FastFreddy2

Mrs F is keen to remain "unaware" of anything I'm doing with that boiler.... Given his usual "hourly rate", he could be put up in a Premier Inn, fed and watered for a week, worked for 8 hours a day, and we'd still save 50% of the cost of a regular tradesman - plus get a better job. I've told him he has at least two "fans" here, willing to give him work, and possibly a third if he could fit in with "when and how" she wanted the work done. (Woman known to us as 'blondie'.) It's one of the reasons I think he underestimates his attractiveness to the opposite sex. Not maybe as a budding Marlon Brando/James Dean/Daniel Craig figure, but a loyal homebuilder - who isn't broke. (So not someone looking to marry money - and invite the women as a bride.) He couldn't move up here, but I'm fairly certain he'd be kept busy, mixing 'business' with pleasure. I don't suppose he has time to test the water locally, but I'd be amazed if an ad' in his local newspaper and shops, that ran along the line of "Mature and experienced DIY'er looking for paid work - no job too small" didn't have the phone ringing off the hook. I know two women 'of a certain age' that pay people good money to clean their homes, that either don't need cleaning or need very little cleaning. They are buying company and stimulation, because they can afford to. I'm absolutely sure, there is at least one woman out there who would accommodate a private interest in a partner wearing a manly looking heel, if he made her happy in just about every other respect. Why? Because she is happy in just about every other respect.

Today's news .... In the kit I bought I got a lot of useful bits. Two sensors I wasn't expecting to be included. A gasket I'd already bought for the repair initiative (£10). The two 'O' ring seals I wondered/worried about. Also a metal seal with location lugs and rubber core. I've seen something like it before, but can't at this time remember where. (Possibly on the sump of a car - maybe?) Anyway ..... Not wishing to do something stupid like assemble the kit and leave something important out (seal), I contacted the makers this morning by email before visiting the dentist. I had hoped when I returned later in the day, I'd have a response. Nope. This evening I twice rang a Customer Helpline that was no longer used, despite the number being on the makers web site. I rang their Technical Support line, and asked about the email - couldn't be found. They sent me an email that I (at their request) replied to, so it HAD to be delivered to them. They'd told me to include a phone number so they could ring me back. 40 minutes later, I rang them again. (4th attempt, after 2 emails.) The chap I spoke to told me the email team had left 20 minutes before they sent me an email. (???) I explained that may not have been fully the case ..... Although reluctant to deal with my query I explained the problem. His response was "We get a lot of queries over that part." I had to laugh - why didn't they do something about it? Anyway, I was assured it was a surplus part. "Ignore it." Another day lost. Possibly because I don't know everything there is to know about these boilers, or because the world and his friend likes to trip people up? It's like a 'parts boobytrap'. Anyway, I'll be putting things back together tomorrow. Finally.

I have already mentioned his skills, energy and doggedness in concluding works in a timely manner. Were I to threaten her with Puffer, I would put a large financial bet on her welcoming him with open arms. I would equally bet, if it got him here quicker, she would provide the heels for him to wear while he worked here. I assure you (and him), I do not exaggerate.

We humans are at the top of the food chain for a good reason, we are the most adaptable animals on the planet. While I understand your position, I think the 'cold reality' of a failed marriage and loss of the family home is underestimated by Mrs P, and your subsequent success at adapting to new circumstances, underestimated by your good self. A parting of the ways isn't really to anyone's benefit, but two intransigent forces colliding is always likely to have a poor outcome. As Shyheels says; "Inertia is a powerful force!"

I'm sure anything is possible when "needs must". I am after all, used to working with/for people with your grade of "flexibility" .... (As you are aware from recent emailed comms. )

