Thursday 26 February 2009

100th entry since AOL


Good afternoon, after three and a half days of banging, sawing and a big mess the bathroom is in . I thought that we would never be free of workmen again. A few things went wrong (think that's a bit of a understatement) and that did not help. First of all the plumber arrived bright and early Monday morning. After much hammering and banging the bath came out, then he came down and asked us where the new bathroom suite was, we told him it was ordered by his firm so after a phone call to his boss he was told it would be delivered that day. Great, all's well we thought, and yes everything was delivered on Monday morning and left in the front garden, as the plumber was away somewhere for something. Stuart nipped up to Perth to collect Ellen that went OK. When they arrived back the plumber knocked his afternoon cup of tea over, from the top banister where it had been sitting and it poured downstairs, now to make this clear to you dear readers, my staircase is open and off the back of my lounge so it poured all over the dining room table onto Stuart's laptop and over everything else that was sitting there at that time, and all down stairs as they are not carpeted just varnished. Later I noticed it was all over the wall too, plumber said the bath panel had fallen over all by itself and knocked the cup down. So that was Monday.,Tuesday the joiner arrived about nine o'clock just after the plumber, to put up the wet wall board, the plumber departed and said he would return at about 4 o'clock to connect the loo up for overnight use. The bath was in place, someone used a saw and lent on the bath as a support and sawed a grove in the new bath, so a new one had to be ordered, so glad I noticed it in time. By night I had a bath not plumbed in, that had to come out again, no wash hand basin, but an overnight a loo that worked (thank goodness) and that was Tuesday.
Wednesday dawned bright and sunny, and we thought yes he will be finished today. Said plumber worked away for a while removing the damaged bath, the new one was delivered, and he swapped them over took the apricot bath to the tip, stood chatting for about 15 minutes to a work man that was in the street to do some work for someone, came back,worked for a little while longer then off he went to take the damaged bath somewhere and hour and a half later he returned. By this time I was getting really upset, we had not had a working bathroom since Monday morning and I still did not have anything working at all, only an overnight loo which did not cut out by itself when up to the mark we had to use a screwdriver to stop the flow of water. Still at least we could use it. When he arrived back after his break to wherever, Stuart had a few stern words with him and that seemed to make a big difference. He seemed to get on with things yesterday afternoon, but then as I walked past the new radiator that was going in to replace the tired old one I saw the size and said to Stuart I think this is wrong the size, it's the wrong way round, it was longer than it was tall and it should have been taller than long, if fitted the door into the bathroom would not have opened. Stuart told the plumber and he said he would have to get another radiator ordered the right size. About four fifteen he appeared downstairs and said he would be back today to fit the new radiator and the front bath panel. So here we are day four and at last I have a new bathroom fitted, don't know what has happened to the water pressure but will find out later when the boss calls. So you can imagine what a week we have had. With the lay out of the house all the workmen have to traipse in and out through the lounge, they always leave all the doors open, wear big boots, with commado soles which bring in the red chips into the lounge where we were trying to be normal ha ha. The whole thing has been a complete nightmare. The one good thing was my neighbour (the one who got married in September) is away just now and we had the use of her loo or it would have been unbearable.
I think this entry is worthy of being my 100th since being evicted from AOL journals, can't quite believe I have written 100 entries already, what do I get to say, my life is not as eventful as it has been this week. So off to lay down in a darkened room to recuperate, till next time, Love, Joan.



15 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

What a terrible disaster your new bath has turned out to be. I haven't had much luck with workmen either and I dread everytime something needs to be done. They charge high prices and often don't do their jobs right. Hope it all gets set right for you and you can relax and just enjoy it all.
'On Ya'-ma

Sandra said...

and to think I want a new tub... maybe I will wait ..... at least now you have a nice new bath room if the water pressure is restored.... I hope you enjoy after your rest etc
sandra

Hollie said...

Bless your heart! That's one reason I don't do a whole lot of changing around. Every experience I have had with workers has usually turned out to be a disaster!

Kath said...

Joan tradesmen are not as they used to be.Very few anyway,you do get the odd ones who still crack on witht he job and take a pride in there work.I was so releaved to know you hadn't had new carpet up your staircase as I remembered you saying it was open plan into the lounge like mine is.Doesn't it make you so angry.Thats what I was like when I had no water for ten days frustrated wasn't the word.Grrrrr.Soon you will be all back to normal and I bet you don't have much else done for a while.Never mind dear a new kitchen and a new bathroom I should call it a day now.I hate workmen in.I hope you feel much better as the weekend passes.Take Care God Bless Kath xx

Sybil said...

Oh dear Joan, what a chapter of accidents...I hope when it comes to paying the bill you will ask and expect to get a big discount for all the drama...Is the computer ok. after it's drench with the tea ?
Now it is all almost done you will be able to relax and enjoy your lovely new kitchen and bathroom and think ...well thats that done never again !!...
Now to take a nice long rest.
Love Sybil xx

Sugar said...

on my! terrible luck with the service people. there was a time when people took pride in their work,but not too many of those these days.
huggies...

Jan said...

Oh Joan ! ! ! .....I dont know what to say ,Have you any hair left ? have you pulled it all out ? Oh I hope they are finished and gone verrrry soon .love Jan xx

Unknown said...

oh that is pretty AWFUL what a nightmare!

Missie said...

I think every home improvement has a disaster. LOL

Enjoy your weekend coming up.

Yasmin said...

Congrats on your 100th entry.
Trouble is once you start decorating etc, it just goes on and and there's always something, hope the laptop is working ok. now you have the joy of putting everything right again. that will keep you out of trouble..lol

Yasmin
xx

Marie Rayner said...

Oh, I do hope it's sorted soon Joan!! How frustrating for you. Congrats on 100 entries though!

Aileen said...

Oh! Joan, I could really feel your 'upset', and hope you are now pleased with the Result, also Winter not a good time for 'upgrading' bet you are glad it's finished, and better days to look forward to
Aileen...X

Bunny said...

I am reminded of Flanders and Swann; `The Gasman Cometh' remember?

Angie said...

When you're short of a bathroom 2 days sems like 2 weeks - or more - doesn't it? I know! I sometimes think the nly workman worth getting in is the one with a vested interest in getting it right first time AND quick. In my case Keith but he can't do plumbing.

Did you also have toprovide the tea that the dimwit chucked all over everything?

love, Angie, xx

Ally Lifewithally said...

Oh Joan what a list of disasters ~ I hope everything will be finished soon and you can say goodbye to that Workman ~ (You must tell us who the company was that fitted it for you then we can avouil them like the plague) ~ Ally x

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