FastFreddy2

4½ inches.

The M+S boots have been repaired, but the quality of the work done, has left a lot to be desired. Although I wasn't charged, should the lamination break away again, I won't be going back to my usual cobbler. At the time I could have cried ... but I spent an hour improving the job and the finish is a tad more acceptable now. Thank goodness I always have wire wool around. The "freebies". These shoes are destined for some form of recycling. Anyone here wanting them, can have them. Worn in the house. Couple of scuffs. UK8 New. Some scuffs. Harness can be detached. UK7 Used. Leather. UK8 New. UK7 I'm not expecting anyone to come forward for any of these, but I will hold them until Saturday 20th. While some of these are listed as a UK7 I can get my feet into every pair without a struggle. Well, getting my ankle into the New Look cowboy boot isn't so easy, but all these fit. I'm a UK8.

Another picture of Kelly in heels ...

Had a bit of a "review" session today. I had ordered two pairs of ankle boots from HoF, which I've had here for a little over a week. One pair looked so awful in the flesh, I didn't even remove the packing once I'd opened the lid of the box they arrived in, they were always going back. The second pair were from Carvela and the style is called "Get". Originally £160. These have an almost 5" heel, and a pointed toe. They feel like a 7, as they are very very snug, but I like my shoes tight. The heel on the right shoe is a little off vertical, but not so much I can tell when walking in them. I don't need them, and they are still expensive even in the sale..... How could I justify keeping them? The answer was to look for other shoes to sell on. 2 pairs I decided not to keep went straight to Mr Recycle. Damaged in use (pair of Select courts), and some PU ankle boots with blade heels that needed re-heeling. I have the new heel tips, but not a Dremel to make the new over-size tips fit. Been waiting 3-4 years for me to repair them, so their time was (finally) up. Got another 4 pairs that I'm going to offer here for free first, though they are likely too small for most members being around a 7 or an 8. Pictures tomorrow. Got about another 10 pairs to go to the auction site. I also have about 4 pairs of summer shoes to move on, as it's obvious to me I won't be wearing them after all. Two pair of heel-less courts, and two pairs of wedge sandals. I am growing/have grown a core group of about 4 or 5 styles that seem to allow me to do everything in heels. If I'm honest, the rest are surplus, though some of the surplus are just nice to own regardless to whether they ever get worn by me. Rather disappointingly, the M+S "Mars bar" ankle boots shown further up, have developed a fault. Seems that some of the lamination on the heel has come unstuck. Took them to the repairers today, and while he said he could fix them, he also said it'll happen again. Didn't have time to ask more, as two young girls came in behind me, so a long chat wasn't possible. Maybe more news tomorrow.

I've not sold anything recently, though I need to pull my finger out really. I have realised I not only have too many shoes, (if that's possible) but they are taking up space I could make use of - for other things. A wardrobe for my clothes, rather than plastic containers, would be a good start .... Currently I have a number of pair of shoes I don't expect to wear. I do mean shoes, not boots. They include a couple of pairs of heel-less courts, couple of pairs of wedge sandals, a pair of Select courts that might have been made for my feet but will fall apart the first time they are worn .... There's also around 3 pairs I would prefer not to move on, with two pairs I hope to keep. One pair are some £240 Kurt Geiger courts that are so high I can't walk in them. A pair of plain black leather courts from Office. And lastly, a cheap (£14) pair from Primarni that are a bit snug but ticked a lot of boxes when I bought them. OOPS! thinking about it, I also have some 5" asymmetric black leather courts from Zara.... So 4 pairs then, ranging from silly expensive (given how much use they will get) down to attractive inexpensive PU shoes I quite like wearing. The reason I mention these ..... All of the shoes I have yet to wear out and likely won't..... I still find myself keeping an eye on some Jimmy Choo shoes that range in price (used), from around £190 to £270-ish. New they were £475. In my head, the only thing stopping me buying, is not knowing if the shoes will fit. I sometimes get into a 7 in a court shoe, though I'm an 8. Often, a 7½ would be ideal if I have any hope of keeping the shoe on, since an 8 will ALWAYS fall off after a short while. Not long ago, I didn't make the time to get some heels ready to go out in, and 'voluntarily' went out in mens shoes. I thought I was getting over the heels thing, perhaps for another 15 years..... Then I find myself drawn to these shoes.... Yes, I'm nuts.

