The only thing thats real...

What do you do for a living?

 

I started my trade straight from school at 16 as an apprentice draughtsman and from there into design. This started in the steelwork industry and then onto timber engineering.

I now work as the commercial estimator for one branch of a timber engineering firm, producing roof designs and quotations which I then try to secure as orders, once that is achieved the files are passed on for others to produce approval drawings and production. I travel to Dorchester for Wed/Thu and work from home the other 3 days of the week.

Tried to upload a drawing but to no avail, never mind.

 

Terribly sorry, I'm sure the reallity of it was't funny but the way you've phrased this tickled me pink dapablo!!! Where is the ROFL emoticon when I need it??

Hullo and welcome to the Karma Kafe and the forum in general!!

I also LOVE dancing, don't do it enough though!!! :nopity:

 

If you weren't living in Cornwall, where else would you want to be?

 

Me too, fell out of my mouth a few months back in conversation with another, afterwards I thought that was worth remembering.

Hello back at ya.

Next time I do I'll think of you.

 

S'funny with such basic contentedness, perceiving an environment elsewhere that was worth inhabiting is quite tricky. Sure a bit more sunniness might be apprecited, but not too much, what else is required more than I have got. It might be interesting to have wealth to transport a family around the world for visits, but I believe it healthy for children to grow in an caring environment so a stable home is required somewhere. Nothing perceived greener elsewhere for me to fulfill that duty.

When they have reached maturity or left home, not necessarily one and the same thing, my horizons might broaden but I don't have a need to fly, unsure of the concept as a reality I would wish to consider.

 

Been abroad much?

 

You've switched your brain into auto-pilot haven't you ?

Little jaunts to Germany, France and Ireland is about it. The further reaches of the globe always seemed a bit like overindulgence, considered briefly but quickly discarded.

 

Auto pilot, why? And why an over indulgence to go to the further reaches? Some amazing places out there that you should see before you die....

 

Really enjoying this thread----dapablo,is there a timber industry there?With lumberjacks and such?

 

Have you never flown?

 

I was raised in a working class, council estate environment, the only people able to jaunt about the planet were those with cash to burn, the stigma still remains.

I am aware that this does limit me in the ability to observe strange and beautiful places and peoples, but lingers nonetheless.

And whats all this killing me off already, bleeding cheek ?

 

Funny people ain't they.

All our timber is imported from Scandanavia, and nowadays all with full chain of custody paperwork to ensure that it comes from renewable plantations.

There is some Pine forestation around this country but that I believe may be more to do with the paper industry, apparently better structural timber grows abroad, something to do with the climate I imagine, these are harvested by big machines, no-one does any climbing that I've seen.

You can see some of the old skills still being used and taught but mainly as a sideshow at Count fairs.

 

This I have done twice. The first time was with my Secondary school when involved in an exchange experience. I flew out to Germany and back. I don't remember much about the flight though I have some nice memories about the visit.

The second time was say, blimey, 20 years ago on a work related trip to Edingburgh, why do I keep telling people I've never been to Scotland, thats just reminded me that I have.

 

To go back a few pages, something caught my eye...

Have you looked into the possibility of Aspergers? I think the whole Aspergers / autism spectrum is so wide that many of us would say we are
somewhere on the scale. I've always had real trouble with these things too, but it's possible to compensate and live a fairly normal life. Only in quite extreme cases usually involving developmental brain damage does it really cause problems with learning difficulties and living a full life.

What is your opinion on the diagnosis of such things as this as mental illness? The human race has always been this way, with a wide variety of different personality types. Do you think it can be helpful or is it problematic to diagnose these aspects of personality as a "disorder"?

Have you ever suffered from any mental illness?

 

The thought had crossed my mind after reading about other peoples difficulties, though to diagnose feels somewhat hypocondriatic. With the fantastic range of personality that mankind can enjoy there are bound to be some that don't fit comfortably with the majority, law of averages I suppose. I don't believe my life could be classed as problematic, maybe a little peculiar.

Those on the edge tend to be the thinkers, tend to be the holy men rather than the warrior, perhaps a place for all in a healthy society. To classify those that may have an autistic measurement as unhealthy I believe would be damaging because as far as I'm aware other than drug therapy there's not anything particular one can do about it. More general awareness would be good to assist those that feel alone and unsure about their reality might be beneficial though.

Never felt mentaly ill, nor ever been suggested I was, so probably not. Sadness for lengthy periods twice but wouldn't say I was ill sure it's perfectly natural, grin and bear and wait the time.

 

How do you deal with those hard times, and what's your best meathod for stress-busting?

 

I've always kept it internalised which isn't the best way to deal with stressful occaisions, will keep a smile on my face and hope the world smiles with me.

I reckon my guitar and voice are my best method of stress busting, either with a sad song or an angry one.

 

I agree, I find music to be my best outlet of stress, which explains why I play so much...

When did you start playing guitar? Do you think you have a good voice?

 

No real music in my childhood, apart from a vague memory as a boy about a cousin playing a guitar, he disapeared for many a year, but the seed was planted with him. Didn't do anything about it till the breakup of my first marriage, seemed like something to occupy myself with, I would of been about 27. Purchased a Billy Bragg and Folk songbook and tried the 3 chord bash. Lived much of my life then on the street so learned to play in the park or the street corner, occaisionaly with a cap in front.

Singing songs has been something I've always done, even in my places of work, never been much appreciated though, I can be a bit flat. It's never stopped me though and as I've got older and don't need to be so sweet my singing has improved. I rarely sing the hits though, too many people want to hear those songs as they remember them, and I can't sing that good.