Just been doing some detailing.

And a few sentences earlier:

Worth a shot at sticking an ad in the loot / Guardian / M.E.N. and seeing if a mobile valeter can bring in some cash? Although you might want to keep your spangle off other people's cars.

There was always a few knocking about at Exchange Quays when I worked there.

Got to be worth giving it a go until something else turns up.

this country is pants for finding work. my cousin's new wife left a good job in florida (which she bagged before her 2 degrees was done!) and they said they'd promote her when she got the degrees but she (for some VERY odd reason) wanted to leave sunny daytona for... wickford essex? not quite the same. anyway 6 months on and countless interviews she's had nothing! my cousin (who's not qualified in anything but sarcy comments it seems' found it hard even to get a casual job. he just applies for anything and still takes months!

i was made unemployed more times than any of my older relatives in just a few years when iu started going out to work.

nowdays i just want some manager experience at work and i'll piss off to the US i think. by then this goverment probably will have outlawed the evil car!

rant over :)

I have thought about valeting as a business. But I don't know if I'm good enough. I'm happy the finish, but I don't know if anyone would be willing to pay for it. I know in a lot of cases it is because they can't be bothered to do it, but it still needs to look good. Would still need to think about a van to carry stuff, and either a generator or a decent 12 steam cleaner, hoover and jet wash. of course a good water supply is needed.

yeah, and over on Sandpiper Quay it would be my boss making use of the service.

I know that feeling. Just seems to be the case these days.

When I was younger I pretty much chopped and changed whenever I wanted.

Yeah, I'm considering going back to uni to do a physics or maths degree

- the only people I know who are walking into jobs that pay a living wage have one of those two degrees. My mate has just moved back to Canada (Edmonton) and started looking for a job last week. He's had 4 offers and took the best one today.

Not a bad idea - I fancy Nevada or California in the States. First choice would be Vancouver BC though.

i'd like daytona florida but only cos i know people there since going there last june.

California has the weather but not, at the moment, the economic climate.

florida seems ok employment wise but i wonder if i could take the summer heat!

Im older than you guys. I used to work for others. I then decided I was stupid. Before you read this summary remember I was simply playing and getting paid for it.

I have to say that being self employed works SO MUCH better in every way.

For a start you dont have a job! You wanna work? You dont have to. Or ever worry about one. (job/boss) And every toy/computer/car/etc you buy including the fuel is a good thing if you relate it to your business. Because its free - the taxman takes the load. First I used to work (hard) as an aprentice deisel fitter on big trucks. Then as plumber (time served). For someone else. (My dad actually with absolutely no advantages and much of the opposite!)

Then I decided the world needed nitrous. It still does! I started making complete systems for many 80s and 90s drag racers and road goers... As I learned more and built many turbo setups/nitrous setups,V8 car conversions, and far more stuff over this 20 years or so, I decided I and the world needed a needed a GOOD dyno almost as much as I did. I spent 3 years designing and building a better dynamic computerised dyno system including the software. You cannot do it faster properly.. Then the almost only available system was dynojet and ok but stupidly expensive. And so was now designing building, fitting nitrous systems, and the same with dynos and customers drag bike motors, unique turbo systems and all... As well as tuning the f*ck out of a multitude of ott vehicles including drag cars/bikes both mine and customers! All of this time I was earning excellent money, having loads of fun, and tax deducting cars, computers, bikes, and god knows what else quite legitimately.. Just as my dyno systems were taking hold in the world (no real competition other than dynojet - which are pretty good by the way - the rest are not) And working for magazines etc, As a sub contractor I had an accident in 97 that left me paralysed from the chest down.. Shit happens.

So now I live easily on the results.

Get a job if you want. But you are making someone else rich. It makes you a slave. Car valeting is one thing but you are selling labour.(wanna do mine?) so very limited. but an internet based sales thing, or a online shop selling a nich item, or whatever has no time/hours of work limit.

Burgerman

Do be fair though, valeting has a chance. There are a LOT of lazy and time conscious people out there who will pay for it, even better if you can go to them. The Octavia boot will take it all in easy. Do it, don't look back. You can do mine any day - I'll even tip heh :-)

I went to Vegas in July. I'm from the freezing North. I'm not dead - you could take it.

(it was 50c at the bottom of the Canyon)

Canada has always interested me. It has it nice hot sunny bits in Summer, as well as it's proper winters.

Problem for me is, while I have 10 years experience in what I do, I have no qualifications in what I do, so I would need to go and do another degree just to get in, and then hope there was a web developer shortage in Canada.

Hence the name? :)

i've not driven through Death Valley, my Da' did. He told me all about the warning signs.

Heh, possibly. Was very wierd. You don't get sweaty there, 'cos it evaporates as quickly as it formed, so you just turn salty. Opening the window when driving was like having someone blowing a hairdryer in your face. It was also probably the quietest place I've been - there is *nothing* living there. I only went through 'cos it was sort of on the way home, but I think I enjoyed it more than the grand-canyon.

If you go back, do do. It's unlike anywhere else you'll go, probably.

Open a window? Good God man. What are you?

Oh, you went *running* there. As you were...

It's one route from Tulare to Las Vagas. Sort of.

I think the technical term is 'Stupid'. I've had it since birth.

Like I say, it's a condition I have. :)

Depends what you want to do!

Girls. ; )

Fraser