Idiot Father in Law/decorating dilemma
Discussion
I know that PH isn’t supposed to be a problem page, and I usually avoid these sorts of threads, but some of you may be able to help and/or take the piss to cheer me up.
A couple of years ago me and the wife moved into our house and the decorating leaves a lot to be desired. We have spent the last year or two having things like new guttering, windows, roofs etc. fitted so now we are ready to do the cosmetic stuff.
I would consider myself to be relatively unskilled at painting/wallpapering etc, but I could probably do an ‘ok’ job. However my Father in Law is a (now retired) painter and decorator of much skill and experience – his work is of a very high standard. He has offered to decorate the house, from top to bottom, for free.
All well and good you might think. But the simple fact is – the FiL is a massive anus, a ‘weapons-grade bell-end’ to use the PH vernacular. He has the most objectionable personality of pretty much anyone that I know – and I have worked with offenders and those with personality disorders for about 16 years. I only have to spend about an hour in his company and I wanted to punch his face in. By decorating the house I will have to put up with him for whole days, for months on end.
In particular everything has to be done his way – he will entertain no discussion on our views regarding colours, décor etc. He is the worst kind of the ‘you don’t want to do it like that’ brigade – with everything. As an example he proceeded to spend a not inconsiderable amount of time telling me how I had put the ‘wrong’ seeds in my bird feeder and that my oven is ‘too cold’ (there’s nothing wrong with it).
To further complicate the issue I have my wife to consider – the FiL refused to attend our wedding 7-8 years ago for some long-forgotten reason, and she feels that he is attempting to make amends now.
So – how do I put up with the stress and aggravation for the next few months/year or so for a fully decorated house? Or do I eject him and do it myself and risk a crappy job? Or do I spend many pounds getting someone else in?
ps please feel free to move this thread to whatever the f
k sub-forum it should be in nowadays.
A couple of years ago me and the wife moved into our house and the decorating leaves a lot to be desired. We have spent the last year or two having things like new guttering, windows, roofs etc. fitted so now we are ready to do the cosmetic stuff.
I would consider myself to be relatively unskilled at painting/wallpapering etc, but I could probably do an ‘ok’ job. However my Father in Law is a (now retired) painter and decorator of much skill and experience – his work is of a very high standard. He has offered to decorate the house, from top to bottom, for free.
All well and good you might think. But the simple fact is – the FiL is a massive anus, a ‘weapons-grade bell-end’ to use the PH vernacular. He has the most objectionable personality of pretty much anyone that I know – and I have worked with offenders and those with personality disorders for about 16 years. I only have to spend about an hour in his company and I wanted to punch his face in. By decorating the house I will have to put up with him for whole days, for months on end.
In particular everything has to be done his way – he will entertain no discussion on our views regarding colours, décor etc. He is the worst kind of the ‘you don’t want to do it like that’ brigade – with everything. As an example he proceeded to spend a not inconsiderable amount of time telling me how I had put the ‘wrong’ seeds in my bird feeder and that my oven is ‘too cold’ (there’s nothing wrong with it).
To further complicate the issue I have my wife to consider – the FiL refused to attend our wedding 7-8 years ago for some long-forgotten reason, and she feels that he is attempting to make amends now.
So – how do I put up with the stress and aggravation for the next few months/year or so for a fully decorated house? Or do I eject him and do it myself and risk a crappy job? Or do I spend many pounds getting someone else in?
ps please feel free to move this thread to whatever the f
k sub-forum it should be in nowadays.No, no, no, don't do it!
It's worth paying the money for a pro to do it in silrnce and how you want it.
If you feel like this about the FIL now, imagine how it will be after 6 months in his company.
And I'ld imagine that slagging him off to the OH is a no-no too.
Politley refuse, he didn't come to the wedding so he sounds like a c*ck.
It's worth paying the money for a pro to do it in silrnce and how you want it.
If you feel like this about the FIL now, imagine how it will be after 6 months in his company.
And I'ld imagine that slagging him off to the OH is a no-no too.
Politley refuse, he didn't come to the wedding so he sounds like a c*ck.
Sheets Tabuer said:
My Fil takes it upon himself to come and decorate rooms etc, he will also use the paint of his choice. After 10 years of this I just pretend he is doing the undercoat and when he has gone I put the colour I want on the walls.
Oh and I go out when he is here.
Do you know what? The cathartic effect of typing the post above, combined with your reply, has made me feel 100% better already!Oh and I go out when he is here.
Have a virtual pint. I'm glad to know I'm not alone!!!
adycav said:
sday12 said:
And I'ld imagine that slagging him off to the OH is a no-no too.
This is a valid point. The missus said this very morning that she is happy to put up with his twottishness in the house as it's the only opportunity for her to spend some time with him!adycav said:
Corpulent Tosser said:
Go on holiday and let him do it while you are away.
I've thought of this.I cannot afford to go on holiday for 6+ months, and the twot has already made comment about how we'd 'better not go on some fancy holiday when I'm doing the decorating for nowt'.
Sheets Tabuer said:
My Fil takes it upon himself to come and decorate rooms etc, he will also use the paint of his choice.
I'd go mental! Thats paramount to graffiti!He's not the living incarnation of Harry Enfield's 'Only Me!' character is he? "you dont' want use magnolia - a nice coat of eggshell blue is what you want in this room..."
6 months?! your house must be massive!
i'd say let him do it during the week when you're at work, aim for one room a week for minimum disruption.
painting/papering is a piece of piss anyway, just be patient and use the right gear.
if you can get around him imposing his own taste, i'd get the old boy to do it and make yourself scarce when he's being irritating.
i'd say let him do it during the week when you're at work, aim for one room a week for minimum disruption.
painting/papering is a piece of piss anyway, just be patient and use the right gear.
if you can get around him imposing his own taste, i'd get the old boy to do it and make yourself scarce when he's being irritating.
Sarkmeister said:
adycav said:
Corpulent Tosser said:
Go on holiday and let him do it while you are away.
I've thought of this.I cannot afford to go on holiday for 6+ months, and the twot has already made comment about how we'd 'better not go on some fancy holiday when I'm doing the decorating for nowt'.
He started three weeks ago, and so far I have two bedrooms stripped of paper, gloss areas/doors sanded, new paper on walls/ceilings and ready for painting.
We have another (large) bedroom, stairs/landing etc, living room, kitchen, dining room, two bathrooms, and conservatory to go!
Steamer said:
Sheets Tabuer said:
My Fil takes it upon himself to come and decorate rooms etc, he will also use the paint of his choice.
I'd go mental! Thats paramount to graffiti!I decided I either needed to kill the in laws or ignore them, I ignore them now and feel much better.
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