hwork for w/e 3.11.14 - PAINTED INTO A CORNER
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 9:49 am
PAINTED INTO A CORNER
Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet
My Dad was a Jack of all Trades many said but alas he was master of none.
He trotted the phrases out time after time and his kids learnt, both daughters and son -
but not one of us mentioned when painting we planned
for we knew the old bloke would come to lend a hand
and he watered the paint – so we all of us banned
him from his active participation.
A job that’s worth doing is worth doing well is an adage that I now hold dear
but tradies today weren’t bought up by my Dad and to them that message is not clear
My house it was painted a few months ago
the deck paint is peeling - raw timber's on show
and despite many phone calls that blokes a no go.
Seems he’s failed in his classification.
He claimed to be a master painter with pride and thirty years experience.
His price was quite high as was my expectation, but he has lacked due diligence.
He gave a firm handshake – I gave him one back,
we sat and worked out our plan of attack
but now there’s appearing more than one small crack
which is fuelling my angst and frustration.
Perhaps he was more like my Dad than I knew for I picked up a North Country brogue.
Lancastrians are so I’ve heard ‘canny’ too – translate that to ‘bit of a rogue’.
‘twas thrift that made my Dad water down the paint
the extra hours taken not up for debate
when four coats were needed instead of two. Wait!
Have I paid for the same situation?
Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet
My Dad was a Jack of all Trades many said but alas he was master of none.
He trotted the phrases out time after time and his kids learnt, both daughters and son -
but not one of us mentioned when painting we planned
for we knew the old bloke would come to lend a hand
and he watered the paint – so we all of us banned
him from his active participation.
A job that’s worth doing is worth doing well is an adage that I now hold dear
but tradies today weren’t bought up by my Dad and to them that message is not clear
My house it was painted a few months ago
the deck paint is peeling - raw timber's on show
and despite many phone calls that blokes a no go.
Seems he’s failed in his classification.
He claimed to be a master painter with pride and thirty years experience.
His price was quite high as was my expectation, but he has lacked due diligence.
He gave a firm handshake – I gave him one back,
we sat and worked out our plan of attack
but now there’s appearing more than one small crack
which is fuelling my angst and frustration.
Perhaps he was more like my Dad than I knew for I picked up a North Country brogue.
Lancastrians are so I’ve heard ‘canny’ too – translate that to ‘bit of a rogue’.
‘twas thrift that made my Dad water down the paint
the extra hours taken not up for debate
when four coats were needed instead of two. Wait!
Have I paid for the same situation?
