What's made you grumpy today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Becky's worn out struts, springs and other detritus from recent services on family vehicles which are lying around in the garage is really getting in the way so I decided to load up and pay a visit to our local recycling centre. Previously access was from a side street, down an uneven cobbled road to the site itself. Now you enter and leave from the main seafront road on a beautifully newly laid tarmac road which has been ruined by the provision of many many extremely violent speed bumps. You know, the type which are bolted to the road surface and are guaranteed to loosen tooth fillings and wreck suspension. The old road left much to be desired but these new speed bumps are so diabolical I shall not be returning. Luckily there is another site on the other side of town so I can go there when I'm at either of my boy's houses and it didn't have this type of bump last time I visited.

I cheered myself up by returning via Machine Mart where I used my "VAT free" voucher to buy some things I've been promising myself for a while amongst which is my first air hammer https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cat138-professional-190mm-air-hammer/

This in preparation for acquiring the Vibro sockets https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELZH-WE...ation-Impact-Socket-Kit-4093-WW-/173618010134 which I can't really afford just yet.

I spent a lot of time deciding on this hammer. My first inclination had been to buy a really big name as my experience with the impact guns has shown me the worth of that approach. However financially this is difficult to justify so, looking at the cheaper end of the market, I eliminated the really cheap stuff and settled on this one largely because it is a medium stroke gun and Clarke/Machine Mart are quite good for spares availability. I've been playing with it this afternoon and I'm very impressed. As I want to use it more for "Vibro" than cutting I really like that it has a really easily controlled trigger so you can have it just gently "nudging" away on a small pull of the trigger or progressively build up to flat out with the trigger fully depressed where it's got quite a bit of aggression available. That'll do me just grand

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Very long day today.

Edited highlights, Built a set of shelves, converted car into van mode (this involves taking child seat out which weighs a tonne), delivered two chairs from my house two different locations, bought two more (heavy) arm chairs and was vaguely amazed to fit both in the car at the same time. Tip run, built the two chairs another tip run to get rid of the boxes for the chairs. Found 3 litres of deionised water to fill a bubble tube in the 4th shop I went to...have an argument about placement of bubble tube.

Of course did all this on my bill..as taking my OH for help involves taking munchkin who had no seat on board.

I have beer in the fridge and a pizza on order...also sitting in my new armchair.

Thats a productive day !!

 

[StevenRB45]

Thats a productive day !!

Feel like I spent yesterday at the gym currently!

 

[SB1500]

Further to my comments the other week about journalism in 2019 and why I'm so p*ssed over it, I thought I'd share this screenshot I encountered a few minutes ago.... Not to bring it up or start any debates, but this illustrates my point. Look at how poor this website is for the user, every side is plastered in ads - and they're all moving / flashing to get my attention as I desperately try to read this short, disappointingly lacking in depth article about a Burger King burger..

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Our house was built about 35 years ago and although the builders did install double glazing the wooden frames they used left quite something to be desired. - not exactly what you would call precision engineered! I suppose these things creep up on you slowly but a couple of years ago I noticed the bathroom window was leaking when it rained. Checking further revealed the frame was splitting at the bottom joints and a little rotten. The other windows to the rear were little better with most having some degree of condensation between the panes - not surprising as this is where the weather always impacts. I was speaking to my neighbour - diagonally across the road, who has contacts in the building trade - as he has just had his conservatory refurbished and he highly recommended the chaps who did it. Contacted them and they quoted a good price to do the whole house so decided to go with it.

It's lovely to be able to report that they've done a grand job. Unlike my boys, who's windows were done by a big national company, mine all open and close with a silky smoothness and the sound reduction (not that we are in a noisy location anyway) is noticeable. Last night was cold too and we both noticed the house was nice and warm this morning even though the central heating is off. We are very pleased. I did have some doubts about the window manufacturer as I'd never heard of them - Kommerling? - but I would say they are of better quality compared with what my boys have. I notice the glazing gap is about twice what it was in the old windows too and there seems to be some sort of reflective quality? When you look at the windows from outside you notice they look slightly smoked (is that the right word) - you don't notice this from inside.

The down side to all this (and why I'm feeling grumpy) is that part of the deal to get a good price was that I'd do the reinstatement of plaster work etc around the new frames and sills. Thankfully the chaps have done a very neat job and the repairs needed are quite minimal, and I actually quite enjoy mixing up and applying the Polyfilla, but I'd forgotten how much I truly hate painting in any guise! Also, maybe 20 years ago - told you I hate decorating - Mrs Jock decided Terracotta was just the trendy colour for our hall, stairs and landing. There was a bit left over at the end so the downstairs loo got the same colour. I've never really liked it and Mrs J seems to have gone off it a bit too so, as I had a tub of B&Q value matt white left over from my last ceiling painting efforts, white it is then. Downside again, coverage is awful. Think it's going to take 3 coats minimum. I'm just hoping Terracotta doesn't bleed like red does? I seem to remember it was also a lot easier 20 years ago lying on my side to paint round the back of the toilet and under the radiator! I feel a bit like a beached whale or walrus.

