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Got the builders in

(36 Posts)
watermeadow Thu 08-Aug-19 19:01:23

I’ve had workmen in my house for over a month. They have all been nice, considerate and competent.
Of course I keep them supplied with tea, coffee and homemade biscuits and that’s my problem. I have a very sweet tooth and no self control so I’m munching rather a lot and making a fresh batch every other day.
By the time my new bathroom is finished I’ll have gained so much weight that a wider door will be needed.
How can I resist temptation while there must be sweet goodies in the biscuit tin every day?

FlexibleFriend Thu 08-Aug-19 19:30:56

Put them where they are working. When I had builders in last year semi demolishing and rebuilding my conservatory I put the kettle, tea, coffee milk and bickies in the conservatory and left them to make their own. You could set up a brew station in the hall near the bathroom and they can make their own and no need for you to be interrupting them. If it's not finished after a month what the hell are they doing. A bathroom remodel shouldn't take longer than a fortnight.

Coolgran65 Thu 08-Aug-19 19:36:46

Hmmm... my bathroom was gutted and refurbished in four days.
Perhaps the bathroom work is the tail end of other works being done ??

GrandmaKT Thu 08-Aug-19 19:39:12

Perhaps they're spinning it out because of all the homemade biscuits! grin

SpringyChicken Thu 08-Aug-19 20:45:20

Don't provide them with biscuits, Watermeadow! I keep workmen supplied with drinks but not food. Have you been quoted a fixed price for the work? If not, don't give them any reason to waste time. Our bathroom took four days too, including tiling. A month sounds far too long.

RosieLeah Thu 08-Aug-19 20:49:48

Promise yourself you'll go on a diet as soon as the work has finished.

watermeadow Fri 09-Aug-19 15:43:36

Lots of jobs, the bathroom is just the latest and biggest. i’ve had the roof fixed, complete rewiring, outside painting, lots of carpentry, kitchen units, ground cleared then new shed, new turf, new meters boxed in.
The new bathroom is being build by dividing a bedroom so needs walls, window and everything in it.
A month isn’t unreasonable. I may be making mince pies for workmen before everything’s done!

Jane10 Fri 09-Aug-19 16:21:47

STOP baking them goodies!! You're paying them. If you feel you absolutely have to provide comestibles for them just buy cheap biscuits. Or tell them where the nearest Greggs is!!

Callistemon Fri 09-Aug-19 17:13:47

Don't bake biscuits that you like - buy them the kind you don't like if you must provide biccies!
I would buy them custard creams (horrible grin)

The plumbers ate all my mince pies last Christmas, DH shared them out. Luckily they were bought ones.

crystaltipps Fri 09-Aug-19 17:23:20

Get a couple of cheap packets from Aldi or Lidl , put in tin, put on tray with mugs. No reason why you should eat them.

M0nica Fri 09-Aug-19 17:45:17

I was given some Aldi brand shortbread biscuits, they tasted revolting, I an not sure I would want to foist them on the builders, just because I found them inedible. Even the birds wouldn't eat them!

kircubbin2000 Sat 10-Aug-19 10:05:56

I never buy biscuits but can't resist the pastries my son brings. He lives next door to a super bakery.

CarlyD7 Sat 10-Aug-19 10:22:12

Just plan for a diet when they're gone! And if you want to know how to lose weight fast, watch "The truth about carbs" (available on the BBC iPlayer for another 2 weeks only). I lost a stone very quickly by doing some simple carb "swops". No calorie counting, was never hungry. It really works!

Coconut Sat 10-Aug-19 10:28:30

I only ever buy treats for my grandchildren, that I know I wouldn’t be tempted in any way ... this tack always helps !

NanaandGrampy Sat 10-Aug-19 10:30:32

I had to chuckle at a few of the responses here !

We had a number of tradesmen in for several months and quite frankly we treated them like visiting family lol. If Grampy had a bacon sandwich then they did too, same with toast. Cake at 3pm with a cuppa etc.

We got quoted a fair price, but found when small things cropped up , as we had taken care of them, they reciprocated at no charge. One morning after a storm we came in and some fence panels were down, without a word they just put them all back up. When the young lad walked to the village store for something , he took our dog !!

I know what you mean about home baked goodies Watermeadow , given the choice our lot would choose home made over shop bought ( I think a lot of them missed their mums baking!)

They won’t be there forever , I’d deal with it when they are gone.

Missiseff Sat 10-Aug-19 10:34:27

Don't make or buy any, simple as.

maryhoffman37 Sat 10-Aug-19 10:47:40

Our bathroom took 12 weeks!

Tea and coffee, no biscuits.

Greciangirl Sat 10-Aug-19 11:20:39

I agree, don’t bake or buy for them,
.
You are being too generous. A. cuppa, of course, but stop there.
I think you are using the builders as an excuse to eat biscuits.
Have you no willpower whatsoever?

Daisymae Sat 10-Aug-19 11:25:11

Yes - stop baking! I never offer food to anyone working in the house. As you have started this just go to the supermarket and buy their own brand, much more resistable, biscuits!

sazz1 Sat 10-Aug-19 12:16:21

I've just been diagnosed with prediabetes so after seeing the mess one of my relatives is in I think fear has played a huge part in putting me off sweet things. They have ignored diet advice and now have lost sensation in feet and fingertips. Also in a lot of pain on morphine patches. It's a wake up call for me

EllanVannin Sat 10-Aug-19 12:41:05

I expect disruption by the end of this month when central heating will be put in. Even after having waited years and above all a debacle going on for this last 11 months I feel that I can't moan about what's to come leaving the place looking like a Chinese junk shop.

Men and pipes will be all over the place. I'll be glad to see the back of the old boiler though----it came out of the Ark ! Pipes to it from the shower are like a dog's hind leg.

Are's ( sic ) is a nice house are's is { grin }

EllanVannin Sat 10-Aug-19 12:41:52

Me grin's not worked ! Pah.

lmm6 Sat 10-Aug-19 12:55:40

I know there has been a lot of bad press about sugar substitutes. But now there are some which can be bought in health food shops which are ok. I am using Total Sweet Xylitol which is totally natural. The back of the packet reads: Non artificial; 40% less calories than sugar; less than half the available carbohydrates of sugar; sourced from sustainable European birch and beech wood; suitable for diabetics; use in cooking exactly as sugar. The website is: www.totalsweet.co.uk

Minniemoo Sat 10-Aug-19 13:01:33

They will remember you as a lovely customer, watermeadow.

If you enjoy baking just carry on. Maybe in smaller quantities and just tell yourself that they're for the builders!

Barmeyoldbat Sat 10-Aug-19 13:11:12

When we had the builders I gave them sausage sandwiches every other day with their tea or coffee as I don't like sausages.