Find your local beekeepers association – should be readily available with a bit of googling or use this link.

They will come round and remove it for you.

Me too.

Celtic Camping – St. Davids[/url]

Rich.

Depends on your route but here’s a few.
Pembrokeshire is my home county so I can give better ideas if I know you’re approximate arrival times and routing.

Dolgellau is a pleasant town with reasonable facilities.

King Arthur’s labrynth, between Dolgellau and Machynlleth is good for a toilet stop and has a cafe.

Machynlleth – another town which will have coffee shops etc. or call in to the Centre For Alternative Technology.

Ynys-Hir, just before Furnace , has toilets etc. and is good for a picnic.

Aberystwyth has all the major supermarkets.

Aberaeron has a good fish and chip shop (on the side road towards the harbour).

Cardigan – loads of places during the day and also a Tescos.

Crymych – a nice cafe during the day – toilets in Crymych are shut at the moment but you could use the leisure centres I’m sure.

Efailwen – Cafe Beca.

Clunderwen – toilets and a park.

Narberth – cafes, toilets etc.

Rich.

Cycling orientated – I like his photos.

Fyxo.co[/url]

Rich.

I think there is a camping and caravanning site in Chertsey, just over Chertsey Bridge on the Chertsey side of the river. Stayed there quite a few years ago so things may have changed since then. You might have to be a member to camp there though.

Rich.

Mike,
It’s natural to worry. It may all turn out fine, but whatever happens, he’ll still be your boy and he will fill yours and other people’s lives with love and happiness.

I have the pleasure of being involved with some Downs/learning difficulties people and they are fantastic, fun and happy people. Their life is just a bit different to “normal”, but no less rewarding in it’s own way.

The fears and issues are in our own minds, not theirs.

Having kids is stressful full stop. Some will just be stressful in different ways.

Good luck and keep us informed, we’re all here to help.

Rich.

Caveat – not an expert but have renovated a stone house in Pembrokeshire using traditional materials – so a little knowledge could be dangerous……

Don’t think chemical DPCs work on stone/rubble houses but might be better suited on brick+mortar.

The moisture needs to evaporate away through the walls so any impermeable surface such as gypsum plaster, wallpaper, vinyl paint etc will cause problems. Plastering inside should be lime as should any render outside with limewash as a decorative covering. This will allow moisture to move through the walls.

As dave_rudabar says, evaporation will be helped by ensuring the ground around the outside of the building is clear (no concrete; ground level below inside floor level). Also ensure gutters etc. are functioning correctly.

Does the party wall have a chimney? Maybe there is a water penetration issue that’s causing it.

Another issue may be the flooring. Water will migrate to the walls if a solid floor has been installed. The original floor would either be suspended or packed earth with a permeable floor covering.

Old houses and modern materials don’t really mix. A lot of surveyors and builders don’t really understand the way they work in comparison to a cavity built building.

Rich.

Usage of a VHF radio will require you to get a licence, although it is not an offence to use it unlicenced in an emergency.

Ok, a bit out of touch with my law but if I remember correctly section 170 of the Road Traffic Act requires you to stop and exchange names and addresses. It only becomes reportable if damage is done to a third party’s property or injury is caused (or certain animals hurt). There doesn’t have to be a collision as such. (There’s something about “due to the presence of a vehicle on the road…” which I can’t remember off the top of my head).

Also, I don’t think you’ve been charged, just “NIP”d – given a notice of intended prosecution. The evidence will be considered and a decision made as to whether there is enough evidence.

It could be argued that if you were unsure as to whether an accident took place you should have reported it but I personally think that’s a bit dubious as the local police stations would be full of people reporting near misses.

A DWODCA is possible as you’ve continued a manoeuvre with limited space when waiting to confirm the bus has stopped would have been the safe option.

It’s a “your word against his” job (unless the bus has video) But it could depend on how many witnesses were there on the bus that would state the bus had to brake sharply to avoid you?

