really loves it then she will be forming a camaraderie with one or more of her team. This is where "workplace relationships" can start.

Will absence make the heart fonder? Will it be "out of sight, out of mind"? Will there be no difference in your relationship but more money and fun in your holiday times? Only you two can decide.

I would not give up my window cleaning round. It is a good earner now and a pension for the future. You have independence that the employed can only dream of. 

 

[Smurf]

Funny you say that as I still get chatted up and sexually harassed mainly by 65-90 year old women now. Bless em 

[Rich Wilts]

They probably identify with the smell of urine and adult nappies you wear.

[Walter Mitty]

For me, the real nugget is the larger number of people I get to meet. 

If you go and be a 'ding ding girl' at Tescos, you'll get to meet loads of folk.

That would probably blow your mind though.

Don't knock it Tosh.  The feedback you get from me contains more empathy than others'.  I'm well aware that a little extra caution may be needed due to the sort of lives we've had.  Many years off the sauce is no guarantee of immunity as you know, so I reckon that the bigger decisions need to be thought through more than for most people.
Anyway, why the hell would I work at Tesco when  Morrison's, Sainsbury's and Asda are all closer? 

[Smurf]

They probably identify with the smell of urine and adult nappies you wear.

It's the man pants for sure as make me manhood look a lot bigger than it actually is 

[Smurf]

That makes me wonder what pylon painters do when they want a pee whilst up a pylon in the middle of nowhere.
a) climb down
b) pee over the side and hope the lads below don't get wet and they don't get zapped.

I'm betting it's b 

[Tom White]

I reckon that the bigger decisions need to be thought through more than for most people.

Does your granny get sick of you teaching her to suck eggs?

And I don't need yours or anyone else's empathy either; where have I asked for that?  I'm dealing with a high-class-first-world problem here; it's no biggie,  but of course we're being cautious; I'm not going to lose my work on a whim, which is why Wor Lass is going to have a crack at it first while I remain on the glass.  It's her they're really after anyway. 

From there we can make a decision, based on first hand experience, on what we should do from then on.

[Walter Mitty]

I reckon that the bigger decisions need to be thought through more than for most people.

Does your granny get sick of you teaching her to suck eggs?

And I don't need yours or anyone else's empathy either; where have I asked for that?  I'm dealing with a high-class-first-world problem here; it's no biggie,  but of course we're being cautious; I'm not going to lose my work on a whim, which is why Wor Lass is going to have a crack at it first while I remain on the glass.  It's her they're really after anyway. 

From there we can make a decision, based on first hand experience, on what we should do from then on.

Well, you put it out there for comments, and mock when you get them (not just mine either).
I'm not sure why you put it out there in the first place really.
Whatever you end up doing, I hope it works out for you.

[Rich Wilts]

This egg sucking business Tosh, can you explain what you mean please, you keep talking about it. Repeatedly.


Is it a reference to a Japanese form of water torture?

[Tom White]

Well, you put it out there for comments, and mock when you get them (not just mine either).
I'm not sure why you put it out there in the first place really.
Whatever you end up doing, I hope it works out for you.

For someone who claims to be a writer, you're not very good at comprehension are you?  Why don't you take a read of the original post which said:

Is this feasible?  Anyone do it?  I'd prefer to hear from guys who've experience of this, rather than just having opinions about doing this. 

Thanks.

[Walter Mitty]

Well, you put it out there for comments, and mock when you get them (not just mine either).
I'm not sure why you put it out there in the first place really.
Whatever you end up doing, I hope it works out for you.

For someone who claims to be a writer, you're not very good at comprehension are you?  Why don't you take a read of the original post which said:

Is this feasible?  Anyone do it?  I'd prefer to hear from guys who've experience of this, rather than just having opinions about doing this. 

Thanks.

Whether I got it right or wrong is irrelevant.  I was just trying to be a decent human being.  You can choose to be critical of that of course - it's your right.

Maybe remember this when you next try to offer a helping hand, either on here or in the big wide world, and someone throws it back at you.


 

[rosskesava]

Tosh, if it's heavy rain, ice, snow, strong winds, or some other reason and Wor Lass can't work, does she still get paid?

Or do they work in any weather?

[Tom White]

Whether I got it right or wrong is irrelevant.  I was just trying to be a decent human being.  You can choose to be critical of that of course - it's your right.

Maybe remember this when you next try to offer a helping hand, either on here or in the big wide world, and someone throws it back at you.

What you gave was unsolicited opinion, in an effort (I suspect) to try and convince yourself you're happy with what you're doing.  And now you're trying to make yourself out as some poor pious victim.

Give it a rest; it's tedious.

However, if you've experience of maintaining your work while doing some other kind of occupation, either through renting it out, sub contracting or employing others to work it for you, then you might find I'd be more receptive.

[Tom White]

Tosh, if it's heavy rain, ice, snow, strong winds, or some other reason and Wor Lass can't work, does she still get paid?

Or do they work in any weather?

No, you can't work in the rain, or when there's ice on the steel.  One of the employees says it isn't a problem though because the guys get paid enough from when they can work.  He says quite a few of them went on holiday for the whole of November.

[Walter Mitty]

Whether I got it right or wrong is irrelevant.  I was just trying to be a decent human being.  You can choose to be critical of that of course - it's your right.

Maybe remember this when you next try to offer a helping hand, either on here or in the big wide world, and someone throws it back at you.

What you gave was unsolicited opinion, in an effort (I suspect) to try and convince yourself you're happy with what you're doing.  And now you're trying to make yourself out as some poor pious victim.

Give it a rest; it's tedious.

However, if you've experience of maintaining your work while doing some other kind of occupation, either through renting it out, sub contracting or employing others to work it for you, then you might find I'd be more receptive.

Your assumptions about me are way off Tosh, but it doesn't matter.  I don't feel like a poor, pious victim or any other type of victim for that matter.
I did other work some years back, before this forum was around and before WFP took off.  I had a guy covering work for me back in the bad old ladder days.  It didn't work out.  He was unreliable.  I chose badly.  It doesn't resemble your situation, I imagine, though choosing the right person/people to cover the work is an obvious one and you would probably be justified in using the granny and egg-sucking analogy if I were to suggest it.

[rosskesava]

No, you can't work in the rain, or when there's ice on the steel.  One of the employees says it isn't a problem though because the guys get paid enough from when they can work.  He says quite a few of them went on holiday for the whole of November.

Sounds ok.

I can't offer any advice but it seems to me from what I've read you've pretty much thought it through.

[paul-ps]

I went from a window cleaning business  to being a mid level factory manager. Even though I am pretty much my own boss , I find it difficult to maintain the regime and take  instruction from any one. After years of doing things your way, you may be the same.

Happy Christmas 🎅