Good Morning Thread - Come say good morning, tell us what you've got on today. :)

We have this thread on TilersForums.com and it's just been restarted because the old thread had 20,000 replies and 500,000 views. And there were 700 pages. Started to lag a bit on slow connections.

I think we had a bash of this before, but I can't find the thread, so thought I'd start another one off.

If you have time in the mornings, come post in the thread before you head off to work, let us know what you've got on and what the weather is like in your area etc. Anything at all is fine.

Posts and likes get counted towards your total stats in this thread.

So GOOOD MORNING PEOPLE - WEATHER IS NICE TODAY IN STOKE. I'M THANKFUL IT'S FRIDAY, HAD A RUBBISH WEEK. THANK GOD IT'S OVER.

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[Megawatt]

First of all, merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you all have a good one.

Good luck to @Megawatt and others over the pond… weather looks a bit nippy out.


And further to a website competition win recently… See my collection thread for details… I got another surprise from my local YESSS.

When the World Cup started, they had an open day with some reps.. I popped in for a chat, got a free pie and a free entry into the branch sweepstake.
Not really a football fan, but I pulled a name out the hat…

Fast forward to the beginning of last week and I’m going round the wholesalers with a little box of chocs for each of them. Got to YESSS, handed over the Roses, and he says “swaps!” And handed me an Amazon Alexa Dot

I forgot I pulled out Argentina.

We’ll congratulations my friend and yes it is 10 degrees right now and wind chill is 5 degrees but it actually is going to be 60 degrees Wednesday. To all my friends across the pond y’all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’m ready for this year to be over.

 

[littlespark]

Blood donors again today.

Took a venue a little bit away so that the uni child could come again. Felt faint last time she went back in June, so wanted to go with me before she went away back to aberdeen.

I flew through again. 7 minutes between needle in and needle out. She felt faint again... so lay for a good 20 minutes after with her feet raised.

Heading out... we help ourselves to the usual fair, and she finds a vegan Kitkat.... Not thats she is vegan... but her boyfriend is... strange boy.

Reading the packet, it says "may contain milk"


Vegan?

 

[littlespark]

This mornings job was to replace this old thing.
Someone spent a lot of time dressing those cables…. Just ignore the later addition taken off the live side of the mainswitch.

Fitted a new click scolmore elucian as a trial. Price was mere pennies more than Fusebox.
Forgot to take another photo, but I can assure you I left it in much the same condition re tidiness of cables…. Honest

 

[littlespark]

Woop woop, I’m off on a jolly!

Heading over to the sprawling Glas Vegas for the annual Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show at the SEC.
No kids. No dog. No work.

And unfortunately, no hotel breakfast.
“You don’t normally have breakfast!” Says the wife

Except when I’m in a hotel…. Then I have ALL the breakfast


Got up this morning and I couldn’t believe that “how do you route cables within a CU” thread is still up.
Should have put a small wager on it being binned by now.

 

[Moley]

You be careful. You know what those big city types are like. Before you know it you'll have the wife and kids signed up for the white slave trade and you'll be driving around in a new Hymer.

 

[littlespark]

Came back on friday night, and wow.... i hate saying bad things about some peoples home towns, but that was awful....

Getting there, following the sat nav to SEC, jumping lanes all over the place... Got behind some builders pick up... He took the corner a bit fast and lost half a bucket of 'stuff' over the side.
I ran over a few bits of cardboard packaging, but managed to miss the bouncing claw hammer!

We had booked a 'budget' hotel for the night... and.. we got what we paid for... No bathroom. There was a toilet cubical in the room, a wash hand basin in the room, and a shower cubical.. yes, in the room!
I should have got my tape measure out and measured to the nearest light switches.

We took a walk on thursday night to find a restaurant in the area of the hotel... There was a nandos, a chippy, BK... but we settled for a regular place that did a selection of menu.
Got seated, then realised they didn't sell alcohol!
After dinner, we took another walk along the pothole laden streets to the nearest tesco express for a carry out.

The show itself was OK. Met up with some colleagues from the caravan site days.

And we might be upgrading our tourer van.... Goodbye "Trailer Swift"... Hello "Trailer Bailey".... no.. that doesnt work

 

[nicebutdim]

We had booked a 'budget' hotel for the night... and.. we got what we paid for... No bathroom. There was a toilet cubical in the room, a wash hand basin in the room, and a shower cubical.. yes, in the room!

Where did you go to - the 1920s?

 

[littlespark]

Where did you go to - the 1920s?

it was an ibis budget.... back to premier inn next time!

not even a kettle and coffee in the room. There was a machine in the lobby

 

[nicebutdim]

it was an ibis budget.... back to premier inn next time!

not even a kettle and coffee in the room. There was a machine in the lobby

I've stayed in some cheap hotels around the world, and plenty with no food/drink facilities beyond vending machines, but even the cheapest had all bathroom conveniences in a separate bathroom. That Glasgow Ibis is getting close to antiquated B&B territory

I remember a German chain (name escapes me now) with one piece moulded bathroom - literally shower toilet and wash basin were all one piece, which must have been very convenient for the cleaners.

 

[littlespark]

Had the owner of the local chippy at my door last night about 5... Any chance you could come have a quick look? Half the kitchen isnt working... etc etc Had phoned supplier earlier, they told her to get an electrician in to check things.

Standard of the chippy installation i would say was on par with any pub. A vast arrangement of additions, boards with fuses, boards with breakers, one little box with an rcd for the drinks fridge... and i wish id taken a photo.

3 phase supply with 3 fuses. Handy 4 pole service isolator, so dropped off the load side.... got 230v at L1, 230v at L2 and nothing at L3... So loss of phase.... thought the fuse had popped as it may have only been a 60 or 80A according to the fuse casing. (although L2 had 100A on the casing??)
I didnt test any further upstream... not cutting seals etc.

She phoned up supplier again, and told them what i had said... OK, someone will be out within 3 hours.

I popped in this morning to check up, and she said they did turn up at about half 6, 7.... did a load of tests, and told her the problem was with local substation. Not the fuse. It got fixed, and power was back on. But not enough time to open up again, so she's lost a nights takings.

Strange that only one phase of her supply was affected, and no one else on the street. She's in the middle of the village with houses all around... i'd have thought every third house would have been out.


Anyway... £40 cash in pocket, which of course will be declared to the taxman

 

[Moley]

Strange that only one phase of her supply was affected, and no one else on the street.

I find it strange that the chippy was open. I wasn't every night I was there ;-)

 

[littlespark]

I find it strange that the chippy was open. I wasn't every night I was there ;-)

Only open Fridays and Saturdays…. But I did tell them you were up

 

[nicebutdim]

I find it strange that the chippy was open. I wasn't every night I was there ;-)

By any chance did you pull a fuse in the local substation to spite them?

 

[littlespark]

By any chance did you pull a fuse in the local substation to spite them?

Only if he’d actually eaten there in the first place….

 

[Moley]

Well, I know what I'll be doing in the morning - either getting a tyre repaired or buying a new tyre. We decided to go out for a meal tonight. It's a rare event but 5 of us jumped into the car. As I drove off the low tyre pressure warning came up. Rear offside flat. Walked back to the van and got the pump on the offchance it would stay up. Anyway, as I was pumping I noticed a screw in the tread. Pressure held so we went off for our meal. The pressure had dropped 10psi during the meal so pumped it back up and headed home. Had a good look outside the house and not just one but two screws. They both look to be in a region where they can be repaired. I'll find out in the morning. At least it happened on a week when I'm just on call and not half way accross the UK with the wife not knowing what to do.

 

[littlespark]

so who dropped a box of screws on your driveway, Moley?

 

[Moley]

I wish I knew where they were picked up. The wife drives tge car all the time so it's somewhere she has been. I drive it too fast to pick anything up ;-)

 

[Moley]

Bugger - new tyre. £155

 

[Mike Johnson]

My local garage can't compete with "Black Circle" online tyres, but are a fitting agent for them, strange?