Due to the demands of my allotment (read weeds r us) I started my journey into London in the evening yesterday (Sunday) rather than in the afternoon which is my normal departure time. This delay was made worse by two, "stand-still" grade hold ups on the A1 into London. The first, which added 20 minutes to the journey time while my car was parked, looked to have been caused by a broken down car in the fast lane. No idea what the second hold up was, as I managed to take a detour before joining the other parked up cars. That added another 15 minutes and made a one mile journey at 70mph into a 5 mile journey where I barely moved fast enough to get into 4th gear ..... So I arrived with my companion into the West End, for around 8.30pm which is more usually going home time on a Sunday. We went to one of our usual haunts for food, and between us managed to spend the princely sum of £32-50 plus £4-50 tip that I can assure you was earned by a very good waiter. At the time I was wearing my M+S pointed cowboy style boots with a 4½ inch heel. Got spotted 30 yards from the restaurant by a young ethnic lad who was sitting at a table with his family. He gawped at my boots, then gawped even more intently at me. (So rude. ) I could hear him excitedly tell his family as we walked past. I hope he enjoyed the show ..... Out of the restaurant, it was after 10pm, and still fairly warm despite the wind. It wasn't fully dark either (longest day of the year is only two weeks away) so it felt like it was too early to go home. The original plan for the day was a post meal walk along the river. Although considerably later than expected, our full tummies demanded some exercise before we travelled. The drive down to the river wasn't quick, as the route I know took us through Piccadilly, and around Trafalgar Square. The parking spaces I've used in the past weren't open due to roadworks, so I had to drive along the river. There's a road behind the Savoy Hotel, that allows unrestricted parking in the evening. While turning into the junction, a 7 tonne lorry that had turned into the road, couldn't progress past the junction so held us up. At the time, I thought it typical of the day ...... The lorry had to reverse, and drove away, since the road appeared unpassable. The car in front, a limo sized taxi, also tried to get further down the road and couldn't. We were sat (parked) behind him. As we waited (only seconds) a young slim lady with long blonde hair wearing a silver evening dress with REALLY high ivory coloured shoes, got into the car after the driver opened the door for her. (She was using her hands to hold her dress off the floor.) It was Ellie Goulding. The cab drove off, as did we, as the entrance to the road was still blocked by an excess of traffic leaving the junction. Ellie at another award event. Having parked up some 200 yards further down the road by Temple, we walked back looking to use Waterloo bridge to cross the river. For the long walk, I'd changed into my ALSO boots with the 5" heel, (avatar.) so it wasn't a fast walk. As we approached the bridge, there were more limo's leaving the Savoy exit, so I decided we should go up to have a look ..... Outside the hotel's rear entrance/exit, there was a string of cars with "The South Bank Sky Arts Awards" logo's over the doors. We strolled along the back of the Savoy on the public path passing film crews stowing equipment readying to leave, and actually trod on the red carpet as we slowly walked further up the road. There were some people at the doorway waiting for their car, and the unmistakable voice of Hugh Bonneville was heard from just inside the doorway. Neither of us looked, as we were trying to be inconspicuous, while trying to suck in everything that was going on. Hugh Bonneville in Downton Abbey role - possibly. To get up to the Strand to walk across the bridge from where we were, it's necessary to walk up quite a steep path alongside the Savoy Theatre. Walking up the hill, which felt like walking up a stairway in my heels, we passed the black actor Paterson Joseph deep in conversation with an attractive lady enjoying the last of a cigarette. Again we pretended we hadn't noticed them, while getting as good a look as possible. Currently in HBO's "The Leftovers" We then walked the short route along the Strand, to Waterloo bridge. Coincidently, this was the very spot we'd spent 30-40 minutes on New Years eve some 6 months ago, waiting for a fireworks show.... I had been wearing the same shoe boots too. This time, we managed to cross the bridge without having thousands of others to push through. The circuit was across the bridge, up the South Bank to one of the Golden Jubilee bridges which was used to cross back over the river, then back along the Embankment returning to the car. Not sure of the distance, but it took 30-40 minutes which greatly helped moving the food into a more comfortable place. Thankfully the journey home was completely uneventful - and much much shorter in time. I had expected to see some reports of the Sky event together with some pictures in the media today, but they are full of the Tony Awards in the US, which is a significantly bigger event. I found one article, but no pictures of Miss Goulding and her shoes ... Maybe there'll be some pictures later in the week. I can't imagine a news agency like Sky will miss the chance to promote their own function somewhere? An inexpensive and interesting night in heels then. P.S. The award show will be broadcast this Wednesday at 8.00pm on Sky Arts 1.

