FIRST we had driving rain, then came heavy snows in parts of Crete. Back came the rains, flooding in Chania and Heraklion, people trapped in the mountains and roads blocked, and not just the smaller ones.
We seem to have this kind of weather in four-year cycles, but this was the worst since we came to the island 12 years ago. Luckily our village suffered very little, a smattering of sloshing snow, forcing people wisely to stay in, and that was it, but how the rest suffered.
It was during this time that we sat down to analyse our winter projects - we always try for something. Last year it was the re-furbished kitchen (done), the wooden stairs (done) and the smaller of our bedrooms (done) Now came something much bigger - our main bedroom.
We decided that it was not enough just to decorate - we went for broke with a bespoke wardrobe, complete with mirror doors.
It was not the first plan to have the glass and aluminium doors, but, after considering the options of wood, we took the plunge. A carpenter who know came, took our design, measured up, gave us a price and away we went - or so we thought!
Here in Greece it is natural to hand over some money to get the project going, fair enough. Our man called to say that the units were ready, but they were coming from Heraklion? They duly did arrive, complete boxes, which had to be lifted off the van, up from outside onto our terrace and through the terrace doors.
After getting over the surprise of the units being complete, we were stunned to see that the shelving we drew on our plans was missing. We had all the main shelves at the bottom, with hydraulic rails to take the clothing, which you pull down. to load up.Then came the bigger surprise!!!
The units covered over the two light and one power switch. No problem said our man - we can move them - No way we said . He had made the wrong measurements!!! In the end the factory had to take back the wrongly made units, re-make them, re-make the aluminium doors and runners and worse still - re-cut the glass - they were more than a little unhappy.
Four days later they came back - correct, including the shelves on our plan, plus a man who installed them all. Our man asked for the rest of the money, we told him to wait, we had spoken to the factory boss and explained to him the situation, we eventually paid less than the first amount, telling our man he was totally at fault - if he did not like it- he would have to negotiate with the factory, we don't think so.
We completed the room, re-decorated, rich reds and golds and finished - eventually - very happy with the overall result. The wardrobe gives us so much more space, allows for tidy boxes inside and neat hanging rails. Happiness all round - except our local man.
We seem to have this kind of weather in four-year cycles, but this was the worst since we came to the island 12 years ago. Luckily our village suffered very little, a smattering of sloshing snow, forcing people wisely to stay in, and that was it, but how the rest suffered.
It was during this time that we sat down to analyse our winter projects - we always try for something. Last year it was the re-furbished kitchen (done), the wooden stairs (done) and the smaller of our bedrooms (done) Now came something much bigger - our main bedroom.
We decided that it was not enough just to decorate - we went for broke with a bespoke wardrobe, complete with mirror doors.
It was not the first plan to have the glass and aluminium doors, but, after considering the options of wood, we took the plunge. A carpenter who know came, took our design, measured up, gave us a price and away we went - or so we thought!
Here in Greece it is natural to hand over some money to get the project going, fair enough. Our man called to say that the units were ready, but they were coming from Heraklion? They duly did arrive, complete boxes, which had to be lifted off the van, up from outside onto our terrace and through the terrace doors.
After getting over the surprise of the units being complete, we were stunned to see that the shelving we drew on our plans was missing. We had all the main shelves at the bottom, with hydraulic rails to take the clothing, which you pull down. to load up.Then came the bigger surprise!!!
The units covered over the two light and one power switch. No problem said our man - we can move them - No way we said . He had made the wrong measurements!!! In the end the factory had to take back the wrongly made units, re-make them, re-make the aluminium doors and runners and worse still - re-cut the glass - they were more than a little unhappy.
Four days later they came back - correct, including the shelves on our plan, plus a man who installed them all. Our man asked for the rest of the money, we told him to wait, we had spoken to the factory boss and explained to him the situation, we eventually paid less than the first amount, telling our man he was totally at fault - if he did not like it- he would have to negotiate with the factory, we don't think so.
We completed the room, re-decorated, rich reds and golds and finished - eventually - very happy with the overall result. The wardrobe gives us so much more space, allows for tidy boxes inside and neat hanging rails. Happiness all round - except our local man.
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