 

[brianmoooore]

Oponeo normally for tyres, but for the last pair I bought, I had a look on eBay, and found a new listing for the ones I wanted at a ridiculously low price for a pair - about half the going rate.
Decided it was worth a punt, so ordered and waited. Carefully inspected them when they arrived, and they appeared perfect with a recent date code. Thought I'd order up a few more, but when I returned to the eBay listing it was now the price I paid each.

 

[Moley]

I wish I could have gone to an online site but with no spare I couldn't wait. I know it's a run flat but I don't think it'll cope with a week of driving

 

[Mike Johnson]

I will never buy another car with run flat tyres, but it seems very difficult to buy one without, I believe its only Audi and Porsche that sell cars with a spare wheel, any others that you know?

I bought a spare wheel for my current car and keep it in the boot for long trips, but means the boot is very restricted as there is no wheel well on most modern cars.

 

[DPG]

I will never buy another car with run flat tyres, but it seems very difficult to buy one without, I believe its only Audi and Porsche that sell cars with a spare wheel, any others that you know?

I bought a space-saver spare and jack kit for mine. Unused original Jaguar items, £100 including delivery. Bargain.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I bought a space-saver spare and jack kit for mine. Unused original Jaguar items, £100 including delivery. Bargain.

Yes, with the trolly jack and spare wheel in the boot its all I can do to get the fishing tackle in as well.

 

[DPG]

Yes, with the trolly jack and spare wheel in the boot its all I can do to get the fishing tackle in as well.

Much as I like my trolley jack, the manufacturer's jack is fine for wheel changing, and it fits under the spare wheel nice and neatly. And both fit under the boot floor.

 

[Mike Johnson]

You have space under your boot floor for a spare wheel and jack?

 

[DPG]

You have space under your boot floor for a spare wheel and jack?

Yeah luckily the car has space for a space saver wheel under there, they just don't always supply them when new.

 

[nicebutdim]

Oponeo normally for tyres, but for the last pair I bought, I had a look on eBay, and found a new listing for the ones I wanted at a ridiculously low price for a pair - about half the going rate.
Decided it was worth a punt, so ordered and waited. Carefully inspected them when they arrived, and they appeared perfect with a recent date code. Thought I'd order up a few more, but when I returned to the eBay listing it was now the price I paid each.

It seems as though every time I buy tyres online, the whole 'who's cheapest' will turn on its head. Matters have been further complicated by the Northern Irish Protocol, with some outlets charging sky high prices for delivery and others flatly refusing to offer NI delivery.

Asda tyres were chepest a few years back , then stopped delivering to NI and then finally offering delivery again, but at four times the previous rate.

Delticom in Germany seem to be one of the biggest players in online tyre sales, with many online retailers being subsidiaries of Delticom. What's really strange is the fact that each Delticom subsidiary has completely different pricing and different policies on delivery to NI.

 

[littlespark]

buying these tyres online... doesn't you local tyre fitter charge a premium to fit them?

I get a price from my local independent tyre fitter.... budget price, mid range or 2nd mortgage... and that's supplied and fitted

 

[Mike Johnson]

Black Circle price includes fitting at their approved fitters, that why it's strange that my local garage can't compete on price, but fit Black Circle sourced tyres without charge, presumable paid by Black Circle.

 

[nicebutdim]

buying these tyres online... doesn't you local tyre fitter charge a premium to fit them?

I get a price from my local independent tyre fitter.... budget price, mid range or 2nd mortgage... and that's supplied and fitted

Most people I know that buy online have them delivered to the fitter and pay for fitting at time of purchase.

I used to have them delivered and fit them myself, but now have them delivered and send the other half to work with them in my car and they come back fitted (along with an invoice).

 

[brianmoooore]

buying these tyres online... doesn't you local tyre fitter charge a premium to fit them?

I have an ancient professional tyre fitting machine that I bought years ago for £50. Leaks air like a sieve, but does the job.

 

[DPG]

I have an ancient professional tyre fitting machine that I bought years ago for £50. Leaks air like a sieve, but does the job.

What about balancing though?

 

[nicebutdim]

I have an ancient professional tyre fitting machine that I bought years ago for £50. Leaks air like a sieve, but does the job.

