Archive for the ‘house’ Category

Bug…

Saturday, October 21st, 2006

I had a blog in my blog, it would only display the first 99 images in the database, slight change to code, and problem solved, so if you saw some strange [pic] tags and no photographs, that was the bug!

Whoops….part-time programmers……I’ll take up a day job as a Lumberjack, I’m a lumberjack, and I’m okay….

I’m a lumberjack, and I’m okay …

Saturday, October 21st, 2006

I’m a lumberjack, and I’m okay.
I sleep all night. I work all day.

I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin’
And have buttered scones for tea.

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women’s clothing
And hang around in bars.

I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I’d been a girlie,
Just like my dear Mama (or Papa in later versions)

But only at the weekends! God Bless Monty Python!

Axes
I’ve been working out chopping up firewood and kindling for a few hours today, with my new long and short-handled axes.
Very enjoyable, a friend has just had a Rowan tree cut down, and had some spare logs she need to recycle. Another name for Rowan is Mountain Ash. It is said that rowan wood will increase one’s psychic powers, and its branches were often used in dowsing rods and magical wands. Maybe she shouldn’t have had it cut down! Will it make my fire better!

Firewood
Cut firewood stored to dry in an old coal bunker.

Privay 1
This has been used as the wood shed, it used to be an old outdoor privay, that was purchased by the previous owners from the neighbours. One of few outdoor s**thouses in the UK, that has it’s own Land Registry title! It’s actually quite common, in this area, that neighbours toilets are connected to their neighbours buildings.

Privay 2
Unfortunately, when the extension was built on the house 30 years ago, the neighbours refused to sell it, and hence why only half-an-extension was built on the house.

Consumer Unit Cupboard

Thursday, October 19th, 2006

The consumer unit cupboard in the kitchen hides the following items:-

  1. Incoming electric armoured cable.
  2. 100 Amp fuse. (protects the local substation or transformer from my household electrics!)
  3. Siemens Digital Electricity Meter.
  4. Horstmann Radio Teleswitch – this switches on “day” and “night” rates on Economy 7.
  5. Henley bakelite junction box.
  6. Henley bakelite Earth Leakage Current Breaker. (This actually works, but probably should be in a museum, it also has a patent number on it).
  7. Wylex six fuse consumer unit (fuse box). I’ve replaced all the wired fuses, with Wylex circuit breakers, handy when I’m completing DIY electrics in the house! No longer need to re-wire fuses with fuse wire.
  8. Mem four 15 Amp cartridge fuse consumer unit. (fuse box). This supplies four storage heaters on Economy 7.
  9. Mem single 15 Amp cartridge fuse consumer unit. (fuse box). This supplies one storage heater on Economy 7 – I don’t know which one yet!
  10. A few connectors, earth straps etc

You are probably asking yourself, why I’m detailing such a boring item, a sparky-friend has offered in the future to replace my consumer unit and wanted to know the details of what’s currently in the cupboard, there’s alot in the cupboard. I’m looking to replace all the consumer units and earth leakage current breaker with a modern Dual/Split bus, RCD/MCB MK unit, space permitting, because I cannot move any of the other items without gettting the supplier to move them! I’m also thinking of having a Generator Transfer panel installed, so I can connect my 3.5kW Petrol generator to the house supply, when the power dies, throw the switch, connect my 3.5kW Petrol generator and I’ve got power for the entire house. Just need to work out the Grounds!

Here are the pictures

Fusebox One

Fusebox Two

Fusebox Three
Original larger image

October 2006 Update

Tuesday, October 17th, 2006

The foggy Autumn weather is upon us, we’ve been in the house almost two months, I’ve been busy plumbing in the washing machine and tumble dryer in the garage (burnt out two pneumatic SDS hammer drills!), cutting the lawn – that’s a job with an electric lawn mover, cutting the hedge (still not finished that job with my new Hedgers!, I’ll take a picture of them, thanks to Christopher at Groundscaper for the recommendation), boarding out one of the attics, discovering we had BATS, visit from the BAT Squad, to authorise works in the attic, planting bulbs in the garden, you get the general idea, been a little too busy to take pictures and update the blog.

After a recommendation, I got another roofing company to visit and inspect the roof and chimney stack – and their professional opinion – unless it leaks leave well alone – oh and take some pictures, and compare them in six months time, after the winter so here they are

Roof 14
Front view of The House including the Yellow Peril! (is that racist?) If you look carefully, the house was extended 30 years ago, so part of the roof is only 30 years old (above the garage and bedroom). This roof is felt-lined, different tiles have been used to “join” the roofs together. So there is a “ridge” at the join. The other roof is original, and is not felt lined, “daylight” can be seen in the attic space, it’s very draughty and dirty, where the grain has blown in off the fields, and is full of cobwebs, the Bats are only in the new part of the loft, as they hate draughts and spiders cobwebs.

