The new news 24 thread

[sdkrc]

I really regret sacrificing time for money.

You become dependent on the salary and build yourself into a small, mental trap where you think you can't leave.

@JJ0063, if this was the right job you wouldn't be in any doubt about jumping

[chodweaver]

 

@JJ0063 I think you already know that this would be a bad move. It sounds a hard, sometimes dangerous and poorly paid job with a shit  work/life balance. If you want the experience and are prepared to move on in a short time, fine. 'Cos from the sounds of it, it's not a job that many people settle into for the long haul.

[Popsicle]

@JJ0063 It looks like you'll be doing double the hours for what, hopefully, an extra £250 a month, there are much better, safer class 2 jobs out there. I understand the urge to try something new, particularly something you've always fancied, but try it part time if its possible alongside your current job, then you'll not look back in the future thinking what if. But a recovery driver doing the hours you currently do in the insurance game would be classed as part-time. It really will be a shock to the system and this is no reflection on you, I did it for a bit years ago, only had an hours kip, tough luck, jobs are coming in, hoping to knock off in the next 10 minutes, tough luck this recovery needs driving 2 hours away, its a very hard way to make a living.

[gm]

9 hours ago, DVee8 said:

Look at this heap that has turned up in the works carpark

Now look at the right handside of this wheel

 

considering that @DVee8is employed in the automotive industry and this heap of shit is parked in the works car park suggests that at least one of his co-workers is quite seriously under qualified ! 

[Barry Cade]

@JJ0063 

PM me if you like, I'll tell you straight.. 

[cobblers]

@JJ0063

I do a lot of work with guys who are hgv on call recovery / maintenance lads, they're all on significantly more than 27k(~50% more for PAYE, contractors/self employed are double and triple it) and they're all absolutely fucking sick to death of it. A few fresh lads pretend that they relish "being out on the road" but they soon burn out.

The guys on really good money doing mega hours are especially miserable. They've got all the nice toys - cars, bikes, nice house etc but no time to enjoy any of it. I'm in that situation to an extent - I've just moved to a nice house in the peak district, we've been there two weeks and I've still never seen the garden in daylight.

In your position I'd stick with the existing job and find some other way to earn a few grand a year on top. 

[JJ0063]

Thank you everyone for the wisdom and telling me what I was trying to avoid admitting to myself.

I think although this quite literally the job I’ve wanted to most of my life and having spent a fair amount of money getting the license etc, I’ve got it so cushy at the moment it’s going to be harder to make the leap. 
 

Had a lengthy chat with the mrs and gave her a few scenarios ie. How would she feel if I got a call out at 8am then was at work until 11-12 at night, on the regular etc. 

Shes very supportive and was actually quite upset because she knows I’ve worked towards this stage for a while so was quite pro me trying it but did admit herself that she knows the work life balance I have now is what’s kept me in such a boring job for a decade.

Having slept on it, I’m going to give them a call and withdraw my application. I’d rather that than an awkward phone call of being offered it and having to say no thank you.

Im quite keen on avoiding work like mulitdrop pallet type jobs but I might look into something like the 8 wheel tippers doing aggregate or something like that where it’s still local and more set hours. I live near a couple of quarry’s so might be worth a look.

 

Thanks again everyone 👍

[Split_Pin]

I've had a few neighbours that are Tipper drivers and they were always around when I was around I.e. they seemed to have sociable hours.

[Split_Pin]

Audi dropped off at the garage to have the exhaust sorted out. Hopefully my veritable bric-a-brac of pipes, sleeves, gaskets, bolts and hopes will mean that something can be cobbled together. I even supplied a straight part of a Rover 75 system which I cut down yesterday, as the pipe is a slightly larger diameter than the Audi's so could potentially sleeve over part of it.

 

[juular]

10 hours ago, sdkrc said:

I really regret sacrificing time for money.

You become dependent on the salary and build yourself into a small, mental trap where you think you can't leave.

@JJ0063, if this was the right job you wouldn't be in any doubt about jumping

Personally I think this is really important and overlooked. Some people only figure this out when it's way too late and their life is mostly behind them. Time is invaluable.

[BorniteIdentity]

I'm not sure I ever built myself into a trap, or became dependent on the salary.  One thing I did learn though is - no matter HOW much you earn - you will  spend it.  You just grow into it.  I've been doing this job for 18 years now and earn a decent amount of money (without being either vulgar or vague I am a higher rate tax payer) and I've never felt richer than when I was 20 years old, earning £18k a year.

It sounds like you can't really lose @JJ0063- just make sure you don't die wondering.

[juular]

1 minute ago, BorniteIdentity said:

I'm not sure I ever built myself into a trap, or became dependent on the salary.  One thing I did learn though is - no matter HOW much you earn - you will  spend it.  You just grow into it.  I've been doing this job for 18 years now and earn a decent amount of money (without being either vulgar or vague I am a higher rate tax payer) and I've never felt richer than when I was 20 years old, earning £18k a year.

