difflock

"You lucky lucky baastard" To misquote The Monty Python lot.

It does indeed look finished, the "sheen" was a dead giveaway. Wonderful looking workmanship, my only concern would be the softness of the Tulip wood(=Poplar?) taking marks so easily. marcus

(i) No odure/shite/bullshit (ii) started with a 1100cc petrol Polo, oil pump failed at about 55,000, AFTER driving back from Glasgow. A short block fitted, only in my twenties and working local so I cycled. Other minor issues like head gaskets were done mesel, an I cycled. Then the ould BX, only issue was the head gasket(hmmm again, but it was suspect when I bought the car) Cant remember, think I arranged a loaner car from a mate. Drove it back from Glasgow (again, Glasgow) sans hyd pump, so no brakes, suspension nor much steering. Then the short lived Vento (senior managment stuffed it through a hedge) borrowed a car from the dealer we got the replacment from. Which was the long lived Galaxy, a few issues, BUT never caught out. I did drive it back from Newark, to NI, without any brakes btw Throw in a few hobby purposes but incrediably reliable/easily fixable "G" Wagens. And now the Octavia. But on measured reflection. NEVER stranded at the side of the road due to breaking down. I did run out of petrol ONCE only. PS Including doing the Continent several times a year with all of the above cars.(not incl the "G" Wagens) WITHOUT any recovery/get you home insurances. cheers Marcus PPS I do recall taking the DB1490 Tractor to my work for a week during the Citroen BX days. N.B. Part of the secret is keeping cars for long periods and getting to know them What, we had 5 cars since about 1984,(=30 years) and the current one, the 5th is good for 10 years yet. So 5 cars over 40 years(incl a w/off after a very short period, the Vento)

I really really must order some of Morso's most excellent firewood. 1 cubic metre of Morso Fire Wood

How much fruit did they produce before your work? Ud be my first question.

Strangely enough having, and still intending, to run cars to 200-250,000 miles or 12/13 years old. Over 37 years. And for many of those years only running one car. And now back to only one car after a few years running 2. And mostly servicing/mechanicing myself. At 55, I cannot recall a car breaking down, beyond my "on the spot" repair. Nor indeed "failing to start". Absolutly Seriously. Any driver should be able to spot a tiring battery/keep a trickle charger. The few repairs beyond by capabilities were booked in to a garage. And I cycled or had arranged to borrow or hire a car. Thinking that over, I scratch my head. And I dont reckon myself to be "lucky"

On that line, an "Old Gallant" of a farmer shouted down the shop to Maureen behind the counter that he still wanted to get into her knickers. Quick as a flash, Maureen replied; "I got one arsehole in my knickers already, an I find it is plenty" I could not help clapping in appaluse.

I dont believe the payment is based on the boiler size. Rather on the calculated annual kW*Hrs required to heat the dwelling. To provide a "deemed" figure, for domestic installs. Unlike the heat meters fitted to commercial installs.

prob was too:lol:

Thanks, I was searching IF perhaps, just perhaps the NI scheme had finally been finalized. (I knew the proposed payment scheme for it OK) And I found a 2014 English site stating 12.2 pence for 20 years. Which "quare gunked" me. I read and re-read and double checked, but the scheme was definately described as domestic. I should have saved the web address/link. cheers Marcus

The mainland domestic RHI scheme pays 12.2p/kW*Hr for 20 years. And the NI scheme is suggesting 7.9p/kW*Hr for 7 years. Surely this factor of 4.4 times difference cannot be right/fair/equitable. I appreciate that our oil heating costs are higher than English Gas costs, but still:confused1: Marcus

Peatff! Guess what, this morning I bought a Jefferson 1700/230, with no TIG facilities, cos I reckoned they were only an added complication. An a sexy (non Luddite) automatic welders mask (I was down to holding the glass containing half of the 20 year old cheapo mask in my "free" hand.) Pure MMA all the way:lol: Somewhere about £240.00 + Vat with a better rod holder throwed in. cheers m