The 'solution' has been subject to several iterations. Originally, there was going to be a 'patch' job. I had to wait for Christmas to pass before I could acquire the two versions of the patch material. That cost me a week. When the gear turned up, I prepared the H/E for a repair, and having a closer inspection realised the H/E was actually on its last legs, and needed to be retired ASAP. At this time, there was still ice outside, and the thought of waiting perhaps three weeks for the revised pipework to be installed, boiler commissioned etc etc, was not at all attractive. Removing what would become redundant pipework while the system was empty seems attractive, going to bed half dressed to stay warm wasn't. I looked at 'used', but I found 'new' for £160 collected from a place very close to Bluewater. The seller was away for the New Year period, so I lost another week sourcing and acquiring the replacement H/E. I've just lost a couple of days trying to get replies from sellers over a new 'burner'. £67 full retail locally, £18 delivered off Ebay. 6 phone calls, 2 emails, and 1 PM today, got me nowhere. Another seller (£19-50 delivered) didn't answer until this evening. I'm going to start reassembly tomorrow evening, as I had to spend half a day doing my civic duty at a police station today, and have (yet another) dental appointment tomorrow. I have a part in the replacement kit that is completely new to me, and I will need to understand where that part belongs, before I do anything. My fear is that when reassembled, the thing won't work anyway. With sub zero temperatures due again at the weekend, further delay would be very very frustrating. Replacing the burner is a 'luxury' I am going to live without. There's nothing wrong with the old one, but I would have preferred new since everything else is.... Ho-hum. Installation of the new boiler is a priority, but I am struggling to work out how I should route the pipework. The boiler is going to a new location. The CH pipework is going to be completely revised. The DHW supply is going to be completely different. There are 10 rooms + garage in my house, with hallway and landings obviously. Only the entrance hallway will not need new pipework, or older pipework removed. It's a major job, that has to be carried out while we live here. Ideally, warm weather with the CH off, and us relying on a hot water cylinder heated by an immersion element for our water would be my preferred situation. I don't know we want to wait that long though. If we need it, the replacement H/E has bought me the time I need, and there's plenty of prep work I can do prior to the swap over. A like for like boiler swap is at worst a two day operation. What I'm doing is a weeks work for two people - in an empty house. Mrs F would be happy to move out for a week if everything was going to be done in a week, except we don't live in an empty house. Work time would at least double with me having to shunt stuff from one room to another, then move it back. I've no idea how often this might happen during the course of the new installation. Frankly, doing it over time is much less disruptive. Plus I get the chance to remedy complete F/U's before commissioning. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that boiler being installed. And how much pleasure I will have removing all the obsolete pipework, even though some of it has been recently replaced by myself. THAT is going to be a great day.

"The dark side calling. Be careful young Skywalker". I had written at some length, and some time ago how I felt this works with partners - at least in my experience. I mean this not just for wearing heels, but regarding any quirky or 'faulty' behaviour. In summary, I suggested we (or our partners) are allowed to do unattractive/unusual stuff provided it isn't what we are all about. If 90% of our relationship brings pleasure, then we might get away with 10% "irritation". (This is a summary, and I use umbrella terms here I didn't use before.) Like you, I have a very good relationship with my partner, and she is okay with my peculiarities. Having known me for 40 years in total, she was made fully aware of my history, almost from Day 1 of our current (21 year) relationship. I repeat myself again by saying I tend to wear a heel when we are away from home, and when indulging in otherwise pleasant circumstances. I almost never (but not quite "never") wear a heel at home. I have a pair I sometimes wear for decorating, but they do have a practical benefit - if that benefit is both thin and potentially dangerous. I might wear a old pair of ankle boots with 5" heels, while I stand on a stool to work on ceilings... Your analogy of the situation suggests your "crystal ball" was made by Carl Zeiss due to the clarity of the conclusion. I'm fully aware I have some sociopathic tendencies (although antisocial behaviour isn't one of them). Because of this, I've found it easier to make friends with people who are equally handicapped, or those who are more accommodating than most others. Put plainly, "I'm not everyone's cup of tea." Despite that, I have managed over time (approaching 50 years) to have enjoyed female company that has pretty much allowed me to do what I want, when I want. (I must have charms in other areas than make up for the peculiarities - obviously.) My mother, when she had her wits about her, used to say "he marches to his own tune". I prefer "he ploughs his own furrow". For the longest time, I thought my taste for a high heel was fairly unique. Not unique, but one that might not be shared by many, and those that did were either closet TV's or men destined to be TS. Ten years ago this last New Years, I put on some heels (drunk) and walked around in the dark for a good hour in shoes at least one size too small. It was a bit like meeting an old (good) friend. Within weeks I had a cheap pair of OTK boots my size that I wore out in weeks, and wore them out(side) in the dark reluctant to take them off. The internet, HHp, got me into understanding I wasn't alone - nor anything like as unique as I had thought. The message from this, is that men wearing a heel, either openly or not, just isn't that unusual. Many, many men might do it alone, many mght HAVE to do it alone - sadly. All of mine has been done right in front of Mrs F. She doesn't know the extent of the shoe collection, but neither would she be overly surprised to find out just how many shoes I own.... So okay, I went a bit nuts on shoe buying, that took a few years to work out .... But I had some catching up to do. I'm still into buying new styles, but nothing like I used to, and my heel wearing is stable to the point of being mundane. Not so much mundane when I wear them, but I don't worry about wearing them in public like I used to. As Puffer will I hope confirm, when I wear a heel, it's fairly discreet. I'm indulging in something I enjoy, I'm not trying to change the world... I can't say I'm completely devoid of negative experience in my heel wearing. I've at least one ex who is aware, who is very much, not a fan. But at the age of 60 she finds herself without a steady partner - and I have suggested to her why. "She wants what she wants, and nothing else will do." That's a hard slot to fill even in your 20's. Almost impossible when you are past 50 I would have thought. What I mean by this example is, folk who won't bend their rules, folk who won't accommodate the needs/wants of others, make great singletons. A marriage (partnership) is surely a compromise of two or more personalities, working together to achieve a better life for each other. Each contributes to the others well-being, providing help and support for a better life as a team than would be possible as singletons? Do I sound like a vicar? While it may suit some (my parents,) living in an adversarial environment isn't for me. That said, it kept my father going for 86 years, and my mother is approaching 90 so plainly it works for some.

