I am never...

[Just-Legal]

... EVER having a Conservatory done. My parents are having one built at the moment, and neither of them are at home to supervise, so its fallen on me. Regular 7am wake-ups are NOT good for someone with sleep difficulties.

There have been lots of problems, the foundations required extra work, the electrician's just told me what my parents want is impossible. I'm dealing with lots of people I don't know (ALL male) which makes me nervous, and the constant noise is a real strain.

And now, one of the neighbours came and complained. And not in the "are you aware" kind of way - I can see her point of view, she has a one month old and a toddler who need naptime etc, but I'm that fraught the way she came at me ("what the hell are you doing with all this racket?") she got a rather snappy response along the lines of "well if we're going on noise pollution your dog is a pretty damn big offender!" - she has a small "yappy type dog".

I'm feilding phonecalls constantly, I'm exhausted, and the real fucking sticking point for me is simple. I am going to get absolutely ZERO use of this damn thing, its a conservatory for my mother (which I don't begrudge her, she needs a study area for her Masters) and nothing else, and I'm doing all the work.

Secondly, this thing has cost nearly 20k including fixtures and furniture. This from the man who told me, REPEATEDLY, they did NOT have this kind of money to throw around. Hello? I see someone's nose is growing!!

 

[wishfulthinking]

Well...

a) call the licensing authority for builders and electricians in your country/state and see if they are valid
b) call the local council [whatever does you bylaws] and find out what hours noisy works can be carried out - just some info for you
c) offer to babysit the brat for an hour, or invite her around for tea or something. I'd be fucking angry too if I had a rugrat I couldn't get to sleep and when I did, someone pulled out a jackhammer [and I don't even have kids! ]. Once the neighbour refuses, and then makes a complaint about the works to the council, then feel free to call up the council and make a complaint about her bastard dog. I'd be more scared of the dog police than the builder police.
d) get a stress ball. Plot of ways that you will forever hold this over your mother's head - an embarrassing story for family gatherings - then realise you love her, she's worth the pain if she gets her dream, you're probably getting subsidised rent and your parents would probably walk around naked if you weren;t living at home, she went through labour for you...

I know, I know, my sympathy factor is minus 100 at the moment.

 

[Just-Legal]

Well...

a) call the licensing authority for builders and electricians in your country/state and see if they are valid
b) call the local council [whatever does you bylaws] and find out what hours noisy works can be carried out - just some info for you
c) offer to babysit the brat for an hour, or invite her around for tea or something. I'd be fucking angry too if I had a rugrat I couldn't get to sleep and when I did, someone pulled out a jackhammer [and I don't even have kids! ]. Once the neighbour refuses, and then makes a complaint about the works to the council, then feel free to call up the council and make a complaint about her bastard dog. I'd be more scared of the dog police than the builder police.
d) get a stress ball. Plot of ways that you will forever hold this over your mother's head - an embarrassing story for family gatherings - then realise you love her, she's worth the pain if she gets her dream, you're probably getting subsidised rent and your parents would probably walk around naked if you weren;t living at home, she went through labour for you...

I know, I know, my sympathy factor is minus 100 at the moment.

a) The builders are all fully up to code, dad checks all this stuff before he allows them to start work. None of the problems have been with the builders, its to do with the site etc (drains were found where the foundations were supposed to go, stupid crap like that)

b) 8am to 5pm, possibly later depending on severity of work/what is required (more flexibility for emergency repair ect). Its not even constant noise!

c) She doesn't speak to me, except to yell at me. I've tried to be polite, say hello ect, she does not want to know. I'm getting severe anti-goth vibes. *shrug* Also, I'm not fit to take care of two small children, or one *g* I can hardly take care of myself.

d) I have no problem with my mother over this, she's been wonderful, terribly apologetic and promising to give me a good break when she gets back. DAD, on the other hand, has been a complete twat. I have exams in a few weeks, I have serious sleep problems, and I need to be at Uni in the library. I've been forced to stay home for nearly three weeks now, getting up at a time my body is telling me it can't take any more. He's taking the complete piss, and I've just about had it with him. Its not just this, he's phoning me 14 times a day, because of paperwork he's "forgotten" and needs me to sort out - I've had to phone the gas company over a bill that isn't for us, a furniture company over the delivery date of the conservatory stuff, and with things for me to "check".

