I still owe him money for that!
You could say I’m a bit of a renovation expert. I’ve been doing it for years, turning it into a rather tidy little business. Now and then, family reach out, asking if I can help out with repairs or small fixes. Then one day, my cousin rings me up. I answer, and it’s him. Thought Id better call and ask for your help, mate.
Within a couple of days, Im round there, tools at the ready. Honestly, I can never say no to family if Ive got a spare moment. Turns out, hed already bought the materials everything from timber to paint all delivered and stacked up. As soon as I arrived, I just threw myself into it. I’ll say this: I love the work. Creating order from chaos, seeing a place transformed it never gets old for me.
I never charge my family. Even when my cousin offered, I just shook my head and told him not to be silly. The flat looked completely unrecognisable when we were finished. No lie we spent nearly two weeks at it. When the last bits were left a heap of old odds and ends in the hallway needing a trip to the tip my cousin piped up with an idea.
Why dont you take these bits off my hands? Just stick them in your garage for now. Might come in handy for your other jobs, save you a few quid. The suggestion made sense, so I gathered up the remaining tiles, laminate, and leftover paint. Storage wasnt an issue my garage can fit more than a few spares, and Im always tinkering about with projects.
Later, I had a proper word with him good thing Id recorded our chat on my phone. What he said, looking straight at me, left me completely stunned. I even shared the clip, just to get it off my chest.
Its just a hobby for me. I thanked my cousin, and we agreed it was all sorted. By that evening, the flat was back in good nick. The leftover rubbish got divided up some on the tip, the rest stored in my garage. We celebrated the end of the job with a few pints, and I headed home feeling chuffed.
The next day started off like any other. Then, around two in the afternoon, I get a call from my cousin. Hello mate, bit awkward, but I think you owe me for those building materials you took. Shame to let them go for nothing the timbers good, the laminates decent stuff. Even those tiles, you could sell them. Any chance you could do a quick transfer to my bank card?
To say I was gobsmacked would be an understatement. Hed promised to call about the job later that evening, but never did. Honestly, I was just floored.
Now, I genuinely dont know how to respond. How do you even start that conversation? After all, I helped him out for nothing. Those materials were destined for the dump nobody wouldve paid for the leftovers. Hed practically been ready to bin the lot himself before he offered them to me. Am I actually supposed to invoice him for the work?
