From a plumbing and heating point of view also seen many who decide to fastrack to become qualified

Omg , it was like banging ur head against the wall, I’ve got patience of a saint and tried to teach them as they came into the industry but alas many thought they knew better

Many couldn’t , solder a pipe, work out how to bend an offset and worse of all didn’t have a clue how systems worked , my favourite was setting up a fault on a boiler, if it wasn’t text book they didn’t have a clue, many times I would just cut the neutral wire in the incoming connector block on the boiler , then put it back into the connector , so wouldn’t have a neutral the other side of the connector , there was an hours entertainment there as I pulled up a stool and cuppa in hand

I can’t even begin to imagine how frustrating it was for u in engineering or BAE

My first day was how to sweep the floor properly and then each day how to look after tools and what they were used for , and then progress onto more difficult things as ur trusted more

Was taught by an ex para and he didn’t take fools easily , I made sure his van was tidy , got his morning tea and lunch , if I lost a tool or if he did I had to pay for it as I wasn’t doing my job properly in ensuring they were back in the proper place

Had 4 x years of that and must admit at the end I couldn’t have had a better teacher , upmost respect of how he taught me from the ground up front a basic stopcock onto very complex heating systems

Alas I think that’s what many are missing these days , having that starting structure of how things work , always taught u need to understand how things work before u can fix them and not skip basics by having a degree

Christ I need to stop talking now
 
From a plumbing and heating point of view also seen many who decide to fastrack to become qualified

Omg , it was like banging ur head against the wall, I’ve got patience of a saint and tried to teach them as they came into the industry but alas many thought they knew better

Many couldn’t , solder a pipe, work out how to bend an offset and worse of all didn’t have a clue how systems worked , my favourite was setting up a fault on a boiler, if it wasn’t text book they didn’t have a clue, many times I would just cut the neutral wire in the incoming connector block on the boiler , then put it back into the connector , so wouldn’t have a neutral the other side of the connector , there was an hours entertainment there as I pulled up a stool and cuppa in hand

I can’t even begin to imagine how frustrating it was for u in engineering or BAE

My first day was how to sweep the floor properly and then each day how to look after tools and what they were used for , and then progress onto more difficult things as ur trusted more
Was taught by an ex para and he didn’t take fools easily , I made sure his van was tidy , got his morning tea and lunch , if I lost a tool or if he did I had to pay for it as I wasn’t doing my job properly in ensuring they were back in the proper place

Had 4 x years of that and must admit at the end I couldn’t have had a better teacher , upmost respect of how he taught me from the ground up front a basic stopcock onto very complex heating systems

Alas I think that’s what many are missing these days , having that starting structure of how things work , always taught u need to understand how things work before u can fix them and not skip basics by having a degree

Christ I need to stop talking now
There is no substitute for experience.
 
There is no substitute for experience.

Indeed, was abit of a shock when I came from the theory side Onto the tools

After my accident I applied for a job at a local tech university to teach heating , nope due to health and safety as I wasn’t 100% fit , so basically nearly 30 x years of my knowledge wasted
 
From a plumbing and heating point of view also seen many who decide to fastrack to become qualified

Omg , it was like banging ur head against the wall, I’ve got patience of a saint and tried to teach them as they came into the industry but alas many thought they knew better

Many couldn’t , solder a pipe, work out how to bend an offset and worse of all didn’t have a clue how systems worked , my favourite was setting up a fault on a boiler, if it wasn’t text book they didn’t have a clue, many times I would just cut the neutral wire in the incoming connector block on the boiler , then put it back into the connector , so wouldn’t have a neutral the other side of the connector , there was an hours entertainment there as I pulled up a stool and cuppa in hand

I can’t even begin to imagine how frustrating it was for u in engineering or BAE

My first day was how to sweep the floor properly and then each day how to look after tools and what they were used for , and then progress onto more difficult things as ur trusted more

Was taught by an ex para and he didn’t take fools easily , I made sure his van was tidy , got his morning tea and lunch , if I lost a tool or if he did I had to pay for it as I wasn’t doing my job properly in ensuring they were back in the proper place

Had 4 x years of that and must admit at the end I couldn’t have had a better teacher , upmost respect of how he taught me from the ground up front a basic stopcock onto very complex heating systems

Alas I think that’s what many are missing these days , having that starting structure of how things work , always taught u need to understand how things work before u can fix them and not skip basics by having a degree

Christ I need to stop talking now

You were lucky
To have someone
Care enough
“ to make you “
 
Their loss imo.

