A delivery van from London shows up at six thirty in the morning . They were supposed to be here three days ago but their ETA kept on being put further and further back . In the end Angus had one of those ' what is it about the word service that you don't understand ? ' type conversations with the owner of the company . Their revenge was had by showing up at the crack of dawn. '' You don't know how difficult it is to juggle a schedule " the driver tells me with a completely straight face.
' The font ' returns from the market . The tired old Volkswagen has been hit by a piece of grit that's chipped the windscreen. An hour later Angus heads off in the big 4x4 . At the edge of the village the windscreen gets hit by a stone. '' What's the chance of that happening to both of us on the same day ? " asks ' the font '. Angus responds with a neanderthal grunt. To the surprise of all involved the windscreen repair company are on the scene within an hour. All charged painlessly and effortlessly to the insurance.
The Italian garden furniture needs to be assembled . The house about to fill up for the summer. Unable to prevaricate any longer Angus gets to work. How difficult can it be ? Answer : Extremely difficult if the manufacturer hasn't supplied the correct number of bolts and screws. Why is it the packaging never contains the right components? One of those strange never changing rules of the universe. The old farmer rummages around in the back of his Ford Transit , " Bought her in 1968. Never had a days trouble ", and appears with two three inch bolts . Problem solved.
I too have had good experiences with windscreen repair companies. Perhaps they should take over running more services?
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if there will soon be a new blog. 'The Less Rickety Old Farmhouse'?
I think there will be another dog blog before theres a ''less rickety old farmhouse ' blog !
DeleteYour missing component mystery made me smile. Twenty odd years ago I worked at a 'Training Centre,' set up to provide sheltered work for adults with learning disabilities. One of their jobs was to pack plastic bags with components for DIY projects sold to the public by various companies, and part of my job was to check the bags in order to establish that the work had been done correctly. Inevitably a lot of the bags were missing components, else had been 'embellished' with spare parts, the most memorable of which was a tampon....thankfully unused! I can only begin to imagine the look on someone's face had they discovered that when trying to assemble their flatpack furniture!
ReplyDeleteService is an outmoded concept, along with quality control, which was the first thing to go in the interests of "competition" ~ satisfying the supposed demand for cheaper goods.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when people were proud to buy the best they could afford. Now they just want the cheapest they can get, or the same thing at the cheapest possible price. Quality control and service have been sacrificed to still make a profit.
Sadly, even when you buy good quality goods from a reputable supplier the service is still lacking. It's the modern way. If you encounter good sevice it is remarkable rather than the norm, a bit like good manners !!
I have missed your posts this week and have enjoyed catching up on life in deepest France Profonde--It has certainly been productive and a hum of activity! I hope it continues and all who have promised will return--I'm sure they will if there is perhaps a promise of macaroons and walnut and marzipan cake!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, those macaroon cakes are SO RED!!!
ReplyDeleteKudos to the old farmer! He probably has a nut,bolt or other implement for everything that needs repair in the rickety old farmhouse. Perhaps a red macaroon cake is in order for him as well!
ReplyDeleteThe one service we rely on totally that has never disappointed is the UPS or FEDEX overnight delivery. London to france profonde would be a piece of cake (or macaroon) for them. Are they not there?
ReplyDeleteUPS and DHL are here and are wonderful . TNT by contrast hopeless - they always phone up and say there was no one at home . This drives Madame Bay, who sits and waits for them , mad with impotent fury . Most of our deliveries come from local couriers who have their own . peculiraly rural French , sense of time .
DeleteHope it all comes together in time for the arrivals. I will be especially interested in seeing the new pergola come together.
ReplyDeleteChips and cracks on the windshields is a fact of daily life around here. I really need to replace mine one of these days, I have a crack all the way across my upper windshield. Oh my those baked goods look incredible!
well...I had to look up "prevaricate". This worthy writer's blog is educating me even as it entertains me. ..hmmm....one definition said to "evade"...a new word in my vocab. ~ ;-) I laughed as you ended your post with "all is once again well with the world"....pondering if it was because progress was occurring, or...because you had macaroons!! lol... glad to see that long awaited projects are getting SOME closure, and was just a wee bit excited to see in one comment that a "dog blog" would most likely occur before a "less rickety blog" ...we all wait with anticipation for that one. Hope floats!
ReplyDeleteMacaroons !
DeleteFingers (and paws) crossed that promises are kept!!
ReplyDeleteoh! the rickety old farmhouse resort in france profonde!
ReplyDeleteyou may even give leslie caron a run for her money.
it's looking so beautiful.
the crystal pool... charming terrace with red umbrellas
and italian furniture... everything ship shape and bristol...
and a worn out ongoose!
you're a far better man than i. oh wait. i'm not a man.
i thought you were going to say the instructions were all in italian!
I must say, I read every post because you make me smile, a lot. Just life's little problems can be so amusing.
ReplyDeleteSending love from Texas.....
All good things come to they who wait and wait and wait.....
ReplyDeleteOld Farmer reminds me of eccentric cousin. He has a van that he uses to store found lumber in. He hasn't driven the van in ages, but the lumber is kept dry. Now if only cousin would use the materials instead of hoarding.
Ah, any day that ends with macaroons is a good day indeed.
ReplyDeleteEarlier you noted that you were USA bound for the summer . . .have your plans changed? A houseful of guests is not my cuppa, but certainly looks like it is yours.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy them and the macaroons!
Jo, Stella and Zkhat
Time for you and "the font" to leave for a vacation. Oh, you can't leave, you have guest coming.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had your kind of deserts here in the USA. They always look so good.
I do hope that you will have every thing ready in time for your house guests.
The old farmer came in handy.
ReplyDeleteBastards Incorporated strikes again. There was a comedy show years ago in Oz that featured a board room filled with men whose job was to cause the most inconvenience and stress in products...leaving out nuts and bolts being one of their jobs.
ReplyDeleteWe had a package delivered the other day. They called and asked if we would be here from 7 a.m. to 1 pm. The package was delivered at 2, after we'd gone for a walk.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
I love long picnic tables set up beneath a spreading shade tree. Throw a white tablecloth over it, and a row of wild flowers in jars and perfection.
ReplyDeleteCrack of dawn deliveries...Angus I think it's your destiny to receive these odd-hour deliveries..might I say it keeps your patience intact??
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for the old farmer MacGyver to come to the rescue.
Macaroons look great, but then again I have 32 sweet teeth, so you know how that goes.
Insurance company absorbed all costs, that's terrific, no underhanded deductible came into play?? Lucky you.
Virginia
Crack of dawn deliveries...Angus I think it's your destiny to receive these odd-hour deliveries..might I say it keeps your patience intact??
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for the old farmer MacGyver to come to the rescue.
Macaroons look great, but then again I have 32 sweet teeth, so you know how that goes.
Insurance company absorbed all costs, that's terrific, no underhanded deductible came into play?? Lucky you.
Virginia