Originally posted by sasguru
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Why do the Germans do everything better?
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It was the Hofhaus
They usually build a house (on the already laid concrete slab) in one week. (Foundations done before the week and interior finishing (tiling etc.) done after.)
In the program, the builders arrived from Germany and were ready to commence work at 7am on Monday. Unfortunately they had to then wait until 11am for the British crane driver to find the site.
Despite the delay, because they wanted to be sure to be back in Germany for an important football match, they worked longer hours and finished by Thursday afternoon.
As I remember it, they had five or six people working on it for the first three days, then the team was decreased to two, according to schedule.Comment
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Originally posted by IR35 AvoiderHuf Haus. And I've wanted one for years.
They usually build a house (on the already laid concrete slab) in one week. (Foundations done before the week and interior finishing (tiling etc.) done after.)
In the program, the builders arrived from Germany and were ready to commence work at 7am on Monday. Unfortunately they had to then wait until 11am for the British crane driver to find the site.
Despite the delay, because they wanted to be sure to be back in Germany for an important football match, they worked longer hours and finished by Thursday afternoon.
As I remember it, they had five or six people working on it for the first three days, then the team was decreased to two, according to schedule.
Yep, saw that one. Very impressive house it was too. The German guys turned up as described and actually looked like they knew what they were doing before they even got started. The Brits with the crane were the usual duffers with no more than half a clue between them."Being nice costs nothing and sometimes gets you extra bacon" - Pondlife.Comment
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A completely different story of non-British efficiency:-
I was skiing in the USA when I got a very sore throat. I drove to a local GP (easy to find because of big signs pointing the way and boasting about their on-site X-rays.) Now I admit that as I got there just before they opened there wasn't a queue, but the way they handled the consultation was amazing.
Went straight to reception. Receptionist took my details and then led me to the examining room. As she left the desk someone else moved in to take her place and deal with the next customer. (It only took her 20 seconds to take me there - although it wasn't complicated I imagine that was still quicker on average than having a conversation with someone to explain to them where to go.) After 30 seconds a doctor came in. He was in the room for about a minute during which time he took a throat swab. A few minutes later he returned with the analysis of the swab. He told me the prescription, what it would cost, and said I could get it from them or a pharmacy. He told me what the pharmacy across the road would charge.
I went back to reception and paid for the consultation and the prescription with a credit card.
I walked out of the building ten minutes after I had entered it.
Contrast this with seeing my GP here. Firstly, here I need an appointment. So I phone up and ask for one. They tell me they can fit me in in two weeks time. I tell them that by then I'll either have recovered on my own or died, so there's not much point.
I have managed to get to see a GP in the UK four of five times in the last 15 years, but only once when I actually had something immediately wrong with me.Comment
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Originally posted by DaveBYep, saw that one. Very impressive house it was too. The German guys turned up as described and actually looked like they knew what they were doing before they even got started. The Brits with the crane were the usual duffers with no more than half a clue between them.
As far as the war is concerned, Germans had the best fighting force on the planet, best equipment, tactics, personnel. They ripped through the best that europe could offer as if they weren't there (Dunkirk was a crushing defeat, not the victory people have in their propaganda fuelled heads). In the end they were out supplied (equipment and russians)and spread too thin, if they had kept ambitions more modest (i.e. agreement with the Russians) then they could have controlled europe for a long time.Comment
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