I think generally that is true. I remember well, some 6 or 7 years ago asking for my size in some Diesel court shoes in House of Fraser, and the middle aged (or older) lady assistant being completely unfazed when I tried them on, then bought them. That said, I did get asked by a pretty 21/22 year old in a Topshop store, if I wanted to try on the (very) high heeled angle boots she'd retrieved from the stock room for me. As I remember, I was so shocked I just mumbled about it being unnecessary as I knew they fitted. A younger lady manageress (about 25yrs old) in a Kurt Geiger store helped me try on some high heeled girl's shoes at my request once, She didn't bat an eye-lid and was quite smiley too. And I've also mentioned before, the young girl in ALDO -now some 5 or 6 years ago- who was obviously disappointed/couldn't understand why I didn't buy the black patent courts I'd walked up and down the store in. I also got a tremendous amount of help from a 30-ish year old man at ALDO Camden, about 18 months/2yrs ago. He put some shoes away for me, and drew them out of their hiding place when I went to the store. It was made plain to him they were for me, and he left them with me to try on, only returning when I wanted to pay for them. They were an identical style, and coincidently are the ones in my avatar. More recently I was helped by a chap in his mid/late twenties in H+M Oxford Street. I wanted to try on some leather mules, and the security tag prevented me getting my foot in them. While I probably blushed a little asking him, I did ask. Again he seemed unfazed by it, even though I made it obvious they were for me to try. He was also unfazed when I gave them back ..... Although I've been back recently, and tried on/bought shoes, Debenhams Oxford Street is about the only place I've been made to feel uncomfortable. It was around 18 months ago and as I walked around the sales area, two ethnic "geezers" made it obvious they were amused at my footwear choice. I've not seen them working in the shoe area since, so hopefully they've moved on. Overall, shops seem pretty easy going about the whole thing.

I picked up the flats because they were a very shiny leather, but not quite a patent shiny. There was only one pair, and they were a size 7. I got my feet in them, and could have worn them, but I would prefer to wear socks with flat shoes rather than hose so had to leave them. I had hoped to find them in an 8 on-line, but no luck. I have some mens shoes I bought from Marks, some time ago. One pair, perhaps as long ago as 4/5 years. Neither pair has ever been on my feet save for trying them for size before buying. I have almost no social life to speak of, so have no real need for mens shoes. The odd occasion I do mix locally with people, or get involved with family meetings, I have some Matalan mens shoes (terrible quality) I wear. Not only were the shoes quite shiny, but that they had a 'slimmer' (girl fit) look to them, and I like 'slim'.

Good report, thank you. Can I ask about the approximate age of the sales lady? I'm guessing by the term "lady" she wasn't young? I am thinking she might have some experience of "us" buying, rather than a younger person who might not have?

