Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Unusual

I have this new painter. Highly recommended. He's working on the inside of the house. The outside was done last year and I've squeezed out a few dollars for the inside this year. gone are the days when I'd do it all myself but younger and more agile than me have fallen off ladders or slipped a disk, or....but I just may tackle the craft room. There's something awfully satisfying about slapping on paint and fine tuning the trim, you know?

Well this painter, we're filing down the stairs and he says:

"Oh, I'm illiterate, missus."

"Oh," sez I, "How do you manage painting, the colours 'n all?"

"You'll have to put the cans into each room for me."

"How can you tell the different whites, like primer, trim, ceiling?"

"If you put a big letter on each, like P for primer, it'll be proper ting."

He's around 60+. We haven't got into the educational ins and outs of this but I imagine he fell through the cracks many years ago.

What I admired most was the practical way he stated this fact about his illiteracy.

And also when I suggested drop cloths, he said he never saw the need for them, he knew what he was doing and didn't splash around, no drips in his work, ask anybody. Pride, missus.

OK then.

I've had one awful experience with an inside painter.

Let's hope this one restores my faith.

PS - posted later - here was the followup post to my "Bristled" post above - this one is "Banjaxed" - have a larf.

30 comments:

  1. Excellent Tessa, Blogger has more bugs than other platforms, it can be a nuisance.
    XO
    WWW
    PS so far so good with him, can't believe how fast and perfect the ceilings and primers have gone on :)

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  2. Well, that's a new way of getting the right paint ready. Sounds like he's doing well, better than the ghastly experience you referred to. I'm amazed he doesn't need dropcloths, he must be very skilled.

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  3. If it's possible to be charmed by illiteracy, I am. I like the guy already. Best of luck.
    Mike

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  4. So -- how did you eventually go about fixing up Rosie's paintjob?

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  5. Don't tell me ... it's waited THIS long ... !

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  6. Hope your health issues are getting better. Meantime ... please stay off the ladders!

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  7. Good luck on the paint job.
    I keep thinking of doing something different
    but all was done when cottage was finished
    6 years ago. Now no drop clothes would
    make me uncomfortable :)
    Stay well....

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  8. The thought of him missing the joys of reading breaks my heart. But I'm glad he has a good way to make a living.

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  9. Greetings,

    I'm just catching up on your posts...Sounds as though your painter is honest and knows what he's about on the job...I wonder if someone could help him develop the skills to read?

    As to you, meditating and working to attain better health are wonderful goals and as you seem determined, I have no doubt you'll see change. Have you tried any guided imagery for reducing stress? I can suggest some things if you are interested. Also, I am looking at your reading and watching lists and there is some similarity to mine, though you read more fiction and have new books by some authors I like about which I was unaware, so I will add them to my list...I am assuming the greater number of stars, the better the book? And 0 indicates an absolute dud?
    I'll check out the writing blog as time allows.
    Cheers!

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  10. could you send him down my way, as I'll be painting this house for years, the rate I am going!!

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  11. Oh, I think of having our interior painted, and it makes me tired. All the things to be moved, taken down, etc. Eleven feet of wall unit that has to be worked around. Too much for me at this point. Maybe when we redo the flooring, we'll paint first so that there won't be a need to tape and cover that part.

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  12. I like to paint and am still able to do it, for which I'm grateful. It sounds like this guy knows what he's doing, so I hope you're happy with the result.

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  13. Nick:
    OMG yes he is, I can't believe his concentration and meticulousness. He doesn't take any breaks and no meals, says it ruins his mind as he works. He is an artiste of the highest calibre. I absolutely love what he's doing!
    XO
    WWW

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  14. SFM:
    I'm with you on that. I've known a few and their skill sets are completely different to us literates. This guy is utterly and completely charming. And loaded with talent.
    XO
    WWW

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  15. SJG:
    I didn't. I was robbed blind as she insisted on daily payments. I know. Stoooopid doesn't cover me. Thus no money until now to correct her catastrophic disaster.
    XO
    WWW

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  16. GM:
    Thanks - I wish you were here to have held my hand through the stress of finding someone who wouldn't let me down :)
    XO
    WWW

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  17. Tom:
    I don't know whether it' phsychological or not but every time I climb up even a short distance now I get dizzy. Not my friends anymore these ladders! Thanks for the good wishes.
    XO
    WWW

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  18. OWJ:
    Me too until I checked his work, he is truly an artiste and has tremendous pride in his work.
    XO
    WWW

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  19. Jennifer:
    I think his joy is elsewhere, and what we never have we don't miss, I expect.
    He plays with gadgets and colours, etc. Quite an expert on types of paint, etc.
    XO
    WWW

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  20. E:
    Yes the 0s are duds, true duds. Thank you for the offer of assistance, duly noted. I am trying alternate vitamins (B12, lysine) at the moment and mindfulness, kindfulness (new word - hehe) feeling a lot better. Fingers crossed.
    XO
    WWW

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  21. Gill I've been monitoring your painting efforts with great interest, almost in awe that you're tackling it!

    You would love this guy. $12/hour, no breaks. Really fast and shows his work off every few hours. Love him.
    XO
    WWW

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  22. DKZ:
    That's the way I felt in my botched living room, I just couldn't do the moving of stuff and then no money in the budget for that for years (thankfully I still work a bit at my age).
    But the time comes and the eyes are tired of the mess or the shabbiness..
    XO
    WWW

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  23. Sharon:
    So far, so very good indeed. I'm loving the way my house looks!!!!
    XO
    WWW

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  24. I love painting walls. I hope this goes well and you're happy with the outcome.

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  25. Something that I have been putting off for years for the simple reason that so much inconvenience is caused. The Prince says that we should simply move into a service apartment for a few weeks and let the contractors do what they need to do without falling all over us. The cost is prohibitive but the youth thinks differently.

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  26. Saw:
    Walls no problem, ceilings ouch, trim not so much :)

    XO
    WWW

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  27. I hear ya, Ramana. This guy is quite unobtrusive, he is quick, so rooms are out of commission about 2 days tops. I'm out most of the time so not too bad at all. I expected worse. My one big dread is clearing out my office.
    XO
    WWW

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