So Own up who doesn't do this?!!!

[pc1966]

It had closed down in the early 2000's just Tesco there in its place!!

Similar in Dundee, now Asda where NCR used to make ATMs, and some diner & carvery plus a builders' merchant on much of the area that used to be Ferranti (industrial lasers and various radar parts).

 

[littlespark]

Similar in Dundee, now Asda where NCR used to make ATMs, and some diner & carvery plus a builders' merchant on much of the area that used to be Ferranti (industrial lasers and various radar parts).

I remember the NCR, didnt they build a new site nearby?
I also remember the ABB site at the far end, next to DC Thompsons.... (beano and dandy printers)

Abertay student uni above a car showroom... before it got moved within the campus.

 

[Mike Johnson]

One particular area where I always say "I landed out in that field"

 

[pc1966]

I remember the NCR, didnt they build a new site nearby?

Yes, they still have a few folks there doing admin, some R&D, and service side of things there.

But the main factory, and several businesses that used to supply stuff to it, has long gone.

I also remember the ABB site at the far end, next to DC Thompsons.... (beano and dandy printers)

That has gone as well, some years back. Now has Lidl, Screwfix, etc on the former estate.

Abertay student uni above a car showroom... before it got moved within the campus.

That was the Peugeot garage. I bought a brand-new 205 there in 1993 as they had really good loan deal, kept it for ~14 years as low mileage and was pretty reliable, though the funky denim seats started to disintegrate in the sun after 5 years or so. Only new car I have ever had!

Was handy location from my former work, but then they moved out to the area around the NCR/Asda site as cheaper but then a major PITA to use them. Think they close or changed allegiance.

 

[R-fur]

Yes, they still have a few folks there doing admin, some R&D, and service side of things there.

But the main factory, and several businesses that used to supply stuff to it, has long gone.

That has gone as well, some years back. Now has Lidl, Screwfix, etc on the former estate.

That was the Peugeot garage. I bought a brand-new 205 there in 1993 as they had really good loan deal, kept it for ~14 years as low mileage and was pretty reliable, though the funky denim seats started to disintegrate in the sun after 5 years or so. Only new car I have ever had!

Was handy location from my former work, but then they moved out to the area around the NCR/Asda site as cheaper but then a major PITA to use them. Think they close or changed allegiance.

I remember the ABB factory when it was in full swing, a couple of years ago the asked me to do some transformer maintenance, when I went to pick up some test kit from them it was down to two guys working out of a rented office, shame

 

[Julie.]

...
I also remember the ABB site at the far end, next to DC Thompsons.... (beano and dandy printers)
...

Would that be Bonor Long?

I remember going up to visit for factory approval/testing of I think it was 3 transformers for Dungeness power station, I think ABB had just taken over or was in the process of doing so, I was up for several days, but merely hotel -> factory - > hotel -> business meal -> hotel x repeat.

First plastic transformers at that rating used/produced anywhere in the world at that time!

I really didn't want to put my name to them!!

 

[pc1966]

Would that be Bonor Long?

Yes, that was it!

I remember going up to visit for factory approval/testing of I think it was 3 transformers for Dungeness power station, I think ABB had just taken over or was in the process of doing so, I was up for several days, but merely hotel -> factory - > hotel -> business meal -> hotel x repeat.

First plastic transformers at that rating used/produced anywhere in the world at that time!

I really didn't want to put my name to them!!

LOL, did they last?

One guy who worked (now retired) in same area as me in my last work place also worked there decades ago, I think on windings for oil-filled transformers.

 

[littlespark]

Yes bonar long. We had a day trip from uni around the factory… would have been ‘99 maybe??

 

[Julie.]

Yes, that was it!

LOL, did they last?

One guy who worked (now retired) in same area as me in my last work place also worked there decades ago, I think on windings for oil-filled transformers.

Think so, I moved on from that consultancy to another for about 4 years before I moved to Scotland in 1999.

One transformer went wrong at Dungeness power station, think it was a minor explosion but it was a totally different one, so sigh of relief at the time!

 

[pc1966]

Think so, I moved on from that consultancy to another for about 4 years before I moved to Scotland in 1999.

One transformer went wrong at Dungeness power station, think it was a minor explosion but it was a totally different one, so sigh of relief at the time!

Not often can you say you had a "sigh of relief" when explosion & nuclear power station are mentioned together!

 

[Moley]

Ah, so it's not just us. One Tx we worked on at Sizewell went bang. Luckily nothing that we had done.

 

[littlespark]

Some of us drive around pointing at pubs saying "Got chucked out of there.... and that one..... "

 

[pirate]

Driving around with my daughter she says "OK, just don't tell me again, ok?"
I say "but it was a really interesting job!"
"no...it wasn't..."
"OK, maybe not..."
How the young have got us sussed!

 

[timhoward]

Driving around with my daughter she says "OK, just don't tell me again, ok?"
I say "but it was a really interesting job!"
"no...it wasn't..."
"OK, maybe not..."
How the young have got us sussed!

My daughter would say that the only interesting jobs are those where I need a scribe or cable puller and she can get paid for helping!
She’s actually getting very good at theory, and likes detecting earthing systems. Completely unprompted she told me there was something wrong at a house with a PME sticker and no sign of a main earth at all. It was a very proud dad moment!

 

[littlespark]

My daughter would say that the only interesting jobs are those where I need a scribe or cable puller and she can get paid for helping!
She’s actually getting very good at theory, and likes detecting earthing systems. Completely unprompted she told me there was something wrong at a house with a PME sticker and no sign of a main earth at all. It was a very proud dad moment!

Lucky you that has offspring that are actually interested in what dad does for a living.

I’ve got one learning linguistics, has her own flat in Aberdeen and can’t change a lightbulb…
Middle one is the arty child who would be happy working in a cafe or supermarket than anything.
Youngest is the musical prodigy… and doesnt like maths or physics!

I get blank looks when I try to explain exactly, to the kWh why they should turn a light off

 

[Intoelectrics]

Not been past many jobs lately but I often have to drive past my old house which I sold back in 2004. I bought the house in 96 it was derelict and I spent many hours and lots of money grafting to get it liveable and then over the years made further improvements. I can't help but look to see what changes have been made and what is still the same.
Not bragging but :

• The garden wall and railings I built still look great
• The driveway I laid...
• The gable end wall...
• The new roof....
• The boundary fence...
• The conservatory...

I make a point of telling/showing any passenger who is in my car as we drive by

I'd love to venture back inside and see what its like internally!

 

[timhoward]

I'd love to venture back inside and see what its like internally!

I know someone who was so curious they pretended to be an interested party when an old property they had lived at came up for sale and got shown around.
They also had to bite their tongue when the estate agent innocently said "Of course this monstrosity of a fitted bookcase needs ripping out" - it was a huge solid oak affair that he'd lovingly built himself!