Do you /would you/did you/would you never Fulltime Forums

artona · Moderator

Hi Pat

Boredom.........not something we struggle with because I am still working and need to make a buck or two. If you have made your fortune then you really need a plan. Not sure what age group you are in or what your interests are. Are you travelling or static

stew

patp

Hi Stew
In the 50's age group and travelling between uk in the summer Rolling Eyes

and somewhere dryer in the winter. This usually means southern Spain and our spanish is not too fluent.

I had a very busy life until my husband had to give up work due to a disability. I was offered redundancy and so we came to the decision to full time.
I worked full time as a pet behaviour therapist, kept lots of different animals on our smallholding, ran a home etc etc etc. Although I like to read it has to be very quiet and peaceful - not easy with two of us and the dog in the Hymer B544. Most of my interests are outdoor based and do not fit in with a motorhome especially in the wet muddy uk. I do love the internet as you can tell!

One idea I have had is to volunteer my services to some charities especially my favourite, the Eriskay Pony Society, and perhaps travel round the County Show circuit spreading the word about these lovely ponies. It just is a bit of an anomaly to commit to something when we were supposed to be absolutely free of responsibility!

A musical instrument sounds good but I am a bit of a perfectionist (my father's fault) and I know I would get frustrated if I couldn't play a tune. Same with languages although we do keep trying with Spanish. Oh and we do cycle a bit but with the short days we have to fit that in with walking the dog twice daily. Perhaps we should tie her to the bike like a husky Laughing

Pat

artona · Moderator

Hi Pat

An instant idea for you would be to Pet sit with pet training thrown in. I know you are looking to be free of work but working by choice is totally different to work because you have to.

You could market your services in the top magazines - The Lady etc and offer to park up on the clients estate for a week and look after/train their pets whilst they are away on holiday - £2000 per week

You would create an interesting life meeting different people and earns loads of pension money as well lol

stew

patp

£2,000 per week??? I was advertising in the wrong place obviously!!

The job that I have been doing, visiting people in their houses and trying to persuade them to change the way they handle their pets (also do cats) is very very stressful. People just don't want to change the habits of a lifetime. I don't blame them sometimes but why call me out and then not take any of the advice?? I often got involved in marriage and family counselling too. I think that we (I worked in a veterinary practice) didn't value the service highly enough perhaps?

I did register with an agency that does offer the service you are suggesting but without the training. My first client left me with a fearful, aggressive dog, three wild cats and his 94 year old mother in law to look after. Apparantly my agency was cheaper than a full time carer!

I will give it some serious thought though. If the owners are away much of the stress would be taken out of the situation Laughing

My husband is an excellent handyman too..........

Thanks Stew - you could be a counsellor you know Very Happy

Pat

asprn

artona · Moderator

Hi

Where do you think the £2,000 per week figure came from Cor I wish Laughing

But within my business (portrait photography) there is a business called venture portraits. Venture will charge £1000 minimum for a portrait. As its a £1000 it must be good. I will charge tiny fraction for the same thing and whilst my customers love them they must be confused over the price Laughing

not sure which emotion to do.

I was playing golf with a chap once and he had been to Venture and paid £1000s. I asked what he had thought about paying £1000s and he simply said "Nothing, just that they were nice pics". I later found out he was not just an accountant he employed 25 accountants and 40 office staff. He often spent £1000 on a dinner out.

Before I get told off by a moderator for going off topic I think when you are fulltiming and money is not important ( Very Happy

in the first part, Crying or Very sad

not in the second though) you have the opportunity to be selective.

stew

asprn

patp

but, but, but I thought we were talking about fulltiming Crying or Very sad

Pat