AArgh DIY on your own.

[mamas12]

Pissed off actually. I m willing to pay for someone, anyone to help me to do some jobs around the house but I just cannot find anyone.
No one it seems wants the money.
It's about a days work maybe even more.

So fed up as these jobs are the big ones I need help with. For instance I have a sofa from Ikea blocking my kitchen because I just can't assemble it on my own. The person I booked didn't get back to me and then said her helper has broken his leg and she can't help me.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG!
What do you think of these Options

1. Go to my local supplier of wallpaper and fabric etc. and see if they have any handy men/women?
2. Ask the man who used to do things until he told me he loves me and always have - he is married.
3. Any other suggestions?

don't do 2...

how about put an ad in your local cornershop or post office for handyman?

are there any tame husbands of friends who might help (as long as they don't have their eye on you...). you could invite the family over and feed them / ply with beer, while they did the job?

Do you have a local parish paper or local ads that comes through your door? Often these have adverts for handy men and those in ours currently say 'no job too small', so I think they're pretty hopeful for work.

Have you tried assembling the sofa on your own? I put my ds's high sleeper bed together and that was an ikea '2 person' job. Yes it would have been easier with two, but there weren't 2 to do it, just me. And the dent in the floorboards when I dropped a piece isn't toooo noticable

yellow pages? people must advertise in there?

do you do school runs? maybe ask the mums if they know anyone (husbands/brothers etc) or at toddler groups?

Where are you I am willing to come and help doing assembly stuff (my dad is a builder so have learnt loads from him and am very lucky that he comes and helps me especially since 'd'h wasnt ever that proactive on DIy and regardless left back in August)

Alternatively if you have a DIY shop nearby they may be able to recommend someone (I know local plunbers merchant recommends plumbers)

Ikea big stuff is a ball ache but it can be done on your own, I swear! Our big wardrobe is testament to that.
Can you not just ask a girl friend over? Being able to read instructions is not on the Y chromosome- my mum and I put together DD1's high sleeper bed because DH was at work and I was impatient.

I wanted to cry today when I couldn't move wardrobes out of DS room so that I can paint it. It's a nightmare finding a handyman - you're right, they just don't seem to want the money. Maybe advertise in school newletter or if you have an intranet at work - or friends with access to an intranet.

There are people who advertise specifically building Ikea furniture! Agree with others though can't you ask a friend or another mum you know?

Here www.unflatpack.com/flatpackassembly.htm

Thank you thank you thank you for the sympathy and getting it.

gillybean I didn't think of loal papers I'll look in there. and I have a few holes in the walls where I did my learning!

Makingamess I feel I have used up my friends dhs a bit since I moved so don't want to take advantage.

eandh you sound great I'm in Wales It would be great if a bunch of people could get together and do each others big bits around the house. I would be so willing to pitch in at someelses if I get my stuff done.

Captainkirksnipples (ok what's the story with the name?) Thanks for the link but they're not in my area.

Nannynobnobs I have alos asked a lot of friends too I feel.

Bettyboo hope your problem gets solved too.

I'm a will ferrel fan and it's a line from a film. Also Terrywoganscock was taken! Hope you get everything sorted x

HA I haven't seen that film yet.
Thanks god know when though as I work and only have the evenings and weekends.
Sigh will try to get the locals tomorrow.

mamas12 - where in wales? i am in newport.

I am in Kent so too far away but agree if people pitch in makes life so much easier

there is such a lack of support for single women!

i gradually bought enough tools to do most things myself. learning and having the confidence was the tricky bit!

how old are your kids OP? when building big bits of furniture i roped in DS to help with the 2 person lifting bits. quite often the need for 2 people is so that the furniture can be supported while being built if you get me.

thanks eandh
maristella I agree there is a lack of support for lone women aaarrrgh

My kids are old enough to help but (apart from during the week)I only have them one weekend in three and I find that's not enough time, perhaps I need to just say this is what we're doing and that's that, but you know teens, their attention span is crap and I get annoyed so not good,

Makingamess I am about an hour three quarters from Newport. Thanks anyway

Do you know what I might just ask in my local papers if there are any other women in my position who would like to do this.

I suppose it reminds of the Amish barnraising in a way

hey ho

you have teens? perfect!
they will be more than able to help out, and will have a sofa to enjoy at the end of it :)

if you're prepared to spend money getting help then i think you could save a few quid and bribe your teens

hey mamas - is a pity youre not in the north east - of england that is - ive worked for years as a gardener/handyman type bloke, and as a single parent of three kids we could compare how useless they can be when they really try:o

Do you know what, today at work we had a man who while drilling held his own hoover to hoover up the dust before it hit the ground. Now that's the type of handyperson I want! Pity he wouldn't/didn't want to do my measley day.

teenagers that's what you need
borrow some large teenagers

hey mamas!

ive done that :o honest - hate having to hoover brick dust off skirting boards. and wallpaper just always has to show every speck of dust if i dont bother. needless to say my kids take the mick something rotten if they see me doing it!

How far away are you??
Keep up the good work, you dcs will always remember that, and then expect the same, yey
Standards will rise.

how far? have you heard of north yorkshire:o?

tho i may as well be on the moon - youre in wales - is a bit far for a bit of diy!

and thanks - have become immune to ridicule and sarcasm, have two daughters lol.

I can do sofas and Ikea stuff by myself, and have taught myself some basic repairs
where I get frustrated is about taking heavy stuff up to the loft - not worth calling anyone out, and you don't like to ask friends all the time .. you can't really pay someone to come out for 5 minute box lifting, so it waits around ...
If there's a day's work surely there's someone? I find my handymen through local papers, word of mouth, shop (is a village tho) and even the school ... basically just talk to anyone you know

ninah that's exactly what I mean. I have a days worth of stuff I can't do on my own and you've just hit the nail on the head (arf).

Haven't found anyone yet, hoping that the Friday Papers will yield something aargh

Have you tried single with kids .co .uk? It could put you intouch with other single parents in your area (men and women) you might find someone who's up to a bit of DIY you could do a trade exchange for a bit of babysitting or washing.