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the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 14, 2018, 04:25:45 pm

Title: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 14, 2018, 04:25:45 pm: Thought this might be worth sharing.

I've done pretty well rescuing various handy items from skips/hedges etc recently. All a bit inspired by an uncle of mine finding a Georgian clock discarded in a skip in London - worth about £4k back in 1975.

The latest haul was particularly handy:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1931/44588188754_b6433a5c6d_k.jpg)

All slightly out of date, but otherwise fine :boxing:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1958/44367019175_2ab1ef0361_z.jpg)

Been looking for a new vacuum cleaner for a while. I had to repair this one though (from a skip), by taking the tissue paper out of the hose. Really :shrug:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1882/43918012324_b2ab2ba10e_z.jpg)

This is my new coffee machine ;D Found discarded in a hedge. The casing was a little bent, and I had to buy a new portafilter. It works perfectly, and is a suitable upgrade to my previous machine:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4794/25996773977_4e72baf789_z.jpg)

This was also in a skip. I asked the owner why she was throwing it out. She said that she'd lost the manual, and couldn't remember how it worked. Brand new, it was in the box of the new one she'd bought :no: Makes great coffee too, as I'm hoping Andy will attest to. The Dualit toaster too. One filament (of eight) needs replacing, but otherwise perfect :thumbsup:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/44343236961_0c4f1ca49c_z.jpg)

These are just a few of the best ones, but I'm sure there must be some pretty good stories out there.

In one of my "giving up climbing" phases, I dumped every bit of kit, rope access gear etc on prominent display atop a skip in Nether Edge, Sheffield. I'd love to think that someone found that and made good use of it :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Fiend on October 14, 2018, 04:40:03 pm: Top stuff. I've found a champagne flute and a nice little mug at crags and use the latter regularly.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: bigironhorse on October 14, 2018, 05:02:43 pm: Good effort Dave. Cant say I've got much decent stuff out of skips apart from a drill, 1960's vintage but works great. I love repairing stuff though, clothes, a tent, amplifier and speakers, a wrecked bicycle to name a few. All stuff that I think most people would just throw away. And the upshot is that I rarely have to but anything.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 14, 2018, 05:03:55 pm: I've got a guitar (in soft case) that someone at the end of the road was slinging out.

Having played quite a bit in my yoof I can see why (its got a very poor action) but if anyone wants it let me know. I was considering leaving it under Griffs/X to go with the ladder :)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: mrjonathanr on October 14, 2018, 05:18:54 pm: Can’t play Stairway To Heaven?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 05:26:00 pm: It just beggars belief the stuff people will throw away
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: webbo on October 14, 2018, 06:04:28 pm: Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 05:26:00 pm
It just beggars belief the stuff people will throw away
Just think of the career opportunities you threw away at Rockcity :lol:
I chucked my 20 year old rack including 15 plus quick draws, cams, wires and grigri in to the skip at Driffield recycling site during the house clear out on my last house move
It might be still there if you are quick.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: crzylgs on October 14, 2018, 06:49:52 pm: Throwing out a coffee machine simply because they lost the manual... Boggles the mind! Who even looks at the manual? Good stuff dude.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 14, 2018, 07:23:19 pm: Quote from: bigironhorse on October 14, 2018, 05:02:43 pm
Good effort Dave. Cant say I've got much decent stuff out of skips apart from a drill, 1960's vintage but works great. I love repairing stuff though, clothes, a tent, amplifier and speakers, a wrecked bicycle to name a few. All stuff that I think most people would just throw away. And the upshot is that I rarely have to but anything.

Good stuff.

It's surprising just what you can get by without buying, isn't it? Things often turn up, if you wait long enough.

I have a drill (one of several!) which Ben Moon had left out as "free to take" on his garden wall. Thanks Ben ;D

Lagers had generously passed on a load of tools after a friend of his passed away (thank you), but I needed some ear defenders so I could use the floor sander. Decided to run down to The Foundry instead.. and picked a pair out of a skip on the way :)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 14, 2018, 07:27:37 pm: Quote from: crzylgs on October 14, 2018, 06:49:52 pm
Throwing out a coffee machine simply because they lost the manual... Boggles the mind! Who even looks at the manual? Good stuff dude.

Doesn't it! I find it quite frightening really. And everything has built in obsolescence/self destruction too, doesn't it? My old Zanussi washing machine is 31 years old. Not as old as OMM, but still creaking on ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 07:41:08 pm: Quote from: webbo on October 14, 2018, 06:04:28 pm
Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 05:26:00 pm
It just beggars belief the stuff people will throw away
Just think of the career opportunities you threw away at Rockcity :lol:
I chucked my 20 year old rack including 15 plus quick draws, cams, wires and grigri in to the skip at Driffield recycling site during the house clear out on my last house move
It might be still there if you are quick.

Yeah, just think.... I see there’s a new wall opening that way, old Hull Daily Mail building, interested to see how that goes

Damn, let me know next time ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: cheque on October 14, 2018, 07:49:55 pm: I once read an article in one of my ex’s art magazines about an artist who’d furnished their entire London flat/ studio by reusing, “up cycling” or just plain old selling the stuff the people in nearby Chelsea left out for the binman- stuff that the rest of us would save up for months to pay for was just discarded by the super rich as soon as they got a replacement and this bloke’s entire livelihood was built around reusing it in one way or another. I was inspired by that but it was my Dad who put me onto salvaging unwanted stuff and repairing it. He was an electronic engineer and would always emphasise to me how little it took to fix electronics that were considered broken.

I got an Akai S01 (an old school rackmount sampler) out of one of the skips behind my old flat. It was 15 years old even then but still had the protective film on the screen. Walking past I thought “there’s no way that’s an Akai sampler, I’ve just got studio hardware on the brain” but sure enough it was. A lot of the various versions of my home studio were built around furniture I’d pulled out of skips but that’s the only time an actual piece of musical equipment was sourced that way.

I had quite a lot of 70s hi-fi gear that was going to be skipped from my work once. Wood for Trees and BBGuns have both ended up with some of that.

A hi-fi shop under my old flat went bust too and had a skip which superficially seemed full of only shopfitting stuff but on further investigation had loads of unused remote controls etc. for posh hi-fis still in their boxes. I made hundreds selling that stuff on eBay.

Having said all this though, in living in a flat above a row of shops I got to see the darker side of this sort of thing- there are clearly people who are obsessed beyond reason with it. Two of the shops were charity shops so everything in their skips was stuff they couldn’t sell in the shops- dirty clothes, broken toys, VHS tapes etc. Every single day there would be people digging through these skips, bringing their own steps and torches etc. and leaving anything they didn’t want on the floor around them. I’m talking people who’d park their cars up (sometimes with bored family members in them- I saw this happen on Christmas Eve) before getting to work, not desperate people doing it to survive. So although it kind of contradicts what I’ve said, there’s definitely something to be said for not getting carried away with it!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 14, 2018, 07:51:27 pm: Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 07:41:08 pm
Quote from: webbo on October 14, 2018, 06:04:28 pm
Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 05:26:00 pm
It just beggars belief the stuff people will throw away
Just think of the career opportunities you threw away at Rockcity :lol:
I chucked my 20 year old rack including 15 plus quick draws, cams, wires and grigri in to the skip at Driffield recycling site during the house clear out on my last house move
It might be still there if you are quick.

Yeah, just think.... I see there’s a new wall opening that way, old Hull Daily Mail building, interested to see how that goes

Damn, let me know next time ;)

New wall? Hull? Wtf? For real? Mark not part of it?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: webbo on October 14, 2018, 07:55:48 pm: Quote from: tomtom on October 14, 2018, 07:51:27 pm
Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 07:41:08 pm
Quote from: webbo on October 14, 2018, 06:04:28 pm
Quote from: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 05:26:00 pm
It just beggars belief the stuff people will throw away
Just think of the career opportunities you threw away at Rockcity :lol:
I chucked my 20 year old rack including 15 plus quick draws, cams, wires and grigri in to the skip at Driffield recycling site during the house clear out on my last house move
It might be still there if you are quick.

Yeah, just think.... I see there’s a new wall opening that way, old Hull Daily Mail building, interested to see how that goes

Damn, let me know next time ;)

New wall? Hull? Wtf? For real? Mark not part of it?
Come on Guy what do you know.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Wood FT on October 14, 2018, 08:29:47 pm: I know nothinggg, just saw it here

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/hull-rock-climbing-bouldering-prices-1949167
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on October 14, 2018, 08:55:53 pm: Just spent a satisfying couple of hours completely disassembling and re-assembing my sons phone to replace the totally smashed screen on it. The replacement screen cost £21 quid on ebay and the how to You Tube vid was about half an hour long, but all went well and it now looks brand new.

#feelingsmug

I'm a right skip dog, and will always have a bit of a neb. I got a set of galvanised metal ladder out of a skip at the Uni when they were building 'The Commons' (with the permission of the site manager, since it was a bit obvious in the middle of the site). They were exactly what we were looking for at our caving club for our tackle store.

It is staggering just how much stuff gets binned.

We're in the process of moving/house renovations. A lot of stuff went to charity. Bit on Gum Tree etc and I'm afraid, some stuff did end up in a skip that was probably serviceable. Couple of lampshades spring to mind (they were a bit mank tbh).
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 14, 2018, 09:32:59 pm: Nice one Sam. This last year I’ve done 4 iPhone screens - three batteries and a home button replacement.... got it down to 5-10 min now.. and it’s great to get something fixed for very little (that folk think costs £££)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: remus on October 14, 2018, 10:31:19 pm: Good thread, love a bit of repair. Just ordered a replacement screen for my phone, hopefully all will go well!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on October 14, 2018, 10:44:45 pm: I opted for the full replacement option, as opposed to the 'hair dryer, peeling off the epoxy with a razor' option, which is cheaper, but looks very hit and miss.

I've repaired loads of stuff like this in the pass. I was particularly proud of fixing my dads hoover, where the on off button had broken, but managed to bend a small bit of metal into the correct shape and pop rivet it back into place. Good as new and you'd never know.

It does help to have the right tools, and a garage full of junk that 'well you never know, it might come in'.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 15, 2018, 02:03:53 am: Great info there about the phone screen Sam. I'll have to check that out.

I meant to say at the start of the thread "Generous donations of free stuff by SamT and others is cheating, but very much appreciated" :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on October 15, 2018, 08:30:23 am: I am constantly building things out of junk and try to repair everything myself. This isn’t surprising/fair comparison because that’s the basic job description of a sea-going Marine Engineer, who would be expected to fix anything from a radar to a sewage treatment plant, with a stick of gum and a paper clip (Araldite! What can’t be fixed with that stuff! Solder/weld replacement, cast into a new component (with plasticine molds), and if that fails Duct tape the shit out of it).

However, on a more practical note.
Running a climbing wall, means people keep donating random holds from odd sources.
We set in coloured circuits, so we usually can’t use them, unless they happen to colour match an existing set.
But, if you pick up the permanent marker refill bottles (couple of quid from amazon), you can stain any resin hold. Obviously, it helps to use a dark colour. I have created a 120 hold set in black, like this. Dishwasher and pressure washer don’t touch the colour, even after six years of washing (don’t use Benky).

I also created a load of dual texture holds (specifically for young children), by coating part of the holds with tile paint. They have been up for a couple months now and survived a wash cycle, so it’s looking durable.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: grimer on October 15, 2018, 10:41:04 am: I once spotted a rope in a black bin across the road from me in Nether Edge. I pulled it it and it was a fairly wiry, skinny, dark blue sport rope but it had been chopped in two. I used both bits for sport climbing in the Peak for about a year. They were a nice length for shorter stuff.

The bin, and I therefore believe the rope, was yours, Dave.

You wasteful bastard, had you lost the manual?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: fatneck on October 15, 2018, 10:58:59 am: :lol:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 15, 2018, 01:27:53 pm: Bravo Grimer. Post of the year.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 15, 2018, 07:06:33 pm: Ha ha ;D

Could have been anyone's at the time Grimer, with a lot of folk staying. That would have been a while ago, hey.
My new Dyson has a nice long reach for the walls too ;)

Some good stories here.

As an aside, I've set up a Gumtree page to sell items, raising funds for the Sheffield Tree campaign/legal fund.
If anyone has anything they'd like to sell, with a proportion of sale price donated to the fund, drop me a line.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: highrepute on October 15, 2018, 09:57:14 pm: Recently got tqo pint glasses (not matching and clearly stolen from a pub) and three picture frames that had been left "free to a good home" down our road. That was a good day.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: mark20 on October 19, 2018, 06:43:52 pm: The oven stopped working the other day, so I took it apart on a bit of a whim. The rotary switch was knackered, a bit of tinkering and we now have a working oven again (just make sure to switch it off at the wall in between use, to be safe!). It made me wonder how many in the same position would have sent it straight to landfill...

I think Govey is on to something here
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/michael-goves-hot-tip-hunt-for-gold-in-others-rubbish-vk60ck53p
(sorry for the Times link but you get the jist)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on October 19, 2018, 10:17:01 pm: Nice one. Our oven door has been held together by two skateboard truck bolts for about the last 5 years. The little switch on the door to put the fan on/off as you open the door was fixed last year with a bit of aluminum tent pole to act as a replacement sleeve to the broken plastic one.

Alas, the time has come for a new kitchen and so it has gone to the tip (sorry - recycling center! :ang:)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 20, 2018, 07:47:56 am: Watch it with kitchen appliance repairs - I changed the ecu on a washing machine a few years back ( it failed originally in comic style with every light on the machine rapidly flashing on and off - like a failed robot in a 50’s sci fi!).

Anyway - it seemed to work on a test cycle so I went to have a cuppa and came back and it was very very hot - stuck on a boil wash with the contents bubbling away inside! It wouldn’t stop and I had to pull the plug and let it cool down for an hour or two. It’s truly knackered now.

Very glad I didn’t go out or it may have burnt the house down.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on October 20, 2018, 10:05:36 am: Quote from: tomtom on October 20, 2018, 07:47:56 am
Watch it with kitchen appliance repairs - I changed the ecu on a washing machine a few years back ( it failed originally in comic style with every light on the machine rapidly flashing on and off - like a failed robot in a 50’s sci fi!).

Anyway - it seemed to work on a test cycle so I went to have a cuppa and came back and it was very very hot - stuck on a boil wash with the contents bubbling away inside! It wouldn’t stop and I had to pull the plug and let it cool down for an hour or two. It’s truly knackered now.

Very glad I didn’t go out or it may have burnt the house down.

The really amusing aspect of these repairs.

