Sunday, July 20, 2008
Replacing a Gas Cooker
A short long story.
This morning, on coming home from marketing I received this message,
"Old lady's gas stove cannot be switched off,
so she kept it burning through the night", from a younger old lady.
My thought: Such a gas cooker is not easy to find nowadays,
the last time I had to run around a lot.
Now fewer people use this type of gas cooker.
Finally, I saw some gas cookers displayed outside a shop.
ME: You have single gas cooker?
Shopman: Yes.
ME: Where ?
Shopman: On the top.
ME: Oh, there, how much ?
Shopman: $45.
Remembering the last time.
ME: Can I fix it myself ?
Shopman: No.
ME: How do I get it fixed ?
Shopman dialed a number: Ah Hock, a client needs you.
ME: Ah Hock, can you do it today ?
Ah Hock: Yes, 1 to 3 pm.
ME: Can you be a little exact ?
Ah Hock: OK, 3pm.
My thought: I can have lunch and then be present later at her HDB flat when it is installed.
On the way home after lunch Ah Hock rang: 2pm OK or not.
Of course I was glad I didn't have to go home and then come out again to the old lady's place.
At 2.10pm Ah Hock came. Methodically Ah Hock changed the gas cooker.
Ten minutes later it was done; he packed the old one and took it away.
I paid him $40, and that was a job simply and well done.
My thought: Kanninare, I could do this job myself,
but I had to suffer the rigmarole and run around
at the mercy of the licenced gas cooker man.
My other thoughts: Shopman opens shop, sells item for $45,
but Gascookerman spends 10 minutes to do a simple job and charges $40.
My other thoughts: I had to be very patient and accommodating
so that I didn't have to spend more time
if the Gascookerman played hard to get with me.
My other thoughts: Despite all this, I was really glad that the whole episode
was not very taxing and quickly done in a few hours.
Have a nice day.
Ron
This morning, on coming home from marketing I received this message,
"Old lady's gas stove cannot be switched off,
so she kept it burning through the night", from a younger old lady.
My thought: Such a gas cooker is not easy to find nowadays,
the last time I had to run around a lot.
Now fewer people use this type of gas cooker.
Finally, I saw some gas cookers displayed outside a shop.
ME: You have single gas cooker?
Shopman: Yes.
ME: Where ?
Shopman: On the top.
ME: Oh, there, how much ?
Shopman: $45.
Remembering the last time.
ME: Can I fix it myself ?
Shopman: No.
ME: How do I get it fixed ?
Shopman dialed a number: Ah Hock, a client needs you.
ME: Ah Hock, can you do it today ?
Ah Hock: Yes, 1 to 3 pm.
ME: Can you be a little exact ?
Ah Hock: OK, 3pm.
My thought: I can have lunch and then be present later at her HDB flat when it is installed.
On the way home after lunch Ah Hock rang: 2pm OK or not.
Of course I was glad I didn't have to go home and then come out again to the old lady's place.
At 2.10pm Ah Hock came. Methodically Ah Hock changed the gas cooker.
Ten minutes later it was done; he packed the old one and took it away.
I paid him $40, and that was a job simply and well done.
My thought: Kanninare, I could do this job myself,
but I had to suffer the rigmarole and run around
at the mercy of the licenced gas cooker man.
My other thoughts: Shopman opens shop, sells item for $45,
but Gascookerman spends 10 minutes to do a simple job and charges $40.
My other thoughts: I had to be very patient and accommodating
so that I didn't have to spend more time
if the Gascookerman played hard to get with me.
My other thoughts: Despite all this, I was really glad that the whole episode
was not very taxing and quickly done in a few hours.
Have a nice day.
Ron
# posted by chunmu @ 5:55 AM 