Just to keep our international members up to speed..... "Technically", as of June 1st (in an hours time) it is considered summer here in the UK. Where I am in Herts, it'll be circa 6 degrees C around 4am this morning. That's pretty much a warm winters day in England. Went into the West End last week Sunday, couple of the large stores have mid-season promotions on. They might be discounting anyway, but at the moment, the absence of summer means normal (non-discounted) sales are slow. People are maybe buying outfits for holidays, but most weeks it rains 3 or 4 days out of 7, and temperatures have generally been low for the time of year. Global warming? Global wetting for us - with no part of the UK being more than 70 miles from a coastline.... So last Sunday, I saw two pair of shoes I liked in Debenhams. Both reduced, one by 50% and one by around 70%. Because of the reduction they were exchange only, no refunds, so both pairs stayed in store. The pair I really liked, and tried on (discreetly) in store, where these: On sale for just under £30, but no returns. I wasn't sure - although I love the style, so they stayed in store. I may order them on-line which gives me 7 days to work out if I can keep them on my feet. A second pair, discounted from £35 to £10-50 didn't look much, so they stayed too. A week later (today, May 31st) I've decided I should buy the £10-50 shoes. I had bought them months ago, but had decided the original price of £35 for a PU shoe was too much, so they were returned. Remembering them to be quite comfortable, and not overly 'girlie' despite the heel, I decided to chance my arm on a revisit to see if I could get them, and they were still there. Bargain. I did try on two other pairs, one pair of formal (ladies) flats ( ) and another pair of very high block heeled sandals, both in a UK7. The flats looked nice, but were just a tad on the tight side. I would ALWAYS wear socks with shoes, so these were a no-no, sadly. The sandals fitted, and were felt really high, but I can't do open toes for obvious reasons. They stayed too. No pictures found of the flats .... Usually on these jaunts in late Spring/early Summer, we would venture down to the Thames for a stroll along the river during the evening. Not today, as it was decidedly cool, and disappointingly breezy. The weathermen on TV have compared our current weather to that we normally get in Autumn. Given the 6 degrees expected in the early hours of tomorrow, I would say they mean late Autumn. Some parts of Scotland, those in waaay up in the North, might even see some snow tonight. What a start to Summer? More rain and more wind is promised during the coming 5 days. We have been promised sunshine next weekend, but we've been promised sunshine at the "end of the week" for the last three weeks, so will it finally arrive? One of our on-line newspapers claims a heatwave is on the way ..... To be honest, getting our first really hot day this late in the year will be a shock to us all. From 6 degrees to 30 C will be like walking into a furnace, as we won't have spent months getting conditioned up to that sort of temperature. When the warmer weather arrives, I hope to be getting out more, as I hope we all will?

Kelly is BACK IN a relationship - with yet another 'hunk'..... She certainly has a type. Anyway, to let us all know she's keeping herself trim .....

I'm sure they didn't. As I said, they probably didn't even check. Who would? They didn't baulk at a refund when I sent the photo's, they were probably as surprised as I was.

I think it was a lot simpler than that. The seller probably picked these up at a jumble sale, or charity shop, thinking they could make a couple of pounds by reselling them. As long as you only looked at the front of the boots AND didn't stand them upright, they looked similar. I actually put them on before I realised they weren't a matched pair. To be honest, if you're not looking for it, a mixed pair is a bit unexpected.

I've had a good few failures too. Asked a seller if a shoe-boot had a platform. "No" was the answer, but it did - a "hidden" platform. At the time, returns had to be paid for by the buyer, so they just got relisted as it was a cheaper way to dispose of them. Same experience with some software. Claimed to be retail boxed. What turned up was an opened OEM version. I lost the cost of the insured/signed for return carriage (circa £7) but I got the £80 back for the original bid. The seller had pulled the same trick on at least 3 others and got himself banned. The most notable for me was a pair of NEXT knee boots. As soon as they arrived, I tried them on and was disappointed to find one boot was unusually tight, Closer examination revealed why. Further examination revealed they weren't even the same make of boot.... After I sent the seller some pictures, I got a full refund and the boots were donated to the recyclers. In 'real world' auctions, people have few consumer rights, save what the auction house offers as part of the Sale conditions. Some of that will be about authenticity; a painting claimed to be by X or Y, will actually be by X or Y. A "solid wood table" will actually be, solid wood. If not, then a return for refund will be offered. Above that - buyer beware. The benefit of an auction is that because we don't enjoy consumer rights available in the usual retail situation, goods or services tend to be proportionately cheaper. Of course there is risk, and fortunately that risk doesn't often come home to roost, but it does - sometimes. The software, the NEXT boots, and possibly for me a further 10/15 pairs of shoes or boots that were either poorly made or poorly sized. On balance it must be worth the risk, or me and zillions of others wouldn't use auctions, either real world or on-line.

