up the small people

[barry luxton]

What an interesting day at work.

 

Started off mid morning when I was working behind an access door to four flats, a copper was on his personal radio looking for number .. and he shoved my door open slightly, no mate, it's the next one past the bookies, 'thanks a lot said the copper. A few minutes went by and I heard yap yap yap, so I poked me nose out and there was four other guys and this copper trying to get through the other door.

 

So out I goes and told them you can't damage that door as that will be criminal damage and I would have to call the police. All went quiet. There was this copper, one court bailiff, two lock smiths and a representative of a rather large Spanish bank.

 

What they was after was number .. who had not paid his mortgage for ages and the bank gained an eviction order against him. What they didn't tell the court or failed to was there is also a management company involved with this particular block of flats and he is my mate. For five years this rather large bank was ignoring my mates complaints that the service charge was also not paid, the previous mortgage co would pay the charge and put it on the mortgage. The bank who took it over flatly refused.

 

So as I am aware of the situation I told the bank rep that he really needs to communicate with the management company for co-operation in allowing access through this communal door to gain access to the flat. I told the copper, if he asked nicely I will provide him with the detail of contact with the management co, although the bank already had plenty of correspondence previously. Despite threats from the copper and a comment from the bailiff that I looked at too much telly, they took advice phoning the solicitor dealing with this eviction and confirmed that the order is withdrawn. ding ding, round one to the little men. and the itinerant flat owner get's a small reprieve. What I forgot to say was they were due on the 5th august, yet were two weeks early, told them that as well.

 

In the afternoon, working in the same property, I couldn't hear myself putting paint on the wall as it sounded like someone was coming through it to say hello with a rather large kango. This went on for more than half an hour. I went outside and spoke to the electrician and asked him, how long, in time enough for a fag mate. not true. it also carried on for the whole of this weekend past. Unfortunately for the adjoining new tenants I also do a heck of a lot of work for the owners of the whole site, including their shop. so I did no more than enquire why they did not have a party wall agreement. The answer to that was fuddled and not a requirement. So I foned the actual guy, (another mate of mine) while I was trying to let him know what the situation was, the noise was so bad it was impossible to have a conversation. And that's when the war started. As I was in this unit, I was telling at least five of them that they were in contravention of current building regs with regards to the works being carried out on the party wall. More bluster and I was told to leave.

 

So outside I was standing, virtually licking the window while in the presence of the blocks manager, (my mate) taking foto's of the work, I again spoke to the site owner, who told me I had his permission to re-enter his property on his behalf and tell them to cease any works immediately. apparently they had told him there were fitting a fire door, wrong, it was a complete refurbishment, clearing out the whole of the unit in it's entirety and constructing partitions etc, re wiring etc. My concern for the building now was had they taken out supporting walls etc, you get the picture. The owner told them, using my phone to cease work and a site meeting is planned for this Friday. They now understand the seriousness of the situation, I was allowed back in and now they are acting as my mates. What they don't comprehend is that on Friday I will also attend, look at what they have removed and not supported and ask for them to pay a structural engineer for his opinion. These hot shot solicitors (a new practice) think they can ride rough shod over us minions, ding ding round two to the little men.

Edited July 22, 2014 by barry luxton

[poledark]

My day was even more exciting Barry. Got up about 9 am and had brekky, walked the dogs and then went fishing...caught a nice sole.......phew don't know how you cope mate

 

Den

[barry luxton]

doing 7 days at the mo, gotta have some sorta fix. never fished for sole or eaten one, so good on you Den.

[kirisute]

My weeks been a living hell!

3 days fishing! 3 different venues! 5 pupils ranging from beginners to occasional fishermen. One other teacher.

And I get paid for it!

Last day today....have to do proper work again tomorrow!!

[rob.imk2]

Good on you Barry I have surveyed a lot of buildings where supposed refurbishments were being done .Some of them you just had to look through the windows to see the dangerous works being done . gave me a lot of work though.