Is lock down making you lazy.....

phoenix if I remember correctly, where you live a bus runs by about once a week

You've no excuse, then, phoenix
You could catch the bus to this large distribution centre in Plymouth, although you might have to change buses en route, work your shifts all week then catch the bus home again. I think the bus journey takes about 24 hours and the scenery is lovely.

Having worked full time for 53 years, with no breaks, and still working now, I reckon I've earned the right not to apply to work in a distribution centre now. It's someone else's turn. Like the younger people who are desperate for a job because they've been made redundant. Time for the older people to move over and give others a chance.

I try to keep busy. I arrange a hike on the hills with different friends most days whatever the weather. Also had renovation work completed in my house. I managed to miss the really ghastly internal wall and chimney breast removal by being abroad and returned to unplastered walls. Houseful of tradesmen for weeks kept me occupied with tea making and kitchen layout planning. The decorator finished a week ago and it seems very quiet now. Except there is a problem with the flooring and the whole lot may have to come up and be relayed again. The whole renovation project took loads of my time and made lockdown more bearable.

To those who say travelling to distribution centres etc is too difficult or dire, then in the vicinity of large trading estates, and single large employers you find these days large numbers of workers who travel from the areas they live in, often very many miles away, and then sleep in the backs of the vans they own. Apparently Severnside near Bristol and around Birmingham there are large numbers of people who live in such a manner so they can have stable relatively well paid employment.

Many come from such areas as Cornwall, North Devon, mid and north wales. That is all part of the employment situation in today's Britain. Of course, you cannot have a lazy or cannot be bothered attitude to live such a life. That said I am off to bed for a few hours as I am on shift at 11:30pm tonight.

By the way, I do not do heavy manual work inside the centre as I hold a LGV driving licence, so there are six of us they call "shunters" that move the heavy vehicle trailers on an off the loading docks throughout the night. Not what anyone would call heavy work but highly active connecting, moving, dropping and reconnecting trailers over how many hours we are given or a set amount of work takes. The weather can often dictate how long we work. Often told we will be working for ten hours but the weather then changes that to eleven or twelve.

By the way, I do not do heavy manual work inside the centre as I hold a LGV driving licence

That's good as, only being in your 50s, you have 25 years or so before you can retire.

Kalu ''First of all you tell us how well you are coping, now, you say, but yes, we are all finding it hard!

It’s not something one can switch on and off but I won’t detain you, thus, allowing you to continue your, communication with two crows!''

There is no contradiction here - yes, it is very hard, to have not seen grandchidren for 10 months, to see the divisions and the real issues facing us all...

but what do you want me to do? I could go to pieces and be very unhappy- or I can try and find ways to keep busy, keep active, learn new things, and find joy in the simplest of things. And yes, communicating with kites or that pair of crows- is fun, silly, daft, wonderful and truly helps.

I am very aware I am lucky to be able to do these things and still see the joy around me- I am very sorry if this enrages you, somehow. Got to leave you here, Minou 3 legs is scratching at the window, for the unpteenth time in the last hour. And yes, he makes me laugh too.

MissChateline
Are you not in a lockdown then?

But late to comment but I’ve been busy doing nothing much ...
I’ve always liked this song
“I’m busy doing nothing
Nothing the whole day through
Trying to find lots of things not to do
I’m busy going nowhere
Isn’t it just a crime
I’d like to be unhappy but I never do have the time”
Think it was Dick Van Dyke or similar

It was sung by Bing Crosby in the 1949 US musical comedy movie A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

Callistemon

MissChateline
Are you not in a lockdown then?

Callistemon ......of course. What is your problem?
Exercise is “allowed”and I walk at least 10 miles a day. Exercise with one other is “allowed”. It doesn’t have to be the same person every day.
Workmen are “allowed” to work. Builders merchants are open to enable this. When I was in London a few weeks ago I would still try to exercise every day and there were hundreds of home renovation projects going on. In my small town there are plumbers plumbing, builders building, joiners joining and decorators decorating. There are chaps up scaffolding and life is carrying on.

Oh dear Sara70 not only did you misread my post earlier today (apology accepted, don’t mention it, oh no, of course you didn’t mention it , did you? ) but you seem to have misread OP and comprehensively misunderstood this whole thread.
It’s not about getting a job, it’s not about manual or otherwise work -try my post of 14.46 and start again. Read it carefully so as not to misunderstand this time and consider the effects lockdown and shielding have had on especially the older generation.
You are a very young Gran, many here have daughters older than you and it may be hard at 50- something to see the world through the eyes of a 70 -something year old but give it a try.
Empathy is not the exclusive remit of the older generation.

Crikey.

What is your problem?
I do not have a problem. I merely asked a question, politely I thought.

Yes Callistemon - it was that film. Is it the vessel with a pestle one too? It’s been my theme song for most of my life, that is when I wasn’t working full time, bringing up children etc but it has always been spot on for any ‘spare time’ and I’ve got lots of it now! Even husband sings it to me! ?

Quite comforting in life, when you find something that never changes. And Gransnet is definitely top of the list. ?

There seems to be such a wide age range on GN, different generations in fact. Some are young enough to be our daughters and those 50 year olds presumably don’t realise quite how old many or most of us are.
I am in my early 70 s there are many here in their 80 s and some over 90 so getting a job now is not something we can or want to do; coping day to day in this pandemic is.
Let’s not be quick to take umbrage, it gets us nowhere.

Callistemon, apologies. I mistakenly took it as a criticism of the fact that I was daring to poke my nose out of the door and not quake in terror at the thought of professional tradesmen working in my house without disinfecting every surface and quarantining the kettle and mugs for 72 hours.

have a cuppa, MissC !

phoenix. Make another Eiffel Tower please - in several sections then put them together with cream. Please then, leave it in soop’s kitchen for us to enjoy. TIA. (tahbk you in advance). Other possibilities are Nelson’s Column, syndney Opera House, Mount Rushmore etc. I am sure others will be along soon with more suggestions.

Oh Sara70 are you for real? I am not lazy, I still work, but the thought of a daily hour and a half long drive to a distribution centre is NOT one I will consider.

You need to realise that not everyone lives in an area that makes this sort of employment possible.

Please consider those people before adopting the Norman Tebbit approach of getting on your bike and looking for work.

Oh Sara70 are you for real?
I did wonder

How long to cycle to Plymouth, I wonder
?‍♀️

Callistemon I reckon if I set off now, I might get there by half past Wednesday.

Only a couple of things stopping me, I've got a hot pot in the oven that should be ready at around 6.30, and I haven't got a bike.

Yes. Absolutely. Why clean the house when no one is coming over.

phoenix it was suggested earlier you could drive a van (if you possess one) to your new place of work miles away, sleep in the van, do your work and then return home after a few days. I am sure Mr. P will feed the cats. That would enhance your life I am sure.

you find these days large numbers of workers who travel from the areas they live in, often very many miles away, and then sleep in the backs of the vans they own. Apparently Severnside near Bristol and around Birmingham there are large numbers of people who live in such a manner so they can have stable relatively well paid employment
Many come from such areas as Cornwall, North Devon, mid and north wales

I can’t wait for the DM headlines
Army of Grans camping out in vans


The perfect answer for anyone feeling at a loose end! And do wonders for the “arthuritis” !