It sounds like you can't really lose @JJ0063- just make sure you don't die wondering.

I understand this too, with the right mentality and attitude you can live like a king for not very much at all. Much of life is just about perspective. Not that I advocate for a second the absurdly low pay people are struggling with for doing skilled jobs in this country - that needs to change asap. The fact you can work a full time job and still not be able to afford the basic necessities shows how utterly fucked this country is IMO.

I'm probably on half or less what you are, but I'd take a pay cut in return for even more time off if I could. I really, really hate working unless it's for myself or those I know.

[cobblers]

1 hour ago, BorniteIdentity said:

 I've never felt richer than when I was 20 years old, earning £18k a year.

 

Damn right! When I was at uni I got a student loan plus about £800 a month for working weekends in a warehouse and I was a rich man! It's been downhill ever since, but I suppose a lot of that is not being surrounded by drunk 18 year old girls.

[louiepj]

Jay has owned this Aygo for 4 years and we found the chassis damage over 3 years ago but the mot testers only just caught up....

Battery and tray out then gearbox mount removed gives you the best view of the damage. I made a C channel shaped plate and welded her up on sunday afternoon but cannot find the after pictures on my phone.

Still being used at least 4 nights a week for takeaway deliveries.

[wuvvum]

4 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

One thing I did learn though is - no matter HOW much you earn - you will  spend it.  You just grow into it.  I've been doing this job for 18 years now and earn a decent amount of money (without being either vulgar or vague I am a higher rate tax payer) and I've never felt richer than when I was 20 years old, earning £18k a year.

Definitely this.  I'm now earning nearly triple what I was earning at 20 (not that that's saying much - I wasn't on £18K at that age) but I still somehow seem to have less disposable income.  The worrying thing is that I can't immediately see how that has happened.  Yes I live in a bigger house now and I'm a bit less lackadaisical about such niceties as VED and utility bills, but I still pretty much spend all I earn and I certainly don't have triple the amount to show for it...

[JJ0063]

I think you’re all right with what you say. The issue I have is at the moment I personally don’t think I earn enough at approx 24k for the time I’ve been at the company however I also appreciate the fact I have a very easy job, good hours, no weekends, flexitime, work from home etc so it’s swings and roundabouts.

Ultimately I’m bored, I didn’t want a career in an office job, I wanted something field based/hands on/driving. Like someone has mentioned further up the thread, I don’t want to die wondering but at the same time after leaving my current job 5/6 years ago for a few months to work at Autoglass, I’m very once bitten twice shy as they were an awful company and I know I couldn’t come back to my current employer for a second time!

I think I’ve come to the realisation that although I love the idea of a recovery job, the lifestyle that comes with it is a big sacrifice and I’m better off where I am - a decent set up, loads of spare time but performing a boring role. 
 

Im going to keep looking at other options as ultimately I’ve spunked a load of money getting the license and I still want to drive for a living but clearly I need something other than recovery work.

Thanks again for the advice guys, I feel I’ve probably dodged a bullet.

 

[gm]

I hear there might be a shortage of tanker drivers ? 

[Spurious]

24hrs to fix a Jimny gearbox. I'm on my way to collect it now didn't expect it back so soon really. A1 Transmissions in Bolton if anyone's wondering, one man show place seemed like alladins cave 

[Lankytim]

1 hour ago, JJ0063 said:

I think you’re all right with what you say. The issue I have is at the moment I personally don’t think I earn enough at approx 24k for the time I’ve been at the company however I also appreciate the fact I have a very easy job, good hours, no weekends, flexitime, work from home etc so it’s swings and roundabouts.

Ultimately I’m bored, I didn’t want a career in an office job, I wanted something field based/hands on/driving. Like someone has mentioned further up the thread, I don’t want to die wondering but at the same time after leaving my current job 5/6 years ago for a few months to work at Autoglass, I’m very once bitten twice shy as they were an awful company and I know I couldn’t come back to my current employer for a second time!

I think I’ve come to the realisation that although I love the idea of a recovery job, the lifestyle that comes with it is a big sacrifice and I’m better off where I am - a decent set up, loads of spare time but performing a boring role. 
 

Im going to keep looking at other options as ultimately I’ve spunked a load of money getting the license and I still want to drive for a living but clearly I need something other than recovery work.

Thanks again for the advice guys, I feel I’ve probably dodged a bullet.

