Welcome to the Sheds n Shacks about page and who’s writing it.
I’m Mike Lyons and I’ve spent 50 years in construction and landscaping, starting at 17 as an apprentice bricklayer back in 1972, yes a long time ago and I remember my first day as if it were yesterday.
I was picked up in the works van and taken to my first days work on a building site in the Welsh valleys. It was a rude awakening to the working world and on that first day I soon wished that I was back in the comfort of home, instead of fighting off the cold and rain that swept through the cold valley of Cwmtillery.
This was only a stones throw from one of the old coal mines that were littered throughout South Wales. A story for another day maybe are the many ‘coal sheds’ that were present in everyone’s back yard. These are now a forgotten feature, now that central heating by other forms are the norm.
After a week and getting acquainted with the two things I was given the sole responsibility of, the wheelbarrow and the kettle. Where the former would be filled way beyond the capabilities of my then scrawny little arms and then at 10-o-clock and 1-o-clock my responsibilities turned to making tea for all the crew.
Some wanted it strong, others weak, 1 sugar, 3 sugars and the rest didn’t care as long as they could sit by the open fire and smoke a cigarette before going back to work. A happy bunch of bricklayers, carpenters, labourers and me, the apprentice often referred to as ‘the boy’ or something less complimentary, depending on how I’d performed that day!
Early on I faltered at both of my duties somewhat, until I perfected both and eventually moved onto greater things being given ‘real work’ to learning all the skills necessary and eventually becoming a time served qualified bricklayer.
There are many stories I could tell about my years as an apprentice, some you’d laugh your socks off at and others that would make your hair curl, but in the main they were very happy years that I’ll never forget.
By 1980 our first born had arrived and my career was well under way and as with family life, every day was a new experience.
Throughout my career I generally worked with a small crew of builders covering work for homeowners, where I’d be involved with other trades and learned much more than just my own profession, fortunately which I benefitted from when I opted to be self employed and not long after started my own business.
Eventually my work and skills were channelled into landscaping which I’ve stayed with enjoying a long career since those early days in 1972 but still taking on some work during my transition approaching retirement. I 'will' hang my boots up eventually but I still enjoy the challenge of every day.
During these 50+ years I developed an interest in all the buildings that wouldn’t necessarily be built out of bricks and mortar but more likely timber, nails and shingles slate or bitumen.
As I’d spent a lot of time with carpenters, roofers and other trades I had an insight to the skills required to build outdoor buildings and sheds which I put to good use constructing a lot myself and able appreciate the difference between good and bad.
By doing so I’ve been able to advise customers when they wanted to purchase a garden building or shed for themselves, pointing them in the right direction. So now in my retirement years it’s time to put all that knowledge to good use with Sheds n Shacks and reach a wider audience, passing on any help that I can.
If you’d like to contact me personally please do so and join the mailing list for regular news on anything I find might interest you in sheds for sale and other garden buildings.
Mike
Subscribe to the newsletter below...