Oh, what jolly banter
Today, Stuart has been to work. Stuart has a part time job as a handyman at the local bingo hall. Stuart does lots of different work from changing light bulbs to unblocking toilets. What fun!
They’re very strict about health and safety and Stuart isn’t allowed to use power tools with a plug. He can only use battery operated tools. Stuart’s wife Joan has some battery powered tools too. But Stuart isn’t allowed to use them. Joan thinks that Stuart doesn’t know where they’re hidden; but Stuart found them one day when he was putting washing away…. At the bottom of her knickers drawer! Do you know what a rampant rabbit is? Joan does!
Stuart sometimes gets work on the side that Joan doesn’t know about. Do you know what a brown envelope is? Stuart does!
Stuart gets a phone call; it’s Mrs Clarke from Rotherham. Mrs Clarke says
“I’ve got a problem with my upstairs heating. The radiators won’t get hot.”
Stuart says that he’ll pop round later that afternoon and see if he can sort it out.
Stuart has to catch the bus as he crashed his van into a lamppost so he has to carry all of his tools around in a big pink and purple ruc-sac. Joan says that Stuart looks like a homeless person in his scruffy work clothes, his battered sac, with his rough goatee beard and beeny hat. Do you know what a razor blade is? Joan says that Stuart doesn’t!
Stuart arrives at Mrs Clarke’s house. She asks Stuart to leave his sac in the hallway and take off his shoes as she’s had new carpets fitted all through the house. Stuart goes upstairs to investigate the problem. Mrs. Clarke says,
“The downstairs radiators are fine and dandy but upstairs are all cold!”
Instantly Stuart knows what the problem is.
“The radiators haven’t been bled properly and are all full of air.” Clever Stuart!
Do have a problem with trapped air? Stuart often has, but his valve releases it all of the time. Are you familiar with the smell of rotting vegetables and sulphur? Stuart’s wife Joan is. See the clothes peg on her nose!
Stuart skips back downstairs and empties all of his tools onto the vestibule floor and selects the correct tool for the job. Quickly, he goes back upstairs to vent the radiators with his radiator bleed key. He meets Mrs Clarke in the front bedroom. Mrs Clarke has been doing some washing as the clothes are airing on the radiator. Stuart says,
“If you get down on your knees with me I can show you what to do should it happen again. It’s really easy and you won’t have to pay me again if it reoccurs.” Kind Stuart! Stuart carefully moves the clothes to one side so he can get to the bleed nipple and release the air until water comes out. Stuart forgets to catch the dirty water on a cloth and it drips onto the floor. Silly Stuart! Paint Stuarts face red! Mrs Clarke tells Stuart not to worry as it shouldn’t stain.
Soon, all of the radiators are banging hot. Mrs Clarke thanks Stuart and slips him some beer money!
Stuart packs away his tools in his ruc-sac and waves goodbye as he hops and skips his way back to the bus stop to go home.
When Stuart gets home, Joan is making some pastry.
“You’ve been out a long time. What have you been up to?” says Joan.
(This is where the story really starts)
“Well” says Stuart. “Mrs Clarke asked me to go round to her house as she had a problem with trapped air and she wanted to get hot upstairs. First I emptied to contents of my heavy, swollen, pink sac onto her vestibule floor. Then we went up into her bedroom and I asked her to get down on her hands and knees so I could show her what to do. I had to move her bra to one side so I could get to the nipple. Then I inserted my tool and twisted it several times till fluid came out. I had no protection and ended up splashing out on her carpet. Can I have some of that apple pie?” Joan thinks that Stuart has had enough pie for today. Do you think that a marble rolling pin makes a good birthday present? Stuart doesn’t. See the lumps! Poor Stuart!
