Hello... is this thing on?

[harry_]

Darcy, I hear ya. For me it is not the Amish, but otherwise it all still applies.

 

[jvsteenb]

Same here.

No Amish folks in the Netherlands, though I think I'd welcome them. Over here there's lots of craftsmen from the former Eastern European countries who are willing to live in trailers apart from their families and are working for wages that couldn't sustain me. In general, they're having a hard time complying to our regulations, for they don't speak our language. But in the current economy, there are lots of homeowners that don't mind too much about regulations anyway - there's a job to be done and money is short.
As with all "groups" of craftsmen, the majority is only average, and hampered by their minor ( if any ) understanding of our language, communication ( and understanding of our regulations ) is difficult, and the results are substandard more often than not. Then again: there are some superb craftsmen among them and they will still work for wages I wouldn't be able to pay even half of the bills with. And I can't help but admire their willingness to give up being with their loved ones to earn enough to support them.

Had I been a businessman I would have hired them as subcontractors and take my (rather large) share, but that's just not me - so be it.
Still, I have valuable skills and some or other way they are marketable. How to do just that is a challenge. Challenges should be faced, but I must confess I could live with a couple fewer challenges  right now.
Hang in there !

Kind regards,

Job

 

[Jonhilgen]

It's tough trying to compete with people who live in a different century...Having the same type of problem down here, not Amish, just others that aren't, um, legal citizens.  The good news is that our state is cracking down on businesses that are hiring them.  The bad news is no matter what you do, there is someone else out there willing to share a house with 15 other people, live day to day, spend little money, pay no taxes, and work for half of what you're quoting.

Fortunately, there are still people out there that appreciate craftsmanship, and willing pay for it, and those are the people you need to target.

Jon

 

[jvsteenb]

Hello... is this thing on?

Guess it's off again....

Regards,

Job

 

[HowardH]

yea, it's on.  Too hot here to do anything in a non-A/C'd shop.  Only 97 today and about the same humidity.  Summer is supposed to be the best time of year, but in N. Tx, it's the worst.  I flew with a friend in his Cirrus SR-22 yesterday from Dallas to the middle of New Mexico (Grants) and back and it was glorious out there.  No humidity, 80 and a light breeze.  8.4 on the hobbs but I couldn't log any of it since I wasn't PIC.  ;D  I did get to do all the radio work, though.  Man o man, was regional approach busy when we got back close to DFW class B.  You gotta listen closely since they are firing out instructions machine gun style. 

 

[jmbfestool]

Same here.

No Amish folks in the Netherlands, though I think I'd welcome them. Over here there's lots of craftsmen from the former Eastern European countries who are willing to live in trailers apart from their families and are working for wages that couldn't sustain me. In general, they're having a hard time complying to our regulations, for they don't speak our language. But in the current economy, there are lots of homeowners that don't mind too much about regulations anyway - there's a job to be done and money is short.
As with all "groups" of craftsmen, the majority is only average, and hampered by their minor ( if any ) understanding of our language, communication ( and understanding of our regulations ) is difficult, and the results are substandard more often than not. Then again: there are some superb craftsmen among them and they will still work for wages I wouldn't be able to pay even half of the bills with. And I can't help but admire their willingness to give up being with their loved ones to earn enough to support them.

Had I been a businessman I would have hired them as subcontractors and take my (rather large) share, but that's just not me - so be it.
Still, I have valuable skills and some or other way they are marketable. How to do just that is a challenge. Challenges should be faced, but I must confess I could live with a couple fewer challenges  right now.
Hang in there !

Kind regards,

Job

Still I much rather be in Holland than England the way of life its far better and if though what you say about Eastern European countries England has it 10 times worse.  I have was Born in England and moved to Holland 3 years old  and lived in Holland for 10 years and moved back to England and lived here now for 10 years. I enjoyed Holland very much and its a much nicer place than England for your kids to grow up in we moved there because my dad had a long term contract in Holland and we went there to see what is like and thought it was very similar to England. The only reason we moved back to England was because my DADs job had finished in Holland and he was working in Poland, Dubai, Malta, South Africa  all over really so my parents decided to go back England well my DAD did because he's a Pub (Red Lion) bloke that's what my Mum says. All Old blokes do in England is go Pub every nite and drink thats all they to do in England really. Not saying my dad goes pub every nite lol just some times  just my mum means he's a typical English bloke and wanted to go back to his home country. She wanted to stay in Holland for many reason  

Very good Health Care
Better roads
Nice people
Equal way of living
Family orientated
Always things to do for kids (many organised activities) many by parents
Not health and safety stupid unlike England which is a nanny Country
She always thought it was nice how the Dutch always stayed in on Sunday family only.
( I remember as a kid I went to my mates houses ask them to come out and play and they couldn't because they were doing family things on sunday)
I lived in little place called MADE and it had everything you needed within biking distance Sports shops
That's another good thing you can get any where you wanted on a bike because you have bike paths which are red and bikers have right of way. Unlike England cars think bikers should give way.
The Carnival was good where you could build your own thing on a skelter and go down the high street.

I was 11 years old and I wanted to finish my last year at school with my mates I had 3 months left. So my mum said I could stay at my mates hose while she and my dad and brother moved to England.  Well after 3 months I had  100guilder left ( Like 33 pounds at the time) so to say thank you to my mates mum for having me staying at her house I went to Alcohol store and bought a bottle of wine and chocolate at the age of 11!!!!! I can remember the guy saying how much money you got what you looking for I said a gift and he gave me this nice wooden box with the large bottle of wine.

Now you tell me where in the UK they would let you buy  Alcohol at that age.  I know Holland drink age isnt 11 but that guy new I wasnt a 11 year old with a ASBO wanted to buy a litre of Vodka  he used his conmen sense and thought this lad is genuinely buying a gift for some one.

Which doenst happen in the UK its all blame culture and some 1 must be to blame their is no self responsibility any more health and safety mad.

Here in the UK now they want to have it that the Clients are to blame for health and safety its their responsibility to make sure I do the job safe not mine.  They doing this to try and get rid of the cowboys  making the clients go with decent firms instead of trying to get it on the cheap. Surely its my own responsibility to make sure the job is done safely how does the client know what is what?!?!?

That what is putting the prices up for jobs because of the health and safety clients cant afford it.  You cant climb up ladders with anything in your hands. So how do you get your tools up to the window?!? You have to erect a scaffold just to change a light bulb

My mate  worked for Cadbury for few months doing carpentry  and he wasnt even aloud to use steps had to be a platform with rails even thought it was only 1ft high  and worst wasn't even aloud to lean anything against a wall so spirit level his brush all had to be laid on the floor.

 

[bellchippy]

Your right about the health and safety, its ruining this country.