My Customers (Part1)
This week’s story goes back to the years when I was still working as a carpenter after school hours. As I narrated in one of my past stories, I began to try my hands on woodworking when I was still very young. Seeing the success which I was having when I did something for our own home, I had some orders from my relatives and friends. Then when I was getting married I made all the furniture for our home. I also did several pieces of woodwork for my brothers or sisters who were getting married.
When I was married I worked on our home’s roof. There was a washroom which I turned into a workshop. It was not the ideal place to work because even to carry all those sheets of chipboard or fiberboard, it was a hard job. Then when the furniture was being built I kept it stacked in the stairs’ landings near the roof. The ‘workshop’ was crowded with sheets of wood and tools which I used. I did all the work on the roof and to protect myself and the work from the sun and the rain I fixed a large piece of canvas as a tent. Imagine me working in the hot summer months or in the cold, rainy winter months on the roof. But I had to do it because my family was getting bigger and we could not cope with just my teacher’s salary.
It is amazing how the word spreads. In fact after a couple of years I had several orders from people whom I didn’t know but they were told about me by my relatives and friends who were very happy about the work I did for them. I soon realized that on the roof was no longer the place to work. I had to find a garage to work in, even for my customers to see that I was more or less professional. It was not easy to find a good place but after a lot of searching I succeeded to rent a well sized garage (about this garage I will tell you a story some day). Moreover, I had to have some proper machinery and several power tools to do the work better and quicker. I had to invest quite a sum of money but I intended to work extra hard to pay all the expenses Imade.
This week’s story goes back to the years when I was still working as a carpenter after school hours. As I narrated in one of my past stories, I began to try my hands on woodworking when I was still very young. Seeing the success which I was having when I did something for our own home, I had some orders from my relatives and friends. Then when I was getting married I made all the furniture for our home. I also did several pieces of woodwork for my brothers or sisters who were getting married.
When I was married I worked on our home’s roof. There was a washroom which I turned into a workshop. It was not the ideal place to work because even to carry all those sheets of chipboard or fiberboard, it was a hard job. Then when the furniture was being built I kept it stacked in the stairs’ landings near the roof. The ‘workshop’ was crowded with sheets of wood and tools which I used. I did all the work on the roof and to protect myself and the work from the sun and the rain I fixed a large piece of canvas as a tent. Imagine me working in the hot summer months or in the cold, rainy winter months on the roof. But I had to do it because my family was getting bigger and we could not cope with just my teacher’s salary.
It is amazing how the word spreads. In fact after a couple of years I had several orders from people whom I didn’t know but they were told about me by my relatives and friends who were very happy about the work I did for them. I soon realized that on the roof was no longer the place to work. I had to find a garage to work in, even for my customers to see that I was more or less professional. It was not easy to find a good place but after a lot of searching I succeeded to rent a well sized garage (about this garage I will tell you a story some day). Moreover, I had to have some proper machinery and several power tools to do the work better and quicker. I had to invest quite a sum of money but I intended to work extra hard to pay all the expenses Imade.
This was my workshop which I used after I stopped working at home . One of my younger sons often came to play in the garage.
When everything was ready I was proud of the workshop I had, in which I also made a small office where I welcomed and discussed things with my costumers. I got to know many people, men and women who came to have their woodwork done by me. The people I got to know where from all backgrounds of life and so much different to deal with.
Today I wish to narrate a couple of stories about these customers which I worked for. It is impossible to narrate at one go all stories which in my opinion were out of the ordinary, so let’s say that this is part one of several short stories regarding my customers.
Story # 1.
Once I had a friend who was a member of the local sports association. He was a good customer and I had done several works for this him. One fine day he phoned me and told me that the President of the association wished to have a very large table top made of mahogany for the conference room. He told me that they intended to put the top on several other small tables when they would have a general conference. Then when they did not need a big table they would remove the top and use the small tables. I told him that it would be better for me to come over and see for myself where it was going to be placed so that I would match the color to the other furniture and keep a similar design. But he just told me that there was no need for me to go. He gave me the measurements of the length and width, adding that they wanted the top to be plain and keep the natural color of mahogany.
