<![CDATA[Open Up The Wall]]>517f83e9-6379-59c0-a2bd-387b712d410aSun, 29 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0000Captivate.fmGeoff Boweshttps://artwork.captivate.fm/d0c1ac0d-edaa-4d30-9be9-9d0cd067aa77/3gsbjCRmxk73xOIg8ySoLOq7.jpgOpen Up The WallGeoff BowesGeoff BowesThis is the inside story of the reno biz that you won't see on any home renovation show. It is the real story of the men in toolbelts that we let into our homes to transform the way we live, and the homeowners that hire them. Good faith, bad cheques, tool breakdowns, people meltdowns -- you can't make this stuff up! The 27 chapter book is written by a licensed contractor, and lends itself beautifully to this 14 episode podcast, bringing to life the dialogue between a collection of outrageous characters on both sides of the toolbelt.http://www.openupthewall.comyesepisodicnopodcastEpisode Fourteen – Going SouthEpisode Fourteen - Going SouthThis episode gets poetic, then it gets funny, and then it's all over. Thanks for listening everybody. I know that you were entertained, and I hope that you have gained insight into life in the trades. I suppose that is why I took the time to write this book / podcast ... but I'll never be sure. Peace Out.

]]>This episode gets poetic, then it gets funny, and then it's all over. Thanks for listening everybody. I know that you were entertained, and I hope that you have gained insight into life in the trades. I suppose that is why I took the time to write this book / podcast ... but I'll never be sure. Peace Out.

]]>8f98b666-dc8c-4f77-b90f-bfc9b78e11c4Fri, 06 Apr 2018 19:33:00 -040013:35yesfull1141141This episode gets poetic, then it gets funny, and then it's all over. Thanks for listening everybody. I know that you were entertained, and I hope that you have gained insight into life in the trades. I suppose that is why I took the time to write this book / podcast ... but I'll never be sure. Peace Out.Geoff BowesEpisode Thirteen - Bloody HellEpisode Thirteen - Bloody HellSuddenly I saw blood spurting over the table saw, and then I felt the pain. Everybody at the hospital kept saying, 'a man your age'. My best before date had arrived.

]]>Suddenly I saw blood spurting over the table saw, and then I felt the pain. Everybody at the hospital kept saying, 'a man your age'. My best before date had arrived.

]]>b566a2a7-2492-4a70-9a8f-6de3d33b94a2Fri, 06 Apr 2018 19:31:00 -040022:50yesfull1131131Suddenly I saw blood spurting over the table saw, and then I felt the pain. Everybody at the hospital kept saying, 'a man your age'. My best before date had arrived.Geoff BowesEpisode Twelve - Missing the TurnEpisode Twelve - Missing the TurnNow that I had a great crew, I had to keep them working, or they would leave me. But with this particular client, keeping us together at all costs was too expensive. I ignored the warning voices in my head, and now it was either get gone, or get sued.

]]>Now that I had a great crew, I had to keep them working, or they would leave me. But with this particular client, keeping us together at all costs was too expensive. I ignored the warning voices in my head, and now it was either get gone, or get sued.

]]>7da3df23-d92b-4eeb-9841-ce47ee5e3ed8Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:20:00 -040025:35yesfull1121121Now that I had a great crew, I had to keep them working, or they would leave me. But with this particular client, keeping us together at all costs was too expensive. I ignored the warning voices in my head, and now it was either get gone, or get sued.Geoff BowesEpisode Eleven - The Addition of DiscoveryEpisode Eleven - The Addition of DiscoveryA big ground floor addition. My first time running the whole show. My excellent crew were decades younger than me, and on this fast paced build, it became clear to me that my age had become a liability.

]]>A big ground floor addition. My first time running the whole show. My excellent crew were decades younger than me, and on this fast paced build, it became clear to me that my age had become a liability.

]]>7c16982d-9d47-454f-9218-2eda96be7cbfTue, 03 Apr 2018 19:09:00 -040037:41yesfull1111111A big ground floor addition. My first time running the whole show. My excellent crew were decades younger than me, and on this fast paced build, it became clear to me that my age had become a liability.Geoff BowesEpisode Ten - The Addition of LifeEpisode Ten - The Addition of LifeAnother second storey addition with Stan. Only floods this time ... and cops. Nothing we couldn't handle. Except for the dirty talking women.

]]>Another second storey addition with Stan. Only floods this time ... and cops. Nothing we couldn't handle. Except for the dirty talking women.

]]>5d110a0f-0cf4-478d-9dc4-fd011fdbc601Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:07:00 -040023:39yesfull1101101Another second storey addition with Stan. Only floods this time ... and cops. Nothing we couldn't handle. Except for the dirty talking women.Geoff BowesEpisode Nine – The EntitledEpisode Nine - The EntitledDealing with the impossible demands of millennials forced me into unnecessary confrontation, and made me rethink my attitude towards this new group of inexperienced homeowners.

]]>Dealing with the impossible demands of millennials forced me into unnecessary confrontation, and made me rethink my attitude towards this new group of inexperienced homeowners.

]]>6c43beab-9e9d-4563-9b23-d0fad5a7b128Thu, 29 Mar 2018 21:48:00 -040025:04yesfull19191Dealing with the impossible demands of millennials forced me into unnecessary confrontation, and made me rethink my attitude towards this new group of inexperienced homeowners.Geoff BowesEpisode Eight – The HelpEpisode Eight - The HelpI was taking on bigger jobs so the time has come to find a crew of my own. Trial and error, hiring and firing the most astonishing collection of characters ... and getting nowhere fast.

]]>I was taking on bigger jobs so the time has come to find a crew of my own. Trial and error, hiring and firing the most astonishing collection of characters ... and getting nowhere fast.

