Flyfisher
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One of my favourite Private Eye cartoons . . .
- Thread starter MatthewC
- Start date
Feltwell
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My grump is that bits of my body are increasingly deciding to give up at inconvenient times (*).
Today's bit to decide to pack up is my right knee. Went to bed last night with a fully functioning knee, mysteriously during the night it's decided to hurt like hell if flexed or if any weight is put on it.
(*) No, not that inconvenient!
Today's bit to decide to pack up is my right knee. Went to bed last night with a fully functioning knee, mysteriously during the night it's decided to hurt like hell if flexed or if any weight is put on it.
(*) No, not that inconvenient!
Flyfisher
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Apparently there is something called 'infectious arthritis' as I discovered after suffering the same-sounding condition a few years ago. I'd had no injury to my knee but awoke to it being somewhat swollen and very painful to bend although oddly not too painful when bearing weight as long as I didn't bend it. After a couple of days a visit to the doctor informed me about 'infectious arthritis' as a possibility in the absence of any other obvious reasons. Apparently the only certain way to diagnose the condition is to analyse a sample of the fluid in the knee joint but this is rarely done unless the condition persists. I was prescribed Naproxen for the swelling and some rest, which was all that was needed and it cleared up within a few days never to return - to date, at least - so I guess I'll never be sure what it was.
I'm sure I don't need to spell out a disclaimer because everyone knows (or should) not to rely on medical advice from the internet, but I hope it clears up soon.
I'm sure I don't need to spell out a disclaimer because everyone knows (or should) not to rely on medical advice from the internet, but I hope it clears up soon.
Feltwell
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Not heard of that one before, thank you FF. Ibuprofen has definitely helped, Naproxen was my next step! Can't be anything serious, I've had lots of X-Rays of my legs recently (waiting on an op - will be on crutches for at least 3 months next year and lots of physio - looking forward to that one, I don't think!)
Middle age is definitely making bits that didn't use to give me any trouble play up!
Middle age is definitely making bits that didn't use to give me any trouble play up!
Zebra
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Cheap taps.
Not really a period grump, but I fitted a new bathroom in 2015 - OK I didn't use top of the range fittings and fixtures - but the white gloss cabinet doors are now peeling and cracking, and the taps leak, leaving limescale stains on the basin and bath. I might have a go at painting the doors - what have I got to lose - but new taps aren't cheap!
Of course, having pulled all the silicone off from around the bath and basin and removed the taps, making the only bathroom virtually unusable, I seem to have now got distracted.......it's been about three weeks now............
Not really a period grump, but I fitted a new bathroom in 2015 - OK I didn't use top of the range fittings and fixtures - but the white gloss cabinet doors are now peeling and cracking, and the taps leak, leaving limescale stains on the basin and bath. I might have a go at painting the doors - what have I got to lose - but new taps aren't cheap!
Of course, having pulled all the silicone off from around the bath and basin and removed the taps, making the only bathroom virtually unusable, I seem to have now got distracted.......it's been about three weeks now............
Feltwell
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Can I add to Zebra's bathroom grump, wire bathroom shelves that rust :evil: Fitted a few of them a while ago, had to drill the tiles to fit them, they weren't even cheap - every one has rusted.
LadyArowana
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Feltwell said:
Just send them off to be re chrome plated, it’ll only be £££ and you can use the same holes :lol: Seriously though I feel your pain, I have a radiator which developed nastiness not long after warranty expired.
When your father asks you to take a look at his woodburner, it needs some new parts as it is forty years old, and you realise the Norwegian manufactured stove in question is a Trolla (cheap, low quality and went bust in 1980, zero parts available) not a Jotul...
Cue custom fabrication, due to sentimental attachment, aaarghhhhhhh
Cue custom fabrication, due to sentimental attachment, aaarghhhhhhh
Needed to replace the float valve on my toilet and decided it was a good time to fix a minor weep around the waste pipe. Drained the cistern, scooped out as much water from the U bend as I could and pulled the pan out. The floorboards underneath were full of woodworm holes and didn't look too good. Being inquisitive and wondering how sound the boards were, I gave one a poke with a finger. The board crumbled under slight pressure and left a gaping hole :shock:
A Sunday afternoon is not a good time to be wanting timber to repair an old floor. Just as well I had a couple of short bits that could be pressed in to service until I get round to revamping the bathroom.
A Sunday afternoon is not a good time to be wanting timber to repair an old floor. Just as well I had a couple of short bits that could be pressed in to service until I get round to revamping the bathroom.
Feltwell
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It has been very quiet on here this week hasn't it?
Anyhow, my grump is having to spend all last weekend & today fitting a very non-period CCTV system to Feltwell Towers, necessitating not only holes through the walls but lots of furniture moving, carpet & floorboard lifting in order to run the cables.
Mrs F runs the "sin bin" at the local school, where the badly misbehaving kids get sent (there is a milder first stage for the mildly misbehaving little darlings). Anyway, generally the kids concerned - deprived of their usual audience and with threat of greater punishment, parents being hauled in etc - usually knuckle down and "do their time" and are polite, as they know that's the quickest way to be released back into the main school.
