My family home is currently being renovated, so we’ve had to move out while the work is underway. I wish I could have typed that last sentence in past tense, because work on the house was supposed to be completed on the 16th of December. We are at 16th December+4 weeks now, and our house is still not ready.
How difficult is it to project manage a minor renovation? I know it’s not easy, but I am also pretty sure it is by no means, rocket science.
Our main contractor is absent, to an indescribable degree. His work ethic is that of an incontinent skunk, and his level of responsiveness, possibly that of a raw soya bean. The difficulty I have with explaining to my friends his level of competence is probably how early scientists felt when they were trying to explain the concept of “infinity” to their mothers and father after getting home from work.
“Hey ma, so today we discovered something really huge.”
“How big ah?” (In my mind, the early scientists and their parents speak like Singaporeans, and end sentences with “ah” and “ohh” and “isit”.)
“Very, very big.”
“Bigger than what?”
“Bigger than anything!”
“Oh like the size of Mexico ah? Must be very big huh.”
-Scientist’s head implodes-
Well, if anyone is ever looking to renovate your house in Singapore, I can give you a recommendation of an interior design firm NOT to use. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I imagine I would be an excellent contractor. I do love building them timelines into that computer spreadsheet doohickey.
Ok off to home now, to inspect the unfinished apartment that was once my home, and to imagine myself dressed as Bob the Builder, project managing my own house’s renovations one day. I just googled Bob the Builder to see what his cat was called. Wikipedia says his cat is called Pilchard, and is considered a part of the team. However, she’s often sleeping when she’s needed. That’s awesome! That goes into my epitaph-shortlist.
“Joyce – Was always considered a part of the team, but was often sleeping when needed.”
