Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

I have troubles with personal decision-making, so it was really, really tough even deciding I should call that one. So starting from scratch is daunting. I had hoped the first fella I called would simply quote, be nice, do the job.

Do you know, that's all most people want, isn't it? To book someone to do a job, in a reasonable time, for a reasonable price, to a reasonable standard.

So why is it so damn hard to get stuff done?

I've got several jobs I want done, ranging from an en-suite shower-room, and knocking a couple of holes in walls, to minor electrical and carpentry jobs, but simply haven't the energy to run the gamut of finding people, waiting for ages for people who don't turn up, then for quotes, only to end up with some sort of trauma or other.

The last thing I had done, a few years ago, I knew exactly what I wanted, exactly. I asked around for a recommended builder, got three quotes, checked out references, agreed a price and a start date, and it still ended in tears. The job, which wasn't a big one, inexplicably ground to a halt, two-thirds finished. The individual workmen, who were very good at their jobs, got very cagey, until one of them told me the boss owed a lot of money to them all and to the suppliers, so they weren't doing any more work for him until they got paid.
Which was fair enough.
In the end I had to sack the boss and pay the tradespeople myself to finish the job. That explained why the boss had originally asked for some money up front, which I refused to do, saying I would pay him in stages, for work done. (That should have set alarm bells ringing, I suppose).

The so-and -so had the cheek to send me a final invoice! I sent him a statement, deducting what it had cost me to get the job completed, plus a deduction for him having used a cheaper roof timber than specified, leaving a small amount which I could also have deducted for stress and inconvenience, but I didn't, and sent him that.

It was a real shame, because the quality of the work done by the individuals was great, and has been admired ever since.

However, it has put me right off!

ukmaggie45

Just had not one but TWO birds fly into caravan!!! :eek: Fortunately one flew more or less straight out. The other kept flittering around and landing just above open door, or the windows I opened. Carped on the wall by big back bedroom door. (I sprayed with Dettol disinfectant spray and wiped it off with kitchen roll)

Then I opened back door, and somehow it finally found its way out through there. Phew! :j

PS just had a sparrow try fly in! I stood up and he turned tail and flew off! Eeek, what's with these birds today? Maybe hint to fill up the food?

PPS Went and at risk to life and limb on the steps to patio (very careful with stick, food bag and food dispenser) managed to refill the bird feeders. Already the greedy flying pigs are back! Just hope the don't fly back into caravan again! :rotfl:

Pyxis

Hahahahahaha! You're the mad bird woman of (wherever you are)!
:rotfl:

Do you look like Mary Poppins, by any chance?





Just thought, maybe they thought you were Snow White and were going to do your housework for you!

ivyleaf

Crumbs, Maggie! Goodness knows how it managed to carp on the wall :eek:

Pastures We had a derelict warehouse across the road, with high trees, mostly conifers, in front of it. The site was bought, cleared and is now having two pairs of semis built on it. The builders look to be doing an excellent job, and it'll be lovely when it's finished, but it can certainly get a bit noisy at times. The other day was fun, some were using angle grinders and some were using nail guns! I'm looking forward to the bit where they're doing quieter things like plastering and painting!

The trees had lots of birds nesting in them, especially pigeons which have now decided to roost under the eaves of the nearby houses, including ours and next doors, and s(h)it on the roofs, and onto the wheelie bins, and look for water in the gutters. :mad:

ukmaggie45

Pyxis wrote: »

Hahahahahaha! You're the mad bird woman of (wherever you are)!
:rotfl:

Bwlchtocyn! :rotfl: Bet you can't pronounce that! :rotfl:

Pyxis wrote: »

Do you look like Mary Poppins, by any chance?

I don't think I look much like Mary Poppins... This is the most recent photo I can find of me,

Photo deleted

Pyxis wrote: »

Just thought, maybe they thought you were Snow White and were going to do your housework for you!

LOL, would be nice if they did, but leaving carp on the walls doesn't sound much like that! :rotfl:

PasturesNew

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

...

Because of the way the wind swirls here, if a bird's flying down the side of my house it gets knocked towards the patio doors as soon as the wall ends - and I fear that one day there'll be a random bird inside.

My neighbour (with the big annoying bushes) fed the birds - and my patio/car were full of bird cr4p all the time. And, they'd sit on the gutters waiting to be fed and poop on the windows.

She moved out a month ago - my neighbour said "isn't it great, I can finally hang my washing out!"

So, next time you feed them, think of where they're going to poop - as your neighbours will be suffering from that!



Until I'd lived near a bird feeder ... who then moved away ... I had no idea how annoying/life-limiting all that poop was... and how lovely it is to be poop free.

I couldn't even sit outside (if it weren't so windy ....) as I'd always risk being pooped on.

PasturesNew

ivyleaf wrote: »

... it'll be lovely when it's finished...

I'm focussing on the end gain; long-term I figure I'll be benefitting from a raft of changes and personal bugbears. Firstly that huge oak came down! Then the big bush. I hope the new builds will shelter me from the wind/change its flow patterns and also make my house look more "in a residential area" than not.... also, next door was left to get shabby as they knew it'd be sold, so it'd have been off-putting to some buyers.

ivyleaf wrote: »

... s(h)it on the roofs, and onto the wheelie bins, and look for water in the gutters. :mad:

Yes, annoying when you live with it isn't it. "Can't see the problem" for those who haven't.

ukmaggie45

PasturesNew wrote: »

So, next time you feed them, think of where they're going to poop - as your neighbours will be suffering from that!

Only things drying in the caravans in the field here are towels from swimming on deck balustrades.

I suspect all the caravans with kids have washer/dryers inside. We're the only people I ever see hanging washing up outside (other than wetsuits). Not had probs with bird carp on it yet - they tend to fly along the hedges rather than over the field. Very different situation to suburbia.

We feed the birds at home too, but gardens are big enough for it not to be a problem... Plus the same thing about washer/dryers. We're happy enough to put up with the occasional bit of bird poop on our washing. We know our neighbours well enough that if they had a problem with us feeding the birds they'd let us know. We are careful, unlike the one who just moved away who chucked loads on the ground and then we all had rats!

chris_m

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Bwlchtocyn! :rotfl: Bet you can't pronounce that! :rotfl:

No problem - however, being no good at phonetic typing I can't very well prove it

chris_m

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Only things drying in the caravans in the field here are towels from swimming on deck balustrades.

Has the weather been a tad on the damp side?
:rotfl: