Yorkieabroad

I've knocked on 2 doors in the last week....one was someone leaves their dog in the back yard all day every day, and it had escaped. I knew where it lived, so I tried to be helpful and tell them. I know they were in, but they wouldn't come to the door. Maybe it was my fault as I had on a camo baseball cap and sunglasses and had my own dog with me at the time....

But the 2nd one was my neighbour - they moved in 2 months ago, and we've chatted a few times. While they were away over Christmas I took in a parcel for them....but they won't answer the door so I can give them it back! I've now left it on the front porch with a little note. I'm not holding out high hopes of an invite to the housewarming

Speedwell

Weezes, I'll try to get the name of a good contractor for you if you can find me a good mobile cat groomer who will go to the Galleria area I tried finding one through Angie's List and struck out.

Bob

No, but they're forever faffing around outside, cleaning their cars or what not

Jerseygirl

They clean their own cars?? I thought only my husband did that.

Bob

Sally Redux

Somebody gave me a list of recommendations from Angie's List when we were renovating our bathroom, the two people I got to quote for me came in unbelievably expensive and didn't impress me.

It's very difficult to find good tradespeople where I live, you seem to have to ask for as many personal recommendations as possible. The good ones don't advertise and usually seem a bit shady.

GeoffM

And, around here at least, probably don't speak much English!

My uncle, RIP, never advertised anywhere as a builder, not even in the phone book. These were the days before the internet really became into its own. Yet he always had to turn down work because he was so busy. We just need to find people like that!

Sally Redux

It would certainly be quicker and easier for me to learn Spanish.

Jerseygirl

We use such a builder. He doesn't need to advertise and only works in this area.

Bob

Down my way it would be Portuguese.

And damn, that crew that did the roof across the street were good, they stripped the old roof down in hours, sealed it up and re-tiled by pretty much the end of the day and there wasn't any mess anywhere.

Yorkieabroad

Tiles?....posh!!! Most of the roofs round here wouldnt look out of place on a garden shed!

Sally Redux

I assumed he meant tiles as in rolls of plastic.

Bob

It was an old gaff...but those guys could probably clear and do one of those tarred paper roofs in a couple of hours

Sally Redux

Wow that is impressive.

Yorkieabroad

We had a hailstorm last year that caused a lot of shingle damage, and a whole bunch of people got a new roof on the insurance. I have to admit, it was fascinating watching the guys leaping around the roof like mountain goats ripping off the old stuff, using garden forks for leverage! I've only been on the relatively flat part of my roof, and that gave me vertigo - there's no way on earth you would get me on the 60 degree slopes! Most of them took a day to strip and 1-2 days to "install" the new roof (which is a bit like saying I "installed" wrapping paper on my christmas presents)