What have you been doing today?

[crystal ball]

Having a text war of words with SIL, we are away for few nights for our ruby anniversary, so ask SIL to arrange cover for getting MIL to bed & some meals, she flatly refused to help (as expected) so looks like will have to get carers in at some cost, going to try the Monsal Trail in Peak district, bikes in the van, hotel booked 3 nights half board with packed lunches, mid £500

 

[ellal]

Although I don't smoke (and have no intention of ever doing so), buying a decent lighter is something I've often fancied doing....

It's one of those things that a non - smoker is unlikely to have, but is sometimes the only tool for the job. Which leaves you in a pickle.....

Non smoker also, and not a plumber...

But you can't beat a Rothy for lighting fires!

 

[Mottie]

Well, I was going to have a rest today. Loaded the dog I the car and was about to go out for a dog walk and possibly lunch with my wife. Started the car up, she was locking up, put the alarm on and.....it wouldn’t set. She had to go and take the dog on her own and I got my tools out and started first at the magnetic door contact switch and oh joy, I found a wire had snapped! I had juuust enough cable to trim off and reconnect. I was fearing that I’d have to take the floor back up!

 

[EddieM]

I play tennis with a couple of IT bods who contract at BAE in Barrow, they work four days and have along weekend at home, BAE are recruiting heavily at the moment although it can take a few months to clear security

Interestingly when I applied for a job with ahem the MoD, ahem. It took 6 months for them to come back with an interview offer (Didn't get it!) The form filling is unbelievable.

 

[crystal ball]

I went through process a couple of years ago, loads of on line forms pre interview the another load mainly clearances & signing the OSA, I only stayed two weeks

 

[Mottie]

Christ, I’ve done a full 12 hour day today working on my floor. What a faff - I didn’t want trim rings or oversize holes where the rad pipes are coming through the floor so that involved draining down the whole system to remove the nuts and olives from the pipes. I was then able to drill a 15mm hole in the correct position on the board and slip it over the pipe. Fitted new lockshield valves while I was at it. I’ve still got to refill the heating system but that can wait for a while - I’m just using the immersion for hot water at the moment. Still, I’m pleased with my results and it looks nice and neat. Might as well take my time and do the best I can - it’s never going to be done again! I am absolutely knackered and aching all over. I’ll be stiff as a board tomorrow, I just know it!

One very weird thing though - I had a floorboard up in the corner of the room and something moving caught my eye. Thinking it was a mouse, I got my torch and had a look for it under the boards. It wasn’t a mouse but a toad! A fair size toad too! I don’t know how the hell it got there and it’s as dry as a bone under the floor. Anyway, I reached down, took it out and set it free in my garden. Very strange!

 

[conny]

Hope your boards don't split when those pipes expand with hot water running through them.

As for the toad,if he got in before he will possibly get in again. LOL

 

[Mottie]

Hope your boards don't split when those pipes expand with hot water running through them.

As for the toad,if he got in before he will possibly get in again. LOL

I did the same with the previous floor which was stiff laminate and that lasted me nearly 20 years so hopefully this one (which is vinyl and much more flexible) should be okay. Fingers crossed!

I've had the patio doors open all day and was wondering whether Mr Toad hopped in and fell down the hole - there really is no way he could have got in through the air brick, he was way too big for that.

 

[noseall]

Fixed my ancient oscilloscope.
Now to find the signal generator.
Although I think the Avo8 might take a lot of work to get it going again.

I got a valve radio to test & retune/restore.

I bet you could build an Interocitor...?

 

[Mottie]

Finished the flippin' floor, finally! Refilled and bled the heating system, put my tools away in the garage. Skirtings are back on and just need filling and painting - that’s a job for another day though. Mrs Mottie is a happy bunny. For now, I’m just going to rest. It's made me realise that if I had to use my body instead of my brains to earn a living, at this time in my life, I’d be skint!

 

[EddieM]

@Mottie how many sq metres was it?

 

[crystal ball]

Finished the flippin' floor, finally! Refilled and bled the heating system, put my tools away in the garage. Skirtings are back on and just need filling and painting - that’s a job for another day though. Mrs Mottie is a happy bunny. For now, I’m just going to rest. It's made me realise that if I had to use my body instead of my brains to earn a living, at this time in my life, I’d be skint!

I discovered that two years ago when I replaced the fascia & soffits ( bungalow), I have had a hard few days lately pulling in SWAs but nothing compared to stripping off old timber & replacing

 

[Mottie]

@Mottie how many sq metres was it?

Well, I bought 16 boxes of 1.99sq metres and I still have two left over so 28sq meters but I have had the skirtings off, drained the heating system, had the floor up laying Ethernet cables plus I boarded it all out with 9mm ply first. Still, pathetic, I know.

 

[EddieM]

Well, I bought 16 boxes of 1.99sq metres and I still have two left over so 28sq meters but I have had the skirtings off, drained the heating system, had the floor up laying Ethernet cables plus I boarded it all out with 9mm ply first. Still, pathetic, I know.

I dunno, mid sized floor. Was thinking back to when I laid our approx 40 sqm solid maple floor, single planks 50mm x 20mm x 1000mm strips all individually glued and cut... a total PITA.

Anyway, looks good so well done, you'll forget all about it in a month or so.

 

[Mottie]

Well, I've just remembered there is ONE thing more knackering that laying a floor. Looking after Grandchildren! There’s no let up at all, you can’t down tools, have a cuppa and surf the net for 10 minutes. Mrs Mottie has just taken him back, leaving me to clear up the total destruction. Had to disconnect the sofa when he found the controls for the foot rest and when the Amazon driver dropped off my 2 pairs of kitchen tongs, we had a tong fight. I let him win of course!

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