I only worked half a day last Tuesday because nearly all the jobs that had been booked in for that day went to crap. Sometimes you have days like that. Days when jobs fall through. I’m sure I’m not the only plumber or worker that has had days like that.
Our day went like this: Dad and I had just left my house and were on our way to disconnect a sink for a commercial job when the builder rang to say the sink had already been disconnected and capped.
We still had to drive down that way to check on another job. We had to make sure that the concrete and bitumen had been filled in where there had been drainage installed.
It had.
The next job got deferred because the taps that were needed hadn’t arrived in to our supplier on time. They were going to take another couple of days to come in from Melbourne. So our third job for the day ended up being our first.
Having days like this doesn’t happen too often, but when they do it can frustrate me because now that I’m a mum, the time I’m away from my kids needs to be managed well. I’m thankful that my mum is able to look after my daughters because my half day at work wouldn’t have covered the cost of putting them into childcare.
Thankfully all three jobs that had been booked and rescheduled were loyal and repeat clients. I treasure their business and love keeping up with how their families evolve from my last job visit.
Our third job last Tuesday (the one that ended up being our first) was a client that had recommended our services to friends and family. They got our number through our radio ad campaign a couple of years ago and we have helped them with their bathroom reno, kitchen reno and last week, installing a new toilet suite and some taps for the bathroom downstairs.
We’re not meant to have favourite clients, but this client is in the favourite list because they ring us first when they need us and they trust us. Sometimes they may attempt to do something themselves or get the father-in-law to give it a go, but when it turns to crap, they give us a call. We don’t judge. We just get in and do the job. Sometimes their failed attempts may end up on this blog. Like this toilet pan collar that had been covered with a tube of silicone to stop it from leaking. It still leaked. As one of my Facebook likers commented, persistence does not always pay off. True right with this example.
- This toilet pan collar leaked… even with the silicone
While I’m on Facebook, I’m going to plug my page because I share all sorts of interesting plumbing fixtures, designs and tips that are different to what I share on the blog, so if you would like to follow me on Facebook, just click through here and like my page.
Today is going to be a big day for us. We are also working on Thursday. The work this week will be fuller days which compensates for weeks like last week.
If you are planning to get some plumbing work done before Christmas or during the Christmas and New Year holidays, it’s best to be calling plumbers now and booking jobs in. The construction industry generally closes over this period for two weeks. Some firms will start their Christmas break from Friday 20th December and come back the 7th January 2014. Some businesses may choose to work through. The reason you should ring to book your plumber is so that you can get it done before Christmas or check that they will be available over Christmas if they are already booked up.
If you know someone wanting to get a plumbing apprenticeship, now is the time to be ringing up plumbing firms and asking if they are going to put anyone on for next year. Some plumbing firms choose to start their apprentices before Christmas to help with the mad rush of getting projects finished on time.
Which brings me to Christmas. I’m excited about this time of year. Most people are focused on the Melbourne Cup this week, but once the racing carnival festivities are over, it’s the countdown to the time of year I treasure.
Hopefully the weeks leading up to Christmas will see me having fuller work days so I can help alleviate the cost of it!
Are you ready for Christmas? Have you had work days that have fallen through despite your awesome organization skills?
Hope you all have a blessed Monday. 🙂
