Yes, Saga Part III . . . I am European and they are Fussy

. . . the flooring and renovation saga continues, and isn't over yet.

Mini me has 'flipped'

Tuesday 16 Sept:  more waiting for people to call us back, for electrician to return and new carpet installer to arrive. Electrician arrives about 11:35 and finds that there is a nicked wire inside the dryer 240v outlet - so an electrician error to be fixed.

Greek carpet store owner, after several phone calls, agrees to come out and waits for his installer for approximately 90+ minutes; he agrees no pattern matching not done properly and seams need to be redone - fortunately there is enough carpet left over for one more go. 


He and Philip work to find the pattern match.  New installer promised, but previous two are sent to job.  Installer who should have arrived before 10 turns up at 11:45, is instructed by owner on how to do the job. Owner then leaves saying it is good as this will be educational training for the installer.
He adds we are Europeans and are more fussy than Americans who wouldn't have noticed or asked for the mistake to be fixed (that is, Europeans know what the carpet should look like and Americans apparently don't); mini me says this is a complement.  Life sized American me is not sure how to take this!  Then flooring salesman chimes in that he did construction work and the outlet plates are not properly installed; he inspects our home (wish he would focus on the carpets!).

This leaves long suffering hubby to supervise R and K; R seems a bit spaced and confused, but at least he seems to be listening this time.  Motor mouth K, the second installer, disappears a lot and talks nonstop including explaining his ADD and how he 'walks away from jobs when he gets bored.'  Life sized me hides out in bedroom, again to avoid doing bodily harm - just get on with the job K!  R quieter and more focussed (spaced?).  Hubby enormously patient and kind for which life sized me is grateful.

2:50 pm K out on balcony videoing my view!  Still a long way to go on my job!

It is hard to get much of anything done (even crochet) as one has to pay close attention to what each workman is doing (without appearing to hover) and most of our things remain packed up in boxes on high shelves in the closet or in suitcases on the balcony.  Not that we have much as still awaiting delivery of sea shipment.  Even harder work to keep smiling and encouraging workers when all one wants to do is scream at the total incompetence (and wasted materials we paid dearly for); life sized me very restrained.

Job completed at 4:00 pm and carpet looking "somewhat better."  Now with storm clouds gathering, we await tonight's bed delivery; tomorrow's small furniture delivery from storage (life sized me's grandma's furniture last seen in 1998), we are told, hasn't yet left the warehouse and might be here Friday.

We should have been completed and moved in end July, then 20 August, then 1 September, then 3 times in 3rd week of September .  From September, "completion" still means without final kitchen flooring and countertop, no guest room flooring, no functioning 2nd bathroom and a myriad of snagging issues.  We hope (and pray) to be 'done' by end October - making it a 5 month job for a small condo.  Dolphins are frolicking and we are well, so ... am singing my motto:  it is just bricks and mortar (and carpets, cabinets and paint) and eventually the dust will settle ...

Update of 25th Sept - end of week 17 of renovations:  vinyl lifting in bathroom and carpet seam

Great Egret foraging in my 'front yard'

match is still off with a very visible seam - despite being sold that the carpet would be pattern matched with no visible seam.  We agree to settle with the carpet store and part ways (thank goodness for diplomatic negotiating hubby).  Now have to find another installer and still have the kitchen flooring to replace - latest estimate is November!