Guest Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I'm here for a moan (not just because it's Monday!)! Chookiehubbie and I have decided that moving is off the cards for a while, given that the areas we like are out our budget, and our budget can only stretch to areas we would never consider, so have decided that a loft conversion is the way forward. The first quote came in at around about what we could afford, but was quite vague - the builder peered through the attic door, did that suck through his teeth that all builders must learn in their first week, then gave us the quote without taking any measurements or, infact, asking exactly what it was we actually wanted. No good! The second quote has come in, highly proffensional with everything costed, down to the light switches and door handles, only it's way above what we can afford. So, we need to get more quotes in the hope of finding some kind of middle ground. Phined the first builders (recommended by a friend who has just used them for HER attic conversion) - 'sorry' they said 'we don't actually do loft conversions'. 'But you've just done my friends loft' said I. 'Sorry, we do do loft conversions but we are far too busy at the moment' then they hung up........ I've phoned another 6 builders today, and only one will come out and do a quote, but even then it's weeks till they come out. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH And the blumming dog is driving me crazy - he's been eating the chicken food and is now throwing up, so he's outside, only he doesn't like being outside so inbetween throwing up he's barking and s"Ooops, word censored!"ing at the back door to get in. Oh! And the little cherubs are off school this week, and it's cold and raining, which is hardly ideal holiday weather!! I think I may need some wine tonight....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Oh Poor you Shona I would advise you to have some chocolate to restore your mental balance We had a loft conversion done about 25 years ago now and it saved us a huge amount of money because our only other option was to move house, which we couldn't really afford. You must make sure you find a builder who is good at loft conversions and can give you personal recommendations from people he has done them for. We even arranged to visit someone he had done one for to have a chat with them and a look at their conversion. Good Luck Can't help you with anything else today. I've never had a dog (don't like them) and my children are 28 and 30 , but I can remember what it was like 20 years ago, when I do that I reach for the gin. That's maybe not a bad idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Oh dear Shona - hope you are feeling better now - or perhaps later, after the wine There is just so much work at the moment for builders, it is hard to get hold of a good one for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Oh Poor you Shona I would advise you to have some chocolate to restore your mental balance I wholeheartedly agree with eating chocolate for whatever occasion What a rotten day, keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Oh Shona, What a shame you live so very far away The Hubby does wonderful loft conversions,is neat & tidy & even hoovers up the rooms after him! We couldn't do it until summer as we are so busy,though The right builder for you is out there,just ask around,get lots of recommends & you will know the right one when he shows up (a bit like our men!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Not enough roofers, painters, builders, plasterers or electricians. Plenty of media degree students and MBAs though! (I know. I'm one of them)... The builder I always use says he is finding it impossible to find apprentices. When they find they have to get their hands dirty they leave to go and do computing instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 oh poor you Shona, what a rotton Monday - I do hope that today gets better for you - cyber hugs on their way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Oh Shona,What a shame you live so very far away The Hubby does wonderful loft conversions,is neat & tidy & even hoovers up the rooms after him! We couldn't do it until summer as we are so busy,though The right builder for you is out there,just ask around,get lots of recommends & you will know the right one when he shows up (a bit like our men!) Does he fancy coming up to do mine??! You can come too, and we will show you around and take you to all the usual Edinburgh highlights, and we'll put you up....... Go on, you know you want to........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 I wish I could help Shona but I am useless at DIY and don't know any good builders The weather isn't great for half term is it I htink is supposed to be wet today then start to improve I do wish the society that thinks everyone HAS to go to university would wake up as we are losing tradespeople hand over fist. The young ones come out of uni with no chance of a job unless they get the highest degree possible and end up with the likes of me as a boss. Who they look down on because I worked and studied at the same time so have both the qualifications AND the experience and don't mind getting my hands dirty Hope you are having a happier Tuesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Tuesday IS slightly better, despite the rain! We did at one point half consider trying to do some of the work ourselves, but in the end decided it was just too big a job! We discussed it last night, and have decided to go back to the company that gave us the professional, but expensive, quote, and ask them to give us a quote to extend our living room into the garden, just to give us a bit more living space just now. Then in 2 years time when Caity goes to school and I can get back to a proper job, with proper money, we can either move or do the loft. None of the kids want a room of their own just now (they all share) we discovered after discussing with them where they would sleep if we did get the attic done, and while we realise that this will change at some point, why put ourselves in debt just now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Shona, you have my sympathies. I am having the devil of a job getting contractors of any type at the moment, and because they are so busy, they are tendering high quotes to either price themselves out of a job or make it worth their while moving someone else back to accommodate you! Sarah - I will bear in mind that your OH does loft conversions - mine is already a room, but needs re-doing. Just haven't got the money at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 I have just lost about a day and a half's work because the computer has gone funny Had problems since Friday, it worked all yesterday only to be lost today Also had to waste most of my day in a lab meeting and spending hours filling our magnets with liquid nitrogen Grrrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Ooops Never mind things can only get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Ok I've had a