MR THORNDYKE:
Thorndyke’s
EDITH:
Good morning. Is that Mr Thorndyke?
MR THORNDYKE:
Speaking. How can I help?
EDITH:
I’ve got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat and I wonder whether you’d be able to do the work.
MR THORNDYKE:
I’m sure I’d be able to help but let me take down a few details.
MR THORNDYKE:
Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
EDITH:
It was my friend May Hampton … you did some excellent work for her a couple of years ago. Do you remember?
MR THORNDYKE:
Oh, yes, that was in West Park Flats, lovely lady.
MR THORNDYKE:
And what’s your name, please?
EDITH:
It’s Edith Pargetter.
MR THORNDYKE:
Edith … can you spell your surname, please?
EDITH:
It’s P-A-R-G-E-double T-E-R.
MR THORNDYKE:
Double T, right. And do you live in West Park Flats as well?
EDITH:
No, actually it’s East Park, Flat 4.
MR THORNDYKE:
Oh, right, that’s over the road, I seem to remember – quite difficult to get to.
EDITH:
Yes, it’s at the back of the library.
MR THORNDYKE:
Right, I know. And what’s your phone number?
EDITH:
875934 but I’m out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings.
MR THORNDYKE:
So would the best time to ring you be in the morning?
MR THORNDYKE:
Fine. I’ve made a note of that. Can I just ask, I’ll be in a van and I know parking’s rather difficult round your flats. Where would you recommend?
EDITH:
Well, I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by the postbox on the other side of the road from the entrance.
MR THORNDYKE:
Good, thanks.
EDITH:
And will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?
MR THORNDYKE:
Oh, yes, I’ll list all the jobs separately with individual prices.
EDITH:
That’d be a great help.
MR THORNDYKE:
No problem.
MR THORNDYKE:
Now, what would you like me to do?
EDITH:
Firstly and most urgently is in the kitchen. With all the weather damage, the glass in the door has cracked and I’d need that fixing …
MR THORNDYKE:
I presume you mean replacing?
EDITH:
Oh, yes. And as soon as possible …
MR THORNDYKE:
What I’ll do is come round tomorrow morning and do that immediately.
EDITH:
Thank you so much. The other things aren’t so urgent but …
MR THORNDYKE:
Now, I’ll make a note of everything you want doing.
EDITH:
Well, in the kitchen I’d like some painting doing.
MR THORNDYKE:
All the kitchen walls?
EDITH:
Just the area over the cooker. It’s very greasy …
MR THORNDYKE:
Right … it does tend to get that way!
MR THORNDYKE:
Well, if you want a proper job done what I’d need to do is strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it.
EDITH:
Of course. Now, May tells me you also do work in the garden.
MR THORNDYKE:
That’s right.
EDITH:
Well, I’d like you to replace a fence.
EDITH:
Yes, at the far end.
MR THORNDYKE:
Fine. Shouldn’t be a problem.
EDITH:
And that’s the lot.
MR THORNDYKE:
Fine. Yeah, as I say I can come round tomorrow morning to look over things with you.
EDITH:
That’s great, thank you.
MR THORNDYKE:
So, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at …