Living with builders

Eric the kitchen fitter, hard at work

 





We're in our I'm not quite sure which week of building works - but it's probably been the most populated.  In No. 7 Tackleway, aka the Shoebox, we've had Eric and Dave fitting the new kitchen, Luke the electrician doing new lighting, and Paul putting down the foundations for the lath and plaster relining.  Meanwhile in No. 8 we've had Jamie measuring up for five new window-boxes (no, not the things you put flowers in, but the boxes that sash windows go into) and Brian painting the exterior.  Plus of course scaffolders, who make intermittent appearances to put up new or tweak existing structures, and Rob, the overseer, who also calls in with a cheery hello - usually to ask for cash. 

Needless to say, there are endless minor decisions: the exact positions of ceiling lights, bearing in mind the need to light pictures as well as fitting in with joists positioned in 1800 without apparent foresight; colours for the two front and back doors; preventing Brian from putting gloss paint on the interior of the windows etc. etc.

And, of course, we get to know the builders as they get to know us: Dave's love of sea fishing, Brian's feeling he's come down in the world, being now employed by someone else after being self-employed for thirty years; Paul's problems with selling his house.  My small friend is adept at keeping them all happy with endless supplies of tea and coffee, and everyone seems very cheerful.  But I am beginning to dread that moment when there's a knock on the door at 8 am, or having a morning bath with a painter at the window!

We thought we'd be finished with everything by the end of the year, which looks increasingly optimistic: that's the other thing with builders - you start off assuming foolishly that they will be there every day for six weeks or so, and then learn that somewhere else someone else has the same idea, and that you're actually sharing the builders rather than monopolising them.  We wish ourselves bon courage on a regular basis and look forward to it all being over!

Antony Mair

We're not the only ones with scaffolding in the neighbourhood...