Early Risers.

[Guest Dave.C]

The sun is shining, the birds are singing…

 

The velux fitter and his mate are on site

 

My modelling environment is about to improve significantly

[gordon s]

Great to hear Dave.

 

Just out of interest, have you ordered any blinds? I have Velux windows in my railway room and the sun pours in on bright days, so you have to be careful that stock is not left in direct sunlight.

[Guest Max Stafford]

I've considered getting a Velux in my own attic for similar purposes. Is it an expensive operation?

 

Dave.

[eldavo]

Morning All, A few oktas in evidence but also large patches of blue. Is this normal? Looks as though I will have to go into the office after lunch. Bother!

 

Anyone know how much 3cu metres of Limestone scalpings costs? Oh and 3 cu metres of readymix concrete?

 

Cheers

Dave

[DDolfelin]

"looks like your FIL could do with some local assistance"

Too true.

However, Social Services will never be allowed across his threshold while he is still breathing.

We moved BiL in to live with them which has proved a waste of time when it comes to emergencies.

Either he's not there or makes the wrong decisions - and has severe back problems.

Forgive the mewling over this situation - I know others have worse scenarios but, on here, it's like Mrs Dale's Diary.

Currently, they are buying things to replace items which, in some cases are less than three months old.

In the last week they've installed a new front door for £800 to replace a perfectly good twelve months old door.

A chair has been replaced with new - after four months.

MiL has bought three Fridges in the last 12 months!

I don't mind this - it's their money - but it gives an idea of their confused state.

Very difficult to deal with.

[Guest Dave.C]

Hi Gordon, yes blinds have already been mentioned to me, I will make something myself rather than buying a RTR item

 

Dave, obviously there are different sizes and the price varies, you also need a fitting kit. I have gone for one that is 98 x 78 cm. I am paying £150 for the actual fitting. I think a competent DIY’r could do it themselves but the other half wanted a professional to do it

[DDolfelin]

Velux: Yes, I think they are costly for what they are.

Essential they are fitted properly.

Also, the blind is not a DIY job.

[45156]

Morning All

 

Firstly, DD, a me too about your mum in law, pleased that she's not too badly hurt. I know exactly what you're going through there, as I had the same, and my mum was on her own, with the nearest relative about 15 miles away. Luckily, Social Services intervened after she overdosed on insulin, and having had a home assessment by an Occupational Therapist, was ruled unfit to return home, so the move to residential care was made without her having any say in the matter - just as well we did, as she's now reached a stage where she does not know who is visiting her, or indeed that they have visited at all. Watch out for hoarding of money in the house, as my mum did that, and had cash hidden all over the house that she'd drawn from the bank every time her pension went in. When we cleared the house, we had to check every nook and cranny, every drawer and every cupboard, and found nearly £1000 in fivers and tenners stashed away.

Arte Better to get your Velux blinds fitted professionally - we didn't and the DIY affair that we had was hopeless as our visitors told us, being wakened by bright sunlight about 6 am as our offering was not light tight at all.

Dave hope Abi's not too bad after her mishap.

Dominik Carbon monoxide is also a migraine precursor, so as has been suggested, perhaps any appliances might need checking. I've fitted a CO detector as my living room was made smaller - in the hope, of course, that it never goes off.

 

Chez 45156 not too bad - managed to get to the Doctors with assistance from a friend, and also got back - first thing the nurse said when I went for my jab was "what's happened to you?" - I think it was an opening gambit, as she had my notes on the screen and the last entry was about the latest letter from the specialist. Still, it was nice that she asked. Oddly, the flu jab affected me a bit yesterday, as I came over very woozy - not what usually happens.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Tony_S]

That would be a blast from the past for me!

 

I was trying to remember where Debenhams is - I moved away from Essex in 1999 and have only been back a couple of times since. I guess my memory has filed the location of Debenhams under "unncessary information". Is it in the Eastgate Shopping Centre?

 

Debenhams is in the Eastgate Centre. They took over the former Allders store. I also spent some time looking round the Asda store that now occupies what was the Sainsbury/BHS Savacentre site at the east end of Eastgate. Matthew's nearest supermarket in Leicester is an Asda and I was looking to see if they stocked some of the things we forgot to take up for his room at Leicester University. Today I've got to send his passport as photo ID for the photo ID issued by the Student Union. Just had a shock when I looked at the credit card bill. It took a moment to realise that the large amount was the fees for my wife's course at university. With all the money going out for Matthew I'd forgotten Mrs S also had paid her postgrad fees by card.