Many thks, really disheartening when I really tried my best to get back to work yet alas with health and safety I can’t

Yet had to go through all the latest gov disability assessment to see if ur fit for work, go figure

Worst day was when I was registered disabled , made me feel like crap and downtrodden

But have my D3 , my lovely best pal candy my lab , roof over my head and food so life is very good in my book
 
Many thks, really disheartening when I really tried my best to get back to work yet alas with health and safety I can’t

Yet had to go through all the latest gov disability assessment to see if ur fit for work, go figure

Worst day was when I was registered disabled , made me feel like crap and downtrodden

But have my D3 , my lovely best pal candy my lab , roof over my head and food so life is very good in my book

I started as an endentured apprentice and still have my documents, good experienced men shared their knowledge with me and all I had to do was carry the tools and go to the shop at lunch time.
Now it should be my turn to pass on what I learned but in so many industries experience seems to be like aids people who have it are not welcome and soon disappear, one of my life regrets is the chain ends with me.
I can't complain really I made a good living and now enjoy my retirement, but it doesn't feel right.
 
Don’t ya think being retired...
You worked hard all your life and earned it...
Now everyday is Saturday
I do get the it don’t feel right....but...,
It sure grows on ya ...!
 
Don’t ya think being retired...
You worked hard all your life and earned it...
Now everyday is Saturday
I do get the it don’t feel right....but...,
It sure grows on ya ...!

From a selfish perspective, what happened made me, I could scrape white metal bearings a do stuff younger people had never heard of, eventually I was a law unto myself and in demand as a guy who made solutions, now I've seen parts of the world some people haven't seen in books, had a great time, and I'm sitting in ibiza having a pint before dinner, before going home on Thursday and putting the engine back in my defender.
Where did it all go wrong
 
From a selfish perspective, what happened made me, I could scrape white metal bearings a do stuff younger people had never heard of, eventually I was a law unto myself and in demand as a guy who made solutions, now I've seen parts of the world some people haven't seen in books, had a great time, and I'm sitting in ibiza having a pint before dinner, before going home on Thursday and putting the engine back in my defender.
Where did it all go wrong

Good on u and enjoy ur lunch and no I’m not jealous ur in the bloody sunshine , mumble mumble , lol
 
I started as an endentured apprentice and still have my documents, good experienced men shared their knowledge with me and all I had to do was carry the tools and go to the shop at lunch time.
Now it should be my turn to pass on what I learned but in so many industries experience seems to be like aids people who have it are not welcome and soon disappear, one of my life regrets is the chain ends with me.
I can't complain really I made a good living and now enjoy my retirement, but it doesn't feel right.

It's quite sad reading that.

I see it all the time though, wrong people made up to gangers or foremen and they have all the hangers on with them and anyone who knows anything moves on as it gets tedious carrying other people and dealing with their drink/drugs/gambling problems. I tend to end up working by myself a lot and loath to be near the dins, there are a few blokes I will work with but they're all old miserable fookers like me :oops::(
 
In my trade... I was the old guy...
It’s one thing that can’t be escaped...,
Yet...:D

I've gone from being the young know nothing buck, and all seemingly in the blink of an eye, to the wise old man who knows everything and has forgotten more than these fellas will ever know.

Most of them hate working with me as I tend to dog them and push for more, most of them these days seem incapable of simple tasks and complicated ones seem to always result in me getting out the cab and back on the ground to set them straight, boils my pizz that they can draw half as much money out of the job as they do.
 
I've gone from being the young know nothing buck, and all seemingly in the blink of an eye, to the wise old man who knows everything and has forgotten more than these fellas will ever know.

Most of them hate working with me as I tend to dog them and push for more, most of them these days seem incapable of simple tasks and complicated ones seem to always result in me getting out the cab and back on the ground to set them straight, boils my pizz that they can draw half as much money out of the job as they do.

I always tried to be the teacher..,
And ruled
By example
Usually I would do the work and have the apprentice eather watch or fetch stuff...
But occasionally there was a young one that
Really wanted it...
If they showed they could do the work...
I let them ....,
I’m Sure you guys would have to agree
Working ( is or was ) fun.. and blows at the same time...

.....livin the dream...,,,:cool:
 
.....livin the dream...,,,:cool:

livingthedream.jpg
 
Old guys, I think an entirely new thread about the topic that's sidetracked this thread is in order..... whilst we wait for the OP to get back with an update.

Lol
It has Been my observation....,
This happens quite a lot of these posts...
Something I have come to admire
About this forum...
And I like it.. but your right...,
Also the op can be proud
Of what’s he’s created
.......
 

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