Rich.

sugarsync

100-300 Watts depending on whether I have the dehumidifier running. A shower with the pull cord on will draw minimal current – just enough to light the neon.
Rich

I think an air conditioning unit would work but I would also echo the cost/benefit against turning up the heating.

sadmadalan has got it. The tariff is about to drop too if I remember. Panels are cheaper now than a couple of years ago but the tariff is much lower too. The breakeven is probably still around 7-10 years but the profit in the remaining period will be lower.
The rate of return is probably better than if the capital is in a bank account earning little interest but I would be concerned that the money is effectively tied up. If you find you need a lump sum for, say, an urgent operation, you can’t get to it.
Not saying they are a bad investment, just that there are other sides to it to consider.
Also, I would steer clear of the “rent a roof” free electricity brigade. I can’t see much in it to offset the possible hassle with house sale in the future.
Rich.

sorry to bring an old thread back to life but fans might like this….

My son’s just passed his driving test.

Take a look at the transition network[/url] which is looking to build local resiliance and “transition” away from the dependency on fossil fuels.

Mindfulness is a key element of buddhism, which is certainly not new age.
I’m not sure mindfulness on it’s own is much without the other aspects of buddhism though (4 Noble Truths, Eightfold Path etc).
Rich.

A bit of a journey but….

Wood Park Off Road

Made my weekend.
Good luck.
Rich.

On a flight to Hong Kong some years ago. Woke up from a sleep in my layback business class seat; stretched my arm out as you do only to find I was now stroking the thigh of the stewardess who was speaking to the person across the aisle.

Bought one for my daughter for Christmas and she’s very happy with it. She’s only 12 so needed something small for a little wrist. Does everything she needs and probably more than she’ll want.
Rich.

When the PV generates it will record it’s production on the generation meter (not visible in the photo) so you’ll get your FIT ok. However, if the PV is producing 3kW and the immersion is on with a view to making use of the electricity being produced, it will tick up on your normal meter (ie the one in the photo) so you’ll be billed at your normal rate for the electricity your producing.

You may have already said that in your first post but it’s been a long day so forgive me if I missed it.

Rich.

I think it might actually be worse than that as any electricity generated and used in the house is going through the supplier’s meter which you are paying for as it will incremment.
Rich.

If you love the woman then go regardless.

Pembrokeshire is a county of two halves – the predominantly English speaking and busier south and the Welsh speaking, quieter north. Being a northern resident I tend to favour it over the south, but there are some lovely places all over.

Narberth is worth a walk around – not far from Bluestone. If you’re going after Easter, Lawrenny Quay has a lovely cafe (the Quayside Cafe).

The Tafarn Sinc pub in Rosebush is worth a look. A bit touristy now but food is ok and there are some good walks/cycling from there.

Newport is in my opinion overrated. Nothing of any interest in Fishguard to speak of. North coast between Fishguard and St. Davids is lovely with some good walks. Porthgain has a pub (the Sloop) and a restaurant both of which do good food.

Abereiddy beach was one of my favourites but I think it was effectively destroyed in the recent storms.

There are some good MTB routes in the county but they’re not well publicised. Off the Preselis towards Newport there is some good singletrack but I’m not fit enough to ride it.

The museum at Scolton Manor is quite interesting and could be worth visiting if it’s wet.

Be prepared for a bit of a drive if you want to find restaurants – Pembrokeshire can be very quiet out of season.

Rich.

I normally wire to the switch. To a rose is great when there is a rose but nowdays it’s often downlighters or other fancy stuff that needs all the rose connections lost in the ceiling (where you can’t get to them) or in the fitting (which are too small to take them). The downside is that there are more wires in the wall and box so it requires 35mm deep boxes to get them all in.
Rich.

120w x 8 = 960W 960/230 = 4.17 amps. 1.5mm cable will carry at least 10amps so 🙂

Obviously normal caveats apply to all advice as I’m not on site to confirm anything.