nice day driving around Deepest Darkest Dorset Appointment in Sandbanks (the third most expensive place to live in the WORLD!!) where someone's curtains for their house cost £40K and then into the real countryside - Bridport / Beaminster etc. - really beautiful sunny day with glorious views - and I finished a bit early so came home along the scenic coast path. Pheasant casserole and roastie potatoes for supper tonight with some red wine Sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 ......I am on the edge of launching into one of my huge political rants about how if I ruled the world then things would be a lot better. I am going to check myself! Hey, I'll vote for you Dan! But, well done for restraint in your posting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 The young ones come out of uni with no chance of a job unless they get the highest degree possible and end up with the likes of me as a boss. Oops, chocchick again My parents are an accountant and teacher and neither went to university as people didn't then. Both are now degree level courses. I agree not all degree courses are equal. I think more courses should be vocational and less academic, and there should be more of a distinction again between graduates. It is very silly as well that academics are leaving to become tradespeople as they get more money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I agree chocchick I started with vocational and then moved up into management and did some academic stuff and I had real problems in my last job where the staff were all graduates and were horrified to hear I had no degree (I do now) and I was in charge I had been doing the work since I was 15 though but that doesn't count apparently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 It's funny I keep hearing from inside scademia how graduates can't get jobs as they have no "soft skills" besides their academic qualifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked Chicken Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 It's all madness isn't it. I wonder sometimes what the future holds for my little ones. I know hubby would like them to go to Uni (as he did (I didn't)), and in a way I would like them to go, but does it really matter!!! The country's crying out for skilled electricians, builders, plumbers etc etc, and you'd always be in employment. I never thought about it when I was younger, but now I'm in my mid-twenties (coughs loudly), sorry, I mean thirties, I would love to learn something like hairdressing. You'd always have work, and you could be your own boss. Anyway going back to conversions, we'd like to convert our double garage into a room, as it's a completely wasted space. We never park the cars in there and just store junk, BUT, because we live in a flood risk area, I don't think we're allowed to (to get into the houses in this area, you have to go up about 4/5 steps, but garages are on ground level). Have written to the local planning office to ask if we can convert, and they've asked us to submit a detailed sketch of the garage with all dimensions. HELLO - does it matter if its the size of a football pitch or a postage stamp, it's either a yes or no. Anyway, they've sent me two identical letters in the past week, saying "we are in receipt of your letter dated blah, blah, blah, and hope to respond by blah, blah, blah". If it's a yes, Cinnamon, I'll be in touch!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 I agree with all the university vs vocational comments on this thread, and we've already told our children- poor souls- that they can't have a university education at our expense if they're going there with no clear idea of what they want to do. Education for education's sake simply doesn't wash with me any longer, especially when you have to factor in tuition fees and employment opportunities after. That said daughter currently wants to be a dentist- if that ambition, or a similar one, persists, of course she will go to Uni with my blessing. Son has no idea what he wants to do, still struggling with the fact that pro-football is not going to be an option, but mutters about plumbing or being a chef- if he goes for either of those options he will get the best training we can find for him, and have eery bit as much pride in him as any parent of university based children. With that I'd better confess to having 2 degrees and a lot of professional qualifications- hubby has no degree, or even any A levels, knew what he wanted to do and left school to do it, and he's currently earning double what I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 I think that last paragraph just about sums up the career market at the moment Kate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 My friends son has applied for a university place and is going to study American History.................Now what use is that I asked her what kind of a job he would hope to get with the degree she said well it's just a degree it doesn't matter what it is in he just likes history..........I don't quite understand the reasoning behind this what a waste of time and money......I am with you Kate on this I won't be paying for my children to go through university if they don't have a clue what they want to do at the end of it............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 There is of course an arguement that most jobs just require ANY degree, it is just the generic skills not the actual subject. But still.......some courses aren't really worth a lot. Of course you can change your mind I was planning to be a Biochemistry boffin but changed my mind mid-PhD. Now want a REAL job (apologies to any academics), hopefully writing technical science things or a patent attorney specialising in science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 I agree with you Nicola, I used to work in recruitment, and it was sad to see all the graduates entering the job market, most of them starting at the same level as those who had just done a levels or been to college. My advice would be to make sure that they have good computer skills and can touch type, that way they can get their work done much quicker, hit the deck running and temp as a secretary/admin if necessary while they are waiting or between jobs. Then they can work their way up once they are in the business they want. I did an HND, but never did a degree. The best thing i ever did was to get computer skills, the one regret I have is never having the time to learn to touch type - I could get things done so much quicker if I could Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 I went to a very academic school where you were expected to do a degree or get married and bring up babies I dont have a degree deciding to stay with the love of my life (no, GRD, not you, Paul ) but have professional qualifications in law and insurance (how terribly exciting........) I get quite fed up with graduates who join the company, earn more than I ever did but dont even have decent people skills / cant write a proper letter etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
