[richard connett]

Thanks chaps some good advice here
I take glucosamine , cod liver oil and msm but might up the msm dosage. I’ll get one of those ball things too and add it to the array of other things I have !!
I think there’s got to be a more comfortable grip for our poles and having an oval would help a bit. Shame nobody’s marketed something to add to the poles yet. Some sort of soft gel handle . I use Slx atm but probably need to bite the bullet and go extreme 18 for 80% of my work.  I’ll check out the ova though and compare weight
Could be just strained so will join the waiting list to see a doctor !!
Thanks everybody and remember to look after yourselves!

[zesty]

Zesty what equipment/method do you use to clean f/s/g out of interest?

Thanks

I just softwash them with the usual gear, a rolltek machine from Rutland pumps.

On small jobs you can use a backpack sprayer though…

[NWH]

It’s written in the stars m8 Arthritis is a degenerative problem Cods sweat 😓 won’t replace missing cartilage,once it’s gone it’s gone.
Best way to get rid of aches and pains is to get someone to do 60-70% of the work when working as a pair lol  along with electric reels and the lightest most expensive poles and hot water,scrubbing massively reduced when using hot water much easier on the body you are dusting windows not heavy mopping em 👍.

[zesty]

Thanks chaps some good advice here
I take glucosamine , cod liver oil and msm but might up the msm dosage. I’ll get one of those ball things too and add it to the array of other things I have !!
I think there’s got to be a more comfortable grip for our poles and having an oval would help a bit. Shame nobody’s marketed something to add to the poles yet. Some sort of soft gel handle . I use Slx atm but probably need to bite the bullet and go extreme 18 for 80% of my work.  I’ll check out the ova though and compare weight
Could be just strained so will join the waiting list to see a doctor !!
Thanks everybody and remember to look after yourselves!

I often think some sort of handles would be good for WFP poles, no one has come out with anything decent yet.

The Gardiner control bars are only for 47 plus poles and they are way too fat anyway.

[dazmond]

Daz I’m in the gym 4 times a week. Cardio and weights
Im a ex chef and eat fresh food and know how to cook properly
Im not overweight
I work 5/6 hours per day . 4 weeks on 2 weeks off (almost)
I love this job and want to keep doing it for as long as possible
Maybe arthritis is a weakness for me personally

Sorry Richard I was replying to Bungles post about being exhausted and wanting to pack window cleaning in.....

IME it's usually down to being run down,not enough sleep,poor food choices,working too many hours and drinking and smoking

[colin bird]

hi not sure how old you are,i started window cleaning 15 years ago all work wfd i was as fit as a fxxk now 62 fxs my body now aches ,struggle to pick my hose up off the floor,aching hands, back, knees, (some of it is from playing football back in the day over the last 15 years it has slowly got worse,i now feel the cold more than ever,as much as i hate to say it for me im just getting old !! i never thought it would happen to me ! all you young guys crack on ! but unless your very lucky you time will come ! on a posotive not the suns shining game on !

[Slacky]

It's called w@nkers cramp. Do a Google search on it.

NWH has had it for years.

[richard connett]

Main thing is Colin you’re still going and earning money.  Must still be the better option than working for somebody else on paye. I hope to be finished or nearly finished by the time I hit 62 . By that time I’ll have amassed enough money and will retire to my yacht !

[NWH]

Yeah work your whole life wherever you walk and look you keep seeing that big number 65 printed on walls everywhere,they didn’t make the retiring age 65 for nothing it’s all worked out.
Unless you can retire at 50-55 I wouldn’t get over excited about retirement once 65-70 comes you’ll be lucky if you don’t need a bungalow coz you’ve had enough of the stairs,spend it before you’re kids do in a generation and a half no one will have known you were ever here unless they look in an ancient photo album 🤣🤣.

[dd]

It's called w@nkers cramp. Do a Google search on it.

NWH has had it for years.