 

As predicted, it is a very nice day here.

 

 

 

[45156]

I'd forgotten Mrs S also had paid her postgrad fees by card.

Don't you just hate it when that happens?

[NGT6 1315]

Stewart, to expand on the suggestion to have the heating checked out - this has been done in spring or early summer and all emission readings were in the green. The burner - it's a gas heating - is in the basement and both the room where the gas main enters the house and the actual heating room are permanently ventilated, with one of the window panes in the burner room having been replaced by a metal grid - which I believe is even mandatory over here. However, I do not know what other household appliances could produce carbon monoxide, so any additional hints would be welcome.

 

We did, however, replace the old capsule coffee machine with one where pads can be used (plastic caps not being particularly environmentally friendly, which in fact was the primary reason for our decision), which means we do use other brands of coffee than those which were available for the capsule machine.

[Robert]

Debenhams is in the Eastgate Centre. They took over the former Allders store.

 

Ahhh - that explains why I couldn't place Debenhams. It was Allders when I lived there!

 

I also spent some time looking round the Asda store that now occupies what was the Sainsbury/BHS Savacentre site at the east end of Eastgate.

 

It was Sainsburys when I lived there. Which always seemed a little stange because of the other Sainsburys in Cricketers Way. That was very convenient when I worked just across the road - I often used to pop over there for sandwiches.

 

I must go back one of these days and see how much it has changed. However, on the other hand - maybe not - It would probably dig up too many memories.

 

The place where my ex-wife worked has gone - turned into a housing estate.

Cranes Court where we both lived, and met has gone - also a housing estate!

 

When you think back, it is amazing how much changes in what is now nearly 15 years.

[45156]

However, I do not know what other household appliances could produce carbon monoxide, so any additional hints would be welcome.

 

We did, however, replace the old capsule coffee machine with one where pads can be used (plastic caps not being particularly environmentally friendly, which in fact was the primary reason for our decision), which means we do use other brands of coffee than those which were available for the capsule machine.

Sounds like the coffee might be your precursor - I was lucky and found mine was cheese, and after that was cut out of the diet (completely which means checking ingredients on prepared foods for both cheese and added sugar) the migraines disappeared and (touch wood) have not returned since.

 

As to the generation of Carbon Monoxide, it is normally the result of incomplete combustion of gas or solid fuel - ie not enough air getting to the appliance - can be from a gas water heater, a cooker or oven, a gas fire, or a central heating boiler - or it can be a solid fuel stove such as a wood burner or coal burner, which is why when my wood burner was fitted, a vent had to be put through the wall to provide additional combustion air.

 

In your case, I don't think CO is the issue, from what you've said.

[DDolfelin]

Radon?

[45156]

Radon?

Possible Dd, Possible.

 

I don't know what the incidence of Radin is in Dominik's area, but when I bought my last house, the survey showed I was in a Radon risk area and recommended a full Radon survey, and possible remedial work.

[Tony_S]

I used to have migraine. My mother had attended migraine clinics and I remembered what she had been told and tried to identify triggers. The primary event in my case was always when I hadn't consumed enough fluids. The next stage was that was slight pain and heightened sensory awareness . Now if I'm daft enough to become thirsty, as long as I take a couple of paracetamol at the first sign of thinking everyone is shouting or that it seems rather bright the migraine will not develop into the full blast (pain, vomiting etc) type. The last couple I had were of the no pain, strange visual effects variety. Flashing lights like disco strobes with windscreen wipers but with no pain was rather unpleasant. At that point I hadn't heard of that type of migraine and wondered if that was one of the stroke symptoms being "advertised" on television recently. My sister in law had terrible migraine with multiple triggers. After the menopause however she stopped having migraines and is now able to eat or drink the items that were event precursors.

 

Tony

[Robert]

Possible Dd, Possible.

 

I don't know what the incidence of Radin is in Dominik's area, but when I bought my last house, the survey showed I was in a Radon risk area and recommended a full Radon survey, and possible remedial work.

 

Radon could be an issue - there are some areas around here where there are high concentrations of Radon. Particularly in the areas where the bedrock is granite (The Taunus for example)

 

However, Dominik reported this is a relatively new phenomena. I would venture to suggest that coffee is more likely.

 

There is more information on Radon here Dominik - http://www.radon-info.de (or indeed anyone else who is interested and can read German).

[DDolfelin]

Another possibility is the site on which the house was built.

If it was previously an industrial site, who knows what gas might be coming up through the substrate, proximity or even underground workings.