And no worries, you gave sound advice, I'm just at the end of my tether.

 

[Guest]

its fine to be frustrated with something that is completely out of your scope of control. yet, you are expected to do so with a smile when your body is screaming at the 'wrongness' of it all.
to other people, it may seem insignifigant (its early and im not spell checking, deal) but if anyone is put out of their comfort zone, they should understand how uncomfortable it is to do things they don't feel equipped to handle.

deep breath, sweetie. this can't last forever and hopefully youll be even that much more appreciated for your efforts.
*mega hugs*

 

[wishfulthinking]

I'm just at the end of my tether.

I know Venting is good. Venting with your AH pals is better

 

[Just-Legal]

its fine to be frustrated with something that is completely out of your scope of control. yet, you are expected to do so with a smile when your body is screaming at the 'wrongness' of it all.
to other people, it may seem insignifigant (its early and im not spell checking, deal) but if anyone is put out of their comfort zone, they should understand how uncomfortable it is to do things they don't feel equipped to handle.

deep breath, sweetie. this can't last forever and hopefully youll be even that much more appreciated for your efforts.
*mega hugs*

* Insignificant. Close tho

Mum's back tomorrow night, so if nothing else I get a lie in on Friday morning, I might just run off to Mark's and sleep.

I know Venting is good. Venting with your AH pals is better

That made me laugh - they're just moving some vents right now

 

[rgraham666]

Give your folks an invoice 'for services rendered in project management and public relations'.

I think £20 an hour is a fair price.

 

[Just-Legal]

Give your folks an invoice 'for services rendered in project management and public relations'.

I think £20 an hour is a fair price.

Hmm... £600 for a weeks work. Nice.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Your dad is a real piece of work, just saying...

Wasn't he clever, to plan this project for a time when he wouldn't be there to supervise it?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My parents did that to me once and only once...

Half way through the project I called them and told them I had had it with the BS and if they wanted me to take care of it, it would cost them $1,000 a week, in advance.

When they said no, I told them they better come home as I wouldn't be there but for another hour to pack my things.

They were home that night. I was gone by then, staying at a buddies.

 

[Just-Legal]

Your dad is a real piece of work, just saying...

Wasn't he clever, to plan this project for a time when he wouldn't be there to supervise it?

Yeup, and because its for my mum, he knows I won't walk away. Fucking bastard.

He's phoned me twice already today. His last instruction? "Make sure you wipe down every surface in the kitchen and mop the floor when they've flipped the french doors to get the dust up before mum gets back". I just about refrained from bursting into tears.

Zeb - I'd love to, but he can't get back from Scotland, neither can mum get back from Birmingham. Next time he phones though, I'm gonna tell him I expect reparation.

 

[CharleyH]

... EVER having a Conservatory done.

When you use the word "Conservatory" all I want to do is shout "MR. PLUM IN THE CONSERVATORY WITH A KNIFE!"

With this in mind and while it may be a pain in your proverbial arse at the moment ... I bet there's a story in it somewhere!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Yeup, and because its for my mum, he knows I won't walk away. Fucking bastard.

He's phoned me twice already today. His last instruction? "Make sure you wipe down every surface in the kitchen and mop the floor when they've flipped the french doors to get the dust up before mum gets back". I just about refrained from bursting into tears.

Zeb - I'd love to, but he can't get back from Scotland, neither can mum get back from Birmingham. Next time he phones though, I'm gonna tell him I expect reparation.

There ya go! As the General Contractor you should be paid handsomely.

 

[SesameStreet]

Yeup, and because its for my mum, he knows I won't walk away. Fucking bastard.

He's phoned me twice already today. His last instruction? "Make sure you wipe down every surface in the kitchen and mop the floor when they've flipped the french doors to get the dust up before mum gets back". I just about refrained from bursting into tears.

Zeb - I'd love to, but he can't get back from Scotland, neither can mum get back from Birmingham. Next time he phones though, I'm gonna tell him I expect reparation.