Sally James ..... ahhhh, memories. It may not be the case, but I've always believed it's possible to spot a 'game girl', just by looking at her. In (my) reality, that often meant an internal (cor!) when watching or meeting someone. Ms James was just such a person although (boots aside) there was nothing obvious about her to suggest the likelihood of her being a 'game' girl. She was after all, best known as a children's presenter, not an out-and-out glamour (soft porn) model as may have been some of her contemporaries. A welcome reminder of a face I hadn't seen for a very long time.

I completely agree. I prefer primes that perform, and I've never been one to upgrade for the sake of it - despite working in the IT industry for years. I just don't like consumerism. It may be the mix of (my) age (being born in an era of HAVING to 'go without') the subsequent tendency of being careful to live within my means, that has combined to instill in me the need to care for (treasure) anything I own. It means I tend to shop on value, (to me) rather than the perceived value as provided by a manufacturers marketing department. The recent camera/lens purchase was made only after a lot of soul searching. I got a good price (maybe too much really) for the body I sold on, and with promotional discounts meant I got a camera with in-body stabilisation, wifi, together with a two year warranty for around £100/£125 on top of what I got for the previous model I had sold on. The only new purchase I plan is either an Olympus 45mm f1.8 (£209) or a Sigma 60mm F2.8 (£149). I've a lot to learn about digital, and current photographic technology. I've also to learn how to listen better to my peers when they try to educate me, rather stubbornly/foolishly thinking my experience has great value.

Bought the replacement heat exchanger last night. (C/O 'dodgy deals'.) I had to go get it, but saved a bit of money doing so. I had bought £30's worth of 'cold weld' materials that could be used on hot items, but on closer inspection I didn't feel the old H/E was suitable for a repair. To be honest, it looked like I had been lucky it had lasted as long as it did. Shame it didn't fail during the summer.... Assuming all goes well (it never does) my parts expenses will look like £230, which includes the two variants of cold weld putty's I will not be using, and can't be returned. Hopefully, we will have a heated house some time over the weekend.

