Part 2 - Wired For Success: Gina York; The Daughter, The Electrician

Last time, Gina and I left you wondering — did Gina actually know how to solve the wiring issue? 

Part 2 is here! We get right into the realities of being tradeswomen in the electrical industry, talking everything from problem-solving on the job to managing customer expectations and maintaining a professional image in a competitive field. Gina opens up about job anxiety, self-doubt, and the challenges of working in a male-crowded trade, offering honest reflections that will resonate with anyone in the skilled trades community. The conversation also highlights the importance of customer loyalty, the growing influence of social media, and the pride that comes with industry recognition and awards. 

Adding a personal touch, Gina and I explore how stress, alcohol, and self-care are common issues within the trades — we share openly how we try to find balance while building a career. The episode wraps up with a fun and fast-paced quick-fire round, where Gina shares personal preferences, funniest on-site stories, and dream future guests. Packed with banter, authenticity, and real-world wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating life in the electrical and skilled trades industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Problem-solving is a key skill in electrical work.
• Customer interactions can be challenging but rewarding.
• Maintaining a professional image is crucial for tradespeople.
• Job anxiety is common among tradespeople, regardless of experience.
• Self-doubt can affect performance and customer perception.
• Recognition through awards can boost confidence.
• Social media plays a significant role in connecting with others in the trade.
• Alcohol can be a coping mechanism for stress, but moderation is important.
• Building customer loyalty is essential for long-term success.
• Quick-fire questions reveal personal preferences and insights. 

Follow me: 

Instagram: @lifeofafemaletradie_ 

Tiktok: @loaftpodcast

Facebook: Life Of A Female Tradie

Follow Guest: 

Instagram: the.daughter__

Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Problem Solving in Electrical Work

03:08 Balancing Time and Money in Call-Outs

05:47 Building Trust Through Professionalism

09:03 Job Anxiety and Overthinking

12:36 The Pressure of Being a Woman in Trade

17:32 Upcoming Awards and Personal Growth

25:45 The Illusion of Alcohol as Stress Relief

27:03 The Risks of Alcohol Consumption

27:44 Navigating Customer Interactions

29:30 The Importance of Personal Space and Process

31:48 Quickfire Questions: Preferences and Insights

34:04 Exploring Other Trades

36:16 The Challenges of Different Trades

38:06 Collaboration and Understanding Among Trades

40:14 Self-Doubt in the Trade

44:53 Finding Solutions in Difficult Jobs

47:02 Connecting with Other Tradespeople

48:20 Thanks, follow for more

48:39 Outro

Transcript

Gina (00:29)

I've had like a customer go, I've changed the, I've tried to change the switches and now the light won't go off. I've changed it in the bedroom, but it's like constantly on in the bathroom. Nice. I've got to try and figure that out now, okay.

Laura (00:44)

think

Meg had something like that the other week where she had to problem solve why that switch was turning something else on in another part of the house. Yeah, I just wouldn't know where.

Gina (00:53)

Mm.

In my brain,

I already know what it is. That's mad, innit? Like in my brain, you now, you just come up with that problem. And in my brain, I've already solved it. I already know like the first thing that I do. That's mad. I'm not

Laura (01:06)

What would you do?

Gina (01:10)

I don't know now, you said. It depends what they've done and where they've been messing about with it. Because someone's messed about with something. Wherever they've messed about with it, they've got a cable wrong.

Laura (01:12)

I'll put you on the spot.

Gina (01:28)

They've got a sweet fire.

Laura (01:28)

like the wrong way round or summits. There

you go. Don't fiddle with your electrics, get a professional in.

Gina (01:38)

Yeah, like that's half of like the job as well. So especially call outs to fault finds, have to like, the amount of times me and Amy have rang each other, like, I've got this fault, they said they've done this, what do think it could be? Like we're not even there yet. And we're like trying to solve it before we go. it like, it doesn't take us long. Yeah. Yeah.

Laura (01:58)

saves time, yeah. So I was gonna say,

if someone rings you with that sort of problem, how do you, like, allot time to it? Like, how does that work?

Gina (02:09)

So if it's a call

out, like out of hours call out, we'll just charge a call out fee and then an hourly fee for however long we're there. But stupidly, stupidly, and I don't know how much money I've lost doing this, but I try and talk them through it over the phone. So like if it's nothing that they've done, but it's tripping, like go to the views board.

Laura (02:31)

Yeah.

Gina (02:34)

switch everything down, switch everything off, tell me what's tripping. And I'm talking to them over the phone, was like, I could just go there and earn some money, but I don't have time. And they're ringing me and then hoping that that person will then come back to me because I've given them advice on what to do. Nine times out of 10, it's an appliance tripping it. And it's just like, I've talked them through what to do on the phone. If they've done everything I've said and it's still tripping, then I'll go, okay, I've got to come out and have look.

Laura (02:51)

Okay.

Yeah.

Gina (03:02)

I try and fix it over the phone because I just don't have time.

Laura (03:08)

That is the thing, isn't it? It's the whole

time versus money battle, isn't it? We all obviously wanna earn as much money as we can, but sometimes you just physically haven't got the time in your schedule to fit it in. So fair play for talking people through it, mate, to be honest, yeah.

Gina (03:21)

Yeah. Yeah.

But like that's just in the hope that they'd be loyal and come back to you. Do you know if they've got any, if they want a job doing like I've had a few people. I actually did go to a job the other day and then or the other day, the other month and she was moving house and she wanted to know whether she needed it testing or whether the consuming unit was safe basically for the next people.

Laura (03:32)

Mm. Yeah.

Okay.

Gina (03:56)

I around, I talked through everything and said this, this and this. I'd recommend doing this, but you don't have to. If you want to test this, this and that. It turns out she didn't need anything doing. So I just left it with her and I was just like, sell the house. It's fine as it is. If the person buying the house wants a safety check or whatever, then they can do that. But like, you're not, weirdly enough. You know, when you sell a house, you've got to have a...

⁓ gas safety cert haven't ya don't have to have an electrical safety cert you have to know

Laura (04:28)

Yeah, you do.

No, you don't. You only have to have

one if you then rent it out, don't you? Yeah. No.

Gina (04:40)

Yeah, but you don't need one which baffles

me like you're buying that house the amount of people that buy houses that you go to odd I don't know if it needs a rewire Okay, Like every time I go to someone like that I'm like you can request you have to pay for it obviously But you can you are you can request that the seller? Has an electrical safety cert if they don't want to pay for it say okay I'll pay for it just so you know what you're going into

because it baffles me because electrics is just as dangerous as gas. And it's not a legal requirement and I don't understand why it's not. But yeah, this didn't have to have one. Anyway, she recommended me to a sister which gave me another job. Do you know what mean? Like I didn't charge her for going out and have a look. She was like, how much do owe you? And I was like, nothing. Like I've done nothing. All I've said is you don't need to a cert. Like, I don't know.

Laura (05:13)

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Gina (05:35)

But they appreciate it, don't they? And then they recommend you as well. People pleaser.

Laura (05:39)

That's it.

Absolutely.

Fair play, mate, fair play. It's all about portraying a professional image though, isn't it? Because

Gina (05:44)

Thank

Laura (05:47)

You're constantly representing the business. It's not just you, it's the business as well. So obviously doing these odd little bits where you're helping people just out of kindness, they will remember and they will come back to you at some point because I've had people ask me to come and do quotes and I'm like, I'm booked up until here. What is it that you want doing?

Gina (05:51)

Yes, yes, yes.

Laura (06:11)

And they'll send me a few pictures. For instance, a fella wanted a couple of doors stripped of varnished on his landing so that they matched to the other ones that he had done. And I said to him, it's going to cost this much because I need to do this, this, this, this and this. And I said, mate, you're better off getting brand new doors. It'll be cheaper. 100 percent it'll be cheaper. And he was like, thank you so much for your honesty. I'll just do that then.

Gina (06:33)

Yeah. ⁓

Laura (06:40)

That guy will remember that, just like that woman remembered you and recommended you, you know?

Gina (06:43)

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

you can only hope that you're doing your best to be like professional, like you say, although I don't say I'm.

Laura (06:51)

Absolutely.

You are them.

Gina (06:57)

You've got to be, haven't you? You know half the time when you go, I don't know if anybody else has it, but it's like being an adult, isn't it? Like you leave know what you're doing. Do know what mean? I'm an adult, I don't know what I'm doing. In my head, I'm still 12. Do you know what I mean? Do you know what mean? I don't know what I'm doing. And then you go around and you like, they're professional and you're like, oh my God, they're leaving their house in my hands. And I'm like, I have to be professional. I have to like.

Laura (06:59)

Yeah.

I know.

Mate, I'm still 19.

Yeah.

Gina (07:24)

may get out that I know what doing. I do know what doing. But do you know what mean? I have to like put it on so that they know that I know that I know what I'm doing.

Laura (07:30)

Yep.

But do you

not also find that a switch goes like when you know you've got to be that person? Hello.

Gina (07:39)

You pull the power,

What's your name? No, yeah, it's what it does go. And then do you ever get it afterwards or is it just my mental brain? I overthink the conversation I've had with the customer. Oh my God. did I say that? I wasn't on a date. Do you know what mean? Why am over thinking it? Why am I over thinking it? Why did I say that? Or...

Laura (07:56)

Yep.

Ha ha ha!

Yeah.

Gina (08:05)

Do

you think I sound stupid? Did I over talk? Do you know what I mean?

Laura (08:09)

Did I elaborate

too much and then make myself look like an idiot? Like I don't actually know what I'm talking about. Yeah.

Gina (08:12)

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so

Every time I go in and do a quote, I feel I spoke too much.

Laura (08:17)

Do you?

Yeah,

100%. Yeah, I've talked myself out of that job.

Gina (08:23)

i've told um my mothers maiden name and I shouldn't have. I didn't wanna know that.

Laura (08:24)

You

no, they know where my family lives. no.

Gina (08:33)

They know what shoe size i was at two. I get all

the time. do it by my brain, like, makes me overthink. And I think they're not going to go with me because I'm a knob.

Laura (08:41)

I'm sure you get past that. mean, well, who knows? It's a minefield.

Gina (08:48)

I've been doing it for five years and still haven't got past it. Every job that go to. I ring Amy after I've been to a job and im like, I talk myself out of that one. Do ever quote a job too much because you don't want it and then you get it?

Laura (08:57)

You

I go and see a job and I don't want to do it. I'll say to him, I'll say, I'm really sorry, but It's I think you would be better off getting somebody else in. just the guilt of lying or something like that or.

Gina (09:07)

Not for me.

Laura (09:21)

⁓ I don't like to over-quote, I really do not like it. ⁓ And it's not because they may come back and say, yes, okay, and then you stuck with it. It is literally because I feel guilty. So I have, yeah, no, it's all right.

Gina (09:25)

Yeah.

Yeah.

you get them. Sorry.

Do you get like job anxiety?

Laura (09:40)

Always.

Gina (09:41)

me and Amy get that. Like I talk about Amy a lot because we work we work, like she's helping me tomorrow and then I'll be helping her and she helps me. And we speak to each other every day and like, she'd be like, I didn't sleep last night because I've got job anxiety. Or I didn't sleep because I've been thinking about this job and how to do it and what to do. You know what to do. I know what to do, you know what to do. But you get job anxiety, it's, I think.

Laura (09:44)

That's

Cool.

Yeah.

