Chapter Six - The Journey’s End (or is it?)
We gradually get back to normal, moving more stuff back into our nice new BIG units. It is dark and so the light is on. Then I see it. A deep, “X” shaped scratch in the worktop. We have not used a knife in the kitchen yet; Jean has been cleaning today but has not been into the kitchen because the fitter was here. We have hardly been into the kitchen because the fitter was here. The only person in the kitchen most of the day was the fitter. I wiped the worktops with a damp cloth this morning before leaving for work. There was most definitely no scratch there then. Nor the night before when I wiped it down last thing. You do not have to be Sherlock Holmes to work it out.
The scratch. Look carefully and you can see it bottom centre.
The following morning, Saturday, I phone – answer phone. I leave a succinct message and wait. Within 10 minutes Mr D is at the other end of the line. I thank him, ever so politely, for the new wall units then I launch in. I say the plastering is far from complete and, moreover, the standard is abysmal, I could have done better myself. He says, in direct contravention of what Mr S said yesterday, that it was not the fitter’s job, they will be sending a plasterer round to do that (oh yes, and when might that be?). I then tell him, calmly and quietly but, nonetheless, menacingly, about the scratch. There is a small silence then an almost whispered “Oh no”. Oh yes.
I can almost hear him sigh as he arranges for Darren to come round on Monday to finish off the tumble dryer hole and promises that an inspector will call on us at 6pm on Tuesday 4th November to look at the scratch and decide whether it can be remedied or whether we will have to have a new worktop. We shelve it temporarily and enjoy our weekend.
Monday comes and goes, no Darren. Tuesday comes and goes, no “inspector”. I am in two minds. Telephone them tomorrow and ask where the hell they were or just sit and wait for them to ask for their money then tell them they will get it when they come and finish the job to my satisfaction?