Herd April 29, 2020

I …am not a herd, I am not a number, I’m a person, an individual.

We – the UK people deserve to be treated like people…. and not just kept in the dark and have shit shoveled on us. I’ve kept quiet over the last few weeks because I know that the situation is difficult (understatement) and I know that we are in ‘uncharted waters’ – but for fucks sake make some decisions – get some dialogue going – let’s get back to work.

 We as the British people don’t hide from problems.

We fight and we adapt. We create new strategies and we overcome obstacles.

What we don’t do is sit in and hope things go away.

This lockdown is killing our spirit and making us lazy. It’s making us all feel like we’re some big lunk of humanity which the government can just move around a chess board to suit their particular problems on a certain week.

Business owners out there – if you were off sick – what would happen ….? I’m pretty sure you’ve all got a plan in place?

In my case I have a whole team who know exactly what they should be doing and would stand up and get things done.

Boris has been in power for five minutes yet the country cannot move without his say so.

 

This is bullshit. It’s rubbish.

 

This lockdown needs an end and it needs open discussion and honest answers.

 

Then we need to get back to work.

  

 

Mike C

Be Kind…. April 22, 2020

My mum is 92 and she is still mobile and quick witted, she does the Times crossword every day and usually finishes it in a couple of hours (the cryptic one not the quick one).

None of her functions have been impaired by her age and she continues to be a picture of health. She’s stuck in like the rest of us, she can’t have her friends round and she can’t have a hug off her son …but she’s doing ok.

She has a fairly simple outlook on life and judges’ people by her simple code of … ‘are they kind’…

What she means by this is basically;

• Do people check in with her
• Do people phone her
• Do people offer to shop or deliver food for her
• Do people do things without being asked.

Pretty simple basic stuff.

I’ve suggested to her that when all this is over – we have a… ‘Kindness Party’ ….where all the people that have been kind to her get invited round and Mum can make sandwiches and tea and cakes and suchlike so she can say ‘thanks’.

Now my question to you is…

Have you been kind to anyone?

Doesn’t take much does it?

 

Mike C

Crisis April 15, 2020

So, another week goes by and another set of wages and salaries goes out of the bank account whilst nothing is getting invoiced and nothing’s getting paid.

Yes …I know there’s more to worry about and I know that Boris has been poorly and the queen is very concerned about us all.

But can I just say – if we don’t get back to work soon, there won’t be any work to come back to.

The construction industry needs to get back on its feet and just say – we can do this.

We can do this carefully and with all the correct personal protection in place.

It’s what we do.

We all have risk assessments and we all have method statements – and we all know what we’re doing – so let’s just do it.

If one more person tells me that the government are paying 80% of salaries and that I should just sit home and drink beer ….I will punch them in the face.

• The Government aren’t paying the wages of my team who are sat at home – I am.
• The Government have not made funding easy to either apply for or actually get – they have achieved approval of a whopping 1% of applications so far.
• Salaries are NOT the only cost that companies have to cover – what about insurances, rents, trade body memberships, accreditation’s, vehicles, machinery, hire purchase, professional indemnity, public liability …the list just goes on and on.

Yes, I might get 80% of the salary payments back at some distant point in the future …if the claim is agreed …and if some jobs worth ticks a sheet.

When this will happen, nobody knows …and for many companies I know ….it will be too little too late.

Currently I am owed a rebate of over £21K of VAT   – the details are being argued by the revenue at a point where to be quite honest  …I could do with the money.

I know that when a phone number or e-mail is given out to make a claim for furloughed workers …the website will crash and the phone number will melt.

You think trying to get a delivery from Sainsburys is tough ….try getting through to HMRC when they owe you money.

Yes, yes, and bloody yes ….I know why the decisions have been made to lock us all down.

Yes, yes and yes …I know people are sick and people are dying – people are always sick and dying – it’s how the world works. I know we have a pandemic and I know we will probably have another and another.

We need to change how we react and change our school of thought.

Dying is natural and it happens every day….it is sad and it is terrible that people are not getting the support they need. This is because of government cutbacks and pushing our critical services to a low point on the agenda.

This is the politician’s fault….and we have allowed them to do this.

We need to spend more on the NHS.

To be able to spend more we need to be back at work.

So please …for fucks sake…. can we have some common bloody sense and get people at low risk back to work and get the country off it’s knees ….NOW ….BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.

 

Mike C

What are you going to change? April 8, 2020

So you’ve all been self isolating – lots of time on your hands – and you’ve been thinking ….when we get back ….I’m going to do things differently.

We’ve been using ‘Zoom’ at JKSL for group meetings, everybody has remote access and the phones are diverted to mobile numbers.

It does beg the question – do you actually need an office?

Think of the travelling time saved.

Think of the fuel saved.

Think of the environmental benefits.

Think of the mental health benefits.

Remote working could be the way forward at JKSL.

I’ve found it interesting who I feel I’ve bonded with and talked to more than I would have imagined. I’ve also noticed who I haven’t spoken to – and who has ignored efforts to be contacted.

Fair weather friends as my mother would call them – not real friends at all.

It’s also been funny the people that you thought were very peripheral to your life have suddenly become best mates.

Some of our clients have been awkward, some have been great.

Some have proceeded with works, and some have cancelled works for no reason at all other than saving a few quid because they could.

There will be winners and losers in all this shite that’s going on – but I think the overriding feeling when it all ends – will be one of unity with those that stood beside you – and disgust at those who profiteered and ignored the pain and suffering of others.

Remember who cared folks…. it’s an indication of good people to work with.

 

 Mike C

Have you learnt anything yet?…. April 1, 2020

You thought you were master of your universe, didn’t you?

You thought you were in control.

You thought you’d got it all sussed out.

 

Thinks –

 

I’m going to work till I’m 60,

I’ll have paid everything off,

no mortgage,

kids all sorted,

no more borrowing,

car paid off….happy retirement ahead.

 

But no – somebody decided this was not your future.

So, your life ahead now reads …

 

I’m going to work till I drop,

nothing will be paid off,

I’ve re-mortgaged,

kids are back at home,

I’ve borrowed to the hilt,

what bloody car… I’m cycling everywhere?

…. retirement wtf’s that …?

 

But …you’ll be thinking – at least I’ve got toilet rolls ….

…. actually ffs …who’s used the last bloody bog roll????

 

 

Mike C