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Yeah, I didn't know til recently about Cornish miners going round the world doing it, as their know-how was famed and in demand.

Cheers.

I know what you mean. years ago, I read a brilliant essay by George Orwell called 'Down the Mine'. In it, he spoke of his awe of coal miners, and how they had to work: shovelling up tons of coal....much of the time literally on their knees shovelling it, as the roof of the pit was only about 4...

Yeah, it's all coming home to roost: the eye-watering cost of lockdowns, furloughing most of the country, Ukraine war and free credit for all those years. I don't think we ever felt the full fallout of the 2008 crash (or maybe I just didn't see it down sarf). Deffo not the time to be an old...

Too old, mate! Mid-50s. It's so (un)funny: all these right-on, touchy-feely regulations, law and directives only mean employers won't flat-out tell me I'm too old. The ageism is real, it's just that they daren't put it into words.

Sounds about right, John: if it wasn't hard, the boke on the tools would do it for himself - and save paying the labourer. I'm just sick of applying for countless jobs on 'Indeed' etc and hearing sod-all back. It really wears you down. Thanks for the reply though bud.

I'm a DIYer who has turned his hand to most things. I'm currently out of work and getting no joy in the job market. Anyway, I saw the labouring thread and want to ask everyone: what is expected of a labourer? What I can think of: Keeping the spread(s) 'fed' with whatever he's working with...

Agree 100%. And that's a really nice way of looking at it: "I don't care if you're a labourer on £100 a day, whereas I'm a spread who gets over double, we're both equal". Yeah, I really like that philosophy. We in the working class used to stick together a lot more back in the day, that's for...

This option is looking better and better!

You OK, treacle?

Cheers bud.

Christ, this is a can of worms. I just read that there's a right and wrong way to put on EML.

I suppose you have to be specific about whatever the trade is: i.e. what exactly you both expect each other to do. Just trading days can be messy....there's no incentive for anyone to put in their usual shift/effort. So, for instance, if the trade is "skim my 10 x 10 back bedroom, and I'll fit...

Cheers MB....is galvanised EML the same gear/as good?

I just found a product called 'Rendagrip' (by EverBuild). One of the reviews said it was useless and the render blew after a couple of months. So I'm thinking wire mesh all over, plugged and screwed. Time consuming, but at least the render will be on something that's proper stuck to the wall.

cheers 000, that did cross my mind, as well as lurking on ebay for some bargain brick slips (which would be a different sort of nightmare!). Ideally, yes I would like a brick wall, as not only do they look the business, but they are zero maintenance. But I am where I am financially. I fully...

No chance what? Do you mean the render won't stick because of the paint? I just want advice...I am taking this on myself because I have to. I barely have the money to cover rendering materials, let alone the thousands a new brick wall would cost (but thanks for the kind advice). If I had...

Hello everyone. Just a DIY-er here. I've got a front garden wall made out of those horrible 1970s textured blocks - the ones with a deep riven face and smooth backs. We keep painting the wall every few years, but it always ends up peeling and doesn't look good even when freshly painted. I...