Rich.

I assume you mean making the switched lives to the lights a ring? No, wouldn’t do it like that. Radial to the lights. Assuming eight units at 50watts a unit = 400W total lighting. 400W < 2 amps. 1mm cable carries at worst 8amps buried in insulation so all ok. Use LEDs and there is less than a quarter of an amp drawn.
Rich.

Sounds right but the cable between the fused switch (photo)and the FCUs should have a current carrying capacity greater than the rating of the MCB in the consumer unit otherwise they become the weak link in the chain so to speak.
Rich.

A 3kw immersion heater is 13 amps, so two is 26amps.

A shower circuit is probably going to be 6mm2 with either a 32A or 40amp mcb so the cable could carry both safely.

The cable to each element is probably going to be 1.5mm heat resistant flex; maybe 2.5mm. The MCBs are overrated for the current carrying capacity of the flex so ideally you should add fused switches (FCUs) for each circuit. I’d need to check the regs. but I think that if the length of the flex is less than 3m and the cable can carry the throughput of the prospective fault current (adiabatic equation) then you don’t need to provide overload protection so you could just join the flex to the 6mm without fusing it down.

The problem will be getting 2x 6mm cables into an FCU (you’ll daisy chain the FCUs so the first has 2 cables). You might get them to fit but it will be a PITA to do.

Anyway, to get back to basics – yes the cable will take it. Check they’re not 6kW immersions.

It is also more complex if you want to only have one on at a time. Let me know if this is the requirement as I have a circuit diagram for a relay based solution that solves this.

Rich.

Probably only a live/switched live. However, sometimes you’ll find they’ve been wired to the switch. You’ll find three cables – power in, power out, switched output. Neutrals will be joined. Earths will be joined. Two lives into one terminal, one live (the switched live) in the other terminal.
There is the possibility that the bathroom fan is powered from it too. This will have a live, neutral, switched live and earth (3 core and earth or maybe singles too).

Main switch off! Photograph it before you take it apart. Label what comes out where and rebuild as seen. Put the plug in the sink and the bath and shut the toilet seat. (Don’t ask me how I know to do this).

Sometimes it is possible to disassemble the switch and get it working again but probably better to get a new one.
Rich.

Another one here! Been awake since 4:30 thinking about work issues. I find night time is the worst for me. I am restless, dream loads and it’s when I feel least in control of things. Control is probably the word here. Feeling you’re on top of a situation, or at least feeling you able to get on top of it makes the world of difference.
Exercise definitely works for me; feeling fit gives me a big confidence boost, but work and other commitments has made it very difficult over the last few years. Whilst I would never be critical of people using medication to help them, I feel that they may not address the core issues, instead acting as a suppressant which you need to continually rely on to prevent the symptoms reappearing.

I have been reading up on Buddhism which has been really interesting. I’m a happy athiest and religion doesn’t do it for me but Buddhism is more a philosophy on life and it has given me much to consider.

Another thing that helped me some years ago was to write out my values. I read a book called “7 Habits of Highly Affective People” – much of it wasn’t relevant but one key thing I got from it was about what motivates people. If you are money motivated and you have no money you are unhappy. If you are family motivated and you lose them, you’re unhappy. If you are religiously motivated and your faith goes, you’re unhappy. However, if you’re values driven, they stand the test of time and they’ll always be there whatever adversity you face.

Without wishing to bore you, these are what I came up with, probably 20 years ago and which I still fall back on when I’m struggling.

