FastFreddy2

We just leave the metal on the grass verge outside, and it mysteriously disappears. There is so little of it, there's no reward in selling it as the journey costs more than the income. Bit different with the copper though. The fella I am helping is practically a copper magnet. This is my third soil pipe replacement, and second cast replacement. At the moment I can't think of anything changed/repaired less often? Most roofs need (some) re-pointing after 20-30 years.... Today's injuries .... Took the naked (illegal) metal grinding blade across the top of my L/H index finger again. Fortunately nothing like as impressive as yesterdays cut. Gave the underneath of my left wrist a proper thump with a 4lb club hammer. Didn't seem to be a problem until I got home. That's when I found the lump, which then induced the previously unfelt pain. Tomorrow I will be using my SDS drill in hammer mode, to reduce two air-brick (cinder) partition walls, to rubble. Mrs Freddy has asked what time I want the ambulance to attend? Bit of a worry ....

As expected .... All but the last 14 inches of the soil pipe are out. Some extra special cutting with a grinder will be required to remove the last section. We ran out of time today, so an emergency installation of the new soil pipe was carried out, so toilet functions could be restored. Was ever so slightly frustrating seeing all my previous refurbishment being removed after such a short space of time. That said, it very much needed to be done. During the last two months I have cleared a complete blockage in the kitchen drain almost immediately adjacent to the soil stack, and the same on the first floor where the shower and basin waste entered a cast branch on the soil stack. On the kitchen branch, further investigation today has us finding the (previously) cleared blockage only led to another point in the branch that was almost as badly blocked. In fact the dirty kitchen water has a flow route the size of an adults little finger. Almost any kitchen debris could have produced backed up water. The first floor branch was even worse. While water was obviously draining away, it was hard to imagine how, given the amount of semi-solid debris in the cast branch. Replacing the soil stack and its cast branches, wasn't done a day too soon.

I would completely agree. Personally, I don't give a rats anus what people are "into", as long as children or unwelcome abuse, are not involved. In fact I would even go so far as to believe the weirder, the greater the potential for being entertaining or stimulating of mind. Conversely, I find anyone who frowns on such diversity, as being a bit myopic. Surely we all benefit from those with more colourful interests? As for 'sharing' with the family, I think you may already have identified a potential ally. Surely a discreet wink here or there might with some deft subterfuge, confirm the potential for a (quite literally) kindred spirit? How amazing would that be!

'Prudence' suggests you consult those you will be travelling with first? It's one thing to stand 'loud and proud', but not so great if you create tension with business associates/friends when in a business setting. What you wear will not only reflect on you, but on them too. In that case, wouldn't it be better to let them participate in the decision, rather than pulling them into what might be 'the deep end'. In a purely friends and family situation, your dress code would only reflect on you. In a professional environment, I think your group would be seen as a team. While your business associates/wife's friends are plainly accommodating, others may be less so. They might not say/do anything that you are aware of, but might choose to isolate members in your team when there is a choice? Given how you wear a heel in public while at conferences, I'm surprised your son has no notion of your interest. I can't imagine a more mainstream place to wear a heel than in a business environment? How you sounded him out at all?

At the moment, I remain undecided. I will use the link on my phone, and show the Plumbing Suppliers when I get there. which is likely to be Friday now. I've been asked to help remove a cast iron soil pipe in a house I worked on recently, and the day for doing the job is tomorrow. No soil pipe means no toilet, so two of us are going to give it go. The toilet needs to be back in action by late afternoon. Everyone thinks it's straightforward. I know what's coming. It's far from straightforward which is why I may have been invited. I never, ever get asked to do what are really easy jobs. I have a saying that I often mention to people when they watch me .... "If it was easy, someone else would be doing it." The other side of that thinking is; 'do I make it hard work?' Only if it needs doing well, would be my answer.

The height of the waste I removed measured 90mm, the replacement is 85mm assuming the manufacturers have it right. If anything I'm hoping they have under rather than over stated the length. (Omitted the thread lead-in for example.) The video you linked shows an ideal solution - in theory at least. That "extra long" bolt went fully into the strainer during the demo, but didn't touch the waste that was held in place underneath, as it dropped through. Suggesting, the bolt still wasn't quite long enough? I went to their web site, and they don't have any 'waste fittings' info. What I especially liked about the style, was the size of the lower cup, that not only removed the apparent need for a large 100mm 'penny' washer, but also meant the overflow outlet couldn't be somewhere that was going to create a trough for debris. This morning I have used the original (here when we bought the place) 40mm washing machine (drain) pipework. It wasn't used by me initially because our w/machine outlet wasn't 100% compatible with the pipework. At the time, tie-wraps created an immediate solution by allowing me to fix the w/machine outlet pipe around the sink taps. It's something that has worked well long enough for me to forget about any other solution. The sink is going, as the utility room is destined to be part of a new kitchen - one day 'soon'. Looking at what (at this very moment) seems to be a fully functioning w/machine, and a sink we don't otherwise need/want, I am wondering whether spending £20 on bits and 3 hours work time for the satisfaction of fixing a problem, is actually worthwhile. 'Worker' me is saying "yes of course". 'Manager' me is saying, "remove the sink altogether and skip it". It has some damage to it, a minor chip on an upper edge somewhere if I remember, so is likely worthless. We did promise it to the previous owner of the house, as/when it was removed, but the amount of bodges found around her old home have put her on our s*** list. I'm only on my second cup of coffee, so not yet fully awake. If Mrs Freddy can spend the day using the w/machine without the utility room being flooded again, I think the sink might be going, though the 40mm w/machine drain still might need some fortifying. This being the house it is, the wall mounting - clip - is broken. Almost 2m of pipe in the shape of an "L" and only one (broken) clip to hold it in place ... It explains the attraction of the w/machine outlet pipe staying tied to the sink taps.

Thanks Puffer for your enthusiastic sourcing, but sadly, you may have slipped on a banana skin this time. None of those links identify products suitable for a ceramic Butler sink, as the links offered look to be a type more suitable for thin walled stainless? The item I'm looking for, is this: This one is a "Sagittarius Belfast Poly Plug Slotted Sink Waste Chrome WA578C" available >> here << for £8-50 plus carriage. Before this afternoon, I thought "Butler" sink was a definitive type, and then found it is a genre. "London" no overflow, "Belfast" with. And as you rightly say, a 'weir' overflow.... Not that mine had an effective overflow until I cleared it this afternoon ..... The grief doesn't end there ... The outer diameter of the threaded 1½" waste is somewhere in the region of 45/46mm. The hole it goes through, is 70mm. I haven't measured the diameter of the correctly sized backnut, but I'm confident it'll almost fall through that 70mm hole.... The original nut (that came off in pieces) had help forming a water seal, from a generous dollop of plumbers mait held in place by some stout handcut plastic that might once have been part of a container. It was that 'generous dollop' of plumbers mait that effectively blocked the overflow. At the moment I'm looking at having a 100mm washer made in 2mm thick aluminium (£6 delivered) to both help centralise the waste outlet and close that gap. Even when I get the correct (Belfast) waste, the slot is in the wrong place, or at least appears to be. The slot in the waste seems to be high. This means solids can fall out of the waste into a trough formed by the bottom of the sink overflow. I may need to put a second slot (or elongate the first) to ensure the overflow outlet is vaguely in line with the waste slot to avoid the potential for debris blocking the overflow as it has done historically. Even without the overflow being blocked, it won't work as well as it might if the flow stream has an obscure path. I'll be able to work it out more easily, when I have the replacement waste. (I hope.) My headache with this, is somewhat exacerbated by Mrs Freddy thinking I am wasting my time fixing something that only appeared broken due to a cloth blocking the sink waste. What she fails to understand is that no-one watches the washing machine emptying, so this is a liability even with a fully-functioning sink. While statistics suggest we might never have this problem again, floods don't follow any rules laid out by statistics. (As some parts of the UK are experiencing unfortunately. They have recently had 'once in a hundred years' grade floods, several times in the same month.) Consequently, I want anything plumbing related, to be working as well as it should.

Disaster struck again yesterday .... (Well, it has been a couple of weeks .... ) Our washing machine outlet goes straight into a ceramic Butler sink. It was a temporary measure, that has so far lasted years .... (I could tell you stories...) No problems until yesterday. The cloth that usually sits across the taps, fell into the sink. Shouldn't have been a problem, as Butler sinks have a large overflow. But it was a problem ..... If the plumber mait hadn't have almost completely blocked the slot in the waste, 40+ years of assorted debris left in the overflow would have. The consequence to these interruptions in the potential waterflow, meant a duckpond in the utility room. Thinking I could find a way to refurb everything back into working order, I started to disassemble the waste system on the sink. Of course the nut on the waste had to be ground off, twotting the thread on the waste. Some of the outer surface of plastic on the half-trap looks to have been attacked by something, possibly acid that may have been used to unblock the sink some time ago? Anyway, that needs replacing too. It took me the better part of an hour, to stumble across the correct name for the part I'm looking for. How was I to know, Belfast sinks, have a special type of waste? It's not something the big sheds keep - obviously. My local merchants should have one, but doesn't seem to be the case. Of the three I rang, 1 number was out of order, 1 had a option system that was so worn out it was undecipherable, and the last supplier had to order one in if I wanted one. Fortunately, not every plumbers merchants sells just the common bits (that might be cheaper at Screwfix/Toolstation anyway). If I can't collect the right size waste tomorrow morning, I can order one from a number places, but they will have to be posted. There is a company in Harpenden (Herts Plumbing Supplies) that carried these, and retail them on Ebay at £13-50 delivered. I rang them and checked if they had them in stock. "Yes, a few." "Okay" says I, "what price are they collected?" "Same price less carriage" the fella says to me. "Carriage is included", I say .... "It'll be the same (£13-50) price as shown on the listing." "Okay, I might as well get it posted then. Thanks, bye." So no Paypal charges. No listings charges. No packing or post charges, and they still want the whole £13-50 for a cash Trade sale? Hell will freeze over before they get a penny from me. I can get them posted for the same money in several places, plus I get to send them back if I order the wrong thing. Why am I going to pay full money if I have to collect? Hopefully, I'll be getting the same thing from a Trade counter elsewhere tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

On a lighter note ..... I decided to bid my "uber" maximum on a pair of the 1969 shoes, at an amount that was higher than the previous successful bids I was aware of. Placing the bid more than an hour before bidding closed, much to my immediate disappointment, someone had already made a higher bid. In fact the final price of the shoes, was not much off the price of the knee boots I had seen go through. Typically the shoes go for €70 or less, with a pair I had missed out on, going for €64. This time around, the shoes went for €102. The bidder who had 'immediately' beaten my bid, had hours before bid €100, which on any other day would have ensured they 'won' the auction. Not this time, with someone coming in with seconds to spare with a higher trend breaking bid. Until the €100 bidder gets what they want, I have little chance at getting these shoes at the (historically) bargain basement price of €70/£53. I would bid more, but only for shoes I knew were going to fit.

Thank you for your kind sentiments. Mrs Freddy is back with her siblings this morning, and visiting her best friend this afternoon, dealing with her grief the best way she knows how. We are all agreed, the ending was short enough so the stress of the situation was kept to a minimum, and long enough so the whole extended family got to see her when she was still alert. She had a long life, and managed to see the arrival of a great grandchild, who might now be around 3 or 4 months old. While she didn't become a millionaire, nor sail the world single handed, she did raise a family in hard times few young people today could comprehend. As far as I can tell, all her lineage are decent/pleasant people who care for each other. She was a successful wife and mother. In my mind, that is quite an achievement. RIP - R.

I was too busy thinking about the 'tumble' and missed the 'enter' part. Makes the story even more embarrassing. Not slipped on a banana, but have slipped several times and in flat shoes, on food/organic debris left on the floor/pavement. Not sure how the banana skin legend started, maybe by Disney some decades ago?