I've been trying to record Christmas lights with my camera. Sounds simple? Last night I spent the better part of 40 minutes sat outside a pretty and colourful display (at midnight) trying to record what my eye could see using my camera. Just not possible .... The G80 has a number of special functions. These are like 'in camera' editors that alter the image to produce predetermined looks. An obvious one would be monochrome, one that removes all trace of colour from the recorded image. It can be further modified (in camera) by making the image high contrast with fewer grey mid tomes, or make it grainy, like an older film image. It can also make it look like a sepia image, more usually associated with photographs that have turned a pretty shade of light brown over time. A couple of these options (there are over 20 in all) are tilted toward colourful lights and night time photography. None of them produced suitable results, and it rather looks like the sensor in the camera doesn't like red and green LED type illumination. When I photographed a string of red/green/blue lights, I got an image that looked like a string of blue and white lights. Defocussing the image improved that when I switched to fully manual mode, and extended the exposure which wasn't possible using presets. I'm sure there is a well known cause, with an equally well known solution. I just don't know it yet. I've also spent some time "studying" the digital technology. Finding out about "DSLR's" vs mirrorless, and sensor sizes. I've also found out that thinking photography used to be a fairly expensive pastime with film and processing being costly (though I used to do my own processing and enlarging), the costs of digital equipment far outweighs the savings made from the absence of consumables (film). Realistic pricing for moderate quality cameras ranges from £800 to £2500. Lenses, not far behind. And almost every camera I've watched a review of on You Tube, has some sort of Achilles heel. Be that the focus detection system (Panasonic), battery life and lack of lenses (Sony) price, lack of lenses and camera features (Canon) and that's just the mirrorless. Not that I need worry about all that yet. I'm still a long way off working out how to use a £600 camera at the moment.

Don't know about 'resolution', as I'm pretty useless at doing anything that needs anything beyond a moderate level of commitment ..... but .... Time is running out for sitting on walls regarding making any changes in my life. I'm fed up of being (practically) penniless with no regular income. I've a new camera that I've been playing with, and of the two bikes I could sell with a view to riding the other, I sold the wrong one. So I'm looking for a bike to ride - that I simply MUST use during the next couple of years. So, I need to cycle, get at least a part-time job. Take photographs that must also produce a small income (somehow). I also need to get out of a house that continues to find new ways of spending (my) money, and making my life uncomfortable. (I will not be buying another doer-upper, I also have to live in.) We still have no central heating (now almost 2 weeks) though all the (expensive) spare parts are here..... Staying healthy would be very agreeable. Had a scare in 2017 I don't want to repeat, though the outcome was good-ish. A year or two without root canal work would be nice, and no extractions even nicer. (Though I already know I need some on a tooth my dentist has been avoiding doing for at least a year.) Getting old(er) is only an attractive prospect, when the alternative is considered. I suppose if I were to sum it all up as succinctly as possible, it would be to 'grab life' even harder than I have so far. Quite a challenge when those around me are looking for a quieter, more sedate life ....

Ahhh! You've joined the dark side .....

As my mother was (often) quoted as saying .... "If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck". I've looked, and the price I have for a heat exchanger (£200 delivered) is about half the price it "should" cost if I was paying for it from an authorised trade outlet. "Refurbs" are available from £60-£140, but new+boxed .... £200. The 'like for like' idea (in principle) meant a much quicker job than disassembling the boiler to replace the H/E. I am looking at £300 for a heating bod to do either job. At £500 to £560 to get the boiler back up and running for the month or so before the combi can be installed/commissioned, it makes financial sense to not bother. The ancient and (for 7 years unused) immersion works enough so we have hot water, though it's not going to be left on for more than 30/40 minutes and ALWAYS supervised. Having hot water helps. I've just bought 2 fans care of Screwfix, and we also have a sexy one from John Lewis. We've no need to go cold, but the cost of not going cold is going to be a 'disappointment' when the bill comes in. If I remember, electrical energy required for heating, works out at 3 times that of gas. I'll send you details of the boiler, and spare part required. There's also a new gasket needed, but I don't expect that will cost much.

My house continues to offer me plumbing challenges. Two days before Christmas (as if doing this at a weekend wasn't bad enough) the boiler has killed itself. 8 year old Worcester Bosch, and the heat exchanger is terminal. We will be using electric fan heaters to stay warm over the Christmas period. Parts (or reasonable quality 'used' boiler) will cost circa £200/£250. Labour (I'm not allowed to commission) will double that. It's unlikely, though not impossible, our additional electricity costs will top £500 for the month it'll take me to get the pipework completed for a new combi boiler, so we are not going to try and repair the dead one. (Though owning a mobile T.I.G. welder would have been enormously useful about now. ) I must have been a really bad person in an earlier life....