This is EXACTLY what I do, but I have the benefit of understanding how most brands are going to fit (me). For example, Dune/Zara/Top Shop, seem to run a size or a half a size smaller than most others. New Look, Primarmi (Primark) George (ASDA) tend to run a half a size large. But can you expect every seller to be so aware? Not all sellers are the shoe owner/wearers. I've read no end of shoe reviews that say "runs true to size" when my experience tells me the only UK retailer that has a consistent size on their footwear is Marks and Spencer. Even the upmarket high street brand Kurt Geiger seems to be getting slightly fluid with sizing, as is Carvela, one of it's less expensive 'daughter' brands. I just don't think it's fair for a private seller to be responsible for the sizing marks of the manufacturer. I can't say sizing indicators like "would suit a slimmer foot" shouldn't be included because I nearly always provide that very information. But ultimately, the buyer is responsible for their purchase, not the seller. It may explain why the auction site doesn't have an enforcible policy on shoe sizing, unless the sizing is miles out. (Inadvertently claiming a US8 as a UK8 for example.) This could also be true of shoe colour perhaps too. "Red" runs from cerise right through to a maroon. "Grey" is another. I have used your recommendation in selling a shoe style declared "slate" by the manufacturer, and said something like 'it looks grey to me'. Mrs Freddy is ALWAYS telling me I overdo the detail. She will have seen listings with "XXX shoe size 6 - worn once" as the full description with no colour mentioned anywhere, nor likely material either. Doubtless the sellers think if they don't provide detail, it can't be called mis-described. If prospective buyers want more detail than (often fuzzy) photo's provide, they should ask. Sorry to play Devils Advocate, but auctions provide preview opportunities, and no-one has to bid. If I'm not sure, I don't bid. Surely this applies to everyone?

I think the 'acid' test to a shoe size, is the size marked and advertised. If a seller advertises a New Look shoe as a size 7, but is marked 6, then there's a case to answer. If a seller advertises a size 7 and the shoe is marked size 7, then there isn't a case to answer surely. The only time I would say this might be an issue, is with (say) Nine West shoes, who use the American sizing system. [uK8 = US10.] I have twice found shoes in shops advertising US8's as UK8', when in fact they were closer to a UK6 in fit. Experience suggests manufacturers provide sizing information as more of a guide than anything else. I'm fairly certain ASOS buyers are not size testing their shoes or boots. Where most retailers might get away with half a size either way, I think ASOS and increasingly ALDO have the potential for sizing errors of a whole size difference. I recently sold an ALDO shoe that clearly stated it was a UK8. I can usually get into a UK7 in a shoe (and did with a River Island UK7/EU40 recently without realising) but this shoe fitted more like a 6½, and I sold it as a "small 7". No complaints from the buyer, so I guess they were 'as described'. Maybe the 'not as described' option includes where there is no sized marked, and the seller took a guess, and made a bad guess?

Any further details?

Part II. I had replaced the bath taps (along with the bath) what is possibly, almost 2 years ago. I originally used a cheap product because the lady of the house and myself couldn't agree on a style, so something that was always going to get replaced was required. It cost £40 delivered. While we weren't robbed, it probably wasn't even worth £40! It became unreliable very quickly. More recently, it had been difficult to turn off. With hindsight it could have been cured, but I had grown to hate mono-switches, so it was going to be replaced. These show leaks, indicated by limescale deposits. Second picture shows wear to the lever base. Lever was loose. A replacement was arranged and delivered. This time around Mrs Freddy was more interested in a working tap, than a pretty one, so I got to choose. As it turned out, it was an agreeable choice. Getting the old unit off, wasn't much of a problem, as the four nuts involved weren't particularly tight. The nuisance really, was having to take out the over-flow come plug actuator to get at the rear tap connector. The only nut that needed any effort was the closest flanged nut on the tap unit. All the other three were easy. The shocker for me, was that my basin wrench didn't fit the nuts. In fact the only way I could undo the tight nut, was to pack out the gap with a flat bladed screwdriver. I couldn't at the time, and days later still can't remember how I get them tight enough to be leak free on the initial installation..... All surfaces were cleaned and dried. The new unit was installed in the bath and the flanged nuts hand tightened. It looked great! Neater and less bulky. I was very pleased..... When it came to tightening the flanged backnuts, "the problem" became apparent. My tool (and every one like it) expects a 1 1/4" (32mm) across flats (AF) sized nut. The newer range of nuts I had to hand were 1 3/16" (30mm) with one of the pair actually being closer to 29mm. As luck would have it, I found two odd flanged nuts I must have removed from some old installation(s), and had (wisely) retained them. After a clean up, these were duly done up using the larger end of my basin spanner. The flexi connections weren't so straight forward. As they had rounded corners, the wrench just rotated around the nut completely. I can't express how frustrating this event was. Firstly because I didn't know at the time what the answer was, and worse, I had obviously found a solution that I couldn't now recall. It would be 24hrs and a lot of running around over a bank holiday before I knew what the answer was, and what I could do in the absence of that answer. The answer was/is a flare crowfoot wrench with 3/8th or 1/2" drive. (Depending on make.) As it wasn't available, I had to improvise. I taped an allen key into my wrench, which stayed there long enough to pack out the gap in the wrench and allow me to do up the two nuts. I still can't believe this situation exists, but it does. Even so, the taps are now fitted and working. Flow is better, and the tap on/off function is wonderful. And no dripping tap either.

The perceived advantage of the slightly larger bore on the 'push-fit' connector was flow-rate. I'd hoped that with a fully open tap, the venturi effect of the isolator would allow the fluid to speed up as it went through and despite slowing down on the other side, the overall flow-rate would be maintained. As it turned out, even with the new tap opened only slightly, the flowrate is so great water easily splashes back off the bottom of the sink all over the place. The 15mm pipe shown, is fed by a 22mm pipe some 18 inches below, and seems to have quite a head on it. I'm not too bothered about the extra cost really. I needed to trial a push fit, and this has worked out better than expected. Read the next episode to find out how comparatively simple this job proved to be ..... The 'tap rotation' thing seems to be a recurring bugbear of plumbers. Over the last 4 or 5 days I've read pages and pages on forums about this. Seems that if the taps (especially mono's) are not bonded to the worktop/sink/bath, a little movement is possible. Sometimes, the to/fro movement created when using the taps can lead to connecting nuts undoing enough to produce a 'drip' grade leak. Second (free) visit by the plumber is always unwelcome - as it's a loss making visit. The main suggestion, is to do up the tap(s) tight enough so any movement isn't possible. As it turned out, that's what I did. The upper seal washers are made of a non-slipping material that prevents movement when they are compressed - so far anyway. However, this rotation problem has been around a long time. I've read numerous reports of plumbers having to cut taps off sinks (for example) where Plumbers Mait has been used to ensure they never rotated, which they didn't - but they couldn't be removed either. The Fix'a'Tap seems like a good idea, and at £5 a pair delivered, not overly expensive. There's also a similar/cheaper version from Monument, called "Stikfast", at £4-29 for 5 delivered. Either one, cheap insurance?

