Tradesmen? I’m sick of them!

How annoying Greyduster.
We have british gas Homecare. We pay monthly but they service the boiler and Appliances every year. They have an offer on at the moment for new customers. You can get your electrics,and plumbing added as well. You don't have to have your energy supply with them.
Just a thought.

Ah Scones, you could be describing my dear husband there. That’s exactly what he used to do until he had to ‘properly’ retire a few years back.
All his customers loved him.
The day that he sold his van was a sad one.

Rant away Greyduster?
We started contacting plumbers in Jan and its taken until now to find one who will turn up (yesterday as it happens). Same experience as you had from the others.
Now if I can just find an LPG gas fitter to repair our fire.....?
(Its been a number of years in the trying)

That is very frustrating. We've found this too but have hit on a run of luck and if you could tap into it where you are it might be a huge help.

By word of mouth we found a guy to do our electrics who is 'semi-retired'. He's in his 70s and only does a bit of work now and then so he is always available in an emergency, he's seen it and done it all and he is such a good fellow to deal with. Reasonable prices too (along with plenty of tea, biscuits, sarnies and a beer or two).

He recommended a plumber, gas fitter, fencing chap and plasterer to us...all of whom have retired but do bits and bobs for beer money.

All these guys are fantastically reliable and good company.

Older tradesmen are the way to go!