I've spent the week working a manual man job. I've been working as a generally worthless labourer, following my brother and dad around, who are electricians.

I pass tools and make brews and put fittings into walls and other such massively interesting stuff.

On Friday, I was in a half-built extension on the side of a cottage in this rubbishy little rural village nearby, with a handful of other people doing plumbing and stuff. It was raining, and I didn't know what I was doing, and it was cold. Then at dinner time, the plumbers went to get some butties. I asked for a sausage, and, using their 'initiative', they asked for about 60 gallons of ketchup, which I detest on most things.

Coming home every night covered in dust and fibreglass, and often being surrounded by brainless people who stare at you because you're the first male they've seen with hair for decades isn't very good. Its not appalling and I can bear it, but I don't want to do it in the future.

I've decided therefore, that I would much much much rather get some worthless degree that will get me a similar paying job, as long as its in an office of some sort. So I have the debt of my student loan to pay back, and its a bit boring workwise, but the prospect of sitting at a computer doing easy things is so much better than that of sweeping up drilled mounds of dust, and accidentally breaking my hand with a huge lump hammer.

Am I right or am I right? Are there any advantages to getting into manual labouring jobs, despite the fact if you're a joiner, you can build yourself a door without paying someone else to do it?