 

Of course, the cause is probably due to some personal trigger but possible environmental causes should be ruled out.

 

Speaking of my FiL, he was a big noise in the Water Authority before retiring and was due to be at the opening of a new construction in Lancs.

He couldn't attend and "dodged the bullet".

Methane blew up and killed some people - including, eventually, his secretary.

 

It's probably on Google - I'll have a look.

 

Yup: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01EFDF143BF937A15756C0A962948260

[45156]

 

Methane blew up and killed some people - including, eventually, his secretary.

That'd be the Abbeystead explosion in 1984, which folk round here still speak about.

 

A bit more here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbeystead_disaster

 

and by one of the doctors involved

 

http://www.medbc.com/annals/review/vol_10/num_3/text/vol10n3p171.htm

[Robert]

Good Grief! We never know what is under our feet...

 

I remember working with a chap who used to be a farm labourer just outside Ashford in Kent. He tells the story of the farmer digging a humungeous hole in one of the fields, dumping a load of apple crates into it, and covering them with six foot or so of earth. Years later, the land was sold for development and a housing estate now stands on the site. He said he often wondered whether the developers had located and removed the wood, which must be pretty rotten by now

[45156]

Good Grief! We never know what is under our feet...

 

I remember working with a chap who used to be a farm labourer just outside Ashford in Kent. He tells the story of the farmer digging a humungeous hole in one of the fields, dumping a load of apple crates into it, and covering them with six foot or so of earth. Years later, the land was sold for development and a housing estate now stands on the site. He said he often wondered whether the developers had located and removed the wood, which must be pretty rotten by now

Probably not.

 

I used to live in Surrey, and there was a street where many of the houses needed to be underpinned due to subsidence. This road was actually on a quite steep slope, and when it was built, the developers used the spoil from the build of one of the power stations in Croydon to level the ground, and it was not properly compacted, and the houses in question were settling as a result.

[Robert]

Pretty frightning isn't it?!? I am glad my house was built in the 1930s. I have a few minor cracks from settling - but nothing structural. The surveyor said they are primarily due to the water table dropping when the flood defenses beside the Main were built.

 

The neighbour of a friend who lives down in Devon found a mine shaft in his garden (I think I have told this story on here before). He'd always wondered why there was a large flat boulder in his garden, and got a small digger in to move it. Turns out there was a 250 foot mine shaft directly under it. The old man dug shafts all over Devon and many of them were uncharted. The same went for this one - Camborne school of mines came, carried out a survey of the workings and proclaimed the ginging around the top of the shaft safe. At which point, the boulder was replaced! The only side effect being several thousand being wiped off the value of the property - most people (the late Fred Dibnah excepted) don't want a mine shaft in their garden.

 

He was lucky - many of the shafts were simply backfilled with rubbish. This usually involved chucking large quantities of wood into the shaft, and then putting a layer of earth on top. That's fine until the wood rots, and the earth collapses. Given that the ginging was usually built using the same principles as a dry stone wall that usually collapses as well taking a truck load of earth with it. You end up with a gigantic crater, many times larger than the original shaft.

[NGT6 1315]

However, Dominik reported this is a relatively new phenomena. I would venture to suggest that coffee is more likely.

 

Yes, I started suffering from migraines only about a year ago. My dad, while also suffering from migraines on occasion, did not begin to until he was in his 50s, if memory serves. In his case, severe weather changes appear to be a major factor. I guess all of this goes to show that there's still quite a lot yet to be understood about how humans and nature are linked to one another!

[gordon s]

Been out at my mother's place all afternoon so am just catching up. Our Velux windows are about 1300mm square and from memory, they were about £400 each, but it was a few years back. The venetian blinds are just the job and fit inside the frame very well and can be easily fitted. The beauty of the slatted blinds is that you can set the angle to block out direct sunlight and still let light in and see out. I really would recommend them. I'd also say use professionals. We did, but they did make one error in fitting the rain strips upside down on one window. These things happen and could have happened to anyone. After 10 years the frame started to rot and water started to drip in. In all fairness to them they came out, removed the old window and fitted a new one. This was way outside the guarantee period, so I paid for the window and all they did the rest FOC. I suspect others may have just walked away from it.

 

These are two of the windows, fitting kit and blinds in situ, along with a very early version of Eastwood that has since gone to that big scrap heap in the sky....

 

[DDolfelin]

Nice cleaning job for someone on those slats, Gordon.

Leaning over a few feet of layout too!