Travel, how far is too far?

[Donnie]

I’m self employed. 
The thing is, every woodcutter seens to accept the fact that this is the norm. 
 

Starting to think of giving it up to be fair as I would be better off back welding etc. 

 

I’d like to stay self employed though for flexibility for a little while. 

Edited August 27, 2024 by Donnie

[doobin]

You say your company pays for digs but the food is expensive. That's a poor reason to travel 100 miles if you otherwise like the job. Just go to Lidl and get some meat, gas BBQ in the back of the truck. Or find an all you can eat carvery place. Do two days rather than three and you'll have done the same hours as if you were stopping early to drive.

 

You're making this way harder than it has to be. It's unsustatinable the way you are doing it, I'm surprised you're not already burnt out. Just take the digs, hit it hard for a few days and then relax for a couple.

[GarethM]

Granted if they're paying for digs you usually get an allowance for evening meal, breakfast if it's not included in the digs plus lunch.

 

Think my lot gave £20 for evening meal and maybe a fiver for lunch and breakfast.

 

If you're only away for 2/3 nights that's not too bad, I had a lot that wanted us in Livingston for 10 days straight. We lost staff like flies, me included as there's only so many hours of netflix!.

[Stere]

Maybe ideal would be a camper /van sleep in tha back  take your  own provisions park on site, as  mentioned 1 hrs travel from digs.

 

Would be quite nice in the summer if you had a nice setup maybe less so in winter with less daylight

 

 

 

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, Donnie said:

Starting to think of giving it up to be fair as I would be better off back welding

indubitably

[peds]

19 minutes ago, Stere said:

Maybe ideal would be a camper /van sleep in tha back  take your  own provisions park on site, as  mentioned 1 hrs travel from digs.

 

Would be quite nice in the summer if you had a nice setup maybe less so in winter with less daylight

 

I did this a few times when I was planting for forestry, some sites were 2 hours away. Made more sense to camp out and do a few more hours, instead of planting 600 sitka straight into the fuel tank.

[Anno]

when I was teaching at Burnley College I did a 104 mile journey 5 days a week, it was a nightmare that became unsustainable and was affecting my health, although I did listen to lots of Audio Books!

My current job is different every visit I do is 30 minutes away, and at 60 it is just about right for me.

In a past life my exwife loved to drive but I have always hated it and always said its just a means to get me to places.

[Steven P]

You see a few caravans in the forest near us, especially at harvesting time - never parked up near each other though even if they are on the same job. I suspect there is a factor with age that your own bed is more of an appeal than roughing it every night. Hotel / B&B / Guest house every night sounds god, someone does the laundry, breakfast cooked and no dishes but that gets tiring after a few nights.

 

However if it is a job you like, the money is reasonable, a weekly commute might be a small inconvenience, especially if you can get home any night you need or want to

[Donnie]

2 hours ago, doobin said:

You say your company pays for digs but the food is expensive. That's a poor reason to travel 100 miles if you otherwise like the job. Just go to Lidl and get some meat, gas BBQ in the back of the truck. Or find an all you can eat carvery place. Do two days rather than three and you'll have done the same hours as if you were stopping early to drive.

 

You're making this way harder than it has to be. It's unsustatinable the way you are doing it, I'm surprised you're not already burnt out. Just take the digs, hit it hard for a few days and then relax for a couple.

Done it 2 years now and I’ll more than likely keep carrying on. 
 

As for doing more hours, I’ve done that before sometimes 12-14 hours a day then back to the digs. 
 

Only problem I find is after 8 hours you are more than likely doing more damage to yourself as all work at a fast pace as a heavy work load. 
 

I’ve stuff on a personal level that I’d rather be about for. 

Nearest store from where the digs are is 45 mins either north or south. 
 

To be fair I wouldn’t honestly mind doing it most of the time if I didn’t mile out my own motor/diesel. 

 

I also find out at 6-7pm every night where to go for the following day. One day could be up north, the next I could be in England so it varies so much. Caravan wouldn’t really cut it I don’t think as we all bounce about day to day. 

Edited August 27, 2024 by Donnie

[AHPP]

4 minutes ago, Donnie said:

I also find out at 6-7pm every night where to go for the following day. One day could be up north, the next I could be in England so it varies so much. Caravan wouldn’t really cut it I don’t think as we all bounce about day to day. 

The uncertainty is the biggest annoyance for me. I’ve had people ask at 08:00 if I can do the next day, I get back to them at 08:01 saying yes and then they don’t confirm (by paying) until 16:00. If they’d paid at 08:05, I could have made the journey at my leisure, seen a friend on the way, made a nice trip of it. Instead, I’ve waited all day and then tear arsed down at night in a bad mood. Got fed up with that so now take a firmer line. Still happy to do short notice at long distance but it’s a matter of pay within an hour or the offer’s dead. I’m also considering changing from a van to a horsedrawn carriage so people will need to book more in advance anyway.