I feeel we have had workmen here for ever, doing external maintenance and a couple of things needed in the house. Although I have been careful to not lock myself out again (blog nov 24 ) neverthelsss the unexpected always hovers close by, ready to strike – this morning being a case in point.

Yesterday, our contractor Dennis took me into the city to order brass rods and the end fittings for the carpet runner we are having put on the stairs to cover the slightly slippery bare wood. (the creaks will still be there, though) The shop was fascinating, with rolls of shim in copper, brass and aluminium, strips, rods, heavy guage sheets of metal, pipes of all sizes, even a table of metal platters and tableware, but for once I did not have my camera. A large weighing scale was prominent, for these metals are sold by weight and metal prices fluctuate – anyone taking any notice of the current gold price? whoooee. I digress. The appropriate diameter rod, a tube really, was selected, and since the strip of carpet is 60 cm wide we orderd the brass to be cut into 64 cm lengths. It was delivered last evening, in readiness for the carpet laying to begin at 9-30 am today. Dennis and I agree, when the carpet company coordinator was here last week, checking the measurements etc, he specified a ‘9-30 am start’, allowing about 3 hours and finishing ‘at lunchtime’. Even given Uruguayan ideas on time, I confidently predicted that are so busy at this time of year that they would be on time more or less, and expected them around 10am . They arrived at 10-30. The foreman did not take too kindly to my pointing out the time, wagged his finger at me and barked “I said not before 9-30” which of course, could mean any time, and I always go for something more specific than that. But anyway, they brought in the carpet roll, tools and all the gear needed for the job, and then opened the parcel of rods and fittings.

Within a minute it became clear that the rods had been supplied at the wrong length – 20cm too long, and again, although it was not my error in any way, I found myself being soundly berated. My goodness this foreman fellow is a crabby piece of work; but Dennis was nearby and came to my defence within a few minutes. Clearly the rods would have to go back to be re-cut, and the whole thing rescheduled…. how about tomorrow morning, perhaps? Taking into account the carpet layers’ idea of time, I declined the opportunity to have the best part of tomorrow (saturday) all stuffed up. So we have settled on tuesday “after 3-30” which theoretically gives time for me to meet my 12-20 appointment and return home in time. If by some chance he is early, my cleaning lady is here till then, so with my fingers X behind my back, we finally and courteously agreed on that time, and parted amicably.

So, here it is, noon, and I have not done the quilt planning I was going to settle to while the job was going on. I was planning to settle out in the lovely outside area under the newly refurbished shady pergola – but in the last few minutes this has become a lively area of activity as the boys arrange ladders, radio and some tools for some work to patch some concrete out there – so I’d have had to move soon, anyway. But at least in the meantime I have written an outline of this morning’s unexpected flurry of coming and goings.