 

[portland_bill]

... Terracotta was just the trendy colour for our hall, stairs and landing. ... Downside again, coverage is awful. Think it's going to take 3 coats minimum. I'm just hoping Terracotta doesn't bleed like red does?

Reminds me of a wall in my mother's lounge. Early eighties, she decided one wall would be brown. We got the tester pot, painted a square, seemed ok. A fortnight later painted the whole wall. It looked ok initially, but as time passed it darkened, and continued to darken. 7-8 years later when we moved out it was vry dark indeed. I imagine the next occupants had a struggle covering that.

Edit: Another memory. When we moved in, the bedroom that would be mine had mid-green walls and orange window frames.

 

[DaveMcT]

Dulux do a great product for painting over dark paints or stains. Its not cheap but does a good job.

 

[Schumi2001]

Tax coding notice arrived today.

I have no idea why HMRC never get it right - every year they either say I've under or overpaid tax and will be adjusting my code.

This year it's CK64. Welsh tax and a negative personal allowance. Robbing barstewards.

 

[jimboy]

OK I know that I've let off steam about pedestrians before & not paying attention & walking straight out in front me without looking, but I'm being driven mad with the pedestrians with headsets on, mostly young team but some oldies as well. They are in a world of their own & practically dicing with death, not only not looking now, they cannot hear you as well.

There are places in our wee City that I permanently drive & have my hand hovering over my horn. An old geezer today walked off the pavement practically in front of me with earphones, & a crossing just a few yards further up he could've used.. I peeped my horn, he jumped & started to rant a Rave expressing himself with a chosen hand signal.. If I had not been doing less than the speed limit he would be looking up at me from the road....

Another rant over.....

 

[portland_bill]

A trip to the supermarket.
To coincide with the rush to stock up for the bank holiday, my local Sainsbury's has rearranged some of the layout. Genius. Busy time, everyone lost and confused. Moving stuff about does not make the store bigger. It is supposed to make us buy more as we pass stuff we've not looked at much and impulse buy. My experience is that it just makes shoppers cross.

Then the journey home, had to follow a Belgian truck the whole 7 miles. Not a big deal. He was slow to accelerate and seemed to think the limit was 40mph on single carriageway. The problem was behind. A motorhome thinking that trying to push me might help progress. Perhaps he could not see the truck teh size of a small building ahead. When I turned off at home, he rushed forward, presumably to try to bully the truck. I don't suppose he got any joy there either.

 

[StevenRB45]

Now I know we haven't cleaned quite as often as we should with a 1 year old running riot..but having to use a cutting compound to get soap scum off the shower screen was a new low!

 

[StevenRB45]

Forgive the link, but last time it looked like this, 100s of cars were written off due to hail damage..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oHBZYbY6tjyZFTsn9

It's stopped now...after nearly flooding the house (drain was blocked by ice until I spotted it!)

 

[DaveMcT]

Forgive the link, but last time it looked like this, 100s of cars were written off due to hail damage..

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oHBZYbY6tjyZFTsn9

It's stopped now...after nearly flooding the house (drain was blocked by ice until I spotted it!)

My wife and kids have just returned form a week in Madrid. Thunderstorms are common at this time of year, but this time there were hail stones like golf balls. The Spanish rarely have fully comprehensive insurance so the costs will be on the car owners.

It's a good reason to hire a car when on holiday AND make sure that all damage is covered on insurance.

 

[StevenRB45]

My wife and kids have just returned form a week in Madrid. Thunderstorms are common at this time of year, but this time there were hail stones like golf balls. The Spanish rarely have fully comprehensive insurance so the costs will be on the car owners.

It's a good reason to hire a car when on holiday AND make sure that all damage is covered on insurance.

We had Golf ball hail here in 2014 not much fun both cars damaged. Mazda still bears the battle scars, my first thought on seeing the hail this time was "oh well at least it's already done.." Wasn't worth getting it repaired for the insurance hike.

I saw Spain on the news and thought myself very lucky to get away with a mildly moist kitchen.

 

[StevenRB45]

Had one of days today where I got stuck behind a succession of all smoke no poke tdis. You know the sort. 7 years old or more, literally everywhere smoking like a tyre fire when confronted with a slight gradient yet somehow not failing the apparently tough new mot..

One day there'll be an actual emissions test and there'll be 3 diesels over 5 years old left on the road.

