Life On and Off an Acreage

In-sights into moving from an Acreage back to Town, plus a few things I find of interest.

Two things that horses are scared about:


1. Things that move
2. Things that don't move




Old enough to be eccentric, but not rich enough

April 13, 2010

I'm Still Around!

One of the great things about being retired (or Semi-retired) is that you can pick and choose what jobs that you would like to get involved with. I have done building maintenance (heating and ventilation), shed building, farrier work, handyman projects from carpentry to brick work to hardwood floor laying. Each is fun in it's own right.

Each new venture is like starting over again, and getting paid good money to do so. It keeps the horses in hay, so to speak. My dad, many years ago, said " Son, you can learn anything that you put your mind to. If you need knowledge, buy a book. If you need tools, buy them. Both will be with you for a long time". Good advice!

Fortunately, the good Lord gave me the ability to learn, and apply that learning. For many years, I did not give him the credit that He is due.

Being a welder's helper for a couple of weeks, gives me further appreciation for those folks that can "glue" steel together, and what a day in the life of a welder is like. Bevelling  3/8 th inch steel plate, slinging it up 3 stories and wrestling the 4x8 foot plate around the scaffolding, then dogging it and hoisting it into place is quite a challenge. I also found a few muscles that I kind of forgot I had. They have been complaining a little.

The shift is 10 hours on, with a further 2 hours travel time at the going rate. No days off until the tank is reclad, hopefully within 10 days, but possibly more. On the road at 5:30 am, tail gate meeting at 7:00, and shift over at 5:30 pm, with an hour"s travel time back to Whitecourt. We do get a lunch and 2 coffee breaks. However, when the boss moves, so do we.

It is a different mentality than what I am used to. How a welder can weld hour after hour is beyond me! Inside a tank, breathing welding vapour and chewing grit from the walls. Quite a lifestyle, and a necessary one. For the next little while there will be two shifts of welders  with 4 welders per shift. The tank has put Canada's only complete hazardous waste elimination plant down!
It's also quite a learning experience for me!

OK, off to a hot tub, shower and ice pack on the back and then bed. Elaine is being real good about looking after the animals while I am out playing! I figure on being very selective after this job, and who knows, something different may come up!

Fun!
Posted by Picasa

9 comments:

  1. Glad to see you back. Sure sounds like some hard work. Don't over do it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MY Hubby is a welder,he loves working with metal! He has many skills as he believes you should learn everything in life you possible can! At this stage,middle age, he can do just about everything"manly" from plumbing to fixing oil rigs! I never get new appliances ,he fixes everything,which is a good thing ...but sometimes I get tired of that 20 year old washer and dryer,lol!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh gosh Ian, it sounds like such hard work!!! I'm glad your enjoying this 'season' though. Its good for the soul!
    Was good to see you posted!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I saw a sign on the back of a Ute(small truck) the other day, it read, "You can tell the boys from the men by the size of their toys." so true... My hubby loves to weld and used to teach it in TN. Now he potters fixing things everyday. We all need an interest it keeps us young. I love that bible verse, "Without a vision the people perish." Proberbs 29:18.... so true!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Think about it...man bending steel with fire. It doesn't get any better than that.
    Ian, I know you're a modest man so I'll just say this once (no promises)...I'm glad to have known you, brother. Your God fearing, hard working, a family man and I believe a man after God's own heart. We must look each other up at the Big House someday.
    Also...You leave the best comments I've ever recieved on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Ian, I'm covnitkepr1's other half. I see that the two of you follow each other. I'm kinda new to this bloggin thing, but Stan said you'd be a good blog to start following, so you now have a new follower.
    Bending steel with fire huh? sounds like Tim Allen on the Tool Time sitcom.lol.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Ian, take a good rest and bless you wonderful wife. Don't take to much hay on your stick friend.
    Hugs Dagmar
    oh ps I collected your award (sorry it took me so long to bragg about it). ;-) I didn't forget though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ah yes, the joy of focus, balance and discovery
    well done
    gp

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, I hopped over from Analisa's blog. I love the pics of your horses. (I was one of those horse-lovers as a girl, but never had one.) Man, what you're working now, sounds hard. I'll be back, love your word-gems. Blessings

    ReplyDelete

I hope that you enjoy the visit, and please feel free to comment. I appreciate all comments unless they are derogatory, racist or in bad taste.