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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
darkcloudlooming · 04/12/2017 18:28

Harsh replies as per...

I understand they have to do it.. but would you really want someone coming in messing with the gas pipes stood next to you whilst your cooking tea? Because we would literally have no room. As for a 5 minute job? It isn't just five minutes either. I didn't let them in at 8 because I have children to get ready for school and a toddler so it's already hectic without having them to deal with as well. Also my children won't fly to School, they said someone has to stay in the house whilst they do it and well i had to do the school run .

I don't own a microwave....

And takeaway out of the question..

But well ye should just stop moaning shouldn't I

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 04/12/2017 18:30

YABVU

Energy companies don’t spend money replacing pipes unless it’s neccessary. Apart from anything else, they’d rather have that money in their bonus or shareholder dividends.

You will have had notice of this so could’ve made alternative arrangements. And your precious snowflakes will survive eating their dinner with an engineer in the house, amazing as that may seem to you. You also could’ve chosen any number of things to feed them without needing the gas.

You sound a bloody nightmare, my sympathy is very much with the gas engineers who have to put up with you.

Glumglowworm · 04/12/2017 18:31

So you don’t have a microwave... feed the kids a sandwich ffs, it’s one meal on one day!

handsfree · 04/12/2017 18:31

Give them a sandwich in the lounge! They’ll survive.

Ecureuil · 04/12/2017 18:31

When do you want them to do the essential work then?

SaucyJack · 04/12/2017 18:32

"But well ye should just stop moaning shouldn't I"

Yes. Good. Glad you've come to that conclusion OP.

Next!

MarthaArthur · 04/12/2017 18:34

Life is full of unexpected occurances. Yabu they are doing a job that needs doing.

MycatsaPirate · 04/12/2017 18:34

You obviously knew this was going to be happening. Why couldn't you ask another parent at school to take your dc to school? Then you could have stayed at home with the toddler.

It's not really awkward if you had prepped a meal earlier and served it when the kids got home at I presume, 3.30. If they aren't coming back until between 4 and 8.

Yes it's inconvenient but really, you are making such a fuss when you could have just got a bit organised.

waits for more drip feeding

myrtleWilson · 04/12/2017 18:34

Not really harsh OP more a reality check

Doublemint · 04/12/2017 18:35

I literally had this exact same scenario a few weeks ago- they're redoing the whole road and needed to carry out essential gas work.

You might be my neighbour OP!

YABU- it needs to be done!

happypoobum · 04/12/2017 18:37

I imagine OP has problems with pretty much everyone she comes into contact with.................

SilverySurfer · 04/12/2017 18:39

YABU - a minor and necessary inconvenience at most. I hate to think how you would cope with something really bad happening - not well I suspect.

WitchesHatRim · 04/12/2017 18:40

So OP what exactly do you propose they do?

LostInShoebiz · 04/12/2017 18:42

harsh sensible and proportionate replies as per...

Fixed it for you!

Nyx1 · 04/12/2017 18:42

so OP what is your solution? How did you want them to do this?

I notice you said in your OP "if it's not broken" - so you would rather they didn't replace Victorian gas pipes until the whole section falls apart and you are inconvenienced at a random point with no warning?

Gillian1980 · 04/12/2017 18:42

Yabu.

It’s inconvenient but not in any way worth fussing over. I’d just be grateful that the pipes were being safely maintained.

PoppyFleur · 04/12/2017 18:43

I pity people that have to work with the general public, I really do.

OP there are a dozen ways you could have minimised this very minor inconvenience in your life. It's like you have been waiting to be offended.

QuitMoaning · 04/12/2017 18:44

I would be interested in hearing what you suggest as an alternative.

I assume the work is essential so how do you propose they do this so it doesn’t impact you in a way you find unacceptable ?

gobster · 04/12/2017 18:44

Christ on a bike, some people just like to moan

It's one day!

You have had all day to prepare sandwiches ready from the workmen's arrival back so you don't have the horror of standing next to them while they work.

I'm sure the kids would be fascinated to know/see what they are doing, at least interested in something outside the norm.

Rather than having a moan and making a fuss, you could easily have turned into to fun event like indoor picnic in the living or dinner on laps in front of the tv, is there really any need for the drama

wibblywobblywoo · 04/12/2017 18:45

Happypoo Grin

This has to be a wind up surely?

No one can actually be that anal that they have to stand in exactly the same place as always in the kitchen, that tea has to be a home cooked meal, that has to be eaten in the kitchen.....

Can they...?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 04/12/2017 18:46

Sometimes in life, we have to grit our teeth. You will benefit in the long run, try and think ahead.

bigbluebus · 04/12/2017 18:47

There's a reason why they give you advance notice of these things - it's so you can plan around it. It has to be done and you have to manage as best you can. We don't have gas but I have had planned electricty outages for 10 hours and had to manage with a disabled family member who needed hoisting and had lots of equipment which was connected to the mains - not all of which had back up batteries. We could have insisted on being provided with a generator but we managed because we could plan ahead. It's one day ffs get over yourself.

Floralnomad · 04/12/2017 18:47

YABVU and just a bit ridiculous .

arethereanyleftatall · 04/12/2017 18:49

Last line of second post is correct; yes you should stop moaning about this non-problem.

It's a weird thing to get wound up about op. It needs to be done, no great drama required.

I had a colleague once who if she got a scratch on her car it would be 'written off', when her tenancy expired she had been 'made evicted.' Etc etc. Such drama. Was it you?

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 04/12/2017 18:49

Honestly, some people just can't cope with a few hours' disruption to their lives.

Have a cold tea (it won't kill you for one day). Have it as a picnic on the living room floor or something. Boil the kettle for hot water maybe?

Get a grip woman.

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