The Working Man (and Woman)

As i'm sat here on my one day off thinking about the weeks work to come, it got me thinking about things.

I was brought up with parents and grandparents who worked hard for a living, My Grandad worked all of his life from the age of 14 until 3 months before he died, he did a whole range of jobs, had his own businesses and always worked to the best of his ability.

The same goes for my mum and dad, when i was young my dad started up a Radiator manufacturing company in partnership with my granddad (his dad) this didn't do too well so he started up another company Sleaford Engineering, This was a lot more successful and my mum and dad with my nan and grandad bought a convenience store shop aswell which was run primarily by my mum and nan, The engineering company was then based in a workshop and yard behind this shop, I lived here for almost all of my childhood above the shop. I saw my family working very hard seven days a week, making a success of both businesses.

Unfortunately things change and with my nan and grandad not getting any younger they decided to retire it was decided to sell the shop and another company took over dads engineering company.

Not long after my grandad died, we still maintain that it was the shock of stopping working that killed him.

My mum and dad still work hard my dad branch manages the cleaning firm that are contracted by Tescos, and my mum works with him as a janitor. They get up every day at 2.00 am and sometimes thats 7 days a week.

As a result of this upbringing i (and my brothers) have always had a good work ethic, I always have my dads well used saying in my head "If a jobs worth doing its worth doing properly" and I now take a lot of pride in my work, I always try to do the very best in my work, and i know my customers appreciate this very much.

In recent times I have found myself getting more and more frustrated by people who aren't interested in working whatsoever, You all know the type of people i mean, In our neighbourhood there are people that haven't worked for 20 years or more, claiming disability benefits and every other handout they can get, even though they have been seen doing cash in hand gardening work, but they get away with it constantly,

My fiancée always tells me not to worry about it and to remember that everything we have we worked for and that they have nothing to be proud of. But it's not that easy for me, Roughly every week my other half will get a text from these people asking to borrow money, I get "funny" comments when she walks past when i'm getting my van ready to go to work like "it's all go isn't it *chuckling*" or "you look busy *chuckle*"..... It drives me insane, maybe i'm just a bit of a grump!!

I just feel bad for the country because there are so many people like this nowadays and it is depressing, We are bringing our children up to work hard and enjoy the feeling of doing something with your life, yet we are surrounded by people who bring their children up to get everything they can from the state,

I hope things change in this country but i'm not sure how that would happen.

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • I should have put in my Blog that i obviously don't have a problem with anyone who is genuinely disabled,

    Thanks for the comments guys!!

  • Take pride in what you do Andrew, it's important to you and always will be because people like you really make a difference. Live by your own standards not by anyone elses that makes you what you are.

    In my world the people who make things happen are 35+ (apart from the crews who are mainly Polish, Hungarians and 20+) they are used to working and know that the day doesn't end just because its 5PM.

    People who live via the state have a nasty shock coming to them and personally I can't wait. I don't have a problem with society helping people who have a disability but slackers....well anyone who props them up is either an idiot or has some kind of ideological block.

  • A good working ethic is something to pride yourself by for sure. As you say these days there are more shirkers than workers, people seem to have no drive at all because it is easier to be given something than graft your backside off for it.

  • I understand it might be hard to hear comments from these people . In most cases they are probably wish to be in your situation , Andy. Someone that can take his life and do something with it.

    It is a society problem when there communities living like that- you struggle to find same in other countries- for only one reason - they can get money with no work at all.

    In israel I can tell you there was for many years10-12 % unemployment. 5 years ago many benefits were cut . As a result it is now under 5% unemployment.

    (Do not get me wrong, I think israel economy too much supportive the reach ones, with very difficult life to young people.)

    I remember the days that I employed people: some just did not work and I could not afford keeping them. 

    One nice thing at your work is that you meet lots of people and see how they live etc, you can work in beautiful places without needing to have them- far better than staying in bed.

  • Nice 1 Richard, Thanks mate.

  • Very True Yasmin, very true

  • Thanks for the reply Ofer ! an interesting viewpoint.

  • That's interesting reading John, it certainly makes the right noises. And I agree that not everyone on benefits is avoiding working, It's the percentage that are that annoy me. Thanks John.

  • Andrew, thoughtful comments.

    For 95% of the UK, all we have to sell is our Labour.  We sell our Labour to the highest bidder, be it as Landscapers, Radiator Manufactures, Plumbers, Builders even Nursery Workers.   The other 5% don't need to work, and register their homes in tax free havens, avoiding stamp duty when they sell them, so stealing from the other 95% of us!  In a way, just like bankers.

