May 23rd, 2010
You will recall from Fridays post that we were expecting the nice chaps from Everest Home Improvements to make a return visit to our home to fit new external doors. As we have come to expect, they arrived bang on time and reversed down our driveway with the goods in question.
I put the kettle on as is traditional when you have tradesmen visit your home. The kettle boiled quickly and with two generous helpings of sugar in each mug I passed them out to the two chaps (one of them was particularly fit) who by now had unloaded their van.
While taking sips from their tea, they unrolled and rolled their tape measure after holding it against various angles of our existing doors. A look of panic started to cut across their faces. I ignored this and carried on cleaning out the dish washer (it was due a service) until one of them came up behind me and said “we have a problem”.
The two front external doors they hoped to fit were too big to go into the existing space that would be left on removal of the old doors. The problem hinged on, as it turned out, the hinges. They were too low and would require the removal of some skirting board in order for it to work. Given this would look like a ‘bodge’ job I declined. By this point it is fair to say I was unhappy and told them that if the two front doors could not be fitted there was no point in them fitting the rear door as well.
Several phones calls ensued and in the end they packed up the van and left promising someone would call me on Monday. The guys themselves were actually very professional and apologetic for a mistake not of their making. I think they were equally annoyed as I was having had a wasted trip.
Anyway, perhaps it was my fault for predicting the successful installation of our new doors in my post on Friday. The Pryordurkin luck tends not to like such presumptions and made a fleeting visit to remind us we are never really in charge.
Posted in Personal