Gina (10:08)

Everyone must get it

Laura (10:09)

Yeah, there has got to be something within somebody's remit that they just don't particularly... It's not their favourite thing to do. So therefore, on top of it being maybe the environment that you're doing it in or the person you're working for or something where there just wasn't quite that vibe.

Gina (10:30)

You're not excited to go and do it.

Yeah.

Laura (10:33)

It just ruins you week, doesn't it? Like I've

had jobs and I've just been miserable all week because something has restricted me from doing the level of work that I want to do. And it just, yeah, it just makes you really unhappy and yeah, anxiety over going back the next day.

Gina (10:42)

you

Yeah.

And you know what? On jobs like that, take longer because you're stressing about it because then you've got to go like the extra couple of days because you've been stressing about it. And like you say, you're not doing your level of like the quality of work that you normally do or like the speed that you do it because you're just, yeah. Yeah. Okay. At least it's not just us. I bet everyone, everyone must have that.

Laura (11:00)

Yeah

Yeah.

Overthinking it, yeah, 100%. No,

they've got to, haven't they? Anyone that cares about the job that they leave behind has got to get that kind of anxiety for sure.

Gina (11:27)

Yeah.

So, I

tell you now, I'm shit hot at my job, right? I know that I am. I do it to a very high standard and I make sure that all my customers are safe, right? Every time I do a board change, I don't know why. I don't sleep that night. And then the next morning, yeh! The next morning, I'm like on my phone like, there been any house fires? Honestly, I don't know why because...

Laura (11:48)

Really?

⁓ mate no way.

Gina (11:59)

I do it to regulation, do it to spec, I do everything to a T and I know that I'm shit hot and I do it to a high standard and I'm still like, my brain just doesn't, it doesn't let me just think you're actually good, you're decent. Do you know what mean? You're actually good. And I don't know whether that's because, I don't know if men get that or like younger tradesmen or whatever.

Laura (12:11)

Panicking. Yeah.

I don't know.

Gina (12:27)

But like, don't know if it's because I'm a woman in trade and people doubt me and I'm doubting myself or what. I don't know what it is, but yeah, I get every time.

Laura (12:36)

That must be horrible.

Gina (12:38)

I don't know why. I don't know why. Because I'm like, especially board changes as well. They're like my thing. They're like, they're my thing, yeah. And I don't know why I get like it, but I just do.

Laura (12:44)

Your board changes are smart, mate, to be fair. They are spot on.

It's

a mega part of, it's the hub of the electrics in someone's home, isn't it though? So you obviously know the dangers that come from it not working correctly.

Gina (12:58)

Yeah,

Yeah,

think it's just like overthinking like, did I actually, yeh did I tighten that up enough? But like, we have like torque settings. So you have torque, torque the screw up to certain settings of the brand or the fit. And I do all that to the torque settings to the regs. I do everything by the book, right? And I know that's cringe because you're like, you're book, whatever. But

Laura (13:08)

Did I do this?

Yeah.

Okay.

Huh?

No?

Gina (13:32)

When it comes to my job, I take it quite seriously. I know I'm stupid and I faff about a lot, but I take my job quite seriously and that is the one thing that I just can't get over and I don't know why.

Laura (13:44)

Maybe having this conversation might help you get over it. know, step towards it. mean, like voicing the fact that you know you are good at your job. Keep that, you know, write it down, put it on a post-it note, you know.

Gina (13:48)

Hmm, maybe

Yeah, honestly,

I boost myself all the time. I like big myself all the time and then yeah, don't know. ⁓

Laura (14:02)

Good.

Gina (14:07)

I don't

Laura (14:08)

But I know what you mean,

like on a slightly less like severe note, when I get left in someone's house, say they go on holiday or whatever and I decorate and I've then finished before they come back, I get proper OCD about posting the key through, checking the door handle, driving away, and then I'll get 500 yards down the road and I'm like, did I lock the door? Did the key?

Gina (14:30)

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah

sure.

Laura (14:38)

Did the key go all the way through the letter box or can someone still pick it out? I've got to go back. The amount of times I've turned back around and checked, honestly, it drives me mad.

Gina (14:41)

Yes.

feel like I would have the anxiety, right, that if I was a painter and decorator, if I was putting wallpaper up, do you do wallpaper?

Laura (15:00)

I do feature walls, yeah. It's not my most favourite thing, but...

Gina (15:02)

Right. I

probably end up sleepless nights thinking it's all fell off. Same with a plasterer. Same with a plasterer. If I was a plasterer, I'd probably like up all night thinking it's fucking fell off the wall. It's fell off the wall. I'm shit at my job, it's fell off the wall. But yeah, do you ever get like the fear of like someone just like putting their hands in the wet paint? Because I feel like that would be my worst nightmare. I actually, I painted my kitchen and I thought.

Laura (15:09)

You

Boards have come down, it's all gone to shit.

Gina (15:33)

What if I forget and then I put my hand on it? I mean, that's it.

Laura (15:35)

You just have to paint it again.

you tell people that bit there is wet, don't touch it. The door frames are wet, the doors are wet. Don't touch it until at least like eight o'clock tonight and then it will be dry. It's on them, you know.

Gina (15:50)

And then go back and

then it prints in it.

Laura (15:52)

lucky I've not, have I had it? I've had it where I painted a banister and they've scraped it. Yeah,

Gina (16:02)

would probably paint my own banister and then walk downstairs and grab it. ⁓

Laura (16:04)

Woo! I've done it! I have done

it! I was painting my dad's banisters at the top of his landing and you've got those little round balls on the top of the newelposts yeah? Rollin', rollin', rollin'. Just put my hand on there, turn round. what the I had a perfect ball on the palm of my hand. I was like, no! What the hell? Honestly.

Gina (16:20)

Yeah.

disconnect the waste of the sink and then pour it in the sink and then it's like pissing out of the bottom Everyone has those brain parts, it's fine.

