one of those days!

[nev]

Laptop HDD fails.
order a new one, install it.
boot from live cd
dvd drive starts playing up and fails to install os.
no problem! I'll just download a new live os and boot from usb.
Missus' Ipad cant take a USB stick!
Out to the shed where the old pc sits, fire it up.
network fails to connect!
try a different wireless dongle - still no joy!
go and borrow notepad from friend, connect to web start downloading OS
Broadband packs up!!!

Deep breaths - have lunch.

BB back up, hooray! continue download.
3 hours later ....
create bootable usb, install and boot.
wireless card not supported.
hardwire to network, get drivers, finish install and spend hours reconfiguring everything.

Computers! they make life so much easier...

 

[Graham Orm]

Laptop HDD fails.
order a new one, install it.
boot from live cd
dvd drive starts playing up and fails to install os.
no problem! I'll just download a new live os and boot from usb.
Missus' Ipad cant take a USB stick!
Out to the shed where the old pc sits, fire it up.
network fails to connect!
try a different wireless dongle - still no joy!
go and borrow notepad from friend, connect to web start downloading OS
Broadband packs up!!!

Deep breaths - have lunch.

BB back up, hooray! continue download.
3 hours later ....
create bootable usb, install and boot.
wireless card not supported.
hardwire to network, get drivers, finish install and spend hours reconfiguring everything.

Computers! they make life so much easier...

We have become so reliant on technology, it's extremely frustrating when it goes wrong and interrupts the smooth flow of life so greatly. Compounded problems make things worse. years ago I would have become irate and angry over such a thing, but I just sigh and get on with the fix these days. Just aint worth getting worked up.
I fitted a bath a few weeks ago, I'd stood it up against the wall of the house whilst getting other stuff from the van. You guessed it, a gust of wind blew it over. It landed on it's base, so no obvious damage. I inspected it closely throughout and could find no damage at all. I fitted it, tiled round it and removed my protective sheets after tiling. Dust that had got under the sheets showed a hair-line crack in the bottom. Explain and apologise to customer, number the tiles (all cuts), photograph them in situ, de-Tile, clean tiles off, throw away adhesive, remove bath, go to suppliers 20 miles away buy new bath £150, next day re-fit new bath. Total loss 1.5 days and £150. Deep breath and think of nice things!

 

[Lons]

It's a pita when things go wrong!

My last bathroom job was going ok until I came to fit the large shower cubicle. Was fully installed and siliconed when whilst cleaning the glass I noticed a fault along the top edge of the side panel, (why oh why is it never a concealed edge ). Customer might not have noticed but i couldn't leave it so replacement duly ordered and collected from merchant. So far so good but when removing the faulty one with dificulty I managed to hole the newly installed plastic ceiling with the corner of the glass panel #-o ). Cost me only £8 for a new plastic panel but fuel and a full days work - maybe I should have left it - but then - no.

Bob

 

[Jonzjob]

Yesterday I did the simple job of changing our gas cooker hob for and induction hob. All the homework was done and I knew where everything had to be connected. The hole was the right size, just as well as the worktop is re-enforced concrete (yes- it is a private house!).

The cable from the unit was too short so I got some 6mm cable, some choc block and a box to put it in. When I came to feed the cable through the hole under the fridge to the 'hidden' panel under the fridge it was too small for the new cable along with the resident jobbie cable so I had to disconnect it and take it out so I could enlarge said hole.

The connector for the supply is under the fridge, at the back of a draw = one hand, one eye or 2 hands, no eyes or 2 eyes, no hands and there are 2 cables to each connector. After about an hour I realise that the 6mm cable I'm trying to put in is hampered because the elekky who did the original job has put the live feed, 2 cables in each of the line, neutral and earth, right through both halves of the choc block and it's taking half of the room I need for the 2 cables I have to connect. So out come the input cables, cut to right length and reconnect. Then the fun of trying to get the other bug-gers back in for my connections.

Eventually, a job that should have taken about an hour at the most took over 4 blo-ody hours! This was after a French elleky had spent a couple of hours a couple of weeks ago sorting out just where the bleedin power supply was hidden. It was under the fridge, behind a draw, behind a plactic panel and the original supply that was connected to it fr the gas hob ignition was connected line to neutral, neutral to line anyway! The 2 cables that go to the line in are coloured 1 red and 1 black???

This is what lies behind another little plactic panel. This one is in the kitchen and there are about a dozen spread about the house. This is NORMAL!

 

[dm65]

OMG, look at that - I can hear sparky's all over fainting onto their code books

Picture is dated 2009 - has it taken you that long to upload it ?

 

[Jonzjob]

No, I just put the cover back on it as soon as I could, after taking a pikky of course.

When we had the main board for the house changed from fuses to C/Bs I just took one look at the rats nest where the old board was removed and walked away. I told SWMBO not to expect any 'ergs' for a while and was totally dismayed when it all came back on in a few hours! I can't find the photo I tok of that one?