I’ve done it several times, it’s fairly standard practice to strip an old unit for parts, shove them into storage and replace the unit with the same model.
Except, the “same” model is often quite different.
Pumps and heaters etc rarely change, but cycles and user interfaces do; even if not immediately noticeably so. The classic being a change of position of cycles on the dial...
I recall almost being disembowelled by an irate Fillipino laundry man, who had just discovered several thousand pounds worth of designer knitwear, had been boiled into doll’s clothes.
It was difficult explaing to the charter guests, mainly because I couldn’t stop sn**gering...
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: shurt on October 20, 2018, 10:30:42 am: Felt really good the other week after fixing my Touran door lock which had stopped working altogether. It had stayed broken for months as the garage quoted £350...!!!
Anyway looked stuff up on YouTube, got a part off eBay for 17 quid and 4 (very stressful I might add) hours later it was done.
First proper car repair I've done so it felt great.

I personally hate the throw it away if it breaks mentality these days. I don't think manufacturers help as lots of things are not really designed to be mended. They can make more money if people buy a new one but it's shit for landfill and the planet generally.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 20, 2018, 04:10:25 pm: Some great stuff on this thread.

I bought my Zanussi washer/dryer in 1997, and yes, I have had it repaired occasionally (probably about £150 in total), and it's a bit strapped up in places, but still rumbling on. Machines these days seem to be designed to self destruct within a couple of years.

Pulled these out of a skip a couple of days ago:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1906/31574728058_1436e2d2c0_k.jpg)

Put them on Gumtree, and have just sold them for £25.

;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: shurt on October 20, 2018, 05:39:07 pm: I found some old rope in a skip once. Couldn't shift it on Gumtree or Ebay
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Steve Crowe on October 21, 2018, 04:51:33 pm: I went down to the shed and found a spare piece of plywood from our old van, a length of timber from some dismantled shelving and a nice off cut of hardwood from the new windows.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1975/30532219977_71f89c9cd4_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Nw2BgP)Finger Board (https://flic.kr/p/Nw2BgP) by Stephen Crowe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/131281931@N04/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 22, 2018, 12:20:39 am: That looks like a quality item!

Free fingerstrength. :great:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: remus on October 22, 2018, 07:12:11 am: Phone glass repair successful :great: Wish Id got on with it sooner now!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: duncan on October 22, 2018, 08:29:24 am: I'm a life-long fixer, bodger, upcycler and reuser. Despite apple's best efforts to make this as awkard as possible, I've successfully changed iphone batteries several times. However, when it goes wrong, it is pretty spectacular...

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4517/37971479905_6dce3f0d90_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ZRpL52)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 22, 2018, 08:42:53 am: Good effort!

I've a 6+ (grey) with a knackered motherboard that a colleague asked me to fix thinking it was the battery... if anyone out there has a pretty much destroyed 6+ (apart from the main board!) going??

IPhone batteries are a bit of a challenge if the glue strips don't give way (some peel beautifully from the end - others have to be hairdriered and wedged out with quite some force..

By the time of MrsTT's 3rd screen replacement I got fed up of changing the camera, home button and earpiece around (the faffy bit to be honest) and found replacements on amazon with all those bits on for an extra few quid. Which was fine apart from issues with the ambient light sensor on the final one.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Stewart on October 22, 2018, 03:09:58 pm: I got a new samsung 38" smart tv for £10. The only thing wrong with it is the volume is stuck at about half-way. At that price I couldn't turn it down.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on October 22, 2018, 03:59:27 pm: Quote from: Stewart on October 22, 2018, 03:09:58 pm
I got a new samsung 38" smart tv for £10. The only thing wrong with it is the volume is stuck at about half-way. At that price I couldn't turn it down.

Add a sound bar.

Job done.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 22, 2018, 04:13:54 pm: Quote from: Oldmanmatt on October 22, 2018, 03:59:27 pm
Quote from: Stewart on October 22, 2018, 03:09:58 pm
I got a new samsung 38" smart tv for £10. The only thing wrong with it is the volume is stuck at about half-way. At that price I couldn't turn it down.

Add a sound bar.

Job done.

I think it was a joke....
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: bigironhorse on October 22, 2018, 04:16:48 pm: Anyone know how to repair a microwave that when switched on looks like an electrical storm inside? Its my second one in 3 years that's done the same thing.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on October 22, 2018, 04:19:01 pm: Quote from: bigironhorse on October 22, 2018, 04:16:48 pm
Anyone know how to repair a microwave that when switched on looks like an electrical storm inside? Its my second one in 3 years that's done the same thing.

Take the metal items out of the microwave? ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2018, 10:31:40 am: Not quite on topic but;

I fixed the clutch return spring on our Ford Focus. Garage quoted a few hundred quid as they said they need to disassemble the whole pedal assembly to fit it.

I did some googling and used recommended approach; weighted the spring with body weight using some krabs and slings and filled the gaps with 1p pieces until it was the right length, dropped it in place (bit of yoga and a headtorch needed to see behind pedal), then pulled out coins with a pair of pliers. £30 for spring and an hour of work.

Whenever i go to the local tip to chuck out garden rubbish etc, i despair at the things people throw out. If you ever need magnetic strips for anything (who doesn't!) just go to fridge / freezer section and attack the doors with a Stanley knife.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on October 30, 2018, 11:19:06 am: Youtube and Ebay have to have had a marked effect on ability for people to resolve issues/repair stuff.

How the internet can save the planet. There's probably a PhD to be had somewhere.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: danm on October 30, 2018, 11:40:26 am: Anybody know where I might get a heavy duty sewing repair done in Sheffield on a DMM Highball pad? Foam is still good but the shoulder strap mounting has ripped free. Can't get a needle through by hand as it's 2 layers of cordura plus 1 or 2 of webbing.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Will Hunt on October 30, 2018, 12:22:45 pm: That sounds like the kind of thing that Alpkit would do for you. Shop in Hathersage?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2018, 01:11:55 pm: Anyone who says they can do tent, canvas or similar repairs should have a stitcher strong enough to repair. I've use a high speed drill in the past for making holes to fix things like that and then used either cable ties or strimmer line to repair.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: sdm on October 30, 2018, 01:17:27 pm: I've had similar repairs done by alpkit in Hathersage before.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: danm on October 30, 2018, 01:33:15 pm: Thanks, I'll try em out!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: T_B on October 30, 2018, 01:44:16 pm: Quote from: danm on October 30, 2018, 11:40:26 am
Anybody know where I might get a heavy duty sewing repair done in Sheffield on a DMM Highball pad? Foam is still good but the shoulder strap mounting has ripped free. Can't get a needle through by hand as it's 2 layers of cordura plus 1 or 2 of webbing.

DMM? They've repaired mine twice.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on October 30, 2018, 05:58:00 pm: I use one of these, or just sailmaker’s needles and a palm.
You can also pickup waxed sailmaker’s thread or whipping twine, quite cheaply.

https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB (https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on October 30, 2018, 10:43:09 pm: A palm.

I haven't used one of those for a very long time. Used to make bell ropes.

A fid is another obscure bit of kit..

Back on topic, had a message from a friend of mine after I'd suggested taking his batteries to the scrappy.

"Took 5 old car batteries and about 20kg of steel to scrap merchant this morning and made £67! Thanks for the tip."

Always worth a try. 👍
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: mrjonathanr on October 31, 2018, 11:23:26 am: Quote from: T_B on October 30, 2018, 01:44:16 pm
Quote from: danm on October 30, 2018, 11:40:26 am
Anybody know where I might get a heavy duty sewing repair done in Sheffield on a DMM Highball pad? Foam is still good but the shoulder strap mounting has ripped free. Can't get a needle through by hand as it's 2 layers of cordura plus 1 or 2 of webbing.

DMM? They've repaired mine twice.

I had the same issue and used an upside-down thimble to push the needle through. Make sure it's a large needle and use thick thread.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on November 06, 2018, 02:54:43 pm: Some inspiration:

https://youtu.be/RyF40JydVNU

Dessert last night was a packet of chocolate covered pretzels I found in the gutter ;D

I haven't driven a car for years - primarily because I feel I can't justify buying one for trips out to the Peak.

I'm wondering what to do now. I would consider buying some sort of classic car for occasional use, though still looking at motorbikes :)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on November 06, 2018, 03:15:23 pm: I'd be careful with classic cars Dave - the market is currently in a huge bubble and residuals are well inflated, especially on stuff like 80s hot hatches (an admittedly mint 205 GTi went for north of £40k recently at auction!). At the silly end, I gather you could pick a Ferrari F40 up for "only" 5-figure money 5/10 years ago and now they're in the millions.

Think the key if you want to dabble in that market is to try and ID the next thing that's going to come under the classic car cognoscenti's beady eye.

We've seen the surge in interest in 80s stuff, mainly driven by 80s kids getting older and having the disposal income to service their nostalgia I'm assuming. I think buying into that bubble would be unwise unless you have (say) a Renault 5 GT Turbo shaped itch you really, really want to scratch. I shudder to think what Ben and Jerry would get for their Real Thing fleet if they still had them!

Anyway, the "Playstation generation" are next up.

Honda NSX-es have already blown up, good / straight Skylines are hard to find - my money would be on finding a decent un-Barried mid-2000s era Civic Type R or similar. Would be reliable, quick enough to excite and I'm betting will appreciate if you look after it and don't heap the miles on.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: andy_e on November 06, 2018, 03:20:49 pm: If anyone's got a Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak knocking around I'll take it off your hands.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on November 06, 2018, 03:35:29 pm: Quote from: tommytwotone on November 06, 2018, 03:15:23 pm

Anyway, the "Playstation generation" are next up.

Might have to see what was in the original line-up of Gran Turismo 1.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: teestub on November 06, 2018, 05:43:20 pm: Quote from: tommytwotone on November 06, 2018, 03:15:23 pm
my money would be on finding a decent un-Barried mid-2000s era Civic Type R or similar.

I think they are stored next to the hen's teeth and the rocking horse shit!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on November 06, 2018, 06:34:33 pm: Au contraire mon ami...3 bags gets you into this!

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123430053433 (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F123430053433)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on November 06, 2018, 06:52:13 pm: Seriously though, I was coming more from the perspective of buying something to cherish, irrespective of "yield".

That said, a later 996 Carrera wouldn't be a bad consideration, though they'll likely also be silly money by the time I have the cash!

My first car was a Triumph Herald. Never had a Vitesse, but always fancied one.

It's the investment in things which in my view is the important thing here - you know, like looking after houseplants, the cherishing is the reward, not what you'd get if you sold them.

I thought I'd start this thread to try to emphasise the opportunity that there already is, in the frankly immense level of resources available to us, if we only open our eyes - instead of living our lives according to what we're sold.

Having very little money, and getting by further on it, seemed an easier thing to share when Thatcher was in government, than it is now! The irony.

Living something of a Bohemian lifestyle seemed more readily celebrated, and dare I say it, more tenable than now.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on November 07, 2018, 12:38:38 pm: I'm with you on this - I can't bear the idea of people buying these things as an "investment", hiding them away in garages etc.

This may be the reason for their popularity as an investment nowadays, but I think a retro ride (if you choose well) definitely fits the mould of things you can live with / fettle / improve over time, while having the peace of mind of knowing you're not ploughing your time and affection into a money pit.

Not to mention that things of the late 90s onwards vintage aren't plagued by "old car problems" (like I used to have with my first car, a '78 Mini Clubman) like the cold/damp morning "will it start" lottery, terrible brakes, questionable general safety and so on.

Your're right on niche Porsches - they're another one which have caught the eye of the investors. The modern GT2/3 stuff is I think worth quite a bit more than the original list price.

This thread got me looking last night and spotted this..."interesting" (if you like that sort of thing!), low mileage, tidy - and plenty of room for pads!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Ford-sierra-1-8L-estate-car-Very-low-mileage-original-car/253958542814?hash=item3b211bd5de:g:84oAAOSwypZb2bz7 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Ford-sierra-1-8L-estate-car-Very-low-mileage-original-car/253958542814?hash=item3b211bd5de:g:84oAAOSwypZb2bz7)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on November 07, 2018, 02:11:43 pm: Thread has drifted somewhat! Like my driving technique!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Will Hunt on November 07, 2018, 02:38:42 pm: Quote from: tommytwotone on November 07, 2018, 12:38:38 pm

I'm with you on this - I can't bear the idea of people buying these things as an "investment", hiding them away in garages etc.

You'll want to go and watch your local "Classic Trial" where you will be treated (environmental carnage notwithstanding) to cars, some of which were first registered in the 1920s, hammering up vertical mud slopes and through deep ruts ridden with enormous boulders.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 05, 2018, 01:23:37 am: When anyone says to me "Can't complain", I always ask, "Are you sure?".

I was sent a cheque this week for £175 :2thumbsup: when a pension fund provider gave incorrect advice about transferring funds. A bit of hassle, and now with the Ombudsman - who I've been pretty successful with before.

Oh, and I picked up £125 for sneaking in before the deadline for transferring bank accounts to NatWest ;D

I complained to the Halifax a couple of years ago, when they made a "keying in error" while negotiating repayments. This prevented further adjustment, resulting in collection proceedings being started. Yikes. £450 to me when they acknowledged the cock up.

Don't be afraid to moan when it's justified!

Anyone else?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: highrepute on December 05, 2018, 08:18:48 am: I found a pound on the floor the other day. Can't complain about that!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on December 05, 2018, 12:10:34 pm: Quote from: Oldmanmatt on October 30, 2018, 05:58:00 pm
I use one of these, or just sailmaker’s needles and a palm.
You can also pickup waxed sailmaker’s thread or whipping twine, quite cheaply.

https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB (https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB)

Love how the photos in the link above suggest you can use it to re-stitch your belay loop on your climbing harness. :-\ :o
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: webbo on December 05, 2018, 12:25:00 pm: Quote from: SamT on December 05, 2018, 12:10:34 pm
Quote from: Oldmanmatt on October 30, 2018, 05:58:00 pm
I use one of these, or just sailmaker’s needles and a palm.
You can also pickup waxed sailmaker’s thread or whipping twine, quite cheaply.

https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB (https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB)

Love how the photos in the link above suggest you can use it to re-stitch your belay loop on your climbing harness. :-\ :o
I used to have a bandolier that I had shortened and hand stitched it back together. I lent it a mate to Lead something and when I followed and arrived at the belay I found he used it as an extender from the belay :o
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 05, 2018, 02:28:23 pm: Quote from: highrepute on December 05, 2018, 08:18:48 am
I found a pound on the floor the other day. Can't complain about that!

Only a pound? :P
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 05, 2018, 02:59:57 pm: Quote from: webbo on December 05, 2018, 12:25:00 pm
Quote from: SamT on December 05, 2018, 12:10:34 pm
Quote from: Oldmanmatt on October 30, 2018, 05:58:00 pm
I use one of these, or just sailmaker’s needles and a palm.
You can also pickup waxed sailmaker’s thread or whipping twine, quite cheaply.

https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB (https://www.force4.co.uk/speedy-stitcher-sewing-awl.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguDeBRDCARIsAGxuU8ZZruoQG4a7zMDzvKU54-iVrDhoEZIeHfCZikW91dHYyyIGs4Qhk38aAoWYEALw_wcB)

Love how the photos in the link above suggest you can use it to re-stitch your belay loop on your climbing harness. :-\ :o
I used to have a bandolier that I had shortened and hand stitched it back together. I lent it a mate to Lead something and when I followed and arrived at the belay I found he used it as an extender from the belay :o

Considering the loads on some of the rigging I used to repair of even make from scratch, that shouldn’t be an issue.
I skippered a replica of an 1850 American warship (Classic Schooner, similar lines and rig to the later Grand Banks Fishing Schooners like Blue Nose, but a deeper forefoot).