I set to work and in a week it was ready and nicely sprayed with clear lacquer. I phoned my friend and we set a day and a time when they would send transport to deliver it. I insisted that I should go along to see that there would not be any careless handling.
Everything went well till we arrived in front of the door of the association. It was one of those big old houses in Valletta probably built by the knights. Then the two men who were in charge of the transport took hold of the table top and entered inside through a big door. But the trouble started when they tried to go up the stairs with it. They tried to do it in several ways, they even tried to carry it upright but it was all in vain. I was afraid that they would knock it against the wall or the ceiling. I really was getting worried now because there seemed to be no way to take it upstairs.
In a matter of minutes several people gathered around including my friend and the President. My friend said that he should have thought about this problem but he overlooked it. Someone suggested the elevator but although it was quite large, it wasn’t high enough. Then the President told us to take a look at an inner yard. We all went there. There was a possibility of tying it with ropes and from the roof some men would pull it up. But again the windows were not big enough.
Then I noticed that the elevator had been installed only recently and the masonry work was not yet all completed. It had like a big slot about 20 centimeters wide which was all along the length of the shaft. I had an idea. “What if we put the elevator down and two of us climbed on top of the elevator passing through the ‘slot’?” There sure was enough space overhead. Promptly my friend said that on the inside of the third floor where they wanted to place the table top, there was still a large opening in the wall so we could surely do it.
I insisted that we had to use some blankets or cardboard to protect the top from being damaged. They did what I told them. My friend and I went upon the top of the elevator and several others handed the top through the slot and we held it upright avoiding the many cables which pulled the elevator. Slowly the elevator took us to the third floor. The rest was done in a minute. When it was put in its place, it was a perfect fit and luckily it still was as good as new.
To narrate this story was easy but you surely can’t imagine the worries and all the hassle that was created before we succeeded to do it. Besides my customer friend was all apologies because of the problem he had created. At one time I really would have wished to shot him but they say that the customer is always right!
Today I wish to narrate a couple of stories about these customers which I worked for. It is impossible to narrate at one go all stories which in my opinion were out of the ordinary, so let’s say that this is part one of several short stories regarding my customers.
Story # 1.
Once I had a friend who was a member of the local sports association. He was a good customer and I had done several works for this him. One fine day he phoned me and told me that the President of the association wished to have a very large table top made of mahogany for the conference room. He told me that they intended to put the top on several other small tables when they would have a general conference. Then when they did not need a big table they would remove the top and use the small tables. I told him that it would be better for me to come over and see for myself where it was going to be placed so that I would match the color to the other furniture and keep a similar design. But he just told me that there was no need for me to go. He gave me the measurements of the length and width, adding that they wanted the top to be plain and keep the natural color of mahogany.
I set to work and in a week it was ready and nicely sprayed with clear lacquer. I phoned my friend and we set a day and a time when they would send transport to deliver it. I insisted that I should go along to see that there would not be any careless handling.
Everything went well till we arrived in front of the door of the association. It was one of those big old houses in Valletta probably built by the knights. Then the two men who were in charge of the transport took hold of the table top and entered inside through a big door. But the trouble started when they tried to go up the stairs with it. They tried to do it in several ways, they even tried to carry it upright but it was all in vain. I was afraid that they would knock it against the wall or the ceiling. I really was getting worried now because there seemed to be no way to take it upstairs.
In a matter of minutes several people gathered around including my friend and the President. My friend said that he should have thought about this problem but he overlooked it. Someone suggested the elevator but although it was quite large, it wasn’t high enough. Then the President told us to take a look at an inner yard. We all went there. There was a possibility of tying it with ropes and from the roof some men would pull it up. But again the windows were not big enough.
Then I noticed that the elevator had been installed only recently and the masonry work was not yet all completed. It had like a big slot about 20 centimeters wide which was all along the length of the shaft. I had an idea. “What if we put the elevator down and two of us climbed on top of the elevator passing through the ‘slot’?” There sure was enough space overhead. Promptly my friend said that on the inside of the third floor where they wanted to place the table top, there was still a large opening in the wall so we could surely do it.