Similar situation. Old tyre machine at a bargain price. Electric rotation and pneumatic bead breaking. No air leaks, but a little bit more play than any tyre fitter would feel comfortable with - all good once you get a feel for it.

 

[nicebutdim]

What about balancing though?

What's that

 

[littlespark]

What about balancing though?

Stay off the beer, youll be fine

 

[brianmoooore]

What about balancing though?

Overrated, IMHO. If you have quality wheels (such as those from a certain German manufacturer with a name comprising three letters) and know what the little yellow dot on the sidewall of a new tyre is for, then I find that most are fine without.
Any that do need balancing, I make use of the machine where I get my MOTs done.

 

[DPG]

Overrated, IMHO. If you have quality wheels (such as those from a certain German manufacturer with a name comprising three letters) and know what the little yellow dot on the sidewall of a new tyre is for, then I find that most are fine without.
Any that do need balancing, I make use of the machine where I get my MOTs done.

Most tyres will need balance weights adding though.

 

[brianmoooore]

Electric rotation and pneumatic bead breaking.

The bead breaking is the important part. The tyres I run (Uniroyal Rainsports) have such pliable sidewalls that they are easily pushed over the rim by hand

 

[brianmoooore]

Most tyres will need balance weights adding though.

That's not my experience.

 

[nicebutdim]

The bead breaking is the important part. The tyres I run (Uniroyal Rainsports) have such pliable sidewalls that they are easily pushed over the rim by hand

I dislike fitting or removing runflats on my machine, but luckily it tops out at 18" diameter.

 

[nicebutdim]

Most tyres will need balance weights adding though.

You'd be surprised how little balancing is required for a decent quality tyre on a straight wheel.

These days I have them fitted in the other half's work, so balancing is part of that service, but I rarely had to take home fitted wheels for balancing.

 

[brianmoooore]

I dis it tops out at 18" diameter.

Sounds like we have similar machines. Disposed of because they won't take some of the ridiculous oversized modern rims and their equally ridiculous rubber band tyres.
16" rims and 55 profile tyres on mine. Pothole. What pothole?

 

[nicebutdim]

Sounds like we have similar machines. Disposed of because they won't take some of the ridiculous oversized modern rims and their equally ridiculous rubber band tyres.
16" rims and 55 profile tyres on mine. Pothole. What pothole?

My current car was factory fitted with 18" wheels, but sidewall of 245/45 still provides considerable cushioning.

No idea why people spend thousands to prematurely wear out suspension components.

 

[littlespark]

Cannot wait for one of you lot to complain about a diyer doing electrics.... when youre changing your own tyres.

Get a professional tyre engineer! :

 

[brianmoooore]

Get a professional tyre engineer! :

Yea, right, "professional tyre engineer" AKA "knuckle dragging Neanderthal armed with a torque wrench screwed up to its maximum setting". No thank you.

 

[nicebutdim]

Cannot wait for one of you lot to complain about a diyer doing electrics.... when youre changing your own tyres.

Get a professional tyre engineer! :

I'll have you know I hold the same tyre fitting qualifications as the 'professionals'

 

[littlespark]

I'll have you know I hold the same qualifications as the 'professionals'

a standard grade in woodwork?


My FIL, when he closed his garage and car showroom in the 90's rented the workshop out to kwikfit. (bear in mind, it was a family business and he had been trained as a mechanic in his youth)

He went in one day to get a tyre or brake pads or something, and was being told what else the car needed while it was up on a ramp....tyre, brake pipes, exhaust...

"bloody 16 year old, spotty eejit..... with "brake specialist" on his back!...... Specialist my arse... what does he know..."

etc etc

The manager had to come out and take over, ushering the young lad away when he realised the landlord was the customer....

 

[Mike Johnson]

You guys who think your wheels do not need balancing must be the caravan people who the rest of the world queue up behind.

 

[nicebutdim]

You guys who think your wheels do not need balancing must be the caravan people who the rest of the world queue up behind.

There's a significant difference between thinking wheels don't need to be balanced and knowing the difference between a wheel that doesn't need to be balanced and one that does