The Main and Gaff weighed over a tonne. Gaff, Main and Boom, 2.5 with iron work, hanging on a topping lift that I woud resew and seize each spring. Her masts were 35 mtrs tall, including Topmasts, and stayed with Deadeyes and Lanyards, which we set up each spring. I could probably calculate the wind load, under full sail (including Fisherman), on a beam reach, ina 20knt breeeze, butt I’m at work; you can imagine though, based on this:
She carried 4900^2 foot of working canvas.

Yes, we made and repaired our own Bosuns chairs and life lines.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 03:59:55 am: Wow.

Amazing stuff there OMM.

Do you have any photos? Would be great you old gaffer.

:2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 06, 2018, 08:40:15 am: Actually, a point of regret there.
I was Captain for almost three years, having joined her when she was sunk in a docking accident only a year after her first launch. But, I have no photos of her under sail, from outside the vessel and only some poorly scanned 35mm prints from the whole experience. Hard to imagine now, but I have more photos from my son’s 10 birthday a couple weeks ago, than I do for a whole, exciting, threes years of my life..

Still:

(https://i.ibb.co/KzGd9yJ/8-F86-DD4-F-CE30-4-C5-E-972-D-274-E590542-FE.jpg)

Some Greek island.

We actually built the Boom rest in Kushadasi, the crew and I bought the the Iroko at some dodgy shack lumber merchant and worked it on the dockside. We got a local Blacksmith to hammer out the iron work from old scaffolding bars and had them re-galavanised in an equally dodgy shack (there were stray cows outside, wandering around the mud streets, eatingplastic bags). I did the fancy rope work, from two old heaving-lines, washed in the launderette and varnished.

(https://i.ibb.co/tZ56gYG/6648-E952-E484-4-F85-9-BDC-98503-DC1-E9-FE.jpg)

All the Brightwork wasdone traditionally. The varnish, wasn’t varnish, we made a much softer, but polishable, concoction of Linseed oil and diesel fuel (plus a secret ingredient). It doesn’t crack or peel off inthe sun (or come off on clothes, it dries rubbery) which was essential with the blocks and gear bashing off it, even with the rope thump mats we were constantly weaving and replacing.
(https://i.ibb.co/jMHsJ7S/E784-E76-F-4373-4-F78-989-B-AE711-DD98425.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/NptL9Bb/53-FAB70-D-FB72-42-A1-8901-3-EB2-CD39-A9-A6.jpg)

The decks were real teak, with Iroko bollards and the hull was quadruple strip planked in mahogany (not traditional but much stronger).
(https://i.ibb.co/Js5FMGD/FA730-A47-E597-41-A0-A27-D-A51235-AF6443.jpg)
Me on the right. Our Safro First Mate in the middle and my first wife/the Chef.

(https://i.ibb.co/W6nfDHF/BD4-A7607-2310-4170-B957-0-AA369-B89-C4-A.jpg)

It’s not a great photo, but if you look, you can see some of the stuff that these days is twee, and affected decoration in yacht clubs and nautical themed cafes, but all once had a real purpose. The fancy rope work was there to stop damage to sails and spars and people.
You can see how the scaffolding bars were splt and worked to accept the Iroko beam. The running gear was built by an old codger in Britain, Colin Frake, all to 19th century patterns.
We stole most of the designs from Howard Chappels works, like the “American fishing schooners”. That fella spent years collecting details on those ships in their final days. They were the apex of sailing ship design. Forget the Clippers or even the Pilot Cutters, these things lasted well into age of steam.

She weighed 86 tonnes in the lift. Enough canvass for a whole yacht club of Westerly 30 footers, (and admittedly we had handcranked winches for the sheets, but everything else was “Handraulic” on a purchase), but she could be worked in a gale by three on deck and a helsman (one for the heads’les, one on the Fore’sles and one on the Mains). Two could set or stow the mains/fores, one for the Peak and one on the throat. There was almost nothing on the vessel that couldn’t be repaired with rope or a needle, or basic carpentry.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: andy_e on December 06, 2018, 09:09:39 am: That's beautiful OMM!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on December 06, 2018, 10:30:04 am: :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 06, 2018, 12:58:44 pm: Actually, I’d all but forgotten.

The ships bell.
It got polished up and moved to the boom rest in port, but it’s actual function, before radios and intercoms (and this was) was to signal the helm when paying or heaving anchor chain and it actually lives on the windlass at sea (with a muffler on when sailing).
From the helm, I used the horn to pass orders to the bow and indicate manoeuvring intentions.
Then, at anchor in fog, the bell and horn would be used to alert moving vessels to out presence; bell indicating bow and chains, horn, the stern.
So, not just a pretty affectation.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 02:42:43 pm: Matt, what a beauty!

You clearly have a wealth of experience - and memories - really wonderful to hear. Thank you.

I grew up in Ilfracombe, on the North coast.
I had a real obsession with pointing, chest beckets, lanyards and bell ropes as a kid. Still have my copy of Ashley's Book of Knots.

Then I started climbing!

Just talking the other day about getting a boat.

Thank you very much indeed for sharing that. How about a separate thread?

+1 of course!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 06, 2018, 05:45:02 pm: I was born in Paignton, but my dad was a copper and he was transferred to Bodmin traffic, when I was five (1976). So I actually grew up in St Tudy, just outside Wadebridge. I was a Sea Scout and Sea Cadet, when they were both run by Fishermen. My unit was in Padstow, and many of my mates were sons of Trawlermen.
I learned to repair nets, whip and splice and hand and steer. Did all the RYA dingy stuff and power boat to instructor.
Joined the London Sailing project and rose to Watch officer and Coastal skipper, before running away to sea at 18 (did a runner in the Xmas holidays and joined on 9th Jan 89). I couldn’t face another day at school and St Austel sixth form college was a selective and strict.
Ironically, because of those pesky aptitude tests the Navy make you do, they sent meback to school for four years and made it a criminal offence (punishable by fine or stoppage of leave) to fail an exam.... 😱
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 09:53:23 pm: (https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4846/45295828895_dec12ecfa2_h.jpg)

In the Jagged Globe skip now lol!

Unbelievable :o

Matt, I'm at the Foundry will read your post in a little bit :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 10:33:36 pm: Several boxes of unused and used jackets and fleeces, and the plastic boots, have now been left with the homeless charity collection at the Foundry :2thumbsup:

Er, less one.. :whistle:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 11:24:57 pm: TS. Capstone were my crew on Ropery Road in Ilfracombe.

All the usual Naval Acquaint stuff, steaming round the channel etc. Damage control at Raleigh was an experience!

Won a scholarship for a trip away on TS Royalist, which was a highlight, until I realised how long it usually takes me to get over sea sickness!

I'd grown up on a solid diet of Arthur Ransome. Sadly, my grandfather died in a boating accident in Bristol docks - gybe-boom-head-water-drown.

When I caught the climbing bug, my parents tried to get me to enter the Marines. Again, great fun, but ultimately it backfired, and photos of Jerry Moffatt hanging off bits of wood in the Poly gym enticed me away to ditch school and home life, and accept sponsorship from Maggy.

Your post has generated a lot of wonder :yes:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on December 07, 2018, 08:32:51 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 06, 2018, 10:33:36 pm
Several boxes of unused and used jackets and fleeces, and the plastic boots, have now been left with the homeless charity collection at the Foundry

Surely the boots would be snapped up my a cold footed Sherpa somewhere...

Horrified that this stuff has been dumped in a skip.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tregiffian on December 07, 2018, 08:37:59 am: OMM, I`m sorry that St Austell VI Form didn`t prove right for you. At least we sort of helped start you on your truly impressive life trajectory. Most of our exes speak well of us; Silas, sometime Deputy Governor General of South Africa, Rachel, a feminist author and activist and Patrick who still sometimes busks in the town centre.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on December 07, 2018, 09:39:20 am: split topic?

Anyhow - Good effort Dave for sorting out the stuff in the skip. :great:

Perhaps JG knew the stuff would get lifted from the skip (it being in the foundary car park). There is sometimes internal politics involved in giving stuff away from businesses and it makes things easier to say - "well we just dumped it"
(I'm thinking along the lines of gear testers who get into trouble for flogging all the gear that they get given to test)

Though the proximity of the Foundry homeless collection point leaves little excuse.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 07, 2018, 10:51:11 am: Quote from: tregiffian on December 07, 2018, 08:37:59 am
OMM, I`m sorry that St Austell VI Form didn`t prove right for you. At least we sort of helped start you on your truly impressive life trajectory. Most of our exes speak well of us; Silas, sometime Deputy Governor General of South Africa, Rachel, a feminist author and activist and Patrick who still sometimes busks in the town centre.

I had a Girlfriend, nextdoor in the Tech, doing Photography, Ceramics and Art. I was spending too much time in their “Dark room” developing things and not enough time doing prep.I was on Maths, Physics, Design and doing a fourth A in Geology, next door with Mr Trott. Was torn between joining the Navy as an Engineering officer (I was, in fact, sponsored by them at that point), but I also had offers at Loughborough for Geology and Camborne for Mining Engineering.

So I had a “moment” instead.
Married the girl a year later too.

Chalk and cheese.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 07, 2018, 02:53:28 pm: I hadn't realised - until I spoke with Foundry staff - that the charity collection went directly to projects to help the homeless, which is fantastic.

I can appreciate there may be (difficult to justify?) commercial or legal reasons for throwing away perfectly useable clothing or food, and that JG may not like the fact that the kit was removed from their skip. It was very well hidden. I'd actually seen a boot lace which I thought would be useful to replace the one that had just snapped - then I realised that the boxes were full of jackets, fleeces etc.

Here's a link to a podcast from Jamie Veitch's Sheffield Live show where he interviews a local manufacturer with a policy of donating jackets to homeless charity projects, on a sell one, donate one basis: :icon_beerchug:

https://www.jamieveitch.co.uk/2018/11/allen-holland-one-sold-one-given-jackets-plus-crowdfunding-and-manufacturing-tips/
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 26, 2018, 04:00:55 am: Yay! Santa's been :bounce:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7918/32593935348_5f5f43efd6_h.jpg)

I guess it's broken already! The full set is there, so should be an easy fix. :punk:

I remember getting one of these in the late 70s after Hunt's championship winning year.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: simes on December 26, 2018, 11:10:27 am: Quote
I used to have a bandolier that I had shortened and hand stitched it back together. I lent it a mate to Lead something and when I followed and arrived at the belay I found he used it as an extender from the belay :o

My first SRT caving harness was homemade. Took me about half an hour on one of my dad's industrial machines. I used it regularly for a couple of years before I decided to buy a replacement.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on December 26, 2018, 12:10:56 pm: top Tip tip.

Broke our microwave glass plate thing. Was at the tip and noticed they had a whole bunch of mircrowaves stacked up (about 40!!) so went up there and sure enough, a quick rummage and voila, the glass plates were all the same anyway, so nabbed a replacement. In fact, got two so we can put one in the dishwasher and pop the clean one straight into microwave

:smartass:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 26, 2018, 02:08:08 pm: That's the spirit!

I bet a good number of the machines were working too. Kettles in skips generally seem to work.

Simes, you only have one life! Don't go throwing it away ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 26, 2018, 08:24:49 pm: Quote from: simes on December 26, 2018, 11:10:27 am
Quote
I used to have a bandolier that I had shortened and hand stitched it back together. I lent it a mate to Lead something and when I followed and arrived at the belay I found he used it as an extender from the belay :o

My first SRT caving harness was homemade. Took me about half an hour on one of my dad's industrial machines. I used it regularly for a couple of years before I decided to buy a replacement.

Working as an instructor in mid-late 80’s, kids harnsses were non-existant. If the Small Whillans didn’t sinch up enough, we’d knock up a harness out of knotted slings.
Actually, most of them were better than the Whillans, at least they were if you had testicles.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: T_B on December 28, 2018, 09:59:03 am: :sorry:

Just seen this. Ref the JG skip, I agree that stuff should have been re-cycled or donated. The boots are v old but I don't know why they didn't get recycled as I'm pretty sure a previous lot did. I have put quite a bit of stuff we have been given in the Foundry Warm Stuff box.

We get clothing for porters/Sherpas made in Nepal. They get new stuff, it's the right size and we spend money in Nepal rather than giving it to a courier.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 29, 2018, 01:20:57 am: Hi T_B.

I take it from your post that things are all good re transferring the kit to the collection at the Foundry.

Posted it up here assuming you might see it, and was OK taking any complaint that it had been moved.

It's great that there's a more vocal effort to bring the issue of homelessness into more general awareness. There are so many people sleeping rough at the moment. Always have been of course.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 31, 2019, 01:55:59 am: Couple of good ones.

Went for a "skip run" last night, well 2.30 a.m. and found this :)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4860/33058102238_93ddd862e5_h.jpg)

I'd kept a very small piece of necklace that I found in the street a year and a half ago. Nearly chucked it in the bin too, but it wasn't magnetic so I thought I'd take a closer look.
Very small possible hallmark, so in the end took it to the local gold merchants, expecting them to put it in the bin for me.

"£150" came the reply from the girl on the counter! :2thumbsup:

I was off to the bank to withdraw some money for a car too, so great timing.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Muenchener on January 31, 2019, 08:00:28 pm: Some places in Germany used to have an organised giveaway system: one day a month people would put usable stuff that they no longer needed or wanted out on the street; people could go around and pick up whatever they fancied, then in the evening council trucks came round and took the leftovers to the tip. A friend of mine furnished her student flat that way, years ago.

Doesn't exist with anything like the same scale or organisation any more, sadly. I've never seen such a thing in my twenty years as a Münchner. But the odd box of stuff marked as a giveaway on somebody's doorstep is still a fairly common sight.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on February 01, 2019, 08:59:24 am: On the topic of furnishing flats.

Think the best I managed was from my Dad, who was a maintenance / snagger type person for one of the big housebuilders during the mid 2000s boom.

They'd sold all the properties on the estate, including the show home, and he turned up to find them chucking still sealed, brand new furniture that had been used to "dress" the show home in a skip. Fortunately his van was empty so he bagged me a brand new double bed and a mattress!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 01, 2019, 01:39:05 pm: That's a good one.

On the subject of leaving stuff out for people to take, I think that's something which is becoming increasingly common, which is good to see.

The most obvious "Owt for Nowt" which I hardly ever see these days is hitch-hiking. I find that incredibly sad. Somehow, these days I think that having very little/no money is viewed far more negatively than it used to be. Ironically, back when Maggie was in office, there was a sort of kinship in getting by on next to nothing, and with it, a true sense of appreciation of what little you did have, rather than what you didn't.