Taps in, and I didn't need the Fix'a'Tap kit as urgently as I thought, so the kit will be posted. Once I decided to "give-it-a-go" without the special kit, it all went together quite quickly. I had bought the flexible connectors on the Saturday, so I had just about everything I needed, and some. The hot side was to be completed first. This already had the in-line isolator, so had the potential to be easier. Both taps were fitted before any further work was done. Neither seemed keen to rotate (after all) and as the taps were easier to turn on/off anyway, that kit may never be needed. Until 2 years ago I had not been a fan of flexible connectors, often choosing to make the pipe route in copper, often in frustration circumstances. Then I found these hoses were used for brake systems on cars, and had a change of heart. One of my better plumbing decisions, if for no better reason than the end connections seem to need so much less torque to make them watertight? And while some would say it isn't best practice, the seal washers seem to be reusable too. The hot water supply isn't direct, and I wanted the maximum flow without the grief of making a copper route, though I had all the bits to make it. I trial fitted a copper extension from the isolator, and loosely connected the 13mm bore 'push-fit' flexible tap connector. This item is circa 3 times the price of the 10mm bore alternative, so it was quite a luxury. My first attempt had the extension cut too short, because I hadn't realised how much of the copper pipe went into the connector. Fortunately this 'push-fit' version didn't need a special tool to release the pipe, and the second attempt was better. Mindful how conservative I am with plumbing, using 'push-fit' technology is like using a calculator in place of pen and paper..... I had hoped to avoid using an separate inline connector and use a flexi with it's own valve as I could reuse this later on, but I had scored the 'mains' pipe slightly when freeing it from one of the units shelves, so had to cut the pipe shorter than planned. I would never take chances with mains pressure, especially ours as it seems to be so good. Both pipes connected and everything done up tight, it was time to let water flow. Which it did. 3 hours later and no sign of leaks, I'm going to say it's completed. (Yay!)

Having a change the taps weekend....... Bath taps, which are a cheap mono-lever design that barely work thanks to being in a hard water area, and it was a cheap 'emergency' buy, some 2 years ago. The replacement is planned for Sunday. Saturdays job was the kitchen taps. Although another temporary 'repair' as I've got to install a new kitchen later this year ..... The taps come highly recommended despite being budget class, as they have a good pedigree. Took me some time to get the old taps off (been there a long time and there's no room under the sink), but I got there in the end. I'd already fitted an isolating valve to the hot supply and the cold is mains so that was taken care of elsewhere, though I will be fitting and isolator for that too. The new taps look pretty and have a nice feel to them. That's the end of the good news... While getting the old taps out meant I could be a little 'brutal' with the old fittings, I decided (at the last minute) I was missing what could be a useful tool. The holes in the stainless worktop are square, so that the square flanges in the old taps prevented any rotation of the taps when being used. The new taps are round (which they all seem to be) but I still have an enormous square hole to fill with a smaller threaded base. Not only that, but the threaded section is shorter on the new taps too. Put bluntly, nothing fits together any longer, and there's plenty of scope for movement when it does.... 4 lugs stop any rotation of the tap. I'm looking to invest in a little kit called Fix'a'Tap, primarily to use the two washers in the kit that'll prevent the taps rotating when fitted. Seems the washers have adhesive that'll bond the tap to the sink just enough to stop the tap rotating when being turn on or off. This wouldn't usually be a problem, but ..... I realised I have a need for this kit late on Saturday. The usual 'shed' suppliers don't stock these, and until I sort out the cold tap at least, we don't have drinking water (save for the 5L bottle I bought close to midnight tonight.) Although it'll mean a 40 mile round trip tomorrow, I have a solution care of a seller on an auction site, who has agreed to let me collect a kit from him tomorrow lunchtime. The fuel bill will be treble the cost of the kit. I just can't wait for it to be posted .... Going to be a busy day, Sunday.

