Friday, March 19, 2010
Well Smell Me
0 commentsWednesday, February 18, 2009
H2O Saga
0 commentsImre, the plumber returned with our new hot water heater, but could not tell us when he would have time to install it. Ron showed him the removable faucet, but he fixed it within seconds. We were again happy... until he left. We turned on the water. Hot water, cold water, seemingly perfect. Turn off the water, turn off the water, turn off the water. Yes, the water is turned off, so why is it still streaming out at full force only reducing to a trickle after one minute, but still a hearty drip by the end of two minutes. We did not need a plumber to tell us that this was not good news. Thinking over our six+ years in this apartment, we cannot blame Imre for this one. We have had four different plumbers and five different faucets. Each faucet has had its own problems. No one has been able to translate reasons why that we can understand. It is our belief that they just don't know the answer either. When Imre returns to install the hot water heater, we will try this again, but in deep in my heart, I feel another faucet is in our future. Whis is like the movie Groundhog Day with a plumbing twist.
Pin It Now!Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sink, Flow, Drip
0 commentsThe plumber returned to put in the yet another new faucet, this one with the required three hoses. It took him three hours. We did not realize that our new deep double basin sink was so much lower than the old one, a hole had to be cut in the bottom of the cabinet to set the hot water heater in so it would fit. Hearing the plumber using a saw, we just sent up silent prayers, not wanting to check up on him and have panic attacks in the process. Plumbers and saws go together like carpenters and monkey wrenches. There is just something illogical in the combinations. Three hours later, he announced he was finished. The new faucet looked lovely, but we never gave it a trial run before he left. His fee was 7,000 Huf ($29.00). Yes, Americans, read it again and weep. Three hours of a plumbers work for $29.00. He told us he would have to pick up a new hot water heater for the bathroom. Fixing it would cost more for the parts than a new one, so we gave him the money to pick one up for us. As soon as he was out the door, we tested the faucet. The water pressure popped it right out of the base. Not good. Okay, I see now you Americans are no longer weeping over the $29.00, but laughing instead.
Pin It Now!Friday, February 13, 2009
The Kitchen Is Done...Sort of
0 commentsThursday, the cabinet man arrived with his helper at 9:00 am. Who would have guessed they would still be here at 9:00 pm. Not I, for sure. Our old cabinets were in great shape, so we kept the basic structures, just having the doors and borders redone with replacement parts. They kept the kitchen door closed most of the day. We were not sure if this was because we kept peeking in or to block the noise and dust from their sawing and cutting of the counter top.
As Ron claims, I notice things that most people don't. Alright, I give attention to detail, but most people would look at these things and wonder when it was going to be finished off. We tried occupying our time like expectant fathers waiting to hear the good news! Finally, at 9:15 pm, we had the unveiling. It was joy and disappointment at the same time. The cabinets look lovely; however, something was lost in translation. Along one wall, there are three cabinets.
All six doors were to have glass panels in them. Only two of them do. The others are solid doors. If it were the center cabinets that had the glass, I could live with it, but alas, it is the two at the far end. It looks ridiculous. The cabinet exposed sides and bottoms were left white, though with new molding. I specifically requested it all be the same as the cabinets. It definitely has an unfinished look to it. A call into Anna, our interpreter and the sister of the cabinet maker, was frustrating since she said she could not remember any of these instructions when her brother took his notes. I tried tripping her memory by recalling the things that she and I discussed, but it was useless. Perhaps because she was here that night with both of her babies, there were too many distractions. Lesson learned, make notes of your own and go over them before everyone leaves. To add to the mix, they inserted the new sink, which looks lovely, but they could not put in the faucet, or the 'tap' as they call it. We need to call a plumber to do the work. Hence, we have no kitchen water yet. The stove hood is on back order and will be up to four weeks to arrive. We will look elsewhere in the meanwhile.
We had asked if they could get two sliding drawers for the other lower cabinets like we have in another lower cabinet. That never happened. Now we have to look for those on our own also. They did not reinstall our under cabinet lights. We have to get the electrician back for that too. We spent the day carting things back from hither and yon to place them back into the cupboards, I mopped all of the floors since tile and counter top dust can travel all over the apartment. Ron had already done the dusting.
We still owe the cabinet man money, so he is guaranteed to return. Our translator will be thrilled to have this end. I am sure it is more than she bargained for. We did get her a gift certificate for a restaurant for she and her husband, but that was some time ago and is now feeling like a drop in the bucket. Nothing other compensation will have to follow.
The bright side is that we are now convinced we need to re-tile the hallway to match the kitchen floor.



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Labels: electrician, kitchen, lost in translation, mistakes made, Plumber, remodel, sink, translator
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
A Royal Flush
0 commentsAfter taking a sponge bath in the kitchen sink this morning with an ever alert ear out for sounds of guests getting up, I dragged myself off to the university. My office hours kept me there until 12:30, so there were fantasies of the plumber having the pipe at least 3/4 finished. I called home and Ron said he was SMS'ed by the neighbor that they would not come back until tomorrow at 9:00. Hmmmm....call in sick or see how much of me I can fit into the kitchen sink. At least all of the guests have left today.
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