[Slacky]

Life’s hard 

[colin bird]

Nice environment to work in,do you have to keep looking over your shoulder looking for bears ?

[Slacky]

Na, they dont worry me.

Ive only seen one since Ive been here. According to our neighbour who's lived on the same street for 50 years there's one who lives with his mate and young. It's weird as this guy talks about this bear and his family like he's a resident neighbour. 

The wildlife you see most is deer. They are wild but for some reason, totally beyond my understanding, they mingle with humans. Ive been in the back garden with three deer at the same time, they look at you and munch a few flowers and just carry on. I can be sat at my computer and there's a deer sat on the front lawn 5yds away. I suspect it's because Canadians respect the wildlife and treat it  all with caution. Knowing we live in the animals kingdom rather than the animals encroaching on our domains.

I think the time I'm most aware of potentially dangerous creatures, as we get coyotes and cougars here too, is when im out in the garden at night. I was out in the observatory about a month ago and could hear rustling noises. I shone a torch out and could see two sets of eyes looking back at me from the bramble bush. It was comical, but only because it was a couple of racoons.

I often say to myself when I'm at work it's like being on safari living here. In the sea we get dolphins, seals, orcas (loads of them) humpback whales, sea lions and otters.

I brought my cat Sambo over with me last year and this week has been the first time in a year he's managed to get out. Letting a cat out here makes them the target, which is definitely the opposite of what he was used to in the UK. So, he got out this morning and has been attacked by something, we've just got back from the vet, $220 poorer due to some other form of wildlife he's not used to.

There's also eagles, lots of them, bald eagles mostly, they'll take a cat given half a chance.

This is the location of yesterday's work.

[colin bird]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

[AuRavelling79]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

They moved there after a little blonde girl broke in to their old place, broke a chair and ate the cub's porridge.

They found her crashed out on a bed.

Quite a scare for them but they chased her off.

[Spruce]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

They moved there after a little blonde girl broke in to their old place, broke a chair and ate the cub's porridge.

They found her crashed out on a bed.

Quite a scare for them but they chased her off.

 

How's the recovery doing?

[AuRavelling79]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

They moved there after a little blonde girl broke in to their old place, broke a chair and ate the cub's porridge.

They found her crashed out on a bed.

Quite a scare for them but they chased her off.

 

How's the recovery doing?

Thanks for asking.

Two weeks today since the operation. I walk about a mile a day steadily and I started driving on Wednesday 10 days after the operation. I probably could have done so after a week but you need to be able to press hard enough for an emergency stop so I waited a bit longer.

I feel able to do more than I am allowed. But this next week I shall be starting to take the dog for walks.

Just a bit twingy at the scar site and if I stretch too much. Easy to forget until it reminds you!   

[Slacky]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

Yea, the wife

I was really quite anxious the first time I came out here, the second time we crossed paths with a wolf, which was 'interesting'.

The thing that concerns me the most is coming across an opossum. They look like rats but are about 3' long. f*** that!

[Stoots]

It looks beautifull but dont you miss the UK ?

I like going on holiday, but after a week im homesick and crave the comfort of familiar surroundings.

Theres nothing quite like home and as nice as that looks i couldnt imagine living abroad full time.

[Slacky]

I don’t miss the UK. I sometimes wonder why, I think I should, but I don’t. It’s a bit wierd. I’m thinking I might pop back this winter, pay a visit to family graves, see my sisters, make a trip round the south, visiting old friends, but when I get in the plane back here it’ll be an easy flight. I hate the thought of the crowded place the UK is nowadays. Population density for the UK is 280/square km, here it’s 5.

I do think I’m very lucky out here, many many people who live here and talk about living here, on the coast, in a secluded community (It’s only accessible by ferry, no roads in and out of this place) seem to also think the same, even if they’ve lived here for many many years. A number of times old timers have said we live in paradise. I’m also very lucky in that I’ve made some very very good friends out here, who I see regularly, people in AA I mean.

I don’t miss Marmite, as I get it sent over, I get my Nescafé, I get walkers crisps sent over 😀, what’s to miss 😁😁😁


And fuel is 90p a litre….

[Slacky]

I’m very much into wildlife,and country side,I get it’s like being on safari,as you living and working amongst the animals.
Due to some of the animals being dangerous,I’m guessing that when you first got there someone had to advise you the dos and fonts regarding the animals,to keep you safe.

Has the bear family been living in your road long ?

