I should have known it was only a matter of time.
Really, we've been very lucky that our builders are such lovely, considerate, neat men. But, with all these other tradies - roofers, plumbers, electricians - coming to work on our house, it was bound to happen.
This was something I noticed about our builders when they first came to speak with us. It was a conscious thought - something we would need to talk about if they were inclined to do this. But I forgot about all the other tradies. Amidst all the other things going on, I hadn't given it any more thought.
But then, yesterday, it happened. I was washing the dishes and there was one of the plumbers, right outside the kitchen window.
Smoking. And I knew exactly what he was about to do with that butt. I watched as he stamped it into our front garden. Not. Happy. This was something I knew about the builders right from that first meeting - after all, they didn't smell of smoke. If they had, I would have spoken to them about the binning of butts.
I went outside and spoke to them - very, very politely and extremely restrained. I didn't go on the rant I wanted to; I merely asked them to put their butts in the bin because we have a toddler who is likely to find them and put them in her mouth. They were very apologetic and I thanked them profusely for understanding.
I restrained from telling them it's just a revolting thing to do, littering like that. (Clearly I should have, though, because half an hour later he was putting a butt on our front nature strip. Sigh.)
I stopped myself from telling them not to smoke anywhere in eyesight of my daughter. Ideally I'd like her to never know about smoking, to live in a world where it doesn't exist. Unrealistic much?
Yes, I was very restrained. Especially considering the rant I go on in public if I see anyone littering with a cigarette butt, or the huge fuss I make if someone blows smoke near me or Abbey.
Like I say, it was bound to happen. With tradies coming in and out all day, every day, it's just lucky - and probably goes to show how much smoking has reduced in society - it hasn't happened before now.
Unless I've not seen it... (excuse me while I go outside with a magnifying glass.)
Megan
That was my biggest irritant with my build - the smoking... I have fragile lungs at the best of times.... and having to live in the house while it was being finished... inhaling smoke all day... positively nauseating. And yes, it's tricky, 'cause you want them to finish the job and not get offended. Blah, I hear you... revolting. A-M xx
ReplyDelete*sigh* Why, oh why, do people do that crap?! How hard is it to put their butts in the bin!
ReplyDeleteWe had renderers who chain smoked the whole time they were here. It's a wonder they got their job finished. I came home once and was sure I could smell it in the house! I think they were smoking on the front porch.
Good for you though doing it in a calm and firm way. Best way to get a message across. But if they do it again...GO NUTS!
x
So far it's only been the concreters that have been smoking. But I have found buts when demo-ing the bricks off the wall wedged in between the bricks and wall cavity. I think it is disgusting habit. I dated two smokers, I don't know how I did it; but I can't stand smoking the smell, the habit and arrogance of smokers.
ReplyDeleteSlab is down I am just keeping it from drying out. I scrubbed the concrete residue off the fence and sliding door today it took me ages.
I hate how building industry types think that your yard is a rubbish tip just because you are renovating. Not cleaning their mess up, leaving bricks, plumbing bits and rubbish for someone else to pick up (Which has been me). I'm moving out this weekend. Only some stuff though. Lucky I am only going across the road.
Hope all is going well with your renovation.
I am an ex smoker. I always thought that I would be an empathetic nice ex smoker.
ReplyDeleteNah. I am an evangelical anti smoker, now, of the worst kind.
You were far far more restrained than I would be.
I had a bit of an argy bargy wth a bloke smoking at the bus stop near the school gates the other day. I know he thinks I am a mad paranoid anti-smoking Mummy, but I don't care.
Well done Megan. I truly hope your calm request ensures they don;t do it again.
Popps asked my uncle recently why he wanted to die, took him awhile to figure out why a four year old would ask him that. my aunty said she has been wondering the same thing for years, kids learn very quickly what is bad for them. I only hope she thinks lie that forever.
ReplyDeleteI remember being 11, and only just learning about smoking. I was sitting in my bedroom one afternoon and the neighbour flicked a butt over the fence and it landed on my window-sill.
ReplyDeleteDespite being so young, I was PISSED OFF. I grabbed that butt, taped it to a post-it note (in the shape of a love heart) and wrote, "Please do NOT throw your cigarettes over the fence", then proceeded to chuck it straight back over. Hah! Take that you filthy smoker! I then spent the next day or two scrubbing that awful smell off my fingers.
Smoking is yuck. Littering is yuck. Well done for handling it so calmly. xx
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ReplyDeleteIs this possible?