Good Morning Thread - Come say good morning, tell us what you've got on today. :)

We have this thread on TilersForums.com and it's just been restarted because the old thread had 20,000 replies and 500,000 views. And there were 700 pages. Started to lag a bit on slow connections.

I think we had a bash of this before, but I can't find the thread, so thought I'd start another one off.

If you have time in the mornings, come post in the thread before you head off to work, let us know what you've got on and what the weather is like in your area etc. Anything at all is fine.

Posts and likes get counted towards your total stats in this thread.

So GOOOD MORNING PEOPLE - WEATHER IS NICE TODAY IN STOKE. I'M THANKFUL IT'S FRIDAY, HAD A RUBBISH WEEK. THANK GOD IT'S OVER.

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[littlespark]

Just back from Spain again and this morning I have been installing the app for the CCTV camera I installed there last week. Fortunately, no problems at security despite the kit I was carrying on the outward trip.
Camera is working fine, and is controlled by app on my phone, but downloading the version for PC and laptop allows a much bigger picture, however any tweaks to the system need to be done on the phone. Now looking at the scene over there and it's a lovely, sunny day...unlike here.
Had to buy some trunking over there, for obvious reasons, and while it was cheap it was of an odd design where the lid fits fully over the base, so when you silicone it to fill the gap, you stick the lid to the wall...don't expect to take it off again but mildly annoying

you sure you didnt fit the trunking upside down?

 

[pirate]

Yes, I'm sure! It's Italian made, with the base pre-drilled for fixing screws, but there are no holes at the ends of each section, they start 100mm in, so I had to drill extra holes. I had an 8m run of cable to install. There was a shorter, 2.5m route but on that wall there were sockets on the inside of the wall and I doubt they used prescribed zones, so I wasn't taking the risk of drilling through the cables. On the other route, the sockets are on an internal wall so that was the final decision, especially as there was already a cable drilled through for my WiFi dish and I drilled through beside that. As an aside, I used a big Wago adaptable box to mount the camera onto, which conceals all the connections and allows for adjustment of the camera angle etc. I think it's called an "A" box...it comes with a carrier into which 222 series connectors clip, supplied with the box as were various rubber bungs and glands but not weatherproof, so I didn't use any of that extra kit. However, I do like the box and will be using again. The carrier can be fitted in 2 positions, or you can fit 2 carriers, so plenty of connections can be made. Just pity they didn't supply a proper gland as well.

 

[Moley]

Today is my last full day at our chalet in Somerset. I've been using up my holidays as we can't carry them over to next year. I've fed the ducks, put fat balls in the feeder and seed in the bird house. I'm currently watching a squirrel eating all the seed. Normally I would chase them off but even squirrels have to eat. And they are cute.
Monday is back to normal. Drive from S Wales to Essex, do my days work then up to Spalding for the night. Oh well......

 

[Moley]

Well, today I'm at Spalding power station. It's cold. F*****g cold. There was a light splattering of snow on the van this morning. Let's get the job done and leg it to tonights hotel in Sheffield.

 

[Moley]

It's a cold morning in Sheffield. My job today should be a quickie. I should be out of here by 10 and that's including a catch up chat with the site guy. I'm off to Runcorn tonight. As I can't check in until 3pm it looks like a few hours of wandering aimlessly around Meadowhall shopping center. There's only 1 place I like going to there, a nice little tool shop. I wonder what screwdrivers I'll buy today. It always seems to be screwdrivers.

An update. Left site at 10.15. Went to Meadowhall. Got bored senseless but bought a 10 piece riffler file set, a folding funnel and, yes, a set of Torx driver bits. Off to Runcorn now.

 

[littlespark]

It’s almost that time of year…. When you can’t tell the difference between a dogs rear end or East 17 singing “stay another day”

 

[Moley]

Well, I won't be going anywhere today. Every road leading to where I live is flooded.

 

[James]

Well, I won't be going anywhere today. Every road leading to where I live is flooded.

Time to put a roast in the oven and crack open a good bottle of red!?

 

[brianmoooore]

Time to put a roast in the oven and crack open a good bottle of red!?

Just watched the F1, and exactly what I intend to do next.

 

[Moley]

Bugger all in to cook and I don't drink alcohol so that idea is out. I was planning on going to Sainsburys to get something in for dinner but it looks like it'll be a trawl through the freezer now

 

[Moley]

Just watched the F1, and exactly what I intend to do next.

Haven't seen it yet. Will be watching it on C4 in about an hours time.

 

[littlespark]

Last night was the last high school performance of Chicago. My youngest was in it, but a minor role this time.
She came in at 1am after the after party a little bit too giggly… I suspect a boy was involved.