Roof 1
Front elevation view of roof and chimney stack. Some bulging is evident in the stack, this could be caused by the iron-stays used to secure the pots, these have corroded, and have started to expand, causing the brickwork to bulge. The rear of the stack is worse, as this receives most of the weather. The stack my need rebuilding in the future, after consulation with my neighbour.

Roof 3
Front elevation view of roof and chimney stack.

Roof 15
Front elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 2
Front elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 5
Front elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 4
Front elevation view of roof

Roof 13
Rear view of The House

Roof 6
Rear elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 8
Rear elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 10
Rear elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 11
Rear elevation view of chimney stack

Roof 9
Rear elevation view of roof

A BIG THANK YOU!

Sunday, August 27th, 2006

I would just like to thank the following individuals, who have contributed in the last five months

  • Lindsey’s and my parents for support and encouragement.
  • My Brother Christopher at Groundscaper for help in moving the fish house.
  • Barbara at Langleys for help with Convenyancy and the house purchase.
  • JulieW for the signatures!
  • Paul at JLB Electronics, for help with electrics and building works and survey.
  • Tim at Bargain Cottages, for help with moving the monster tank in the fish house, “don’t I owe you a curry!”
  • Eileen and Janet at Chris Clubley Estate Agents
  • Mick at Hambleton Preservations Services for arranging and managing the required dampwork.
  • IanD, for help with “the survey”
  • KateM’s assistance with the house purchase and boxes!
  • SueG for recommending the plasterer.
  • Lez the plasterer for a fantastic job.
  • Scott at The York Flooring Centre.
  • NickD at A&M Removals.
  • Ian, David, Mike, Simon of “The Last Line of Defence” at City of York Council in providing cover for me, when I’ve not been in the office – Thanks Guys – oh and putting up with a moody sod!
  • and a special thank you to Lindsey!

I’m sure they are others that I’ve not listed above and forgotten, Thank You. (let me know and I’ll include you!)

AT LAST! WE’VE MOVED!

Friday, August 25th, 2006

After several different quotations, I selected a local company to move us. They arrived shortly after 9.00am today in a 7.5 tonne luton van.

Three trips, and 3.30pm, most of our (Andy’s) stuff have been moved. Does that mean I’ve got 21 tonne of stuff! I’m very happy with them, the two van driver and porter, didn’t stop working, even when I bought them lunch, and Lindsey made them tea, and gave them KitKats! They earned there tenner tip each!

Removals 1

Removals 2

Removals 4

Removals 5

Removals 6

The house is in chaos, but BT and my ISP Eclipse have successfully managed to get my telephone and Broadband transferred. I’m further from the telephone exchange, by another 1.5km, so I’m about 3.5km from the exchange, my ADSL Sync is lower than previous, but my throughout is higher! Weird!

Oh, if you know our telephone number it’s not changed! We’ve taken it with us!

Carpet fitted just in time.

Thursday, August 24th, 2006

On the eve of moving house, the carpet fitters finished fitting the carpet at 7.30pm. They eventually arrived at 3.15pm with the carpet, and told me, it would take a couple of hours to fit!

The carpet is a 100% wool, neutral beige, Lindsey thinks the colour is wrong! and I’ve now got to take my shoes off at the front door before walking around, so remember that when visting!

As you can see from the photographs, the fitters left all thier rubbish for me to take to the tip! It looks a bit more homely, despite the rustic look of bare walls!

Landing Carpet
Newly fitted landing carpet.

Lounge Carpet 1
Newly fitted lounge carpet.

Lounge Carpet 2

Lounge Carpet 3

New Stair Carpet
New stair runner.

Carpet removed!

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006

Before the carpet fitters fit the new carpet, I’ve got to remove the old carpet!

Old Carpet Stairs
Old Stair Runner

No Carpet Landing 1
Landing Carpet removed

No Carpet Landing 3
Different view of the landing!

New Painted Ceiling

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006

The carpet fitters arrive tomorrow to fit new carpet to the lounge, stairway and landing, they’ve been difficult to pin down to a day. So hopefully new carpet after tomorrow.

No Carpet Lounge 0
Lounge carpet removed, note new painted ceiling

No Carpet Lounge 1

No Carpet Lounge 3

No Carpet Lounge 2

A few pictures of the other rooms in the house

Monday, August 21st, 2006

Yes, this house we purchased does have other rooms! and by request here are some other pictures. Already cluttered with Andys’ stuff.

Kitchen No.1
The Kitchen

Kitchen No.2
Kitchen – compact and bijou!

Bathroom
Bathroom

Bedroom No.1
Bedroom 1

Bedroom No.2
Bedroom 2

Bedroom No.3
Bedroom 3