i am totally convinced that people have no ideas about the reality of being self employed,been working for a woman this week and i was explaining to her that if i have no work on, or on holiday, or if i am ill, i have no income no money no benefits nothing,she looked puzzled and then said those immortal words that i should submit a claim on my insurance policy, i stopped working and asked what fckin insurance policy, okay that last bit did not happen but stay with me dear reader, at this point i could feel the tears welling up and i started sobbing and hitting the wall with my trowel shouting why me , why me , why do i have to explain yet again the reality of being self employed, at this point she started slapping me and shouting at me pull yourself together man, slowly i calmed down the tears stopped and when i could talk i slowly,patiently explained to her about the at times nasty demanding people we work for,the bad payers and no work no money rule, the colour drained from her face i had taken away her innocence she had no idea at all, she went to her drawer and gave me a card with the local samaritans number and said she would pray for the plastering fraternity, i thanked but declined the card and said i was on first name terms with all the staff at the samaritans in fact i get asked to the xmas dances, she then after all i had said asked what advice i should give her nephew who was wanting to go into plastering, at this point you yes thats right you if you are still reading this my plastering brethen i looked her in the eyes and suggested he see a shrink and the local care in the community programme and between them they should dissuade him,and the ironic thing is she was a very intelligent woman with a very very good job until i came along and now she has a different view on the world, my next job is a star trek nut who assures me he can speak fluent klingon looking forward to that job.:RpS_biggrin: