Home Blog Page 49

The day I left a tradesman speechless

By
Rebecca Senyard
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22

In January 2012, I decided to book a termite inspection on our home. It had been the first inspection done since my husband and I had purchased our new house (we’d been there for under 3 years). When budgets are tight, termite inspections are usually one of the areas property owners skimp on when it comes to home maintenance. I’m not embarrassed to admit that we weren’t as vigilant with our annual termite inspections as we should have been but I know it’s a common oversight by many home owners.

Termite inspections should be done yearly and the reports kept in a file so that if you do find you have termites in your home and wish to claim it on insurance, you can supply the yearly reports.

We were feeling on top of things financially and due to the wet weather and road works near our home the previous year, I wanted to get the house checked to ensure that our termite barrier was still up to date and working.

I rang a reputable company that was run by a husband and wife team. It was a typical family business scenario with the wife as the book keeper and the husband did the inspections.  It was recommended that a thermal imaging camera be used since the inspections hadn’t been kept up to date annually. I was happy for the extra cost and peace of mind for this service.

On a plumbing note, termite inspections not only check your property for potential termite activity, they can also be an excellent tool to uncover areas in the home that could attract termites without your knowledge. This includes leaking shower trays or damp bathroom floors and walls. Thermal imaging cameras are able to detect moisture in the walls which is the perfect environment to draw termites into your home.  Once the moistures is detected, it’s time to call a plumber who can do tests to work out what is causing the area to be damp.

Anyway, back to my termite inspection. When the inspector arrived he was an in-your-face type of tradie who knew everything there was to know about termites. His name was Ron. Ron knew everything about the building industry in general. He assured me that he had ‘seen it all’. Ron told me how busy he was and how many houses had termites in my suburb. After this reassuring news, he proceeded to tell me about his day and a situation he had to deal with prior to coming to my home.

Ron explained that he had a stand up fight with a plumber on another property about the way the plumber had installed the toilet which had caused termites to come into the property. Ron knew the plumbing laws and continued to explain to me how bad this plumber’s workmanship was.  Ron admitted that plumbers were his worst nightmare, but he couldn’t complain because they gave him work.

I could not wait for this moRON to get out of my home. When Ron talked to me, he’d look at me square in the face which was quite intimidating for me.  I was suddenly on the receiving end of feeling intimidated from a tradesman in my own home. And I was a tradie myself.

After Ron had finished checking inside my house he asked me, ‘So love, what do you do when you’re not home here looking after your kiddy?’

I proudly responded with my head held high ‘I’m a plumber’.

Ron stepped back and I could see he wasn’t quite sure how to react.  My response couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Needless to say, I didn’t call him back to do our annual termite inspection this year.

Have you ever had a situation where you have felt intimidated in your own home by a tradie? Share your stories with me.

Women deserve Respect not Harassment

By
Rebecca Senyard
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22

The recent sexual harassment scandal in the Australian Army is not surprising and still shows that we have a long way to go before women are fully accepted and respected in any occupation – but more specifically in male dominant roles. I totally respect and uphold the Army Chief of Staff’s response to the incidents that have occurred. His speech should be the mantra of every industry and company that employ women.

 

I experienced harassment in my first stages of Tafe when I was doing my apprenticeship 6 years ago. If you want to read some of my experiences feel free to read Tafe & Sex and Tafe & Sex II. I was the only girl in most of my Tafe classes. At the time, I wanted to get through Tafe with as little drama as possible because I stuck out like a sore thumb and didn’t want to stick out more by accusing the boys of harassment. I had entered their world and felt that what I experienced was to be expected.

 

How wrong I was to think this way and I have only come to realize it recently. Just because a role is generally performed by a male, doesn’t give them the right to harass a woman when she is given the opportunity and choice to do a trade. Men don’t own ‘male dominant’ industries. The plumbing trade may be mainly performed by males, but males don’t own ‘plumbing’. They chose their roles because such jobs were only ever offered and thus done by men.

 

It needs to be said that the way plumbing apprenticeships are being done now in Australia requires not just hands on skills but a level of intelligence as well. The paper trail when you become a plumber is astronomical (as it is in any industry or business I suspect). Knowing how to quote properly, compile OH & S manuals and Work Method Statements that are site specific for each job means that the ‘I barely passed high school, but I’m good with my hands’ students are no longer the preferred applicant when it comes to apprenticeships. This is why more girls are flourishing in a trade and why businesses are foolish not to put on female apprentices.

 

In hindsight, the harassment made me stronger in that I learned how to stand up for myself when I was the minority. It also made me realize how blessed I was to work with men who had strong values and knew how to treat me with respect.

 

The only attention women in the trades and army want is respect. Women make a valuable contribution to the workforce and harassment of any kind should not be tolerated.

This is 30

By
Rebecca Senyard
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2

On Friday night my husband and I watched the film This is 40. It was my choice and as usual my husband told me I picked another doozey of a film. I have to admit that it wasn’t a riveting movie and both of us occasionally turned to the ipad (or my case my iphone) to play candy crush during the slower parts of the storyline.

 

The reason I wanted to watch the movie was because I wanted to challenge my view of what being forty will be like. You see I love watching movies that explore everyday life and interestingly I could relate to some of the themes brought up in the movie.

 

I am nowhere near 40. I haven’t even had my 30th! But I could see some similarities in my relationship with my husband and the marriage we were watching. I think a lot of couples who have been in a long term relationship could relate to this movie in some shape or form.

 

I want to say straight up that I love being married. I have been married to my husband for over 8 years, and we’ve been together for 11 years. We have two young daughters and this new season in our marriage and new family is one that we both enjoy but it is testing us on so many levels.

 

We have to work harder to spend time together and talk to each other even when we feel tired and want to collapse on the couch in front of the tv (which happens most nights). Budgets are tight. Choosing on my part to work less and be a stay at home mum has meant we have had to work harder with our money. And spending time on myself is harder to achieve when you have a baby and toddler that demand your attention. But it’s only for a season.

 

I wanted the movie to remind us not to get complacent in our marriage and in our living of life together. Yeah we have young kids and they take up a lot of time and leave little opportunity for spontaneity but we are both young and in our prime time for health and we have time on our side where we potentially have years ahead of us to fulfill our goals and travel and live a life to the full. Heck, who said we aren’t living a life to the full now with our young children?

 

My mum recently told me of a message she received from a Hillsong Church service. The message was simple yet profound. If you want something to fail, don’t do anything to it. Explained practically, if we don’t invest time into our marriages, they will fail.  In fact if we don’t invest time into anything, it either stays stagnant or doesn’t succeed.

 

I don’t want to live a complacent life. I choose to find joy in the little things and to put more effort into being the desirable woman my husband fell in love with 11 years ago.

 

My 30th Birthday isn’t until next year but I’m going to live by this pact. I don’t want to take life for granted. I want to be thankful every day for the things that money can’t buy; be grateful for every change in life because there are lessons and joy to be had in each season. I also need to stop procrastinating and put into action steps to achieve our dreams and plans for our future. After all, this is 30. When I’m 40 I want to look back on fruitful living rather than a barren life.

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller 1880-1968

Illegal Plumbing

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
0

I had some really good comments and questions on my recent blog post Google isn’t a plumber about what work should be done by plumbers. I recently wrote a more detailed blog post about When can you do your own plumbing work? that details what plumbing you can do yourself.

The reality is, most people (well husbands and men of the household) change their tap washers themselves with no issues. But the line gets hazy on easy plumbing jobs (like changing tap washers) as to whether it should only be done by plumbers or by a handyman/yourself.

I don’t want to come across as an authoritarian when it comes to work that should be done by plumbers, but I do want to warn you of the consequences should something go wrong. A faulty installation of a washer will cause minimal damage. But once the line of changing tap washers is crossed, what other plumbing work is attempted due to new found confidence and the ability to save some money?

In a way, doing your own plumbing is like speeding and not getting caught. It’s against the law but unless you go through a speeding camera or get caught, no one other than yourself is going to know. The only way you can be caught out is

  1. A plumber finds out that you are performing plumbing work without a license and reports it to the Plumbing Council. There are major fines if you are caught out.
  2.  You are unable to sell your house because the conveyancing search finds no approvals for bathroom renovations or plumbing changes to the property that are different to the original house plans on file with the Council.
  3. When something goes majorly wrong causing damage to the property. Insurance won’t cover the damage because a plumbing form or certificate can’t be produced to show that the work was done by a licensed plumber. Read this article about a hairdresser in Queensland who recently got her husband to do illegal plumbing which caused a major flood and the insurance company wouldn’t cover the costs of damage.

 

Was it ever this technical? No. But laws change and become more stringent and while you may think it’s another ploy to give more work to plumbers, it’s really about safety and ensuring your plumbing is installed correctly to avoid damage and prevent ill health to you and anybody else in your household.

 

Have you ever had any bad experiences doing your own plumbing?

 

 

 

 

Google isn’t a Plumber

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
22

The internet makes getting information so much easier these days. Its great for answering questions straight away, but sometimes the answers that come up aren’t necessarily correct.

For example, when I was pregnant I would search Dr Google for any weird symptoms that I was experiencing. Funny enough, every time I went to my doctor and told him what I’d read he’d reassure me that what I read wasn’t quite correct and gave me the right info.

When it comes to plumbing, Google seems to be the first place people search to work out what is causing the problem and how to fix it. The article that gets the highest traffic on my blog is ‘When your tap won’t turn OFF’. It is one of the most typed plumbing maintenance questions on Google. The thing is though, Google isn’t a plumber.

I write my blog from female plumber’s point of view. Many plumbers can relate to my posts. Many readers learn something new about the world of plumbing.  It is not a blog that will tell you how to fix your plumbing problems because by law they are to be rectified by a licensed plumber. As a licensed plumber I can tell you why you have the problem.

YouTube is also a great resource for do-it-yourself handy work because you just follow the video but while it may look easy on the screen, doing it can open up a can of worms.

Take for instance changing tap washers. It is one of the easiest jobs a plumber can do (providing the plumber can get to the washer). What a lot of people don’t realize is that when washers get replaced, the taps need to be reseated too. Reseating a tap isn’t as easy as it looks. Reseating too low damages the tap and will require the whole basin tap combo replaced, reseating not enough can cause unevenness on the seat and the washer won’t sit flush meaning the tap will still continue to run.  Have I lost you with this explanation? See, it’s not as easy as you think.

So the next time you have a plumbing problem at your house, don’t search Google for the cause or a quick fix. Search Google for the number of your local plumber who can fix the problem for you.

Could My Hot Water System Give Me Legionnaires Disease?

By
Rebecca Senyard
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3

The recent scare of Legionnaires Disease at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane has lead to the questioning of tempering water on storage hot water units. Hot water units in QLD require a tempering valve to control the water temperature to 50 degrees Celsius. The question being asked is ‘Could my hot water system give me Legionnaires Disease?’

Legionnaires disease is transmitted by inhaling water that is contaminated with the Legionella bacteria. The bacteria can be found in natural water sources including rivers and lakes as well as man-made water sources like water tanks, hot water units, air conditioning cooling towers and spas. The optimum temperature for the bacteria to develop and thrive in is between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius.

The reason tempering valves were introduced in 1995 as a mandatory installation on hot water units was to avoid a person scalding themselves by turning on the hot tap. Prior to 1995, hot water was delivered at 70 degrees Celsius. The tempering valve reduces the temperature to 50 degree Celsius.

I have had clients complain that the ruling is ridiculous and request the valve to be removed so they can have the choice of hotter water throughout the home.  Being licensed plumbers, we are unable to do so because if someone did scald themselves, we the plumbers would be liable.

In my opinion, so long as the tempering valve is set correctly and working to produce tempered water to 50 degrees Celsius, the chances of growing the legionnaire bacteria is slim. But the probability can’t be ruled out.

If however, the temperature of the hot water unit has been turned down electrically by a licensed electrician, there is a greater risk of Legionella bacteria forming. There have been cases where the Legionella bacteria have been found in hot water systems because of this practice. You can read the article here.

Instantaneous gas hot water units are the least likely to grow the harmful bacteria because they don’t store hot water, they produce the hot water instantaneously which is used by the consumer immediately when they turn a hot tap on.

The QLD Health Minister has requested all hospitals to check their hot water systems and test for the Legionella bacteria.

Householders shouldn’t worry about the state of their hot water systems. If concerned, use a thermometer to test the temperature of the hot water. If the temperature is on the cool side below 48 degrees Celsius, you will need to call your local plumber to adjust the tempering valve. In some cases the tempering valve may need to be replaced. Tempering valves must be checked and tested by a licensed plumber every 12 months as per standards AS 4032.3 – 2004 and AS 3500.5-2012. If the hot water unit has been turned down electrically, an electrician will need to be called to raise the temperature.

It’s interesting when a law comes in place to prevent one outcome, it can consequently create a different problem. It will be interesting to see how the State Government deals with this situation and whether the tempering laws will be looked into.

A Case of Mistaken Identity at Tafe

By
Rebecca Senyard
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5
female tradie

If there is one thing that I want my blog to do, it would be to leave a legacy. I hope my daughters will be interested in reading about their mother’s experiences working in a non-traditional role. I’m sure when they are older there will be more opportunities for them to work in any field they wish and hopefully experience less judgement and hurdles if they choose to pursue a ‘man’s job’.

I can’t believe that I finished my apprenticeship 4 years ago. The time has flown. I remember being at Tafe thinking when will this end? And here I am four years later with two children, running a plumbing maintenance business with my dad and writing a blog.

Which brings me to my next reflective post. A memory from my time at Tafe that still brings a smile to my face and I can’t help but chuckle at its recollection. This is one moment I can’t forget to mention.

In my 3rd Stage of Tafe, I was fairly studious with the studies because I had been told that Stage 3 was more difficult than the previous stages because there was a lot of maths involved with the gas calculations.

I loved doing the gas calculations. But in order to do them I needed a gas standards book which I didn’t have. Pretty much all the boys in my class didn’t have the standards book and we were given some time to get the book. Of course we would only be told what we needed for each stage on the first Monday of our Tafe block. The first day of Tafe was always cruisey because the teacher would explain what would be covered in the classroom and in prac and until we could get books out of the library or have our standards, there was little that we could do.

I remember the next morning (which was a Tuesday), the Tafe teacher lead the class to a demountable classroom which was a fair distance from the teachers staff room. The teacher did the role call and explained to the class that he had to go sort out some paperwork back at the staff room and that we had to make a start on filling in our theory booklet.

When the teacher left, books were closed up, legs were crossed with feet (boots and all) on the desks and the chairs were backed into a rocking chair position. The class room became noisy with chatter with conversations about what went down on the weekend and how crap Tafe was.

I listened in on the conversations but kept doing the theory booklet work. I wasn’t interested in joining in on their casual display.

Some time passed and the teacher still hadn’t come into the classroom.  Suddenly my classmate next to me rocked his chair back into the normal position and opened his book to start work which caused a chain reaction for all the guys to follow.

He cried “Oh f— who is this (other expletive) who’s come to teach us?”

I looked up through the window to see who was coming to our classroom and couldn’t stop laughing at his reaction.

 

It was my dad.

Dad had gotten me my Gas Standards book and had been walking past the classrooms to find me and give it to me.

The whole class roared into laughter when I explained to my class mate that the bloke he had just gone off about was my dad.

His reply to me was ‘Oh f—- Bec, I’m sorry. I thought he was a Tafe teacher coming to check in on us.’

I told him the joke was on him and of course the rest of the class thought the whole thing was hilarious about the way he totally dissed my dad in front of me.

I laugh at this memory because it was one of the few times that reminded me how childish and ridiculously rude some of the apprentices were. And yet most of them were just young boys fresh from high school, not really wanting to be at Tafe either.

That day, I realised, we finally shared something in common.

How to create a ‘His’ Bathroom

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
0

It is well known that women tend to spend more time in the bathroom than men, but men spend more time on the toilet than women. There are various theories for this which I’m not going to get into on this blog (you can google them for yourself and nod in agreement or have a chuckle like I did).

I recently posted what the Ultimate ‘Her’ Bathroom could incorporate so it’s only fair to put suggestions for the Ultimate ‘His’ bathroom.

When creating a ‘His’ bathroom think about using dark tile colours and angular fixtures. If you want to incorporate a free standing bath or spa, think rectangular rather than oval shaped, square above counter basins rather than round inset basins. If round is your man’s thing then choose darker vanity units or tiles to compliment them. Chrome or black tap mixers can also work well.

Men don’t necessarily need a lot of storage space for grooming products but a wall vanity unit can work well to keep the bathroom minimalistic. Extra items that can add a bit of pizazz to a ‘His’ bathroom are

 

  1. LED Shower head
  2. Water and Steam Proof LCD TV on the wall
  3. Steam Room ( as installed by the twins and Trixie and John on The Block)
  4.  Chrome or Black Tap mixers. (The Black tap mixers are a trend, if you want to have a classic look stick to Chrome)
  5. Stainless steel accessories

 

 

Roger Seller Via Veneto Vetro Wall basin and cabinetry unit
Roger Seller Via Veneto Vetro Wall basin and cabinetry unit
Neutral dark colours work well from Reece Bathrooms
Neutral dark colours work well from Reece Bathrooms
Uno Bath - Angular design is perfect for a 'His' Bathroom by Roger Seller
Uno Bath – Angular design is perfect for a ‘His’ Bathroom by Roger Seller

 

 

 

 

LED Square Shower Head
LED Square Shower Head

 

Dark tiles and wooden fixtures exude a masculine feel to this bathroom
Dark tiles and wooden fixtures exude a masculine feel to this bathroom
Aqua Steam for a Steam Room available at Roger Seller
Aqua Steam for a Steam Room available at Roger Seller

 

Notice I didn’t type in a urinal? That’s because they belong in public toilets and not in a ‘his’ bathroom retreat. Can you add anything to the list above?

 

 

How to create a ‘Her’ Bathroom

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
0

I was interested to see the “His and Her” bathroom reveal on Sunday night on The Block. Renovating bathrooms can be overwhelming if you have never done one before let alone renovating two at the same time. Designing a bathroom that would appeal to each of the opposite sex can also be a daunting task. I think all teams did really well and Bec & George and the Twins deserved to win.

 

Here are my thoughts on what should be included in the ULTIMATE ‘Her’ bathroom.

  1. Lots of space on the vanity. A tiny vanity bench won’t cut the mustard for any woman. The vanity needs to have room for hair appliances, hair tools and accessories, beauty products and any décor accessories like a vase of flowers.
  2. Lots of storage space to house all the above hair and beauty products and more. How many women can relate to purchasing a beauty product and then leave it sit on the back of the shelf?
  3. A deep spa bath to relax in after a long day. A free standing island bath can make a bathroom look more like a day spa and I don’t know any woman who doesn’t enjoy the aura of a day spa.
  4. A bath shelf to keep beauty products and wine within easy reach.
  5. A foot rest in the shower to shave ones legs.
  6. A hand shower with different control pressures to massage aching shoulders or clean shower walls and screens.
  7. Basin mixers so they can be flicked on easily to wash away beauty products from hands and face.
  8. A big mirror. A woman needs to see her décolletage to ensure her make-up has blended in well and make sure she looks good.
  9. Natural light. A skylight or large window is great to allow natural light in when applying make-up.
  10. Not too light neutral tile colours should be used to camouflage hair and make-up powder. Bright tile colours can work too to give the bathroom a feminine edge.
  11. A Chandelier, Elegant Lamp or Hollywood Glamour lights (but not both). Every woman needs to feel like a movie star or princess in their bathroom. Hollywood lights = movie start appeal, Chandelier = lighting made for a princess
  12. Hooks for hanging up outfits.
A freestanding island bath and wooden shelf can make a bathroom the ultimate girly retreat.
A freestanding island bath and wooden shelf can make a bathroom the ultimate girly retreat.
Natural light and a big mirror are a must in creating a 'her' bathroom for make-up application.
Natural light and a big mirror are a must in creating a ‘her’ bathroom for make-up application.
Vanity Storage Space is a must as well as neutral colouring.
Vanity Storage Space is a must as well as neutral colouring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you created the ultimate ‘her’ bathroom, what would you include or what would it look like?

“I want a cheap plumber that does a good job!”

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
1

The right question to ask though is, ‘Do you know of a plumber that charges a fair price and does a good job?’

 

No one likes to get ripped off. I know that I don’t when it comes to organizing tradesmen to do work at my house. Fortunately I know and understand how tradies charge so when I get the bill I don’t get any nasty surprises.

 

But a lot of people have unrealistic expectations of what should be charged. I know I have discussed this on my blog before, but it seems to be a common misconception that a cheap plumber will do a good job. I want to explain to you that there is no such thing as a cheap plumber that does a good job. The only cheap plumbers I know that do do a good job are the ones that offer to do their service for free for friends and family. It’s what we tradies call ‘love jobs’. Jobs paid with love.

 

If your plumber isn’t a friend or family member, then you need to ask the plumber why their price is so low. Do they have a bad reputation? Are they desperate for work? Why are they desperate for work? Why ask so many questions if they are offering you a price so low you have to accept it? Because if they haven’t allowed enough money on the job or they price themselves too low, you will end up with a half-finished job. A plumber’s worst nightmare is rectifying another plumber’s bad work. Often the work has to be ripped out and started from scratch again which costs more money.

 

A cheap plumber will compromise on quality not because he (or she) is ‘cheap’ but because they know they have to make a dollar somewhere so they will save money by installing the bare minimum of what is required to get the job done. They will use inferior products because they are cheaper which means more money in their back pocket. Personally when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, I want the best materials to be used to ensure the longevity of the installation.

 

I hear it time and time again and not just in the plumbing sector but in all trades of cheap quotes combined with nightmare service on site as well as sky high variations because the quote never allowed for this or that. The difference in quality of installation by a cheaper plumber can be drastic to a plumber that has allowed the correct money to do a job right the first time. The finished product can be miles apart in quality.

 

If you are looking to renovate your bathroom or kitchen, get a minimum of three quotes and don’t necessarily choose the cheapest price. If you get five prices and three of the quotes received are similar in value, choose the cheapest of the three OR negotiate with your favourite of the three to match the lowest of the three (not the lowest of the five if there is a large gap between the lowest price).

 

Local-plumberDecisions on using a particular plumber is not always based on price either. Use your intuition and judge the vibe when you meet your plumber in person when obtaining your quote. You want to hire someone you can trust with your project and who will work alongside you. If you don’t get good vibes when meeting them, then trust your gut feeling and don’t use them.

 

Unfortunately money talks and price is too much of a deciding factor when it comes to choosing a plumber. But there is a reason why you rarely see cheap and quality in the same sentence. Use the same wisdom when choosing your plumber.

 

If you want to know approximately how much a plumber should charge for a call out fee look at this post. And also check out this post by Plumbing Costs which outlines the hourly cost a plumber should charge.

Why does The Plumbette Love Eucalyptus Oil? Plus Give Away!

By
Rebecca Senyard
-
21
The fabulous prize pack from Bosisto's! Worth $225RRP

I take pride in my neat and clean house. It doesn’t always stay that way with a dog that sheds hair, a toddler that turns into a tornado by throwing her food or toys and a baby that unexpectedly projectile vomits.

I should have shares in paper towel for the amount of mopping and cleaning up I do. But I don’t. Not yet.

As you know, I can’t speak highly enough of Bosisto’s Eucalyptus oil and Lavender oil sprays when it comes to cleaning the house. More specifically the bathroom and kitchen.

 

I have explained how the Bosisto’s Eucalyptus and Lavender oil sprays are fabulous for eliminating urine odours in the toilet, but they can also be used to clean other areas in the house too.

 

Eucalyptus oil is great for eliminating bad smells, killing bacteria and leaving a refreshing smell around the home. I know because I use it all the time. Eucalyptus oil has got me out of a few messy situations!

 

Some tips for using Eucalyptus around the home

  • It’s a great stainless steel cleaner. It can be used on your stainless steel appliances like the front of your dishwasher and can be used to clean your sink to make it sparkly clean and germ-free
  • It’s a cold and flu fighter and can be sprayed onto the filter in your air conditioner during winter (or year round because you can still catch colds in summer!) to stop the spread of the cold and flu germs through your house
  • Disinfects high traffic areas in the bathroom like basins, showers, baths and toilets.
  • It can be poured directly in drains as a short term solution to smelly drains – if the drains become a major problem with odour I have written about how you can fix this Smelly Drain issue.
  • Excellent to spray in bins to eliminate odours

 

Most recently I have used the Bosisto’s Eucalyptus spray on the potty while my daughter has been toilet training. I can’t wait until she learns how to use the toilet, because I feel like I’m forever emptying a potty and cleaning it. Bosisto’s has made my job easier though because once I empty the contents of the potty, I spray it clean with Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Spray. Too easy.

On the weekend, Eucalyptus oil saved me from buying a new pan. A pan for cooking in, not doing your business in. Anyway, I decided to make some Jam as Mother’s Day gifts and I boiled it for too long which ended up turning into taffy. It stuck like poop to a blanket at the bottom of the pan when I tried to scoop it out! Freaking out that I had possibly wrecked my pan and would need to buy a new one, I chucked it back on the stove top and filled it with water and few drops of Eucalyptus oil and brought it to the boil and the taffy lifted straight off the bottom and sides of the pan. Thank you Bosisto’s!

 

Another reason to thank Bosisto’s is for their new community initiative to plant 1 million trees in 2013. The new plantations aim to support local farms and farmers and help the environment by reducing salinity and lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Of course, Bosisto’s needs support to be able to provide this great community project and you can help by purchasing any specially marked Bosisto’s 100% pure oil or solution. For each specially marked bottle sold, Bosisto’s will plant a tree for you.

 

What I love about this project by Bosisto’s is that it’s keeping jobs within Australia which in turn boosts the local economy. It’s so important to support Aussie companies that are doing all they can to keep jobs within Australia. Already we have seen too many business’s move their production overseas for better profits but it means less jobs for Australians and sometimes a less superior product.

 

You can purchase Bosisto’s products online http://www.fgb.com.au/shop/bosistos-range and at selected supermarkets.

GIVE AWAY TIME

The fabulous prize pack from Bosisto's! Worth $225RRP
The fabulous prize pack from Bosisto’s! Worth $225RRP

 

Bosisto’s have offered one of The Plumbette’s readers a fabulous Eucalyptus Oil pack worth $225RRP!

To enter all you need to do is

•             Follow The Plumbette in some capacity via Facebook, Twitter or sign up to my Newsletter

•             Like the Bosisto’s Facebook Page

•             Comment below on why you would like to win this awesome prize. You can also answer the question by sending it via my Contact Form.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a Eucalyptus Oil pack for editorial consideration for this blog post. All opinions are honest and my own.

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions

These terms shall apply to all giveaways and competitions run on this site, www.theplumbette.com.au

1.            This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.

2.            There is one prize Eucalyptus Oil Prize Pack worth $295.00AUD.

3.            Entries open from Monday 13th May 2013 9pm Brisbane Time to Friday 31st May 2013 9pm Brisbane Time.

4.            Prize is not transferable or changeable

5.            Prize sent out by FGB Products will not be replaced in the event it is stolen, lost or damaged in transit.

6.            Additional entries if you share on Facebook or Twitter, but you must comment a second or third valid entry.  Also please leave how you shared in the email.

7.            A valid email address must be included in your entry.

8.            Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions

9.            Entrants must be Australian residents and aged 18 or over

10.          The winner will be notified by email and has 5 days to reply and claim the prize. The winner will also be announced on Facebook. This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook.

11.          The decision on the winner is final and no dialogue will be entered into otherwise.

12.          These terms and conditions are subject to change at anytime without notice

Working with my Dad when I was younger

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0

When I was younger and on school holidays, Dad would take me with him to work for the day. It would be the highlight of my school holidays because I got to spend time with my dad and be on the road in the ute. Our day would comprise of going to meetings from building to building in the Brisbane CBD. I loved walking into an empty tenancy floor in a high rise building and looking out the window to see the view.

 

My favourite building was Waterfront Place because at the time it was the tallest high rise in Brisbane and had fantastic views of the Brisbane River. To this day, if I ever need to do work with dad in a high rise, I always make sure I get a good look out the window and enjoy the view even if it’s for a minute.

 

Haven’t times changed since I was a little girl. There is no way a child could be taken onto an empty tenancy floor due to Workplace Health and Safety. Twenty years ago, no one cared and I never felt unsafe because I was always with my dad and it was generally just an empty floor.

 

I remember builders and project managers would ask me whether I wanted to be a plumber just like my daddy and I would aptly reply ‘no way’. How ironic I work with him now doing just what he does.

 

Interestingly though, these work days with dad taught me some key life skills that I never realized I learned until now.

 

The first one was to be organized. In order to go to work with dad, I would have to get up early.  We had to leave by 6am (back in the 80’s and 90’s there would be no traffic at that time of morning in Brisbane – again how times have changed!), or sometimes we would have to leave home earlier to pick up gear from Reece at Salisbury and deliver it to our plumbers at different work sites. Getting up early on my school holidays was hard. But I did it because I didn’t want to miss out being with my dad.

 

The second one was learning how to answer my dad’s mobile phone and take a message. Mobile phones were the size of bricks back then!  Again laws about leaving children in vehicles has changed, but back when I was little, if dad needed to pick up a fitting from Reece or do a quick delivery, I would stay in the truck and dad would leave his phone in the hands free console. If it rang I would take down the name and number for dad to return the call. Sometimes I think dad did this just for his own sanity because his mobile would ring as often as a call centre!

 

The third life lesson was learning how to be patient and entertain oneself when bored. Once all the meetings for the day were finished, dad would then head back to the office to do paperwork. This was at a time when he worked for Col Jones Plumbing which was owned by Formula Interiors. Dad would give me my own desk while he would do estimating (quoting) and draw up plans by hand. There was only so much drawing and photocopying a little girl could handle so I would walk around the office and talk to the secretaries.

 

My dad has often said to me how he regrets missing a lot of my childhood and teenage years because he worked long hours. But my fondest childhood memories were spending time with him at work. Dad and I would have the best conversations in between driving from meeting to meeting and I have never forgotten our lunch dates at McDonalds on Eagle Street Pier. Happy Meals were the payment of choice back then for a day’s work with dad.

 

As I reflect on those days with my dad, I get nostalgic. Brisbane city holds a lot of good memories for me and while dad and I rarely work in the city centre anymore, the times that we do work in a high rise, I remember those days when I was a little girl, happily holding my dad’s hand thinking how grand it was to be in the city and how lucky I was to be able to go to work with my dad.

 

 

Happy Belated Blogiversary to The Plumbette and Cash GIVE AWAY

By
Rebecca Senyard
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13

Happy Blogiversary to The Plumbette! I have been blogging for over a year now and I missed my 1 year blogiversary because I was in hospital having my second child Magdalene. Now that I am under control (well at least for the next hour while I write this post!!), I have decided to write and celebrate it now.

 

When I started The Plumbette, I gave myself a year to write and build content to ensure that it wouldn’t be a burden and that I could maintain updating it each week. The thing is, I enjoy writing immensely and my blog is one of my favourite projects of the week. It is a work in progress though. I learn new things all the time about the blogging world and I am so keen to learn more, I have booked myself to go to the Probloggers Conference in September on the Gold Coast.

 

Since I’ve started blogging, I now read and follow other blogs which inspire me to keep writing my own. I also follow other plumbers and tradies on Facebook and Twitter who are slowly getting on board the social media scene.

 

I love that I can write about the frustrations or funny moments in my trade and in my personal life. I also love that I can be totally honest and find writing about issues of my work and personal life therapeutic. Hopefully it encourages you too as you live your day to day life in whatever way or form.

 

One part of my blog that was missing for quite some time was a comments section. Most readers would contact me via the contact form or post a comment on Facebook or Twitter. My comments section is now on each blog post. It’s taken me a while to work out how to use codes to make certain things appear on my website.

 

 

I will also be sending out a newsletter once a month and would love for you to subscribe to it. In my newsletter I will have a wrap up of blogs from the previous month on The Plumbette, plus exclusive give aways and a plumbing tip to ensure that you will be prepared should a plumbing emergency ever arise on your property.

 

I have run three give aways this year and have enjoyed running them and reading your emails. Don’t be shy in entering them. I love a good competition and I want to be give back to my readers as some of you are clients and have been incredibly generous to me by giving me your plumbing work or some of you have given me your time by reading my blog. It’s only fair to give back.

 

Since it’s my first year blog anniversary (the anniversary was actually in February) I have another give away! And it’s cold, hard cash.

 

One vital part of my blog that has been missing is a tag line. The tag line should be where my logo is but I have been umming and aahing over what I want my tag line to be.

 

And this is where I need the help of you my readers because in order for me to create a fabulous tag line, I need to find out what it is that keeps you coming back to read The Plumbette.

 

So I am asking you to write to me whether in the comments section of this post or via my contact form what you want to see more of on The Plumbette or ideas of what you would like to see on The Plumbette. I have written about my personal life but some readers may prefer just to read about plumbing.

The giveaway is $100 cash which will be sent through PayPal, sponsored by The Plumbette. This competition is open world wide. The $100 will be Australian currency so depending on your currency and the rates that PayPal use will depend on whether you get more or less of the amount sent. The most interesting, creative and helpful answer will win the cash.

 

To enter all you need to do is

  • Subscribe to The Plumbette newsletter – just enter your name and email on the side of this blog page where it says Newsletter
  • Use the Comments section below or the Contact Form and answer ‘What kind of articles would you like to see written on The Plumbette and why?’ in 50 words or less.
  • Extra entries can be sent if you follow The Plumbette on Facebook or Twitter

 

The most interesting entry will win the $100 AND have their suggestion written up on my blog.

 

Terms and Conditions

These terms shall apply to all giveaways and competitions run on this site, www.theplumbette.com.au

  1. This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be      judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.
  2. There is one prize of $100AUD sent via PayPal (the      winner must have a valid PayPal account) to the winner. If the winner is      overseas, The Plumbette is not responsible for the currency exchange rate      or fees used by PayPal.
  3. Entries open from 11pm Sunday 5th May      2013 to Monday 27th May 2013 11pm AEST
  4. Prize is not transferable or changeable
  5. Prize sent out by The Plumbette will not be replaced      in the event that it is stolen, lost or damaged in transit or lost in      cyberspace.
  6. Additional entries if you share on Facebook or      Twitter, but you must email a second or third valid entry answering the      question in 50 words or less. Also please leave how you shared in the      email.
  7. A valid email address must be included in your entry
  8. Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed      acceptance of these Terms and Conditions
  9. Entrants must be aged 18 or over
  10. The winner will be notified by email and has 5 days      to reply and claim the prize. The winner will also be announced on      Facebook.
  11. The decision on the winner is final and no dialogue      will be entered into otherwise.
  12. These terms and conditions are subject to change at      anytime without notice

A Note about Drain Cleaners

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0
how to fix smelly drains

I recently came across a blog post on Twitter from another plumber in relation to the use of store bought Drain Cleaners in the home to clear away blocked drains. He advised not to use them as they were only a temporary fix and harmful to one’s health and the environment. When I looked at his location, I realized he was a plumber from the UK, but his point of view piqued my interest.

I have discussed the use of drain cleaners here for the specific purpose of getting rid of sediment at the bottom of shower and floor wastes that cause bathrooms to smell. It can also be used to unblock drains but sometimes the use of a jet rodding machine is needed to fully blast the blockage away.

Plumbers use Mo-Flo by Momar in Australia to unblock partially blocked drains, urinal wastes and to clear away unwanted smells from the bottom of drains.

The UK plumber highlighted how the store bought cleaners have chemicals like sulfuric acid, caustic soda, and sodium hydroxide and their main function is to melt or “eat away” at whatever it is causing the blockage in the drain such as hair, dirt, grease and soap. He explains that such chemicals when entering the sewer can then travel to water treatment plants where it can enter our water system.

Firstly we have powerful water treatment plants in Australia, and secondly recycled water is not used for drinking purposes… (yet) and thirdly all water is tested to a high standard before it comes to your tap for human consumption.

A quick look at Mo-Flo’s technical data sheet states that it is safe for use on septic tanks and the company that manufacture’s the product has done extensive research on their product for its safe usage.

I can’t comment on store bought cleaners like Draino because I have never used them but I have heard from customers that they don’t always work and this is not because of the product itself, but because the blockage is a bigger problem and requires the use of a plumber to investigate it further.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t pour chemicals down our drains or any harmful liquids for that matter, but often the convenience of a sewerage system is taken for granted and an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to what we flush down the toilet and down our drains is adopted.

As a plumber, I can put my hand up to having this approach with Mo-Flo – only because I have assumed that what I have bought is safe and because I know it’s able to fix a problem efficiently and effectively for a customer. (I’ve also used it on my own drains) But should Australia go down the track of using recycled water to top up it’s drinking water supply, I would consider which jobs really required the use of drain cleaning products.

What are your thoughts?

Bathroom Design Inspiration – Reece I Love My Bathroom Competition

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0

If you are looking to renovate your bathroom and you need inspiration and some cash to assist with purchasing fixtures, you need to check out the Reece I Love My Bathroom Competition.

The finalist designs are simply stunning and breathtaking. My favourite is the Garden Bathroom which screams to me ‘Retreat’ (and when you click on the view button, that is its style title!). I would happily soak in that gorgeous bath all day surrounded by beautiful greenery.

Recent trends in bathroom design have been to create an oasis where you can bring the ‘Day Spa’ experience in your own home. Neutral colour schemes, island baths and chandeliers have been some of the modern trends in bathroom design.

Island bath retreat with overhead rain shower
Island bath retreat with overhead rain shower

The design of the Garden Bathroom interests me though because it’s rare to see a bathroom expand from the inside out. Yeah, I’ve seen the outdoor shower (as done by Dan & Dani and Josh & Jenna on The Block All Stars), but this design with the bath and overhead rain shower outside surrounded by lush vertical gardens is clever and a new take on the Day Spa trend.

The competition is open for voting with two $5000 Reece vouchers up for grabs. Check out the competition and other finalists here and come back and tell me which bathroom is your favourite?

 

**Please note this is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Time Flies And A Toilet Seat Plane That Hasn’t Yet!

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0
What's a toilet seat plane without toilet rolls??

Is it me or has this year flown really fast? I can’t believe that next week is May! May?! Didn’t we just start a new year? Time flies when you’re having fun, and fun is what I have been having with my little family and latest addition.

I am enjoying every day as I manage my family of four. I haven’t been blogging as much lately because I don’t want to miss a moment with my newborn and I have been spending time changing a few things on my blog and visualizing what I want to achieve with it over the coming year.

Can you see that I have added a comments section below? It’s been a long time coming, but it means I can interact with those readers who aren’t on social media. So please comment. I want to hear from you and I apologise in advance if I don’t respond to your comments straight away.

Another milestone in my blog is adding Google Analytics so that I can find out where you come from and I generally assumed that most of you came from Brisbane, because I work as a plumber in Brisbane, but most of you come from Sydney! I love Sydney! I feel incredibly excited and humbled that you read my blog. The most unusual places I have had readers come from are Columbia, South Africa and Ireland!

Of course, while I have been tending to my family, the maintenance calls haven’t stopped coming through to my mobile and I’ve enjoyed reconnecting with old clients and passing the jobs onto my dad while I enjoy my maternity leave. Thankfully, it hasn’t been too busy for dad to handle.

One job that my dad has been working on, which is plumbing related but has nothing to do with work is a toilet seat plane. My dad builds and flies remote control air planes at Tingalpa Model Aero Club (TMAC). The TMAC holds flying expos and competitions throughout the year and the most recent competition was Unusual Model day which was to build a plane out of anything and get it to fly on competition day.

What's a toilet seat plane without toilet rolls??
What’s a toilet seat plane without toilet rolls??

So my dad decided to build this toilet seat plane. It was by far the most popular design of the day and the jokes were aplenty. Some too rude for me to mention on this blog. My husband’s was the best with ‘let’s hope this plane doesn’t leave skiddies when it lands on the runway…’

Sadly it didn’t. It went along the runway but didn’t have enough engine power to lift off the ground to fly. The rules of the competition state you can’t fly your model until the day of the competition, so dad wasn’t to know that he needed a bigger engine to get the plane going.

But there is next year and the model that won this year’s competition didn’t fly last year because of similar technical issues. So here’s hoping next year will be the year that the toilet seat plane will fly. Of course you will be the first to know when it does.

What do you think of the design of this toilet seat plane?

A Plumber’s thoughts on being a Mother

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0

When you become a mother, your attention and desires have a gravitational shift towards the newborn in your arms. Motherhood is one of the best things that has happened to me. Since becoming a mother, I have become a better plumber and a more efficient worker. In a way, I have to be because if I wasn’t organized or at least working in some small capacity, I would go insane.

 

Mothers play an important role in the household and in our society (so do dads… but that blog post will come later in the year). When I came across the Woman with Wrench website and I started to read other female tradie stories, I was amazed at how many were mothers. I’m not sure why this fascinated me, but maybe it resonated with my firm belief that women can do anything they put their mind to and working in a trade doesn’t stop them from being or becoming a mum.

 

I remember being ‘clucky’ when I started my apprenticeship at the ripe old age of 22. Of course it was the wrong timing, but when I discussed with my dad about wanting to start a family and trying to work out the ‘right’ time, he told me there was no ‘right time’ to have a child and not to let my apprenticeship stop me from starting a family.

 

Due to a mishap with the Department of Education, Training and Arts when I first started my apprenticeship, I didn’t want to rock the boat, so to speak, by being pregnant as a female apprentice plumber. It meant I would have had to defer my apprenticeship and I knew that if I stopped then, I wouldn’t have gone back to finish.

 

So I persevered through my apprenticeship. Then close friends started having babies and that desire to become a mum grew stronger.

 

I will never forget the time when I was on a lunch break at Tafe and a close friend rang me to see how I was going. Our environments were complete opposites on the scale of things. She was shopping for new clothes for her baby daughter, and I was stressing about a practical assessment that I had to finish that I was not looking forward to doing (I think it was a gas installation). How I yearned to swap places with my girlfriend!

 

Six years later, the moments when I have had a screaming baby in my arms or the sleep deprivation has gotten the best of me, I have yearned to go back to that moment when I was at Tafe!! It’s in those classic mummy moments where things with my children are overwhelmingly crazy, I realize how important it is to appreciate each and every single moment in my life.

 

With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s a wonderful commemoration of what mums do for us each and every day. My mum’s devotion to me has been unwaivering. I appreciate her more now since becoming a mother. I didn’t realize how hard being a mother was until I became one. It is certainly rewarding and I love my daughters so much, but there are the days where I have wondered what on earth have I got myself (and my husband) into!

 

Of course Mother’s Day can also be a sad time if your mother is no longer with you or the ability to become a mum is a dream due to difficulties in falling pregnant. The commercialism of Mother’s Day can be a harsh reminder of what one doesn’t have or is unable to become.

 

Unfortunately I can’t relate to either situation because I have been blessed to still have my mum with me and I am a mum to two daughters. My daughters are also blessed to still have their great grandma’s alive too to witness their births.

 

My hope for all who read my blog is that you have a wonderful Mother’s Day whatever your situation and that you can celebrate a mother figure in your life. I have a special Mother’s Day give away which you can enter here to either win for yourself, your mother or a mother figure in your life.

 

I will leave you with Oprah Winfrey’s quote ‘Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.’

Fleur Envy – A Mother’s Day Giveaway

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0

When I was feeling not quite myself at Christmas and the New Year just passed, I bought myself a necklace to cheer me up. It was a necklace that I had my eye on for a while because I loved the intricate design and the meaning behind the charm itself.

The necklace that I bought was this beautiful gold Crane necklace. Its design was exactly the kind of necklace I had been wanting to purchase for some time and I loved the meaning behind the Crane.

Wearing my gold Crane Necklace
Wearing my gold Crane Necklace

The Crane is most famously known as a traditional paper craft design in Origami. Origami (折り紙), as explained by Jet the designer of this necklace, is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper.

Origami only uses a small number of different folds, but they can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The most well known form is the Japanese paper crane.

The Origami Crane is believed to be associated with good luck. If you fold an Origami Crane and give it as a gift to someone, the Crane is meant to represent luck and happiness to the receiver. It is simply a Japanese belief and not a formula to attract good fortune or be used as a new age prop.

I don’t believe in luck, but I bought the necklace as a gift to myself because I wanted to wish myself success in 2013 with the birth of my daughter and with my career and blog.

Fleur Envy is the business behind the design of this necklace. The necklace is commonly worn by brides because of its sleek and elegant design. I adore the rest of the Fleur Envy range because the designs are so feminine, dainty and classy.

With Mother’s Day arriving in less than 3 weeks, Fleur Envy is the perfect place to buy a precious necklace for your mum. They have a Mother’s Day promotion which can be found in the ‘Vintage and Reserved’ collection where you can purchase a Mystery Jewel Box which is a Treasure-filled jewel box that could include anything from the website (or not) and be worth more than the value paid for the box! It’s available for a limited time only. You can check it out here.

As a bonus for The Plumbette readers, I have one Gold Crane Necklace to be won by one lucky reader for Mother’s Day. To see the necklace in better detail have a look at it here.

Fleur Envy - Gold Crane Necklace
Fleur Envy – Gold Crane Necklace

This necklace is the perfect gift for yourself as a mother, can be given to a mother OR can be given as a symbol of hope to a woman who is trying to become a mother. If you’re a male reading this post, I have made your job easy in providing you with a gift that will get a thumbs up from the mother of your children!

To enter all you need to do is
• Follow The Plumbette in some capacity via Twitter, Facebook or sign up to my Newsletter via the subscribe button on the front page of The Plumbette website
• Sign up to the Fleur Envy Newsletter by entering your email on their front website page which will send out promotions and specials throughout the year
• Use the Contact Form or Email bec@theplumbette.com.au and answer ‘Why you would like to win a Gold Crane Necklace? AND include in your answer another favourite design from the Fleur Envy website in 100 words or less.
In your email please state your name and address for postage should you win the prize.

Disclaimer: I have bought two Crane Necklaces from Fleur Envy and they have agreed to provide this give away. I have received no compensation for this blog post and all opinions are honest and my own.

Terms and Conditions
These terms shall apply to all giveaways and competitions run on this site, www.theplumbette.com.au
1. This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.
2. There is one prize of a Gold Crane necklace worth $95.00AUD.
3. Entries open from Monday 22nd April 2013 11pm Brisbane Time to Wednesday 1st May 2013 11pm Brisbane Time.
4. Prize is not transferable or changeable
5. Prize sent out by Fleur Envy will not be replaced in the event it is stolen, lost or damaged in transit.
6. Additional entries if you share on Facebook or Twitter, but you must email a second or third valid entry answering the question in 100 words or less. Also please leave how you shared in the email.
7. A valid email address must be included in your entry
8. Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions
9. Entrants must be Australian residents and aged 18 or over
10. The winner will be notified by email and has 5 days to reply and claim the prize. The winner will also be announced on Facebook. This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook.
11. The decision on the winner is final and no dialogue will be entered into otherwise.
12. These terms and conditions are subject to change at anytime without notice

Woman with Wrench – A Site Promoting Female Tradies

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0
female tradie

When I started my plumbing apprenticeship, I knew of only one female plumber and her name was Carlie Wright. She was Queensland’s first licensed female plumber and is Brisbane’s one and only female plumbing inspector.

 

Carlie has started her own website called Woman with Wrench which is dedicated to providing information for women who wish to start a career in a trade. There are real life stories of Lady Tradies who are currently working in the construction industry and a section for companies to give feedback about employing a female tradie. You can check my story under The Plumbette here.

 

Carlie is looking for more female tradies to submit their stories online as well as employers who have employed or continue to employ a female tradie. The website isn’t specifically for female plumbers. Carlie wants stories from a variety of trades that women have successfully made a career in.

 

I think the website is well laid out and a great tool for girls who are considering getting into a trade and need some advice or support on how to go about getting an apprenticeship.

 

I encourage my female tradie readers to check the website out and submit their own stories on the Woman with Wrench site. I believe that women will always be the minority when it comes to working in construction so it’s incredibly important to have a website like Carlie’s to promote the positive influence women can make in the industry.

What can a Female Plumber learn from Margaret Thatcher?

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0
female plumber on site showing her boss the problem

What can a female plumber learn from Margaret Thatcher?

With the recent passing of Margaret Thatcher, I was reminded of the time I viewed the movie ‘The Iron Lady’ with Meryl Streep. I found the movie to be incredibly inspiring but it also made me question the priorities in my own life.

You see, while I was inspired by Margaret Thatcher’s journey to become the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, it came at an incredible cost to her family. Her devotion to her career and to the people of Britain often meant that her children had to share their mother.

If you want to reach the top of your career, you need to work hard. There is no easy way to reach the top. I love the saying ‘No one ever reached the top by sitting on their bottom’. The problem is, hard work takes up a lot of time and that time is often taken away from spending it with those we love.

What a Female Plumber can Learn From Margaret Thatcher

  1. As a woman, don’t be limited by others thinking. Follow your dreams and think outside the square.
  2. Be prepared for people to not like what you do, but don’t let their opinions affect you and your cause.
  3. Be willing to listen to others and change when needed. No one likes an arrogant leader.
  4. Work out what is important to you – work or family. If both are equally important, try and balance the two or be willing for one to be dominant over the other and be prepared for the battle to give more attention to one than the other when needed.
  5. A woman doesn’t have to be manly to do a ‘man’s’ job. She just has to have strong character and confidence to deliver through.
  6. Behind every great woman is a great man (and vice versa). When Margaret’s husband, Denis Thatcher, died in 2003 she quoted ‘Being Prime Minister is a lonely job. In a sense, it ought to be: you cannot lead from the crowd. But with Denis there I was never alone. What a man. What a husband. What a friend.’

There are 29 licensed female plumbers in Queensland today. I am one of them.

My job as a plumber is seen as a novelty and not the normality.

The opportunity for females to enter a trade will continue to grow.

But as each female plumber comes through the system, they will need support because it can be hard going attempting to make a career in a field where they are often looked on as inferior.

As I reflect on my career as a plumber and doing my apprenticeship, I had the support of two strong men in my life; my husband and my dad. Both men knew me so well, they were strong enough to lift me up when I felt pressured down.

I want to flourish with my work, but I don’t want to compromise my family life either. At times it can be hard to have the drive but carefully manage career and family.

Margaret Thatcher came from humble beginnings and we can take encouragement knowing that no matter our background, we can achieve anything we put our mind to.

The destination is the ultimate goal, but we can’t make ourselves so busy that we forget to enjoy the journey and the interruptions on that journey that life brings (like kids).

I’ll leave you with this famous quote from the lady who lived her life to the full.

“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”

 

The Art of Saying Thank You

By
Rebecca Senyard
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0

My parents taught me from an early age to say Thank You. We were taught to say it at all times when something was done for us or given to us. It meant that when my brother and I were given presents for our birthdays, we would be hastened to the phone to ring the person to say thank you.

When we went to school we would buy a gift for our teachers at Christmas – even our subject teachers through out high school, to say thank you for their investment into our education. It wasn’t a way to grease up to the teacher to get good marks the following year, it was our way of showing respect for the hard work that each teacher put in for our benefit.

I also did the same thing when I went to Tafe. I completed all my Tafe modules within two years when I did my plumbing apprenticeship. For two Christmas’s in a row, I gave a Christmas hamper to each Tafe teacher to say Thank You. I appreciated the time each Tafe teacher invested in me when I learned the trade (even if some teachers were much better at teaching than others).
Interestingly, one of my love languages is the gift of appreciation. I love people saying thank you and telling me that they appreciate my services as a plumber or in whatever I do that is of a service to others. So I love it when my dad and I receive letters of appreciation for a plumbing job well done. Sadly, the Thank You card or letter is often forgotten these days due to being busy and assuming that paying the bill at the end of the job is thank you enough.
I was only reminded recently on how lovely it is to receive a thank you note, when my dad and I received two letters of appreciation from new clients who advised that they were impressed with our service and were thankful that I could come out to assist them right before I had my baby. With the current economic climate in the construction industry, I was extremely thankful for their business too!

Thank you letters and notes make my heart sing and I’m sure in the business world, it makes working worthwhile, knowing that you have made a difference in someone’s life.
A couple of months ago, a Facebook status of a person I hadn’t seen in a long while, requested the name of a good, reliable plumber. My heart pounded with love and gratitude for the many friends who tagged me and my family business to this Facebook request. That type of word of mouth promoting is another way of saying Thank You and I can tell you after seeing my family business’s name recommended a few times under that status, I was a bit teary and felt very appreciated and thankful.
Sending a Thank You note is something that I am going to aspire to do more often. I know how great it feels when I receive a Thank You card, so I’m eager to pass the act of gratitude on to someone else who has blessed me. I encourage you to do the same the next time you have a tradesperson come to your home. Tradies can be big softies at heart too and a Thank You note or card is a welcome surprise and a great mark of respect for the work that they have done and continue to do.

‘Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone’ G. B Stern

TGIGF – Thank God It’s Good Friday

By
Rebecca Senyard
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I thank God it’s Good Friday literally. Not because it’s a day off work (no such thing when you’re a parent!), or the fact that my husband can be home from work. I thank God for Good Friday because of the Cross.

 

The message of the Cross gets lost with the excitement of going away for the long weekend or indulging in Easter eggs and hot cross buns. I love all these things too, but they serve only as a reminder to me of the important things in life. I am not shy about sharing my faith in God. God has been a part of my life since I was born.

 

My relationship with God grew when I did my apprenticeship. I was way out of my comfort zone when I completed my apprenticeship, but it brought me to my knees daily where I relied on His Strength and His Wisdom in dealing with the normalcies of the trade.

 

God wants us to live our life to the full, but not to fill it with things that replace where He should ultimately reign. I find my best days are when I have prayed and put God first and my reactions to toddler tantrums and blocked toilets aren’t negatively geared, but handled firmly and positively.

 

To live a balanced life I need God first and foremost. I am forever grateful for the Cross where God sent his only son to die, to reconcile a relationship with me, even though it was my sin that caused the chasm between us in the first place. If this makes no sense to you,  look at this clip that explains it in better detail http://www.fallingplates.com/

 

We all need God. We are ‘dead’ longer than we are alive. To me that means knowing where we go in the afterlife and who we spend it with is incredibly important to suss out.

 

If you are thinking of going to an Easter service over the long weekend, GO. Open your heart and mind to what God wants to say to you. I hope you have a blessed and safe Easter!

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