I insisted that we had to use some blankets or cardboard to protect the top from being damaged. They did what I told them. My friend and I went upon the top of the elevator and several others handed the top through the slot and we held it upright avoiding the many cables which pulled the elevator. Slowly the elevator took us to the third floor. The rest was done in a minute. When it was put in its place, it was a perfect fit and luckily it still was as good as new.
To narrate this story was easy but you surely can’t imagine the worries and all the hassle that was created before we succeeded to do it. Besides my customer friend was all apologies because of the problem he had created. At one time I really would have wished to shot him but they say that the customer is always right!
When it was put in its place, it was a perfect fit and luckily it was still as good as new.
Story # 2
My workshop was situated in a semi industrial area, so there were others workers. I remember that near my garage there was an upholsterer, another was an aluminum worker, a Marble works factory and two or three other woodworkers. We all were good friends and helped each other. Once the aluminum worker told me that he had a friend who was a bit particular and who needed some woodwork. He asked me if I wanted to work for him. Of course I accepted but in my mind I was thinking what was that something that made this man particular.
Soon I was to discover this particularity. In fact the day after the aluminum worker came to my workshop accompanied with this particular man. He was rather short but well built in fact I said to myself that he surely trained at a gym or something. From the look of it he was a bully and I begun to doubt whether I should have accepted to work for him. As he approached, I could see that he was all painted up with tattoos. I have nothing against tattoos although I don’t like them a bit.
Guess what this man’s first sentence was……you will never guess! He told me, “Hello Sir, you were my teacher long ago!” I shook his hand and in my heart I said, “Oh you really make me proud! How on earth did you succeed to become what you are?”
But then he said that I was his favorite teacher ever. So we sort of broke the ice and began to talk business. He wanted me to make several doors for his new house. He told my how he wanted them and did not even bother to ask me for the price. I tried to tell him that I will give him a written estimation of the total sum. But he did not let me finish and told me not to do anything. Then he told me when to go to his home and take the measurements to start working as soon as possible. With that he left as he said that he had some urgent business to attend to.
His friend was still there and out of curiosity I asked him what business was he in. He replied “Didn’t you ever hear of ‘The Gorilla’?” Of course I had heard about him. He was the number one thief on the island. I exclaimed, “Don’t tell me that he……… ???” “Yes he is the famous Gorilla; but don’t worry about him, he is OK!” I really wandered what I got myself into!
I went to measure at the Gorilla’s house. There was his wife and three scruffy kids. He proudly introduced me to his wife telling her that I was once his teacher. His wife seemed to be the boss around the house and she did not seem to fear the Gorilla…..in fact I realized that he really looked like a gorilla especially because he had no shirt on and he was so hairy. I was not at all at easy but I soon became because he offered me a glass of whiskey……. and when I say a glass it was a full glass. I took it and I felt super and happy in a couple of minutes.
The day came when I had to deliver and install the doors for the Gorilla. A whole day’s work. I took my eldest son with me to help me. They gave us drinks every now and then, and also insisted to have lunch with them. It was late in the evening when we finished our job. We gathered our tools which were all over the place and came to the last part of the deal. My heart was beating fast…..will he pay me or will he bring some excuse……???
He told his wife to pay me saying in a rough voice, “What is the total cost Sir?”
I took some papers from my pocket which contained receipts and a detailed bill of what I spent and did. When I was beginning to explain, he took all the papers from my hands and tore them up and told me, “Just tell me the total.” I was again very uneasy because usually my customers would know beforehand how much they were going to spend. Usually everyone gave me a deposit before I started their work, but with the Gorilla it was different. I hesitated to tell him the total sum, fearing that he will not agree or something.
Then I told him, “For you, my ex-student I am giving you a special price. The total sum is 850 pounds.” I was expecting thunder and lightning but he turned to his wife and told her. “Give him one thousand and give fifty to his son.” I really was surprised and when his wife handed me the money I tried to tell him that he shouldn’t have………. But he just thanked me for my work and told me that he has more work for me. We sealed our deal with another big glass of whiskey.
We left his house and put the tools in the car. As we drove away my son and I (and the whiskey) began to shout and sing, “Viva, viva, viva l-Gorilla……………… Viva, viva. Viva l-Gorilla………………………….
My workshop was situated in a semi industrial area, so there were others workers. I remember that near my garage there was an upholsterer, another was an aluminum worker, a Marble works factory and two or three other woodworkers. We all were good friends and helped each other. Once the aluminum worker told me that he had a friend who was a bit particular and who needed some woodwork. He asked me if I wanted to work for him. Of course I accepted but in my mind I was thinking what was that something that made this man particular.
Soon I was to discover this particularity. In fact the day after the aluminum worker came to my workshop accompanied with this particular man. He was rather short but well built in fact I said to myself that he surely trained at a gym or something. From the look of it he was a bully and I begun to doubt whether I should have accepted to work for him. As he approached, I could see that he was all painted up with tattoos. I have nothing against tattoos although I don’t like them a bit.
Guess what this man’s first sentence was……you will never guess! He told me, “Hello Sir, you were my teacher long ago!” I shook his hand and in my heart I said, “Oh you really make me proud! How on earth did you succeed to become what you are?”
But then he said that I was his favorite teacher ever. So we sort of broke the ice and began to talk business. He wanted me to make several doors for his new house. He told my how he wanted them and did not even bother to ask me for the price. I tried to tell him that I will give him a written estimation of the total sum. But he did not let me finish and told me not to do anything. Then he told me when to go to his home and take the measurements to start working as soon as possible. With that he left as he said that he had some urgent business to attend to.
His friend was still there and out of curiosity I asked him what business was he in. He replied “Didn’t you ever hear of ‘The Gorilla’?” Of course I had heard about him. He was the number one thief on the island. I exclaimed, “Don’t tell me that he……… ???” “Yes he is the famous Gorilla; but don’t worry about him, he is OK!” I really wandered what I got myself into!
I went to measure at the Gorilla’s house. There was his wife and three scruffy kids. He proudly introduced me to his wife telling her that I was once his teacher. His wife seemed to be the boss around the house and she did not seem to fear the Gorilla…..in fact I realized that he really looked like a gorilla especially because he had no shirt on and he was so hairy. I was not at all at easy but I soon became because he offered me a glass of whiskey……. and when I say a glass it was a full glass. I took it and I felt super and happy in a couple of minutes.
The day came when I had to deliver and install the doors for the Gorilla. A whole day’s work. I took my eldest son with me to help me. They gave us drinks every now and then, and also insisted to have lunch with them. It was late in the evening when we finished our job. We gathered our tools which were all over the place and came to the last part of the deal. My heart was beating fast…..will he pay me or will he bring some excuse……???
He told his wife to pay me saying in a rough voice, “What is the total cost Sir?”
I took some papers from my pocket which contained receipts and a detailed bill of what I spent and did. When I was beginning to explain, he took all the papers from my hands and tore them up and told me, “Just tell me the total.” I was again very uneasy because usually my customers would know beforehand how much they were going to spend. Usually everyone gave me a deposit before I started their work, but with the Gorilla it was different. I hesitated to tell him the total sum, fearing that he will not agree or something.
Then I told him, “For you, my ex-student I am giving you a special price. The total sum is 850 pounds.” I was expecting thunder and lightning but he turned to his wife and told her. “Give him one thousand and give fifty to his son.” I really was surprised and when his wife handed me the money I tried to tell him that he shouldn’t have………. But he just thanked me for my work and told me that he has more work for me. We sealed our deal with another big glass of whiskey.
We left his house and put the tools in the car. As we drove away my son and I (and the whiskey) began to shout and sing, “Viva, viva, viva l-Gorilla……………… Viva, viva. Viva l-Gorilla………………………….
Quote of the day:
Everybody needs to be loved especially those who do not deserve it.