Laura (16:40)

Absolutely,

it happens to the best of us.

Gina (16:43)

I'll do it, I'll switch all the power off. I'm like, can I use your loo? And then go switch the light on. I'm like, cool. No power off.

Laura (16:47)

Can't shut the door. ⁓

mate. So what's coming up next for Gina? I saw something on your Instagram, a nomination am I right?

Gina (17:03)

Oh god, yeah. I honestly didn't know anything about it. I didn't know anything about it until the guy rang me and was like, oh, you've been shortlisted. I was like, eh? And I was like, so I went to the awards night last year, but I wasn't nominated or anything. just went. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, I went last year and that was the first time I met Chippy Em.

Laura (17:05)

Yeah, we're talking about that.

No?

Did you? we're talking about on the tools by the way, for anybody listening. Yeah. That's all right.

What's it?

Gina (17:34)

Honest to God, social media is such a weird thing, right? I met her for the first time last year and I felt like, as soon as I met her, I felt like I'd known her all my life. It was so weird. It was the weirdest thing. She had a hotel room, like randomly with this random person that was offline, like online, and we had the best night. yeah, I just went, I got invited last year just to go.

Laura (17:56)

Amazing

Gina (18:02)

And then, and like see what it's about. then randomly, I've got this phone call saying that I've been shortlisted for electrician of the year. So I don't know. I'm going to go obviously, but if I win, I honestly, I don't, I don't want to, because I don't want to be put in that situation. That was so awkward. I probably just go, you know what mean? I just want to go and have a drink and have a good time. Yeah.

Laura (18:10)

Boom.

course.

⁓ mate, come on.

You'll be right after a couple of drinks, you

know?

Gina (18:30)

I didn't like, me and Em did an interview with this guy, last year and I was so awkward, I'm so awkward, I'm so awkward, I don't know.

Laura (18:39)

Just treat it like you're speaking to a mate, you know?

Gina (18:43)

it's not the same, it's not the same No. ⁓

Laura (18:45)

I know what you mean. is,

yeah, it can be a bit awkward. I get it.

Gina (18:49)

And everyone

always wants to do the same thing, don't they? Especially to do with the van thing. How did it make you feel? Sad. You didn't ask me how it made me feel, so I'm okay.

Laura (18:54)

Yeah. Sorry about that. Sorry I asked.

No, I mean,

yeah, it's quite obvious how it made you feel, you know?

Gina (19:06)

And they're gonna ask, I

know they're gonna ask there, they're gonna ask, I know they are, they've got to get like prepared and ready. Sad. Yeah, get those little capsules. No, it's actually really upsetting. Like I can't, I hate the fact that that's the thing now. I hate that, I hate that that's the video, that's online right now on, I can't delete it because then they'll be like,

Laura (19:12)

Mm.

Get those tears ready, you know.

I know it was. I'm not. I'm sorry. I wasn't taking a piss. Really. No.

I know!

Gina (19:33)

because I had a few people say, it smells a bit fishy. What, like I've prepared someone to break in my van and take my tools and make me cry? No, thank you. Yeah.

Laura (19:37)

⁓ piss off, come on.

Exactly. There are

always going to be people like that that second guess everything. The bloody... ⁓ What was it? The... ⁓ I can't think of a bloody word now, but yeah, the conspiracy theorists, know, that type of person, you know. find your words, Laura, find your words.

Gina (19:58)

⁓ yeah, i was wondering what you were gona say. ⁓

It's

always been that, nob head no.

Laura (20:07)

Yeah.

But yeah, so on the tools 2025 electrician of the year nomination for you and when do, when is it being drawn?

Gina (20:15)

Mmm.

30th. The award tonight is the 30th of October, Need to find something to wear. That's another stress. I need to something to wear. What am I supposed to wear?

Laura (20:27)

mate, don't.

hate that. That would be the worst part for me, finding something to wear, you know, when you're always either in...

Gina (20:36)

I can't just say that

I can't just wear what i wore last year because I'm on a camera. Do know what mean? I need to go get something else. We're gonna get a

Laura (20:40)

Yeah, done yourself in there.

You

Gina (20:46)

I don't know what to wear But yeah, that's something else that I stress about.

Laura (20:50)

Yeah,

you've got a month yet, you'll right, you'll find some it's.

Gina (20:54)

⁓ yeah, I know. Yeah, a month's not long, is it?

Laura (21:00)

order a load of stuff and then send half of it back. That's what people do innit?

Gina (21:05)

I don't know. I don't order anything. I literally don't order anything. don't, like, I wear my work clothes, I wear my football clothes and that's all. I don't wear anything else.

Laura (21:07)

Yeah.

Well, I was going to say that, yeah.

I don't wear out-out clothes. It's... No, no, neither do I. I don't even drink.

So it's like, well, what's a pub anymore, you know? No.

Gina (21:27)

⁓

I would love to say that I don't.

Laura (21:31)

I don't, I've not drank for a while now. I don't miss it, to be fair. No. No. Well, I lie. I had a little bit of red wine on holiday, just a tiny weenie like a quarter of a glass with food. And I might have a little glass of bubbles at Christmas, but that's it. I'm not, I don't get drawn to it. Like if I did go to a restaurant, I wouldn't be like, I really want a pint, but I know I shouldn't have one. I don't get that.

Gina (21:35)

What like not even one drop?

Laura (22:01)

I'm quite happy with a zero beer or...

Gina (22:04)

Did

you used to like go out partying like hard? Did you? I don't know what it is.

Laura (22:08)

hard.

Mate, I was clubbing in...

It would have been the early to mid 2000s, I think. I left school in 2003. Yeah. Yeah, so around that year, that's when I started going out and it, yeah, hard mate. was like Monday, not Monday night. That was Monday night was off Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday after football. Yeah.

