#19
Post
by Fitzwilliam_Darcy » Fri Jul 16, 2010 2:03 pm
It is so difficult to find a good tradesman these days. And even when you believe that you may have a bit of leverage to exert, you may find your expectations dashed.
I was involved in a romantic entanglement with a wonderful, albeit slightly spotted (she was divorced), woman during the two years immediately prior to my meeting dear Miss Bennett; upon meeting Miss Bennett I of course cut off that earlier liaison; gentleman that I am, the other lady and I were able to remain on cordial terms.
Shortly after we terminated that affaire de cœur, the other lady threw herself into a flurry of activity, primarily remodeling her kitchen. I was so impressed with the work that was done that I retained the same tradesman to remodel my own kitchen (which pleased the staff to no end: they were delighted with the capacious cabinetry, detailed tile work and overall fine workmanship; I find that the lower orders do thrive when placed in pleasant surroundings). Well. As it happens, the other lady so impressed with the work done by this tradesman that she undertook to enter into a new romantic entanglement of her own, with him, one that continues to this day. Dear Miss Bennett is aware of the relationship I formerly shared with the other lady, and she has no objection to this or any other past indiscretion on my part (Miss Bennett is the most understanding of women, and she understands that there is no lingering residue from that part of my past); I do not know if the other lady's tradesman-caller is aware of the extent of my former relationship with his inamorata (proper ladies, even if slightly spotted, do not discuss such things), but he does not seem to be the least disturbed by whatever he does know. The four of us-- the other lady, her tradesman-caller, Miss Bennett and myself-- are the best of friends, to the extent that the other lady and her tradesman-caller traveled afar to attend the nuptials of dear Miss Bennett and myself, as our honored guests.
Well again. The other lady employed her tradesman-caller to remodel her bathroom. As with the kitchen project, I was very impressed with the work that was done, and Miss Bennett and I retained him to remodel our own master bathroom. Which was scheduled for completion over two weeks ago. And which is still not complete: more than two weeks ago, he had completed all but perhaps one day's worth of work, and had completed it well, but it has taken over two weeks to finish the last bit of toil, as he and his staff have for some reason seen fit to do no more than an hour or two of work each day, rather than just finish it all up at once.
This has vexed me. I had hoped to use the influence of the other lady, to encourage her tradesman-caller to complete the project (perhaps by withholding her favors, or whatever other means she deems fit), but this has been to no avail.
It was all so much easier when all I needed was a servant to empty the chamber pots each morning...
Zombie-free and proud of it
