February 2016 – About Stuff

February 28, 2016

Smithers-Jones

Track of the week 28/2/16

From “Setting Sons” by The Jam, the best album ever made.

Not the best track from it, but brilliant nontheless, it makes it onto here as track of the week as it is three years since I was told my “job is at risk of redundancy.”

I’ve some news to tell you, There’s no longer a position for you, Sorry Smithers-Jones.

And so I was Smithers-Jones. I put on the kettle and made some tea, pulled on my slippers and turned on the TV. But I also discovered that there are plenty more fish in the sea to fry and, three years on, I’m swimming in much bigger, much better ocean.

February 28, 2016

I have the power …

Pic of the week 28/2/16

… to fix the shower.

Perhaps not the most glossy of pics but we had our new shower installed on Monday and by Tuesday it was dripping like mad. And this annoyed me.

So I did my research and I drew the conclusion that the problem was centered around the shower cartridge. A replacement cartridge is circa £50, and I had resigned myself to buying a new one and replacing the one installed. But before I did, I thought I’d try a little experiment. I put the shower on full cold and turned it on and off a few times, adjusted the temp, back on full cold, on & off again: my theory being that the problem was probably caused by a bit of grit in the system, or the cartridge just not re-seating properly.

Anyway, it appears to have fixed the problem, so well worth a pic of the week!

I also adjusted the max temp (upwards), see pic below (turn anti-clockwise to increase temp: 90 deg. turn = approx 1 deg temp.)

(for future ref, here is the link to the PDF instructions for the Mira Pronta EV shower)

February 21, 2016

Monsters and Angels

Track of the week 21/2/16

Not sure why, but have found myself listening to the Voice of the Beehive quite a lot of late. They were always on the periphery of my radar back in the day. I’ve always liked “Don’t call me baby” – and I think it remains a better track than this. I wasn’t really aware of “Monsters and Angels” but have come to enjoy it, so it makes it as my track of the week.

February 21, 2016

Dormer

Pic of the week 21/2/16

I have resisted the temptation to post a hold load of pics of the build as pic of the week (would have been easy to do so) but felt that this one warranted inclusion. It shows the creation of the dormer window, with the view of the Tor in the distance. A significant moment in the project.

February 20, 2016

Relief!

Due to the extension build, we’ve had no plumbing for a week (well, limited plumbing: we’ve had a loo.) So I last shaved on Monday morning. Today is Saturday. I could bear it no longer.

The stubble was irritating, flecked with too much grey and made me look like a hobo. It had to go.

So today, after my morning swim and shower at Strode pool (I’ve rather enjoyed swimming at this time) I had a shave in the changing rooms. Bliss.

I’ve never had a beard or ‘tache in my life, and I now know that I shall never do so.

February 18, 2016

You are my world

Track of the week 14/2/16

“You are my world” A beautiful love song by The Communards. Appropriate for Valentines Day.

Have recently read: “Fathomless Riches” by Richard Coles. An interesting autobiography charting his times in the Communards through to his ordination as a vicar.

February 18, 2016

Ouch!

I’ve decided to hang up my running shoes for a while.

I went for a run last Saturday and Sunday and, whilst I enjoyed them and the post run buzz as the endorphins kicked in, my knee has been hurting ever since. So I think I need to give it a good length of time to rest and recover and have made the decision to not now run until at least the start of the Easter hols (beginning Friday 26th March). So even if it my knee feels 100%, I shan’t run before then, to give it plenty of time to recover. (And if its still not feeling 100% by then, I won’t run.)

I’ll still do some refereeing and I’ll still do plenty of swimming – probably do a bit more swimming to compensate – but the road running is put on hold. I think that it is the impact of foot on road that is causing the problems, so hopefully by not running on the road it will make a full recovery.

February 7, 2016

Happy Ending

Track of the week 7/2/16

Mika’s “Happy Ending”

February 7, 2016

Snap!

Sam is growing too fast (and too much!)

We clearly share a common taste in “leisure wear”

I reckon I’ve still got half a foot on him, but he’s catching up fast!

February 7, 2016

Getting Better

Knee is getting much better, but still not 100%

Back running, but only on the flat. Walked down to Strode before starting. Was “aware” of my knee, but it didn’t hurt. Feels fine now, post run.

Ran 6K in 30 mins – not bad. Bright and breezy – made the out bound leg easy, but running back into the wind was tough. Heavy rain yesterday, river had burst it’s banks and flooded fields, which glistened in the sunlight, the tor standing proud in the distance.