 

Class 1 is where it’s at. Easier work and usually more money 

[Spurious]

20 minutes ago, Spurious said:

24hrs to fix a Jimny gearbox. I'm on my way to collect it now didn't expect it back so soon really. A1 Transmissions in Bolton if anyone's wondering, one man show place seemed like alladins cave 

Huddersfield train station. Not too bad. And an actual locomotive pulling a passenger train. Not a measly DMU. Nice 

 

[juular]

2 minutes ago, Spurious said:

Huddersfield train station. Not too bad. And an actual locomotive pulling a passenger train. Not a measly DMU. Nice 

 

I like those 68s. For a modern they are really thrashy. Some outstanding electronica going on behind all the grunt too.

[beko1987]

Produced the first ever visible clag I've ever seen from the Xsara this morning. 

Took 9 days of sat doing nothing then 6 miles and still cold into my commute when I had to join the m40 at 40 behind a lorry going up the hill at j6. Down to 3rd, and 3rd until 65ish and the most beautiful cloud came out the back. Was nice and grey, not jet black... 

Can't be doing much of it atm as it'll rinse through fuel but part of me thinks I need to do it more... I drive it too gently and waftily for its own good, and usually not be choice but by traffic

[Spurious]

11 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Produced the first ever visible clag I've ever seen from the Xsara this morning. 

Took 9 days of sat doing nothing then 6 miles and still cold into my commute when I had to join the m40 at 40 behind a lorry going up the hill at j6. Down to 3rd, and 3rd until 65ish and the most beautiful cloud came out the back. Was nice and grey, not jet black... 

Can't be doing much of it atm as it'll rinse through fuel but part of me thinks I need to do it more... I drive it too gently and waftily for its own good, and usually not be choice but by traffic

Put a tub of redex through it and give it some welly on the motorway? 

My old C5 would do that if laid up for a long time.  The Aul fellas Defender would do it but that's because we tweaked the fuel pump for more powah. It didn't do much other than allow you to "crop dust" anyone who tailgated you. They'd soon get the message 😂

[beko1987]

Just now, Spurious said:

Put a tub of redex through it and give it some welly on the motorway? 

My old C5 would do that if laid up for a long time.  The Aul fellas Defender would do it but that's because we tweaked the fuel pump for more powah. It didn't do much other than allow you to "crop dust" anyone who tailgated you. They'd soon get the message 😂

It's not long had a half bottle of similar through it that I found in my car washing box the other week. It's just too many short cold trips. I'm off to the office again Thursday so will do it again. 

I had the forum_slag xantia a few years ago and it was hilarious. Change down a gear and floor it and a thick black smokescreen appeared! It was handily also bloody rapid so I'd hit Lane 3 and coat the front of the next car to go up my arse and take off in the process! 

Needs moar boot! 

[17-Coffees]

I've been thinking of getting a Smart car again, as for once it'd be perfect for my current use of an car. (Also I love the things).

So would this be a Smart choice? I know that the transmission can be an absolute bastard, and some early petrol engines are too. But are there other issues I may not have seen read about? 

Been seeing a fair few late Mk1 and Early Mk2 ForTwo's within my price range, and fairly local too. Just not sure to risk it or if the horror story's are over blown? 🤔

[andyberg]

34 minutes ago, 17-Coffees said:

I've been thinking of getting a Smart car again, as for once it'd be perfect for my current use of an car. (Also I love the things).

So would this be a Smart choice? I know that the transmission can be an absolute bastard, and some early petrol engines are too. But are there other issues I may not have seen read about? 

Been seeing a fair few late Mk1 and Early Mk2 ForTwo's within my price range, and fairly local too. Just not sure to risk it or if the horror story's are over blown? 🤔

Cheap one on this very forum. Not much to lose if it goes wrong 🤷

[puddlethumper]

It seems that my trusty 305 van is not so trusty and is a bit fucked. Found out the reason why injector pipes kept breaking. The injector pump is held on by only one of the three studs that hold it into the housing and is moving a bit. My mechanic is going to have a look tomorrow and is going to give me the good or bad news. Looks a bit* involved to me. Still, he said I can borrow his taxi, not taxi.

The Cresta van is up for sale on FB Cresta page. Didn't advertise it here as I'm pretty sure no one would want to take it on. Had 4 enquiries about it. Unfortunately it doesn't fit in with my future plan of Yank RV and trailering my 305 on the back. Retro rig style travelling yo. 

[richardmorris]

Another one I’ve never heard of.

[cobblers]

see also:

 

and along those lines:

[Dyslexic Viking]

My life is not that exciting but here is a little from it. Helped my dad today with some work on the Fiat and the timber crane it is connected to.

First I replaced the lift pump and then bleed the diesel system.

 

Then I replaced some hydraulic hoses on the crane.

And then I put together a new conveyor belt for firewood. Forgot picture of it was of the finest chinesium and looked like it was built by a drunk 5 year old. Lifetime of this will be exciting.

 

Then I serviced the snowblower.

And then I washed and waxed the Hyundai. So a productive day.