They have been mentioned before, (not for this reason) but thank you for the tip anyway. The problem I have is more of the shoe twisting off my foot as I walk, and it affects one foot more than the other. I often suspect the cause is the residual damage from falling out of a tree. (Refer to 'Reaper' thread.) The same is true when I wear very high shoes on unusually long walks, my left ankle 'gets tired' and doesn't want to rotate in-line. Speaking of walking out, did Brent Cross and Westfield tonight. Left B/C early (8pm) and had a couple of hours at Westfield. Both venues packed, with W/F busy right up to 11pm.

I wish. I'd love to own some wearable (fit my foot) mules. I've tried several times, and I must have 'wonky' or odd shaped feet - they just don't fit!? My plans had a small spanner thrown at them this morning .... Dentist rang at 9am and offered me a cancellation at 3.45pm today. Not expecting any work to be carried out, but if there is ... Early night with a handful of painkillers for me. On the up side .... Today is Winter Solstice. Daylight hours start to increase again tomorrow. "Spring is in the air". Not quite, but we are moving toward warmer weather not moving away from it - as it were. I simply MUST have a more adventurous year in 2018 than I had in 2017. People around me (and me too I suppose) need to put more effort into staying away from doctors and hospitals. I spent waaay too much time playing 'nursey' this year, with none of the prospective (fantasy) benefits. Had something of a scare myself some 3 months ago, which put a bit of a crimp on proceedings too. As a general reminder to any young folk out there ... Getting old isn't much fun, but it sure beats the alternative.

Or maybe I won't ..... It's panic Thursday! Our guide to the best bargains as last-minute rush means 60% more shoppers will hit high streets tomorrow... and it is set to be chaos on the roads and railways too Number of people to hit the high street tomorrow is expected to be up 60% Savings of up to 80 per cent are on offer at Debenhams and House Of Fraser Comes after report shows the high street is in trouble closures rising 22 per cent Headline >> here << I'm pretty sure most of that sharp increase will be men (gulp) doing their Christmas shopping ...

During the past week we've had some rain, so the great bulk of the snow has finally disappeared. The loose stuff went quickly, but the compacted stuff took some removing. In fact even now, I can still see the remains of a snowman from a bedroom window. Today (Monday) is another very cold day. Yesterday it was a tad warmer than it has been of late and it rained for most of the day. I suppose the wet air brings milder weather, unless it runs into a cold front like last weekend. I was compelled to visit Brent X which was as busy as expected. It's not a huge mall, but has a John Lewis, a Fenwicks, and a smaller M+S. Over two floors, it can provide a couple of hours meandering, especially if coffee and some people watching is indulged. Getting "to and from" during the Christmas period, especially on a Sunday, is significantly easier (though not easy) than going into the West End. Finally spent some time in a heel, my M+S pointy boots, which are so nice to walk in I actually forgot I was wearing a heel. Too many other shoppers about to hear a heel so not only couldn't I hear them for most of my time there, but nor could anyone else. Only a little pointed toe protruding from the front of my jeans might have been something of an indicator, (which was spotted), but I had fewer people noticing than usual. Yay! As widely expected/predicted, the 'Winter Sales' had started in many stores, especially amongst the 'brands'. I've seen some ankle boots in Kurt Geiger I liked, that are priced at £179 if I remember, and I had hoped to be tempted at their 50% offer, but the shoes I found weren't labelled as part of their sale. Good for me because I certainly don't need another pair of ankle boots, especially at those prices. It would seem KG are keeping this style in their "New In" range. Odd given I've been looking at them for months.... Had nice walk around at the mall. No dramas. Journey home was a bit unpleasant despite me leaving early in an attempt to avoid the 'the rush'. Maybe many others had the same idea? With a bit of luck, I'll be doing Westfield White City later in the week. Bigger mall, more walking, and possibly, a late night.

