Stueeee
Old git
- Messages
- 1,071
- Location
- N W Kent
Lost my dad many years ago, but that song still brings a lump to my throat. Another track from the same album 'A beggar on a beach of gold' is a pretty good song to live by too....
- Thread starter m_c
- Start date
My old man died when I was nine so don't have anything to judge by, I am now 70, and the one thing I have noticed about myself is that I have a very low tolerance with general society, bureaucracy, muppets and bad tradies, which my wife informs me that I am getting worse with age. If I pay a tradie to do a job for me I expect it to be done to a proper standard, I do not want to have to check up on everything that they do to make sure it was done right, unfortunately where we live now, there are that many new estates going up and "tradies" are being brought in from hundreds of kilometers around as there aren't enough local ones available, unfortunately a large amount of them are in the muppet category as they don't give a crap about poor/atrocious "workmanship". One of the people I know just had a house built and on final inspection before sign off they got a independent building inspector in. He advised them not to do the final payment as there was over $100k+ of remedial work that needed to be done just to pass code.
So yep, I am ending up as a grumpy old man and getting worse, I still have about 95% of my mental facilities still, so still doing ok so far, but it is only a matter of time, which I and many other of my men of my age are running out of !
So yep, I am ending up as a grumpy old man and getting worse, I still have about 95% of my mental facilities still, so still doing ok so far, but it is only a matter of time, which I and many other of my men of my age are running out of !
I'm afraid this is the world we live in right now, very few trades people around here do the job right, it's all rush rush, get in and out quick. From painters leaving brush marks, builders using steel screws to mount gutters, window fitters using nothing but expanding foam, the list is endless if you start looking.
Pigeon_Droppings2
Member
- Messages
- 6,574
- Location
- london
A few years ago for me...then not too long after I lost a very very good friend too. Was on a downer fir a few years... but things are hopefully looking more positive.
I know it's been said plenty of times before but coming on here has kept me sane I think.
I know it's been said plenty of times before but coming on here has kept me sane I think.
My Old Landy
Engineering Mayhem
- Messages
- 3,441
- Location
- North Lincs
Me too, it feels strange not going to see him.That makes two of us…
addjunkie
Member
- Messages
- 14,078
- Location
- Northumberland. Reet oot in the sticks
Ive inherited a fair amount of both!
I'm not sure you can inherit grumpiness--maybe but intolerance, for sure that can run in a family.
brightspark
Member
- Messages
- 41,453
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
Blobber
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 3,428
- Location
- lincolnshire
Never had much in common with me old dad but by all accounts I can be grumpy and don't suffer fools gladly just like he was! clearing his house earlier in the year I came across this last, remember as a kid him using it to knock those metal things into his boots and used as a door stop, thought it fitting to dunk it in the citric today and clean it up, my workshop door stop now so it will be a reminder every day, RIP dad
brightspark
Member
- Messages
- 41,453
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
my dad was ok and all there and fit .had him working for me rewiring houses etc at 73 then a massive heart attack. i got on better with him as i got older a proper grafter
a proper grafter
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
- Messages
- 13,086
- Location
- CX near Chesterfield
That is a hobbing foot round here, a last is a mould for making new shoes. I got one from my dad's collection as well.
Gritineye
Member
- Messages
- 2,096
Oops, forgot how old I was so fixed that for y'all.
I've got all this to come from both my parents.
Basically my Grandparents brought me up and my biggest regret is not being nicer to them at the time.
I've not turned out like my dad yet as I still have my wife and children, so hopefully I never will.
Luckily my wife's mum and dad are the perfect example of what Grandparents should be to our son and daughter and I'm eternal grateful for that.
Too many bridges burned for me now with both my parents but that's how life goes..
We don't have a lot of money but I've got all the time in the world for my two children and proud how they've both grown up.
Spend as much time as you can with them as they grow up fast.
Try not to feel this way, treat the bridge like SETI.
Every so often shout across the divide, a bridge may never be forthcoming or built but then again---you may be heard.
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
- Messages
- 6,591
- Location
- Manchester UK
You don't need money, you need love and time, no amount of money can buy time. I have absolutely no idea where I went wrong with my two lads, they are both in good jobs and are raising their kids in a way it is wonderful to watch, I haven't had to go down to the police station once with either of them! I am surprised to be honest. :-)
I thought at least a bit would have rubbed off.
I got on really well with my Dad & in turn my son & i get on like best mates. I find as i get older i am getting less tolerant of some people, Usually its old men & some women who in a club situation refuse to accept that they ran out of fresh ideas many years ago but refuse to allow younger people / anyone to take over. A total restistance to change even when its stark staringly obvious that their way is dragging the place downwards into terminal decline.
My father in law was a good engineer but in his later years became a fearful bodger, As his mind failed he bodged more & more & it was pitiful to watch. But you couldnt help him. When we sold his steamboat & had a potential buyer coming to view i went round & removed all the worst bodges & threw them away. Made the sale a lot easier!
My Dad did keep making good stuff right till the end.
Im becoming more of a perfectionist as i get older, just wish there was time to do it all!
My father in law was a good engineer but in his later years became a fearful bodger, As his mind failed he bodged more & more & it was pitiful to watch. But you couldnt help him. When we sold his steamboat & had a potential buyer coming to view i went round & removed all the worst bodges & threw them away. Made the sale a lot easier!
My Dad did keep making good stuff right till the end.
Im becoming more of a perfectionist as i get older, just wish there was time to do it all!
Bobupndown
What could possibly go wrong?
- Messages
- 1,957
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Sounds like my FIL, masking tape is the solution to all problems
At 50 I count myself lucky that I've still got both my parents who in their mid to late 70s are still fit and active. I don't see as much of them as I should. When I hear this song it reminds me that the remaining years are dwindling.
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
- Messages
- 6,591
- Location
- Manchester UK
I have lost a great deal of sleep (and money) being a "perfectionist". I have decided that if it is good enough for me it is good enough. You know what I mean, that almost invisible mark that looks like a beacon to you but in reality you are the only one that sees it. That nagging doubt in the back of your mind that if anyone sees it (whatever "it" is) they won't give you another job so you spend so much time on it that if they didn't give you any more work it would be a blessing because you are working for tuppence and a balloon.
After many many years of being a hands on craftsman of one sort or another I am still amazed when people are complimentary of the work I do. I have only, in the last ten years or so, begun to understand that not everyone sees a practical problem the same way I do. Now I compensate for it and explain things a little more until I am satisfied they understand. Some people never will unfortunately.