I will act with honesty, integrity and fairness

I will be polite

I will be punctual

I will be considerate of peoples feelings and needs

I will respect the rights, views and beliefs of others

I will not exploit people or take advantage of them

I will try to meet the other person’s needs as well as my own

I will help support those that cannot support themselves

I will help protect those that are vulnerable

I will make my knowledge and experience available to those who need it

I will help others develop their knowledge and talents

I will respect and protect the environment

I will respect and uphold the spirit of the laws that I am subject to

I will avoid debt

I will not be greedy

I will honour my commitments

I will not walk away from my responsibilities

I will take pride in what I do

I will pull my weight

I will take responsibility for the consequences of my actions

I will not force my values on others

I will not support things which do not match my values

I will stand up for what I believe in

I will speak my mind

Not sure if any of this helps but it’s passed half an hour writing it!

Rich.

Did my house in Pembrokeshire in lime and it made the world of difference. NHL3.5 and roughcast. Inside was NHL3.5 either sponged up or with a putty and fine sand finish. Limewash to cover.
If I were to do it again I’d use hemp lime inside for insulation.
Rich.

PS if you pigment your limewash make sure you keep some to enable a colour match in the future – though any matching is difficult so white is my colour of choice now.

Some ovens come with a 13amp plug as standard. However, these are usually ovens rather than cookers (ie hob and oven combined).

My guess is that the cooker was fitted with a plug by the previous owner as there wasn’t a cooker outlet in the kitchen and they didn’t want the expense of fitting one.

A cooker switch can carry 45 amps so is designed for an electric hob/oven some of which can pull more than 10kW. The cable is usually 6mm rather than the 2.5 or sometimes 4mm of your ring circuit.

Another reason for the cooker switch is isolation. If your chip pan goes up you need to be able to isolate the cooker quickly and easily without having to get behind it.

I assume the new cooker is dual fuel too from the small loading. If so, it could safely be run from a socket outlet but unlike a kettle or washing machine it is on for extended periods which could cause the fuse to go (they are thermal devices so longer = hotter) and puts a high load on your domestic socket circuit.

It will also likely mean that the socket for it is behind the cooker – see isolation above.

The best option is a new 6mm cable from the consumer unit to a cooker point.

3kW = 13amps which is the limit for a socket outlet or a Fused Connection Unit (a fused switch). If you don’t want the expense of running a new circuit then try it on the socket. 1.5mm cable at minimum to the cooker (carries 16 amps max) but 2.5mm is better. Heat resistant flex is better than twin and earth.

As long as the cable doesn’t act as a fuse, which it won’t with a 13amp fuse and the right size cable, it will be safe but I’d personally prefer to be able to isolate in an emergency.

Rich.

I went back to college to do my electricians qualifications at around 45. It was no problem. It helped that there were a few older guys on the course but it was good fun being with the younger lads. As someone who is reasonably academic I was able to help a lot of them out with the maths/physics bits. We got on really well and we always stop and chat when we see each other out.
What was frustrating was the fact that at 45 you’ve generally got the work ethic and want to get on with stuff. College can be a lot of sitting around, form filling and time wasting in between the learning bits.
New challenges are always good. Give it a go.
Rich.

I wasn’t planning on leaving here (Pembrokeshire) until after lunch, so arrival in Chertsey would be around 4-4:30pm. I’ll keep you posted though if I change my plans. My email is in my profile if you want to get in touch.
Rich.

What sort of time were you looking to go? I’m not sure what I’m doing yet but had been pondering a trip to London to see my parents. Not certain I’ll be going and it might be a late decision if I do.
Rich.

I think they are supposed to be quite good. Take a look at Ken Rockwell’s website Ken Rockwell[/url] He has a lot of lens reviews.
My guess is they will not have a massive value as they are going to be quite common. A check of the going rates on ebay is probably worthwhile.
Rich.

There are no doubt some excellent surveyors out there but I think that there are more than a few that have “done a course” and are out there working. When my friend sold his listed cottage the surveyor who came round didn’t have a clue; much less about old properties. He even took a picture of his Henry vacuum because he thought it looked cute!

Unless you know of a good surveyor I think the services of a good builder who has experience and an eye for detail is a better investment (and probably cheaper).

Rich.