Focus stacking? How to programme the Fn buttons for options I want to use, rather than the (near useless) defaults. I'd like to have the two wheels set for the aperture and shutter speed in Program Mode, as I did on the G5: - can't be done though defaults to this in Manual Mode. There was supposed to be a defocus control option, that I thought was done electronically - (the reverse or flip side of focus stacking.) Not so, it's another name for differential focusing using a larger aperture. Somewhere in the video options, is the ability to record in 4k, and keep images seen before the shutter is pressed. It's even possible to select an image from the 4k video or take images at "4k". There are a number of 'creative' in-camera options that allow things like (but not limited to) monochrome/sepia photo's to be produced with no further post work. A landscape option that allows the camera to take 5~10 photos then stitch them together, in-camera There is also an in-camera editor (not got that far) for doing more clever things after the image has been taken. Like you, I am used to using a (film) SLR in AP Mode, tweeking the shutter speeds to get the right exposure. I'm also used to manual focusing despite once owning a Pentax MEF. I'm not unhappy for all the auto stuff, but I don't want to find myself missing a photo because I didn't know to turn on or turn off a Menu option. Watching the video, (for example) I may have discovered the "4k" picture option is via a dial, not a Menu option... The G5 I owned barely got used in the 3 or 4 years I owned it. That isn't going to be true of the G80. I have a provisional opportunity to submit 12 images for a calendar. I won't get a penny from it, but it all helps get work further down the line. Knowing how to take advantage of a bit of equipment that is much smarter than me, seems like a prudent thing to do. P.S. I mentioned I owned the G5 for 3 or 4 years .... Looks like (having reviewed some of the older posts here) it was longer, although I doubt I gave it more than 2 weeks work over its entire life. I also commented some time after the G5 purchase when the G6 was announced, I didn't need the WiFi. Ignorant at that time, that there is a Lumix app for controlling the camera remotely. Something I have very much needed over the past year while trying to take photos of me wearing heels. A much better solution than pre-focussing and using self timers. Not yet installed the app on my phone, but it's on my "To Do" list. It's odd looking back, how I've moved from a pretty poor quality 'dumb' phone, to a carry everywhere 'Tough' camera, a smart phone with 8mpxl camera, and a 'clever' system camera that can be controlled remotely. Have we all moved on? Given how many images these can produce (and the Olympus has produced thousands), its not hard to believe a claim I heard toward the end of last year: "With so many people owning camera phones, it was expected that during the next year, more photo's would be taken than in the entire history of photography" The para-phrase doesn't look to be completely accurate, nor the date reference (I may have heard it more recently than when the original was published.) But the message is sound. As the linked article explains; we as consumers used to take pictures only at special events, like birthdays, weddings and holidays. Now we take and share photo's all the time. Even people who had never used a film camera before, will take photo's using their phones, Mrs Freddy being a point in case. The snow picture shown the other day in the 'Last Minute Meeting' thread, not one of mine, but one of Mrs Freddy's care of her Motorola phone. She has a good eye for an image and I hope to get her using my camera sometime in the future.....

If I remember, you are due some nasty winds today/tomorrow. Rain has finally arrived here, helping to clear the snow. Cold tonight, so icy tomorrow. Weather lady says that for many years now we've had mild winters with short 'snaps' of cold weather. Not this year; cold winter with the occasional mild bits. Great.

Please don't hold your breath. On page 71 of the manual, and still no wiser. Other than their idea of "defocusing control" amounts to changing the aperture while in Program mode and using Program Shift after selecting Fn4 and using one of the wheel controls. "Defocusing control" my arse. They also - rather ambiguously - recommend setting the exposure to a "larger aperture value" when the onboard meter says the image will be overexposed. They mean larger number (higher numbers provide smaller aperture), thus lowering the amount of light getting to the sensor; or simply "smaller aperture".

Must have spent close to 10 hours running through the menu system on the G80. Not only can't I remember where the options reside, (yet) some of the functions don't make any sense to me. at all "Show shutter effect"? Google is getting a lot of action .... Maybe I need a hardcopy of the manual ....

So far, over 12 hours of snow .... Not out of bed yet. Watched two or three Christmas films, breakfast in bed too. No sign of the rain promised, just more snow. If only I was 8 years old again....

I need light for find things, even "attached" things... White stiletto's help people find me, not help me 'see' the way. Snow might disguise me wearing them though. I once wore some high heeled boots walking to work in the snow, some years ago. Hard to spot a heel in 4-5 inches of snow. Bit risky given how easy it is to end up on your backside on slippery pavements to start with. I made the journey though, something like a 2 mile walk. I still own PU boots that I could wear in snow thinking about it. Hopefully I won't get the chance this side of Christmas. I'm not only struggling with the weather but with Mrs Freddy complaining about it. We'd both rather have rain than snow (and ice), with dry weather preferred even more.