The background was that I tried and tried to make my own greenhouse base, but whatever way I tried, however I thought about it I was always scratching my head "how could I make sure that is equal to that, and this to that and blah blah". Since my breakdown my brain has not worked properly. Time and time again I just couldn't comprehend what I was doing. I always had doubts. The best I'd had helpwise was a mate had given me 2 hours in which time he laid concrete edgings on their sides with a less than inch 'ribbon' of mortar underneath the edges...with the attitude "Its only a greenhouse" although he knew how important this was to me...fingers crossed the hub of my cottage industry of botanical photographs. No more working for anybody else and being bullied and exposed to asbestos like I had been getting in my last 2 jobs. At the end of the day I didn't think his 1 inch of mortar was up to the job.
Finally I gave in and paid someone to do it for me. They claimed '25 years experience' but I had a bad feeling from the start when they kept putting the job back, then finally arriving without a cement mixer (!) and then continuing to mix my very watery looking concrete with a rake in my wheelbarrow. The mix was so watery a very fine covering of plastic left its marks in the surface.
When I came back to the Brew Cabin here, yet again, feeling totally clueless, I posted some photos of what 'Mr 25 Years Experience' had done . The overwhelming feedback was "get him to come back, take it all up, and do it again, properly". But I am a wuss and dislike conflicts and having someone working for me who doesn't want to be there (= shoddy work).
I got a PM from someone on the Brew Cabin forum, who asked me where in the world I was. When that was established they, a member called Mick, offered to help me because "I'd had enough problems already" ( I don't think even Mick realised I had my top soil delivered to create a flat area for my greenhouse in October 2008!!). By now I was becoming a bit desperate the amount of time things has gone one with me and this. So I accepted their offer although we had never agreed a price, it was said to be affordable.
The day Mick said he would arrive...he did so. In a white van, with two other people. I began to get a bad feeling. I said to Mum "Oh I think I might have been stung! There's three of them and we didn't agree a price". There was I thinking I might end up being taken to the nearest ATM for a big withdrawal. Anyway the lads had all their own gear and butties. I supplied the materials. Mick set to work with the lads mixing up his mortar. He was setting a row of concrete bricks on top of the exiting concrete - which I thought was the best way forwards.
The work continued and it was looking very good. When the last few brick were going into place I asked Mick "I know you said this would be affordable but what price is that. My affordable and yours might be different" . I forgot the exact words that came back but it was almost as if he was saying "its Ok, call it a favour". I couldn't have that. Firstly I was astonished at this and secondly they were doing me a huge favour in doing this work spot on. This stranger was doing more for me than my best mate had! So I said I’d have to give them something. Mick said "Just give us a tenner towards the diesel".
Right, good I thought. I'll double it and add some more. I went into the house and got £25 together. When all was done and the money was changing hands I accidentally put my hand in the wrong pocket and pulled out a solitary fiver. Without hesitation Mick said "That'll do!". I felt really embarrassed like I was trying it on. "Oh No! No! Its the wrong pocket! I said. I gave Mick the £25 and thanked him. I also made an enquiry for my own future purpose - and that was to get some contact info. Mick said his business was called 'Crystalclear'.
Wanting to give something else back I asked for a quote to pave an area. Sorry Mick but I'm sure my face contorted when I got the quote...I had no idea these things could be so expensive. And when Mick and his workers had left I felt embarrassed again because I wondered what putting these bricks down would really have cost if Mick hadn't decided to help me. And as if that isn't enough...I am sure I had as many bags of sand and cement left in the garden as I'd had before Mick arrived on the scene (IE I think they used their own sand and cement to boot!).
I contacted Mick this week to thank him again after a quick google to find him at Crystal Clear Ideas. After his work I had gone silent because it was taking me a while to put up the greenhouse (ended up putting bits together and taking them apart as I wasn't happy as well as making my own structural parts from bits off the local scrap heap). I hadn't wanted to be telling him "Thanks for the work but the GH isn't up yet" - it could sound as if I didn't value his work, as if I wasn't that interested. But now it is finally up and this is what it looks like inside after its first week...a hive of activity.
I just wanted to come back to the and finish off my Brew cabin threads with a little story that shows that even in today’s credit crunch and general nastiness there are still a few of the good guys of life out there, willing to give their time, materials, expertise and want little if anything in return. From my dealings Mick's a great guy and I just with the world was full of people like him.
Happy Christmas everyone! A Happy ending at last!
