report from the home front
Posted by:
Skiffle (---.cache.pol.co.uk)
Date: May 17, 2003 01:25AM
Things are slowly returning to normal chez Skiffle. After a great deal of faf, my new kitchen is almost complete. A complete flat pack kitchen was delivered on the 7th, and left in my living room. No one showed up to do anyrthing about it. Phoned landlord, who said someone would come round in a weeks time. Whinged about having a living room full of kitchen, and that i had cleared everything out of kitchen, ready to have new one installed. An hour later, landlord called back to promise someome would be round next day at 8 in morning.
Workers duly show up on time. Take drawers out of old units and mess about for an hour. Then announce they do not have right tools and are going home. This at 9 am ! When questioned, workman remarks he has a job on in the afternoon. resist tempation to ask if he keeps his tools at Land's End.
Later contact from landlord to say that workman has announced he is a plumber and cannot fit kitchen. Complain to landlord about state kitchen is in. This Monday, fitter shows up to start assembling kitchen, followed by plumber next day to do sink. So far, they have needed to borrow 1 drill bit, I screwdriver and large rubbish bag. Have taken revenge by snaffling 3 rolls of masking tape and assorted screws.
Kitchen is now mostly functional and rather attractive. It needs tiles behind (vile and loathesome) cooker and by dark, granite-effect worktops. Will also be repainted, probably in cream and white like the rest of the flat. It's rather like living in a block of ice-cream.
I now have working surfaces around 3 sides of small square kitchen. It's very energy efficient. I can stand in the middle of the floor and touch two worktops, sink and cooker, and can open the fridge, both cupboards and two drawers without shifting from the spot ! And I'm only 5' 1"