DIY Heavan

Ivy was confident that her husband would be getting a job promotion and the impending salary raise, since he had successfully completed a website design project for his company. She was therefore occupied with planning for some house extension works.

Going through the directories, she hunted forhouse extension and renovation contractors. She finally contacted a few contractors and requestedquotes including waste disposal services. Her specific instructions to them ‘I want the best and the cheapest – from the renovation works to waste management.’ She told them there were lots of ways to save ‘Get the cheapest skip hire – you don’t need a luxury bin to transport some bricks, do you?’

The quotations came in the next few days. However, Ivy was not happy with the contractors' charges, so she called up the waste management companies. Asking them regarding their waste disposal charges, she wanted the cheapest skip hire costs. She hardly listened to the explanations about council requirements or the amount of rubbish generated; she brushed aside their clarification and asked for the cheapest skip hire charges; irregardless of size or quality.

She compiled the most attractive quotations from the contractors, especially those who had provided a breakdown of the costs. Keeping them aside, she started looking through interior design magazines, looking for new furniture and fittings. She could hardly wait for Lou to return from work.

The minute Lou stepped into the house, he was bombarded with a non-stop tirade of contractors, house extension works and the amount of work she had done to look for the cheapest skip hire service in town. Lou was bewildered; yet he understood the main message - his wife had expected his promotion and salary increment; she was therefore planning for a new house or house extension works, a change of furniture and fittings or some interior decor work. 'Oh God, Lou thought ' how am I going to get out of this mess?' He pleaded exhaustion, and told Ivy he needed to take a shower before further discussion.

Sitting on the toilet in the bathroom, he held his head in his hands, feeling very frustrated. Just that afternoon, he had a meeting with his client, and they had started him thinking about taking up some advanced driving classes and maybe shop for a new car. In fact, he was thinking that a new car would greatly enhance his image. Now his wife wanted to talk to him about house extension works!