For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 26, 2022

Define “earlier”, monsieur Gauthier.

Paul Gauthier is a real person from North Bay, Ontario, who still does contract work on Lynn Johnston’s ex-husband, Rod Johnston’s properties and who used to be a partner with him on his old Riding Railkits business. His business logo is a picture of him drawn by Lynn.

Looking ahead the FBorFW archives, this is a really long story arc. It goes into June.

We had a city water main replacement two years ago and they started at 7:00 am. That’s because the noise ordinance says no loud noise between 10:30 pm and 7:00 am. Otherwise I think they would have started st sun up. They quit at sunset. So I can feel for her.

Does Canada NOT have noise laws?

Isn’t 7:00 AM the usual rising time on work/school days??

BTW, that man should learn that “Allo” is just used for answering phones; that, face-to-face, a French-speaking person says, “Bonjour”.

Contractors tend to show up very early. The same for roofers, gardeners, etc.

If Ellie was a late sleeper, I think that it would be up to her to inform the carpenters to start at a later time.;-D

7am I can almost remember the last time I’ve slept that late

You’d rather he showed up at 3 pm then disappeared for a week?

How about offering a croissant and café latte? Conscientious contractors aren’t easy to secure

What time do they get up in the morning?

Who’s still in bed at 7:00?

Dedication knows no bounds, Ellie.

Hey, count your blessings: They not only showed up on the right day, they showed up early. Some contractors might not show up on the right WEEK.

Ahh to be able to think of 7 AM as early.

I’ve never understood this story line of the comic (read it many times, since inception)-the contractors started on the work without speaking to either homeowner that morning? Wouldn’t one of them (Ellie or John) have let them in or something and known they were there already?

Look on the bright side at least the Contractor is showing up.

Be glad to see a craftsman on time and ready to work.

Thats ok we will e done ar 9 am.

Thats ok we will be done at 9 am

I read his dialogue in Peter Sellers’ “Inspector Clouseau” voice. Funny.

The token French-Canadian?

construction workers like to be done by 3 PM

It seems to me I remember there being a law against doing any loud construction work before 8:00 and or after 10:00 PM. I think that was in California. I like that idea.

As mentioned above, I was reminded of Peter Sellers as Clouseau. Especially as the telephone repairman in “Return of the Pink Panther”. https://youtu.be/k2cr3C3lKZA

That would be awesome. Having a contractor that is motivated to get started. If it gets done sooner, 24/7 would be good.

And it still takes them 3 months longer than quoted to get it done.

Count your blessings. Where I am, you can’t even get a contractor to show up to do a quote, much less return your calls. My boss has been trying for two years to get a quote on adding a mezzanine to the warehouse.

He reminds me of Uncle Phil in Gordan’s hat.

Let’s hope Mike doesn’t have to fix it after.

I remember back in high school and college when I did construction work in the summer, we’d start at 6 am to beat the heat. Of course that was for the jobs not in town, (which were most of them for us), it was 7 when working in town.

Gauthier is about to be in need of a Paul bearer.

I feel lucky, reading these comments. We had a bathroom renovated last summer, and all the workers showed up on time, did a great job, and came in on budget.

My experience with contractors is pretty limited but showing up ridiculously early in the morning is not a problem I often associate with them.

As IF!

Lucky you, Elly. We couldn’t get ours to show up at all when they said they would be here.

I hate morning people. Safe to say that Elle does too.

I knew that was coming!!!

A contractor with a work ethic!? I guess you only find people like that north of the border!

Construction is mobbed up, same as unions and waste management companies. Will this be the Pattersons’ first encounter with organized crime, eh?

If only US contractors would do this instead of draggging out jobs for weeks if not months

Elly did not get to state not earlier, little later.

I’m waiting for the contractor to sing “Be Our Guest..Be Our Guest…Aftr all,Miss,this is France….”

If you want him to go away, simply say “Guten Morgen”. Hearing German sends any Frenchman running.