The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

Hard_Up_Hester

The boxes of paper I move at work weigh 13kg and I'm expected to carry them around, I was offered another trolley after my first one was pinched by another department but tbh, there isn't room to manoeuvre a trolley around so I refused.

Three more days at work and then it's the summer break, I'm spending 2 hours a day at DD2's, one day a week at DD1's and have 2 cat sitting jobs lined up. I've put all my various plans on an A3 sheet so I remember where I'm supposed to be when.

I'm also giving serious thought to when I will retire, someone at work suggested I work until hubby retires but as he's 5 years younger than me and can't retire until he's 68 I think that's too long to wait.

moneyistooshorttomention

13 kg weight! and a woman is expected to carry them around. Got my calculator out quick and that's 31.2 lbs, ie over 2 stone weight!!!

If a trolley wasn't possible one way or another - then the job would be taking rather longer. Because I'd open the boxes and carry the contents bit by bit in accordance with a woman's level of strength/what is reasonable personally (yep...I'm a stubborn b&gger like that:rotfl:).

They're the ones really putting themselves at risk here - ie of you doing your back in because of them and duly not letting them get away with that....:cool:

Crikey - just checked out the official guidelines as to what the law allows - and it's down as 16 kg for a woman! Wow! No protection in that respect then.....darn it.

EDIT; Just thought my personal carry more than a few feet distance would probably be say 2 of my 3kg bags of flour = 6 kg in total and been out in kitchen for a quick check.

silvasava

Just catching up - craggy does it for me too ( and LARGE) so can I add Tom Selleck to the list and the guy who plays Longmire and Mark Harmon?????
Gorgeous day here so will be in the garden and wearing shorts so scaring the neighbours.
Have a good day all x

princesstippytoes

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

13 kg weight! and a woman is expected to carry them around. Got my calculator out quick and that's 31.2 lbs, ie over 2 stone weight!!!

If a trolley wasn't possible one way or another - then the job would be taking rather longer. Because I'd open the boxes and carry the contents bit by bit in accordance with a woman's level of strength/what is reasonable personally (yep...I'm a stubborn b&gger like that:rotfl:).

They're the ones really putting themselves at risk here - ie of you doing your back in because of them and duly not letting them get away with that....:cool:

Crikey - just checked out the official guidelines as to what the law allows - and it's down as 16 kg for a woman! Wow! No protection in that respect then.....darn it.

EDIT; Just thought my personal carry more than a few feet distance would probably be say 2 of my 3kg bags of flour = 6 kg in total and been out in kitchen for a quick check.

We all have different strength levels. I know some women who are stronger than some men that I know so it's a bit much to generalise.

You said yourself you are 2 stone overweight so you are already carrying that around with you.

Hester I love your posts. I'm sorry things are up in the air for you though and wish you all the best. x

ivyleaf

nursemaggie wrote: »

Only 10kg bags I could only lift about a foot not enough to get it into a trolley or my shopping trolley. If they still have them tomorrow will get DS to bring one back. Mr M is just round the corner and up a flight of steps.

The biggest bags are 26kg. I think they have sold all of them.

I'm not sure where I could store 10 kg of rice, let alone 25kg! have you actually got anywhere to put it nursemaggie?

Softstuff I hope you and OH are better soon x (good thing this is only a virtual kiss, I don't want your cold!)

silvasava I've been thinking lately that surely Gibbs would have retired by now but apparently Mark Harmon's only 64 Ducky is ageless, of course.

Softstuff

Silvasava Mark Harmon isn't bad, nor is the guy who plays Longmire... well, both of them in character in any case. Capable strong silent types. I like the old wild westy chap too.

Hester, the problem with trollies and with a lot of safe lifting practice as you say is that it relies on having a reasonable amount of space in which to do it. I credit a back injury to having to lift and store rather a dramatic amount of stock in a very small space in a shop one Christmas. Sometimes when I read about your workplace I shudder with recollection of my old one. And Mtstm, I did complain, but, as I suspect is the case in most workplaces, I had 2 choices in the end, do it or leave. When I could do it no longer, I left. But the fallout of leaving workplaces that mistreat you is you end up unemployed.

