Chrishaworth makes an important point , as years back I went to my mate's firm as supervisor/estimator ,as my knees were taking a hammering , with kneeling , ladders ,steps etc.
We went bust after 14 years (not due to my estimating!!!) , nobody wants you at that age so I became Evans Electric and started hammering my knees again for the last 18 years.
I suppose the point I'm making is that is good to have another string to your bow , like Sideswiper. Maximum respect . I couldn't teach myself, not qualified enough and TBH the technical stuff bores me to distraction, its just a means to an end to me , do a quick calc, OK that'll do me , we need a 35mm SWA from A to B , lets get stuck in .
I like the challenge of planning a job or scheme , choose the correct gear etc and turn out a decent job. When estimating you could see a job through from winning it to final completion . Sometimes you could get a new guy or a Subby trying to bullshine you , thinking you're a pen pusher , they'd be shocked when the boss and I would turn up with our tools for that final push if we were running behind .
Think I'm going Off Topic here , I'll shut up.