1 particular little darling though seems to have taken an intense dislike to Mrs F, and we know that he knows where we live, we've seen him hanging around outside. My car had a window smashed whilst parked on the road outside a few weeks ago - it happened at 4am, could have been a coincidence. But then 2 weeks ago we had someone throw a stone at our dining room window, smashing it. This resulted in one very upset Mrs F, who feels reassured now we have CCTV to spot any repeat offence (but more importantly to hopefully stop it from happening in the first place).
School have dealt with little darling as best they can, given lack of evidence - we think they've got through to him actually, the threat of being kicked out into a "special school" for really troublesome kids seems to have done the trick.
All sounds very dramatic but to give it context - we've been here 13 years and the worst previous incident was our wheelie bin being pushed over outside one night. During this time Mrs F has dealt with an awful lot of little darlings.
Anyhow, my grump is having to spend all last weekend & today fitting a very non-period CCTV system to Feltwell Towers, necessitating not only holes through the walls but lots of furniture moving, carpet & floorboard lifting in order to run the cables.
Mrs F runs the "sin bin" at the local school, where the badly misbehaving kids get sent (there is a milder first stage for the mildly misbehaving little darlings). Anyway, generally the kids concerned - deprived of their usual audience and with threat of greater punishment, parents being hauled in etc - usually knuckle down and "do their time" and are polite, as they know that's the quickest way to be released back into the main school.
1 particular little darling though seems to have taken an intense dislike to Mrs F, and we know that he knows where we live, we've seen him hanging around outside. My car had a window smashed whilst parked on the road outside a few weeks ago - it happened at 4am, could have been a coincidence. But then 2 weeks ago we had someone throw a stone at our dining room window, smashing it. This resulted in one very upset Mrs F, who feels reassured now we have CCTV to spot any repeat offence (but more importantly to hopefully stop it from happening in the first place).
School have dealt with little darling as best they can, given lack of evidence - we think they've got through to him actually, the threat of being kicked out into a "special school" for really troublesome kids seems to have done the trick.
All sounds very dramatic but to give it context - we've been here 13 years and the worst previous incident was our wheelie bin being pushed over outside one night. During this time Mrs F has dealt with an awful lot of little darlings.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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I sent all my paperwork off to building regs for the change of use sign off today. Energy efficiency calculation guy got into a tizz with all the different wall constructions and random changes of level, then got really confused with the hidden room that isn't a room. I think they do new builds more often. After 6 weeks of pushing he sent me something seemingly based on my own accurately prepared dimensions. That was a C rating. Then I asked for an energy performance certificate, but that's something he gets audited on and I think I sent him mad. He asked for drawings for 7 addidional sections which got him completely muddled. I'm a D rating now, only because the dimensions are now a bit off the wall. I don't have the heart to try again.
Now a D rating is not really enough for building regs sign off, but he left all the headings in green from the earlier attempt which I think should help a lot as nobody likes red headings. I've also driven building regs mad so fingers crossed I might get out of this hell.
Now a D rating is not really enough for building regs sign off, but he left all the headings in green from the earlier attempt which I think should help a lot as nobody likes red headings. I've also driven building regs mad so fingers crossed I might get out of this hell.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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I got a letter through the post. It was from a developer who had recognised the development opportunity of my house. The letter had a knock it down and build some new executive homes feeling to it.
I am insulted. I thought I was mostly finished outside with the gleaming limewash and 1920s timbers painted in linseed. Bit of new lead on the bay windows will finish it off nicely. I admit to a 1950s extension which is still a bit scruffy but I'm planning to paint that a different colour so I can pretend it belongs to the neighbours. I'm doing beauty here and my house is my art!
Hopefully building regs will go well and I won't regret throwing the letter in the bin.
I am insulted. I thought I was mostly finished outside with the gleaming limewash and 1920s timbers painted in linseed. Bit of new lead on the bay windows will finish it off nicely. I admit to a 1950s extension which is still a bit scruffy but I'm planning to paint that a different colour so I can pretend it belongs to the neighbours. I'm doing beauty here and my house is my art!
Hopefully building regs will go well and I won't regret throwing the letter in the bin.
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Flyfisher
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You could try Ingilby in Sudbury, a small multi-generation family business. They definitely used to make it but told me they haven’t done so for quite a while now. I believe it’s legal for use in grade 1 listed buildings in certain circumstances.
Edit: seems it’s also allowed for G2* properties as well, although it’s quite a bureaucratic palaver according to this info:
https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/building-materials-for-historic-buildings/sourcing-lead-paint/
Edit: seems it’s also allowed for G2* properties as well, although it’s quite a bureaucratic palaver according to this info:
https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/building-materials-for-historic-buildings/sourcing-lead-paint/
Craig89
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TheForge said:
Im assuming malcolm means new lead for the roof and not lead paint.
Your floor looks fantastic. Newly laid or restoring?
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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Craig89 said:
Restoring - it is pitch pine from around 1920 that had been hidden under a carpet for years. I replaced about a quarter of the blocks, mostly the edges which were laid all the way up to the walls. Here is a before photo:
Feltwell
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malcolm said:
Well, it looks like you're doing a cracking job! Does the varying direction of grain cause a problem when sanding with a pram sander? That will look excellent when finished.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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I've got a sppecialist in to do it so haven't researched the details. He's doing a nice job. He seems to be mostly going up and down in the direction of the sanding machine, 45 degrees to the grain on each block.Feltwell said:
Flyfisher
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Craig89 said:
Really? Roofing lead is available pretty much everywhere. I’d be surprised if anyone found it hard to find.