Simon Wright
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- Suffolk, England
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New set of Agony Uncle responses
- Thread starter Simon Wright
- Start date
Penners
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- Suffolk, England
Good old Uncle. What agonies we would all suffer without him!
Some good ones there. I wonder how many people read that column before asking questions on the forum. AU's responses answer a lot of common questions.
Some good ones there. I wonder how many people read that column before asking questions on the forum. AU's responses answer a lot of common questions.
JoceAndChris
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- Lincolnshire
It makes for fascinating and useful reading, thankyou. Nice to see that the forum is recommended regarding limecrete floors.
What amazes me is how concise people are, how do they do it? But in general it's best to give more detail about a problem, so many of the Agony Uncle's replies begin with "it's not really clear...".
What amazes me is how concise people are, how do they do it? But in general it's best to give more detail about a problem, so many of the Agony Uncle's replies begin with "it's not really clear...".
Penners
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- Suffolk, England
But isn't that the nub of period property repair work? Very little is clear when you start a job, and when you've finished it, you've invariably been to places and done things that you never foresaw.
A faulty plug socket turns out to result from a broken cable which has been damaged where it passes through a crumbling beam, which is damp due to cracked rendering and a leaky gutter, which has pulled away from the fascia board that is rotten because of a broken roof tile.
A faulty plug socket turns out to result from a broken cable which has been damaged where it passes through a crumbling beam, which is damp due to cracked rendering and a leaky gutter, which has pulled away from the fascia board that is rotten because of a broken roof tile.
JoceAndChris
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- Lincolnshire
:lol:
A brilliant summary of what it's like trying to deal with the interconnected problems of an old house!
A brilliant summary of what it's like trying to deal with the interconnected problems of an old house!
Gareth Hughes
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- In the wilds of East Anglia
JoceAndChris said::lol:
A brilliant summary of what it's like trying to deal with the interconnected problems of an old house!
Possibly time to post this again then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOA_SUKEZRE
JoceAndChris
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- Lincolnshire
I think that's my favourite song... it really makes you feel you aren't alone! Thanks for posting it.
Stephen
Member
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- Bishop's Stortford, Herts
I admint I do struggle sometimes to know what on earth they are asking!
Some suggested 'rules' might be:
1 All those asking questions of Agony Uncle should have first looked at and considered postings on this Discussion Forum.
2 Those posing questions should remember that Uncle does not have powers of ESP, has never seen the property in question and without a reasonable description has no hope of really understanding what the problem is.
3 English as we know it should be used - no text speak or shorthand.
4 Make no assumptions as to what can be understood from your question.
5 Uncle does not have a crystal ball and cannot give any realistic assessment (and certianly no guarantees) as to what might happen in future - the best one can hope is that a series of steps to be taken will be outlined so that the questionner can investigate for themselves with or without professional input.
6 Do not pose a question that needs an immediate or urgent answer (the rest of you do not see the ones that do not appear - I can tell you that some want an answer the next day!!) - usually the Agony Uncle stuff is done every one to two months.
7 Uncle is NOT a lawyer and cannot get involved in legal matters.
8 Uncle is NOT going to undertake valuations.
Some suggested 'rules' might be:
1 All those asking questions of Agony Uncle should have first looked at and considered postings on this Discussion Forum.
2 Those posing questions should remember that Uncle does not have powers of ESP, has never seen the property in question and without a reasonable description has no hope of really understanding what the problem is.
3 English as we know it should be used - no text speak or shorthand.
4 Make no assumptions as to what can be understood from your question.
5 Uncle does not have a crystal ball and cannot give any realistic assessment (and certianly no guarantees) as to what might happen in future - the best one can hope is that a series of steps to be taken will be outlined so that the questionner can investigate for themselves with or without professional input.
6 Do not pose a question that needs an immediate or urgent answer (the rest of you do not see the ones that do not appear - I can tell you that some want an answer the next day!!) - usually the Agony Uncle stuff is done every one to two months.
7 Uncle is NOT a lawyer and cannot get involved in legal matters.
8 Uncle is NOT going to undertake valuations.
Penners
Member
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- Suffolk, England
Stephen - don't you think it would be a good plan for those "Dos and Don'ts" to appear on Uncle's page of the website, so that applicants read them before they confide their agonies?
Please answer within the next three minutes. :wink:
Please answer within the next three minutes. :wink:
FamilyWiggs
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- Flintshire, N Wales.
Stephen,
Should I or shouldn't I?
Should I or shouldn't I?
Penners
Member
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- Suffolk, England
I think I can answer that.FamilyWiggs said:Stephen,
Should I or shouldn't I?
You should, provided you have the relevant consents. If you haven't then you risk a slapped face and a court case.