In my view, post Blair, things seemed significantly more meritocratic, with his emphasis on "social mobility", delivered with a thick layer of protestantism. Somehow, it seemed as though those who fell through the net, became invisible. I believe that in bi-partisan politics, what's needed is a stronger dialectic, and with Corbyn in opposition, I think there is an increased awareness of those who have nothing.

I often hitch out into the Peak. My last "proper" hitch was an attempt to get to Font for a tenner, on a flight from Prestwick airport. At 7am, an hour before my flight, I was dropped off a tractor in the pouring rain, with five miles to go. I didn't make it, so hitched into Glasgow, where very handily, Bubba was working at the time, and gave me a ride back to Sheffield.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on February 01, 2019, 01:48:45 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 01, 2019, 01:39:05 pm

Ironically, back when Maggie was in office, there was a sort of kinship in getting by on next to nothing, and with it, a true sense of appreciation of what little you did have, rather than what you didn't.

In my view, post Blair, things seemed significantly more meritocratic, with his emphasis on "social mobility", delivered with a thick layer of protestantism. Somehow, it seemed as though those who fell through the net, became invisible. I believe that in bi-partisan politics, what's needed is a stronger dialectic, and with Corbyn in opposition, I think there is an increased awareness of those who have nothing.

Give it a couple of months - those days could well be returning, though more out of necessity than choice!

Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 01, 2019, 01:39:05 pm

I often hitch out into the Peak. My last "proper" hitch was an attempt to get to Font for a tenner, on a flight from Prestwick airport. At 7am, an hour before my flight, I was dropped off a tractor in the pouring rain, with five miles to go. I didn't make it, so hitched into Glasgow, where very handily, Bubba was working at the time, and gave me a ride back to Sheffield.

I used to hitch a bit back in the early 2000s when a lot of the Derby crew did, especially as not many of us had cars. I managed an accidental hitch from Wirksworth at 10pm at night back to my front door when a boyfriend of a colleague happened to drive past,.

One time when meeting Derby mates at Plantation when I'd been in Sheffield overnight I stuck my thumb out at Hunter's Bar, no sign but just held up the old Rockfax bouldering guide - was lucky enough to be picked up by climbers going there too.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on February 01, 2019, 02:09:56 pm: When I was young (20) I hitched to turkey and back over 3 months, only resorted to a bus a few times in Yugoslavia (as it was then) and trains and buses in parts of Turkey. Hard to think of doing it in a post 911 world, was a bonkers adventure. Can't imagine doing it now, or even considering encouraging anyone (including my own kids) to do it.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 03, 2019, 04:38:58 pm: (https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7831/40297007953_cea9ab084d_c.jpg)

Some of my recent weird and wonderful skip finds.

Brand new futon mattress, original oil painting (signed, no frame), brass wall plaque for home ("Bless this House", will Ebay), metronome in perfect condition (which I need), really sweet miniature set of dominoes in silver plate box, various discarded old meds (er.. Trama-somethingorother, cocodam.. sleeping tablets, always handy :whistle:), vintage cut-throat razor in great condition (with original box; will Ebay)..

Oh, and what looks like a really handy guide to "Rope Access Techniques". All sounds very esoteric; a black art perhaps? Says “Prepared by Adam Long", whoever he is? ;D .. pair of All Stars in my size from the same skip (Thank you!).

In a bizarre twist, I was dropping off items at the local tip/recycle point when a friend turned up to dispose of a tub of DDT which she'd found in one of the same skips. Very random!

Of course, all of the above plus hundreds of metres of old wire, brass, lead etc to scrap.

Edit. Sold the guitar above for £20.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on March 03, 2019, 07:44:31 pm: Blimey Dave, good haul - do you keep your explorations local? Is this the fruits of skip diving in an affluent area?

What's the protocol on taking stuff? Do you just grab and run? Or do you knock on door and ask? I'm assuming if the skip is on someone's drive it's a different matter?

Having followed your finds I always have a look round my way, but it probably says something about my village that I've never seen anything worth having!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: bigironhorse on March 03, 2019, 08:55:51 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 01, 2019, 01:39:05 pm

The most obvious "Owt for Nowt" which I hardly ever see these days is hitch-hiking. I find that incredibly sad. Somehow, these days I think that having very little/no money is viewed far more negatively than it used to be. Ironically, back when Maggie was in office, there was a sort of kinship in getting by on next to nothing, and with it, a true sense of appreciation of what little you did have, rather than what you didn't.

I hitched around the peak fairly successfully for the first year i lived in Sheffield. Also hitched from Innsbruck to Arco in the last few years, which was very easy. Had bad time hitching from Hull to Manchester which ended up taking about 5 hours. Havent tried any long distance hitching in the UK since then.

I was talking to Stone recently and he said that back in the day the only difficulty with hitching was that so many people were doing it you'd end up queuing for a ride!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 04, 2019, 01:03:58 am: Hi 3Ts :)

Travelling to other areas could be fun, but nothing too special here.
Quite a few rental properties, and developers don't want to spend the time it takes to sort through things.

I've taken a good selection of handbags and crockery, and other bits and bobs to the local charity shops, when they've been too good to leave.

I managed to rescue some old wedding photos from the skip of an old woman who'd died locally. They looked as though they'd been missed, so left with a neighbour.

Generally, if the owner is around I ask, and the usual (only) response has been "Yes please, take what you want". Skips are expensive, and the main problem is with other people dumping their own rubbish in someone else's skip. If the skip is on private property, I don't go near it, but I have knocked on the door - at a sociable time - if something looks too good to ignore.

The oil painting I picked up the other night was left next to the skip - which is what people do if they think someone else might want what they're throwing out. I picked up 15m of household cable (worth £1/kg or £3.50/kg stripped) that was left on top of a skip nearby - ready to be picked up. There was a printer left out in another skip, along with software, device passwords etc.

One thing I don't do is rummage through everything, as some people clearly do. I try to leave things pretty much as I find them - maybe with a bit more space in the skip. Came back with a nice deckchair and some plant pots last night.

On hitching, things have sadly changed a lot in my opinion BIN (that's N for Nag ;D).

I certainly had my fair share of epics. I remember hitching to Symonds Yat with Bubba many years ago, in the P'ing rain. Picked up and squeezed into the back of a Reliant Robin. Good day cragging though!

This photo is from my first trip to the Peak District with school, from Devon.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7911/47273069751_75046d96ac_c.jpg)

The diff had seized on the Transit, and the older "kids" agreed to hitch on ahead - from Taunton to Chapel-en-le-Frith. Can't imagine that happening these days!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on March 04, 2019, 09:18:59 am: Looks like a Bedford CF250? I converted one of those from school bus to camper and drove round for 4 months, some of the time in 3 cylinders, until i could get sparkplugs couriered from the UK.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 04, 2019, 12:27:20 pm: You are in fact quite correct Chris!

Also looks more like a Dodge Charger or something top right. Some sort of old Vauxhall?

That was early summer '84!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 14, 2019, 01:08:05 pm: Here’s one for you Dave.

I improvised a clip stick, years ago, from a discarded golf ball retriever thingy; that I found stuck in a fence/brambles (while walking the dogs/kids) on the Babbacombe stretch of the coast path.

The clip was just a modified, sprung, clothes hanger (Dorothy Perkins, I believe). It was always dodgy, but it worked.

Anyway, slammed the plastic clip in the car door last summer, broke it and decided to buy a real one for this season.

Fucking £50!! Minimum!

So, out with the drill and files it was. An off cut of 18mm ply, the spring steel wire from a large Bulldog clip, an 8mm bolt and a broken tent pole.

Now I have a 4mtr clip stick, hand carved. Two parts (that screw together) but I’ve been clipping every type of bolt I have around the bunker and using a variety of crabs draws and slings, it works.

(https://i.ibb.co/znd4pRy/774-EB8-DA-ABB2-43-C9-A953-8-D0313-EBA538.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/yhm9Vwq/945350-D8-A8-D5-4-BED-B414-09-B5-FC03-A149.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 14, 2019, 11:23:18 pm: Hey, Matt.

That looks like a stroke of genius with the adjustable footing for the clip :clap2:

I can see that getting copied though. Maybe get it patented to generate a return. It's all about the gearing ;D

Yes, £50 seems ridiculous!

Simon Young crafted a beautiful clipstick out of various bits of old 'biners, other alloy offcuts, and some sort of liquid metal resin.
I love the simplicity of yours, and looks like it could be trimmed down a bit.

I offloaded a load of scrap the other day, all from local skips. £167.

What else recently? 11 demijohns @ £2 each, another Dyson for £25, and a discarded cash box - with £14 in old £ coins :shrug:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: cheque on May 15, 2019, 09:11:32 am: Not sure about the long-term rigidity of that pork chop Matt.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on May 15, 2019, 10:17:38 am: You tested it with various gate types too? Rigid, bent, straight..
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 15, 2019, 11:50:13 am: Yep.
Even a couple different screwgates. Hence all the different notches.
I have quite an assortment lying around, perks of running a climbing wall.
I reckon it’s versatile enough for my needs and I can easily modify it with a penknife if required.

It took slightly less than an hour to make, with a Jigsaw, hand drill, some warding files and some dremel bits (in the drill) for shaping. Couple of mls of varnish and Bob is yer mother’s brother.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on May 15, 2019, 01:43:28 pm: :thumbsup:

Though you forgot to shape a 'hook' into it for pulling down those out of reach loops of rope.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 15, 2019, 03:23:40 pm: Quote from: SamT on May 15, 2019, 01:43:28 pm
:thumbsup:

Though you forgot to shape a 'hook' into it for pulling down those out of reach loops of rope.

Actually....

The bottom notch.

When you slip the spring down there, it protrudes out the bottom of the “thumb” to make the hook.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on May 15, 2019, 09:03:57 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 04, 2019, 12:27:20 pm

Also looks more like a Dodge Charger or something top right. Some sort of old Vauxhall?

Ford Capri ?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on May 16, 2019, 09:06:19 am: Quote from: Oldmanmatt on May 15, 2019, 03:23:40 pm

The bottom notch.

When you slip the spring down there, it protrudes out the bottom of the “thumb” to make the hook.

Fair play captain..
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on May 16, 2019, 09:14:01 am: Quote from: lagerstarfish on May 15, 2019, 09:03:57 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 04, 2019, 12:27:20 pm

Also looks more like a Dodge Charger or something top right. Some sort of old Vauxhall?

Ford Capri ?

or Opel Manta (given the colour)

(http://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay179780.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 16, 2019, 02:18:18 pm: None of the above, but those old Opels are very very cool!

:2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 16, 2019, 04:13:32 pm: Shouldn’t that have a Confederate Battle flag on the roof and a 10 on the doors?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on May 16, 2019, 04:40:09 pm: I think you'll find it's 01, not 10 (geek alert).
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 16, 2019, 09:23:17 pm: Quote from: SA Chris on May 16, 2019, 04:40:09 pm
I think you'll find it's 01, not 10 (geek alert).

I think you mean...

Old Age alert.

(Me too).
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 16, 2019, 11:05:18 pm: Quote from: lagerstarfish on May 16, 2019, 09:14:01 am
Quote from: lagerstarfish on May 15, 2019, 09:03:57 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 04, 2019, 12:27:20 pm

Also looks more like a Dodge Charger or something top right. Some sort of old Vauxhall?

Ford Capri ?

or Opel Manta (given the colour)

(http://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphotos/full/ebay179780.jpg)

Having spent too long thinking about this, I'm inclined to go with lagers thoughts on this one. The slightly less sporty model A Mantas look pretty close.

Yes, the General Lee from Dukes of Hazard was a Dodge Charger - with very similar lines, though smaller.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 19, 2019, 05:27:55 pm: Went "shopping" for a new toaster last night - finally decided I need to repair the Dualit.

Most skips seem to have a good selection of ubiquitous kitchen appliances, and this one was essentially brand new.

Pays to be discerning ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/34004363998_33977be2fa_c.jpg)

Taken the stickers off now.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on November 30, 2020, 03:04:05 am: Possibly of interest to TomTom

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50663049816_8d25cdd6a4_c.jpg)

There were a couple of kids bikes in this skip, plus a balance bike.
Sad how much good stuff gets binned.. I've been meaning to give an update to this thread for a while.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50631345941_873eed5620_c.jpg)

Sheffield skips .. init ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Fultonius on November 30, 2020, 08:42:51 am: Wonder if there's any margin in getting shoes resoled and selling them on ebay?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on November 30, 2020, 02:04:33 pm: Quote from: Fultonius on November 30, 2020, 08:42:51 am
Wonder if there's any margin in getting shoes resoled and selling them on ebay?

Or passed on to other user groups? Would be interesting to know how much the cost would be per shoe pair, in batches of 100, but I'm sure that budget shoes are available at very low cost anyway. I tend to pass these on to friends who haven't climbed before/kids I meet at the local boulder.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 10, 2020, 04:03:21 pm: Thought I'd revisit this thread, for lots of reasons.

Firstly, the name of it could be misleading.

Primarily, I was trying to draw attention to what we already have, and why we often don't see it. I wanted to ask that question; why?

The spirit was less, getting something for nothing, than not needing "more".

It's funny, there's a guy who drives around locally in a bright yellow Hummer. It's important to him.
I was out on one of my "skip runs", and I noticed a hub cap in the gutter. It was from his Hummer.

I remember that, surviving on very little, climbing "back in the day", it was remarkable what you'd notice, what you'd take delight in. Climbing seemed to be about being able to see what you already had. Is it too much to say, that in becoming more mainstream, it's also become more about satisfying a hunger? Many things are sold - and consumed - that way. If you have a void, you want material to fill it.

Annoyingly, I'd seen the Hummer parked up on one of the local roads earlier that day. (Not difficult to notice at all.) I was training in the local park the following evening, and managed to flag the guy down. I told him where his hub cap was. Apparently they cost about £70! Expensive car, but it was fantastic to bring the two parts together.

There's something in that, and it definitely seems to be one of those things that eludes you, the more you try to grasp it. Do we train ourselves to be less connected; do we buy into a "winning" mentality? - to distance ourselves from losing (someone else's problem).

Do we look for an answer to things, because we don't want to feel other things, that there may not be an answer to? A new kitchen will make everything alright.

Society needs to be more about including what's painful. What a fucking conceited thing to say. Externalities occur in an economy when producing or consuming things impacts third parties not directly related to the production or consumption of that good.

I'm writing this on a smart phone. Am I aware of the full impact, the mining, the crap that goes into making it?

For me, climate change is a social phenomenon, and the "answer" to consumption may lead in the direction of something that doesn't feel like a solution, in the way that we are trained to experience it.

FWIW, I carried back a new gazebo the other night, a Spitfire, a Henry vacuum (in parts from two different skips. It's fab :thumbsup:) I've got to make the Spitfire of course, and I discovered that Coconut Milk does go "off" in a can, when it's four years old.

