A Steep Learning Curve...

A recent trip to Brico Depôt proved to be a steep learning curve by any standards.

We wanted bits and pieces from more than one section of the shop, which involved following procedures, at this point unfamiliar to us. Beginning inside the main building we searched the rows for the things on our list, but finding none of them we went back outside.

One item was displayed in the outer area and had to be collected from a separate building. As the item would have been difficult to describe I took a photo to show at the desk. Hilarity followed;  not only was the photo idea novel, since the item had been put on display there had been a price cut. Should we be charged the price on the photo, or the new reduced price? It made the staff laugh anyway!

With a copy of our order in hand we went back to the main store to pay. Then it was back to the first building to collect our goods and get them on the roof rack.

Then the real fun started. We needed one or two things from the outdoor materials section. This operates as a secure drive-through. Prior to entry customers must declare purchases already made. The load on our roof  bars was obvious!

We did a dry run on foot to get our bearings before taking the car and loading up. 

Then joined the queue to pay...

What a busy place! They came on foot, by car and in every type of van...

In due course we were through the check point, with purchases secured... and a real sense of achievement at having made sense of the system.

 Our next visit will be so much easier..  but I wonder if it will be as much fun?!

My Knob Collection....

I thought I'd share with you my collection of knob photographs, taken yesterday in that place sacred to DIY enthusiasts, Leroy Merlin.

The knobs come in all shapes, sizes, colours and price brackets, as you can see,  but they have one thing in common which may not be quite so easy to spot....

 

Does this photo of Colin give a clue??

What they have in common is that we don't need any of them. We went to look for kitchen tiles, not knobs.

But a girl can be side-tracked by the sight of an odd knob or two can't she?!

Water Softener Part 2

Up with the lark, well 08:45, breakfast and some jugs of water for the necessary brews. It was all go, water turned off, old pipework stripped out and the remaining new pipework fabricated to suit. BUT as usually happens I discovered I was one fitting short... Down to the Colomat in Richelieu which fortunately stocked what I required.

Pipework assembled and the last soldered joint was made...

The water was turned fully back on and the minor leaks on the compression fittings were repaired by a bit more brute force tightening them. All ready to connect the softener, add the salt and commission.

Commissioning involved programming the digital controller with time,day and then the water hardness; ours tested at 350 ppm. For information on Water Harness See Here

This was then followed by an initial regeneration cycle which took 82 minutes. (this will in future happen at 02:00 hrs when we have used approximately 2000 litres of water - hopefully!)

We now have a fully functional water softener, although we will have some time to wait until we have used the 300 litres of hard hot water before we can enjoy the full benefits....

Water Softener part 1

Coming from the soft water area of North West England we have certainly noticed the hard water available to us here in Braye. After months of discussion and a little research we decided to go for a water softener that will cover the whole house, with the exception of one tap for drinking water should we require to use it.

The model shown will more than cover our requirements and is digital meter controlled. This means it works by measuring the amount of water used and then regenerating accordingly. It is being sited at the point of water entry in the garage next to our hot water tank.

We will be utilising  the existing filter and pressure reducing valve to save on cost.  After a visit to Brico Depot for the remaining plumbing supplies (they are considerably cheaper there) we made a start on the preparatory work necessary for the installation.

Some of the new pipework.

The connection to the drain for the regeneration water.

Tomorrow is to be the full installation. The tools are ready...

I am not sure about me, but if there is no blog tomorrow I will have drowned in a torrent of water.. Softened or Hard who knows....

Repairing the Fork Candles !!

Manche Louchet Bequille 90cm

This morning we had to go to Bricomarche so whilst there we picked up a 'Manche Louchet Bequille 90cm' or to our english readers a fork handle. However when translated Manche = Channel or sleeve or long shaft, Louche without the t = dubious and Bequille = crutch ??  Such a lovely language French. I think it means a long shaft with a top piece as usually french garden tools are just a long shaft.

Removing the old handle

The steel rivot was drilled out and then the old wood knocked out with a screwdriver !!

The new shaft was the planed and sanded to a 'perfect' fit!

The  fork head was then hammered onto the shaft and a new hole drilled for a new steel rivot.

What to use for a rivot? a quick look through the junk boxes and a suitable coach bolt was found. This was then pushed through the hole and rivoted over.

All that was left was a quick test !! and it was quick.



We now have a new fork at a cost of 5.95 euros.

This is not the end of my tale. The multi talented Elizabeth was dying to try the planer So I gave her the old fork handle and a quick lesson in planing and !!

She made herself a dibber. I am expecting at least 50 seedling plants a minute when the time comes !

A screw loose...

It has been commented that I take a lot of photos whilst Colin does all the work. The words red, rag and bull come to mind (particularly the latter!)

In all fairness Colin pointed out that our second blog shows me working, or at least standing on a wall looking slightly useful.

Anyway this blog is an attempt to redress the balance.
A visit to IKEA yesterday made us the proud owners of something unexpected (as always!) - a Billy bookcase ... in RED!

The pictures speak for themselves...........
 

This goes here...

Or does it??!

Now we're, no - I'M getting somewhere!

So far, so good

No one will notice anyway...

Up we go!

Nearly finished and now smiling..

Don't ask!

And in the meantime Colin was trying to get a screw out of the toaster! How come when you drop a small screw, not only does it fall into the toaster but it manages to find the only way into the inner skin of said toaster??? (Murphy's Law!)..