Twin Toilets
This story from the BBC is summed up by a related tweet.
Two toilets – 28,000 roubles, Olympic media centre – 1.5bn roubles. Global embarrassment – priceless.
If this is the standard of humour for Sochi 2014, then we’re in for a treat.
My Upside Down Heating System
My heating system is proving a nightmare to get right. On Friday the plumber found that instead of having the normally closed actuators on the valves with an M30 thread, they are normally open ones with an M28 thread.
Obviously, the originals fell of the back of a lorry somewhere in foreign parts, but they are totally incompatible with a modern heating control system. One supplier said that they were probably specially made, so they could charge a fortune for replacements.
The outcome is that there is little or no control of the temperature of the floors in my house. They seem to remain stone cold all the time.
Although, you can get some heat into them at odd times, but I suspect that is because the sun warms the room above the temperature set on the controls. This opens the valve and it gets even hotter, when it should switch the system off.
Was this why I collapsed in the heat and ended up in hospital? The doctors don’t think so, but I’m not going to let the house repeat its attempt to kill me!
The more I find out about this house, the more I come to the conclusion, that the architect had a few good ideas, but was very short on detail and calculations, the house was built by Jerry and he used a heating engineer, who used components with a very dodgy history. But then the name of company who developed the site was called Back Street Developments. They seem to have taken the money from those who bought the houses and run, as there is no trace of the company or an NHBRC Warranty.
I’m going to change the manifolds and actuators to the standard that every other system uses.
Another Advantage Of My New Plumbing
I’ve just read the meter readings for the switchover to Ovo.
Before the new plumbing was installed, the electricity meter was half hidden behind the washing machine and to be read properly needed a step ladder.
Now I just walk into the cupboard, switch the light on and read the meter at eye level.
How did Jerry manage to get so many things wrong?
The readings I’ve submitted are 33235 and 0778257 for electricity and gas respectively.
Incidentally, this supplier changeover seems to be taking forever. I assume this has been designed into the system, to discourage people from changing. After all, if you could change instantly, that would drive prices down. I said why here.
I’ve Finally Got A Washing Machine In A Convenient Place
Ever since I’ve lived in this house, the washing machine has been perched on a crude shelf beside the boiler. You can get a glimpse of the installation here. It was impossible to get anything in or out of it without giving yourself a bang on the head or getting your hand trapped in the cupboard door.
So now the washing machine is in the garage and my excellent plumber has threaded the pipework through the floor.
Note the Sanivite to pump the water away. What surprised me about this device, was that it will pump grey water five metres vertically and fifty metres horizontally. So it might be ideal, if you want to put a sink in the shed at the bottom of the garden! Other devices from the same company, will cope with toilets!
One good thing was that the plumber found that the infamous Jerry had installed the underfloor heating correctly.
Obviously, I do have a scar in the tiling after the installation, but when the hall is finished, it will be carpeted.
My New Boiler And Control System
For the first time since I’ve lived in this house, the central heating system is properly under control.
Even if it isn’t quite finished yet. But at least the temperature seems to stay at a pleasant enough 21°C.
I’m certainly feeling better now that its killer instinct has been removed.
I’m also moving the washing machine a more easily accessible position, in the garage.
Handyman On A Bike
I saw this bike chained to a lamp-post by Haggerston station.
Handyman On A Bike
It’s an idea of which I very much approve. I wish Green Workforce the best of luck.
Crazy Practical Plumbing
I took this picture on the pedestrian bridge over Paddington station.
Crazy Practical Plumbing
It’s amazing what you can do with flexible rubber hose and a couple of jubilee clips! But then you’ve got to make sure the rain from the roof, goes down the drain and not where people walk.
This is an example of the sort of design I like! It’s clever, stylish, practical and above all affordable!
This Is Getting Beyond A Joke
After trying to boil me last year, this house is now trying to freeze me to death. I can just about get the heat up to 18.5°C, by having the boiler on full and controlling the valves manually upstairs.
As to having a bath, that is impossible. As we decided to take it out last week. But only on condition, I had a working shower. Guess what both showers are not working. Now they have done this before, so I suspect that could be down to the cold weather too! I just tried the shower again and took this picture.
My Stone-Cold Leaking Shower
Note how the water is leaking everywhere. The water was absolutely stone cold.
I suppose the shower isn’t too important, as I know that I can get one at my physio tomorrow.
But what did I do to deserve to be frozen to death? Or am I drowning, as my nose just never stops running with this rhinitis? But then, I had this chronic rhinitis for some years as a child, so I know despite it’s worst intents, it doesn’t appear to be fatal.
In some ways the worst pain I have is in my left humerus, where the school bully broke it. But that isn’t at all funny.
I suppose I could always move to somewhere like Mali, where I’m told it’s a bit warmer.
A Proper Bath
Today, I had my first proper bath since I had my stroke. It was deep and I was able to dip my head under the water to wash my hair. I’ve never been brave enough to do it since I’ve moved. The previous bath was so dangerous, that one slip and I might have been a goner.
Now that bath is a Christmas present!
I was also able to get out of the bath and successfully take my INR. It’ll be interesting to see if the value changes after all those sprouts. Hopefully, I won’t have this guy‘s problem.
I also took the INR from my left hand, which is only the second time, I’ve done that! Perhaps the hand is getting better?
A First Proper Bath In Ages
I had a proper bath tonight.
A First Proper Bath In Ages
The bath may not be finished and the whirlpool bits aren’t connected, but it was nice to lie in warm water for half-an-hour or so.
I feel properly clean and refreshed.
Hopefully, it will be tiled in and finished in a couple of weeks.
But at least itb was safe and the plumbing worked as it should.
The Anonymous Widower 