What Do Folks Do in the Real World?

[gordi]

I was pondering the other day... Isn't modern life strange?

We "meet" more people than ever before, but the vast majority of them are "virtual" people... online acquaintances who we are unlikely to ever meet in person. It got me thinking that we rarely get the chance to really KNOW much about one another, so I though that I'd create a thread where we could (if we wanted to) share some little details about what we get up to when we're away from the online forums. What jobs do we do? What real-life hobbies do we enjoy? What do we LOVE? What do we HATE?

In Real Life, I run my own Sign-Making and Vinyl Graphics business.
I've been doing so for about 10 years now.
It was initially set up by myself in partnership with my long-time best buddy Mark S, but he has since left and I've been running the whole show for about 2 or 3 years now? It's hard to keep track!!

What does Vinyl Graphics / Sign-Making involve? I hear you ask... reluctantly! LOL

Well, usually my customer will ask me to make a sign or vinyl graphic for them.
I'll design it using the specialist sign-making software on my PC,



and when the design is finished, I'll send it to my vinyl cutting machine.



It's a bit like a plotter, but with a tiny sharp blade instead of a pen.
The vinyl comes in rolls, and you have to cut each single colour separately.
When the design has been cut, you remove the excess vinyl which surrounds your design



You next have to "weed out" the parts that you don't need, by using a sharp scalpel to lift and remove them.



Once all of the unwanted parts have been removed, you cover the design with a clear "application" layer which holds all of the parts together whilst you apply it to the object or sign board.

This particular item is a sign for for a local Saddlery business, I'll try and add a photo of the finished sign, once it has been installed.

It's quite an interesting job for me to have because it utilises both my boring/structured/technical/computer side AND my creative/artistic/design side, and every single job is a different challenge.

Here's a small selection of some graphics that I've created over the years...



Not many folks will know this, but before starting up the graphics & sign-making business, I spent 5 years as a stay-at-home dad for my eldest son!
My health hadn't been great, I was very stressed out at my job in IT support/IT Project management and my wife was doing great and enjoying her job, so when we decided to start a family, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time!
The hardest part about being a Stay-At-Home Dad was the isolation and lack of adult company.
All of my own friends were working during the day, so I hardly ever had the chance to see them. I didn't know any other stay-at-home dads, and the parent & toddler groups back then were all aimed at women with kids.

Things changed for the better one day when I bumped into the local mum's & toddlers in the local park...
When I introduced myself, they asked why I hadn't come along to their group who meet once a week in the local school... I pointed out that it was because the group was called "The MOTHERS and TODDLERS Group". They looked a little bit embarrassed and insisted that I come along... they even changed the name immediately to "Parents and Toddlers group" which helped a lot!

Before that time, I worked in IT support. Initially in hardware support, then on the support desk, then 2nd line support and finally in IT project management. (Very Boring!)

Away from work, I love the great outdoors, camping, camper-vanning, wood-working, sports, travel, history, cryptozoology, UFO's, future-tech, music, food & drink and having fun!
I used to play drums in a rock band for many years, and latterly have been playing guitar and singing both on my own, in various duo's and bands.

LINK to some of Gordi's LIVE Music Sets on YT

and..... I think that'll do for now!!! LOL

I hope that you've enjoyed a wee peek into what I get up to away from Rogue Nation...
Now, what about YOU? (Don't be Shy!)

G