Ivyleaf, not sure where Nursemaggie stores hers, mine used to be in the wardrobe :rotfl: I know I've moved up in the world, it's now in the kitchen! That said, during present renovations I'mon a sofa in the front room within arms reach of a dismantled single bed, a dog training crate, a bathroom vanity and 40m2 of tiles. It feels compact but not bijou

Edited to add:we're both getting better thanks, hubby faster than me, but I always end up more throaty than him.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Another disturbed night's sleep and strange dreams this time too. However, OH has been sweet and done my first two chores of the day for me--unload the dishwasher and start a load of washing so I'm not behind. I also looked at today's tasks and realized I do not need to do the job application I had planned so a bonus there as well. It was for a job that would involve a very unpleasant commute for a year long contract. It would pay more than what I'll get locally, but the commute would eat all of that and the difference on my CV will be negligible.

Hester I can't pretend to understand how difficult it must be to leave your home, so I don't say much about it but I'm cheering for you and I know you'll get through all of this. I would suggest retiring when it is most expedient for you and not a day sooner or later.

Nursemaggie I hope there is still rice today when you're able to go back with your son.

I've a mid-day yoga class today and it is my job to cook the tea tonight. We'll be having an aubergine bake sort of thing. I found the recipe a month or two ago and it is really nice--chopped aubergines are roasted and then tinned tomatoes, herbs,olives, torn up ciabatta and mozerella are added and baked. It is very simple, reasonably healthy and cheap although it does require a long baking time. Still, it doesn't have to be supervised so I can sit in the garden while it bakes

ivyleaf

That sounds yummy FPk! And I'm glad you were able to say No to the job with the horrible commute.

Frugalista

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

13 kg weight! and a woman is expected to carry them around. Got my calculator out quick and that's 31.2 lbs, ie over 2 stone weight!!!

If a trolley wasn't possible one way or another - then the job would be taking rather longer. Because I'd open the boxes and carry the contents bit by bit in accordance with a woman's level of strength/what is reasonable personally (yep...I'm a stubborn b&gger like that:rotfl:).

They're the ones really putting themselves at risk here - ie of you doing your back in because of them and duly not letting them get away with that....:cool:

Crikey - just checked out the official guidelines as to what the law allows - and it's down as 16 kg for a woman! Wow! No protection in that respect then.....darn it.

EDIT; Just thought my personal carry more than a few feet distance would probably be say 2 of my 3kg bags of flour = 6 kg in total and been out in kitchen for a quick check.

When I worked at the boarding kennels I regularly had to shift a pallet of 50 x 18-20 kg sacks of dog food one at a time (on my shoulders) approx. 30 feet to the storage area - and then re-stack them. I am only 5'2" and of medium build (and was in my 50's).


No good trying the "but I'm only an 'ikkle, weak woman" card and calling for smelling salts and a waft with a lace trimmed hanky - the kennels was owned by a woman and another 70 year old woman helped out. They both also shifted the sacks, as did all the teenage kennelmaids. It's was just part of the job.


As has already been pointed out, at 2 stone overweight you are already carrying almost a sack of feed around now!! When I used to go to slimming club I remember taking a 20kg sack of dog food in one night to illustrate my 44lb weight loss! LOL!!


ETA: How much does an average toddler weigh? Women certainly manage to lift and carry them with no major problems. If you are only able to carry 6kg a couple of feet at most then maybe you have some underlying medical condition that need to be checked out?

greenbee

My brother once had a holiday job bagging potatoes. As a strapping 19 year old he thought he was strong. Till he met the short middle-aged women who did this job day and and day out and could move huge sacks of potatoes around as if they weighed nothing!