[Drivingforfun]

Just of curiosity, for fun. What do people do (or used to do) for a living?

I did well at school but health deteriorated in my teens so from then to mid 20s was on and off the dole. Now work vaguely/casually as an accountant. Never did the formal training so started with myself, family, friends now find work through word of mouth. Also came into some money and put it to work for a modest income. All in all quite dull, could be worse off.

Health is slowly getting better these days and due to improve significantly in the next 18 months or so. I am wondering whether to try my hand and take up a trade…I am already reasonably decent at little jobs...plumbing/heating or perhaps electrics appeal…not mechanics or construction or carpentry. Is early 30s too old to be starting?

I always thought my generation was one of academics who shun getting their hands dirty...most people I know my age are excellent academically but can't do basic practical tasks...almost everyone I have encountered who works in a trade is older and is in a position where they have too much work to choose from and picking and choosing jobs, almost as if there are not enough tradespeople...?

[NMNeil]

My last job was the best ever, but I'm now retired.
My company car 😁

[Marc]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

My last job was the best ever, but I'm now retired.
My company car 😁

Now that is cool 🤩 It's a Mustang???

[Rolebama]

Mainly, after Army was a motorcycle mechanic for 7yrs, then did a bit of Plant fitting for a while before working for a customizing place for a while. Car mechanic for 5yrs before being an AA night Patrol in NW London for 10years. Retired through illness in 2000.
I built and repaired computers privately including a bit of programming on and off for the past 40+yrs. (Do you remember Spectrums and Commodores etc?)

[Drivingforfun]

The US police have MUCH better squad cars than the UK....😀

I take it you have seen this, @NMNeil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yy4QXJqFmE

[Drivingforfun]

Originally Posted by Marc

Now that is cool 🤩 It's a Mustang???

Doesn't look like it to me. Looks like it has 4 doors and the bonnet (sorry, hood) looks different. But may have really embarrassed myself by saying that as I love American Muscle cars.

[Drivingforfun]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Mainly, after Army was a motorcycle mechanic for 7yrs, then did a bit of Plant fitting for a while before working for a customizing place for a while. Car mechanic for 5yrs before being an AA night Patrol in NW London for 10years. Retired through illness in 2000.
I built and repaired computers privately including a bit of programming on and off for the past 40+yrs. (Do you remember Spectrums and Commodores etc?)

What did you do in the Army, unless you prefer not to say of course.

I always dreamt of being a pilot in the RAF...I like to say that my health stopped me but its more likely I wouldn't have got in anyway as apparently only the best of the best of the best make the pilots...hope to do my PPL one day when funds, time & health allows :)

[Rolebama]

Drivingforfun: I spent the first two years at a training camp; one year trining and one year working on various forms of communications. Two years in Germany where I say we practiced running away from the Russians but the top brass called it 'tactical fighting retreat whilst building up resources for a counter-offensive'. Then two years back in the UK working in another training establishment. All-in-all a great time, and I came away with a heck of a lot of 'stories' to entertain civvy friends with.

[Rolebama]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

The US police have MUCH better squad cars than the UK....😀

I take it you have seen this, @NMNeil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yy4QXJqFmE

I remember reading a story some years ago where Berlin police bought a bunch of American muscle cars to deal with what was then the hot hatch menace where young men would race around Berlin. They used the muscle cars to literally ram them off the road. Problem solved within a fortnight.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Drivingforfun: I spent the first two years at a training camp; one year trining and one year working on various forms of communications. Two years in Germany where I say we practiced running away from the Russians but the top brass called it 'tactical fighting retreat whilst building up resources for a counter-offensive'. Then two years back in the UK working in another training establishment. All-in-all a great time, and I came away with a heck of a lot of 'stories' to entertain civvy friends with.

Sounds a bit like my Dad's experience in France in 1940!

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Marc

Now that is cool 🤩 It's a Mustang???

Dodge Charger.

But mine had the cage between the front and back seats and the shotgun and AR-15 rack between the front seats, as well as the light bar and other odds and sods.

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

The US police have MUCH better squad cars than the UK....😀

I take it you have seen this, @NMNeil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yy4QXJqFmE

I have, and I think it's great, but also sad as they are having a terrible time recruiting.
So if any forum members want a job 😁

[Santa]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Just of curiosity, for fun. What do people do (or used to do) for a living?

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school although I did have a fairly good education.

After trying several jobs from selling ice cream to selling encyclopedias door to door, I drifted into driving lorries in London. I had a spell as a bar/cellarman in a big pub and then back to driving. The company I worked for moved to Birmingham and I went with it and eventually became Transport and Logistics Manager.

After redundancy, I had a couple of management jobs and then went to work for the NHS as a Transport Manager. Ten years later, redundant again, I went back to lorry driving until retirement.