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2026-08-30 11:10:41 +01:00
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@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Our shortlist was between 'Blob' and 'Tube'.
Blob or tube? Blob? Or tube?? A tricky decision. Blob or tube? Blob? Or tube?? A tricky decision.
What then followed was a philosophical debate as to whether all matter in the universe can be split into blob and tube. (We were also reminded of Ozzy's friend Chris' opinion that the only real colours are blue and brown, and all other perceived colours are just a shade of blue or brown.) What then followed was a philosophical debate as to whether all objects in the universe can be split into blob and tube. (We were also reminded of Ozzy's friend Chris' opinion that the only real colours are blue and brown, and all other perceived colours are just a shade of blue or brown.)
This however raised more questions than it answered. This however raised more questions than it answered.
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Is a sponge a blob or a tube?
Where is the cut off point for a long potato to be tube rather than blob? Where is the cut off point for a long potato to be tube rather than blob?
What about Mike Oldfield's Tubular Blobs? What about Mike Oldfield's wonderful album: Tubular Blobs?
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
@@ -82,14 +82,13 @@ We ended up going with blob.
]} ]}
/> />
✅ Done done!
# Bits and bobs (blobs?)
# Bits and bobs (or should we say blobs)
We also got some smaller jobs done. In no particular order with no particular fanfare: We also got some smaller jobs done. In no particular order with no particular fanfare:
We added a block to the floorboard in the lounge that had no support underneath. Previously we had stopped people from stepping on it by covering it with a sofa. One of our floorboards was doing a pretty good impression of a springy diving board. Previously we'd 'fixed' this by hiding it under a sofa, but a bit of lounge rearrangement called for a better solution, so we added an extra block to support it.
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
@@ -97,12 +96,12 @@ We added a block to the floorboard in the lounge that had no support underneath.
]} ]}
/> />
We added a doorknob to the back door to the garden, and added some brass doorknobs to replace the plastic ones on the top floor. (sprinkling of knobs through the house?) We added a doorknob to the back door to the garden to stop us scraping our knuckles when trying to close it, and added some brass doorknobs to replace the plastic ones on the top floor.
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
{ title: "Plastic knob 👎", src: s("knob-old") }, { title: "Plastic knob 👎", src: s("knob-old") },
{ title: "Knob!", src: s("knob1") }, { title: "Brass knob 👍", src: s("knob1") },
{ title: "Knob!", src: s("knob2") }, { title: "Knob!", src: s("knob2") },
{ title: "Knob!", src: s("knob-kitchen") }, { title: "Knob!", src: s("knob-kitchen") },
]} ]}
@@ -119,7 +118,9 @@ We got our lounge fireplace swept so we can have occasional fires on cold nights
# Curtain poles # Curtain poles
We have not had the best experience with attaching heavy things to our walls. No matter what we tried, the wall plugs would steadily be pulled out of the wall. We tried little plaster cloths, we tried matchsticks. It worked okayyy, but our main approach was to just not have heavy things on the walls. Argh, curtain poles!
In general, we haven't had the best experience with attaching heavy things to our walls. No matter what we tried, the wall plugs would steadily be pulled out of the wall. We tried [little plaster cloths](https://www.wickes.co.uk/Rawlplug-Wet-n-Fix-Repair-Pads---Pack-of-10/p/300747) (useless), we tried matchsticks (slightly better). It worked okayyy, but our main approach was to just not have heavy things on the walls.
But one day we realised our bedroom curtains weren't fully attached when they fell off the wall, while we were trying to get to sleep. Argh! But one day we realised our bedroom curtains weren't fully attached when they fell off the wall, while we were trying to get to sleep. Argh!
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ As it's a north facing bedroom, we are leaning into the cosy with a nice muted r
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
{ title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint1") }, { title: "Painty painty - with curtain repairs", src: s("spare-paint1") },
{ title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint1andabit") }, { title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint1andabit") },
{ title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint2") }, { title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint2") },
{ title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint3") }, { title: "Painty painty", src: s("spare-paint3") },
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ As it's a north facing bedroom, we are leaning into the cosy with a nice muted r
Next on the list was leaning into the cosy by fixing the heating. Next on the list was leaning into the cosy by fixing the heating.
The issue with the radiator was that the TRV had seized up, and it wouldn't be possible to just replace it like for like. The old radiator had imperial tails, and the TRV was horizontal rather than vertical. A modern replacement TRV would be too far away from the existing pipes. We took the opportunity to get a nice new radiator with a standard radiator tail and standard TRVs. The issue with the radiator was that the TRV had seized up, and it wouldn't be possible to just replace it like for like. The old radiator had imperial tails, and the TRV was horizontal rather than vertical. A modern replacement TRV wouldn't line up with the existing pipes, so we took the opportunity to get a nice new radiator with a standard radiator tail and standard TRVs.
