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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about workmen’s cold drinks

347 replies

Ladyofmainlyleisure · 29/03/2021 22:00

We are having new windows and a front door fitted.
I was out all day with the dog, but when I returned DP said he’d got some cold drinks in for the fitters, as they had been asking for them.
They had been offered and had drunk many cups of tea and coffee, but apparently wanted cold drinks too.
We have lemon squash in the house which they could drink, but they wanted coke and fruit juices.

My DP went to the shop and purchased Coke and Oasis for them.

My thoughts are: they’ve had hot drinks and a suitable cold drink has been offered.
If my DP can go to the shop and purchase drinks, why can’t they?

They worked 9-5 today and will do approx 9-1 tomorrow and we live in a small city, so not long days away from civilisation!

I know it’s not the end of the world, but requesting specific drinks, that we wouldn’t have in the house otherwise, seems a bit much!

OP posts:
Bouny · 30/03/2021 09:39

@PlanDeRaccordement

I’ve always gotten workers whatever they wanted because it’s my house they are working on and I want them to do a really good job of it. I agree you don’t have to fulfill special requests, but it is a nice thing to do and what I was taught was a polite thing to do as well.

It aggravates social class and racial divides if you refuse them to have an opinion on what drink they want and instead say there is only drink x like it or leave it.

Blimey, what’s class or race got to do with it? Also... if you go to someone’s house as a guest and get offered something to eat or drink, you can say “yes please” or “no thanks”, not “can I have X instead”. It’s not a cafe! In any case, OP’s DH obviously just said “I’m going to the shop, what would you like?” Sadly OP isn’t coming back to confirm that and neither is joysex lady.
Rightsaidmabel · 30/03/2021 09:46

Maybe joysex is a builders' term for something common?
They have their own language.
When I was in Scotland, standing looking up at the facade of a new house (joysex?) ,a nearby workman said sagely: "Ae hen, if yer soffits are sagging ye have nae enough dwangs"
I've noticed he's right, the older I get!

diwrnachoflleyn · 30/03/2021 09:47

@PlanDeRaccordement

I’ve always gotten workers whatever they wanted because it’s my house they are working on and I want them to do a really good job of it. I agree you don’t have to fulfill special requests, but it is a nice thing to do and what I was taught was a polite thing to do as well.

It aggravates social class and racial divides if you refuse them to have an opinion on what drink they want and instead say there is only drink x like it or leave it.

Hmm? Social and racial divides? It's a business transaction. They're being paid to do the work, they have to be bribed to do a really good job? They can bring what they want to drink if they want something specific, like any other job. In what other job is a client also expected to be a caterer? Fuck that.

Refuse them what they want? WTF? Water's not good enough? Funny, it's good enough for me and my kids. A table with tea, coffee, accompaniments, water on tap, a loo isn't enough (besides the remuneration)? I'm not interested in hiring people who expect me to a be a restaurant on top of that.

NoProblem123 · 30/03/2021 09:50

I always do sausage rolls for the builders.
@Midlifelady should I upgrade to pasties ?Blush

Joysexrenovation · 30/03/2021 09:54

I can't believe someone said it's no trouble to get the builders a slab of coke. I've been doing it all wrong with tea and biscuits. Does it make them work faster or just more cheerfully?

BarbaraofSeville · 30/03/2021 10:03

@Joysexrenovation

I can't believe someone said it's no trouble to get the builders a slab of coke. I've been doing it all wrong with tea and biscuits. Does it make them work faster or just more cheerfully?
What sort of coke are we talking about Wink?

Can't believe someone has brought class and race into it. WTF has that got to do with the price of fish and you have no idea what class those of us who offer from the normal selection of refreshments we have in are from anyway. Looking at my own background, and that of the average builder, there is no class divide to aggravate for a start.

greenlynx · 30/03/2021 10:20

@Cowbells
The smell was all over the house
Was this before or after joysex renovations @greenlynx. Asking for the rest of us.

It was smell from baking. We stayed in the kitchen baking while the new windows in rooms were fitted.

No other renovations took place in the house so far but who knows.... Hope to get some pointers from this thread.

AcornAutumn · 30/03/2021 10:26

Still no answers?!

Slab of coke is good though.

FelicityCentre · 30/03/2021 10:33

@Midlifelady I see your point, but its traditional to do soup and rolls when you get your joysexrenovated. I think OP was only getting her windows and a front door fitted. Not quite the same level of a job.

Joysexrenovation · 30/03/2021 10:38

@acornautumm is it good though? I mean, the penalties would be significantly higher if you got caught than if you just got them a couple of lines in?

Also I think one can overdo these things. When I go to someone's house (joysex) and they've got a slab in I just think they're showing off. Same sort of people who'd have a stunt pineapple.

Beautiful3 · 30/03/2021 10:54

We don't drink squash (hate it) but always keep a bottle in, when people want a cold drink. I wouldn't have gone to the garage to buy pop for them. Water/squash/tea/coffee should be enough to offer. If they want pop, tell them the garage is only up the road.

UrAWizHarry · 30/03/2021 10:56

I'm willing to bet the conversation went something like this

"Do you want a drink?
"Do you have any coke?"
"No, but I can nip to the garage and get you a bottle."

Sometimes it really is possible to overthink things.

wizzywig · 30/03/2021 11:12

This thread gets better and better. Joysex AND slabs of coke? I now know why I can never get a builder round. Seems I need to be offering more than tea and biscuits

TheGlassBlowersDaughter · 30/03/2021 11:34

It sounds like OP got off lightly providing fizzy juice - when builders are used to joysex and coke.

Wingedharpy · 30/03/2021 11:47

What the chuff are "dwangs"? @ RightsaidMabel.

PigletJohn · 30/03/2021 11:50

"Sorry, love, can't get the parts these days."

StandByYourTesselators · 30/03/2021 12:12

Am now singing Joysex Renovation to the tune of Backseat Education by Zodiac Mindwarp. Let's get the band back together! Grin Much more fun than another sea-shanty...

Dreamstosell · 30/03/2021 12:20

I looked up dwang
“ a horizontal bracing piece used between wall studs or floor joists to give rigidity to the wall or floor frames of a building.”
Dwang used in Scotland and New Zealand apparently and called a bogging or bogging piece in England

Dreamstosell · 30/03/2021 12:21

Too scared to Google joysexrenovation 🤣

Dreamstosell · 30/03/2021 12:22

I should proof read too. A “nogging” in England not bogging 🤣

Joysexrennovator · 30/03/2021 12:44

New name, new career 😁

Sexnotgender · 30/03/2021 12:49

@Joysexrennovator

New name, new career 😁
Excellent! I’m about to have a baby so will probably require a joysex renovation shortly. I’ll give you a call.
Joysexrennovator · 30/03/2021 12:57

Sexnotgender
Midlife can provide a reference for my excellent erm... performance

Joysexrenovation · 30/03/2021 13:16

I'm really looking forward to threads where 90% of the usernames are a variation of joysexrenovation.

Bluntpencil · 30/03/2021 13:33

I offer iced water. When we’ve had (heavy duty) garden work done I put out a water dispenser with ice and glasses. Can you do similar!