O/T A poignant scene the other day

[Pattylallacks2]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Brin, but regarding your question whether I miss the old job/routine.

I have to say my answer is NO, not a single bit.

I was passionate about my work and regarded it as family but, in hindsight it was nothing of the sort.

Don’t know whether you have read Benjamin Disraeli, who often referred to his life in parliament as the greasy pole.

That is how I look back on my career. In essence work was all encompassing. Sure I earned money, made a living, not a vast fortune but enough to knock it on the head at 62 and spend more time with my wife & dogs.
When Covid hit,my outlook on what was important changed dramatically.
Since retiring both my parents have passed, but they both lived long lives (98 & 93 resp.) and I was fed up doing things that other people wanted me to do.

Don’t get me wrong, work is important but can’t ever recall reading anything on a grave stone purporting to working very hard.

I think that, regardless of how much they liked or disliked their actual jobs, people will remember their working lives with fondness or otherwise dependent largely upon the people they worked with. Nothing Narden has to say about his own working life chimes in the slightest with me. Some of my closest and dearest friends I met at work and still regularly meet up with two of the lads I met on my first day at work. I met my wife in the offices at Parkgate and we have been together happily for over 50 years.

[CAMiller]

I think that, regardless of how much they liked or disliked their actual jobs, people will remember their working lives with fondness or otherwise dependent largely upon the people they worked with. Nothing Narden has to say about his own working life chimes in the slightest with me. Some of my closest and dearest friends I met at work and still regularly meet up with two of the lads I met on my first day at work. I met my wife in the offices at Parkgate and we have been together happily for over 50 years.

I'm more in the Nardendee camp. Really enjoyed about the first 7-8 years of my working life but by and large the last 30+ years have been devoid of enjoyment. I guess working with Americans (and some other nationalities that won't be named) for around 25 of those years has played a big part (or more than likely it's just me )

[Lolmorgan]

I think that, regardless of how much they liked or disliked their actual jobs, people will remember their working lives with fondness or otherwise dependent largely upon the people they worked with. Nothing Narden has to say about his own working life chimes in the slightest with me. Some of my closest and dearest friends I met at work and still regularly meet up with two of the lads I met on my first day at work. I met my wife in the offices at Parkgate and we have been together happily for over 50 years.

I’m proud of your good lady putting up with you for 50yrs.

[Pattylallacks2]

I’m proud of your good lady putting up with you for 50yrs.

Can't argue with that

[Wiltsmiller]

If you worked in the 11inch mill you would know him. Basil Lilley.

I worked from the electrical maintenance workshop on the Park Gate site and only visited the 11" mill on downtime days for maintenance work and didn't get to know any of the mill workers.

[Nardendee]

Can't argue with that

Hi Pattylallacks2.

The beauty of this is that everyone is different.
I am not complaining about my life. At the end of the day we all think what we are doing is right and I am pleased it has worked out for you. I am very happy with my life but Brin asked the question and I gave my perspective.

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

I'm more in the Nardendee camp. Really enjoyed about the first 7-8 years of my working life but by and large the last 30+ years have been devoid of enjoyment. I guess working with Americans (and some other nationalities that won't be named) for around 25 of those years has played a big part (or more than likely it's just me )

Generally speaking I’ve enjoyed everywhere I worked at but a feature of the latter ones was how American ownership completely destroyed the camaraderie of those workplaces

[Nardendee]

Generally speaking I’ve enjoyed everywhere I worked at but a feature of the latter ones was how American ownership completely destroyed the camaraderie of those workplaces

Now that is something I can resonate with, apart from the specific country that is.

[Pattylallacks2]

Hi Pattylallacks2.

The beauty of this is that everyone is different.
I am not complaining about my life. At the end of the day we all think what we are doing is right and I am pleased it has worked out for you. I am very happy with my life but Brin asked the question and I gave my perspective.

Can't argue with that either

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Sorry for the loss of your friend Brin, but regarding your question whether I miss the old job/routine.

I have to say my answer is NO, not a single bit.

I was passionate about my work and regarded it as family but, in hindsight it was nothing of the sort.

Don’t know whether you have read Benjamin Disraeli, who often referred to his life in parliament as the greasy pole.

That is how I look back on my career. In essence work was all encompassing. Sure I earned money, made a living, not a vast fortune but enough to knock it on the head at 62 and spend more time with my wife & dogs.
When Covid hit,my outlook on what was important changed dramatically.
Since retiring both my parents have passed, but they both lived long lives (98 & 93 resp.) and I was fed up doing things that other people wanted me to do.

Don’t get me wrong, work is important but can’t ever recall reading anything on a grave stone purporting to working very hard.

My Dad’s favourite saying was “ you work to live, you don’t live to work”

He was overjoyed when I went to Uni then started employment with the MOD. Breaking the mould of the family “ tradition” of working in forges and foundries.