OS Singlies - We Do It Our Way!

moneyistooshorttomention

Certainly the plumber I had back in my Home Area used to say to me that if a plumber is prepared to work long hours, then they can make VERY good money. He said he himself sticks to normal reasonable hours and makes a living he is comfortable with.

Of course, the added advantage of training as something like a plumber or electrician is having a skill you would find useful personally (ie doing your own house) and it would be a good skill to use to barter with. The guys working in these "practical type trades" seem to do quite a bit of that with each other. Don't know if they'd be willing to share their barter network with women doing these jobs too. This would remain to be seen and it would be problematic if they tried not to do so...because of there being no way for a woman to insist she would do some work at Fred's house if he did some other work at her house in return.

Clearly, as time went on and more women went into jobs like that then they would be able to operate their own barter network with each other if some of the men refused to "let them in on it".

lostinrates

I knew a woman in her sixties, some years ago, now, who as well as a full time job on a night shift re wired and replumbed her own house.


No training, just a book. She was incredibly practical though. You'd have to get a cert for it of course, at least the electrics part but.........if you were that way inclined it could be a challenge.

I'm trying to get the courage up to rewire a couple of lights and struggling!

JustKeepSwimming_2

LavenderBees wrote: »

Welcome to the thread, JKS, and I 100% echo what GQ and BW have said.

I think we discussed around this at the turn of the year. How we often (too often) look to other people and assume that their lives are better than our own.

In reality, we must realise that everyone has problems/worries/things that don't work out.

I came to the conclusion, along with a number of us, I think, that a change of mindset is needed. Beating ourselves up for mistakes or problems, doesn't do us any good. But we all seem to do it., and proud of what we have achieved is so important to our self esteem and sense of worth.

In my own case, I have viewed being single as a failure, mainly because I have felt that this somehow makes me unworthy of being loved....classic low self esteem. Changing my mindset though to that of a SINGLIE (:rotfl:), I am proud of what I have achieved - a roof over my head, a reasonable job/car, friends (new and old, RL and virtual), the freedom to take my life where I dare, the freedom to just be me.

So, methinks you need to look at what you have achieved - your two children, the fact that you are keeping them safe and happy and healthy etc etc. THEN you need to arrange to meet your old friend, and look forward to it. It sounds like she genuinely likes you and wants to spend time with you. And meet her as an EQUAL.

Hope you stay around and let us know how you get on.

LB xx

Thanks for all of your thoughts about my "problem" & of course, you are all correct - it is me that needs to change my mindset.

I'm usually very pleased with my lot & what I've achieved, & don't feel this way with anyone else at all. I'm not perfect by a long stretch, but I do manage to keep a roof over our heads, try my best with my 2, & have overcome a lot of difficult situations - just like all of us singlies have :T .
I guess I'll just have to try & laugh at our many differences when we meet up, & accept that the things that happen when we're together that highlight how good her life is are things that I need to face, & not while seeing her helps me to put these things in the difficult drawer, they do need thinking about.

I'm trying very hard to catch up with this thread, but failing miserably... Hope all of you are doing well & I am to catch up this w/e.

kacie

Had an odd dream last night, where I was dead but planning my own funeral, I was also at a zoo that had sewing machines, and a swimming pool. I recall shaving my legs and putting on my funeral outfit though, ready for when I would be buried.

I've been putting off cleaning the house this week, but really have to get to it today.

bugslet

lostinrates wrote: »

I knew a woman in her sixties, some years ago, now, who as well as a full time job on a night shift re wired and replumbed her own house.


No training, just a book. She was incredibly practical though. You'd have to get a cert for it of course, at least the electrics part but.........if you were that way inclined it could be a challenge.

I'm trying to get the courage up to rewire a couple of lights and struggling!

I find youtube very helpful as well, there are often good how to videos on there for all sorts of things. Personally electricity is not something I've ever fancied tackling, but one of my ex drivers went and re-trained as a sparky and he's trustworthy.

moneyistooshorttomention

Hmm...somewhere out there on t'Web must be a nice clear website listing off these "practical trades" type jobs and giving details of sort of wages earned and what level of training is necessary (including where to get that training and how the cost of it gets covered) in order to be a decent-quality tradesperson (ie rather than a "bodger with a bit (of knowledge) that is".

Perhaps our younger thread members might find it useful when it comes to wondering how to earn a decent income for themselves? Us older thread members would just think "Oh be grateful" for firms of female tradespeople starting up near us:D. Win win.

....and if ever I find any female tradespeople in my area who originally were Personal Secretaries (ie have had to learn to be organised and prioritise) then I'll think I've died and gone to heaven...

calicocat

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Hmm...somewhere out there on t'Web must be a nice clear website listing off these "practical trades" type jobs and giving details of sort of wages earned and what level of training is necessary (including where to get that training and how the cost of it gets covered) in order to be a decent-quality tradesperson (ie rather than a "bodger with a bit (of knowledge) that is".

Perhaps our younger thread members might find it useful when it comes to wondering how to earn a decent income for themselves? Us older thread members would just think "Oh be grateful" for firms of female tradespeople starting up near us:D. Win win.

....and if ever I find any female tradespeople in my area who originally were Personal Secretaries (ie have had to learn to be organised and prioritise) then I'll think I've died and gone to heaven...

Well I certainly wonder where I would be now had I taken my Dads advice 15yrs ago. Not that I want to do it now as can't wait to flipping retire and "potter". However I wouldn't be adverse to doing something part-time, but the things I would like to do don't really make much money.....in a fantasy world I would be paid a fortune to play with puppies and kittens.



How is the work coming on moneyistooshorttomention.....are they turning up?

moneyistooshorttomention

CALICO

Turning up and getting an "earful" about let-downs when they shoulda/but didn't turn up.

It's definitely getting more than a little wearing and two episodes in last week caused the "couple of glasses of wine and just take to my bed" syndrome:cool:

I think what bothers me most is not so much all the work needing doing on this house (though that's bad enough...as its so much) but the fact that EVERY single job without fail has "gone wrong" one way or another. They have made a mistake and/or they are trying to fit something imperfect (so I have to get them to remove it and replace with a perfect one) and so on. I think I'll drop dead of shock if ANY job ever goes as smoothly as it should (perfect items/perfect workmanship/etc) without my having to complain/get it altered/etc/etc.:(

I'm trying not to count how much extra time/effort I have had to put in over and above what was rightfully due in order to chase up on workmen and have them put things right etc..

pollyanna24

Calicocat – where is the chilli festival? Only I’m going to a circus in Milton Keynes and I saw a chilli festival advertised. I mean how many can there be? Or is it a popular thing that has just passed me by?!

calicocat

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Calicocat – where is the chilli festival? Only I’m going to a circus in Milton Keynes and I saw a chilli festival advertised. I mean how many can there be? Or is it a popular thing that has just passed me by?!

The one i'm going to is in the northeast (seaton deleval), but I think they have them up and down the country.


Edit...I can't post links, but if you google chilli festivals UK you will find them, they are all over so there may be one near to you.