Lord Finchley
Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy* man
To give employment to the artisan.
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy* man
To give employment to the artisan.
Hilaire Belloc
This is a verse much quoted by John, who is not handy. Not at all. This is fair enough; not everyone can be handy (I have very handy sons, especially you, B. They inherited this from their father, who could fix/make anything). So whenever anything goes wrong in the house, the great cry goes up: "call a little man"!
We have a lot of these "little men", all lovely people (though not all little), and all of whom have the skills we lack. There is A the plumber (who came this morning to solve the problem of water rising up through the kitchen floor. The jury is currently out on that one). Then there's R, who also came this morning, to fix the grandfather clock (which had had botched abdominal surgery over the holiday, courtesy of six-year-old grandson). L is a brilliant painter (we're talking walls, not Picasso), and scoffs at those who insist on using scaffolding. He perches on a ladder, three floors up, apparently oblivious of the spiked railings waiting like hungry sharks below). S comes to chop down trees (little ones; we only have a courtyard) and do other jobs I can't reach. And then for all other jobs - and some of the above - we have another R, who can do literally anything but is rather difficult to get hold of. In fact, all these people are hard to get hold of, because everyone wants them. If possible, we book early to avoid disappointment (of course, this doesn't apply to floods).
So I would like to dedicate this rather pointless post to R, R, A, L, S and also the nice electrician who emigrated to France (please come back!). Where would we be without you?
*In case you wonder, we are not wealthy, so this poem isn't entirely accurate.
We have a lot of these "little men", all lovely people (though not all little), and all of whom have the skills we lack. There is A the plumber (who came this morning to solve the problem of water rising up through the kitchen floor. The jury is currently out on that one). Then there's R, who also came this morning, to fix the grandfather clock (which had had botched abdominal surgery over the holiday, courtesy of six-year-old grandson). L is a brilliant painter (we're talking walls, not Picasso), and scoffs at those who insist on using scaffolding. He perches on a ladder, three floors up, apparently oblivious of the spiked railings waiting like hungry sharks below). S comes to chop down trees (little ones; we only have a courtyard) and do other jobs I can't reach. And then for all other jobs - and some of the above - we have another R, who can do literally anything but is rather difficult to get hold of. In fact, all these people are hard to get hold of, because everyone wants them. If possible, we book early to avoid disappointment (of course, this doesn't apply to floods).
So I would like to dedicate this rather pointless post to R, R, A, L, S and also the nice electrician who emigrated to France (please come back!). Where would we be without you?
*In case you wonder, we are not wealthy, so this poem isn't entirely accurate.
We're not handy either, so rely on others who have the skills we lack.
ReplyDeleteWe would be sunk - probably literally - without them, Patsy.
DeleteIf you have trouble imagine what it is like for people up here or in the South West. Neither population has words for urgency or punctuality. In Devon they do say that they will be round Drektly. That can mean anytime within the next few months.
ReplyDeleteOurs say they're coming "somwhen", Adrian . I love that word (if not the implication).
DeleteIt sounds as though they could team up and make a fortune. On second thoughts, maybe they are already doing nicely.
ReplyDeleteps. my version of Drektly would be Dreckly. I have that sign in my California office. "I'll do it Dreckly"
Dreckly sounds like something to do wiht weather, ER. It's been pretty dreckly here, this last week ;(
DeleteWe are not handy and the smallest job calls for new tools which never go back to the very large tool box which takes up a whole shelf - and then we call in a man/woman who can.
ReplyDeleteOh, we to have a rusting tool box, which seems to be full of the wrong kinds of tools. I use a potato peeler as a screwdriver, and the rolling pin as a hammer.
DeleteTo know someone who is not only handy but also trustworthy with such jobs is priceless!
ReplyDeleteMy husband was very handy - he could do and fix nearly anything, from computers to plumbing to TV antennas to cabinet doors. I am not entirely daft that way myself, but I have too much respect for electricity to touch the socket of the kitchen wall lamp that needs fixing (and has been in that sad state for at least a year).
There's a reliable plumber nearby whom I email when I need something done, but he's good and he knows it, which shows in his prices. Thankfully, it is not often that I need help with jobs around the house. Not having grandchildren who can create such jobs out of the blue probably helps :-)
I wouldn't touch electricity either, Meike. It terrifies me.
Delete'Not entirely accurate'? Nor is the poet's name. Of course you meant Belloc; but I'm sure it was just a typo. He just happens to be a favourite.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't exactly a typo, CM, since I copied and pasted it, and didn't even notice the misprint! Thanks for pointing it out (now corrected). I too love Belloc.
DeleteWe are very un-handy too and would be living in a tent if it weren't for these marvellous men.
ReplyDeleteI managed to knock the innards out of our grandfather clock, trying to move him single-handed from a room with a highish ceiling to a low one complete with clock-disembowelling beams. Even worse, I tried to mend him and dropped the weight on my foot. Why do I even attempt these things?
Joanna, you should have phoned R. The foot sounds painful!
DeleteI almost feel guilty when I say that I can tackle most jobs around the house having, inter alia, plumbed, wired and rebuilt several kitchens and a pottery and rebuilt an old car. I earned my living with what I pretend is a brain but for the most part I got my enjoyment out of DIY. It is the old story: jack of all trades and master of none.
ReplyDelete