I hope this doesn't all sound too pompous.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on December 15, 2020, 10:03:20 pm: Not at all.

I was used to surviving on very little, and still rarely spend money on goods unless I really need to, even though I can probably afford to. My only 2 vices are probably climbing shoes and camera lenses (and whisky but that's a minimal outlay). I see photos of me with the kids as babies and realise I still wear the same clothes. I hate going to the municipal tip with garden waste etc, as it breaks my heart to see the stuff people throw away. I'm still a hoarder by nature and recycle eveything I can't re-use an hang on to so many things "just in case".
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 16, 2020, 06:31:28 am: Our street WhatsApp group has been great for allowing people to pass on unwanted goods and for people wanting to replace or repair items with minimal waste.
My own "just in case" stash has provided a good deal of amusement and utility for the street.
The group started as a way of supporting people shielding, so I guess it's one of those good things to come out of 2020/ Covid
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: James Malloch on December 16, 2020, 07:47:47 am: Got a nice wooden fireplace surround & tiles (though I left the hearth) from an ex display one at a local stove store skip this week.

God knows what I'll do with it but the wood will come in handy for some of our DIY projects!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Paul B on December 16, 2020, 09:53:33 am: Quote from: lagerstarfish on December 16, 2020, 06:31:28 am
Our street WhatsApp group has been great for allowing people to pass on unwanted goods and for people wanting to replace or repair items with minimal waste.

We obviously moved during Covid times and I noticed it was a lot easier to sell (for a nominal amount) / pass on furniture etc. as people had less access to alternatives.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 17, 2020, 02:07:18 pm: Quote from: lagerstarfish on December 16, 2020, 06:31:28 am

My own "just in case" stash has provided a good deal of amusement and utility for the street.

I'll know where to go when I need some then ;D
Here's a bale I posted earlier:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50729731982_ede9b85d78_h.jpg)

It's actually this, from my Gumtree page:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50729632561_0809b0ff53_h.jpg)

The Head Scratcher, near you, is remarkably resourceful too. He was repairing a fine old electric guitar he'd found, when I popped over back in the summer.

Last night's skips were quite amusing.. with a bit of Christmas cheer..

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50728902153_12ee1e0ead_h.jpg)

.. including these for you Lagers, from the same skip, for some merriment! x You'll have to post back here with a photo of you sporting them ;D I'll drop them off later.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50729730932_f4e46235d2_h.jpg)

Quote from: James Malloch on December 16, 2020, 07:47:47 am
Got a nice wooden fireplace surround & tiles (though I left the hearth) from an ex display one at a local stove store skip this week.

God knows what I'll do with it but the wood will come in handy for some of our DIY projects!

James, I picked up this a couple of months ago. I'd originally intended to use it to replace my own fire surround, but in the end, sold it on Gumtree for £50. I think it's a really beautiful piece of wood:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50728901388_71a017dc66_c.jpg)

Fultonius is looking at the viability of repairing the Neff induction hob that I spotted the other night. If anyone can help in getting it to Glasgow from Sheffield, that would be really helpful!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 18, 2020, 10:04:56 am: Those elf pants are ace.

I wore them on my cycle to work.

I'd post a pic if I could work out how to do it from my phone.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 18, 2020, 10:45:44 am: Thanks DT

Merry Christmas

(https://i.ibb.co/61H52zM/IMG-20201218-WA0000.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2020, 12:15:20 pm: Can't be bothered doing the whole thing but shit, is that Bob Mortimer?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 18, 2020, 03:56:15 pm: That's a thoroughly marvelous outfit, and I'm sure, fully appreciated in the Lagerstarfish household.

Merry Christmas to you all xx :2thumbsup: :clap2:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on December 19, 2020, 09:51:27 am: :lol:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on December 19, 2020, 10:05:03 am: Can we have a lagers on a shelf picture every day before Xmas. Please???
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2020, 11:06:57 am: I wore the elf hot pants to our street "dancing on driveways" this morning.
Many smiles were seen
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 19, 2020, 05:10:36 pm: Quote from: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2020, 11:06:57 am
I wore the elf hot pants to our street "dancing on driveways" this morning.
Many smiles were seen

:lol: :clap2:
They are very "you" :P x
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 26, 2020, 10:28:38 am: Quote from: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2020, 11:06:57 am
I wore the elf hot pants to our street "dancing on driveways" this morning.
Many smiles were seen

I was out dancing in them again this morning. A camera crew for Look North turned up, so there might be something worth watching tonight.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 26, 2020, 10:56:54 am: Look North at 1.15pm today, apparently.
Fat bloke with shit footwork. Just what everyone wants to see at Christmas
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Falling Down on December 26, 2020, 10:58:08 am: :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on December 26, 2020, 11:05:22 am: Quote from: lagerstarfish on December 26, 2020, 10:56:54 am
Look North at 1.15pm today, apparently.
Fat bloke with shit footwork. Just what everyone wants to see at Christmas

You need an agent!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 26, 2020, 01:47:14 pm: :dance1:

That's embarrassed the kids good and proper
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on December 26, 2020, 03:55:14 pm: :dance1:

Just watched that :lol: :2thumbsup:

:dance1:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 26, 2020, 08:27:58 pm: from 3 mins in

:dance1: 2m :dance1: 2m :dance1:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000qslb/look-north-yorkshire-evening-news-26122020

My wife trying to hide her identity with full face mask

(https://i.ibb.co/bFmGTXv/dance2612.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/9rDkqF4/dance22612.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 01, 2021, 12:39:49 am: Extending love and best wishes to everyone costs nothing, and enriches the soul.

All the best for 2021 :2thumbsup: xx

True to form of course, tonight I found a missing part for a coffee machine that's been sat on a shelf at home for the last five years, in a skip. ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Fultonius on January 03, 2021, 06:40:13 pm: Saved an old cast iron pan form the skip. It was mum & dad's, but got too heavy for dad to lift and they started using non stick. After watching Dark Waters I'm inclined to move away from PFTE based non-stick, and go back to good old polymerised veg oil! (probably also carcinogenic, but "natural" innit).

Remember to take a few "before" photos before I got too far into the restoration:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3ekNK7dPjcfFlPNRaUWMgzQZeoLepZbly2vBBQZJmSvAyIvFyfGG0xHMFhgvs9vbOHm_ef0wSELllDkGXiMUIp-Ir8odsOtpTqVh51rBiqcx2mWLvLbZtqf54ryft18QwIqCMfo7UYodhSngP3gBP5BJQ=w1921-h881-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3dgsr_apuSGUJ5wT8AvUGYTl5DY-aU4MjNKbAVM26Fecf8KKtj6gorAcY9t31zUXj6UxL2wTwtbWkpWWa-EulXvyhrr2uqSytM2Jg20XXiyoyY6HeimpemsaG523df7-zCdmnUHvxJDYmJMteqcwLWPcw=w1921-h881-no?authuser=0)

Hitting it with the flap disc, sander and wire brush:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fdcE5KulE3f_s1GlgSTvOLlqe9t6h_KUUDYggy8mDbrF9Maub7RyoYUvC0Jt-qYTpB745h6wvt4ez8NO7AKwWr8QqS2E6tjKZBBam0xh9lVnZo2_1U0JhfyJ5KHE2JF0bJUghP8X79CzOi2r1TPd_t4w=w1921-h881-no?authuser=0)

Seasoned and tested with a fried egg sandwich:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YMNIuQOpZAxHZ0kX94BnHNvXr3_LwLC3Lg6NiVW3kRHUyPd-dn1WVduVK6EmwVkfrfbKHw40MQpK_lptiOwMt1msOyKamLH1uOoBUgcHPdEcKVQtCO-IvDYrufqDbfuErqOp8drcqHtp3UzeuKlHssgoUlRl1QzK6UsmmxXBxtM1zQm36OQU-_CIKGdFZHLAz6S2eOoGau9XHTr-yEVYDAgu9w2q1NFyJZOo6E4wKiVuv4qYBpTlbZKeU2EhUqH5n3CP_va1lT7NLSe7x9aeGNKd8kFrr_psCM2ua4ohYa_gXDXy7q6NIhazGlaD3T6ol75UkPe6RYuBP4ACV6hsfV2DiRGMrjRcHdJe2cSmjWd-vlaqlwzyI7If_F2NwJ-4Yc5hOSBWxMRk25JZBitSWibzJKEBnK7f199XK3fI4lLCBIZUWXh9OvFIAdNfMiOxQFvTJTny7Fj9uKjm3eCm93jQr-uAttPz8VgzVLfUoYdLkRk-WoTdWnpAYCIr0zcRIZRZR9MTmftXP7hcTWhilj7_xtrwUF7cL1GmqRYtaI3ND5TC-slsAFO3xcxbukiyWvMbruqUd-07dCQRKqD0m1bwgwMK0im2ypZyxyEdT5qwwGB5ZneZKKKLACsc7bdqhwo1fe_-jFZD6DM-1XLS14CvsfdvbDXA0rRvYEQCwZbKHgptk7hspa1ihAAyXQ=w718-h329-no?authuser=0)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5HShoi9hGzlbYhdSQq52VifG8Dw_lG3mQ2r4xe-Sw6ccazJuIc7gXVwc_n59-guKX4nesDJ2ALAgZkyq7-Tl6yQxCdFQh86oqYNLVIbmWWmkpXd-howzKJIjgu_Wxv2g7_8hkz4-X7ASWQHQ0mbOZLQz3qbRXnenDtOjlT-zV8cKzwSztCVvbuovE9jY79E4_GoxprL334gJDlMxebOPq7RS79_yS2VsIOLPXQoyIEupFjvk4yQp78okJ8m70EJAs5h5TmRBuDxilgbMQ2FQKjhJOORolm1VSdv_fZi6ApMpHOJQpvJQNzNhPHta3CFU0uxG2Jzx1C66wEJlXazXI1L_U6Je0YnNoknPufUgIT2luV78jjb3Uck36FyE22uTAC-YglbkiLXK3UTaUK4U3641jbI4tvzxAIJeZOAAt2gM8UucbZhwWUa-RIvLnLJuanH_LKw7k667xyeg7CtxSYCYRWShbZUoAaWCViwZXFRDcCnRlvdJ1j_3IZCgTmoPn9Sy-MdA7GmIJrKQ8k20MpiAq9btt1cl8RyPVEjmRYbW9Fd8cufNDU_xeMQgoIQkW-kXuD4hPT2Kp-AyhuqQQ8mFQ3Z8XNoiaYVK4ImhJgLMR_gfHtZJ1n987b9wd7XWEd8A6O84Iqn_uxpmirzMrC99H35lEbUU189HlZwGvaD8I4BAz35u14CpMo4SSA=w1921-h881-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 03, 2021, 08:04:53 pm: That's beautiful!

Someone had put a couple of really nice non-stick pans out on a wall yesterday, near me.

They looked as though something had just burnt on. Convenience is what sells things, and then results in them getting thrown away afterwards.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 23, 2021, 10:56:07 pm: OK.

Here’s a good one. I think.

Recently, I damaged my phone. I er.. dropped my hand on it. It was a high gravity day; there’d been a neutron star collision in Nether Edge, Sheffield. Seriously. Anyway, the screen was damaged, and hand cut. Old phone, but pathetic :lol: :slap:

Screen stopped working the other day, so went looking for a new one. I’ve called 3 to discuss an upgrade.

I was cold called by “Fone City” (Fone city.uk) who tried to sign me up for what seemed like a very good deal. I was worried about the amount of information they wanted to set up the account, direct debit, upfront charge etc. Anyway, I agreed to proceed. Samsung S10+ on a good tariff. 24 months @ 12/month.

I called my bank (Nationwide) because of my suspicions. A payment (£30) had already been taken, but seemed to be assigned to the wrong network. (Voda not 3). They thought the questions weren’t too unusual for purchase/direct debit, but noted concerns anyway.

The next day DPD deliver the phone. The deal’s great; I’m excited. Open the box.. and it’s an iPhone 12 Pro Max and Vodafone sim. Completely wrong delivery, so I call Fonecity, who seem to be in a bit of a panic. I’m told that “dispatch” sent the phone to the wrong customer, and they try to get me to pay to return the phone, “don’t put the sim in” (the one I’m using now ;D ) etc.

I’m called throughout the day by various characters, the dispatch manager, accounts, sales etc, who all appear to be the same person. They want me to return the phone as a matter of urgency, offering various incentives, delivery of the correct items the next day (Saturday) together with additional gift, reduced tariff etc, so I explain that I’d pay to return the phone once the refundable upfront charge is paid, and depending on what I receive the next day. I suggest they send me a pre-paid returns label/bag etc with the replacement phone. Of course, they don’t seem to be able to do that.

I call Nationwide again, and say I’ll stop my card if the correct delivery isn’t received. I’m called a few more times by Fonecity, who point out that I’m a very reasonable man etc, and they assure me that they will refund the postage if I get to the post office before 11am Saturday. “Text me the returns address, and we’ll see what I’m delivered tomorrow, and whether you’ve refunded the upfront cost”.

Searching online, all the references I can find regarding the delivery of “unsolicited goods” suggest that incorrect items received from distance (not eye:eye) selling, can legally be treated as a gift; it’s a criminal offence to try to take payment for items delivered in error.

I was going to post up on UKB last night, to find out what other people thought.. you know, chop their heads off, that sort of thing :P However, the delivery time came and went today, plus a few more calls from Fonecity. I get a text from Nationwide, asking that I send an authorisation code to verify a payment of £400 to “smallworldfs” (Small World Fone Services?).

I call the bank, and we stop the Visa card. Apparently there’s been a lot of activity, but all transactions have been blocked - apart from £2.35 to Tesco and 35p ! to Sainsbury’s. All really impressive. The scam had involved “successfully” changing my registered mobile number and email address! Surprisingly, no transaction had slipped through the net.

Amazingly I have another call from Rahul at Fonecity, so I tell him that I don’t think we should be speaking, and that the only other people I’ll be speaking with about this are the police. Rahul hasn’t called back. I’m feeling lonely. Maybe we could have had a laugh about it ;)

I’m also contacted by 3 - my mobile provider. Someone had been in touch to “agree” an upgrade on my plan, and to arrange for delivery of a new phone to me. I’m assuming that Fonecity would have then pretended the handset was the new one I’d ordered from them! Anyway, it’s sorted out, with no change to plan or tariff. Great.

So, that just leaves me with a new iPhone 12 “Mega Pro”. :2thumbsup: Whoopy do!

It’s my birthday tomorrow too (53 - so quit your moaning about being a groaning pile of spare parts OMM :ras: )

:dance1:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50867987737_6ac3b64751_c.jpg)

Thought that was worth sharing.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: UnkArl on January 23, 2021, 11:08:15 pm: Excellent story, and not a bad birthday present!!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: mrjonathanr on January 23, 2021, 11:16:07 pm: Cool story (and phone!)

