Monday, October 29, 2012

Snapped.

Not me.  Although, I must be close right?

Yup.  Finally just snapped the little tab right off.















 So... that one is now always going to be in the open position.  Still haven't found out if I can buy any of the plastic bottoms to replace the ones that are gummed up....which is all of them... except two .... must go to the hardware and/or building supply shops soon.  No vehicle now...sold my old van.

Anyway... I am not going to dwell on the annoying... let's just move straight to the totally ridiculous shall we?

On Saturday, the tile setter came to grout the en suite bathroom tile.  Great. And... I  must say he did a great job.  But, in the main bathroom... he was also supposed to remove a few tiles that we had spent a lot of time carefully cutting and placing around an area that was to become a laundry chute at some future time.  However, over the past two years, we changed our minds and just wanted to tile over that area and leave a clean smooth look...and not put anything at all beside the sink. But, like idiots, thought we should let a professional cut out the tiles and repair it...especially if one was already here doing other work in the house.

During the morning, we had to leave to look at some tiles for our kitchen and left him to do his own thing.
Before we left, Mr. BV also gave him a tiny left over bag of the original grout to show him the type and colour we used when we did our own thing.... but, ... disaster, ...  we inadvertently gave him the wrong bag.

We came home to find this.... it looked like a purplish rubber next to brownish/grey grout.... it was even smooth instead of sandy and rough.















....  and he was giving us a bad time about the grout...saying we really need to use grout with sand in it...not sand free grout.  That it didn't look too bad and it was in a dark corner so it might not be too noticeable.   We just looked at each other in shock.  Yes.... we had given him the non sanded grout by mistake.... the type to be used with glass tiles.  And, remember ....this is a professional tile setter.  Why on earth would he use it?  Why?  Arrrgghhhhhh!!@#$%^

The hardware store is 3 minutes from our house.... why wouldn't the guy just hop in his van and go get the right stuff?  He could go right ahead and think we were nuts to hand him some of the wrong stuff or wonder if there was another bag of the right stuff somewhere or, sheeeeesh.... . think whatever he wanted...but, why would he use it?  How many stupid things have to continue to happen... how manytimes do I have to ask the same damn questions over and over and over and ov........ ad infinitum......

He asked if we had found tiles for our kitchen and when we told him we were going to use some reclaimed tiles...he started explaining about different sizes, thickness, etc...and how it would cost more ...etc.... we thanked him for his work and ushered him out the door.

Then.. had to make a decision.... try to dig out the grout immediately before it set ....or leave it til Sunday when it would definitely be set but at least so would the thin set that was holding the tiles in position, as he had just also done that previous to placing the grout.

We decided on tomorrow..... went down into our below ground lodgings ... poured some wine ... resisted the urge to scream into pillows or laugh uncontrollably at why or how we are cursed  .... and instead, ate a lovely meal of tenderloin ... done to perfection in my electric frying pan...on our coffee table ... and watched some Formula One racing ...















Sunday.... we took turns digging out grout.....















And, now.... it looks like this.















My hand and arm were killing me when we hit the bed last night...but, today...it doesn't feel much different than it usually does.

Tomorrow the electrician is coming to hang lights and fix things that are hanging at half mast .... (of course before the final painting is complete) .... I'm not asking.....

......and the guy is coming to measure for silhouette window coverings... which must be pretty straightforward....

I think I heard something about appliances arriving and being set up by perhaps early next week....ooooooohhh ....none too soon for me!

I hope they all heard me say I'm rooting around in my storage area looking for my Christmas tree.......


7 comments:

Catherine said...

How frustrating! Renovations usually never go smoothly. But it will be so nice when it's all done. Good luck!
xo Catherine

Twiglet said...

Oh Vee - what next!!! If only folks used just a bit of common sense - or is that an old fashioned thing these days. Surely you will be all sorted for Christmas - fingers crossed here. x Jo

C said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your message. You have my sympathy regarding your elbow and injury. Sadly I cannot help you because my own wrist problem is still not diagnosed. Three different top European hand specialists have reviewed by MRI/CT/xrays and they all have different ideas as to what the problem is. If you can afford it, please go to a good specialist in your area. As a crafter your arms and hands are as important to you as your eyes. Get advice. With some conditions you need to act fast or there is no remedy (which sadly seems to be two people's views in my own situation). So please please beg, borrow or steal but get yourself the best medical advice you can - and sooner rather than later. Do not put your head in the sand on this one. Please let me know how you get on.

Big hug from one wounded crafter to another, Carol :) x

Shashi Nayagam said...

Well what can I say except that that is why they are tile setters and we are doll makers lol!
I can read the frustration in your post yes so very annoying. There is always something isn't it when one is renovating.

Anonymous said...

If it can go wrong, it will go wrong!!

Jennifer Rose said...

:/ why would a "professional" do that? if he knew it was wrong he shouldn't have used it

hope your hand and arm feel better soon

Lin said...

Just keep swimming....it will all be done and LOVELY in no time at all. Sometimes the closer you are to your goal, the harder it is to keep going.

Too many workers just don't care anymore. :(