There's a nice-looking radiator shop just down the road from us, so we decided to go with them. Support local and all that. But when they quoted us £600 to plumb the new radiator in (radiator not included) we thought they were having a laugh and what's the worst that could happen if we just did it ourselves. There's a nice-looking radiator shop just down the road from us, so we decided to go with them. Support local and all that. But when they quoted us £600 to plumb the new radiator in (radiator not included) we thought they were having a laugh and what's the worst that could happen if we just did it ourselves.
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ First we mounted the new radiator on the wall. This was the easy bit.
What came next was a lot of plumbing research using the good old school of youtube. What came next was a lot of plumbing research using the good old school of youtube.
Armed with our new expertise, we went to Screwfix to buy a big blowtorch. What followed after was a lot of practising to solder pipe together without leaks. We had also remembered our tips from Simon as to how to solder pipe. Armed with our new expertise, we went to Screwfix to buy a big blowtorch. What followed after was a lot of practising to solder pipe together without leaks. We had also remembered our tips from Simon on how to solder pipe.
<Quote person="💡 Simon's Top Tip for Soldering 💡" date="Dec 2022"> <Quote person="💡 Simon's Top Tip for Soldering 💡" date="Dec 2022">
The important bit is to not set things on fire The important bit is to not set things on fire
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ In particular, we also recalled why you don't vertically wire wool the pipe to c
(Diagram of why to not vertically wire wool a pipe) (Diagram of why to not vertically wire wool a pipe)
We practised so much that we had to go back to Screwfix to get more pipe and couplings, and to get better flux and solder. The Baby's First Flux and Solder supplied by the kit was absolute rubbish. Maybe it's a ruse by Big Solder to get you to hire actual plumbers. We practised so much that we had to go back to Screwfix to get more pipe and couplings, and to get better flux and solder. The stuff supplied in the Baby's First Soldering kit that we'd bought was absolute rubbish. Maybe it's a ruse by Big Solder to get you to hire actual plumbers.
We also needed to bend the pipe to accommodate the slightly wider combined width of the radiator and new TRVs. We practised this too. The trick for a dogleg is to draw a line on the pipe bender so your second bend is the same angle as the first. It's also important to be sure you're bending in the same z axis. We also needed to bend the pipe to accommodate the slightly wider combined width of the radiator and new TRVs. We practised this too. The trick for a dogleg is to draw a line on the pipe bender so your second bend is the same angle as the first. It's also important to be sure you're bending in the same z axis.
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ Practice makes perfect! Or at the very least makes less terrible.
]} ]}
/> />
We refilled the system and monitored our handiwork for leaks, but there weren't any, which felt a bit wrong considering how plumbing in our house usually seemed to go! Everything seemed to go just a bit too smoothly. We refilled the system and monitored our handiwork for leaks... and there weren't any! We were pretty unnerved considering how plumbing in our house usually seemed to go! Everything seemed to go just a bit too smoothly.
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ We refilled the system and monitored our handiwork for leaks, but there weren't
Quids in. Nice and toasty warm. Quids in. Nice and toasty warm.
We also decided to switch out the switches and sockets for some new ones. We didn't want to go with the sockets we normally go for (cheap white Screwfix multipacks) as it wouldn't go with the walls, so Nikki decided to plump for some fancier ones. These are made by the same people as our 'invisible' kitchen island sockets, which, invisibility or lack thereof aside, are really very nice to use. The toggle light switch in particular is very fun to fiddle with. We also decided to switch out the switches and sockets for some new ones. We didn't want to go with the sockets we normally go for (cheap white Screwfix multipacks) as it wouldn't go with the walls, so Nikki decided to plump for some fancier ones. These are made by the same people as our 'invisible' kitchen island sockets which, whilst lacking invisibility, are really very nice to use. The toggle light switch in particular is very fun to fiddle with.
<Cards <Cards
images={[ images={[
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ Last of all, we scheduled in our favourite carpet shop to replace our least favo
The new carpet is great and so soft to walk on. The new carpet is great and so soft to walk on.
They had to trim a little off the bottoms of the doors to account for the increased carpet thickness so we now have 50% more openable doors! Not that we needed the door between the spare room and office to actually open, but it's nice to have the option. We have a door wedge to keep it shut again. They had to trim a little off the bottoms of the doors to account for the increased carpet thickness so we now have 50% more openable doors! Not that we needed the door between the spare room and office to actually open, but it's nice to have the option. We have a door wedge to keep it shut again. (It helps people de-clench)
We also managed to find this armchair in a local shop which just happened to be on sale, down from ludicrously expensive to actually worth getting. The colour is a perfect match! It's great quality too, very comfy to sit in, perfect for relaxing and reading. We also managed to find this armchair in a local shop which just happened to be on sale, down from ludicrously expensive to actually worth getting. The colour is a perfect match! It's great quality too, very comfy to sit in, perfect for relaxing and reading.