Happy Birthday Dave! :beer2:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: simes on January 24, 2021, 12:59:01 am: So it all worked out okay in the end. What are you doing for your birthday? Could have a beer in the garden if you fancy...?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 02:11:05 am: Thanks for the birthday wishes guys ;D :2thumbsup:

Simes, I’ll text you xx

However..

I’ll report this to the police/action fraud, and call Vodafone. I’m not necessarily that confident I’ll end up keeping it. Realise this handset may not have been legitimately paid for by the “vendor”, and effectively under contract, even if I’m not liable. Someone pays for it at some level. We’ll see.
It’s worth the £30 just to know that multiple payments were stopped, and scam thwarted, but especially if any of the details available help to uncover things.
Lastly, this is a very fancy piece of plastic, glass and difficult to mine world resources. Really difficult to understand how owning one can make so much difference to a life, that it’s worth paying so much money (and other things) for!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Snoops on January 24, 2021, 10:52:58 am: Quote
Once the fraudsters have gained personal and banking details over the phone, they pretend to be the victim and order as many mobile contracts as they can in their name.

The phones are delivered to the victims house and the fraudsters call and email again pretending they’ve made a mistake and it’s someone else’s order.

They convince the victims to send the phones via their local post office to addresses in the Bolton, Preston and Coventry areas.

The fraudsters then wait at the properties for the deliveries and steal the phones!

This leaves the victims with multiple, expensive contracts (usually £80+ a month!) and no phones to send back to where they were actually ordered from to cancel the contracts.

Devious scum, nice one for spotting.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 03:22:34 pm: Quote from: Snoops on January 24, 2021, 10:52:58 am
Quote
Once the fraudsters have gained personal and banking details over the phone, they pretend to be the victim and order as many mobile contracts as they can in their name.

The phones are delivered to the victims house and the fraudsters call and email again pretending they’ve made a mistake and it’s someone else’s order.

They convince the victims to send the phones via their local post office to addresses in the Bolton, Preston and Coventry areas.

The fraudsters then wait at the properties for the deliveries and steal the phones!

This leaves the victims with multiple, expensive contracts (usually £80+ a month!) and no phones to send back to where they were actually ordered from to cancel the contracts.

Devious scum, nice one for spotting.

Thanks Snoops.

That's exactly what happened.

Have just spoken with Vodafone, who explained the same thing to me - that the phone/contract had been set up in my name.

I now have to check my credit file, for other fraudulent accounts. Vodafone have said they'll of course remove their account.

Looks like I'll be sending the phone back. Any info I can provide to help investigate will be gladly provided.

Nice when things are all square. Except when Man U are playing Liverpool.. later ;)

Something to look forward to.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: cheque on January 24, 2021, 04:09:21 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 03:22:34 pm
Man U are playing Liverpool.. later ;)

Something to look forward to.

I take it you didn’t watch them play each other last weekend.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: cheque on January 24, 2021, 06:55:18 pm: It was actually pretty good. :lol:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 08:21:55 pm: Quote from: cheque on January 24, 2021, 04:09:21 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 03:22:34 pm
Man U are playing Liverpool.. later ;)

Something to look forward to.

I take it you didn’t watch them play each other last weekend.

Sounds as though it was a better game to listen to than watch.

Different with a cup tie, playing for .. a result :boxing: ;D

Re the above scam, we were thinking, could have played along, to arrange "collection"/interception, but who knows what would have happened in the meantime.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 27, 2021, 07:03:44 pm: ..always great when a plan comes together, as a friend of mine said recently.

Here's another good one, but with a different outcome.

I was walking past the local park this evening - where I do a lot of my training - and a woman was stomping around in the mud, waving her mobile as a torch, with all the power of a Dickensian candle, so I called out to ask her what she was looking for.

That's one of those potentially awkward moments, where you're sticking your nose in, in a don't I think I'm clever, "yes, what makes you think you'll do any better?" moments, while also trying to process the feeling that part of you knows why you've asked.

The woman then explained the great significance of a very bedraggled, floppy old Panda, to her daughter, that they'd lost a little while ago.

I knew I'd seen something like that, but it was still being processed at a machine code level, so I retraced my steps along the back road round the corner.

Five houses down, there was the floppy black and white cloth, not looking much like a Panda, placed carefully on a windowsill.

Ran back to the park, and returned the Panda, resulting in much delight.

Just one of those completely priceless moments, made possible by the person who'd recognised the value of the toy, and picked it up.

Ace :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on January 27, 2021, 08:22:36 pm: :2thumbsup:

Nice one Dave, good Karma for you, and not just token internet Karma.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 28, 2021, 02:40:31 am: Quote from: SamT on January 27, 2021, 08:22:36 pm
:2thumbsup:

Nice one Dave, good Karma for you, and not just token internet Karma.

Thanks Sam. It really was such a cheerful moment ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Andy F on January 28, 2021, 07:07:12 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 03:22:34 pm
Quote from: Snoops on January 24, 2021, 10:52:58 am
Quote
Once the fraudsters have gained personal and banking details over the phone, they pretend to be the victim and order as many mobile contracts as they can in their name.

The phones are delivered to the victims house and the fraudsters call and email again pretending they’ve made a mistake and it’s someone else’s order.

They convince the victims to send the phones via their local post office to addresses in the Bolton, Preston and Coventry areas.

The fraudsters then wait at the properties for the deliveries and steal the phones!

This leaves the victims with multiple, expensive contracts (usually £80+ a month!) and no phones to send back to where they were actually ordered from to cancel the contracts.

Devious scum, nice one for spotting.

Nice when things are all square. Except when Man U are playing ~~Liverpool~~ Sheffield United.. later ;)

Something to look forward to.

Fixed that for ya :tease:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 29, 2021, 06:11:26 am: Quote from: Andy F on January 28, 2021, 07:07:12 am
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on January 24, 2021, 03:22:34 pm
Quote from: Snoops on January 24, 2021, 10:52:58 am
Quote
Once the fraudsters have gained personal and banking details over the phone, they pretend to be the victim and order as many mobile contracts as they can in their name.

The phones are delivered to the victims house and the fraudsters call and email again pretending they’ve made a mistake and it’s someone else’s order.

They convince the victims to send the phones via their local post office to addresses in the Bolton, Preston and Coventry areas.

The fraudsters then wait at the properties for the deliveries and steal the phones!

This leaves the victims with multiple, expensive contracts (usually £80+ a month!) and no phones to send back to where they were actually ordered from to cancel the contracts.

Devious scum, nice one for spotting.

Nice when things are all square. Except when Man U are playing ~~Liverpool~~ Sheffield United.. later ;)

Something to look forward to.

Fixed that for ya :tease:

Touché Andy!

The Blades'll do the double over the Mancs clubs this weekend ;D ..

maybe

Hope things are all going OK :thumbsup: with plenty of positives to spur you on ;D Sounds like you've been climbing well BTW.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 14, 2021, 05:36:50 am: Something lighthearted for a bit of humour.

Dragged myself outside into the cold after chores, and more unhelpful footy results.

Self pity didn't yet warrant wine, or anything as indulgent, but fancied something from Lidl before they shut. Needed butter anyway, which always feels like a luxury!

It was cold enough to keep hands in pockets, telling myself I could indeed be bothered to pick up the discarded Easter Egg box I was walking past, on the way back, and put it in the bin.

At Lidl, I decided I hadn't earned beer either, or indeed chocolate. But I had saved money, finding the mould treatment I was using in my kitchen - not having to buy it.
I picked up a packet of crumpets.

I reached the corner of my road - where "Love Our Streets" have kindly put up an anti-litter campaign notice. Thank you :thumbsup:

I stamped down on the egg box with inflated virtue, but feeling a satisfying crunch from the egg obviously still inside it ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50941412801_d4fde0a045_c.jpg)

It's worth remembering, there are more calories missing from free chocolate, than mass missing from the universe.

Hope that lifts someone's mood a little ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2021, 08:19:23 am: Maybe Jurgen dropped the egg.... ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 12, 2021, 02:34:55 pm: I had a message from Simes earlier. I don't think I've seen this posted elsewhere:

More free £50 bike repair vouchers. Be quick.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fix-your-bike-voucher-scheme-apply-for-a-voucher

This is part of the government incentive scheme, to get people out on their bikes.

I've just applied, and was successful in getting a voucher.

Thanks Simes :2thumbsup: x
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on March 17, 2021, 05:05:22 am: I'd like to say that, through lockdown, I've sat on my arse, creaked my way to the fingerboard, and rocked out a set of one-armers on the smallest edge.

Owt for Nowt isn't working like that, but some great finds and stories.

Someone called me the other night. They'd broken down, on their way from Leeds to London. With most places shut, and late at night, they couldn't find anyone selling the 15mm spanner they needed. I had one listed on Gumtree, in a bag of spare spanners for a fiver.
Half an hour later, they came back, needing a flat head screwdriver, which I gave them, and they were safely on their way. Kind of cool. Really nice folk too.

A year and a half ago, out for a walk with someone special, I found a Sony Minidisc player in a skip, but didn't have the correct lead to charge it - until the other night, when I found one in a different skip :2thumbsup:
Bought a new battery for £6 and spent the evening listening to 2 hours of Silicone Soul on the Essential Mix with Pete Tong from 2003. Classic.

Moved onto the next disk, which was Massive Attack, for my fingerboard session at 3am ;D
Cheers folks :pissed:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51044212648_e415226223_h.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Fultonius on March 17, 2021, 08:37:06 am: I've got the exact same MD player in a box of stuff at my mum's that's about to go out to PC World (they apparently take any waste electrical (WEEEEEE) stuff and recycle.

Could post it on if you want some spares?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on March 17, 2021, 09:00:11 am: I loved my MD player, found a load of discs the other day, all copied to take with me when I was working in Colorado plus compilations carefully crafted for ski trips etc, and some music intros I did as a challenge at a local pub quiz. I'd happily post the discs if they will get used?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: steveri on April 12, 2021, 09:50:01 am: An hour or so's careful sawing and a tired mat brought back to life courtesy of Awesome Foam...

(http://i.imgur.com/H1QE4YNl.jpg) (https://imgur.com/H1QE4YN)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZhbWioPl.jpg) (https://imgur.com/ZhbWioP)

Seems promising so far. Upgraded from 9+1 to 10+1 layers
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 13, 2021, 02:03:58 am: Quote from: Fultonius on March 17, 2021, 08:37:06 am
I've got the exact same MD player in a box of stuff at my mum's that's about to go out to PC World (they apparently take any waste electrical (WEEEEEE) stuff and recycle.

Could post it on if you want some spares?

Fultonius! Sorry, I missed this.
Do you still have the MD player? I'll send you a message.
Dave.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 13, 2021, 02:06:03 am: Quote from: steveri on April 12, 2021, 09:50:01 am
An hour or so's careful sawing and a tired mat brought back to life courtesy of Awesome Foam...

Seems promising so far. Upgraded from 9+1 to 10+1 layers

Brilliant stuff.
There's some great foam in a skip around the corner. Maybe I should go and collect it.

..a bit too soft I think, but loads of it.

The real reason I'm posting here now:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51113386425_4e020d350b_z.jpg)

This Fracino machine had been left out, looking a bit worse for wear, and in need of collection. Passed it, walking back from Tesco earlier. I just needed to find a skateboard first ;D

It'll be fun servicing it, and bringing it back to life.
CM.. if you're reading this, hope it brings a smile ;) x

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112603966_aeeb9034a8_b.jpg)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112354994_79971a9a3e_z.jpg)

Also had a go at matched betting recently. I'll post up about that another time.
A great way to carry a sideline around with you on your mobile. Something to do while you're resting at the gym.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Steve R on April 13, 2021, 11:10:09 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 13, 2021, 02:06:03 am
Also had a go at matched betting recently. I'll post up about that another time.
A great way to carry a sideline around with you on your mobile. Something to do while you're resting at the gym.
Would be interested to hear your recent experiences Dave. Did a lot of matched betting 10+ years ago. As you say, really good way to make a few grand on the side with very little capital required. Just a shame it's not sustainable income - I found what starts off as a really good hourly rate (occasionally >£100 p/h) drops off as you exhaust the bigger offers and I got blacklisted at a couple of the bookies with good weekly/re-load type offers. Got to the stage where I felt I'd picked all the low to medium hanging fruit and not really worth the time grubbing around for a tenner here and there. However, I'd guess there's been quite a turn over of bookies in the last decade or so perhaps time to get back into it. Imagine there might be some spicy promotions/offers from bookies around as we enter post-covid regime...
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: ali k on April 13, 2021, 12:28:07 pm: Quote from: Steve R on April 13, 2021, 11:10:09 am
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 13, 2021, 02:06:03 am
Also had a go at matched betting recently. I'll post up about that another time.
A great way to carry a sideline around with you on your mobile. Something to do while you're resting at the gym.
Would be interested to hear your recent experiences Dave.
Likewise. If this is something I can do while I'm sat at my desk anyway I'd be keen. How idiot proof is it? Asking for a friend obvs...
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Steve R on April 13, 2021, 01:47:35 pm: Quote from: ali k on April 13, 2021, 12:28:07 pm
How idiot proof is it?

Can't go wrong if you put a bit of effort into research and have some ability with numbers/optimisation. The best resource when I started was the matched betting forum on money saving expert. Possibly now outdated. Key thing for me was to have sufficient understanding of what was going on so rather than just following a recipe and plugging the numbers into a spreadsheet I could work it out myself from scratch (and then use the spreadsheet to speed up). Maybe 1st year A-level sort of level maths.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: M1V0 on April 13, 2021, 02:15:55 pm: I did some matched betting a few years back when I was only working part-time. I stopped when I was working more regularly and the amount of money and time required to be put in, I was not comfortable with. A friend of a friend supposedly funded a large holiday solely from matched betting (at the expense of his UG degree, mind). It was relatively foolproof, I only made a couple of silly mistakes that lost me money, but even that was covered by my past and then future bets.

I had a spreadsheet that recorded most of my winnings and profit, I seem to recall I made about £300+ over a few months. Can't remember which website I was using, but that was money made from all the easy/basic bets (the initial sign up ones). I was paying for the services of a site at ~£6 a month for them to tell me which bets to make and when.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: ali k on April 13, 2021, 02:31:21 pm: Quote from: Steve R on April 13, 2021, 11:10:09 am
Just a shame it's not sustainable income - I found what starts off as a really good hourly rate (occasionally >£100 p/h) drops off...got to the stage where I felt I'd picked all the low to medium hanging fruit and not really worth the time grubbing around for a tenner here and there.
Quote from: M1V0 on April 13, 2021, 02:15:55 pm
I did some matched betting a few years back when I was only working part-time. I stopped when I was working more regularly and the amount of money and time required to be put in, I was not comfortable with.

