Roofing

Posted on November 13, 2025 Posted in UncategorizedTagged agreed, con, Concerned, Ivy, replacement tiles, Roof, rushed, Work, WorriedLeave a comment

I just had someone who is working next door offer to clear the gutter. He went up to have a look and bought down two tiles which he said were in the gutter I had a look and they are from about a third of the way up. He said he would have to batten and refelt it and do four rows of tiles. I asked for a quote and he said £6000. I don’t have that kind of money and told him. According to his figures the whole roof would cost tens of thousands!
Then, a roofer who came round a few days ago came back and said he would clear the gutters, replace the few loose tiles, remove the ivy and point the ridge tiles for £800..im letting them do it… Am I making a mistake?

He says it will take a couple of hours. I think I’m being conned, maybe the other offer came round to scare me into having the work done today. But they are getting rid of a lot of ivy that’s got up to the roof…

Oh hell….

Retirement!

Posted on May 8, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged career, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1933, hopes, Poem, Poetry, Prompt, retire, Thinking, WorkLeave a comment

What is your career plan?

Playing mahjong

I’ve worked long and hard

Given work some welly

Retirement would be fine

I mean resting and learning

New things.

I’m semi retired now

But I’m below retirement age

Which keeps moving on

I would have retired four years ago

Except they changed the rules…

Ah well at least I can.

Mystery Play update

Posted on May 3, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Acting, making, penkhull mystery plays, Rehearsal, Scenery, update, Village hall, Work2 Comments

At today’s rehearsal we didn’t go to the end of the play because we ran out of time. We were blocking scenes to get some idea of how to stage it. We think it will take about an hour of running time. We need to agree about staging it and what props and scenery we need. The makers who help design the sets looked at how to create the tree costumes, sorting out a wig for the witch, and have got a broom and papier mache stars, we need a cave with a canvas flap to show a boulder being rolled in front of it. Also whether people will come on and off the stage area or more sensibly to share half of the acting area as the witches cottage and the other half as the wood and cave. We definitely need people. One of the people was good as the witch and another did a good Greta (the witches assistant, I’m not sure if those people will be final characters we still need to look at who is available and happy to do it. I helped by playing a woodsman that was turned into a tree because of trespassing in the witches wood and also a girl who is helping to look for names of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent. I’ve got my fingers crossed that we can literally get our act together!

I’ve had a varied life…

Posted on March 4, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, Cars, Cycling, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1867, eoroies, Hubby, Life, Together, Travel, WorkLeave a comment

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

I’ve had a varied life, most of it devoted to art, but I’ve also managed to cram a lot of experiences into it.

I would then go on to detail sow of the art work I have done, but also the adventures I’ve had with my hubby, who was a most eccentric man. Our main mode of transport when we were younger was by bicycle and then a series of pulled old cars that consequently meant we had a lot of situations to deal with. My jobs were also varied and I would talk about as much as I could without disclosing personal information. I am not sure if it would be interesting to anyone else though?

Work computer

Posted on February 1, 2025 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Computer, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1835, defragment, fax, green letters, Keyboard, Memory, Mouse, WorkLeave a comment

Write about your first computer.

I had a work computer before one at home. The screen was covered in green writing to add information. There were no pictures, you had to use a mouse and keyboard. If you wanted to get on the Internet you had to use a modem. That made funny squeaky noises when it commented. I remember we had to defragment the computer every few months. That meant spending ages waiting for all the files on the computer to defragment. But you had to watch it so you could click a button at the end. I also remember you had to send information by fax.

He used to ring me…

Posted on July 26, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged evening shift, Exhausted?, Hard work, Hubby, Life, Memories, motor bike, Sunday, Work4 Comments

Hubby used to ring me from work in the evenings, he worked a late shift for several years. He didn’t go out to work till the afternoon and came home after midnight. I worked a day shift, so we really only saw each other over a late night meal or at weekends. Then his firm changed the shifts, so he had to start an hour later and finish later too. They also made the workers take a day off in the week and have to work Sunday mornings too. It was awful. That telephone call was our only communication in the evening.

He hated the job and was being bullied. He went to work on a motorbike and a few times when he got home late he was so exhausted he would fall off it. He used to say that he did more work than two people. Sometimes they would take on new workers but they could not keep up with him and some would not come in the next day because they could not cope.

I was so glad when he finished there. We managed to spend few good years together before he died.

I realise now why I can cope without him in the evenings, I spent so many years waiting for him to come home, and that’s why I struggle to sleep at night, my mind expects him to return later.

Full and Part time jobs

Posted on May 29, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Balance, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1953, Internet, Life, Memory, Responsibility, Time, Work, World3 Comments

What jobs have you had?

But..

I’m not saying what! A few of the people here know what my jobs have been, but I am not willing to share with everyone, and as these prompts are viewed by more than my friends those other people do not need to know.

I’m not a secretive person but I think we all have a responsibility to ourselves to keep our information safe. There is an increase in the amount of phishing on the Internet.

I will say I have had full and part time jobs, I’ve worked with people and on my own, also with machinery. I’ve never been a manager, thankfully. I enjoyed working with most of the staff although I could tell some tales about the bad behaviour of some and the wonderful things others have done beyond what was necessary.

Prompts are interesting, they make you think, but some are easier to answer than others. Work gets you money to pay bills and pay for housing, the ability to use sports facilities and other entertainment. I am glad I had responsible jobs but I’m glad too that they are behind me now.

Tulips

Posted on April 28, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged effort, Garden, Growing, Growth, Memories, Photo, Spring, Time, Tired, Tulip, WorkLeave a comment

Last years tulips were beautiful. We had seven or eight in the pots outside our house, sadly this year I only had two. I haven’t got on top of gardening because of everything that’s been happening and I will regret not being able to keep up with the seasons. I’m going to try and make more of an effort, a bit at a time, give myself rests in between spells of gardening. It might take a while and I need to try and put the effort in

Finishing work

Posted on April 24, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Art, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1918, Fine Art, Hubby, Life, Memory, Prompt, Studio, Time, WorkLeave a comment

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

I gave up work to mainly look after my hubby whose mental health was deteriorating. I could have carried on, but circumstances were also changing in my job. The way we worked was reverting back to old fashioned ways which I felt was detrimental to our clients. I’d fought hard to help them more and it felt like their needs were being forgotten while money was saved. Services were being slashed. I had to go, and I never regretted it, I just felt sorry for my fellow workers who I left behind. Covid and other problems meant that I didn’t make a go of my small business, but at least I tried.

Jobs not career

Posted on October 26, 2023 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged career, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2101, History, Interview, Life, Memories, Prompt, Time, Work2 Comments

What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?

I’m not a banker, politician, doctor, vet. I’ve done jobs that have lasted weeks, months or years, but none I would call a career. This is the Internet, so I’m not going into details. Why should I tell all and sundry? I did think of taking up a career, but it didnt work out (I failed the interview) I might be rich or at least well off. I didnt follow that path, so in ended up with a series of jobs.

But through it all I’ve been creative, I make art, it might not be the best, but I love painting and drawing, taking photos, making pottery, experimenting. Who needs a career if you have the freedom to be yourself?

Whatever you do, be open to chances, take care, I wish you luck

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Work