ToughButterCup

The trouble with holidays is that they give @MrsRA time to think. And dream. She's set her heart on an internal folding glass door (2.8m by about 3m). I notice that there are any number of suppliers out there. And that makes me wonder how to filter them - other than by price? What to avoid? Any recommendations? Ian

Is that what dads of the 60s did, then? Mine made bricks and paving slabs - he embedded ammonites in them for fun. Must go back and have a look to see if they are still there... @Onoff (above). I distinctly remember being taught how to mix concrete and mortar when I was about 7. Mind you, it was all green fields round us then.....

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If you hadn't posted this, I would... but later this afternoon. Thanks! Ian

@Steptoe, is the insurance sector really going to ignore such a large market? I ask because I insure my Land Rover for off road driving - a tiny market.

Same thing happens when your parachute harness is loose. Or is loosened deliberately during the flight because harnesses are uncomfortable. An hour in turbulence in a C130 with almost everyone being airsick isn't fun. First time I heard a scream in the air I wondered what it was: the next scream was mine. My eyes watered for a good while. When I told the unexpurgated story to a group of Mental Health nurses that I worked with, one replied; " Ohhhh, ah knaws a groop 'o mates up in Lundun who'd pay good muney fer that. At that, my eyes watered all over again - at both the memory and the remark.

"What? More tools? How many more do you want?" "But I neeeeeeeed one"

Yeah? Well I tell ya @MrsRA would have me storing this that and the other in there - and then "Do a few sprouts for Christmas while you have a bit of a play with your tool" (s)

Spot-On-John!

I ask for your help because I've tried for myself for at least one full swear-word-filled day. And I ask because I know there are some CAD whizzkids on here. I have been given a CAD file for the foundation plan. And published to pdf and then printed that at A3 size. (attached) 1615 - 01(1) - Insulated foundation (1).pdf Looking at sheet 2 with an Acrobat Reader, you'll see a series of detailed drawings all assembled on one page. At A4, the page is illegible, at A3 the drawings are more understandable. I will have the sheet printed at A1. I am using AutoDesk TrueView 2017 to view the file. And I can't for the life of me manage to publish or plot or print the small sub-sections of 1615-02 sheet 2 of 2 in an A4 format. Please tell me I don't have to print at A1 and then cut the drawing up?

Every time I walk in his office. "So, Ian, what's the matter then?" "Rather thought you might be able to tell me Doc. "

I splashed out; worth its weight in gold for my damaged hands. I'm never going to use it for more than a couple of days at a time. Annoyed about the Bosch second - fix nailer, it is (was) so bad that they withdrew it. So, buying DeWalt, now I need yet another charging system.

And we wonder why there are so many houses that look exactly the same, same old same old. Imagination hits builders right in the bank balance. And we can't have that now can we? Customers don't like it.

So, that's a simple bit of maths, then isn't it? Even I can manage the volume of a cylinder (Pi r squared * h). No need to go below 4 meters (our deepest bore hole_) First thing I did with the new digger was dig a 2 meter deep pit and fence it off. Bone dry since July. So why don't I simply fill that pit with stone? Oh for God sake! There's nowt like making a fool of yourself in public is there?

Erm....... it was, until a few moments ago, an unknown unknown, that's why. So now it's a known unknown, off I go on another assault on the learning curve. More I play this game, the more I know I don't know.

We need piles because we're on 'made ground'. We've chosen to use stone columns instead of steel piles. So far so good. We need to satisfy SUDS requirements. So, what's wrong with popping (say) four more closely grouped stone columns in our garden to act as a soakaway? No need to compact the stone to 150kN, but we could easily (20 minutes) pop four stone columns in for a few extra quid, and have a soak away. Too simple innit? What have I missed?

Too sensitive. Two years after we accepted our design we are still nudging this or deleting that. We minute every meeting and review the architect's fees two or three times a year. It's his job to tell us that this or that won't work because.... Sam made an exact 1 meter error in the levels the other day. He was grateful that I picked it up. It's a partnership.

That's exactly why online self-paced learning is so popular. Dip in, out, ignore, skip, yes i like this bit, I'll watch / listen. Just right for you Ed

At exactly the same stage as you are @dogman. You seem to have done it without slicing your thumb in half. Well done! Ian

Having done exactly this because of my brick-obsessed dad, (and given the sensible approaches above) I'd say make sure you get the right clay: it's critical you get that right. '.... bottom of the pond....' WILL fail. Go and beg 50Kg of clay from your local brick company : this is ours (Claughton) the source is the 'smudge' in the hillside, and the line through the trees is the aerial rope-way laden with buckets down to the factory When you get the clay 'work' it thoroughly with your hands, get rid of every bit of 'rubbish' and pack and stack your forms under pressure for a few hours before firing. Vibrate the forms if you can (get rid of as much air as you can). Your local clay may well be different. Good excuse to visit pubs and ask if any locals have experience with local brick making. The satisfaction of making your own brick is immense. Good luck.

Ah, that's an annoyance...., but not quite the irritation that @jamiehamy is experiencing. That meeting will be a delicate one @jamiehamy. I do so wish that @Steptoe's resolution was one we could all use. Might be an idea to mention that lots of us will be following how the company deals with it. Correctly handled, this issue has the potential to improve the company's reputation: systems and people prove themselves for what they are when things go wrong.

I'm about to hide this thread just in case Nora reads it. She'd be outraged, outraged I tell you.

A quick read of paragraph 8.1 of our Delegated Report will explain my focus on precedent. '... The approval of the outline application in this location is not seen to set a precedent for further new dwellings and development in this immediate setting....'

And, since they charge, the alternative is to do the legwork yourself. And by legwork, I mean reading, networking and visits. Reading Since there's an awful lot of LPA documentation online, sift it for similar applications submitted. That'll give you a feel for what's needed: and pay particular attention to the name of the official who is dealing with your case. Read as many relevant applications as you can. And watch for the local interpretation of words like 'sustainable'. When you've had enough of reading, do some more. Networking The LPA will have a 'feel' about it. New Head of Department? New staff? Outsourced staff? Old timers? Visit the odd Planning Committee meeting. The pub, your mates, your mates mates, Mrs XYZ down the road, waste time with them. The Parish Council, (sorry, but it's a good idea) Visits Found an interesting decision? Go and have a look, especially if its local to you: you're looking for precedent

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