A window into LandWorks

“I’m a brick-layer by trade, but I worked on the boats quite a lot. [Good work?] It is if you don’t like people. [Don’t like people?] Not particularly. Most of ‘em are very dishonest. I’m almost 60 and I’ve met many dishonest people in my life. [Met some good people?] Yeah, maybe on one hand, yeah. I’ve met a lot more bad ones. [Better at sea?] Yeah, I’d much rather be out there. I just enjoyed being away from people and the land and all the bullshit, all the unnecessary crap that people crave.

LandWorks it’s just a nice friendly organised bunch innit. It’s a charity organisation. It’s just a nice environment innit. It’s a nice place, nice environment, nice food, nice people, nice little dog. Yeah.”

It was Gabriel [my probation officer] who suggested I come and as far as that organisation’s concerned, he’s the best one by miles. He’s a nice chap isn’t he. He’s definitely one of the nicest people I’ve met.

Well, it’s just something to do for the day. You get a nice meal. It’s a nice place. I quite like messing around with bits of wood.

I’ve built hundreds of houses, hundreds, probably thousands, I dunno. I used to put the roofs on. I used to do quite a bit. [How long?] Thirty-odd years.

It’s life innit. Life’s cruel, unless you’re born lucky, I suppose. Some people are born into families with money and some people are born into families with nothing…

I haven’t got much I enjoy. I don’t mind coming here. Well, I must enjoy it a bit because if I didn’t I wouldn’t come.

I’ve recently got me licence back, just after the police took it off me. I’ve been thinking about buying a van but when I look at all these traffic-jams here, there and everywhere, I think do I really want to bother? I had a van for 30/40 years … always had a van, always, handy thing … chuck all your tools in the back, chuck a mattress in the back … freedom, yeah. I don’t like being tied to things. I’ve tried all that and it doesn’t work and then somebody else takes it all anyway.

I got a suspended sentence this time … six months for two years. […] Well, I ended up homeless and on the streets. I was in a tent here, there and everywhere. After they took me licence off me, I couldn’t drive anywhere, so I couldn’t get to work, and then somebody stole all me tools. I don’t go much on people coz everybody I’ve met I thought I could trust has nicked something else off me. [Homeless?] A few years. It doesn’t bother me to be honest. [Outdoors?] When it’s not cold it’s alright. [Favourite place?] No, not really. [Housed now?] No, no. I’m still classed as homeless. I stay with me mate. […] I was working. I had a job. I had a car, yeah, and then they took all that and that was the end of that.

When I got put in prison I left my keys and my van with somebody who I thought was a friend and he changed the … when I came out of prison I went to see him to get me van and he went I’ve sold it, I went what do you mean you’ve sold it? I said that’s my van and I’ve had it for 11 fucking years, what do you mean you’ve sold it? Well, I sold it. I said how can you sell it? I said it’s in my name. But he changed the documents…

I’ve been homeless three or four years, yeah, pretty much, because I can’t be bothered anymore. Do you know what I mean? Every time I get something or … it don’t matter what it is, it’ll end up gone, so what’s the point of struggling for it? Do you know what I mean? I just can’t be bothered with it.

At LandWorks I’ve done lots of sanding and making stuff … bird tables, benches, whatever Graham wants. I’ve always been in the woodwork shop. That’s something I feel comfortable with coz I know I can do it…

[Highlights?] Thursday … well, the roast dinner. That’s a highlight. It’s nice. I don’t think I’ve ever had a roast dinner at lunch-time … well, maybe I used to on a Sunday when I was married. It’s a nice meal. [Like sitting with everyone] For about five minutes. I’m not a people person. I don’t like all the noise.

I don’t mind the meal times, I just don’t like lots of people and all the noise and that. When I was a child I was taught that you sit at the table, and you fucking shut up and you eat your food. You don’t start talking, shouting and getting louder and louder and gobbing your peas at people. Do you know what I mean? With me nan and grandad particularly … well, me grandad would’ve thrashed me if I’d sat at the table without washing me hands, and then he’d sit there and he’d make you eat all of it, even if you didn’t like it.

I’m not a people person. I talk to people but I’d rather … I hate crowds. I used to love going to festivals when I was younger, but I couldn’t think of anything worse now.

Other highlights, well the dog, me little mate. He’s quite cute … well mind you, so’s Lola. I prefer animals to people any day of the week. [Something to do?] Yeah. I get fed-up with just wandering around aimlessly doing nothing.”