Hecateh

Love how, even religious leaders are singing his praises despite hin saying "that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” ...

I suspect a 'similar' voice will be used for many things once 'a(n in)decent' time has elapsed

??

Brainstorming should we be offended - not according to the epilepsy organisation or the epilepsy foundation BUT YES according to the Daily Fail (and others). Although no longer available an epilepsy magazine used to be call 'Brainstorm' Another example of PC gone mad

Thoughts A bit above B&Q support - not quite a consultant ... or maybe a consultant by another name ... 'projecteer'? 'mentor'? (In the WWW world we aren't constrained by outdated notions, don't have to be onsite etc etc) Not in it to make huge amounts of money BUT as a supplementary income (perhaps supplementary to pension) (Who would have thought a few years ago anyone could make an income from blogging, vlogging or the like) Are we normal? - NO. Do I fit any of the profiles you have described? NO. Whilst I fully own my property I don't have an income and decided building in my garden was better than any of the boxes I could buy. Whilst I can decorate and build flatpack that is about the limit of my practical skills. I have arranged all the finances, utilities etc and am maintaining spreadsheets for cost etc. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. Whilst I like to control things, as an unfit (maybe in more than one way) single person in my 60's with minimal DIY skills, I have to hand over some control however unwillingly. Am I average - I definitely hope not but there are others out there like me who don't have the skills or knowledge to go it alone but given the chance would really love to 'build' their own. What is often stopping them is lack of knowledge that it is a possibility and fear (often the biggest fear is being ripped off or taken for a ride). I read a statistic that says there are currently about 17000 people self-building each year. There must be at least as many who would love to. My finished house won't be passive but it will be much much better than an off the peg from the likes of Barratt or whoever are the current mass builders My finished house won't be high end - but it will suit my needs better than a mass market one. My finished house will be much better than anything mass market I could have bought but it would have been even better, for the same cost, if I had known, when I started, what I know now and what I have learned from this site. I also don't know what my mental state would have been now if I hadn't found this site. My finished house, despite spending a large proportion on labour costs will still come in at less than £150 sqm. I have no idea if anyone on here could make a career out of supporting novices to self build I do believe there are some who could supplement their income by doing so if their concern stayed with support, education and material/labour sourcing rather than making a fortune especially bearing in mind self-build is currently being encouraged. I don't know what would have persuaded me to 'buy' the service of a 'projecteer'. But (admittedly with hindsight) I think 5k for a projecteer (mentor??) who I trusted would have been good value and would have saved me more. With a minimum specified access to interaction. Alternatively, an hourly rate for an open online chat, Research time to be negotiated (As in – I can check that out for you it will take me around x hours at £x per hour) This may be a load of waffle (I am the good side of a bottle of wine) Marketing via Facebook? Whilst the most helpful on her are not representative of 'your average house buyer' neither are you necessarily representative of the average self build person. I'm sure that whilst many are like you there are also many who know what they want but 'have' to let someone else decide how to get there. For many of them, someone who would genuinely try to get them what they wanted without them having to learn a lot of skills they have neither the time nor the inclination to learn, would be worth their weight in gold. So far as I can see, the main issue is the marketing

I;m sure she would accept mirror finished chrome if she truly believed you would polish them on a weekly basis. Lovely when clean but take some maintenance

This site seems to explain the regulations well and doesn't mention a minimum diameter for hand rails. It also says that the first 2 stairs do not need a handrail https://www.wonkeedonkeerichardburbidge.co.uk/building-regulations-explained/

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.” ― Charles Dickens

Maybe! but i like the paternoster - when I wake up I can either go to bed or get up = depending on the time - where I am

A man after my own heart - which means it's relatively easy to buy 6 of the same and stack them - and have somewhere to transfer one or 2 to for specials - when you want a favourite to start with. briefly discussed a poor man's version of this with my builder as I have a 1m (ish) void below my utility - Decided the way I went through red wine it wasn't worth it LOL

One woman = any woman??? (I know we are rare on here but ... )

Try this lots of different ideas https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=wine rack&eq=wine rack&etslf=8372&term_meta[]=wine|autocomplete|undefined&term_meta[]=rack|autocomplete|undefined This is particularly fab

If they are as reliable as they say they are why would they balk at giving you a 5 year warranty - shouldn't make any difference

welcome

I can understand companies not wanting to take large payments by credit card but they should have the facility set up to take smaller deposits this way with the remainder paid by bacs. However, care would need to be taken as I suspect some would use a third party (izettle or similar or even PayPal) and there have been cases where when payment has been collected through a third party cover is not provided. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/cards/2017/04/revealed-section-75-credit-card-protection-may-fail-due-to-payment-processing-loophole---shoppers-beware

Credit card???

Miele off my list of desirable products

Similar experience then - no interest in small jobs from those able to do it Although mine isn't as far as yours, it is all under tarmac; the first half will be pavement so no road closure the second half is cul de sac road so will require daytime closure and plates overnight. Just one more occasion to grit my teeth; take it on the chin; man up; not get my knickers in a twist; bite the bullet; rephrase it; Keep a stiff upper lip; come to terms with; put it behind be and move on.

@lizzie I've been offered tickets to a few of these shows as well. I never thought of offering them on here thinking that others would have them too BUT have just realised from your post that may not be so. If I can find them I'll offer them on here Thanks for giving me the idea. True lots of people get free offers but not everyone has the links to get them

You mean you wanted someone else to open the window instead of you?

And what's wrong with red hair? Certainly an advantage to me as I have never needed one of these

My dad taught him at school

Pun was definitely intended . Contacted 3 other companies for quotes - all declined, or didn't even bother responding to my enquiry I put a post on here when I first got the quote (

I go along with this, working on a children's ward in the 70's a variety of kids came in with a variety of things, mostly cured luckily, BUT the scruffy little urchins went home more healthy than they came in - good food probably being the biggest factor. However the children from ultra clean homes invariably caught any bug going round.

I see your fingerless gloves and raise you 'the ribbing off an old pair of walking socks' around my wrists - surprising how it helps