Gina (22:20)

Yeah. ⁓

Yeah.

That's my downfall, the pint after football. Yeah, ⁓ that's the thing. Like when I've run around for 90 minutes, like today, I can't not see myself having a pint after football. So I did like, yeah, I did like a, although a lot of the girls have like pepsis or coats on. Don't hit the spot. Like after you've run around, you just need a pint.

Laura (22:44)

I know, right? Mm-hmm.

It's part of the culture, innit?

Okay.

Gina (23:10)

I just can't, I can't not have a plan F4. People might think I'm deaf, but I just can't.

Laura (23:10)

Yeah.

One's not gonna harm though, you know.

Gina (23:20)

No, but I just, I don't know. That's what I look forward to as well. So Thursdays after training, pint Sundays after football, pint

Laura (23:25)

There ya go

There you go. It's all right.

Gina (23:31)

and a partisan,

so like I can't, or if I'm on holiday, I went to Croatia not long ago and probably had far too much. But I was a mother.

Laura (23:35)

Yeah.

You're still young

though, you you're allowed to. Not that anybody over your age is not allowed to, but you know, it's, yeah, it's part of growing, isn't it? It's part of growing up.

Gina (23:53)

Yeah, you could say I think a lot of trades people, or whatever, probably do that when they get home from work. They have like a beer out of the fridge or whatever. I into, like I acknowledged it. When I first started working for myself, I used to do it a lot. And I acknowledged it. I like, this isn't okay. Like me reaching for a...

Laura (24:03)

Yeah.

Did you?

Gina (24:17)

with a or bottle every time I finished work, I was like, I'm not getting it in anymore because it's right. Like just because I've been stressed or I'm I'm rewarding myself because I've had the, like I graft, do you know what mean? I've grafted all day. So yeah, stopped. Like I thought this is not normal. Yeah, it's not healthy for me to do this. Like it was never, I'll admit to you, was never enough every day. And I was just like, it's not okay. So.

Laura (24:23)

Yeah.

Yeah.

healthy.

can relate because

even though I don't drink alcohol, I would still stock my fridge with the zero percent Heineken beers. And as soon as I come in and I'd open one of them. And to me, it was hitting the spot that a normal beer would hit, you know. But I think I get to a point where I've just had enough, as in like one's probably enough for me.

Gina (24:55)

Yeah. Yeah.

See you.

Yeah.

Laura (25:13)

But I know,

like you say, there's probably a bit of...

Gina (25:17)

I know

quite a lot of tradesmen that I've spoke to, just because I've spoke to tradesmen about it, not women about it. You're probably the only tradeswoman I've spoke about it. But yeah, there's quite a few of people that either do it now or have done it and have acknowledged that it's not healthy for the people. So yeah, I think it's just a...

Laura (25:22)

Yeah.

Mm.

Okay.

Gina (25:45)

I don't know why that's like part of the thing.

Laura (25:49)

think we've been ingrained to believe that alcohol is a stress reliever. You know.

Gina (25:54)

Yeah,

I mean it makes you feel better at that time, doesn't it? But then the next day or like through the night you're like then it makes you more anxious about everything else that you're dealing with or...

Laura (25:57)

Exactly.

Yeah.

And part of the reason that I stopped drinking was because I didn't want to get pulled over in the morning in my work van, get randomly breath tested. And lo and behold, I'm over the limit because I had two or three beers at home because I'd had a shit day the day before, you know, then that's it. No more money coming in for me.

Gina (26:14)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah,

yeah, yeah. I mean, sometimes I think that about football, think, what if I get injured?

Laura (26:34)

Yeah.

Yeah, that's another reason why I don't play Monday night anymore. Because I was getting injured. Constantly.

Gina (26:44)

Mm-hmm. Yeah,

I Monday night's a bit brutal, though, to be fair. There's a lot of people.

Laura (26:48)

It is to be fair, innit? And it's meant to be a Vets

League. Come on, girls, calm down. Mm-hmm.

Gina (26:53)

No, no.

The last, I got whacked last time and it hurts. It hurts. And like, you think, I'm all right, I'm just a bit bruised, but then you think it could have been a lot worse though. What if I've like What if I break something next time? Do you know what mean? I've been like, the last like serious thing was...

Laura (27:03)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Gina (27:21)

When I first started with my dad, I sliced my thumb off and I was off for like six weeks, but I was getting paid then. But then I think, what if I make a stupid mistake like that now? What have I got? Because how am I going to actually, I just go like I didn't cast.

Laura (27:26)

Mmm.

Okay.

You can just hold this cable, duck. Can ya?

Gina (27:44)

That's also something that I get a bit icky about when customers, I don't know if they do it with you, like offer to take your tools out to the van. I get icky about, no I'm all right, I'm a big girl. Do you know what I mean? Stop trying to kick me out your house. Just let me leave in my own time, let me put my tools up where I want them and then just let me do what I

Laura (27:56)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah,

I get I get that it for sure. mean, I don't mind them. I don't mind them carrying the paint that they've purchased, but I'm absolutely capable and I'm perfectly fine doing three trips to the van to get all the tools that I need because I can carry them. Not that you may be second guessing that I can't that I can carry them, but I'm happy to get what I need out of my own van, you know.

Gina (28:15)

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah,

Laura (28:35)

I... Yes.

Gina (28:35)

at the time I need to get out and the time I need to put it back. let me just do it in my own time.

Laura (28:40)

Let me work my process because that's what it is though as well, isn't it? It's you've already On your way to that job. You've got a process in your head of how the day is gonna roll out and For someone to swoop in and say ⁓ I'll carry that for you. No,

Gina (28:43)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes

that's what I'm going

to do. That's not what goes in my van first. Yeah. No, I don't know.