All the snow around us has melted… relatively balmy 9 degrees out, but I’m spending my afternoon teaching kids how to ice skate.
I bet you didn’t see that coming.

Got my amd2 course tomorrow to renew my gold card. Half day in college, 2 weeks home online study, then exam in 2 weeks time.

 

[littlespark]

Phone rang at half 7 this morning…. Farm I’ve worked at before. Could I have a look at something, tractor caught the gatepost into one of the sheds……
Pulled a great gouge out the woodwork, and sheared an old bit of imperial conduit going down to a switch screwed to the woodwork mentioned.

It was on my way to today’s job, so I’d pop in, have a look, make sure it’s safe.

I’ve collected up a few bits during today to make a repair. Will replace with SWA, new switch. Just had to find some imperial to metric adaptors.
Will go back tomorrow morning.

 

[brianmoooore]

Phone rang at half 7 this morning…. Farm I’ve worked at before. Could I have a look at something, tractor caught the gatepost into one of the sheds……
Pulled a great gouge out the woodwork, and sheared an old bit of imperial conduit going down to a switch screwed to the woodwork mentioned.

It was on my way to today’s job, so I’d pop in, have a look, make sure it’s safe.

I’ve collected up a few bits during today to make a repair. Will replace with SWA, new switch. Just had to find some imperial to metric adaptors.
Will go back tomorrow morning.

Great! Up to your knees in the brown stuff and freezing cold. Glad I've given such pleasures up now.

 

[littlespark]

Great! Up to your knees in the brown stuff and freezing cold. Glad I've given such pleasures up now.

Yeah… not my favourite…. But I can charge it as a callout as I’m having to postpone planned jobs to get this done before they move the cattle in on Thursday.

 

[Moley]

Bit late in the day but spent the morning catching up on pointless online training courses to keep the company happy. Why do I need to do a course on keeping my desk and computer screen clear? When do I work at a desk? Oh well, if it keeps them off my back.
This afternoon I saved my sister a few hundred quid. Her washing machine had died and she was going to order a new one. Gave it a check over, found worn brushes so managed to squeeze a bit more out of them, put it back together and off it went. New brushes due tomorrow.

 

[Moley]

A little update. I ordered the new brushes for next day delivery. They arrived around 4pm. Okay, next day but too late to start work. Went over there this afternoon. Got the motor out and the plastic brush holders are different to what was in the motor even though the web site said definitely compatible. Luckily the brass brush carrier inside was the same so after a bit of swapping around the motor went back in. One spin cycle later the machine gets shoved back into it's hole (fitted washing machine), door screwed on and one happy sister. And to think as I'm on standby with work I'm still getting paid by my employers to fix my sisters washing machine

 

[littlespark]

Well, today I had to visit The Dark Side…. A strange wasteland, populated by unknown creatures… A damp, dark hellhole, where only the damned may enter…..

Yep, I logged onto the plumbers forum…..

 

[Mike Johnson]

Well, today I had to visit The Dark Side…. A strange wasteland, populated by unknown creatures… A damp, dark hellhole, where only the damned may enter…..

Yep, I logged onto the plumbers forum…..

How lonely where you, it seems to be moribund now days.

 

[James]

Well, today I had to visit The Dark Side…. A strange wasteland, populated by unknown creatures… A damp, dark hellhole, where only the damned may enter…..

Yep, I logged onto the plumbers forum…..

So, are you able to confirm that all the assumptions are wrong

and in fact there are some plumbers out there with intelligence that goes above and beyond page 3, builders Tea and a bacon sandwich?

 

[brianmoooore]

So, are you able to confirm that all the assumptions are wrong

and in fact there are some plumbers out there with intelligence that goes above and beyond page 3, builders Tea and a bacon sandwich?

In all my working life, I only came across one, but unfortunately, in spite of his excellent designs, he was unable to connect more than about 70% of his pipework joints with sufficient skill to ensure they didn't leak. We all used to put on waterproof coats and welly boots when he turned the stopcock on for the first time. He'd shout "water on" and a few seconds later we'd all shout back "WATER OFF!"

 

[littlespark]

How is everyone with this wind problem?

Had a few trees down here, and driving the van is a bit shaky… but nothing serious.

we shouldn’t get it being east coast, but I think wales is getting battered.
Good luck anybody down that way.

I will be postponing ladder work to put up my outside decorations until after the weekend.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Anything above a Madras cause's my wind problem, but not enough to blow down trees.

 

[Moley]

It's definitely a 'bit breezy' in my part of Wales. Nothing too serious though. Having said that I did let my son walk the dog this morning just to stay out of the rain.

