tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post5591003172647116504..comments2024-03-28T23:30:19.366-07:00Comments on Being Me: Evidence that having the gas man in throws one into awkward social dilemmasFran Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-26061393113991626102014-11-27T14:17:28.224-08:002014-11-27T14:17:28.224-08:00That's what makes it all so jolly awkward!That's what makes it all so jolly awkward! Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-51844690385659198502014-11-27T13:04:02.739-08:002014-11-27T13:04:02.739-08:00I leave them to it apart from offering tea/coffee....I leave them to it apart from offering tea/coffee. I would hate to be watched. But on the other hand I feel obliged to look busy (in a different room) and not as if I'm a rich housewife who lies on the sofa reading magazines all day - should they need me for anything.Pam https://www.blogger.com/profile/12641269043817163165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-51189260989185000912014-11-25T09:36:55.276-08:002014-11-25T09:36:55.276-08:00Ha Ha ! Ha Ha ! BadPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889591351222591488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-79642765598292699442014-11-25T02:04:06.047-08:002014-11-25T02:04:06.047-08:00You're right! He had two sugars!You're right! He had two sugars!Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-44768640621168629672014-11-25T01:51:02.914-08:002014-11-25T01:51:02.914-08:00It's like an invasion of your home & a rel...It's like an invasion of your home & a relief when it's over. It always makes me giggle when they want their tea with two sugars !BadPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889591351222591488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-62295469297458736332014-11-24T09:49:29.495-08:002014-11-24T09:49:29.495-08:00Well, Paul T gives some very good advice in his co...Well, Paul T gives some very good advice in his comment above, so perhaps that might help you!Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-2434251787927260882014-11-24T09:47:27.602-08:002014-11-24T09:47:27.602-08:00I'd have preferred a fireman, if I'm hones...I'd have preferred a fireman, if I'm honest. Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-49993884486473029852014-11-23T18:24:53.003-08:002014-11-23T18:24:53.003-08:00That's so romantic. It's difficult to resi...That's so romantic. It's difficult to resist a man in a uniform.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-3254666477286206942014-11-23T01:09:11.076-08:002014-11-23T01:09:11.076-08:00I always feel obliged to hang around and chat, and...I always feel obliged to hang around and chat, and the responses vary considerably. Sometimes, answers come in one syllable. Sometimes they engage to such a degree that I find myself starting to plan my escape, or even consider taking notes!Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-17398914624143727652014-11-22T08:46:14.994-08:002014-11-22T08:46:14.994-08:00You make me giggle. You paint a great picture ther...You make me giggle. You paint a great picture there!Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-63184344753863168582014-11-22T08:44:42.449-08:002014-11-22T08:44:42.449-08:00Hm ... I'm not sure it's my sense of humou...Hm ... I'm not sure it's my sense of humour, although I can see the appeal. But here's a short clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5p-YQkbe_s<br />Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-67979752690155889012014-11-22T07:42:12.261-08:002014-11-22T07:42:12.261-08:00Exactly what goes through my head , too .
