What do you do when workmen are in the house?

[Lucyloo223]

Man is here this morning changing the electricity and gas meters and I feel so awkward 😅 he's had to turn the power off so that limits me a bit. Also really wish I'd boiled the kettle before he did! I'm up to date with housework, I don't know what to do with myself 😂

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I don't know but I always find myself humming when workmen are round, I don't know why I do it. Maybe just to fill the awkward silence. It's so cringy and annoying they must hate me!!

It's just so awkward isn't it 🤣

Do you need to go through your clothes/shoes for a sort out and declutter?

On the same theme, bag up some stuff to take to a charity shop.

Sit yourself in front of your laptop or pad looking very important and busy, whilst Mumsnetting.

Do some knitting.

Gardening - Don your gardening gloves and a wide brimmed hat and waft about pruning things.

Definitely sit in a different room whatever you do!

I usually just barricade myself in a room out of the way.

Stop feeling awkward. It's only awkward if you make it awkward. Have a really good think about the situation and try and get work out why you are feeling awkward.

The electrician goes into peoples houses all the time. He really won't mind what you do.

I have people in soon to change a sash window. Will take a few hours and they'll need access from the living room downwards. I'll be upstairs with the cats. I plan to read, sort out some laundry and maybe tackle the kids overflowing toy box. I have a nice M&S sarnie and some fresh fruit juice to tide me over.

Oh OP, why is this so terribly awkward for you?

Depending on the personality of the "Workmen" or tradesmen etc, you could just leave them to it.

Or just say a quick "Hi, are you right? I'm having a cup of tea if you'd like one?"

I thought I had social anxiety.

Awkwardly sit in a different room with the door open in case they need me. Can't do anything useful because I don't know how long they'll be!

Just get on with normal stuff. Our workmen have been here for 10 months, it’s like they live here now!

What would you normally be doing? Are you a SAHP or have you taken time off work to let this person in? I appreciate it’s more difficult to work if you have no power.

You should come out of your bedroom wearing lingerie and a beer in your hand. Tell him you need your pipes checked.

Why do you need to barricade yourself in a room

I typically sit in a nearby room in earshot.

I try to ensure my laptop is charged up if I expect the electrics to go off so I can at least get some typing up work done, along with a book or two, notepad, things to bide my time that I can put down in a moment if I'm needing.

Earlier this year when I had workmen in for a week updating the heating system, I ended up in my girls' room with all the boxes that had been under my bed and ended up sorting through and shredding up a lot of old paperwork we didn't need anymore.

I hate it too. I don't know what's not to understand - having strangers in your personal space is intrusive and unusual for most people, so they feel awkward. Feeling 'in the way' in your own home is not a pleasant feeling, yet you know that for the time being your house is someone's workplace, so you need to let them get on with it. The worst bit for me is when they try to be friendly by commenting on my things. I like to pretend they don't notice anything other than what they're working on, even though I know that's ridiculous😀

I usually go upstairs to 'work' and make sure I have charged my laptop and iPad and have a powerbank on standby for my phone, so I can use the Internet from a hotspot if the power is off. If I'm not actually working, I can watch a film or something to kill a bit of time.

Hahaha I might if I thought he was fit 😅

Oh my God he's on the phone to his mate talking about how he has low sex drive and might need testosterone. Wtf. I've got kids in the house

Go out? Do some gardening? Read a book? We had builders in for 9 months, life goes on, things have to happen around tradespeople.

I'd do whatever housework I would do without power, probably dusting and a mini de-clutter. If not, keep totally out of their way and read my book.

No power? Perfect chance to defrost the freezer and clean out the fridge!

Hide and feel awkward mainly

There's a whole lot of angst on this thread, just go about your day. Read a book, put some music on your phone, do some housework

Usually do paperwork / laptop (on battery tethered to phone for wifi if the power is off) somewhere out of the way but within earshot. Chat a bit if they are up for that, I have learned a lot about the workings of my house over the years from tradespeople and they are often happy to chat a bit about other jobs, their DC etc.