 

[brianmoooore]

Just inside the 'red' area here. Received our first government emergency alert on our phones last night.
Winds have been pretty bad, and from an unusual direction which we are much more exposed to, but I haven't seen any damage as yet. Should be just about past the peak now, but short electricity drop outs have just started happening for for the first time.
Decamped to one of my holiday cottages last light, because I didn't fancy sleeping close to a chimney stack that's near my own bedroom.

 

[Moley]

My daughter and her boyfriend both had alerts on their phones but no one else in the house did so not sure how that works.

 

[Mike Johnson]

My daughter and her boyfriend both had alerts on their phones but no one else in the house did so not sure how that works.

The consider you expendable.

 

[Moley]

Todays 'job' is a drive to our stores, about 1/2hr away, to pick up some equipment then a 4 hour drive to Widnes. Looks like I'm spending a week in the workshop doing some maintenance on a spare transformer and some switchgear. Don't know what yet but it's been suggested it's some Genie Evo equipment.

 

[Moley]

Quiet day so far. Drained the oil out of a transformer, flushed it and refilled. It's only a little one (1000 kVa) so that didn't take long. I've even had time to watch the F1 highlights. Little bit more to do then back to the hotel.

 

[littlespark]

Was at college this morning updating 18th to 2nd amdt
C&G 60 question mulitichoice exam over 2 hours.

57/60

95%


Must do better.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Do you know what three question you got wrong?

 

[littlespark]

Do you know what three question you got wrong?

No… just the sections that the questions are included in… and the sections aren’t of equal weight. Ie, number of questions from each of 8 sections are different.

Looks like I got 1 wrong in
“ how to assess the general characteristics of electrical installation”
“ understand requirements of protection for safety for electrical installations”
“ understand requirements of special installation or locations as identified in BS7671”

That last one…. I had one Q about bathroom zones… which if I got wrong, I’d chuck my tools away…. And 3 Qs about medical locations…. 3?!!

 

[littlespark]

Boy George went to a pet shop and bought a hyperactive lizard.

He found it far too excitable…. So he took it back and got a calmer, calmer, calmer, calmer, calmer chameleon.

 

[littlespark]

Wednesday night was the high school Christmas concert where youngest was tromboning in the band and a little background singing.

Basically a showcase of all the musical talent from the pupils, and what instruments the school teaches.

There were singers, piano, guitar.... the brass band.... and something they havent taught there since before covid....

Bagpipes.



For those of you have have never heard a bagpipe.... They are loud.... very loud.... and designed to be played outside.... Edinburgh Tattoo.... Lone piper on the castle at new year... things like that....

As a Scotsman, I actually like the noise.... but.....



Not in an enclosed school hall



"what could be worse than listening to bagpipes?" I might hear you ask.....

Well, i'll tell you


5 bagpipe players..... in a relatively small space..... and to top it off.... 5 bagpipe players that are still learning! and not playing very well

I swear i could see the pain on some of the choirs faces as their eardrums eventually gave in.

 

[Moley]

This may seem strange coming from a Welsh man but I would love to learn the bagpipes. I got as far as buying a set of children's pipes to practice on but they are too small. Maybe one day......

 

[brianmoooore]

Finished cleaning a holiday flat this morning in less time than expected, so said to the missus, "fancy going down to the pub for a nice little cosy lunch for two?"
Off we went, got inside the door, and were greeted with " Sarah (our daughter) didn't say you were coming as well." Turns out our daughter and two grandchildren had booked a table for five minutes time, whereupon they walked in the door.
My nice little intimate lunch turned into a rowdy family party, and guess who ended up footing the bill for the whole thing.

 

[littlespark]

Pure coincidence? A nice surprise or a massive dent on the wallet?


Hope everyone has a good new year…. 2024 can basically do one as far as I’m concerned.

We’ve started getting the messages from our worldwide family. Wife’s brother and his family in New Zealand, and at 3pm, a message from our daughter in S. Korea.


2025;

5 years since the country completely locked down for Covid.

10 years since Madonna falls off stage at The Brit Awards.

25 years since the Millennium…. And the panic that computers were going to just shut down.

50 years since Microsoft was founded.

 

[westward10]

Took all the Christmas decorations down this morning it's over as far as we are concerned. Don't get all this jazz over New Year your life tomorrow will be no different than today and resolutions wind me up no end, if you want to give something up or change something then do it.

 

[brianmoooore]

Pure coincidence?

Totally

A nice surprise

Sort of, but it's not like we don't see them often. Had them all day on the 25th.

a massive dent on the wallet?

Very! About three times what was intended.

 

[Mike Johnson]

After the year I have had its nice to draw the line under it and look forward to what must be a better year, if I can get my fitness back I am going to book a fishing trip to Iceland with Sportquest on the West Ranga for Salmon, already started tying fly's and ordering some bits and bobs to hopefully enhance the trip.