Gransnet forums

Chat

What do they do?

(53 Posts)
Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 10:10:18

For the last three days some men have been replacing drains in our garden. We offered coffee when they arrived but they said they had their own, we suggested that they ask if they want anything, they haven't. What do they do when they need the loo? Other people doing jobs have been the same. What am I missing?

Sheilasue Thu 01-Feb-18 10:26:04

Well if there is a local pub nearby I am sure they use that.
Though not supposed to drink other then a lemonade or a shandy. ? I suppose.
Shandy haven’t had one for years.

gillyknits Thu 01-Feb-18 10:17:59

Anyone noticed the bottles of wee, on the sides of roads, discarded by lorry drivers? Just hope no unsuspecting person thinks it’s Lucozade!!?

Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 16:40:57

anno do you think it will come back as a nice small bush? If not I just might throw that bomb at it!

Just remembered that it was next to that that DS found a gun in the soil. Knowing nothing about guns we panicked and called the police. They called back and warned us that it would be the bomb squad coming out all dressed accordingly. They were very sweet about it, apparently it was the kind of gun anyone could buy without a licence! Just glad they didn't then look at DH's browsing history as he would have been branded as a terrorist!

annodomini Wed 31-Jan-18 16:29:51

Nonnie, I'd back your buddleia to survive. They are practically bomb-proof!

Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 15:59:54

They have gone so I will never know, I hope. Will go out and have a look around maybe tomorrow if the weather is good.

Wonder if what is left of the buddleia will ever grow back? Don't really mind its loss as whoever planted this garden put in lots of variety and I would rather know the drains are not going to block again.

annodomini Wed 31-Jan-18 15:59:39

I've had a team of tree surgeons working here all morning. I don't know if they went behind the shed or didn't need to go at all. There is a brook that runs along the end of the garden so they may have added to that. I'd be perfectly happy for them to 'water' my compost heap.

chocolatepudding Wed 31-Jan-18 15:50:05

Before demolishing our old cottage and building a new house we put up a good size shed split into two rooms. One half was an extension of the mobile home we lived in for nearly 3 years holding the fridge/freezer and washing machine and lots of shelves for food.
The other half was a decent size washroom for the tradesmen including a fridge for their lunches, and instant hot water tap,hot air hand drier, clean hand towels and a new toilet. Most men were amazed!
Whilst I spent a lot of time dealing with deliveries and whatever job needed another pair of hands I did make a huge number of cups of tea and coffee - always with biscuits to keep everyone happy.

M0nica Wed 31-Jan-18 15:49:59

We have 2 back doors and the downstairs loo is right next one of them, but not the backdoor into the kitchen. I am always happy for workmen to use it - and generally they do.

We have had a workman doing work on our workshop, which is a long way from the house, so I expect the rhubarb to do well this year. As he lives in the village, does a lot of work for us and we are generally on good terms, I do not expect to find any unacceptable material hidden there anywhere.

NanaandGrampy Wed 31-Jan-18 15:41:20

We've had up to 8 workmen here for the last 2 weeks and only one popped in to use the loo !!

Crazy considering the amount of tea and coffee Grampy is supplying them with .

carol58 Wed 31-Jan-18 15:40:35

We had a well established local firm in to block pave the back. They were here three days & on the second day I caught one of the dirty b******s relieving himself up against my garden shed! I was furious & went outside with a bucket of hot water & disinfectant and told him in no uncertain terms to scrub the area down! He looked stunned that I was annoyed and didn't even apologise!

Eglantine21 Wed 31-Jan-18 13:29:32

I dated a builder many years ago who said that once in the morning and once at night was enough for anyone. I think he was talking about the loo blush

NfkDumpling Wed 31-Jan-18 12:57:42

When we had house alterations the men used our downstairs loo, but a couple of days in we were due to spend time away and didn’t really want to leave them with a key. I apologised and asked how they’d manage. Apparently they had a bucket in the back of the van. I didn’t ask where they emptied it!

Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 12:50:47

They could so easily come into the house, they have been made very welcome so no need to do any of the above.

Willow500 Wed 31-Jan-18 12:45:09

I've often wondered if those working outside had some kind of receptacle in the back of the van. We've had workmen in quite a bit in the last year and when in the house they have all used the toilet on whatever floor they happen to be on. Anyone in the garden - well it's fairly private so I assume they just go in the bushes. There's no way I could train my bladder to wait - we used to only have one toilet in a factory full of men which I refused to use so would jump in the car and rush home which was only 5 mins away - unfortunately often by the time I got back I needed to go again blush

Granny23 Wed 31-Jan-18 12:32:43

MaluCatchu1 I am neither sweet nor naive, just married to a retired tradesman and have many friends in the construction industry. I have also worked solo in an office where it was impossible to visit the toilet without closing and locking up the entire office. It is not ideal health wise but you can train your bladder and bowels to cope with toilet visit before opening and again at closing time.

cornergran Wed 31-Jan-18 12:28:57

We asked a friend who is a builder, he said he is fine until lunch time when he goes and uses the nearest accessible toilet - supermarket usually. Hopefully most are the same

Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 12:21:38

Sorry Grey I just don't feel I can do that.

MaluCatchu1 Wed 31-Jan-18 12:00:18

We had workmen for several months building an extension and we used to smell piddle in the garden, even though we had an outside toilet, which we did challenge them about but they denied any knowledge. After they had gone we found bags of sh*t squashed under rubble/bricks/bits of wood they had left behind. Granny23 - how sweet you are to believe that!

MissAdventure Wed 31-Jan-18 11:42:13

A scaffolder I knew told me they used to poo in a carrier bag in the back of the van. I'm not even sure it was a 'bag for life!' shock

Greyduster Wed 31-Jan-18 11:18:55

I’m with Ann on that one. Why’s don’t you put us all out of our misery and ask them, Nonnie? grin

Nonnie Wed 31-Jan-18 11:09:36

DH suggested the bushes in our garden so now I simply cannot look out the window!

kittylester Wed 31-Jan-18 11:02:13

You are perhaps missing a huge puddle some where out of sight!!

annsixty Wed 31-Jan-18 11:00:22

I have a theory that they have some sort of receptacle in the back of the van.

ninathenana Wed 31-Jan-18 10:38:01

Well they do have direct access to the drains gringrin

Granny23 Wed 31-Jan-18 10:28:06

The workmen train themselves to not need the loo during the working day as many people are not comfortable at having them come in to use their toilet and there are few public toilets available these days.