Look out below!

A while back I blogged about the urge to quit my job.

Things have moved on a-pace in the last nine months.

I've got interested in new things. I've met yet more new people. The shift in working environment has continued.


So a little over a week ago I told my boss I'd be leaving.

Date yet to be decided but most likely by the end of the year.

Do I have a cunning plan?

No, not really.

The maths has been done and I can get by for about a year without earning any money. Obviously there won't be much in the budget for dream-holidays to far flung places, or to buy new cameras but I've thought, and re-thought through all the possible consequences of me leaving a steady job...and, more importantly, the likely consequences of me continuing where I am.

The latter consequences are far less pleasant to contemplate than the former.

If I were sensible I'd probably get something sorted before quitting - in fact someone has already suggested this as being a more appropriate way to approach the issue. However, I know me...and that means I'd never quite find the time to do it and that would leave me getting more and more disatisfied with the situation.

I've a few ideas, a willingness to do contracting, an iStock account that generates a very small amount of cash but could doubtless be tapped for some more, given a little effort on my part, and a naiscent plan with a friend that could be something we could both be proud of.

I'm not expecting to earn anything for a good few months - indeed January will most likely see me sorting out things that have been on my to do list for a number of months.

In a year's time I may have to go and get a conventional job again but even if I fail to pull the "alternative" off, it'll be good to know I tried.

Meanwhile if you know anyone who wants a meeting facilitating or a project managed...I do know someone who'll be becoming available soon.

Watch this space.



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Worse things happen at sea

The work on the house continues.

The decorator left having completed two bedrooms, landing, stairs and hallway.

On Tuesday a nice man will arrive to fit curtains in the two rooms.

The builder and his various colleagues have been beavering away in the basement remodelling the utility area.



Only today, they hit a snag...where "snag" = gas pipe which was buried in a concrete floor they were digging up to do something with a soil pipe.

There was momentary fluster, alarm and quite a lot of smell.

The decorator was concerned...he looked a little bit scared.

I was summoned down to hear the tale of woe. The builder was ready with reasons why they hadn't known it was there, couldn't have been expected to know it was there. He looked fed up and a bit anxious.

I shrugged. I wasn't that worried. He was right, sticking pipes in a concrete floor seems like a stupid thing to do.

He said he'd called someone to effect a repair and said the gas would be off for a while.

I couldn't drum up any emotion whatsoever, but I'm not really sure why. I'm sure I should have at least felt a bit of annoyance, or something...but...nada.

I've had a rough week at work for one reason and another, and other stuff's going on in my head and maybe there's no room for anything else just now.

But I figure in the ups and downs of owning an old house that needs a bit of TLC shit happens. Maybe this is the shit they refer to.

I'm reminded that worse things happen at sea - and probably a broken gas/fuel line would be much worse at sea.

Just as well I'm on dry land, then, innit.

Oh there is just one thing...following some rejigging of electricity circuits I discover some of the downstairs lights aren't working. Slightly annoying, but as I amble around in the dark a fair bit, I daresay I'll cope until Tuesday when the builder's back.



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In praise of the humble shop

My builder wasn't too comfortable buying some of the fittings and finishes I want for the utility/loo.

So it was agreed (ie I was left with no option) that I would buy them.

Armed with TD's helpfully detailed specs I set about making what I assumed would be a series of simple purchases of a sink, a loo, some taps and a radiator online.

I was thwarted at every stage. Did the loo come with a frame or a mounting bracket? What about the cistern...and the "button". Who knew? The websites certainly didn't help any.

The sink, I couldn't find on line at all.

I became disheartened and sought advice from TD.

He wasn't sure either but agreed to meet me in a "shop" that sells bathroom stuff, not far from he is working.

We rolled in more or less on spec and immediately were greeted by a friendly chap called Steve. We introduced ourselves and started explaining my needs for sanitaryware.

At every turn Steve was helpful, knowledgeable and willing to phone the manufacturers for further advice. At no point did he try the hard sell. He was happy enough to give me prices and for me to go and think about it.

He carefully laid out price options and at no point even tried to force me down the "expensive" route.

After the prices were written down I just said - 'yeah, go for it' or something similar.

I'd only gone in to source the sink and maybe the WC but I was so impressed I suggested we check out the taps. Sure enough, they had those too.

Then as the finale I muttered to TD that that just left the radiator for which I'd have to go to Bath. Steve immediately apologised for being forward and asked what radiator I wanted (me saying Bath was a pretty big cue for a particular brand of radiator). When I told him he said "Yes, we do those too". Job done.

OK it took an hour and I probably owe TD more than the takeout coffee we were left with getting before going back to our respective day jobs but I have to say the whole experience was a salutory lesson in customer care.

The guy clearly gave a damn. He knew his subject and seemed genuinely interested in finding me what I needed.

For the prices I knew, it wasn't the cheapest option...neither was it the most expensive. However, I see the slight premium as a small price to pay for the service...indeed the excellent service.

TD's not a man to praise lightly and even he was impressed.

In our defence, we did provide the guy with a little entertainment as we stretched the normal boundaries of professional practitioner and client as we bickered and TD criticised my skill with a tape measure (I still don't know what's wrong with cm as a unit of measurement). Steve wasn't to know we're pals who regularly bicker on a non-architectural basis.

What Steve also doesn't realise is that when I do the bathroom (some time next year, I'm hoping) that they'll probably be my first port-of-call rather than the refuge of a desperate woman.

A good day for proper retail.


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