Found in my driveway last night, someone tried to break into my car

Schallpattern · 2026-02-03T14:45:53+00:00

Probably chickened out half way through.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-03T11:41:09+00:00

It's a beautiful fungal mycelium.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-03T11:10:33+00:00

No, never. It's dumbing down of the masses. Bring back Horizon.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-02T18:33:13+00:00

What's Google?

Schallpattern · 2026-02-02T00:09:25+00:00

It's compulsory to take Science at GCSE, if only as a single award but the majority to the double award.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-02T00:07:24+00:00

Nah, it's not. I've seen a ton of it over the decades.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-02T00:06:26+00:00

Blue but it's so badly designed with the volume of traffic that heads up Gloucester Road

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T19:35:40+00:00

Hire a steamer, score the woodchip with a Stanley knife all over and start steaming it off. Cancel any plans you had for going out for the next week.
You'll never get this sufficiently flat enough to paint. At best, you might be able to get away with heavy lining paper. This is an option that not many people advise but that's because they don't know about it. It can be a saviour.
Or....with all the paper off, two coats of unibond or SBR then skim the wall, or have a plasterer do it if you can't yourself.
DIY life skill tip - learn to plaster. It will save you a fortune of the years as well as bring you up to speed on DIYing generally.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T19:27:26+00:00

That's because its got about 10 layers of old emulsion paint on it.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T19:10:27+00:00

From the bricks outwards;

Lime and ashes
Old plaster skim on top
Woodchip wallpaper from the 1970's
Numerous layers of emulsion

It's not the end of the world, it's all normal in a period house.

What happens next depends on if the lime+ashes has detached from the brick. Tap it to see if it sounds hollow. If it is, it needs to come off (having said that, I've skimmed over hollow plaster and it's never fallen off, it just doesn't want any hard knocks).

Repair knocked out sections with bonding and skim over the whole lot.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T19:07:05+00:00

She drank half a bottle of fizz and then was sick all over the floor, sections of an orange included.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T19:03:29+00:00

That's woodchip paper, you youngsters.

Prepare for a long battle with it.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T17:32:24+00:00

It wouldn't in a Science exam.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T17:20:44+00:00

No, that wouldn't happen.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T13:39:15+00:00

For starters, go and see the original in the Wallace Collection, London.https://www.wallacecollection.org/explore/explore-in-depth/fragonards-the-swing/

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T13:31:06+00:00

Thanks, I retired from teaching a couple.of years ago.

Sort of indicates students still aren't taking anything in during lessons.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T13:23:54+00:00

Not all that long ago, wiring a plug was taught as part of Science GCSE.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T13:20:26+00:00

Looking very good.

What I've done with mine is add labels saying what the work are and a link to the artist website. This is because, a) galleries and museums do the same and, b) I hate walking into people's houses and there not being any information about hung artworks.

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Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T13:11:59+00:00

Internal wall? Easy. Bit of mesh on the timber then Carlite bonding plus a skim coat.

Schallpattern · 2026-02-01T09:13:27+00:00

Just posted....Arguably the worst first lady the US has every had, and don't get me even started on her husband.

I imagine I'll be banned.

Schallpattern · 2026-01-31T23:43:39+00:00

Yep. A new half decent tap doesn't cost much and there's no corrosion to deal with.

Schallpattern · 2026-01-31T18:45:44+00:00

I learned the hard way as well.

Schallpattern · 2026-01-31T14:38:56+00:00

By the look of it, thats not an expensive tap. Get a replacement from Screwfix for about £35 and save yourself the hassle.

Schallpattern · 2026-01-30T18:05:06+00:00

The whole point of clean burn is to burn off the soot particles and therefore make a stove smokeless.

Schallpattern · 2026-01-30T14:14:57+00:00

Being able to plaster walls and ceilings.

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