It's with some sadness, I have to report the loss of the mother-in-law tonight (Thursday). It would seem she had been dangerously ill for some time, but had been mis-diagnosed (which surprises no-one these days). Finally, her doctor realised something was seriously wrong when he could feel what we now know was a secondary growth protruding through her tummy wall. After a scan, she was diagnosed with liver cancer which some of us know, usually has a poor and short prognosis. Since she had been uncomfortable for some time, she was content to 'go'. Her children were less keen, and they had barely left her side when she passed a week later. Earlier tonight, a friend who has been in Harefield since September (most of the time on a mechanical heart), passed. His prognosis had been poor from the first, having had heart trouble for years. "Lost" a friend and a member of the family in the same day. Some would think me careless.... I'm fortunate in that I'm in this at arms length, really. Mrs Freddy is in pieces, as is the rest of her close family. The wife and children of my friend, will likely still be crying, some 6-8 hours after losing a husband and father. Their grief only reminds me of my late father, who is someone I miss all the time. Sad times....

Hello, and welcome. First post since you joined 2½ years ago, glad to hear from you. Do you mean metal heels, or metal heel tips?

Mincing? Mindful of where you had just left, I doubt you were the first, nor the last to throw themselves down those steps. It may well have been the reason those "hairy apes" were perched where they were? A good seat for entertainment from those who might (ahemm) drink more than they should ... At least you were unhurt. I wear my jeans long when I wear a heel. While walking, I have several times, caught the bottom of my jeans under my heel inside a shop or shopping mall. The consequence of this, is for the hem of the jeans to act like a lubricant to my heel on the smooth surface of the flooring. The resultant change in my gait is probably like watching someone tread on a banana skin. Meaning, my front leg tries to move forward at two or three times the speed of the rest of my body. Mrs Freddy has told me in no uncertain terms, if ever I end up on my arse through wearing a heel, she'll be leaving me to those who will probably be laughing at my floor bound 'adventure'. Charming eh?

I sometimes wonder, if the additional height I enjoy wearing a heel, has the hidden benefit of making me less of a 'target' for potential abuse? While being fairly slim (for my age), I don't look like the sort of person who would respond well to sarcasm. (Grumpy.) With the addition of the extra height, I'm thinking disparaging remarks might usually be seen as something with little -if any- benefit. Mrs Freddy (and my walking companion) tell me from time to time, my interest in heels, will get me into trouble. Usually, they make that remark shortly after I've noticed some heels, with perhaps more enthusiasm than 'common decency' demands. Meaning, I sometimes stare for longer than is appropriate. ("Appropriate" being a momentary glance.) I'm with Frenchmen in this respect, who are known to 'stare' as women they find attractive, it being (intended) as a silent compliment. It was reported elsewhere, but I did once get called out for looking at some boots as their owner walked past, as I was seated and eating (I'm sure) some chocolate cake. A rather unpleasant remark was made by the 'jealous' boyfriend who thought his girlfriend was his property, and no-one else was allowed to look at her. He wasn't expecting me to get up, follow him, and confront him. We stared at each other, with me expecting something to kick off, but fortunately it didn't. His girlfriend pulled him away, and we both then went about our business. I am older, and less fit now. I don't suppose my responding in the same way, would be prudent thing to do again. Hopefully my additional height and 'grumpy' look, will help keep me away from unpleasantness.

We have a different grade of inebriated young person over here. Most "men" believe they grow to 8ft tall with beer inside them, and can say/do whatever they want with impunity. Of course there are others in a similar state, thinking the same. When two of these types meet up, "fun" it isn't... I'm confident enough to edge closer to a boundary that may not have been touched many times before, but going out in knee boots with a 5" heel in the UK, especially at night amongst 'revellers' is not something I would consider anything other than dangerous. (To my health). Well, going out on my own anyway. Within a group that had accepted my dress code (never going to happen), or within a group of men who would be resistant to unfettered abuse, maybe I'd be tempted. Otherwise, not in the UK for me. Sadly. That said, Euchrid did find a Facebook 'snap' of a fella in a supermarket wearing high heels. No drunken 'yoofs' around at the time though. But fair play to him too.