]]>57724380-4762-482c-b103-7cce325a380eThu, 29 Mar 2018 21:46:00 -040024:11yesfull18181I was taking on bigger jobs so the time has come to find a crew of my own. Trial and error, hiring and firing the most astonishing collection of characters ... and getting nowhere fast.Geoff BowesEpisode Seven – The Addition of DeathEpisode Seven - The Addition of DeathI worked with Stan on a second storey addition right out of the old testament - flood, fire, swarming bees, betrayal, rivalry, rage, death defying accidents. Nothing went right on this one.

]]>I worked with Stan on a second storey addition right out of the old testament - flood, fire, swarming bees, betrayal, rivalry, rage, death defying accidents. Nothing went right on this one.

]]>4b1c8e0b-8784-47d0-a279-89c37e317641Thu, 29 Mar 2018 21:43:00 -040025:47yesfull17171I worked with Stan on a second storey addition right out of the old testament - flood, fire, swarming bees, betrayal, rivalry, rage, death defying accidents. Nothing went right on this one.Geoff BowesEpisode Six – Finding PurposeEpisode Six - Finding PurposeMy learning curve was curving nicely, and I took on clients of my own. Some were easy, some were high maintenance, and at Christmas time - they were frantic.

]]>My learning curve was curving nicely, and I took on clients of my own. Some were easy, some were high maintenance, and at Christmas time - they were frantic.

]]>8e688708-9124-4769-b5a7-a3279b15c1f8Mon, 26 Mar 2018 21:42:00 -040033:28yesfull16161My learning curve was curving nicely, and I took on clients of my own. Some were easy, some were high maintenance, and at Christmas time - they were frantic.Geoff BowesEpisode Five – A Poor ChoiceEpisode Five - A Poor ChoiceStan teamed me up to frame a house with Ken, an illiterate genius carpenter with serious anger management issues. The work was high up and dangerous, and we were not prepared for the heat wave and the heat stroke that drove us off the roof.

]]>Stan teamed me up to frame a house with Ken, an illiterate genius carpenter with serious anger management issues. The work was high up and dangerous, and we were not prepared for the heat wave and the heat stroke that drove us off the roof.

]]>35790277-9452-45cc-a189-44b1f5511516Mon, 26 Mar 2018 21:40:00 -040028:54yesfull15151Stan teamed me up to frame a house with Ken, an illiterate genius carpenter with serious anger management issues. The work was high up and dangerous, and we were not prepared for the heat wave and the heat stroke that drove us off the roof.Geoff BowesEpisode Four – HomeworkEpisode Four – HomeworkMy mentor, Stan, hired me to work with him gutting a three storey house and putting it back together again. He told me about his alcoholic parents, and I told him about being abandoned at birth.

]]>My mentor, Stan, hired me to work with him gutting a three storey house and putting it back together again. He told me about his alcoholic parents, and I told him about being abandoned at birth.

]]>6ca55619-80c9-43ee-aaae-8e3c27a5ffd9Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:22:00 -040029:01yesfull14141My mentor, Stan, hired me to work with him gutting a three storey house and putting it back together again. He told me about his alcoholic parents, and I told him about being abandoned at birth.Geoff BowesEpisode Three – The New WorldEpisode Three - The New WorldI got my first real job as a construction worker, joining a real construction crew building a recording studio complex. New tools, new people, and a new sense of belonging.

]]>I got my first real job as a construction worker, joining a real construction crew building a recording studio complex. New tools, new people, and a new sense of belonging.

]]>fee7637e-ce96-400e-ac13-34a4a33b5932Mon, 12 Mar 2018 13:19:00 -040022:18yesfull13131I got my first real job as a construction worker, joining a real construction crew building a recording studio complex. New tools, new people, and a new sense of belonging.Geoff BowesEpisode Two - StiffedEpisode Two - StiffedMy skills and my tool collection grew until I was known in the neighbourhood as 'handy'. When the neighbourhood crazy lady offered to pay me to build her a fence, I jumped at the chance. Of course I should have known better ... she didn't pay me. Down the rabbit hole and into Small Claims Court!

]]>My skills and my tool collection grew until I was known in the neighbourhood as 'handy'. When the neighbourhood crazy lady offered to pay me to build her a fence, I jumped at the chance. Of course I should have known better ... she didn't pay me. Down the rabbit hole and into Small Claims Court!

]]>8ea3c89e-c566-4259-80e4-3a7f170094beMon, 12 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -040026:22yesfull12121My skills and my tool collection grew until I was known in the neighbourhood as 'handy'. When the neighbourhood crazy lady offered to pay me to build her a fence, I jumped at the chance. Of course I should have known better ... she didn't pay me. Down the rabbit hole and into Small Claims Court!Geoff BowesEpisode One – Coming OutEpisode One - Coming OutMy first attempt at home reno was when I decided to install a bathtub all by myself. I had no tools and less experience, just an inexplicable drive to do the work myself. The installation was a disaster, but I learned a lot about plumbing – and about myself.

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]]>My first attempt at home reno was when I decided to install a bathtub all by myself. I had no tools and less experience, just an inexplicable drive to do the work myself. The installation was a disaster, but I learned a lot about plumbing – and about myself.

NCBYSeECnlttQw6i6jZv

]]>820fdcf4-e623-463a-9c39-8eaa44b40c34Wed, 07 Mar 2018 03:26:00 -040027:03yesfull11111My first attempt at home reno was when I decided to install a bathtub all by myself. I had no tools and less experience, just an inexplicable drive to do the work myself. The installation was a disaster, but I learned a lot about plumbing – and about myself.Geoff Bowes