Category: Stories

If you missed it, here’s Part 1 Now that Sniff was happily settled in the living room, Luigi could get on with unblocking Mr Braithwaite’s sink. But what Luigi didn’t know, was that Mr Braithwaite’s other passion in life was collecting snuff tobacco and antique snuff boxes. If you didn’t already know, snuff is a fine powdered tobacco that you snort up the nose. By doing so, you get the nicotine hit, but without the Read More…

I was enjoying a refreshing bottle of ice-cold Peroni with my friend Bill; discussing the woes of the plumbing trade and the future of our respective businesses. We then turned our attention to content ideas for October’s Italian Plumber newsletter. I explained that I would like to publish a Halloween story, but couldn’t think of anything to write. “Ah, don’t worry about that”, he said. “I’ve got a real cracker for you”. I asked if Read More…

We have a truly delightful customer who’s been using our service for well over ten years. And, in that time, we’ve built a considerable amount of trust between us. So much so, that when we attend a booking, he’s happy for us to just let ourselves in and get on with the job in hand… no face-to-face interaction required. This particular customer is Mr Braithwaite, a retired physicist. He is a gentle, modest man who Read More…

If you haven’t already read it, here’s Part 1. Having enjoyed the cheeky banter, and safe in the knowledge that there was a bigger job ahead, Peter decided to pack up his tools and call it a day. “I’m all done. I’ll get the office to come back to you with a date to refit your pipes”, he explained. “Oh, okay. Well, now that you’ve finished that, you must be thirsty?” She asked. Peter had Read More…

I’m often asked if I’ve ever been propositioned by a customer, or had any work-related experiences of a more amorous nature. The truth is ‘no’; it’s never happened to me, but I do know plumbers who have found themselves in these kinds of situations. Many of the stories are reminiscent of a 1970s British softcore sex comedy. If you’ve not seen one, the scenario goes something like this: a milkman/plumber/electrician turns up on the doorstep Read More…

As you can imagine, being called to deal with a blocked toilet or leakage problem is not a job that fills our hearts with joy. You never know what you’re going to find, not to mention the fact that the customer often feels very embarrassed. And who can blame them? The loo in our home is sacred, and not something we want the outside world to see – no matter how clean it’s kept. But, Read More…

If you haven’t already read it, here’s Part 1. Part 2. After a couple of years in London, working at a restaurant and then a property maintenance company, it was time for my next move. I’d had the good fortune of being approached directly by some of the maintenance company’s clients. They liked the quality of my workmanship and overall work ethic, so they gave me a few gigs. It worked out well… it was Read More…

Part 1. I’m often asked why I decided to become a plumber, what brought me to the UK, and if plumbing was my first career choice. Well, it’s been an amazing journey – one that I’m still very much enjoying – so I thought I’d share some of it with you. I was raised by amazing parents in a beautiful part of Italy called Treviso. My father and two brothers were mechanics, so my earliest Read More…

Considering it’s Valentine’s month, here’s an interesting story that I thought would be rather fitting. Ricky, a good friend of mine, and a talented plumbing and heating engineer, received a booking to carry out a boiler inspection. He operates outside of London, mainly in the suburbs. The customer’s heating was being temperamental; radiators working intermittently, and the hot water lukewarm at best. Ricky is a gentleman. Well spoken, immaculately presented, and always happy to help. Read More…

How The Italian Plumber Keeps Customers Safe During the Pandemic My team is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our customers during this horrendous pandemic. So, here is a clear outline of what you can expect when we arrive at your premises, and how we are policing these steps. Afterall, there is no point in telling you what we’re doing if we don’t follow through.   Remove items from work area Our Read More…