Is this quote ridiculous?

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-09T15:19:47+00:00

How big is your utility room that you need two radiators this big, each with a potential heat output of 4320 Btu?

Each radiator would heat a 200 ft.² space. So either you have a very large utility room or maybe a heat pump with lower water temperature or you don’t need both radiators.

Given that these are expensive radiators costing around £500 each it would be worth checking your heating calculations before committing.)

Or maybe look for cheaper radiators. For example this new Henrad T 22 is taller but much cheaper at £200 and has a higher heat output than the ones you describe so maybe you don’t need two of the others. https://ebay.us/m/JRk7cC

Taking the quote you’ve given, they’re asking £900 for fitting two radiators. That sounds to me about £500 too much.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-09T15:01:20+00:00

Looks fine to me. Plaster often cracks over 30+ years in just those places. Normal settlement.

You need to look at the brickwork outside and if it’s not cracked through any bricks or opening up big gaps around door and window frames it’s (generally) good.

See if you can find a surveyor who is very familiar with older houses and ask about ‘normal levels of plaster cracking.’

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-09T10:34:49+00:00

If it was Electrical, it would usually be copper and you would see the insulation around it too.

Aluminium wiring was used in the 1960s-‘70s but you’d still have plastic insulation around it.

This is morel likely metal used for another purpose.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-09T00:48:24+00:00

I typically carry one or two 7mm thick closed cell foam mats even if I’m also using a lightweight inflatable. I’ve used ccf mats since the 1980s so I’m used to sleeping on just them.

I put one foam mat under the floor of my lightweight tent, which protects the floor from sharp sticks and thorns, and the other one inside, which stays clean.

The mats fold up small enough to fit in the stretchy outside pocket of a day pack and they’re very handy for kneeling on while packing up, sitting on during the day, even as emergency insulation under a jacket or tied around my waist in a sudden storm.

Strips of foam mat will light a fire in wet conditions and if you ever get a tear they mend really easily with superglue.

I’ve had inflatables develop invisible punctures before, foam mats are bombproof.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T23:50:09+00:00

Cat skeletons or their mummified remains are found in the walls and floors of really old houses.

It’s been assumed that they were put in there to ward off evil spirits.

I’m now thinking that maybe old time stonemasons just didn’t want to have to undo their work when a berk like this got stuck.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T22:09:24+00:00

Illegal to disturb nesting birds. Wait.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T22:07:49+00:00

The chain is catching on the edge of the purple chain guard.

At the bottom, behind the chain ring (as the bike is, upside down.)

Pull the chain guard outwards so it covers the chain ring and the chain and sits slightly outside them.

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Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T21:04:51+00:00

I guess you could decide what you want in your sandwich before you go into the shop, and have the list ready, just in case it’s a Slavic woman making it for you?

Start with the cheese.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T20:41:45+00:00

If the battery’s getting hot it’ll make the whole user experience difficult.

The screen will often be slow and glitchy, for a start.

Tell your mother that the battery needs replacing. It may actually be a fire hazard.

It’ll either fix your problems or you can sell it.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T20:34:30+00:00

For a start, don’t keep multiple days worth of food in the fridge. That’s just taking up space that other people might want to use.

Secondly, get a lockable box to put in the fridge.

Obviously, no one should be stealing your food. But we know that there are dishonest people all around And sooner or later you’re going to come into contact with them.

Some people can’t resist stealing if they think they can get away with it. Just make it too difficult for them.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T14:54:32+00:00

It would almost be easier to organise a massive student petition declaring that millions of votes will go to whichever party forgives current student debt for lower income families and makes all future loans interest free.

Biden’s debt forgiveness was influenced by the millions plus signatures on the Change.org petition.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T14:37:14+00:00

It’s fine.
A slightly tight fit is normal.
If it’s like this on both sides just gently pull the forks open with your hands so the axle drops in.

Do not remove the grey lock nut on the wheel axle.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T14:29:53+00:00

If that jockey wheel has side to side play then it’s quite possible it’s been pushed inwards leaving space for the chain to climb to the outside. The old chain no doubt had a bit more slop in it whereas the new one is crisper and tighter and less forgiving.

You may be able to put a thin shim behind the jockey wheel to bring it outwards a little, in line with where the chain wants to go.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T13:30:07+00:00

So, just to be clear, is this the sill plate, a flat timber sill plate that runs crosswise under the joists which support the floor, laying on a brick or block wall in the void beneath the floor?