Walking in 5 inch heels was just the challenge I expected.... The fair weather kept me busy in the garden until past my departure time. Once I had bathed, I readied and went into London. In hindsight I can confirm I wasn't the only person in the Home Counties to think it was a good idea as the road into London was unusually busy for a weekday. As an aside, almost as soon as I walked into Oxford Street, I got spotted by one East European as he walked towards us, (my hip action I expect) who quickly got his two mates to look around too. I was in my longest jeans, and I'm fairly confident it was a wasted look. Not a great start to the evening though..... There was still time to do some window shopping/trouser-trying-on and jersey-top-trying on, but it was disappointingly late, though many shops were still open due to the Thursday (and Friday) late evenings on offer. I had parked close to Debenhams, but not actually gone inside. We had walked West toward Bond Street and the two shops I really wanted to visit. Once I had tried on the bits I might buy (but didn't) we carried on walking toward a restaurant I had a discount voucher for. It was a bit of a trek (especially in heels) but I thought a long walk back after a late meal, might do me some good. When we arrived at the venue, I thought that perhaps I had the wrong part of the street. After a minute or two, I realised the building covered over for renovations, was the same one I had planned to eat in! We had a long walk back, getting more hungry and thirsty with each step. By now it was night time, and 'hip' sway was less obtrusive, as were my heels. Back at the car (finally) I drove East towards another of the restaurant franchises I was familiar with. Fate was against me, in that Westminster had decided April was road repair month. Try as i might, road closures and their detours had me in Piccadilly, which is waaaay South of where I wanted to be. Trying to get back towards Holborn, had me driving past another restaurant in the franchise, so we parked and strode back to the restaurant. At this point we are in the bit of London I know as the Haymarket. Theatres all over the place, and no surprises we might walk past some 'talent'. Having a post performance cigarette, we walked past (and practically into) >> James Dreyfus << who is currently playing the lead role in "Harvey" at the Theatre Royal. He is possibly best known to UK audiences for his multiple camp TV roles .... Roles I always thought were quite likely inspired by experience? If not, he was very convincing. Anyway, I got past him without any physical contact, but it was a close run thing. We arrived at the restaurant very late. Fortunately we planned to share a starter and a main course, so our order was quick and easy to produce. Having smaller portions were a necessity given the time. It didn't stop us being the last customers to leave, and there was only 3 staff left when we did.... This time the car was parked about 100 yards away so we were back on the road home quite quickly. I got back around midnight, a little more than 2 hours after I had originally planned to return. At least an hour of that was due to us walking to a closed restaurant and having to find another, of course. My feet certainly got the work-out I had hoped, but it was obvious to me my ankles need some (re)training. I'll need to spend more time wearing heels, perhaps at home were I almost never wear them.

As with everything, what I "need" to do, and what I actually do, are seldom the same. I don't often need to pilot, as I try to use the old nail holes where possible - the fewer holes the better. But if I'm putting a fresh hole close to an old one in a joist, I will pilot. Some of the boards I've lifted have already been lifted (badly) once already, and require repairs. Where I've had to repair a board, I always drill through with a full-size hole. If I am using a countersunk head, I always countersink the hole. While carpet might hide any lumps and bumps, we don't have any and I know I will be cursed forever, if I leave a screw protruding or try to force the head into softwood. [Call it OCD if you will.] So, pilot, full size, countersink, and of course the 'driver' drill, I bought 4 units. I spent around £400 (same money as 1 Milwaukee) and sold off the excess batteries and chargers - unfortunately when there were plenty being sold. That said, I'm happy with my kit. Batteries charge in 30 minutes, and I have 4 to choose from. At the moment, I can't remember why I chose the £99 over the £49 laser, and I HAVE to resist reviewing the options again, or it'll be another day I get embroiled in stuff that doesn't show Mrs Freddy I've had a busy day. Plus, I've also noticed Makita and Bosch do them too. That's a whole day in front of a screen that is, finding out which I should spend money on .... And that day can't be today....

Don't know the model number, but this is the >> the one << £99 at Screwfix. I agree, it's not that useful that often, but I've had one or two jobs that needed a "couple of slaves" to help and they just weren't available. I manage at the moment, but I'd like one of those levels. I never mind spending money on tools, as long as I get good value for money. I spent years getting by with a single rechargeable drill. When putting floorboards back down, I always use screws. Pilots, full size, countersink meaning I often changed the drill bit - a lot. I now own 4 of these drills, which hindsight tells me was a pendulum swing too far in the other direction. I regularly use two, and I'm pretty sure (can't be fully sure because I don't know where they are) but I doubt I've had more than two out at a time. In fact the last time I put boards back down, I STILL used one drill. Duh! Bringing the post back on-thread ...... A laser level would have confirmed the heel had been chopped shorter straight away. Lot of money to prove a point though.

You may not be surprised to learn, I have a Stanley self-leveller (circa £100) on my "must have" shopping list of DIY kit.