Local independent jeweller – probably best to try the one who made it.
You’ll get a grand if you catch them on a good day and £800 if not.
“It’s got to sit in my window and I don’t like to hold too much stock. With it being custom made it won’t be to everyones taste” etc etc
You could try “Cash for Gold”, but they simply melt stuff down and move it on. The stones don’t sound too big so they won’t even consider those.
Settings take time and that’s where a lot of the money goes into making a custom ring.

Get a Stove fan. They spread the heat around the room.

http://iqdesign.ie/smartfan.html

If people spent less time on photoshop and more time helping others etc etc etc…

I once saw someone shoplifting from a charity shop. I consider this tripe to be in the same league. Making up a news story to sell a paper is low, even by the standards of the Sun.

RedTed – Thank You.
Millie says “Thanks so much -you’ve donated to a good cause and have donated to children who are less fortunate than me”.

A couple of hours ago we found out that a friend of ours had passed away last night, having had cancer for 3 years. She was in her early forties and her children play with our on the beach in the summertime etc. Cancer is horrible.

Millie’s first question was “Will my children in need money go to help Herbie and Ellis?” She was referring to a piece in the show that helped young kids with the grieving process when one or both of their parents had died… If everyone thought in this selfless manner the world would be a better place.

Thanks to everyone who’s donated. Today more than ever, makes it even more poignant.
STW – The gift that keeps on giving

JK £20
CL £30
I’m not sure who you are (I can’t seem to stalk you on Facebook), so I presume you’re from STW.

Thanks for your donations! My daughter is very grateful – if a little bemused! – as to why someone that she’s never met, wishes to donate to her Children in Need total. I explained that by her getting off her backside (while millions of others do sod all) and doing her little triathlon she’s helped lots of kids who she’ll never know or will ever meet is essentially the same thing.

To those that don’t care for modern day telethons, I know where you’re coming from. I used to watch Comic Relief etc and always wanted to fast forward to the funny bits. I really was missing the point. Starving African children covered in flies and living with no hope just didn’t bother me when I was 18. Even Bob Geldof screaming “Give us your ++++++++ money” had little impact on me. Now I’ve got two healthy, outgoing, smart girls I realise just how lucky we are in this little bubble that we live in. I’m happy to donate and share the love.

The irony that Children in Need needs “Stars” to host and take part in these shows (paid or otherwise) is not lost. However, f it means that the “X-Factor generation” join in and share the love too, then it’s a means to an important end.

PS Millie’s total is now £1401.02 plus £243.75 in Gift Aid

I’ve got tons of brackets left over from a previous project. It’s lashing down with rain outside, so lets go!
Thanks for the tip!

footflaps – Thank You for your donation!! Millie is stoked!
Her total is now £1351.02 + £231.25 Gift Aid

People’s generosity has been amazing and it restores your faith in the world.

My daughter raised £1200 doing a 5km Sup, 10km bike ride and then 5km run.

Watching it gives the kids a sense of things outside the bubble they live in and how lucky they are…

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MillieSpice

I can’t see why not. The glue isn’t going any where soon! Why remove it unless you have to? Levels might be an issue, but just where the floor is at its highest, removing glue is much easier than breaking concrete or screed. As long as you are giving your tiles enough grout, and you’re not going to have a step at an adjoining floor – go for it!

I used to work in a Fishmongers. I fear that you may be attempting something that’s impossible.

Whatever vehicle we used was essentially unsellable once it’d been used for transporting fish because you couldn’t get rid of the smell. One of our refrigerated vans was ‘stolen’ (they all had they keys left in them) and then left abandoned 5 miles away.

The owner used to play squash and had worked there man and boy. When he sweated, the smell of fish came out of his pores (must’ve been lovely force and his wife to compare in the bedroom).

However… Once upon a time, my parents bought a fridge for their restaurant that was previously used to keep perfume. I know this gets more bizarre! We used a plate with bicarbonate of soda on it to ‘soak up the smell’. It worked.

I use my iPhone in an “Overboard’ large phone pouch. I regularly take photos, video and make (slightly muffled) calls whilst it’s still in the bag.

If you’re wearing gloves you can use Siri to make calls too.

Works for me…

I own a Discover3 S 2006. Previously owned Defenders (200TDi, 300TDi, TD5) and a DiscoveryII Landmark with all the bells and whistles. The basic discovery 3 I have is the best of all of these cars, by a long way. The ride with all four wheels being air suspended is awesome. It’s very practical but underpowered compared to my neighbours 2016 Discovery4.

I love my Discovery 3. BUT, I tow trailers with a plated weight of 3500kg as part of my job. Would I have one by personal choice? Only if I could afford it and it’s the high running costs that could put me off.

It’s great for the family though. 7 seats that are so easy to configure, roof rack and tow bar mean that lugging all our bikes, boards camping kit etc is a doddle. I have even slept in it with my 8 and 9 year old – it’s massive inside and the load area is flat.

