...but the study lingers on

As does the "nothing is ever simple" theme from Friday. Of these two windows in my side of the study, only the right-hand one ever opened. When they came to remove the left-hand sashes it became clear why. Both frames were completely rotten. If they hadn't been painted shut they would have fallen out long ago. Someone had made a bodge job of filling the rotten parts and painting over it, but they were beyond redemption.

The firm doing the windows this time round don't have access to a joiner who can offer a quick turn-around on new frames. The elder lad admitted he'd only been with them 6 weeks and his previous firm could have had them ready in a day (it actually only takes a professional joinery firm half an hour to knock up a window, armed with the correct measurements), but this place can't get hold of them until late Friday. With the Bank Holiday coming up this means the new ones won't be fitted until next Tuesday - after our housewarming.

The two guys took the rest of the day to replace both sills on the window above, and refurbish the right-hand sashes. Even working until 7pm they didn't even finish that one properly, so we've been left with the left panes boarded up, and the right panes tacked in place with screws. We'll have to cover them in sheets or something for party night. I hope it doesn't rain - there's gaps in the boards!

By contrast the carpet fitters who came today to fit the spare room carpet were efficiency personified.

They'd been booked for 12 noon, and the doorbell rang at 12 on the dot. I'd prepared the room by removing every stick of furniture, taking the door off and making sure there were no creaky floorboards, and the fitters repaid my preparation by completing the fit in 25 minutes.

"I wish every room was as easy as that," one of them remarked. I wanted to tell him I wished every fitter was as competent as them, but the window guys were in the other room.