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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder how many ''brews'' the decorator is going to need!

16 replies

rodandtheemu · 21/02/2013 11:49

Decorator has been here 2 3/4 hours. I made him a cup of tea when he first arrived, then took it out side and smoked,then an hour in he just walked in kitchen and said '' ok, if i brew up''

My kitchen is my zone so I said '' oh right, i'll bring you one up'' so i took him one up and he took it out side and smoked.

we're nearing the the self imposed ''brew/ fag time' shall i offer one or just expect him to work more than one hour at a time with out having a break

OR am i just being mean!

OP posts:

LeaveTheBastid · 21/02/2013 11:52

Decorating is thirsty work I'd be making bacon sarnies and gallons of tea for anyone who took away the sheer horror of decorating from me

Original poster

rodandtheemu · 21/02/2013 11:57

leave you are right me and DP are shit at it thats why we are paying a pro. I'll go put kettle on......

OP posts:

Dannilion · 21/02/2013 11:58

Either let him make his own tea or resign yourself to making a ridiculous amount for the duration of his stay.

And be thankful he hasn't asked what time the 'sandwich van' gets there yet. That's my DF's favourite line.

seekingpeaceandquiet · 21/02/2013 12:06

Dh is a decorator too and he and his partner go through loads of cuppas. They do generally have their own tea bags and milk and even have their own kettle.

Original poster

rodandtheemu · 21/02/2013 12:10

He is now outside enjoying a fag and brew...

OP posts:

bigbadbarry · 21/02/2013 12:10

My lovely decorator does not eat (ever as far as I can tell) but I take him a coffee every 2 hours without fail. If I am out I leave a big pot and tell him to help himself.

Petsinmypudenda · 21/02/2013 12:10

Dh is a boiler man. The amount of tea him and his mate drink in a short job is amazing! They did my dads once it was a two hour job and they had 3 brews each. I would be pissing all day if i drank tea at that pace

Petsinmypudenda · 21/02/2013 12:11

Bigbadbarry- cracking username!

HollyBerryBush · 21/02/2013 12:11

Oh no! Will there be a peeing in my bog thread to follow this one?

bigbadbarry · 21/02/2013 12:12

:) thank you

Nancy66 · 21/02/2013 12:13

if every cup of tea is accompanied by a downing of tools and a fag then I don't think that's on.

BellaVita · 21/02/2013 12:13

I always offer to make one when I am having one and outside of this, I tell them to help themselves.

SpicyPear · 21/02/2013 12:14

I'm decorating myself at the moment because of this. I would actually rather paint myself than keep worrying about making someone tea. I drink one pot before bed and am not into making endless hot drinks all day. Wouldn't you be better off leaving the bits out and letting him get on with it?

specialsubject · 21/02/2013 12:15

if you are paying him a fixed price for the job, it is his call how long he takes. Provide some glasses for water as well, a lot of biscuits including plenty of chocolate and show him where the kettle is.

Nancy66 · 21/02/2013 12:16

it's not his call how long it takes. the homeowener is the client

why would you want your house in chaos for 5 days when it could be done in 3?

ATouchOfStuffing · 21/02/2013 13:05

Oh no, watch out for this! I had a decorator over to do 2 rooms and a hallway - they stayed for 3 months and I had to call their boss and say I didn't want them back as they still hadn't finished, possibly due to the fact the on site 'boss' sat is fat arse at the kitchen table at 9am and was still there at 1pm and 5pm while his minion apprentice ballsed up by splashing paint over the newly stripped floorboards and indeed putting the varnish on said floorboards AGAINST THE GRAIN. It looks as though I have mopped badly with very dirty water... They failed to even bother to take down the kitchen blinds so that now if I pull them there is a white line from where they painted the ceiling! I was very and they even had the nerve to take all of the paint pots so now I can't retouch anything. Make sure you have a fixed price!

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