Heart attack – take 2 February 28, 2018

Just when you thought it was safe to relax, just when you thought you were back to ‘normal’. Two a.m. can’t sleep, chest pains, difficulty breathing, sweating …what do you do?

Surely, it’s not a heart attack again?

Don’t panic (panic) …. just try and breathe…(panic) …

And so …I found myself in an ambulance again. In hospital again. Blood tests again. Wired up to a cardio-gram again. Admitted to hospital again.

The results were delayed and I ended up sat in casualty reception for 6 hours waiting to see a doctor. For those of you that haven’t had any dealings with the NHS recently – please be assured the system has some serious issues. Lovely hard-working people every one of them – but with little or no back up and support.

Some twelve hours after first being admitted I got to see a doctor who assured me that this wasn’t a heart attack. Phew. They didn’t know what it was (?) …and thought it was probably a ‘gastric’ issue caused by my medications?

Follow up appointment was made with my local GP.

Local GP decided that my medication was causing excess acid in my stomach leading to the pain and discomfort.

So, feeling a little better we decided to have a week away for my birthday at our house in the Peak District.

Saturday night – two a.m. – chest pains, sweating profusely and vomiting …what do you do??

Surely, it’s not a heart attack again and again and again…

And so, I found myself in an ambulance again. In hospital again. Blood tests again …. wired up to …. you get the picture….

To cut a long story short.

Doctor A – didn’t talk to Doctor B – who certainly didn’t tell hospital C – what hospital D had done and none of them had any idea what nurse E had stuck in my ass….

…and my medications shouldn’t have been changed so I’m back to square one.

At least I know the ambulance crews on first name terms now –

Mike C

Hard work February 21, 2018

Which is hardest? …actually, digging a hole – or getting somebody to give you an order to dig a hole?

This is an argument that often comes up within the JKSL office. The lads – who work on sites that are freezing cold and wet – claim that their role is the hardest in the company, and call the rest of us… ‘soft’ for sitting in an office.

Meanwhile the surveyors that run all over the country trying to get clients to give us an order to carry out works claim that their role is the critical one. They…”claim” that without their work the boys on site wouldn’t have anything to do – so it’s their role that is vital ‘one’ and ‘hardest’.

Personally, I’m of the opinion that my role is actually the hardest.

I can just sit and nothing will happen unless I make it happen.

I could just sit here all day staring at the walls unless my creative mind steps up a deliver some stroke of genius that sets a particular ball rolling. I don’t have a particular ‘role’ – I’m not ‘accounts’ or ‘admin’ or a ‘surveyor’ – I’m at the ‘creative’ end of the job – looking at where the company is going and thinking about marketing and the direction the company is taking.

So, are you a ‘creator’ or a ‘grafter’ …??… random words but what I mean is – do you come to work and find a fresh new pile of ‘stuff’ that you have to work through…? Or do you arrive at work to a blank desk and a blank computer screen ….and then begin to generate work by your efforts.

The thing is – to be honest – it takes all sorts.

Its ok being the creative one providing you have someone to deliver on the offer that you have provided. Then it’s ok being the provider – as long as you have someone to deliver. Then it’s ok being the deliverer – as long as you have someone to follow up on your delivery and make sure that the bills get paid and everyone makes a living ….

Basically, it takes all sorts to make a business and each and every one within that process is as important and vital as the next one. From receptionist to senior staff on site – and everyone in between fulfills a vital element …

So long as you all realise …that it’s me that works the hardest.

Mike C

Why? February 14, 2018

When I was a young boy I had a friend, whose brother kept asking… ‘why?’ …. every time somebody asked him to do anything.

This became annoying after about five minutes and completely insufferable over any longer period of time. The problem was made worse by the fact his parents were ‘modern’ in their child rearing skills and had made the decision to tolerate this behavior with incredible patience.

‘Can you turn the radio down Robert’

‘Why?’

‘Because nobody can hear what they are saying to each other’

‘Why?’

‘Because your radio is on really loud’

‘Why?’

‘Because you have turned it up’

‘Why?’

Etc. etc.

My father would have simply clipped me round the ear hole and said – ‘because I bloody told you to…. that’s why…’

I thought of this irritating child this morning when I was discussing sales with the team at JKSL. I assumed the role of the irritating teenager asking – why do people use JKSL …?

There were various answers from the team to which I kept repeating…. ‘…but why?’

It’s a difficult question to answer.

There are now lots of companies offering Japanese knotweed eradication services many of them coming from industries with a similar skill set – such as demolition contractors or hauliers and muck away companies. These ‘associated’ industries often come at the problem with their own wagons and sometimes their own tip facilities and can undercut our prices significantly.

So why …? would anyone choose to use JKSL over a company offering a cheaper price?…

Well –

If you can find another company that can offer all of the above and still offer better prices than ours – then please use them.

Why wouldn’t you?

Mike C

Why? February 14, 2018

When I was a young boy I had a friend, whose brother kept asking… ‘why?’ …. every time somebody asked him to do anything.

This became annoying after about five minutes and completely insufferable over any longer period of time. The problem was made worse by the fact his parents were ‘modern’ in their child rearing skills and had made the decision to tolerate this behavior with incredible patience.

‘Can you turn the radio down Robert’

‘Why?’

‘Because nobody can hear what they are saying to each other’

‘Why?’

‘Because your radio is on really loud’

‘Why?’

‘Because you have turned it up’

‘Why?’

Etc. etc.

