difflock

Marshalls used to do Krpan. And yes, I would say the 1100mm splitter to take a 1.0m length are a Continental thing for the 1.0m long split billets that seem to be the standard.

Re the "Eazyout" screw extractors, the cousin says at his work they drill a hole and simply hammer in an appropriately (and presumably cut off to give a straight shank?) Allen key. I have not yet had occasion to try this technique.

Just back from a cycle, and the "black" economy appears to be doing fine, based on my observations, both yesterday and today, in a local pub, where the Guinness is truly superb, also worth noting the horse racing appears to be well supported. Poverty, what poverty?

I too am alarmed at the various proposals to bail out the improvident, to be paid for by those "with money", I am even more alarmed at the various "dont pay your energy bill" proponents, because "we" will still pay for our energy use, and pay(a share of) their unpaid bills as well, never mind us already paying for all the stolen electricty. I do realize that those on the lowest incomes, from benefits monies or meagre wages are and will be hardest hit by rising energy costs, but to double back to another theme in the posts above, why do these breast beating, heart rending news articles NEVER list the actual income and expenditure of these "destitute" families. Marcus

The wife allows you are well correct Doug. Tee Hee.

An active sex life and cycling keeps my waist in shape. P.S. Up at 05:30 and cycled to the distillery this morning(and near killed by a car btw) but it was worth it cos an absolutely lovely and respectable younger woman down the distillery was admiring my legs, and said so repeatedly! Tee Hee. Must tell the wife when I finish this Guinness and get home.

We, being retired, have a proper breakfast, always with toasted home made bread, with perhaps sardines/bananas/ pate/cheese/salami, or sometimes peanut butter/jam/ honey etc. Then a latish lunch, mostly home cooked, or often recycled leftovers, or a selection of cold stuff/ salad, and that's it for the day. Supplemented, for me, by an odd Guinness of course, mostly after a cycle. Apart from the wife's bread, I/we eat virtually no other carbohydrates, and, even then only the one thick slice of toast for breakfast. Nor do we eat much meat, of any sort. Feeling much better for it too. Cheers. Mth

Cod and smoked haddock.

A fish pie today(one of my favourite dishes btw.) Started with a bed of leeks sauteed in butter, some leftover peas, baby sweetcorn, fresh parsley, a generous application of lemon juice, home made basil pesto, and fish, of course, with the uncooked prawns added for the last few minutes. Superb! Especially after a pint of excellent Guinness on the way home from Tesco's as an aperitif, with a bottle of Aspalls cyder to wash the food down. Att Billhook! The dogs dinner was heavily reduced Scotch eggs( at 16p each), certainly cheaper than reputable dog snacks, let alone some proprietary dog foods. So a Sunday treat for them as well.

Sounds like Robin Williams in that film set in Vietnam! I like though.

Exactly, precisely. Which was why I started clearing the fallen trees and limbs in the park, on my own, with my own chainsaw, and the wonderful wee 3720 JD with loader. I got more done, without fuss in a few hours, than a squad of my staff would have done in a day. Mostly because they spent more time cutting firewood for themselves and transporting it to their homes in Council transport during working hours. But I was powerless to interfere because of "old boy" and Lodge connections.

Having had a lifetime experience of working within local Government, I dispair of Council/Governmental double standards, where the pay blind-eyed lip service to their own staffs behavouir, work ethics and compliance to standards, but "holier than thou" standards to any private sector operator, that is precieved as a threat to their operation. And this is so pervasive and insidious as to be impossible to get a grip on. Dont do as I do, but do as I say basically. I did however know honest hard working individuals working within various public sectors, but the lazy rascals go undisclipined for a lifetime, which pollutes the whole organisation. My boiled down essence of working for the Council or any Government department, an Orwellian type comment perhaps, but like most all of Orwells observations, so so true; "Lets all pretend . . ." that we are working hard that we are actually working the hours we are claiming thet we are maintaining equipment that we are not abusing equipment thet we are not taking needless shortcuts that we do not approach every single person task "mob handed" etc etc etc

Water should be metered to ALL properties, and billed, but then when I see advice that if you have children or vunerable adults under the roof, dont worry about not paying for the electric, or gas, since "they" can NOT cut you off. The UK is fornicating gone to the dogs.

I took some delight in sampling the reasonable coffee and petit-fours all served on Thomas porclain at Agnews MB, when collecting bits for the Steyr Puch van . . . while attired like Wurzel Gummidge, I must say the lovely young woman behind the desk was not in the least phased.

But again, at the back and catches the Sun from midday onward.

Except the front of the house faces East, with a Nth facing corner, and that would have been the obvious place place for milk delivery.

At the back of the daughter's house. House built about 50 years ago. Faces near enough due West.

pics or more details? like why is it propped up with timbers and folding wedges?

Lamb steaks outta Tescos(bought heavily reduced a week ago) fried in olive oil, onions, various spices aka Currey powder, cumin, garamasala, turmic, mucho juniper berries, and fresh apricots added at the end, served with perfectly boiled Red Rooster potatoes(my gig) For a fresh curry, astoundingly good. Especially after a bottle of Whitewater larger and then some decent Cab Sauv. I also chopped the onions btw!

Need bloody hard ground to carry that backactor(without getting laired) fitted to an otherwise very desirable loader tractor, much rather have a rougher rubber tracked digger in addition to the tractor loader, which would then be able to pull a trailer.

I applaud that pragmatic approach by Ford in the US. Especially if a larger capacity alternator/battery/batteries is standard or can be specced as an option.

Ah! Ha! Me specialist subject. I form a firebox of thinner section split conifer, picked from the box of sticks, around at least three sides of the stove, stuff the middle with paper, cardboard and perhaps some plastic packaging, then light and put another stick or two on top, leaving the door "on the snib" for extra draught until properly lit, this never fails, and gives a hot fire in about 10 to 15 mins.

I imagine hiring in a local hedge cutting contractor to be the best/most cost effective solution to the hedge-cutting task, as to the other stuff, either a larger compact tractor or an older smaller traditional tractor, per other sage advice offered. mth

J, In no way in the nature of a snippy comment, but what are the property taxes like? Since everything else appears to be disproportinately cheap property purchase and maintenance wise, I am aware of the significent taxes on earned income, and the costs of alcohol/eating out. And I presume the properties you feature are not near desirable urban centres, or what drives such low property prices. Best wishes, Marcus

Moving the house sounds a rather extreme solution.