 

[jimboy]

New charcoal filters came today for my kitchen extractor hood, they are the round twist on type that go on each side of the internal motor. Now bare with me, I have just discovered that the hood which is years old, never came with any. Easy doddle of a job I thought....WRONG..:bang: What a fanny about to twist these things on over the two plastic lugs, one at the top which you cannot see & one at the bottom in sight.

You take of the two aluminium oil splash guards first, no problem, then you have access to the motor. Not much room in there, I have quite large hands, so no chance in feeling the top lug. I had to file down the holes in the filters because I discovered they were just that bit too small. I started at 12.30 & an hour later I've fallen out withe wife & I'm loosing the will to live.

Honestly, another hour & WD40 sprayed on for lubrication, more rubbing down with an emery strip, sweating like you know what, mumbling away to myself, the wife has left the house to leave me to it. I'm twisted sitting on the cooker, my legs & knees are in agony by this time, finally I get one on....yippeeeeeee I then manage the other side. Bloody hell, I can't believe it took me two hours to do this.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Had some sad news today about a young chap I worked with, who has been off work for several months now.

Early in the year he was behaving strangely at work, losing his temper, and very out of character, it was put down to mental health problems and he was given medications etc, after a couple of months it was discovered he actually had a brain tumour.

He went for surgery, but has never been right since, periods of lucidity and complete confusion, went off to neuro rehab to try and get him back on his feet, if he was ever coming back to work it wouldn’t be for many months if not years.

Today’s news was that they had not got all the Tumour so he would need chemotherapy/radio therapy, but due to complications in his treatment that he has developed since the initial operation he is now too unwell to have any more cancer treatment, what’s more the complications are pretty serious.
Have been told he is long term terminal i,e his problems will now kill him but not in the next 6 months but could be months or a few years either way it’s severely life limiting, secondly the doctors want to put a do not resuscitate order in place, which is the correct decision given all his problems, it just won’t do him any good to be brought back if his heart stops....

He was a nice guy, a car person loved super cars and alike so it’s pretty sad news to hear. What’s more the poor guy is just 32 years old....... just WTF .... really ....

 

[DaveMcT]

Poor chap. Cancers in young people can be devastating.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Had some sad news today about a young chap I worked with, who has been off work for several months now.

So sorry to hear of your young friend. Always so much more tragic when it's someone who should have a lot of years "in the bank" still. Despite the massive steps forward in treatment this illness is still an absolute scourge. It's seldom something which is over and done quickly. Causes such distress to extended family and friends to say nothing of the person directly involved. Lost my younger brother to it a few years ago, My middle brother ignored the symptoms for too long (different type) and is now living with it. My wife's best friend of many many years was taken by it recently and now a neighbour (we're all very friendly in our street and everyone knows everyone else - it's a nice place to live) has it in the brain. Amazingly an operation was performed last year through the nose but not all the tumor was "get at able" so it's likely to grow again. Now it's a waiting game.
I myself am on a watching brief for the prostate and, can I just say to you all, if you're a bloke (evangelical message coming up) - Get your Doc to do a PSA test on you - I know it's not the most reliable indicator but it's about the best we have at present. Getting your PSA checked when you are healthy enables the Doc to establish a base line figure for you individually. Then subsequent checks will give an indication if something needs to be looked at in greater depth. Although they're not 100% happy with my figures, my Doc cheerfully tells me not to worry about it, at my age It's almost certain something else will "get me" first - I get on very well with my regular GP - when I can get an appointment to see him - so he knows I like people who "shoot from the hip" with an honest appraisal of the situation.

 

[DaveMcT]

New charcoal filters came today for my kitchen extractor hood, they are the round twist on type that go on each side of the internal motor. Now bare with me, I have just discovered that the hood which is years old, never came with any. Easy doddle of a job I thought....WRONG..:bang: What a fanny about to twist these things on over the two plastic lugs, one at the top which you cannot see & one at the bottom in sight.

You take of the two aluminium oil splash guards first, no problem, then you have access to the motor. Not much room in there, I have quite large hands, so no chance in feeling the top lug. I had to file down the holes in the filters because I discovered they were just that bit too small. I started at 12.30 & an hour later I've fallen out withe wife & I'm loosing the will to live.

Honestly, another hour & WD40 sprayed on for lubrication, more rubbing down with an emery strip, sweating like you know what, mumbling away to myself, the wife has left the house to leave me to it. I'm twisted sitting on the cooker, my legs & knees are in agony by this time, finally I get one on....yippeeeeeee I then manage the other side. Bloody hell, I can't believe it took me two hours to do this.

The last time I went to do that job, the extractor unit was so full of oil it was a serious fire hazard. I chucked it and bought a new one. It was actually so easy to remove and fit, had it been repairable, I would just take the thing out and do the job on the bench