[Ian101]

Yesterday whilst working in the snow and -1 temp I suddenly had a realisation that I am no longer a newbie 

Was up a ladder tradding as my hosereel had frozen at the time and as I was admiring the snow that lay all deep, crisp and even suddenly felt I was now a "proper" window cleaner ... sort of a moment of realisation / good karma (Tosh will understand the last bit).

December has been a stressful  (but enjoyable) time for following reasons;

Working way thru a load of new customers (recently bought a big WFP round)
Converting my existing trad customers to WFP
Took on a young lad
Learning to WFP properly
Setting up my booster pump and IBC static
Fixing leaks
Fixing / adjusting things on the wfp system (all new to me)
Working in below freezing tempertures
Keeping van warm at night
Realising you need a good selection of spares - realised this after things broke and didnt have a good selection of spares 

Never felt like quitting though as soon be thru Jan and the worse of the weather (hopefully) and now system seems to be all ok and now have a little knowledge and a lot of spares I can see a good and succesful 2011 just around the corner.

This forum has been great for knowledge, having a laugh at end of stressful day and making a few mates as well.

Photo of my day Friday (van in wrong name as no time to organise signwriter)

[JoeMax]

Congrats Ian, onwards and upwards!

Be careful on that ladder.

[Ian101]

Cheers Joe ... not ideal but used the ladder mat that u see in the photo stopping the van from sliding down the hill 

Once warm weather here will be 100% wfp .... and taking next dec / early jan off 

[bobby p]

it is good to hear its a go-er .    no chance of u "standing in" back at that dealership now !

[leights]

well done lad, nothing like being on top is there

[Ian101]

it is good to hear its a go-er .    no chance of u "standing in" back at that dealership now !

long distant memory now thankfully .... cheers bobby u gave me good advice ref concentrating on my own business which I took and blew the car dealership out ..... still do their windows though 

[Ian101]

well done lad, nothing like being on top is there

looking foward to 2011 !!

[jonboywalton75]

Hi Ian, is that u i saw the other week on Longsfellow ave, on St Davids Park?

[LWC]

Your still a newbie until youve made at least 4000 posts on here

[Richard Neal]

Good for you Mate, i remember when i realised that this is my little empire now!

[Perfect Windows]

Realising you need a good selection of spares - realised this after things broke and didnt have a good selection of spares 

I have a spare of every component bar the water tank on my van and a full toolkit. ( http://www.screwfix.com/prods/67485/Hand-Tools/Tool-Storage/Tool-Bags/Forge-Steel-Tool-Kit-23Pcs ).  Add on circlip pincers and some duct (gaffer) and electrical tape and you're away.

The toolkit costs much less than even one fault where you have to drive home to fix. As for the spares kit, you're going to have to buy pretty much the lot at some point in the future, might as well do it now rather than later.

And well done on reaching the point you've reached.  I'm leaving it to my first anniversary clean...

Vin

[mikecam]

Good on ya Ian, it certainley is proving to be a tough December alright!!

[Ian101]

Realising you need a good selection of spares - realised this after things broke and didnt have a good selection of spares 

I have a spare of every component bar the water tank on my van and a full toolkit.

Vin

getting there spare taps, hose tails, connectors, clips, barbs, elbows but getting other stuff sorted

[Ian101]

Hi Ian, is that u i saw the other week on Longsfellow ave, on St Davids Park?

no that be the real Crystal Clear ...im in disguise till feb / march so the customers I bought off the real crystal clear dont realise that its me cleaning their windows so after a few visits they will know me and not even notice the name change that much ... saves messing with handover letters ... bank ok taking cheques in "wrong" name for a few months too.

[Ian101]

Good on ya Ian, it certainley is proving to be a tough December alright!!

is every December like this then ? 

[jonboywalton75]

I,m sure i,ll see the real YOU around sometime

Hi Ian, is that u i saw the other week on Longsfellow ave, on St Davids Park?

no that be the real Crystal Clear ...im in disguise till feb / march so the customers I bought off the real crystal clear dont realise that its me cleaning their windows so after a few visits they will know me and not even notice the name change that much ... saves messing with handover letters ... bank ok taking cheques in "wrong" name for a few months too.

[Alex Allen]

Realising you need a good selection of spares - realised this after things broke and didnt have a good selection of spares 

I have a spare of every component bar the water tank on my van and a full toolkit. ( http://www.screwfix.com/prods/67485/Hand-Tools/Tool-Storage/Tool-Bags/Forge-Steel-Tool-Kit-23Pcs ).  Add on circlip pincers and some duct (gaffer) and electrical tape and you're away.

The toolkit costs much less than even one fault where you have to drive home to fix. As for the spares kit, you're going to have to buy pretty much the lot at some point in the future, might as well do it now rather than later.

And well done on reaching the point you've reached.  I'm leaving it to my first anniversary clean...

Vin

thats normal if your just starting out
when you get more experience
you wont need to carry all that

[Perfect Windows]

thats normal if your just starting out
when you get more experience
you wont need to carry all that

I'm interested as to what out of a spare of every connector and clip along with a decent toolkit I will drop with experience...  I guess you're saying there are items which will never fail.  What are they?

Also, as I now own a full set of spares, all I'll be doing from now is to replace anything I use.  By definition, those will be bits that have failed, so I can't skip buying them.

I'm, perplexed as to what you mean.

Vin

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

ian lad never viewed you
as a newbie m8 just another
windy i get on with m8 one of our gang
not many in it to b honest , but ian my m8
yr of the breed we like a honest hard working friendlyguy
dont like u having the rainbow pub m8 

[Ian101]

dont like u having the rainbow pub m8 

do it under cover of darkness now as I appreciate its on "YOUR PATCH"