Ramblings of a Grouch

At work we have done surprisingly well through the recession. We had been working full time up to the end of 2008. Sadly, we made redundancies at the beginning of 2009, but even then business forced us to cut the numbers of workers being released and we continued working a full week throughout the company.

Now, however, things are changing. Some parts of the business are booming, other parts are a little slack and so we have been forced to reduce the working week to 4 or 4.5 days for about half our people. We signed a personal agreement to that effect as we could see the sense in it. The company could have been a lot harsher and more restrictive but it has always prided itself on looking after its workers, and the present situation is no different.

And two people refused to accept this (temporary) agreement. They think the company should do more. They think they should be fully employed regardless of the availability of work. They feel hard done by.

So what should we have done? Let them sit at home on their fat arses all day whilst still drawing full pay> Got rid of two other workers so they could remain in full time employment? Show them the order books, company accounts, let them interview the directors and management?

Sadly, UK law forbids the use of hot irons and black, rusty pincers. Because thet's what I would like to use to make them see sense.

Most people are glad of a job, glad of the continuity of employment and appreciate that things will return to normal as soon as they possibly can.

Again, it is the case of the minority spoiling things for the majority. What they don't seem to understand is that their attitudes will be remembered for a long time ...

... for my mate Bill.

Yes, it's that time again when a man's thoughts turn to pondering life, the universe and everything. Or in Bill's case, probably having a small glass of wine.

Which rather neatly brings me to the Virtual Gift. Ever since Bill sent me a jewel-encrusted pot of Vaseline for a present I have tried (and failed) to outdo him. So I thought this year's Virtual Present should be something to blend in with his character and lifestyle.

So have a Great Day today, Bill, and here's to beer and sheep wherever they may be! (Hiding, if they have any sense!)

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Cheers!!

D.I.M.

Done It Myself

Done. Finished. Finito. Fin.

OK, so it took 11 months, with a longish break in the middle. But I did it. I surprised myself when I realised each problem just took a little bit of thought (and sometimes a new tool) to overcome. And now my feet ache, my shoulders ache and my hands are rough and dry. My dining room is full of tools, tubs of paste, cement, plaster, filler and paint. And dust.

But now I know that whatever project I do next, I can do it.

And this evening I'm doing bugger all.

Because I'm finished.

So, we got the worktop cut out one sunny Saturday morning. Zip, Zip, ends cut to length with the circular saw. Whizz, Whizz, holes drilled in the corners of the cutout. Buzz, Buzz with the jigsaw. Sniff, sniff - something's burning. A new (straight) blade sorted that out, and the scorch marks don't show. Maybe the pitch was too fine, maybe I applied too much pressure. Definitely the edges were anything but straight.

On to the moment of truth - does the sink unit fit? Yes!! Do a little dance, remove sink unit, replace it. It still fits. Clear up and make a mental note to apologise to next door neighbour, who had just hung the washing out to dry. Have you any idea just how much sawdust a power tool produces?

Over the next few days I part-tiled the areas to the sides of the new sink units. I sealed the edges of the worktop with silicon. I sealed the sink into place. I installed a new cable for an extra power socket. And I got pissed off with myself. Admittedly, all these things needed doing, but if the truth were told, I was stalling. I knew that once I had the old unit out I had to finish the job else I would have no water in the kitchen and only cold in the bathroom. I was terrified.

So last Friday I decided that I was starting that evening no matter what. And I did. The old pipes were disconnected, the old sink thrown out in the yard and the old cupboards dumped. I laid floor tiles in the empty space. And I went to bed.

Up again at 3.30 am to check everything was sealed OK, grouted the tiles and returned to bed.

Saturday morning - start marking off where the new cupboards will go and where to cut the pipes. Saturday evening - new units in, sink in, all pipes connected, new tap fitted, isolation valves fitted to hot and cold supplies. Hard work, yes, but everything went smoothly and I only had a slight weep in the cold supply pipe to fix up on Sunday.

And it looks fantastic! OK, it may not be professional and it still needs finishing off,. But after 25 years of the same old sink, and what seems like 25 years of worrying about the job it is absolutely fantastic!!

I've found all through this project that whenever I wasn't sure about some task or another, the best way to find out was to do a little thinking and then get in there and have a go. And that applied to the sink, too. If I had a little more faith in myself then it would have been done a lot sooner. I'll know for next time.

Oh, and the first time I used my shiny new sink I wiped it carefully with a cloth. Then I dried it with a towel. And didn't use it again until the next day.

Sink Unit - Friday Night

Sink Unit - Saturday Night

I spent the weekend pottering about the kitchen doing a bit of tiling here, new light switch and power socket there. I got a very posh light switch - slimline, black nickel plate finish. Wired it up, screwed it in, blew the fuse. Changed it for a plain white plastic monstrosity, replaced the fuse and it worked perfectly. Go figure.

Anyway, I realised all this faffing about was merely putting off the next stage, which I wasn't looking forward to - marking out the worktop for the sink unit. Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to actually doing the job, it's just the fear of getting it in the wrong place. It's very difficult to line up 2 cupboards, a worktop and a sink unit when the existing ones are still in place. Nevertheless, it had to be done.

So it got done. The old saying is "measure twice, cut once". I measured 4 or 5 times. And I'm still inclined to cut a dummy worktop out of wallpaper just to be sure.

By the next installment the new sink will be in place.

Or else I will have thrown it through my new window ...