Definitely give the idiot a bill when he gets home. As for the lady with the snall kids I have to empathize with her on this one. I bet she could kill both your parents.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Breathe deeply and spend a little bit of time just contemplating random evil things which you could do to your dad and won't.

When I'm upset with someone, thinking of buckets over doors and shaving cream in slippers usually helps. (I'd advise against actually implementing anything you come up with, though.)

 

[buxxxom]

At the risk of sounding like a babbling idiot, what's a conservatory?

 

[Just-Legal]

Thats it, he's done it, my father is in for it when he gets home.

Tommorow is a local election. I'm a Politics student.

He has expressly FORBIDDEN me from leaving the house for a 20 min walk to the polling station. I'm almost certain that's illegal, never mind fucking immoral.

I'm going when the fitters are on their lunchbreak, and he can go fuck himself because I might not come back. I have been stuck in this freaking house all week, and I'm about to explode.

 

[SlickTony]

At the risk of sounding like a babbling idiot, what's a conservatory?

I think it's what we'd call a nursery or a greenhouse.

I'm sorry to hear about all the trouble you're having, J-L, but really, it could be worse--you could be having contractor problems on top of everything else. I don't know about your British workman, but in Florida, contractor problems are par for the course.

 

[TheEarl]

At the risk of sounding like a babbling idiot, what's a conservatory?

It's an extension onto the back of a house, usually made mostly out of glass so that the sun can come in. Makes an extra room which is usually used for sitting and contemplating life.

JL: Your father, excuse my language, is a fucking idiot and doesn't deserve you. I'm aware that you know this already, but thought you might appreciate someone else saying it too. <sending hugs>

The Earl

 

[Just-Legal]

It's an extension onto the back of a house, usually made mostly out of glass so that the sun can come in. Makes an extra room which is usually used for sitting and contemplating life.

JL: Your father, excuse my language, is a fucking idiot and doesn't deserve you. I'm aware that you know this already, but thought you might appreciate someone else saying it too. <sending hugs>

The Earl

Yeah I know. He's a dick. *recieves and reciprocates hugs*

And Slick? The way my health is, if there had been contractor problems, I woulda told my dad to fuck himself a while ago.

 

[Just-Legal]

*hides under her desk whimpering*

Its officially made me ill. My stomach has gone to pot this morning.

 

[Vermilion]

Just out of interest... why do these builders needs supervising every minute of every day?
If they're licensed and registered properly then they should be trusted alone for half an hour or so.

And yes, if he won;t let you out of the house that's illegal - false imprisonment maybe? I dunno. Tell him you'll call the police if he tries to force the issue.
x
V

 

[Just-Legal]

Just out of interest... why do these builders needs supervising every minute of every day?
If they're licensed and registered properly then they should be trusted alone for half an hour or so.

And yes, if he won;t let you out of the house that's illegal - false imprisonment maybe? I dunno. Tell him you'll call the police if he tries to force the issue.
x
V

The power needs to be turned on and off, so does the water as they had to move the drains, so they need access to the house, and dad is a suspicious bastard. The lads are actually quite nice, and if you give them tea/coffee and biscuits, they're happy boys.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

*hides under her desk whimpering*

Its officially made me ill. My stomach has gone to pot this morning.

*hugs* honey go to your mom and dads room and punch their pillows until it spills feathers.

I do feel bad for the lady with the kids and she probably only got more upset cos she was frazzled. Young kids with no naps are something from horror movies, these demons jump out of them that you never knew existed. If it was cos your goth shes an idiot! Either way she shouldnt yell at you.

Here is an idea, can you hire a babysitter for the building works so you can head off for a nap and quiet time?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Just out of interest... why do these builders needs supervising every minute of every day?
If they're licensed and registered properly then they should be trusted alone for half an hour or so.

And yes, if he won;t let you out of the house that's illegal - false imprisonment maybe? I dunno. Tell him you'll call the police if he tries to force the issue.
x
V

Not to mention -- how the hell can he prevent you from leaving the house via long distance? Isn't he in Scotland?

You lock up, you leave. You turn the water off before you go. When you get back, you turn things back on again if necessary. If the boys have to wait twenty minutes or something for you to get back, tough noogies. Your dad can afford it. If he can't afford it, he can get his arse home and do his job.