The honeymoon is over, and I have to go to work today. 'Work' consists of making a surprise visit to a stone yard in the heart of Somerset so that they cannot lie to me by saying they have already begun an order that I made a couple of months ago, and they promised would be ready within a couple of weeks.
I will then try to retrieve the drawings I left with them (too large to photocopy), go to a quarry, select the stone and arrange delivery to a different stone yard, so I can begin the process all over again.
I have already mentioned how I hate dealing with stone-workers and what a miserable bunch of misfits they all are, but under these circumstances, they are even worse. The trouble is that I already have a reputation for keeping people waiting, so it's no use trying to lay the blame on them. I went to bed too late last night, and I awoke too early. All I have had for breakfast is two oranges.
Also, I bought what I am hoping will turn out to be an early 18th century candlestick on eBay the other week. The woman had previously listed it with a reserve, and it hit £170 without selling, so she re-listed it at £25 - big mistake. She could have sold it for £170 but ended up selling it to me for £25 because she had pissed off the other bidders so much that I was the only one to bid on it.
The doorbell rang on Saturday and a postman stood there with a parcel for me from her. When I opened it, I found a crappy brass toast-rack.
So my other task today is to send the effing toast-rack to the person who bought it in London and hope that they do the same favour for me by sending the candlestick.
Following an extended fairy-tale weekend of Royal romance, this week is not starting in the way I would have hoped for...
Sounds like stonemasons are the same the world over. Stooping, wind bitten, cement mixer grinding away, over stone dregs/wall/sculpture that was supposed to be finished months ago.
ReplyDeleteI think you should have kept the toast rack, and had your breakfast by candle light.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the toast rack. The stone yard, however, sounds fascinating. I want to go.
ReplyDeleteOk Tess - I'll send you next time. They had 'started' my stuff, so I just said that if I couldn't get it by next week, then forget it - hollow threat, and they know it.
ReplyDeleteI posted the toast rack though. I achieved something today...
Oh, bad luck about the toast rack. What a pain. I hope the rest of the week is better, and good luck at the stone yard.
ReplyDeleteI'll show you a picture of the candlestick - if and when it arrives, Judith (yawn...). I'll also show you the stone under the same provisos (yawn again...)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your commiseration.