However, If we go on long journeys I take our E-Class – It just munches miles effortlessly. That’s not to say that the Discovery doesn’t, but I just try to keep the mileage down and hence keep the running costs down. However we’re taking the Discovery skiing this year as last year the Mercedes was awful in the snow…

Should YOU buy one? If you can afford the running costs and you have a decent independent garage near by then YES! Get one that has got a good service history.

Don’t be put off by the autos. In my opinion, they’re a better drive. We had a Discovery II for 7 years (until but got written off) that towed big trailers for a living, was our main car, took us biking to the Albs, Wales etc and that was an auto – the auto gearbox never missed a beat. It had 140 000 on the clock when it had a head on with an X-Type…

I intend to run my Discovery 3 for as long as I can (7-10 years) and then buy a second hand Discovery 5. The Discovery 4 isn’t different enough to warrant a change for me.

98% of the time you won’t regret buying it, but it’s that one week of the year when it’s up on ramps that you will curse, empty out your wallet and hate it!

+1 Gerber

Speedwatch does not obtain prosecutions. It promotes awareness and in our case, it worked.

It’s calibrated every time it’s set up – using a tuning fork that vibrates at 25 mph!

The operatives have to be taught and approved by the Constabulary to operate the Speed Indicator Device (SID)

There’s no pattern to the people that were caught speeding. Mum’s at the school, white van-man, old, young, posh car, rust heap. The only common denominator was that they really weren’t thinking about what they were doing. The speed indicator device is enormous, it’s 2 or 3 operatives are not allowed to be camouflaged or hide, the 20mph signs are big enough to see and are written on the road 8ft in length. If they get caught their speed flashes up and it’s recorded along with the time, Regesration, Make and Model of Car. no-one has ever complained at the site on my road. When 35mph flashes up on the sign, the moral high ground has gone, regardless of whether the operatives are do-gooders or otherwise…

Love iZettle.

Have an iPad and iPhone set up with a shop (photo’s of our products set out on a page in the app), simply click on the icon, it’s added to the basket. Click ‘Pay’, then hand over the iZettle to the customer, who can use Apple Pay, contactless or normal ‘insert card’ and it they want a receipt they simple type in their e-mail address.

Doddle

We sell more stuff because people can pay instantly and prefer it to writing down their credit card details. The security is better and it’s more efficient for our office staff. We sell stuff in the field (literally in fields) and as long as you have a phone signal you’re in business.

I’m not sad (perhaps a little at the end of Watership Down, or when Goose dies in Top Gun)
My Mother and Father where married when I was conceived and as far as I’m aware no-one else was involved.
I’m not retired.
I’m not God, nor have I ever played God although girls have often screamed his name to me…
Not sure what a ‘Do-Gooder’ is… Is it the opposite of a ‘Do-Badder’?

I live on a road where there’s no pavement on my side and my house is situated on a blind bend. It’s called School road as there’s a School situated on he road. The speed limit has been dropped to 20MPH to slow traffic down as requested by local residents, pedestrians and other road users alike.

Speedwatch was set up here last year and I volunteered to do my bit. There’s one lady in particular who drives an X5 with no regard for pedestrians or bikes and is generally a menace. I would consider her to be a bad driver as regardless of the conditions she continues to use this road (during school travel times) normally between 30-40MPH. Having noted her down on more than one occasion doing more than 50% of the speed limit, she got a letter. She no longer uses this road as a rat run. Was it worth 10 hours of my life to achieve that? I think so.

She wasn’t the only one that got a letter from the County Constabulary either… The amount of people going 10% + 4MPH over was staggering (40 per hour) and if it makes people think twice about speeding then it can only be a good thing. If you’re caught more than 5 times, you get a letter and if you’re doing 50% more, then you get a letter. 5 letters and plod come knocking on your door. People have received prosecutions because of speed watch but they are few and far between. It’s more about awareness and it seems to be a worthwhile scheme to be involved in, because it works.

Hot glue gun to the rescue in the morning then, to cover any sharp edges!

I’ll post a picture tomorrow.

I don’t think they;re heated, but it has got most toys, so I might be wrong!

Next base from Halfords, £150 and hard wired into car. Fit and forget and it stores memory that can’t be overwritten in the event of a high G loading (i.e. if there’s an accident).
Wife got hit head on (on her side of the road) and the guy put his hands up for driving not he wrong side of the road. Police, ambulance were both in attendance and her back is still iffy 6 months later. My Discovery was written off.
Pictures were taken of my Discovery alloy being pressed into the wooden bank on the near side, where my wife had taken avoiding action and the guy made a statement admitting he was on the wrong side of the road to the Police. There were no white lines in the middle of the road and no CCTV. His insurers tried to claim 50/50!!!
Cameras fitted to all our cars now.

