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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is really inconvenient ?

407 replies

darkcloudlooming · 04/12/2017 17:24

So national grid are replacing the gas pipes on my street and in my home.. ( why don't people just stick to the saying if it's not broken don't fix it!) so today is 'my appointment' for them to come and disconnect my gas to do this. So I had to allow them in at 8am this morning ( I told them to come back at 9 as I said I had breakfast and kids to get off at school) so they came and disconnected it and now I have to wait all evening between 4pm-8pm for them to restore my gas supply. So they could come at any point whilst I'm cooking and I will have to cook tea ( gas cupboard is in my kitchen next to my cooker in a cupboard!)
So now my kids will have to eat their tea whilst having strangers come in and out of the house. It's annoyed me! And we have had no hot water all day!
Am I being unreasonable to think this is inconvenient and unacceptable ?

OP posts:
glenthebattleostrich · 04/12/2017 18:05

So you couldn't boil a kettle all day? Cos that makes hot water.

And you'd have had plenty of notice to minimise disruption (plan a cold dinner, arrange to be out if very cold, ensure you shower in the morning).

DH works for a utilities company and on every job there's someone like you who just makes life difficult and is petty. And yes, refusing access for a 5 minute job because your child might see a workman is petty.

This is essential maintenance work. These guys put up with all kinds of shit off Joe public, who are the first to complain about leaks and things not being maintained properly.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 04/12/2017 18:05

Just tell them you are quite happy to have a gas leak and will run the risk of your house blowing up as your kids cannot possibly eat their tea whilst they are in the house Hmm If your worried about them interrupting your cooking then if there was ever an excuse for take away then this is it. Or if finances don't stress that far sandwiches in front of the TV.

Ecureuil · 04/12/2017 18:05

Our oven has just blown up. That’s bloody inconvenient.
Yes it’s annoying. However gas pipes need maintaining. That’s life. If you want a gas supply, you have to have it maintained.

Viviennemary · 04/12/2017 18:06

YABU. It's inconvenient but it was really cheeky of you to send them away at 8 am and say come back later. Take them out to a café for tea. Honestly, this is just such a non issue. Hope you never have to face a real problem.

Troubleinstore · 04/12/2017 18:08

If you knew they were coming you could have prepped a meal you could reheat in the microwave maybe?

timeisnotaline · 04/12/2017 18:09

In what way do you think your children will be damaged by seeing a workman? Do you think it would be a better or worse way than being injured in a gas explosion? Do you understand the concept of maintenance and wear and tear?

IceFall · 04/12/2017 18:10

Annoying, but well, just deal the fuck with a minor inconvenience for one day yeah?

MyKingdomForBrie · 04/12/2017 18:11

YABVU. You have gas coming into your home. Sometimes the system carrying that gas needs to be renewed and maintained.

You want to wait til it’s ‘broke’ and your house blows up? Good one.

IceFall · 04/12/2017 18:12

So now my kids will have to eat their tea whilst having strangers come in and out of the house.

Poor, poor wittle didicums snowflake. Having to eat their tea when a STRANGER comes into the house.

Albedo · 04/12/2017 18:13

"If it ain't broke don't fix it" + essential services

Jesus... think it through.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/12/2017 18:15

You sent them away after knowing they'd be coming at 8am?

I bet you're top of their list for getting turned back on again.

blueskyinmarch · 04/12/2017 18:17

Blimey - you can't be serious OP. Is this a reverse? A Joke? Really? Hmm

MadForlt · 04/12/2017 18:17

Get a takeaway and let them eat in the living room.

Problems all solved.

GoodChristmasGuest · 04/12/2017 18:18

You sound really rude to the poor workers, and unreasonable and many over something slightly inconvenient, which wouldn't even register on my radar.

chickenowner · 04/12/2017 18:18

If you don't want to cook while they are there then...

a) get a takeaway or
b) eat sandwiches/cold buffet food

MycatsaPirate · 04/12/2017 18:20

oh ffs, get a grip!

When I was pregnant with DD1 I lived in a flat up two flights of stairs. They replaced all the main water pipes in our street when I was 3 days past my due date. It was in July and in the middle of a heatwave. We had no water for FOUR DAYS!

Every time I ran out of water I had to ring and they would send up some 16 year old lad on an apprenticeship with more water to be traumatised by meeting two very heavily pregnant women. My neighbour was due at the same time!

It's one day. You won't die. Your kids won't need therapy because a man is in the house while they are eating.

Jesus wept!

SweetChickadee · 04/12/2017 18:20

So now my kids will have to eat their tea whilst having strangers come in and out of the house

So what? I'd have found that quite exciting as a kid

GoodChristmasGuest · 04/12/2017 18:21

moany not many

Mossend · 04/12/2017 18:21

Yabu

There are lots of things in my house I would only replace if they broke, my gas pipes are most definitely not one.

You said you had to get the kids to school so I'm guessing they're not young, would it really bother them to have workmen in whilst they were having tea. When my 2 were younger they'd have loved this

Willow2017 · 04/12/2017 18:21

How on earth do you suppise they can fix/upgrade things without turning off the gas? You knew they were coming yet you sent them away so you could get kids fed and organised. It would have taken minutes to shut off your gas ffs. Why is your house so special?

When you come up with a magic solution to do gas maintenance without stopping gas leaking everywhere and potentially blowing up the street do patent it, you will make a fortune.

Poor kids those nasty workmen making life easier for you all.
Jeeze.

ToadOfSadness · 04/12/2017 18:22

From what I can figure out this is going on all over the country, they seem to be replacing them all.

Ours were done a few years ago and we were unlucky too that it was done in the coldest of weather. No gas for heating or cooking all day. Every time we went out we saw a different road being dug up for it, they just worked their way round.

Not long before we moved in the water pipes had been replaced outside the house.

It seems that water companies are also going round checking houses for leaks, a few streets at a time.

Things wear out, and leak, would you rather be blown up by a dodgy gas main? It is one day of your life that's all.

demirose87 · 04/12/2017 18:22

Annoying but some things are unavoidable, so just let them get on with it and have a day of inconvenience.

dowotmakesuhappy · 04/12/2017 18:24

Yadnbu...you must be so incredibly worried about your special snowflake. I know how terrible it will be for them to have strangers in the home. I mean strangers are just so scary aren't they! All that, well, strangeness about them. I would pop an extra layer of cotton wool on the and perhaps bubble wrap too to be on the safe side.

WasDoingFine · 04/12/2017 18:26

You sound like a very difficult person OP.

LemonysSnicket · 04/12/2017 18:27

Buy some cereal and get a microwave meal for tea ... its 1 day and will save the infrastructure of your gas suppky from decay and accidents.

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