Where I work

[pigletwillie]

Some of you know that I work in a granite quarry so today I took a few pictures that give look through a very small window of my workplace and what I do.

I work as an electrician, not an instalation electrician who might put in asocket for you, although thats where I started out but a quarry maintenance electrician, a totally different beast. I am part of a team of six and we work continental shifts, 12 hours on, 12 off, 4 days on, 4 off, rotating days and nights.

The quarry produces nearly 5 million tons of finished product from washed chippings to tarmac, rail ballast to dust, thats nearly 30000 ton a day.

Here are some pictures.

[jeannine]

I think continental shifts sound fantastic - are they as good as they sound as is that how you get time to have 3 allotments?

[pigletwillie]

Its a long day when working but as I only work about 135 days a year I find continental shifts an absolute dream.

[smallblueplanet]

I think 12 hour shifts of physical work sound a nightmare, not a dream, but I guess you're used to them PW?

[jeannine]

When we've been working on launching a new magazine we've worked a few 12 hour shifts and have to say I've enjoyed the chance to get totally involved in that day's work.

But I guess different routines appeal to different people and we all have our own preferences. I do wish we had more opportunity to choose in the UK though. Working 135 days a year sounds like heaven to me!!!

[Snadger]

I am on call 24Hrs a day 365 days a year! It's called being a resident!

PS 366 days............forgot it's a leap year!

[Grandpadragon]

I like my shifts, 365/24 doing what I like when I like. This retirement gets better every year

[JennieAtkinson]

I am on call 24Hrs a day 365 days a year! It's called being a resident!

PS 366 days............forgot it's a leap year!

Me too, coz I'm a wife and mother!

[Snadger]

thank you for the 'small picture' PLW, I found it really interesting

Jeannine - I worked in the print trade* in the 80's & 90's - 10 to 12 hours days were normal on press day (coffee on tap), 14 hour days were normal when special publications were going to press ..........sigh.......how I miss it

*newspapers then moved into commercial press i.e mags


Of? ..................

Be right up your street piskie..........this is the view from my living room window over 43 acres/16 Hectare of green desert!

[Snadger]

Me too, coz I'm a wife and mother!

I asked for that didn't I?

[TonyF]

I like my shifts, 365/24 doing what I like when I like. This retirement gets better every year

It's dreadful Grandpadragon, but some of us have to do it. Permenantly on call for gardening, lunch, aperos in the evening, have a day off when we want one, time to sit and mull over the pressures of life, shake our heads wisely at the folly of youth. I know just how awful it can be.

But after 40 years plus of work, including far too long working shifts and my final job at B&Q working 12 hour night shifts, looking back it was all great fun but enough is enough thank you.

[shirlthegirl43]

My dad deals in dumptrucks that would be fine in your quarry Piglet

[Snadger]

My dad deals in dumptrucks that would be fine in your quarry Piglet

Thats some Tonka toy shirl!

[shirlthegirl43]

Thats some Tonka toy shirl!

LOL, I would love to drive one of those - or Piglet's Caterpillar shovel loader. Strange lass aren't I

[Two_Sheds]

I want a big truck like that Shovel Loader, and I'd park it right outside the Nasty Kebab Shop and honk the horn when THEY are trying to sleep, like their customers do to us until 3am every morning.