Sparks

[Robusto]

Our home fire alarm bellowed out every 20 minutes throughout the day yesterday. I tackled it on three floors when I got home. Semi-tackled because I didn't win. I got a 24 hour electrician in from yell.com locally who came and replaced a unit this morning. Two home visits plus a replacement alarm unit for ?35 is OK on the emergency Yell Richter scale, I reckon.

But I could have put money on the last bit.

Why do electricians ALWAYS look at your control box and tell you it is wired in incorrectly and that they could re-do it for you?

I know it's ker-ching... and I know it was done to fascistic inspection standards by local council plug-fiddlers two years ago.

I dunno.

It's like talking to a car mechanic. They always tell you that the previous guy did it wrong.

No worries. ?35 is fine. We will live on with the fear of being kebabbed in our beds.

Sorry. Needed to express this to someone.

PS I would seriously SERIOUSLY rather be a plumber than the gorgeous penny-making of my current calling. Being an electrician or car mechanic are joint third position after my second choice which is a to be a PLASTERER.

The grass is always greener...

[TJCoro]

Full Circle?

From the size of yer post, I take it yer feeling better these dayz?


Names BJ, BJCoro, and I'm just askin'

[whisky77]

Turpin.

I know exactly where you are coming from Bryan.Recently had a new kitchen fitted, new combi boiler and some extra work done around the house.

At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask when he robbed people.

[Robusto]

Now, because of STORM-ROCKED BRITAIN, I have narrowly missed decapitation by flying roof slate.

I expect to be regally Blackwalled when I dial for first aid to block all holes next week.

(I'm not really feeling anything on this. I just feel like a moan).

[monkey66]

it's very hard to know what is honest. Unfortunately this kind of practice can be found in many industuries where you are completely reliant on the providers skills (electrician, plumber, lawyer, doctor to name but a few).

Luckily I am quite handy and in the last few years I have fixed a leak in our boiler, replaced a faulty heating control panel, replaced a faulty boiler motherboard, replaced the heater element on our washer-dryer and fixed various things on both our cars .......thank god I don't have basic medical skills ....now pass me that scalpel.

[daverave999]

I'm lucky not to have needed to rely on tradesmen to any extent so far, but ?35 doesn't seem hugely unreasonable in this day and age. I remember reading about http://www.problemsolved.co.uk which is like Tripadvisor for tradesmen, but I don't know how much use it gets.

monkey66, take a look at the Hesperian publishing downloads page.