Sniff Only for my/me/mesel m

I would take exception to this "far off fields" comment. Having endured a complete nervous breakdown in local government, during our childrens formative years too. I am/was a Supervisor who was routinely tasked to "make bricks without straw", or rather, use unskilled/unmotivated/unsackable long-time Council employees within the constraints of an unsuitable Bonus Scheme. All while being undermined by my 2 line managers who used my staff(on the back of a last minute ph call) to attend to their topical priorities. Then I was held responsible for the failures of routine planned maint ops. Especially if I dared take hols in the summer. I came back to chaos. And was held accountable.(And my Union rep was useless, I finally contacted the Union Head Office in London to query the running of their Belfast office, which actually resulted in changes btw) That has however now changed with the appointment of more foccused, more professional senior staff, who can actually "manage" . I.e. say NO to the unreasonable demands that were/are routinely made. Life is currently OK, and it would be good if we could get rid of the seriously under-performing/overage/unfit/overweight/unwell/cognatively challanged manual staff. But we cant, apparently. cheers Marcus PS My longstanding "joke" is the Council do not pay you to work, they pay to to suffer to work with the people you are oblidged to work with. AND I am well aware that is a double-edged sword!:001_tt2:

Mostly fixing things I break:001_rolleyes:, but only because I insist on "pushing the performance envelope". And "bog standard" mild steel fabrication, trusses, shed overhang extension brackets etc. I dont need TIG, just liked the idea of being able to weld Aluminium, for wee brackets for joinery related projects etc. I can buy a Jefferson 170A inverter from McIntyres in Kilrea for £250.00 + VAT, might even pop up this morning and invest:001_huh:. Then I can fix/reconfigure the old forklift(which I broke the modified/makeshift linkage pins on lifting 2tonne slabs) and get it back on the tractor and get the place tidied:blushing: up a bit. PS Was seriously getting the "hots" for the Finnish built Kemppi, but I dont need that level of sophistication, at near twice the price. cheers all Marcus

Empty of laden, makes no difference. It is the PLATED veh weight which counts. So might as well ballast the tow truck(with sommat useful preferably) And, yes I understood the "B" +"E" allowed for a 3500kg van/truck/pick-up towing a 3500kg trailer. Ud be a nonsense otherwise. cheers marcus

Sorry, but NO, Ladders are not "for access only" if after a measured assessment of the risk, it is deemed to be the safest/only practical way to access and conduct minor works. i.e. Like some of our buildings where there is no room for scaffolding or a MEWP. And the only other option being a crane basket, or humengeous expensive Boom-lift blocking the Main street. This would not be considered a "practical" way to access for minor maint . All correct procedures being observed. The climber being relaxed about being on a ladder etc etc.

now you mention Felicity . . .

Thanks again, all good stuff.

Was Valerie Singelton not a MILF before they were invented!

Oops! I should have said that it is only exceptionally I be welding thick section steel. And have grown accustomed to using multiple application of finer rods, it just takes more time with the wee "buzz" box. Still get there in the end. So could possibly live with 140A/150A output. Anyway I reasonably suspect that some of the lesser brands will be a trifle optimistic with their stated output Ampages. Since 230V in at a rated 16A can only give a limited output Ampage(Voltage dependant) Even if/when judiciously overloading the 16A supply. cheers m

MEWP Simply because it is a predictable repetitive practice that CAN be eliminated. Therefore it should be. Or hinged at the ground poles, hydraulically raised, would be even better, simply because it obviates the requirment for staff to leave the ground. As a Council employer one cannot be allowed to "fix stupid" by sacking them. Therefore one must work around their innate stupidity/shortcomings. Ask me how I know.

I am 55, I do remember taking dinners up to "Stephen" who lived in a very primitive "cotter" house about 15m from our back door. Only afterwards did I find out that (i) "Stephen" had been a tramp(and probably as a result of his experiences in the First WW) that my father had taken pity on/taken in and accommodated in this then derlict house. (ii) That he used to babysit us to allow our parents to go out! Bloody Hell, try and run both those ideas past Social Services today. A lister diesel generator plant provided the electric, so even when we got a TV(2nd hand B&W set), there was no TV in the Summer cos the engine was not started if not needed. And Sleeping between sheets sewen together from "Morton's" flour bags, the text still being visible. Not to mention the indignity of ONCE being made to wear my big SISTERS knickers, dont recall how old I was, but old enough to be mortified. cheers marcus And PS Attempting to explain, to the collective children, with the aid out our then neighbour, that houses did not use to have inside toilets! The neighbour had grown with an outside toilet btw.

I will probably buy a "Jefferson" from McIntyre's in Kilrea. After I speak to the cousin, who is; (i) A welder/steel fabricator of 35 years exp. And (ii) Has an account with McIntyre's. cheers all Marcus

Makes the tea does it? ps seriously, thanks,keep em coming folks.