Laura (29:01)

Yeah, ah, turmoil. But saying that,

saying that, we do appreciate the gesture and the kind nature behind it. The majority of the time, you know, yeah. And there will be a moment where we have got a sore back or a sore knee or something, and we will take you upon the offer. But generally, we like to carry our own tools, please.

Gina (29:16)

Yeah,

Yeah. ⁓

Laura (29:29)

Yeah.

Gina (29:31)

It makes me feel like they want me out of way when they do it. want me take your tools? I take your tools, I grab this bag. Do you me to grab anything? No, leave me alone. Yeah, or when they don't offer you a drink.

Laura (29:34)

Rushed.

You

Well, I am probably the anomaly in that because I don't drink tea or coffee during the day.

Gina (29:52)

Yeah, but not even a water.

Laura (29:53)

I bring my own. So, when people do offer me, I then feel bad because I will always say no. Like 99.9 % of the time I'll probably say no.

Gina (29:55)

Yeah, I will.

No, so sometimes I'm like, yeah, I'll have a coffee, black one, sugar. And then...

Laura (30:11)

I drink black one sugar.

Gina (30:12)

And then, yeah, and then it's easier, especially when you're on the tools Like, I've only got oat milk, okay, black one, sugar. Do know what I mean? I've only got soya, okay, black one, sugar, black one, sugar. And then, like some people will be like, on it, and they'll be like, do you want another drink? Yeah, literally, down it, another one. Like, I will drink coffee till the cows come home, right? And a lot of my customers know that.

Laura (30:17)

Yeah.

Hahaha!

Yeah.

Gina (30:42)

But sometimes I make you one and then you've drank it and then you're like... Sometimes I make a point of putting... Like when they're in the kitchen I'll put the cup on the side like, thanks for that! Looking at the kettle like... Thank you! Sometimes I'll go, can you hear that? And they'll go, what? I can't you hear that?

Laura (30:47)

Poshed.

Gina (31:08)

They're like, no, what? I'm like, neither can I, it's not kettle, is it? I'm like, oh, you want a drink, do ya? Yes, I want a fucking drink. That's what customers that I know. It's cheeky, but yeah, a lot of my customers.

Laura (31:17)

Brilliant, I love that one.

Yeah, yeah. So for anyone that gets

Gina in, she likes a brew, black one sugar, coffee, keep them coming. Anything to help you get through the day, You know, that's just what it is. Right, we've kind of come to a point here where I wanna do a little quick fire question round with you. So it's a this or that. So the first one's easy.

Gina (31:28)

Yeah, ya got to, got to. 

It is, yeah.

Okay.

Laura (31:48)

because we've literally just been talking about it. So I know your answer. Tea or coffee?

Gina (31:53)

Coffee.

Laura (31:54)

Bosch or Dewalt?

Gina (31:56)

Bosh. All day.

Laura (31:58)

all day long. Dogs or ducks?

Gina (32:02)

no! No! Ducks.

Laura (32:06)

I was wondering whether you'd say both on that one.

Gina (32:11)

I didn't know I could do both, both, Both.

Laura (32:13)

All right, we'll take it back, we'll go both.

Camping or glamping? Yes. ⁓ Chasing out or conduit?

Gina (32:18)

camping.

Chasing out.

Laura (32:26)

Driver or passenger?

Gina (32:28)

driver. I get sick if I'm a passenger. I don't trust anyone. don't trust anyone. Yeah, you know if I'm not driving, you know if I'm in a passenger, I'm like, are you gonna break? Are you gonna break? Are you gonna break? Like, holding onto the car.

Laura (32:32)

are you a travel sick person?

I do that, like the foot is down on the floor, like... Yep,

hands on dashboard. Brace, brace, brace!

Gina (32:52)

We talked

to where's my oxygen mask

Laura (32:57)

There's nothing under my seat! Definitely. ⁓ gosh. And last but not least, fixing a mystery fault or a brand new install.

Gina (32:57)

Definitely driver, definitely.

Fault finding.

I love a fault find. It's because I'm good at it. I'm good at first installs as well, like new installs, but I like fault finding only because it's like the satisfaction is there when you find it and the customer is like, my God, you're magic. I'm just like, ⁓

Laura (33:13)

Nice. There you go. That's the experience you've got, it?

Yeah.

⁓ I know, thank you.

Gina (33:38)

That's £155 million please. Thank you.

Laura (33:40)

Thank you very much. Pay me now. ⁓

brilliant. Sweet. Awesome. Okay. So I like to just ask last three questions I asked to everybody. First one being, if you could be another trade, what would you choose and why?

Gina (34:05)

Mm.

I'd probably be a carpenter just because I've dabbled in it and I enjoy it. That's it. Don't like plumbing. ee, why would you want to do that? Painting and decorating is all right, to be fair, but I I ain't got the patience for it. Plastering's a no, no way. But I think it'd be carpentry, yeah.

Laura (34:13)

Yeah.

Mm-mm.

Yeah.

I've said it before, I'd probably pick carpentry too. I've tried my hand a little, few bits and bobs and yeah, it's nice, it? Yeah, it's tidy. It's another tidy trade.

Gina (34:41)

Yeah.

and like a lot of satisfaction as well. You know, like seeing it done and like actually making something and like, do you know what mean? You can say that about your trade also, but I feel like I'd, ⁓ about a lot of trades, but I feel like, I don't know if I'd get a bit bored with yours.

Laura (34:45)

Yeah.

Mm.

You can say it.

Yeah.

lot of people say that, a lot of people think you've got to lot of patience for painting and decorating. And I guess, I guess you have, I don't know.

Gina (35:10)

Yeah.

I think it's something, it can be therapeutic, but like, you know, if you've got a job that again, going back to like not wanting to do it, like imagine having a house that was already white. You've probably done this a million times. ⁓ A house that's already painted white and then the customer going, you just put a lick of paint right here that's white.