    The Social security network, from it's inception, was ALWAYS a safety net, and not a way of life!  Goovernments of all colours have lost the plot on this, although to their credit, the last Government did achieve the highest working population in the history of the UK.

    Schemes like welfare to work, are in essence facsist, since they devalue the work done by many working men and women to the lowest common denominator.

    In this country, campaigns lead by mainly the press, media and establishment, have always blamed the poor, for the failings of the rich, today is no different.  The establishment will do so, because of it's own consistent, and repeated failure, and it has the funding to do so.  If we the people, ever thought for a moment that they could be wrong, well they can't be, can they.

    So our ruling elite own 90% of our nations wealth, and the other 10% is owned by the likes of us.  Until we change things, sadly, this is our society, so hence why some within our society are lead to claim from the likes of you and I, as they have given up hope.  After all, they are only really following the example of our ruling elite that have robbed our country blind for years.

     

  • Thanks for you reply Steve, You obviously have a far better understanding of the politics involved behind what i have written, and it's interesting to read. I must admit that i am a bit of an ignoramus when it comes to things like that, My views are of a purely observational nature, bought about because of the street  i live in where the people who work are very much a minority.

    You and others help to broaden my viewpoint though, Thanks again.

This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I wouldn't cut a hedge without one. Anything over 6' you should get with 3 adjustable legs, otherwise they can be unstable if you lean - but positioned correctly they are the only way. 
Befrore retirement I had an 8' and a 4; . The 4' went in the…"
2 hours ago
John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Yes had that scenario where you can't reach a fiddly bit no matter what ladder and have to balance on the apex of a shed roof or do best job painstakingly with a long reach pole pruner . "
8 hours ago
PGM replied to PGM's discussion Grass Cutting 2026 Season
"We've just finished our second week, so that's a full round of all customers now, and didn't have a single one we couldn't do. It's been a really good start here in the north west and now with nice sunny weather coming up this week it's a great time…"
9 hours ago
Duncan Neville replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I'm very wary of these tripod ladders, I took a life changing fall from the top of a 12ft tripod. Now I only use them myself with great care. The issue is that they are very unstable at the top if you lean to either side, and they go with no…"
11 hours ago
Billybop replied to PGM's discussion Grass Cutting 2026 Season
"Done a couple of second cuts already this last week would you believe. It's almost as if the grass has a memory of last year's drought and is making up for it now plenty of moisture available"
11 hours ago
Billybop replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"the tripods are good but in some scenarios the wide base and the fact the 3rd leg has to be placed some distance away from the step part for stability makes this large foot print impractical eg when cutting hedge behind a shed or greenhouse with…"
14 hours ago
Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Never tried these but always thought they look a bit of a pain to cart about. Looking at the picture, seems you're quite away from the hedge so you have to reach out more?   I just use ordinary aluminium extension ladders that you can easily adjust…"
yesterday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Tripods are better than any other ladder that's a fact. You can cut hedges that are lower than the ladder but it is more awkward, I have a 6ft amd a 12 foot been using both for the last 15yrs and haven't come stuck yet. Believe me once you've had…"
yesterday
Intelligent Landscapes replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I agree with HB. 12 foot Henchman with 3 adjustable legs are fantastic and we use them all the time."
yesterday
Joseph Taylor and The Stonemart Ltd are now friends
Friday
Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"You won't regret it, they are most comfortable ladders to use. Worth every penny."
Friday
matt replied to Julian chambers's discussion Price increases
"Increase prices every year, costs go up every year both on business and at home so otherwise your taking a pay cut, i dont get greedy i make small increases annually but as I do it every year and customers have learned thats part and parcel of it,…"
Friday
matt replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"i have two sizes and couldnt be without them, as use the smaller set for lower hedges so ladders never in the way and ive never bothered with the platform ladders"
Friday
Tim Wallach replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Might have to use this as an excuse to get more stuff!"
Friday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
At Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been achieving exceptional results using BASF’s Attraxor®, a plant growth regulator supplied by Agrovista Amenity.Containing the active ingredient prohexadione-calcium, Attraxor has…
Friday
John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Started out with a platform Tim which served me well but then upgraded to a 12 foot henchman with extendable legs which is very light and improved efficiency with total piece of mind where safety is concerned . 
Have never adopted that position as…"
Friday
More…

Does moss always = full renovation

Hi.Does a mossey lawn always equal a full lawn renovation? Once you kill (or control) moss the customer is left with brown / black dead moss all over their lawn. So then its needs scarifying to rake it up, then usually a preseed fert, seed and top…

Read more…
8 Replies · Reply by PGM on Thursday
Views: 370