My father would have simply clipped me round the ear hole and said – ‘because I bloody told you to…. that’s why…’

I thought of this irritating child this morning when I was discussing sales with the team at JKSL. I assumed the role of the irritating teenager asking – why do people use JKSL …?

There were various answers from the team to which I kept repeating…. ‘…but why?’

It’s a difficult question to answer.

There are now lots of companies offering Japanese knotweed eradication services many of them coming from industries with a similar skill set – such as demolition contractors or hauliers and muck away companies. These ‘associated’ industries often come at the problem with their own wagons and sometimes their own tip facilities and can undercut our prices significantly.

So why …? would anyone choose to use JKSL over a company offering a cheaper price?…

Well –

If you can find another company that can offer all of the above and still offer better prices than ours – then please use them.

Why wouldn’t you?

Mike C

Liverpool February 7, 2018

Going out on a random streak with this blog – but have you been to Liverpool recently?

Now if you’re my age …anything to do with Liverpool carries a bit of a health warning.

In Manchester we were all brought up thinking that there was a passport requirement needed when heading into Liverpool …and that if you did venture in…you were unlikely to get out in one piece …and you’d certainly have a stab wound.

Cars in Liverpool didn’t go anywhere as they were all permanently on bricks because somebody had nicked the wheels. If (as above) you ever ventured into Scouse land with your car – it would get stolen or broken up for parts.

We were also told that nobody ever worked in Liverpool and that the entire city was on the dole …

Everybody supported the home football team and would happily die for their club – preferably being allowed to have their ashes spread at the ‘Kop’ end.

So…it was with some concern that I heard the news that my daughter had got a job in the city and would be moving there permanently. We almost had a wake when we were told. I consoled myself with the fact that we had another daughter and that she lived near the home of the better football club and was sharing her home with a die-hard united fan.

Go forward a little in time ….(floaty music playing ) …and boy have my opinions changed. Several visits later and I can safely say –

LIVERPOOL …I love you.

Talk about having pre-conceptions thrown out of the window – talk about feeling pretty stupid. Liverpool is now just one of my favourite places ….ever.

LIVERPOOL …city of culture

Great people, great places to eat, great places to stay…and (so far) my car has stayed in one piece ….

I’m recommending;

Stay at – Blackburne Terrace – the most amazing stylish bed and breakfast/boutique hotel

Eat at – ‘The Art School’ or ‘Wreckfish’ or a multitude of places too numerous to mention

Wander down – Bold Street – coffee shops, eateries deli’s etc. etc.

Visit – the docks, the Museums the Shopping Centre

Talk to – anybody ….they’re all friendly and helpful

Look out for – young ladies in curlers (they’re going out later and have had a blow dry) and tracksuits (they’ve just had a spray tan)

Watch on Telly – Hollyoaks – my daughter is a make-up artist for the program.

Greatest city break ever.

Mike C

Brussels 2 Brighton February 5, 2018

New Year, new me…well maybe not, but it is time for a new physical challenge. Last year it was to run a marathon (which was as gruelling as you can imagine), this year I’ll be cycling…and cycling…Brussels to Brighton in fact.

On 3rd – 6th May 2018, I’ll be joining a team of 30+ property and construction professionals and support team, to raise money for a whole host of charities based in Sussex, including, Rise – Freedom from Abuse and Violence, Sussex Heart Charity, The Clock Tower Sanctuary and Martlets Hospice Care.

The challenge is being organised by the Brighton & Hove Property Consortium in association with Colin Brace Properties and will cover 142 miles of cycling over 2-3 days, including a Guinness World Record attempt to cycle ‘A Mile in the Sky’ in Brighton’s British Airways i360 observation tower.

The trip is shaping up like this:

Day 1 – ‘A Mile in the Sky’ Guinness World Record attempt, travel via Eurostar to Brussels.

Day 2 – Aalst to Bruges via the famous ‘Tour of Flanders’ Koppenberg cobbled hill climb. 65miles, estimated cycling time 5h 25min.

Day 3 – Bruges to Lille, cycling near the northern coast from Bruges to Dunkirk, onto Ypres and finally Lille. 58 miles, estimated cycling time 4h 30min.

Day 4 – Lille to Brighton, travel via Eurostar and cycle from Haywards Heath to Brighton. 15miles, estimated cycling time 1h 20min.

I thought this part of Europe was fairly flat but then saw the Koppenberg cobbled hill climb, a challenge for even the professional cyclists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhAWkM7weE. At its steepest it’s a 22% gradient, and it goes on and on! Will we make it all the way to the top? I’m going to give it my best shot!

So, time to start the training. I’ll be cycling to work and back, that adds around 18 miles a day of road riding, and includes a few small hills from Manchester City Centre to our offices in Radcliffe. I’ll need to do some spin classes for speed, and get out for longer rides at the weekend. Normally, my rides take me out from Manchester into Cheshire, where it’s nice and flat. However, with the 22% climb, I think I’ll need to head north instead and explore the West Pennine Moors!

My aim is to raise £750 for the selected charities, this isn’t a small task, so I’ll be relying on the kindness and support of friends and family, work colleagues, and hopefully some of you lovely people to dig deep and sponsor me. I’ve set up a Just Giving page, so if you’d like to sponsor me please follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/brighton2brussels2018stuartmorrisjksl

All support is greatly appreciated, and will be going to some fantastic causes. I’ll be giving regular updates on my training and the event in May, so watch this space.

http://www.brighton2brussels.co.uk/

Stuart Morris
Surveyor, Japanese Knotweed Solution Ltd