Laura (35:23)

Yeah.

Gina (35:37)

I'd rather shoot myself in the face. I can't do it. That's what put me off. I couldn't do it. Yeah. I can't.

Laura (35:39)

May like. You you get snow blind, like white blind. You have to

kind of look away constantly because you can't see what you've painted. white on white is more difficult to paint than a color, you know. ⁓ yeah, 100 percent. Yeah.

Gina (35:52)

wave in.

Nope. And it's all about prep, innit? It's all about prep. Yeah, no.

I haven't got the patience do that either.

Yeah,

I think if it was my least trade then it would be plastering.

Laura (36:16)

Messy innit?

Gina (36:18)

Why would anyone choose to be a plasterer?

Laura (36:20)

so difficult. You gotta have shoulders like an ox as well, ain't ya?

Gina (36:24)

Yeah. Oh God, no thanks. Hang on a bit. Like even just filling like a little hole that I made or like chasers that I've done. No. No.

Laura (36:32)

Really? I

love filling. To be fair, I probably enjoy plastering.

Gina (36:38)

no. Like I've got a female plasterer that I use and I watch her and I'm like, how are you doing that? Like it's like marble when she's finished and I'm like, how do you do that? Like you're not even, you're not even sad about it. You're not even sad that you've stood there and gone eight hours. Like I'd be like, fucking, fucking, I know. No.

Laura (36:45)

Yeah.

boo.

It's all about the process though,

Gina (37:02)

then it just painted by you guys and then you can't even see it.

Laura (37:07)

think half the appreciation a plasterer probably gets is from a painter and decorator because whenever I go into a house that's been freshly plastered, the first thing I do is run my hands across the walls. And that's when I know how long my process is going to take, because if it's fricking smooth as or, you know, just perfect, it's like, this is going to be a dream job.

Gina (37:14)

Yay.

Yeah.

Yeah, you can just get straight on it. We follow plasters too, with our socket boxers. Yeah, some of them are great. My plaster is amazing. But some of them, it's like, there was a socket on that wall, there? Where? Yeah. I don't know.

Laura (37:37)

Yeah, straight into it.

You do, yeah.

What is that? Why do plasters have

to fill back boxes with...plaster? That annoys me, mate.

Gina (38:00)

I don't know why they do it. I don't know why they do it. I

I don't get it, but they do it.

Laura (38:06)

Just

knock it out. Use your finger and knock it out.

Gina (38:10)

When it's wet, just go... Don't know.

Laura (38:12)

Yeah. Come on. Plasterer's have got to do better. Do not fill

the back boxes with plaster. Come on.

Gina (38:20)

I don't know. Like I try to tuck my cables in to the boxes when I've done a job. So they've got an easy, so they're not hitting it because sometimes it damage the cable as well. So like if they hit it with a trowel and the trowel's sharp. So I took them all in a couple of times I've used so we can get those little boxes like plates that we can put over the top so they can just plaster up to it. And then we take the plates off and then it's okay.

Laura (38:24)

Yeah.

going around it.

⁓

Gina (38:48)

which is okay, but not every job warrants doing that or has the budget to get those to do it. you know what I mean? So we just, yeah, some classes just go over it.

Laura (38:52)

Yeah.

Okay.

Just like hope and

pray that they've not filled it all in, yeah.

Gina (39:03)

Yeah,

like you see people that have had their cables cut by plasterer's just cut off because they've left them out rather than tucking them in. They've just cut them off and it's like, why? What is the hate? Yeah, what is the hate about? Like, I don't get it.

Laura (39:11)

Ugh.

that person obviously had a bad day.

Yeah, it's all wars, innit?

Gina (39:22)

Yeah, which trades the best? Which trades the best? We're all different. Do you know what mean? We're all like, we're all like, and it's a process of trades anyway. You're all on the same job. Everyone's got to be there. So why are you hating? Do know what mean? If you want to be an electrician, be an electrician. Don't hate on us. Do you know what I mean? Right. Yeah, don't get it.

Laura (39:25)

⁓ don't. Yeah.

Exactly!

Yeah.

know, exactly. yeah,

we've all got our own niggles about the trade that we follow on from. But if we all worked to the correct acceptable level, exactly. Yeah, I wouldn't have to flippin in fill

Gina (39:56)

No one would moan about anyone.

Laura (40:02)

50 million nail holes instead of just seven on a door frame. You know? Or fill a gap of a skirting board that's like seven mil wide when it should be two. Like.

Gina (40:05)

Yeah.

Yeah,

it makes you feel like... I've had a few times when... Have you had a job? I've had a few jobs that make me feel like I'm rubbish at my job.

Laura (40:25)

Yep. Yeah. Mate, I get it all the time. Yeah.

Gina (40:29)

And it's just the

job. It's just the job. Like every job is different. And like some jobs just make you feel like you're shit at your job. Like I know what I'm doing. Like I'm not actually this bad. Like it's just this job.

Laura (40:32)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Like the one I've

just done, I was painting a living room in like a ⁓ bit of an older Victorian house and it had like a little bit higher ceilings, some nice deep coving and it was solid brick. So I've done all my prep and I'm putting first coat of paint on the walls and I'm thinking like

this should be dry about now. I've cut in a second time. Yeah, it's fine. Go to roll and the paint comes off because it's not dry. Because it's just because the house was cold, the heating hadn't been on because the temperatures dropped now. The house wasn't warm enough to dry everything. So I'm now at like

Gina (41:23)

Is that just damp?

Yeah, yeah.

Laura (41:39)

three o'clock in the afternoon thinking I can't even get a second coat of paint on when I'd planned to have had all the painting done, including the top coat of woodwork so that I could do the wallpaper the following day. And I, I just panicked. was like, it looks shocking. Like nothing, it's picture framing where you can see the cutting in, but I'd done mini roller.

