Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drinks whilst at work

66 replies

Jackin · 05/07/2011 21:04

I work in peoples gardens everyday (I'm a tree surgeon) aibu to to think people should bring out a cup of tea or cold drink (non-alcholic) whilst we have our break? Or even water!

OP posts:
cantpooinpeace · 06/07/2011 07:59

Tips

Nobdie · 06/07/2011 08:05

I always offer. Had chimney sweep here not long ago, and I was about the 4th/5th place he had been to that day and no-one else had offered him anything

differentnameforthis · 06/07/2011 08:21

I always offer drinks to any one working on my house.

Adversecamber · 06/07/2011 08:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sweetness86 · 06/07/2011 08:29

YANBU I offer drinks but did have someone do my front garden the other week who took the mick I only wanted him to mow the grass but once I offered a drink he stood talking for 30 mins!
Sometimes offering a drink makes them stay longer.

Sewmuchtodo · 06/07/2011 08:32

We have had a lot of work done in the past year (new house) and would never dream of not offering trades people something.

In the summer it is cool drinks, sandwiches and biscuits and in the winter endless tea/coffee, bacon/sausage sandwiches and the soup pot is normally on (that said, I also have a clean house....I wouldn't take a cup of tea from pleanty of people!)

Having moved to a new area I now have a great list of reliable people to call upon when a job needs doing.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 06/07/2011 08:33

I would always offer tea and biscuits or a cold drink. If I'm not in when they're here, I leave stuff out in the kitchen (mugs, spoons, sugar etc) and a big sign on the fridge pointing to the coke or whatever. If it's a long job then I'll do sandwiches etc. Seems very rude not to.

nagynolonger · 06/07/2011 08:37

If a workman was here for any lenght of time I would offer a drink. I also point out where the downstairs loo is incase they need it.

If people were working in the garden or even in the street outside I would definately offer cold drinks on hot days. I took a cold drink out to the young man strimming the grass at the side of the road the other day. Poor lad was sweating buckets in his safety gear.

The only person I ever tip is the postman at Christmas.

InTheNightKitchen · 06/07/2011 09:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ihatecbeebies · 06/07/2011 11:47

No my kitchen was fine, clean and tidy.

CurrySpice · 06/07/2011 12:10

Of course YANBU it is common courtesy to offer a drink and the whole process works more smoothly if you do

Morloth · 06/07/2011 13:18

It's not the done thing here sunnydelight, I offered the washing machine man a coffee the other day and he looked at me funny.

I have acquired weird foreign ways...

becknotts · 06/07/2011 13:46

I always offer tea, coffee , cold drinks, biscuits & cakes to people working on the house that would include the garden. Moved into a new build house with sizable snag list so have spent the last 6 months making endless drinks and snacks but it is always appreciated, I think it must be hard it is working in other peoples space all the time.
I also always offer them use of the toilet, have heard lots of people don't which I think is weird.

soymama · 06/07/2011 19:23

I work as a nanny and always make tea for the gardener.

Original poster
Jackin · 06/07/2011 19:30

It's very nice to see some generous people out there. I had two today :) and a choccy biscuit WIN!

OP posts:
lubberlich · 06/07/2011 19:35

Tea and biccies ALWAYS for anyone who does work at the house.
What is wrong with people that don't? Miserly inhospitable gits.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page