I think it also affects his ability to use a keyboard. I like to think there is a logical reason as to why he posts such vast amounts of inane nonsensical drivel.

[NWH]

Retirement not worth the paper it’s written on if the age is set at 65 that’s telling you it should probably be set at 50-55,don’t be a 🐑 sheep like the majority of the country  spend it or have a few days off if Arthritis is giving you grief in the colder weather.
It’s just so sad when I hear people say only 10 years and I can pack up work etc,what a waste of life.

[windowswashed]

Retirement age is 67 rising to 68. Government wants to raise it to 70. I am semi retired at 57 now mortgage is paid. Life is for living a happy balance of work, rest and play, enjoy it whilst your young and can because at 68 you won't be able do what you can easily do now!

[Stoots]

You may as well spend it all whilst you can they'll only take it all off you when you get ill.

My grandma had a stroke about 10 years ago now. She had followed the traditional path in regards to a having a fully paid for house and a fair few grand in savings. They sold her 200k+ house to pay for her care that is as soon as her savings ran out...Inheritance gone, all them years of work gone in a flash.

Be a dosser on the dole and it's all paid for 

[NWH]

⬆️ I’ve seen it so many times and it’s happening on an hourly basis to people,it’s set at a certain age for a reason 51 years in paying income Tax and NI contributions oh it’s so exciting the thought of retiring and being worse off than when I was working 😂,

[robbo333]

If you have that level of problem with your hand then, get yourself to the docs and on to a specialist as soon as poss.

From then on, I would ditch the SLX and focus on making your life EASIER and less strenuous, it will really help:
Xtreme poles and brushes, electric reel, use 30m of reinforced pole hose on your reel, ditch the jobs that cause the most strain (cleaning over large connys) etc. It will cost you a bit to get set up, but in the long term you'll be far better off. Nice little easy houses, or better still bungalows, in and out with no stress.

Unfortunately as you get older (I'm 59) things start to ache a bit. I'm in fairly good nick but since covid I haven't exercised, so I would recommend some form of exercise; choose something you enjoy doing. I did boxing a while back (my son in law wanted to go, but not on his own) so idiot here went with him. It was actually really good exercise, both physically and mentally, but he got fed up with it so I eventually stopped too.  I am looking to start some form of exercise again, I quite fancy pilates or Krav Maga.

As for retiring, it's unfortunate there are a few negative comments; but I actually think there is some truth to them. If I had my life again, I would aim to retire at 60, or earlier. I would plan in my early 20s to get a good pension (they're not brilliant but they are tax efficient) and I would definitely invest in property, especially with the onset of Airbnb. If my crypto comes in Rodney, this time next year we'll be millionaires! 

[richard connett]

I’m not waiting around to retire . I love my lifestyle and want to carry, on that’s the point . The yacht comment was meant as a joke
Nwh , you need to use a comma here and there . Would make it much easier to understand you

[NWH]

The boat was a joke I would have never known lol.

[richard connett]

Definitely gonna try and make my life easier though in future . Work smarter and all that

[NWH]

Yeah don’t blame you honestly waste of time running round like a fool trying to catch up all the time,one thing I have learnt is that loyalty in this job at times can seem as obtainable as a Unicorn 🦄 being ridden by Lord Lucan.

[colin bird]

Main thing is Colin you’re still going and earning money.  Must still be the better option than working for somebody else on paye. I hope to be finished or nearly finished by the time I hit 62 . By that time I’ll have amassed enough money and will retire to my yacht !

yes im still earning money,im also in quite a good financial  position,mortgage paid off,i have a private pension and also investments.
when its come to retiring its quite scary how much money you will need, to be able to have a similar standard of living.
ie a pot of 500k will give you an income of £1000 a week for ten years.
for me personally i will need to downsize my house to release some money to top up my pension and ivestmens,to enable me to have a similar lifestyle to what i have now. (if i want to fully retire )
a lot of the downturn in pensions pots and investements over the last few years is due to brexit,covid and a power crazy russian