It would...Exactly what goes through my head , too .<br />It would be seen as appallingly bad manners not to make coffee for visiting workmen over here , so I do just in case . Then if they refuse , I drink the whole pot and bounce about for the rest of the day .SmitoniusAndSonatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11210817141287881808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-58671108988811018602014-11-22T06:32:24.122-08:002014-11-22T06:32:24.122-08:00You're very welcome, Fran! (Please excuse my ...You're very welcome, Fran! (Please excuse my poor editing - 'except' should of course have been 'accept'! My fault for doing things in a hurry because I'm supposed to be doing something else). Paul T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01182809634096660758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-74789329985003629312014-11-22T06:26:13.983-08:002014-11-22T06:26:13.983-08:00This is brilliant advice, Paul! It's like one...This is brilliant advice, Paul! It's like one of those psychological tests, working out which one I am, and I think I am an Uninterested who is worried that I should be a Chatterer but now very pleased to find it's not necessary. I am certainly not a Watcher and even less so an Adviser. Thank you. This is actually very reassuring!Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-8869165325239162772014-11-22T06:20:17.860-08:002014-11-22T06:20:17.860-08:00Very insightful as ever, Fran, and I fully underst...Very insightful as ever, Fran, and I fully understand the stress that you were under! However, speaking as someone who's often on the other side of the equation - visiting people in the homes (though not as a gasman) - I would like to offer my own insights...<br /><br />I have devised a system which places 'customers' into one of four categories. There are the Uninterested, who leave you alone to get on with it - usually the best sort, as long as they are around when you need to ask something. Then there are the Watchers, who say nothing but scrutinize everything you do. Creepy, but essentially harmless, and you learn to ignore them. Thirdly, you have the Chatterers, who talk non-stop, usually not about anything relevant. Sometimes interesting, but it does make it hard to concentrate sometimes. The trick is to nod and make non-committal noises whilst tuning them out. Finally, and by far the worst, are the Advisers, who know more about your job than you do, and who are generous in sharing their knowledge, so that you don't make any mistakes. <br /><br />So, the best way to act in such situations is to be polite, give any relevant information concisely and accurately, offer light refreshments (I rarely except - old age, weak bladder, etc.) and then stay out of the way!Paul T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01182809634096660758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-71050652334625175132014-11-22T01:58:40.589-08:002014-11-22T01:58:40.589-08:00The stress of gasmanship! I love the way you say ...The stress of gasmanship! I love the way you say that. Gosh, yes, combined with the stress of personwhostaysinforgasmanship as well, it's all a recipe for panic!Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-23292719065553164432014-11-22T01:57:40.601-08:002014-11-22T01:57:40.601-08:00I didn't even know who was in the picture, so ...I didn't even know who was in the picture, so was completely unaware of my own cultural reference! Ha ha! I will watch it. Thanks for the tip.Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-91058493628111465842014-11-22T01:56:59.808-08:002014-11-22T01:56:59.808-08:00I am glad to oblige. I bet your dad would have he...I am glad to oblige. I bet your dad would have heard it. Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-60880129015045950892014-11-22T01:56:40.591-08:002014-11-22T01:56:40.591-08:00...except that had I said, 'How long will this......except that had I said, 'How long will this take?' and he'd said, 'Could be a couple of hours' I wouldn't have been able to hide the horror on my face. Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-26534159446817273132014-11-22T01:55:41.325-08:002014-11-22T01:55:41.325-08:00On the other hand, by the time he'd been there...On the other hand, by the time he'd been there for two hours, he didn't feel like a stranger any more. There's something about sharing biscuits with a man in a gas engineer uniform that created a sense of intimacy.Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-44913361656487954182014-11-22T01:04:19.604-08:002014-11-22T01:04:19.604-08:00Haha! I have exactly the same experience, usually ...Haha! I have exactly the same experience, usually erring on the side of being too friendly so I get an unstoppable run-down of their day, the stress of gasmanship etc. Loved it :) :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-45775287224006428202014-11-21T23:44:57.729-08:002014-11-21T23:44:57.729-08:00Loads of culture points from me. Not for the Fland...Loads of culture points from me. Not for the Flanders and Swann reference - as magnificent as that was - but for the picture of Eddie Hitler and Richie Rich from Bottom. The Gas Man is one of my most favourite episodes. If you've never seen it you must watch it. You'll never offer a gas man a cup of tea in the same way ever again...!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-78584273528790497482014-11-21T19:41:38.419-08:002014-11-21T19:41:38.419-08:00I've never heard that song before, it's qu...I've never heard that song before, it's quite funny. My dad was a gas-fitter/plumber.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-62051070549717603292014-11-21T19:34:21.685-08:002014-11-21T19:34:21.685-08:00I would begin by asking how long he thought the jo...I would begin by asking how long he thought the job might take, anything under a half hour probably doesn't need more than polite conversation if he seems inclined to chat. More than an hour, I would offer tea or coffee after about 45-50 minutes, then just continue with your regular routine. Point out the bathroom location if it comes to tea or coffee time. Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74882821337502001.post-148133455650910962014-11-21T14:43:48.592-08:002014-11-21T14:43:48.592-08:00I don't like strangers in the house. I don'...I don't like strangers in the house. I don't like them outside the house, either. I don't like much of anyone or anything--except the gas man cometh. Your version is great.<br /><br />Love,<br />JanieJanie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.com