I guess this is what always put me off before. Seemed like a lot of effort for little reward. But now I spend more time WFH thought it could be good to do while I'm sat at my desk anyway. Still not sure I trust myself not to lose it all though...
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 13, 2021, 07:49:17 pm: First off, and a bit of a bump, went back to the place I picked (rolled back on a skateboard) up the coffee machine last night - both to make sure it had been left, unwanted, and cheekily, to ask if they had any of the portafilters, which they did:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51113379462_2bb3ac59f8_b.jpg)

Very nice ;D

In case anyone is interested, they've put a really good looking range/stove outside too. About 700 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, if you're passing with a van. It was there just now; 7pm.

The owners used to be involved/part own Nonna's on Ecclesall Road. They're opening an Italian themed café/deli/bar pop-up, on a similar theme to Bragazzi's on London Road. I'm sure it'll be well worth a visit. Five minutes from The Climbing Works.

Regarding the matched betting, I'd say an extra £300 a month for not a great deal of investment (time) should be quite achievable. There's certainly scope for making a lot more. I signed up to Profit Accumulator - https://www.profitaccumulator.co.uk/ (if you ask me for a referal code, there's a £20 bonus for both when fully signed up :whistle: )
Their monthly fee is £24.99 after a free trial period, and with great support.

As something you can do on your laptop/mobile from your Gite/tent/climbing wall, I'd say it's definitely worth exploring. It takes a bit of time to get set up efficiently, make sure you're able to cross-reference payments/bets etc, in order to minimise time, but also relatively foolproof.

It doesn't feel in any way related to the gambling, although you can introduce betting on a "value" basis. I've made a couple of minor mistakes so far. One cost me about £3 on a qualifying/offer bet, which was very well covered by the profit from the subsequent free bet. The other mistake (which I need to check out fully) was that I somehow selected "early cash out" on the Tottenham/Man U match on Sunday. Tottenham were 1-0 up at half time, so the early cash out netted me an extra £20 I wouldn't have had. The matched bet had been a free £10 bet, backing Tottenham with Betway, offset with the corresponding lay bet at Matchbook. This part netted £9.55 profit, so £29.55 for no personal outlay, and very little time.

You could look for all the sign-up and repeat (reload) offers yourself, but I think the monthly fee will probably be worth it. I'm happy with a few quid here and there, as an extra top-up, for little time. I'm finding it a useful way of exploring other things too. Made about £220 in the first couple of weeks. It's tax free too.

If nothing else, it's a fun thing to explore. :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 15, 2021, 08:00:01 pm: OK. Matched betting.
Little bit of an update.

Earlier, I sat down for less than the time I've spent sitting on the mats at the Foundry, yapping between attempts on a problem, loading four free bets, matched, to settle on the football tonight.

The return will be about £31 profit, plus a £10 Über Eats voucher.

Support from the platform I'm using (Profit Accumulator) is great.
If you have a stressful job, and the little time available to you is better spent getting out to the crag/down the wall/spending time with the family/being creative in other ways, then it may not be viable. As something to explore, and possibly take further as a useful top-up, I can't see why it wouldn't be worth trying for a couple of months.
:thumbsup:

It'll pay for my motorbike fuel/insurance ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 15, 2021, 10:24:38 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 15, 2021, 08:00:01 pm
I can't see why it wouldn't be worth trying for a couple of months

because for some people it is extremely habit forming and starts to reorder other priorities

(it's fine for most people though)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 16, 2021, 11:30:42 pm: Quote from: lagerstarfish on April 15, 2021, 10:24:38 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on April 15, 2021, 08:00:01 pm
I can't see why it wouldn't be worth trying for a couple of months

because for some people it is extremely habit forming and starts to reorder other priorities

(it's fine for most people though)

Some of my friends have tried giving this rock climbing thing a go.. ;)

Seriously though, I'm not sure how much that's the case. It seems to take quite a bit of effort to sit down and put the work in, with a reasonably predictable effort/remuneration scale - unlike running around, rummaging through skips in the middle of the night.. afraid of missing out on some hidden trove ;D
Will be interesting to see how things go. Does take some work.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 04, 2021, 01:51:12 am: So..

lost my sense of priority earlier this evening, and a couple of hours drifted by looking for matched betting deals ;)
Sort of.. partly true, and a bit of an update later.

However, I'd forgotten about bank holiday opening times; Tesco was already shut when I left the house, and I couldn't
face paying x 2 the going rate for a bottle of brown ale from the corner shop. So I figured it was worth a punt ;D to look in a few skips for booze on the way back home.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51157454445_8593f95988_z.jpg)

"Slightly" out of date, but fine to drink, and a pair of mini parallettes and a foam roller to boot.
Yay!

:dance1:

Quick update on the matched betting.
So, just over a month, and £750 of profit "accumulated".
It takes quite a bit of work, but a lot of that is down to learning how best to profit from the deals available after the initial promotions. It is something that you could take with you and do on your laptop/phone, in order to help pay for a trip, or continue regardless. I've lost a small amount of money (maybe £20) due to minor errors, not interpreting T/Cs correctly, but it's part of a process of learning, and has very slightly reduced overall profit.

Perhaps more significantly, it's helped open my eyes to what is really out there in terms of alternative forms of investing and ways of making money online.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on May 04, 2021, 08:54:39 am: Good effort on the Matched Betting Dave - as an ex-gambling industry (and ex-Trading) person, I'd be interested in seeing how this pans out.

Are you just looking at "standard" arbitrage here (i.e. backing both sides of a Tennis / Basketball game, and trying to get into a "no lose" scenario)? Or more exploiting introductory offers like "free £50 credit when you open account"?

What I would say is that most firms will have monitoring of activity to try and combat arb-ers, so you may find your account restricted / closed if they pick you up.

Exploiting opening offers is a lucrative game, but obviously have a limited shelf life as there are only so many accounts one can offer.

There used to be some crazy deals about - the old Bet365 "bet £50 prematch and we'll match it with a no-lose £50 in-play bet" being one of them - but a lot of them have been pared back.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 18, 2021, 02:37:13 pm: Hi 3T ;D

Really sorry, didn't see your post, so apologies for not replying.

You're right about "arbs". It's something I didn't really understand, and I thought the +ve odds differential was due more to instability in the price of the lay bet on the exchange.

Now understand that the lay bet is probably a better reflection of the odds, and any exploitation of higher odds at the bookies will result in accounts being closed - actually, they tend to just restrict further promotional offers.

A lot of sites offer "insurance" on accumulator bets - ie, a return if one leg loses - and this additional value can be used.

The way the offers work, is that you may be offered something like the Bet365 welcome offer you're referring to - they now give you £100 in free bets, for depositing £100. When placing the £100 at Bet365, you sell the corresponding position on the exchange (Betfair, Smarkets etc). Yes, the returns with the bookie are balanced against the liability you accept at the exchange, but the "margin" in the position, is the £100 you've been given to play with by the bookie.

I made £86 from this with Bet365.

There are a lot of opening offers out there, which do dry up. Speaking with an auntie of mine, who introduced me to it, apparently some people place regular bets (still laying on the exchange) - accepting some very small losses, in order to continue to receive promotional offers.

Many of the "reload" offers are what they call "bet & get" - e.g. one with Betway - weekly - is place £25 on accumulators and receive £10 in free bets on the Monday.

Once up to speed, it takes very little time to place/lay your bets.

At the beginning, most time is spent learning about the process - this will be different for different people, as I had practically no knowledge of betting beforehand.

I've only concentrated on bets on a "no lose" basis - free bets etc - and made £1K in the first six weeks, but now want to look at what tend to be more profitable longer term - betting/laying on the "estimated value". That's not risk free in the short term, but will return a profit in the long run.

Anyone with a house is betting on the position of the market - making a decision, based partly on which way you expect things to move n the long run. I know it's a poor analogy, because we have "homes" too, but just pointing out that most of us already have money invested on an "estimated value" basis already.

As far as viability in the short term - for e.g. something fun to do while away on a trip - it's quite satisfying to sit down with a coffee and your phone, and place a couple of bets, and make a tenner. Would be a bit more fun doing that from a beach in Tenerife, than in Sheffield in the rain :lol:

OK, so there you have it - for now.
Drop me a line if you want to ask anything, and I'll probably have a few questions to ask you!

Sorry for the delay getting back.

Dave.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 18, 2021, 02:55:24 pm: Something else I wanted to post, that I find really quite upsetting.

One of the most common "disposable domestic products" that I find in skips, are Dyson vacuum cleaners.

I have one on Gumtree now, which I'd pulled from a skip a little while ago. I thought it needed a new filter - I was looking in the wrong place - so tried to look for support from Dyson.

Even putting in the model number brought up nothing on their support system, so I sent them an email.

Had a reply this morning, explaining the reason is that it's an "unsupported product", and you'll have to go to a third party to find spare parts.

I appreciate that's often the way - it can be difficult to get spares for older cars - but to have nothing on their site, I found really poor.

I can understand the difficulty of keeping a stock of old spares, however some support would actively help encourage people to go and look for a solution to keep an older machine running - rather than just chucking it in a skip because a switch has broken, or something like that. Very often - actually more often than not - the Dysons I find are in good working order.

These machines seem to be a triumph of built-in obsolescence and marketing, and plastic waste.

Really disappointed with the response from Dyson. That said, I did pull a few spares from one in a skip last night, so can now sell the one I have, with a spare filter and all the tools.

Owt fer nowt :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Bradders on May 18, 2021, 03:14:39 pm: I think the EU are bringing in a 'right to repair' law, with manufacturers required to offer customers a repair if the product is less than 10 years old. No idea if it'll come to the UK though. Bloody Brexit. At least we can decide for ourselves not to do good things.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on May 18, 2021, 04:28:43 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 18, 2021, 02:55:24 pm

These machines seem to be a triumph of built-in obsolescence and marketing, and plastic waste.

Really disappointed with the response from Dyson.

Strange, I've found Dysons amazing for repairing, everything seems to unclip easily, and parts easily found on ebay/online.

Ours is like triggars broom, new motor, new hose, new switch, couple of new plasticy bits that had broken, just keeps on going.

https://www.partscentre.co.uk/dyson?gclid=CjwKCAjwy42FBhB2EiwAJY0yQicIDtTxQPJ1WJIsm1z9N9yKMCz1k-ndQKnWKi7b4COKdVVkwote2hoCPvYQAvD_BwE
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: T_B on May 18, 2021, 04:34:46 pm: Yeah we must’ve had our Dyson for well over a decade. Had it serviced once. Top quality.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 18, 2021, 07:53:54 pm: Sam, they are. Which is why I find it disappointing that Dyson aren't better with support on older models, and seem to want to push buying something new. The last isn't surprising of course, but the reply from Dyson today was pretty much "We're making more efficient machines all the time. That's why we don't provide support for older models". I was then told that it's more environmentally friendly to buy a new machine - which, given what we've said, it obviously isn't.

I would really like to see some key manufacturers taking the lead in supporting longer term use of their products - especially, as you say (and TB) that they are easy to repair.

The Dyson from last night was a bit smashed up, but lots of very good parts. Just took the tools, a couple of clips, and the filters.

I was walking home from Broomgrove one evening, and some students had put their brand new machine out with the bins, because, in their own words, it had "stopped sucking up". A party and resulting puke had gunked up the first part of the hose/head, but it was clear and bright and shiney, and still brand new, about 30 mins later :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: kelvin on May 19, 2021, 09:45:49 am: Quote from: T_B on May 18, 2021, 04:34:46 pm
Yeah we must’ve had our Dyson for well over a decade. Had it serviced once. Top quality.

Likewise - bought an original DC01 when they came out, had it serviced in the 90s just the once and gave it to a charity shop 4 years ago. They're still using it.

There are far better vacuums out there, I get to use my clients regularly (decorator) but the Dyson is just easy to take apart and fix.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 02:14:03 pm: Yup. I’ve fixed. MrsTT’s DC04 a few times.

Only downside of them is that they’re heavy…
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: webbo on May 19, 2021, 08:49:05 pm: Quote from: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 02:14:03 pm
Yup. I’ve fixed. MrsTT’s DC04 a few times.

Only downside of them is that they’re heavy…
And they are shit.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 08:59:58 pm: Quote from: webbo on May 19, 2021, 08:49:05 pm
Quote from: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 02:14:03 pm
Yup. I’ve fixed. MrsTT’s DC04 a few times.

Only downside of them is that they’re heavy…
And they are shit.

Don’t you mean they suck?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: webbo on May 19, 2021, 09:12:11 pm: No I mean they are crap. When I was a professional vacuum technician we used Miele to clean a large Manor House on a daily basis.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 20, 2021, 04:42:02 am: Quote from: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 08:59:58 pm
Quote from: webbo on May 19, 2021, 08:49:05 pm
Quote from: tomtom on May 19, 2021, 02:14:03 pm
Yup. I’ve fixed. MrsTT’s DC04 a few times.

Only downside of them is that they’re heavy…
And they are shit.

Don’t you mean they suck?

No. So they do suck?

Err.. Damn, I can't work this one out! ;D

Quote from: webbo on May 19, 2021, 09:12:11 pm
No I mean they are crap. When I was a professional vacuum technician we used Miele to clean a large Manor House on a daily basis.

That's pretty much the report I've had back from anyone who works in contract cleaning too.
I quite like my Henry (two skips to get all the bits together).

Oh, and while we're at it, OMM, are you willing to sell anything separately, or just the job lot?

"Largely broken. Obsolete spares and scrap only." :P
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 20, 2021, 04:57:48 am: I was wondering if the "bladeless" design of the Dyson fan would make it safer to fall onto:

https://youtu.be/dS0oFmzU06g

Sorry.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on May 20, 2021, 06:43:58 am: *for the record I own two Henry’s..
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 20, 2021, 02:13:29 pm: On the Dyson topic.
I think they’re shit.

Went through several at the wall and at home. At the wall, typically we’d get 8 months before the brushes fell off or the bearings gave out. At home, it was just a constant battle to empty/unblock (3 dogs and 3 long haired women).

At work, we have a Henry we bought to clean whilst building the wall, and it’s still going strong. For carpet, we switched to Shark, and our first is almost two years old and still great. Now use Shark at home too and vastly better. It was shocking the first time we used the Shark, because it looked like we’d never vacuumed before!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on May 20, 2021, 02:17:36 pm: does he travel down from Sheffield to do it?
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on May 20, 2021, 02:37:23 pm: :lol:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on May 20, 2021, 02:41:25 pm: It only hoovers the first 1/2 to 2/3s of the thing you're trying to clean, it can do that over and over for as long as you want but you'll never get the full thing clean.

*BOOM BOOM*
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on May 20, 2021, 02:56:05 pm: #cleanfaster
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 20, 2021, 02:56:41 pm: :bow:

What are we going to do if he ever actually ticks it?

I don’t know if it really counts as “Owt for Nowt”, but I really enjoy making my own stuff, if not always well.