Gina (41:54)

Yeah.

Laura (42:07)

brush everything to the whole normal process. And I just thought this is going sidewards, this job. Like I feel bloody awful. ⁓ And I just had, I had literally like a little bit of paint left and I thought I'd have to get some more paint. So I left the job like half three when I should have been staying longer than that. Went and got some more paint, got to Brewers like.

Gina (42:17)

Yeah.

Laura (42:36)

15 minutes before it shut, turned up the next day and it all dried back perfect. So it was a temperature thing. But it's things like that that make you doubt your whole capability in it.

Gina (42:45)

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, 100%. There's like certain jobs just mess you up a bit. Yeah, it's like if we get a job that's like, I don't know, like we get quite a few houses that are like, we take the floorboards up and the joists run separate ways to one another. Some of them go that way, some of them go that way. In that room they go that way. And then you have to like overcome.

Laura (42:55)

Yeah.

Just throw you off, don't they? Yeah.

Gina (43:18)

that like we can't just run our cable straight down there now do you know what mean or this is like a steel in the way or and we're just like and then it takes longer than it's supposed to take and you're like ⁓ you know and the customer's like ⁓ what have you done today and you're just like dealt with shit okay your house sell it well it was the old house aswell init

Laura (43:22)

Yeah.

Uhhh

It is, yeah. I got a rental when I was doing it up. I had that problem where the joists ran the opposite way to the floorboards. Both my plumber and my electrician were not happy about that.

Gina (43:54)

Yeah.

No, it's like they change in each room. I had that on a job not far from me. Like every room, the joists were a different way. So it just threw up all the cables and it was like, the front room was like, and then the hallway and then the other room was back to that. And then it was horrible. It was horrible. And obviously like then you got to get around pipes that have been added on.

Laura (44:02)

Mmm.

Wow.

No way!

That sounds awful.

Mm.

Gina (44:28)

over the years.

⁓ Luckily it was a rewire I was pulling all the old stuff out but yeah if you were adding cables to that it would have been nightmare. There's no where to put anything. Yeah.

Laura (44:39)

Sounds it. Yeah.

Let's

see how. The things you have to do, eh? That's true, yeah. And we can pick and choose what we wanna do. So, yeah.

Gina (44:46)

Well, no, it's our job though, we can't wait about it. ⁓

Yeah.

don't want to fight. You're self-employed, can do what you want. off. No, can't.

Laura (44:58)

can't because if that's the only job that I've been offered this month and I've got to take it, you know. right.

Gina (45:03)

Yeah, I thought you were.

Laura (45:10)

So what trade or who, Gina, do you think I should have on the show next?

Gina (45:16)

Obviously I'm going to say Amy Sparky, aren't I?

Laura (45:17)

Fair play. Fair play.

Gina (45:20)

You've already had Chippie Em on. You've already had Meg on.

You should probably get a plumber. What about Kaz? You spoke to Kaz?

Laura (45:24)

Fuck off.

Kaz? No, I don't think so. I will have a look. really? Okay, cool,

Gina (45:30)

She's not far from this as well. ⁓

to so many people.

Laura (45:39)

You're gonna have to fill me in with all the people local to us because I struggle to come across female tradespeople in our area. And for anybody that's listening, me and Gina live quite close to each other in Nottingham. So this is what I'm saying. I live in Eastwood.

Gina (45:54)

Where did he live? Where did live?

No way!

Laura (45:58)

Yeah.

Gina (46:01)

That's like five minutes.

Laura (46:03)

I know. Are you Ripley or Heanor Heanor.

Gina (46:07)

which

is even like basically like Langley Mill Heanor so it's like

Laura (46:10)

Yeah.

I know. That's why I've offered to take you to football on a Monday night. On the odd occasion. Once.

Gina (46:18)

I can't even remember.

Laura (46:20)

Yeah.

So you

didn't even read it, didn't even acknowledge me.

Gina (46:26)

That's close isn't it? Wow, yeah, okay. But yeah, Kazgas, plumber, obviously, heating engineer. If I can think of any, I'll go through my things and message ya.

Laura (46:27)

Yeah.

Cool.

What about the plasterer? Your plasterer?

Gina (46:39)

Ray, I've got a multi-trades lady. She don't really post the work online, but she's local to us. then there's Ray. I'll send you a thing is, don't know, she doesn't really post. She does post online, but she doesn't really post. She don't really like have like a, yeah, yeah,

Laura (46:42)

Have fun!

Okay. Yeah.

Engage a lot in it. Okay.

Gina (47:05)

I don't know if she would be up for it or not, but you could message her and just think. But yeah, that'd an interesting one. But yeah, I'll send you some like, thingys, see what they say.

Laura (47:10)

Yeah. Awesome.

Thank you. Cool.

Right, where can people find you on social media, Gina? What was your Instagram? Is it the.daughter?

Gina (47:23)

The daughter. That's it. Just the daughter.

The... Now you've got my... I can't even go on the thing. The daughter underscore I think... I can't even touch my phone because it's stupid.

Laura (47:28)

Let's get it right.

Let me check for you. Hold on. We want to get it right.

Right, it is the.daughter underscore for anyone that wants to follow Gina on her Instagram. That's a handle. I'll put it in the show notes anyway so you can click on it. But yes.

Gina (47:39)

You guys are.

Boring, boring page. Anyway. Yeah.

Laura (47:54)

It's not, it's not, it's really not. Right, I'm gonna

let you go and get some dinner, Gina. Thank you very much, mate. I really appreciate it.

Gina (48:06)

I look forward to seeing what you make of this.

Laura (48:08)

Ha ha mate,

it's nearly two hours in. This is gonna take me flipping weeks. Ha ha. Cool, see you later.

Gina (48:11)

I know, what the fuck! Okay, thanks!

Bye!