Minding The Ps and Qs

My grandmother used to say it: "Mind your Ps and Qs!" I was never quite sure why. Or even what they were - though Wikipedia has a few suggestions over here. Inspired by Sian's great post A Few Fs for Fursday, we (me and Himself) have had a few of our own Ps and Qs this weekend ...

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P for Panic (as in Total Panic) when The Architect decided on Friday, out of the blue and without any consultation, to call a halt to all work on the extension so that a load of cavity drip trays could be inserted into the walls of the existing house. Thousands of pounds of additional expense - ours, not his. Apparently he woke up in the night and thought it might be a good idea. I've been wondering if some sleeping pills might make a nice Christmas pressie.

Q for Querying and Questioning (as in Querelously) by us and the builder as this would mean two additional weeks' work when the build is five weeks late already, no hope of finishing and getting my parents in by Christmas, the bags of render outside in the drive going off and having to be paid for twice and the renderers - booked for Monday - compensated. Plus the real prospect of the front walls collapsing when they knock holes in the already soft and open-to-the-elements blockwork to insert said drip trays. That'd be additional Ps for Propping up the Place with big Poles, then.

P for Pardon? (as in Pardon-You've-Got-To-Be-Joking) when the smiley kitchen people told us it would cost us £740 to have four pieces of worktop fitted by their installers. No, that was in addition to the cost of the worktops themselves (which are less than half of that). They sent us off to their nice cafe with vouchers for a free cup of coffee to think about it. The thinking took less time than the drinking.

Q for Quandary (as in Quite a ...) when it was discovered that the two missing external doors which didn't turn up with the rest of the door-and-window order would be further delayed. A lot. Because they'd forgotton to make them. But we'll put them on a priority order for you. That'll mean only two months till they're ready.

P for Polishing Off (as in Pouring down one's throat) a bottle of best plonk. It was surprisingly good at numbing the pain. Nuther bottle, anyone? Hiccup.

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(What happened? The Architect has backed down, the builders have heaved a sigh of relief, the worktops we will fit ourselves (Himself is delighted at the prospect of purchasing a circular saw for the job - an additional toy tool he's wanted to play with for ages); and the doors will be supplied more quickly by someone else. But I wouldn't stop holding your breath just yet, if I were you. I'm not. Though holding your breath and trying to swallow two Neurofen at the same time is no mean feat ...)

 

Comments

[Amanda]

I'm pleased that you have managed to keep hold of your sense of humour throughout all of this. Essential I think :) Keep smiling and failing that stock up on the plonk.

[Sian]

Hehe! I think I might be thinking about sleeping tablets too - for myself, so I could curl up in a corner and let them all get on with it. Your good humour in the face of adversity is to be much admired - and I'm so glad a few solutions are starting to appear. Onwards and upwards!

[Paul B]

Jaw was dropping as I read your post. Such a stressful situation!!! Well they do say what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger - so you'll have the strength of an ox after this :) Crossing fingers for you that an end will soon be in sight Pxx

[Jacky S]

I'm amazed you still have a sense of humour intact,Alexa.....I think I'd be in a straight jacket by now....or possibly emigrating!!!
All my fingers are crossed for it to now go smoothly for you.

[Jacky S]

I'm amazed you still have a sense of humour intact,Alexa.....I think I'd be in a straight jacket by now....or possibly emigrating!!!
All my fingers are crossed for it to now go smoothly for you.

[Karen]

I really don't know how you manage to keep a sense of humor through all this. Some of it just seems unbelievable. But it seems that some things are being resolved. You deserve a bout of wonderful luck and progress---I'll be sending encouraging thoughts your way!

[giselle]

I was going to say "I wonder how you keep your sense of humour through all this" but everyone's beaten me to it! I still think that & am raising a metaphorical glass of best plonk in your direction!

[Amy]

I feel as though we are living in a parallel universe at the moment Alexa - our 'numbing the pain' strategies are remarkably similar! At the moment I can hardly hear my fingers typing this - we have plasterers and builders making an absolute racket .... heellllooooo out there! You are closer to the end than we are - we will get through this :-)

[lin]

Wow Alexa you are really going through it at the moment. Do you watch Grand Designs with Kevin Mcloud, it always seems to be the windows that let everyone down! Hope you manage to get it all sorted and that your parents will be able to move in as planned.