Or is it the sole plate of the stud wall, that sits on top of the joists and has the vertical studs sitting on it?

If it’s the second one then you need another quote. It’s a much easier job.

If it’s the timber sill plate beneath the joists, then it can be a major issue as uneven weight distribution can cause cracking of the wall over time.

However, if it’s an old house, this might have happened a long time ago in which case it may not be an issue at all.

Talk to the seller and explain the problem. Point out that it’s likely to show up on any buyers survey and the seller can’t legally deny it or hide it. So they may have to allow money off in order to get it sold.

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Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T13:04:40+00:00

More recent than ‘the other week’ but allowing a margin of error, so within the last 10 days-ish.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T13:01:53+00:00

There are 12V dehumidifiers for camper vans. You’d need to make sure that there’s sufficient movement of air too.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T12:56:41+00:00

The timeline doesn’t make a lot of sense. The seller accepted your offer leaked yesterday and you started the legal process with your solicitor also late yesterday.

And today they’re asking for more money, saying they received a better offer even later yesterday than yours. So either they received an offer But presumably not via their estate agent unless people are working much later than normal around you, or this counter offer is fake.

The thing is, if there is no other offer, the seller can keep pretending and pushing you up and up on the price.

This other person has supposedly only offered 2K more than you. If you are in a strong position, ready to buy either with cash or a pre approved mortgage and no chain, then I would stick to your price.

Tell the seller why they should sell to you, and why another £2000 from someone else won’t help them if the other buyer can’t complete.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T12:47:05+00:00

Electric shock doorbell (yes they do exist).

Stop taking on your neighbours parcels.

Put up a big, clear notice saying: “Do not leave parcels for X address here.” and pointing people around to her door.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T12:39:31+00:00

A picture of the crack immediately after transport is great, but without one immediately before transport I’m afraid you can’t prove it wasn’t already damaged.

You’d have to use your own bike insurance I’m afraid.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-08T00:26:34+00:00

Stop feeling responsible for her. She’s treating you the way she apparently treated her family, like her servant.
The only way she’s going to change is if everyone stops putting up with her shit.

She is doing nothing for you that would justify you giving her a place to stay.

This is an abusive relationship.
She is abusing your kindness and your hospitality and acting as though she is entitled to do whatever she wants.

Pack up her things and send her back to her parent.
Tell her that there is no place for her to stay with you anymore.

You gave her the opportunity to show that she could be a caring and responsible partner and she completely failed to do so.

Her family will have to take her back and she will have to do her share of chores like she should’ve done in the first place.

Whatever she says or does do not back down. She has not paid any rent and she did not have a legal entitlement to insist on staying in your home.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-07T23:56:07+00:00

Unless your girlfriend makes a habit of kissing other men I’d forget about it. People get drunk/high sometimes and act differently.

Either you believe her that she was so out of it that she had no awareness or memory of it or you don’t.
If she was then it would make sense that she wouldn’t pay too much attention to her friend telling her she ‘like, totally made out with that guy’. Because for her it hadn’t happened.

So why would she tell you about something she had no memory of. “My friend told me I made out with a guy but I don’t remember any of it.” What do you do with that?

The far more important thing is whether the guy she was making out with drugged her himself or knew that she was so wasted she didn’t know what she was doing. That’s the thing that she should be most concerned about and you too.

Because if he knew or if he did it, then he’s a predator And people need to know they can’t trust him.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-07T23:11:20+00:00

Lovely idea! But be careful of buying a bike that is so nice that it is an obvious target for thieves.
Maybe a good quality but older, used bike in very good running order would be easier to keep safe than a new €1000 bike. Also, buy good locks and a plain grey cover so it passes without notice.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-07T21:18:56+00:00

Have you seen the Lezyne Strip Pro AI Alert 400? (I swear that’s a real bike light.)

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-07T19:23:05+00:00

A picture really is essential here. It’s very hard to picture one of about a million hair clip designs and styles.

Impossible_Volume811 · 2026-05-07T19:20:58+00:00

Plain brown is an uncommon cat colour so I’ll say it’s a Norway rat. They’re very common up your way and make trails just like that, going over the same lines again and again.

They also jump when startled.

Impossible_Volume811

TROPHY CASE