The run-up to Christmas is always a busy time for me and the team; people are keen to make sure that their boilers and heating systems won’t break down over the festive period. This means we’re mainly carrying out inspections and simple radiator bleeds. It’s work that’s really quite enjoyable, and it’s a nice way to wind down before the start of the holidays. However, I always like to take a few days off Read More…
It had been an eventful day! My beautiful partner Charlotte had given birth to our equally beautiful daughter Cassia – I was absolutely buzzing! Come 10pm, when I’d usually be heading to bed, I was still high from witnessing the birth, and feeling blessed that both Mum and baby were doing well. I knew there was no way I’d be able to sleep, so I decided to install my new Honeywell evohome kit. No time Read More…
If you haven’t already read it, here’s Part 1. This was the life. Finally, all the stress and tension I’d felt over the last few months was starting to ebb away. I was embracing nature and loving every minute of it. But, as I began to enter a near-meditative state, I was abruptly brought back down to earth by an overly-energetic Captain Kreegan. “Shipmate Alberton”, he bellowed. Bit formal, I thought. “You alright?”, he shouted. Read More…
Myself and the team, have – thankfully – had very little to worry about during this awful pandemic. Work’s generally been fine. Everyone’s healthy, and things actually look good for the future – mainly thanks to our amazing customers. But at the same time, I have to admit, I was starting to feel pretty burned out. The uncertainty of things in the early days of the virus, along with the usual family worries, and the difficulties of running a local plumbing and heating business – Read More…
It was just a routine radiator bleed. Nothing too complex. Luigi had already endured a tough morning, servicing a 1970s’ combi boiler, so we thought it was only fair he attends something a little less taxing. We happily allocated him the job, and he set off, hopeful that his day was about to getbetter. The customer, Mr Penn, is a charming individual with a passion for good food and fine wine. With great warmth, he greeted Luigi, offered Read More…
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It was a rainy Monday morning. Our schedule for the days ahead could have been busier, and one of our vans was off the road and in for repair. It certainly wasn’t the best start to the week. Quite gloomy, in fact. Then the phone rang. It was Albert. A truly lovely gentleman: charming, humble, always dapperly dressed, and neverendingly cheerful. He sometimes has trouble hearing, so often wears a hearing aid. Albert is a Read More…
We kept telling him we didn’t do fridges, but he wouldn’t listen…. Over the years we’ve built such good relationships with our customers, they start to feel like family. We’ve become an integral part of their lives: regularly fixing plumbing issues, solving problems that aren’t really in a plumber’s remit, and often just popping round for a cup of tea and a chat. Then, one day, we got a call from one of our most Read More…
Just a regular plumbing job. Or was it? We got the call. Mr Higginbottom (not his real name, but close), a very eccentric, much-loved customer of many years, was having trouble with his pipes. Over the years, we’ve fixed many a problem: split washers, leaky taps, radiators that stopped working in the dead of winter… But this job was different. We put Mario (not his real name, but close) on it. Mr Higginbottom has always Read More…