Dover is VERY busy and the high winds will only make it worse… I doubt anyone will be sailing before lunchtime…

Good luck. If you’re tucking into breakfast, add plenty of meat and don’t chew too much. You’re guts will find things harder to break down if you don’t chew properly and the gas you get from those extra enforced chemical reactions is priceless…
I had a reputation for farting at school and once lost a friend to farting. She said she could never travel in a car with me again and we don’t speak anymore.

EXPRESS BIFOLD
Couldn’t recommend them enough. 3.6 opening comprising of 3 doors including internal blinds. Massive roof lantern (3m x 5m), two windows, all fitted in one day by two blokes who were nothing but polite and tidy. The products are not the cheapest but once you’ve looked at cheap doors and you’ve seen the difference in the gasket/locks/hinges/narrow sight lines and especially the rollers for the bifolds, you won’t be disappointed.
We’ve got the solar internal blinds and although they’re an extra £275 per panel, they’re worth it. We’ve got them in the kitchen window too. Nothing but James Bond awesomeness every day when we open/close them with the remote control!!!

Currently have an E220 diesel Mercedes. Panzer-Wagon, Stuttgart Taxi, call it what you like, it goes and goes and does so in a little bit of luxury. Previously had a C240 with a V6 petrol but that was thirsty!

Big, strong and fairly bulletproof if looked after. Tons of room in the rear for bikes (especially in the E-class). Takes Kayaks and Sups on the roof to the beach, bikes inside and getting to the slopes is a pleasure. Cost £7500 for a 2007 Elegance facelift model last year.

All our previous Defenders had a Mantec rear wheel carrier. It saves the rear door hinges and stops the door rattling. The door opens in the same way, but the weight of the wheel is supported by the carrier.

Rear Work light. Handy, cheap and simple to fit.

Reverse camera. For under £40 you can get one and it’s a simple fit. Helps hitching trailers on your own amongst other things.

Had 200TDi’s 300TDi’s and TD5s. Had a DiscoveryII TD5 and loved it. (All the same performance but in comfort). I’m now driving a Discovery3 and it’s the best 4×4 I’ve had. I go off road with big/heavy trailers and it’s awesome for what I need it for. I’d never have another Defender, (I’m getting old and like comfort!), but I enjoyed the ones I had immensely.
Good luck!

I find that if bottling takes longer than keg for secondary fermentation. Perhaps I’m not leaving enough air in the bottle to help the secondary fermentation?

In answer to the question, the longer the better… Make another kit ASAP. Make more than you think you’ll need. That way it’ll stop you drinking it all before it’s ready!

Spitfire landing…

Spitfire and Hurricane at our local farm…[/url]

1 Dig out underneath enough to get a rope under it
2 Attach rope under roots to a Land Rover
3 Engage low range
4 Pull stump out
5 Open beer, look smug.

Mixed reviews again!!!
Thanks for the replies.

I got some full finger Alpinestars from CRC. They are very comfy, not too hot and so far have lasted very well.

Without putting a damper on things, don’t waste too much money as most turbos are bought with the best of intentions and are used less than a handful of times each year.
(Straw poll based on 3 people)

I think I’ve settled on these, (rather than the Hemelites), because they’re £100 cheaper from a local supplier and have similar properties (although 1350kg/m3 rather than 1450kg/m3 for the Hemelites). Hopefully BlindMelon that’ll still be OK?

http://www.hansonbuildingproducts.co.uk/thermalite-and-aggregrate-blocks/aggregate-block-detail/fenlite-background-aggregate-block

Thank you all for your help it’s been an education and in the long run a big time and money saving exercise!

More input! Thanks.
My plasterer has tried soaking walls etc but the thermalites still draw out the moisture. Plus the high expand/contraction rates exacerbate the problem.

FionaP – Thanks for the calculator – very useful!

BlindMelon
Thanks for the tip – these should do?

http://tarmacbuildingproducts.co.uk/products_and_services/blocks_and_mortar/blocks/aggregate_blocks/hemelite_standard.aspx

Thanks chaps.
I’ll see if he likes the idea of the Fibolite blocks, or changing his mix.

Thanks for the advice.
Found one on eBay for £24

Apparently it’s special because of its low thermal expansion properties…
The main reason I wanted to buy it locally was because we currently have no heating and I wanted it tomorrow!

Crank Bros 19 multitool (includes chain breaker)
Patches / Chain powerlink
Tube (x2 if long ride)
Pump
PHONE
£10
Drink/Granola bar
Goretex pack-light if forecast isn’t 100%
PHONE

Gerber/Leatherman if going out all day

Out of all this things, I think that the phone is the most important thing. If you crash and break a bone or worse still, something unfixable on your bike then you can get help.
If I’m taking a CamelBak, I always take an extra layer. Having been caught on the top of the North Downs in a cold NE wind and no shelter fixing multiple punctures once, I vowed never to leave without one again!