Would you BELIEVE it?

"Dom Robinson" wrote in message
...
In article ,

says...
snip
As I headed for the door she started to ask me
how to work the Freeview box. I suggested that she rung the gentleman
who'd
sold it to her, and went on my way.

This is like the TV installer's equivalent of Radio 4's Ed Reardon's Week.

No, it's a whole lot better than that dreary tosh!

In article , Bill Wright wrote:
Look I'll tell you what it was about her. When I go in a council flat or a
prison cell and the person is young, underpriviliged, not too brainy, let
down by the education system, they can slag me off and I don't mind because
they don't know any better. But this old bird was in a 400k flat with a huge
living room (an acre of white carpet). She was well spoken and wealthy. The
fact is, she was just ****ing ignorant about how to behave. She had no
respect for me because she saw me as a 'workman' -- lower than low. I bet
she wonders why every 'workman' gives her such surly service. It isn't hard
love -- just treat people like human beings, make them a cuppa and get the
best out of them. Fancy living 60 years and not learning that!

Well said. Nobody should ever forget we're all human.

I reckon the smart are getting smarter and the thick are getting thicker.

For example, smart people develop video cameras, mobile phones and the
internet, and at the other extreme people use them to record assaults and
decapitations.

Yes, but it's very cheering how people who have been let down by the
education industry sometimes find IT a doddle. I love it when I hear alleged
'thickies' discussing their wireless networks etc.

Exactly. You don't need a certificate or letters after your name to be
entitled to a bit of self esteem, just a willingness to learn and to
turn your hand to something useful.

Rod.

In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:
The fact is, she was just ****ing ignorant about how to behave. She
had no respect for me because she saw me as a 'workman' -- lower than
low. I bet she wonders why every 'workman' gives her such surly
service. It isn't hard love -- just treat people like human beings,
make them a cuppa and get the best out of them. Fancy living 60 years
and not learning that!

Being a keen DIYer, it's rare for a workman to cross this threshold. But
on the occasion I have had to call one in - blocked drains or something -
I've not had terribly good service despite following your advice.
The last was, as I said, drains, and the chap spent the first 20 minutes
topping up their van water tank off my poor water supply, and even then
spun out the job to beyond their one hour minimum charge. They also cut a
hole into the soil stack and patched that with a rubber coupler which of
course they had to cut and subsequently leaked. And charged twice the BM
retail price for the part. I had to cut the section out of the soil stack
and let in a 'Y' piece now with an inspection end.

Another occasion involved a CORGI registered boiler repair man. He was
quite simply dishonest as well as incompetent. CORGI didn't want to know.

Of course if I used a workman recommended by friends or neighbours I'd
hope this wouldn't occur, but in both cases these were 'emergencies' and
the tradesmen chosen from directories. And not the largest ad either...

Of course this is London. Perhaps not so many tradesmen aren't out to con
elsewhere.

--
*Husbands should come with instructions

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Graculus wrote:
This is like the TV installer's equivalent of Radio 4's Ed Reardon's
Week.

No, it's a whole lot better than that dreary tosh!

Crikey. There's no pleasing some people. Stick to Big Brother for your
laughs in future.

--
*When blondes have more fun, do they know it?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Of course this is London. Perhaps not so many tradesmen aren't out to con
elsewhere.

What surprises me is some 'tradesmen' can't even be bothered to turn up on
time, or in some cases turn up at all, when you've made an appointment.

Another one last year came to quote for replacing our fence. He said '750
quid'. I said fine, but before I proceed can I have that in writing please. He
promised to put a quote in the post, but despite follow up calls, nothing ever
appeared.

Have they all got too much work and simply pick and chose who they want to do
work for, presumably less financially 'savvy' punters whom they can exercise
'cost plus' practice on ?

--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

In message , Monkey Hanger
wrote

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Quote
similar to the number of school leavers that cannot read and rite!
End Quote

RITE! It's WRITE boy!

You are incorrect - it's part of the new three 'Rs' policy for schools -
Reading, Ritting and Rithmetic.

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

Bill Wright wrote:

"Kryten" wrote in message
...

Many people have noted the rich are getting richer and the poor are
getting poorer.

I reckon the smart are getting smarter and the thick are getting thicker.

For example, smart people develop video cameras, mobile phones and the
internet, and at the other extreme people use them to record assaults and
decapitations.

Yes, but it's very cheering how people who have been let down by the
education industry sometimes find IT a doddle. I love it when I hear alleged
'thickies' discussing their wireless networks etc.

Then there's those who left school unable to recite their ten times
table that can tell you in nanoseconds how much you'll win on a 11/2,
7/4 and 5/4 treble.

--

Immunity is better than innoculation.

Peter

In article , Mark Carver
wrote:


Another one last year came to quote for replacing our fence. He said
'750 quid'. I said fine, but before I proceed can I have that in
writing please. He promised to put a quote in the post, but despite
follow up calls, nothing ever appeared.

Have they all got too much work and simply pick and chose who they want
to do work for, presumably less financially 'savvy' punters whom they
can exercise 'cost plus' practice on ?

I have also encountered 'building trades' people like the above who
evaporate when asked for a written quote.

I suspect the reason is that a written document with their name, address,
prices, etc, is something they wish to avoid as it is a physical record
which the Tax/VAT people might find interesting, or which might prove
useful in any court, etc.

I routinely ask for written detailed quotes before agreeing to anything. It
seems to filter out some of the tradespersons who I suspect I am better off
not having hired. I am also wary of those whose only contact details
consist of a mobile phone number.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

"Peter Hayes" wrote in message
om...
Bill Wright wrote:
Yes, but it's very cheering how people who have been let down by the
education industry sometimes find IT a doddle. I love it when I hear
alleged
'thickies' discussing their wireless networks etc.

Then there's those who left school unable to recite their ten times
table that can tell you in nanoseconds how much you'll win on a 11/2,
7/4 and 5/4 treble.

As a matter of fact, there was a little lad in one of my classes when I was
a teacher. He was educationally backward and emotionally unstable yet he
understood the complexities of betting. Sadly, I heard ten years later that
he was living with a lass and her baby and he battered the baby to death.

Bill

Bill Wright said the following on 13/01/07 15:32:
"Peter Hayes" wrote in message
om...
Bill Wright wrote:
Yes, but it's very cheering how people who have been let down by the
education industry sometimes find IT a doddle. I love it when I hear
alleged
'thickies' discussing their wireless networks etc.
Then there's those who left school unable to recite their ten times
table that can tell you in nanoseconds how much you'll win on a 11/2,
7/4 and 5/4 treble.

As a matter of fact, there was a little lad in one of my classes when I was
a teacher. He was educationally backward and emotionally unstable yet he
understood the complexities of betting. Sadly, I heard ten years later that
he was living with a lass and her baby and he battered the baby to death.

Bill

What're the odds of that happening eh ?

Sorry! I just had a Harry Hill moment.


Richard.
--
"This week I have mostly been listening to -
ELPs 'Brain Salad Surgery', 'Tarkus' and Tangerine Dream's 'Rubycon'."