AIBU to think it's normal and polite to offer servicemen a drink?

[NeedACleverNN]

We had the gas man round yesterday to do a boiler check. I offered him a drink and he gratefully accepted a coffee.

Dh saw the cup on the drying rack and asked if had guests round. Told him no it was the gasman and he looked confused.

I've always thought you offer them a drink. He thinks they are there to do a job and that drinks are not part of it

Yes? No?

Yes you do YANBU

Yes! I would offer a drink I always do to who ever is visiting. It's kind.

You know YANBU. It's polite to offer a visitor a drink.

I think my DH would have trouble knowing if a cup was on the rack that wasn't meant to be. Sounds a bit odd that he even noticed it.

I also offer them a tea or coffee

Depends how long they are there, if it's only a quick job I mightn't bother, but otherwise, yes I'd offer a brew.

I would say it depends how long they are there for.

I always do and thought that was normal. I think most people I know do too.

Why would he assume the cup on the rack wasn't yours? Just curious haha.

Ha ha snap DifficultWoman!

Anyway, YANBU, I always offer a drink

I think my DH would have trouble knowing if a cup was on the rack that wasn't meant to be. Sounds a bit odd that he even noticed

I don't get many visitors and I always use the same mug when I have a cup of tea so it's obvious if a different mug was used

Yes I always offer a drink
Although like a PP I also think it's off your dh noticed a cup and questioned you about it

I always offer a tea or coffee to anyone who comes in my house workmen included. Dh also does this I think it's rather normal.

I think offering the gasman a drink is the least of your worries!

"I think my DH would have trouble knowing if a cup was on the rack that wasn't meant to be. Sounds a bit odd that he even noticed it."

Agree with this, is your husband the jealous type?

Erm, a serviceman is someone in the Forces and I opened this thread thinking you were going to buy one a drink in a pub, which seemed odd!

But, yes, of course you offer the plumber, electrician or joiner a cup of tea.

I get massively awkward with service folk in the house and generally try to stay out of their way. DH is all about offering tea/coffee and a range of biscuits. Once he even made a round of bacon rolls.

I do if I am feeling sensible of mind and not weirded out by having a stranger in the house.

I am also utterly boggled that your draining board is so clear of usual that your DH would notice.

If there was only one cup on ours my DH would think I was staging some sort of elaborate set up.

no he isn't the jealous type. Read above

I thought it sounded odd east!

I didn't know if maybe my normal term of workman/tradesman was no longer ok.

I couldn't think of the right word

Tradesman!!! That's the word I was looking for

It's definitely the done thing IMO, yes.

I had a plumber come and check out one of my drains last month and he was just generally nasty (turned up 2 hours late, rude, complained about the stuff in my bathroom being expensive crap, ...). He pissed me off to the point where I did not offer him a drink. I considered this silent protest.

I always offer a brew to tradesmen, sometimes a biscuit if im feeling generous

I do it at work too, and as a result we have very loyal tradesmen that bump us up the list when they can. A cuppa / kitkat and a conversation goes a long way.

So I'm the only one who thought you were buying soldiers drinks? :o

Of course it is normal to offer people who do work in your house a coffee/ tea if they are there for a while (I wouldn't if they have just come to read the meter though).

I wouldn't notice extra cups drying, let alone DH, but then the kids use cups too... I assume you are a household of two very tidy people OP!

don't get many visitors and I always use the same mug when I have a cup of tea so it's obvious if a different mug was used

That makes more sense then! My 14 year old DD will only ever drink from one certain mug and that's a big tell tale sign when she's had friends over and left the the cups in her room.

Oops cross post east - blimin DH talking to me while I MN :o

Yes it's normal, I'd go so far as to say you have to be a bit of a cunt to not offer a drink to someone doing a job in your house. Provided it's beyond a cursory glance at the gas meter, of course.