School aquaintance rang up to offer to employ me as a cleaner....

[Yougottalaffdarlin888]

This person - shall we call her Miranda? She's from a rich family and I knew her at school. I work in Ceramics and she's moving in posh dynamic circles, with a large house, no kids, single - etc. We're struggling artists, but we make do.

She rang me up and said, "I need a cleaner" in a brisk tone.
I said, "I can't help you. We do our own cleaning, so I don't know of anyone who employs a cleaner... and... nope sorry"
She got irritated and said "I want YOU to be my cleaner. Tenner an hour"
I thought, "huh?????" I explained that I didn't have time, but thanks alot, etc.
Put the phone down.
And thought - did that just happen???

Yeah - I know the type. I can place a bet that any money promised to you by that type, will not come your way.... You are right to not bother. They're playing mind games.

I have never come across this before, a dislike or jealousy of crafty artistic types.
Thank goodness that there is art, in all its forms still being made by talented and enthusiastic individuals.
Was your acquaintance trying, in an awkward and rude way, to give you some added financial support, tactlessly, but well intentioned? If she has a wide circle of well off contacts, maybe she could promote your ceramics for you? Turn it around to your advantage, there could be a whole new market amongst her circle of friends.

She sounds like Amanda from Motherland too.

Aww.. these books sound nice..!

Interesting "take" on it Ineke.
I am certainly not rich, but I do make ends meet with a mixture of a part-time retail job, plus my own creative output, plus any other work that comes my way and pays. My choice of life and I'm happy with it.
There are people out there who are not happy with the job they chose to do - and who see "creative types" with a mixture of envy and contempt - Miranda and her peer group tend to get drunk alot/do drugs, in an attempt to see their life as "glam" and if one chose to socialise with them, (I don't) then it is clear that they are on a desperate race to make their lives better, but they are not sure how to do so.
Therefore
Showing contempt for those who are fine with their lives, is a part of that.
I can well imagine Miranda laughing her head off , telling people that she's going to get a crusty arty type with tatoos, (yup that's me) to work as a cleaner. It is a status game.

Awww.... we don't have a TV so now I wish we did so I can laugh at that one xx

I used to love reading Katie Fforde books - they are like that. Nice bit of escapism.
My little seaside town - in reality - is a major city, but it is great for renting a Kiln and part time maker space. The "locals" .... ha hah... no idea, sorry.

😂

I love Heidi Swain's books.

There's a world of difference between employing someone as a professional, tax-paying, national insurance-paying, insured cleaner and suggesting to someone you know socially that they come and clean up after you personally for a few quid.
The latter is condescending and rude. She's utterly full of carp!

Same as @IrisVersicolor x

Jealous, I think. @Redebs You are spot on - thank you. xx

@Yougottalaffdarlin888 do you make ceramic christmas trees? The ones around 2ft high that have a lamp inside? I've been looking for one of those for years. Used to have one as a kid that was made by my grandmother.

Blimey. Let me know if she finds anyone any good for £10 an hour!!!
I pay my cleaner £18.75 an hour!! 🙈 in a small town in the midlands.

If her motivation was to help you. She could have bought your art! Or commissioned something.

I have helped a struggling friend with their business by buying from them and refusing to have a friends discount!

she thought you might be an easy option to exploit.

I love phoning her up and suggesting she be an escort suggestion! 😂

@Yougottalaffdarlin888
Do you have a website that you can pm me? Love ceramics and am always trying to source new things , unless it's glazemepretty, in which case I'm already a customer 😂

I know a woman who does stuff like this to me constantly. I know her through a few different channels.

Bizarrely, we crossed paths professionally, we were similarly fairly high earners. I then went for a career change which took a few years of retraining during which I did lots of casual work in retail and hospitality.

Her career curtailed for various reasons. She got married to her boyfriend, he is extremely successful and she jumped into a much wealthier bracket. Our lives stopped naturally crossing paths as we live in very different areas with very different lifestyles.

During this time she recommended me to someone for a professional (previous career related) contract and apparently told him I would deliver the work for some 'pocket money'. I pitched for the business and charged above market consultancy rates. I was furious by her assumption but said nothing.

She has at various intervals offered to take me on holiday 'free of charge' on the understanding I'll help with the babysitting so herself and her husband can have evenings out. I have no idea why she thinks I would have random weeks free to tag along with another family and mind the children just because I get free flights and accommodation. I declined everytime far too politely looking back.

Fast forward a few years, I'm qualified, in my new profession, own a house, raising my own child with partner. We have no particular money worries (I never did - I was simply economising while I was studying which is fairly sensible behaviour) when I receive a call from her enquiring what my summer plans are - i get extended time off which was one of the reasons I changed careers before having children.

Mistakenly thinking she was interested I cheerfully launched into a description of all the travel plans I had made for me and the family. She rudely cut me short with a swear and barked "oh! I wish you had spoken to me first, I was planning on offering you a summer job as our nanny, it would have been handy money for you."

Similar to the op I was temporarily speechless.

I was paying £15 an hour pre covid! Don't have a cleaner now because I've moved and there's a waiting list for everyone in my town, I'm paying (bribing) the kids to clean with Prosecco (they are adults just lazy)