They moved there after a little blonde girl broke in to their old place, broke a chair and ate the cub's porridge.

They found her crashed out on a bed.

Quite a scare for them but they chased her off.

 

How's the recovery doing?

All is good, except the shoulder continues to lack mobility. I had an MRI (?) scan about 3 months ago, there’s two joints in the shoulder with arthritis in, one pretty bad which is causing lack of mobility. Anything above shoulder height is a no go. Apart from that I seem fine. I get by with that restriction. It’s funny, I do a couple of shop windows here, traditionally, they’re good measures as to any improvement, reaching for the upper part of the windows.

I’m hoping for a phone call booking me in for a steroid injection to help with any inflammation, that’ll be interesting to see if that works or helps at all.


edit: Ive just re-read this thread, that was for Malc wasn't it

[Stoots]

I suppose you get used to it and everyone is different. I always feel a level of unease when abroad,  maybe the langauage or the weather or just the unfamiliarity with the place. Every time i go abroad i enjoy the  scenery etc but after a while i just want to be home.

But i suppose eventually you would get more comfortable in your surroundings and know the locals and the laws etc and feel more at ease. Its probably just me being an anxious person i dont really relax when abroad.

[Slacky]

Comfort zone is what that sounds like. Nothing unusual.

I'm in mine here - I think.

[Rob.Hall]

Best thing you have done Matt.
You deserve a break...no pun intended 😜

[Frankybadboy]

dont trow yourself off the roof

[Spruce]

dont trow yourself off the roof

Nice to see you Franky.

[colin bird]

Are you picking up much work ?
How are you generating it ?

[Slacky]

Are you picking up much work ?
How are you generating it ?

Mostly through Google AdWords, organic search and Facebook. The truck is sign written and word of mouth.


According to Aworka I’ve done in the last 6 months 85% of the target I set myself for the first year.

I figured $50,000 for the first year, which is about £550 a week. So all in all pretty good. Things are very different over here regarding repeat visits and regular customers. It’s about building a client list and repeat work but this doesn’t happen on the 6/8 week frequency I’m used to in the UK.

Gutter clearance is big over here, twice a year a lot of people have which is great. It’s good money too. Once I’ve been going work-wise a year here I’ll have a better idea. Just picked up a nice gaff which was a 2 day gutter clear and days pressure wash. She now wants her windows done which I’ve told her is a three day job. Hopefully that kind of contact turns in to a repeat visit.

One great thing in my favour is contractors over here don’t seem too bothered about repeat visits, being reliable (turning up when you say you will, that kind of thing) which is something I’ve always focused on. I sell myself with that kind of approach.

Getting a new truck next year, transit Custom.

[colin bird]

Are you picking up much work ?
How are you generating it ?

Mostly through Google AdWords, organic search and Facebook. The truck is sign written and word of mouth.


According to Aworka I’ve done in the last 6 months 85% of the target I set myself for the first year.

I figured $50,000 for the first year, which is about £550 a week. So all in all pretty good. Things are very different over here regarding repeat visits and regular customers. It’s about building a client list and repeat work but this doesn’t happen on the 6/8 week frequency I’m used to in the UK.

Gutter clearance is big over here, twice a year a lot of people have which is great. It’s good money too. Once I’ve been going work-wise a year here I’ll have a better idea. Just picked up a nice gaff which was a 2 day gutter clear and days pressure wash. She now wants her windows done which I’ve told her is a three day job. Hopefully that kind of contact turns in to a repeat visit.

One great thing in my favour is contractors over here don’t seem too bothered about repeat visits, being reliable (turning up when you say you will, that kind of thing) which is something I’ve always focused on. I sell myself with that kind of approach.

Getting a new truck next year, transit Custom.

that all sounds good mate,i reckon once youve got a few customers under your belt you will be able to get them on a six monthly gutter clean,and poss an annual pressure wash clean ,along with fairly regular window cleans,,it sound like its an untapped market regarding regular visits,as you say you will sell yourself and i totally get that,i think in time you could smash it out there,and end up having as much work as you want,customers will also warm to you as they do love  brit on the other side of pond.
as ive previousely said in other posts im really envious of you,living in a great place with wildlife and country side what better way to semi retire and still do a bit of work !
and i assume no people arriving in boats !!
good luck enjoy

[Slacky]

And then there’s jobs like this, gutter cleans with grids in the gutters. Couldn’t be easier.