The BBC did an adaptation of A.G.'s "And then there were none" over the Christmas period, which I quite enjoyed. There was one 'incident' that didn't stack up, which I won't mention in case you have yet to see it. "Dial M for Murder" was a great film. Ray Milland was a pleasure to watch of course. My Hitchcock favourite is 'Rear Window'. The 40's and early 50's were possibly the best times for film, as an art form. The black and white media making everything an abstract that let the imagination be hijacked, where colour sometimes keeps the story too real. (Two reel.) Some of the British films of that period were amazing. 'The Lady Killers', 'I'm All Right Jack', 'School for Scoundrels'. Bliss. WWII Navy/Sea films are for me heart-warming too. A reminder of the sacrifices made. (My late father served in the Navy during the war.) I'm quite keen on documentaries featuring the calamitous British manufacturing industries. Only last night, I watched something on You Tube about the TSR2. I can't help thinking history is repeating itself with the F35. (This is my 'nerd' interest.) Well, manufacturing is at least. I have another defunct aircraft film lined up to watch about the Canadian AVRO Arrow. Though this looks to be as much an entertainment film as documentary. So much to watch, so little time!

Having seen the programme "recently", doesn't stop it being 'nerdy'. If I spot it, I'll watch it.

I would say that unless parts of the Mousetrap had been re-written, which might be intellectually impossible, it may have dated fairly badly. I'm not sure if amendments/re-writes are possible by anyone other than the original author, or without the consent of the 'estate' of the owner? It may well be, it's age and author are the main reasons for going. It would certainly be mine. I have not had a great time at the theatre for the most part. The highlight was an early production of "Noises Off". Not to be confused with the film version of the same production, that is reputed to be a bit of a stinker, despite Mr M. Caine being part of the cast. I had gone reluctantly, but it was very enjoyable. Miss Saigon was a surprise, in that I wasn't expecting a musical .... Riverdance had Mr Flatley with a night off, and this was in his younger days when he had the energy to dance ... Wicked was good, though one of the two leads was slightly mis-cast I think. My expectations of the Mousetrap are low, and seeing the play will put a tick against a line that might be part of a bucket-list one day.

You are preaching to the converted. That's a seriously 'nerdy' recollection about Basil Fawlty. Assuming you haven't done it already, were you to appear on Mastermind, I doubt we'd need two guesses for your specialist subject.

As a child, I was told of The Mousetrap by my father. It had at the time become, the longest continuously-run theatre play, in the West End. It's now the longest (continuously) run theatre play in the world, and in its 64th year. I still haven't seen it. I've also found a venue around 10 miles away, that has Madame Butterfly playing in Italian. For one night only, which just happens to be on Mrs Freddy's birthday. She will attend, probably as a conscientious objector, but she will go. "Don't try and tell me it's a birthday treat for me though!" No pleasing some people....

I think one of us has a sense of humour, wasted on the other. That or my sense of irony, is just me being stupid? Anyway, the question wasn't specific. "How are you?" "I'm green. Didn't you notice?" Perfectly acceptable. I don't think 'normal' or 'typical' are opposed, nor that they were suggested by your good self as being opposed? The two words, (in my mind) are like red and scarlet. Typical is a better word usually as it is less subjective, and in these circumstances would be less offensive. But when describing how you expect character to form in children, you would describe it as 'normally', not typically. When describing their achievements, you might expect 'average', not typical. In any case my point was: being gay isn't readily accepted by the majority as: 'normal' nor ' average' nor 'typical'.

Searched a bit further afield. Found Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, on at Milton Keynes next month. £40/£50 a ticket that might be do-able. Apparently, 'back due to huge demand'. Obviously a lot of trannies and their 'admirers' in MK then? I've had a quite look on You Tube for examples of songs and singing ... Not great. And it's a bit rural up there too.

Regarding normal vs typical, I will agree "typical" may be ever slightly more apt. However, I would still offer 'normal' as being an adjective used by the greater number who might be less inclined to accept homosexuality in any guise. Thing is, I accept it's not "normal" (nor typical) for a man like me to wear a heel. While a gay man or woman might offer their sexuality as "normal" to them, the world doesn't benchmark itself on individuals, but on "the mass". Either way, that group is still a minority, and one often subject to various types of persecution/non-acceptance, and Dilbert should have been more sensitive to this than he was. Hence my lack of surprise he remains single. (Man's greatest asset in a relationship IMO, empathy for ones partner. Understanding ~ and caring about them. ) Good call on the sparkly jacket BTW! One wonders if Dilbert's IQ reaches double figures? Potentially the banal "good", might be grammatically correct surely, even if spoken as short-hand? "How are you?" "I'm (a) good (boy) thanks." Just a thought....