[mikeyfaerosyth]

I was having a right moan about this yesterday,pain everyday.

Shoulders,back,neck,knees,even feet,and I dont mean a bit sore its real pain,been like this couple years,

woke up about 5 this morning in agony muscle in groin, was fine yesterday,its ok now so see what happens tomorrow.

[colin bird]

I am 48 and pretty fit. Some days are harder than others. My advice is pace yourself, work briskly but not 100 mph, take thirty minutes for lunch.
If your diet is good and your getting plenty of sleep you are doing all the right things. Also, avoid burn out. By that I mean plan and take breaks from work.

hi yes having a break is something I've not done but yes I agree,I will be looking to do that and take some snacks for energy,thanks for the advice

[colin bird]

My upper shoulders do  feel it at night and I am 65 in 9 months. Its my second childhood.

fair play to you mate

[C o z y]

Just turned 56 in January, and trad. Been going for about 23 years on and off. I work about 3 hours on the glass about 12 to 14 working days a month. Feel fine. I eat well, and exercise 5 days a week. May feel the odd twinge in the left knee for a few minutes some mornings on the first house.
Want to get off the glass and develop our carpet cleaning biz.

[colin bird]

I'm 52 this year.
Both knees and back done in from the army, every day is a chore... but now i know I'm not alone!  

Pace yourself do what you can (more importantly what you need to do!) and enjoy your life, your children, your grand children.

Meeting your wife for an impromptu cup of coffee during the day!

Simply pleasures!
My neighbour died 7 (seven) days after retirement... I'm not going to retire!

I too now feel good I'm not alone,yes I agree with you about enjoying my wife and kids , I love them all dearly,just wish the wife was dirty lol,thanks for your reply mate

[colin bird]

I'm 50 and feel the same, there are days when I come home feeling as if Iv
had a kicking.
WFP for about 7 years and feeling the strain I think the first 4 years using crap poles
did most of the damage.

do you want to fall a sleep at 8.30 pm ? I do,I'm in bed before my kids aged 9 and 14

[colin bird]

What pole are you using?
Get the lightest one available, I'm now 48 been wfp for 5 years

im using a clx to be honest I don't find it that heavy,I think it's the hose reel in and out of the van,don't want to work with doors open as be robbed a while ago

[PoleKing]

if any of you old duffers are gonna die anytime soon. Can i get first dibs on your work please?

No problem, if you don't mind moving to Ireland!

John

What bit?
I lived in Ireland when I was a kid (my dad is a spud kicker) in Wexford.

[colin bird]

I will be 52 in a few weeks time. I'm an old school traddie, and I had always prided myself on the fact that although I take regular exercise I have always been reasonably fit. These days though I wake up in the morning as stiff as a board!

Once I am out working though, the joints ease up and I can keep going all day without any problems.

John

   

yes mate I agree once I'm up and running I'm okay,but just hate feeling knackered at 3 oc as I feel I'm only working part time,but my body is telling me to stop,I find it so frustrating

[Devonbubbles]

Try having a recovery drink once you have finished your round for goodness shakes are good especially the chocolate ones. It works for me

[colin bird]

Just turned 56 in January, and trad. Been going for about 23 years on and off. I work about 3 hours on the glass about 12 to 14 working days a month. Feel fine. I eat well, and exercise 5 days a week. May feel the odd twinge in the left knee for a few minutes some mornings on the first house.
Want to get off the glass and develop our carpet cleaning biz.

hi mate I'm on the glass 5 to 6 hours a day,prior to wfd I was carpet cleaning from 2003 to 2008 then the carpet cleaning dried up,I had some good contracts,but when they dried up,I found I was unable to replace them,that could be either I was crap at carpet cleaning or no good at marketing to gain new work,but good luck to you as carpet cleaning can be undertaken in all weathers,and day and night,
The plus side for window cleaning is it's easier and cheaper to find new customers,also if you loose one it's no big deal.
Regarding carpet cleaning if you loose a good contract it can be a bit hit,as I have found out.
Thanks for your reply,good luck on the carpet

[colin bird]

Try having a recovery drink once you have finished your round for goodness shakes are good especially the chocolate ones. It works for me

thanks for your reply,when you say recovery drink,is that an energy drink ?
I'm always watching what my intake is,as I carry a few extra pounds,I'm not a fat minter,but could be .

[Simon Mess]

As a relative youngster of 42, i don't feel too bad physically, but up till i stopped using a 30' elite hybrid as my only 'upstairs' pole, i was getting some pain in the shoulders. I mainly use a gardiners clx 18' now, and, touchwood, the pain has stopped!.

My main gripe is sleep, or lack of. I have suffered from insomnia for a long time now, the severity of which can vary, but there are very few days which i am not knackered and have enormous black bags under my eyes

[colin bird]

As a relative youngster of 42, i don't feel too bad physically, but up till i stopped using a 30' elite hybrid as my only 'upstairs' pole, i was getting some pain in the shoulders. I mainly use a gardiners clx 18' now, and, touchwood, the pain has stopped!.

My main gripe is sleep, or lack of. I have suffered from insomnia for a long time now, the severity of which can vary, but there are very few days which i am not knackered and have enormous black bags under my eyes

I feel for you I've had insomnia in the past,up at 2am till 6 am then back to bed and can't get up at 6.45 to go to work. I truly know how you feel you have to have had it to understand what it's like,luckily for me it has not troubled me in a while,but I never say never, good luck

[roundbuilder]

Colin, why not find a young lad and have him part time, get him doing the work and whilst he is doing the work you can simply sit in van or do what i do and canvass surrounding roads and houses to the area your working. Before long you could have your part timer full time, even if its with you in the van too whilst he does all the graft.. Joys of being the boss..

Defo use the lightest pole available too, i use the slx25 all day as my pole and do still feel knackared after a days work so am contemplating getting the slx 18 as its as light as a feather and will have me working faster and be getting home quicker than using my 25 footer!!.
Also as dazmond said, have a 4 day working week(more time to rest and do a few hobbies and get out doing different things).
Im sure you will be fine and still be going for another 10/15 years with the aches and pains lol...all the best me old fruit.

[S.W. Window Cleaning]

Hi Guys,
Im 55 and just starting out as a window cleaner. Getting my system fitted in 10 days time. Im getting a slx 18 & 28 poles. I suffer with a bad back & a bad neck so just the job for me!!  Looking forward to it though. Will keep you posted on the pains
Steve

[paul ette]

Jeez I'm 31 and I'm feeling it ache like hell and click like hell, what will I feel like when I'm 50

[bobplum]

Sorry mate i cant help, as im still a youngster at nearly 47
But
Bobplum should be along soon to help you out, cause he's knocking on a bit  

ccoooeeee

totally agree, knackered at the end of a week.im 52, thou people do say i look a lot younger god bless them
Because of this i am in the process of hiring a part timer

I FEEL YOUR PAIN

[PoleKing]

Jeez I'm 31 and I'm feeling it ache like hell and click like hell, what will I feel like when I'm 50

You'll be well dead by then.
Might as well give me your round now and go back to working in the office. It'll be boring but you'll live for ages and ages. 

[james stanley]

I am 32 and work really hard on the wfp 5 days a week, I  am young but still have an aching shoulder most of the time . The tips I have found that help are .......
1) take time for hot drinks during the day
2) drink plenty of water
3) eat and sleep well.
4) use extreme or slx poles with extreme brushes
5) don't rush or overstrain
6) go for the occasional massage by a good therapist
7) use a gym to build good upper body strength

All these things I find worthwhile ....