For instance, yesterday I wanted to take out the new wetsuit for a spin. Normally, with wetsuits, I glue pockets on the thighs (which I stitch up myself on my trusty old Singer).
However, this time opted to splash out on a pair of holsters. This meant my knife sheath in the pocket wouldn’t be there and I’d used my spare sheath to rig the kids equipment last summer. So, I made a new one. Takes 10minutes.

(https://i.ibb.co/vvhj1Xx/B62-DAA57-551-A-4915-85-E9-F38-B293-A901-B.jpg)

I’ve had that Remora knife for a couple of decades, but it’s really too expensive and I shouldn’t use it. Expensive means I might worry too much about losing it, so for many years, I just used Ikea steak knives with the blade ground back blunt and about 2” long. That way I won’t chase it if I drop it, because I have another three boxes of them at home. Good steel in those knives and the serrations keep them painfully sharp.

Anyway, cut a piece of 50mm webbing around twice the length of the blade. Heat seal the cuts. Lay the knife on it, fold up enough to cover the blade, with a little room below and pin the fold.
(https://i.ibb.co/8bSpvXj/88-C38-DCD-D239-4-B6-A-B54-F-3-BF82-BAE36-B5.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/7bVBVMW/19408706-5504-4084-9389-4-BF007-AEA863.jpg)

Flip the excess down behind the handle, there should be around an inch of overlap, to give three layers, if you will. Pin that fold too.
(https://i.ibb.co/FBkxbfd/0-E2-EF105-FA44-468-C-BDB6-3-E4-D4230-BD12.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/N1WRqFT/95-CC03-F7-02-F8-47-A2-AD1-B-85-F322-F702-EB.jpg)

Then, using some waxed thread (whipping twine) and upholstery needles, blanket stitch the edges next to the blade, leaving the loop behind that handle as a belt loop. I usually leave about 5mm at the bottom to assist drainage.

(https://i.ibb.co/RBHw0zZ/4-FF4-EB6-F-73-A0-4133-A88-E-74-BB9-CB1-A723.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/dJ7xYW4/EE995214-33-C3-4-F7-D-A9-D8-16917-A87-B01-C.jpg)

Lastly, a loop of bungee, tied and stitched, to keep the knife in place. Just tight enough.

(https://i.ibb.co/0FbYYkN/317795-DD-981-A-4-D60-AEBD-BF1-FE351-EC4-E.jpg)

Slip the knot into the belt loop and stitch in place.

(https://i.ibb.co/c8vpmhj/F6-D3-FC50-C00-E-40-DB-8-D96-310-BAFE429-DF.jpg)

It goes in my right leg pocket, on the lanyard of my nav board/ wet notes and hopefully never gets used.

(https://i.ibb.co/5vWYTTg/372-B2-AFA-D002-4790-BA99-028-FA8545244.jpg)

Oh, and Dave will like this, my favourite pin/needle tidy, is the padding from an old bra...

(https://i.ibb.co/LJMm96h/C04-A6035-1720-43-BB-A5-A5-A90424-BE22-F3.jpg)

Have used variations on that theme for a large variety of different carrying needs, at sea and in the mountains. Even made a rucksack frame with 50mm webbing and a couple bits of Aluminium flat bar pulled off some old kitchen cupboard fittings.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 21, 2021, 12:14:54 am: Quote from: tomtom on May 20, 2021, 06:43:58 am
*for the record I own two Henry’s..

Got that 2H ;D :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 21, 2021, 12:23:52 am: Matt, I think that's fabulous.

The real "Owt fer Nowt" is that it doesn't cost anything to look at things differently, to see the value in things. That's the joy of it.

What we make of things is where the real value is.

:2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 21, 2021, 09:31:44 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 21, 2021, 12:23:52 am
Matt, I think that's fabulous.

The real "Owt fer Nowt" is that it doesn't cost anything to look at things differently, to see the value in things. That's the joy of it.

What we make of things is where the real value is.

:2thumbsup:

I just like it when things “fit” really. I’m the kind of person that has a tape measure in my wallet. The Mrs wanted to go into GoOutdoors a couple of weeks ago and I went for a wander.
I’ve been toying with replacing my 30 year old Camping Gaz hiking stove (one that pierces the bottle and is actually really quite heavy, I was just way too cheap to fork out on an MSR or similar. Plus, I have a little Hexi/Wood burner that I like to use when camping and cheapo mess tins I made by cutting up two old aluminium water bottles that happened to nest).

Anyway, there was a sale on the OEX Etna mini stove, £13, and I spotted another couple of details on nearby shelves (EuroHike solo mess tins £10) and:
(https://i.ibb.co/hMRtgX8/08-D2826-C-044-E-4662-A389-2501302-B13-CD.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/DbF7wNP/A2-CF4-DB2-A640-4323-B8-ED-6-B2-A944675-C2.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/j5tWzZY/B4-F230-BF-4-EDD-4-B50-80-FD-1-B9-D855-F6-F46.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/WkHtXxh/7391-D99-C-D839-45-D3-9454-5-CD0111-CF926.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/v4k2rZ6/241-D8030-0504-43-E6-B262-90-F656-F8-AC3-A.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/w6BNTY0/5553-F05-C-A83-D-4-DAA-A676-FCC97-BEE969-B.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/K01VDDZ/C6-C3-D7-A1-2318-4721-B1-A2-C1-F96482-C2-C8.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/bBYjfs9/4-D0-E4474-361-B-4471-BB7-F-437-C46-BC430-E.jpg)

Exact fit, no rattle!

(https://i.ibb.co/M5gJ7Gf/15-E7-D46-E-0853-4-A41-9-A26-F2688-DF6-E4-D4.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/XDh9vgq/98231-FB0-DFE0-44-EE-AE1-E-A65834742-B11.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/qjCpC1k/3-F79-A363-009-C-4239-87-C0-289362-FA250-F.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/zbD0sfj/80-EAB8-D0-9-F2-D-4-EC5-AC66-305-C07-B6-DBA9.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/JCb5sdQ/4-A26563-D-58-CC-4553-AB7-E-BD4-E7-B6-D2190.jpg)

My old stove, which I would normally use for three days to one week outings, weighed in at 1.2kg plus mess tins, plus AeroPress and around double the bulk. This slips into a 9ltr rocket pocket exactly or straps nicely onto the Molle of my 40ltr.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: steveri on May 21, 2021, 10:30:32 am: Ace work - few grams to be saved on those buckles too :)

As a side note, can I recommend giving a few things away on Facebook marketplace for an insight into the human condition? eg free small TV - "I don't have a car, can you deliver 20 miles"
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on May 21, 2021, 02:46:06 pm: Quote from: steveri on May 21, 2021, 10:30:32 am
Ace work - few grams to be saved on those buckles too :)

As a side note, can I recommend giving a few things away on Facebook marketplace for an insight into the human condition? eg free small TV - "I don't have a car, can you deliver 20 miles"

Yeah, it dismays me. We've practically given away stuff, someone says interested, when can you drop it to me, I'm not going your way any time soon.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Paul B on May 21, 2021, 04:30:30 pm: We had this when moving house recently. It's amazing how many people suddenly have arising issues with various degrees of fantasy attached. Although I had to laugh (when I realised nobody was hurt of course) when Nat tripped on our front step and literally threw the microwave at the person who was picking it up (after having delayed repeatedly until the morning we were moving out).
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Fultonius on May 21, 2021, 07:38:02 pm: Quote from: Oldmanmatt on May 21, 2021, 09:31:44 am
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 21, 2021, 12:23:52 am
Matt, I think that's fabulous.

The real "Owt fer Nowt" is that it doesn't cost anything to look at things differently, to see the value in things. That's the joy of it.

What we make of things is where the real value is.

:2thumbsup:

I just like it when things “fit” really. I’m the kind of person that has a tape measure in my wallet. The Mrs wanted to go into GoOutdoors a couple of weeks ago and I went for a wander.
I’ve been toying with replacing my 30 year old Camping Gaz hiking stove (one that pierces the bottle and is actually really quite heavy, I was just way too cheap to fork out on an MSR or similar. Plus, I have a little Hexi/Wood burner that I like to use when camping and cheapo mess tins I made by cutting up two old aluminium water bottles that happened to nest).

Anyway, there was a sale on the OEX Etna mini stove, £13, and I spotted another couple of details on nearby shelves (EuroHike solo mess tins £10) and:
(https://i.ibb.co/hMRtgX8/08-D2826-C-044-E-4662-A389-2501302-B13-CD.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/DbF7wNP/A2-CF4-DB2-A640-4323-B8-ED-6-B2-A944675-C2.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/j5tWzZY/B4-F230-BF-4-EDD-4-B50-80-FD-1-B9-D855-F6-F46.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/WkHtXxh/7391-D99-C-D839-45-D3-9454-5-CD0111-CF926.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/v4k2rZ6/241-D8030-0504-43-E6-B262-90-F656-F8-AC3-A.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/w6BNTY0/5553-F05-C-A83-D-4-DAA-A676-FCC97-BEE969-B.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/K01VDDZ/C6-C3-D7-A1-2318-4721-B1-A2-C1-F96482-C2-C8.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/bBYjfs9/4-D0-E4474-361-B-4471-BB7-F-437-C46-BC430-E.jpg)

Exact fit, no rattle!

(https://i.ibb.co/M5gJ7Gf/15-E7-D46-E-0853-4-A41-9-A26-F2688-DF6-E4-D4.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/XDh9vgq/98231-FB0-DFE0-44-EE-AE1-E-A65834742-B11.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/qjCpC1k/3-F79-A363-009-C-4239-87-C0-289362-FA250-F.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/zbD0sfj/80-EAB8-D0-9-F2-D-4-EC5-AC66-305-C07-B6-DBA9.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/JCb5sdQ/4-A26563-D-58-CC-4553-AB7-E-BD4-E7-B6-D2190.jpg)

My old stove, which I would normally use for three days to one week outings, weighed in at 1.2kg plus mess tins, plus AeroPress and around double the bulk. This slips into a 9ltr rocket pocket exactly or straps nicely onto the Molle of my 40ltr.

But Matt, where will you fit the grinder? :-\ :shrug: :coffee:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tomtom on May 21, 2021, 08:04:52 pm: Grind the beans between two pieces of gritstone. True London Climber style :)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on May 25, 2021, 10:15:37 pm: Matt, that's ace :2thumbsup:

Ironically James Hoffman did a review of the compact Aeropress, asking exactly what you have Fultonious, about storing a hand grinder in it.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: mark20 on June 01, 2021, 10:54:59 am: Thanks DT90 for the matched betting info. It's something I've been meaning to spend some time researching for a while now as I know a couple of people who have made a bit of money with it. I'm about 1 week in, spending an hour each morning, and about halfway through the listed 'sign up offers' on the Profit Accumulator website and about £250 up.The Profit Accumulator website seems pretty good, with some neat videos explaining how it all works, odds finding page for the best bets and some very good calculators. I have a £20 off discount code if anyone wants it, after getting to grips with the free trial stuff. Just be prepared for loads of spam emails (set up a new gmail account for it) and targetted social media ads.

In more traditional Owt-for-Nowt news, I picked up a pushchair that had been abandoned up the road, cleared off the leaves, cleaned down with fabric cleaner, pumped up the tyres and WD-40d moving parts, all in good working order, got £50 on collection on ebay :thumbsup: Satisfying and good for an hours work. Sorry DT90, S7 ain't big enough both of us :lol:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on June 01, 2021, 11:26:09 am: Something out of landfill, and a few quid for you, winner.

I hate going to the municipal dump, some of the stuff that gets chucked is ridiculous. If I was allowed, I'd leave with a van as full as when I arrived. Instead I just nick magnets out of fridge doors where no-one is watching.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on June 01, 2021, 12:17:51 pm: We broke the glass spinning plate from our microwave. Happened to be up the tip the day after, lots of chucked mircowaves with glass plates in. Bingo! problem solved.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on June 01, 2021, 03:52:46 pm: Mark20, that's brilliant :clap2:

OK, do here's the deal.
You keep to your pushchairs, and I'll keep to old vacuum cleaners ;D

I sold five vacuums last month - all from skips, but the pushchairs sound like a better yield.

If we end up in a Robot Wars style territorial combat situation, it'll be my firepower with the Dysons vs your manoeuvrability in the pushchairs :lol:

Great to hear the matched betting is going OK. Because I can, I've invested a lot of time, but I think a good strategy is to budget a certain amount of time, for an optimum rate, picking things up - new strategies etc - along the way.

Nice write up about the Profit Accumulator site too :2thumbsup:

Re the municipal dump etc, Sam, Chris, yes, it can be a bit maddening. I passed on one of my old coffee machines yesterday. Sold on Gumtree. Just really nice to meet a couple of new folk too, looking for second hand appliances for their new home ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Will Hunt on June 02, 2021, 12:02:01 am: I've a friend who grew up in Sheffield and, during his gap year, he dreamed of running away to work for a year on Scottish fishing boats - sailing the high seas and seeking his fortune by honest labour. His mum forbad it and he ended up doing a less romantic stint working at the Sheffield tip.

The landfill was surrounded by a fence into which loose rubbish would blow. His job was to walk endlessly around the perimeter fence, removing the flotsam and stuffing it into bin bags, before throwing the full bags back onto the dump. There were other people doing this, though only one grabber between them. He said the best days were the days when it was your turn with the grabber.

He did, however, tell us of another occasion that would cause a ripple of excitement to go through the staff. The day that the bins from the local prison were delivered would yield a fine crop of contraband letters, which had been confiscated before delivery and disposed of due to their obscene nature. Some of the prisoners' wives and sweethearts would enclose photos of themselves with "all sorts up 'em", much to the delight of our hero and his comrades.

Halcyon days.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on June 02, 2021, 04:49:56 am: Very funny! :clap2:

The funniest line was the one about the grabber ;)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 01:07:13 am: Local skips are still churning out the odd gem.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51302244140_e3f85b5de8_h.jpg)

This Powerbar had just been left out, along with a Mountain Equipment jacket, and some other bits and bobs:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51302245710_d7086c17d1_c.jpg)

Always love having the excuse to buy clotted cream when the Strawberries ripen. It's been a bumper crop. Someone once said that Strawberries fruit for two seasons, and then that's it, which is clearly a load of rubbish.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51301945389_947c4e4e59_c.jpg)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Oldmanmatt on July 10, 2021, 09:26:17 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 01:07:13 am
Local skips are still churning out the odd gem.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51302244140_e3f85b5de8_h.jpg)

This Powerbar had just been left out, along with a Mountain Equipment jacket, and some other bits and bobs:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51302245710_d7086c17d1_c.jpg)

Always love having the excuse to buy clotted cream when the Strawberries ripen. It's been a bumper crop. Someone once said that Strawberries fruit for two seasons, and then that's it, which is clearly a load of rubbish.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51301945389_947c4e4e59_c.jpg)

As a kid, the lane which I lived on (Tremeer Lane, St Tudy), was lined with wild Strawberries, Blackberries, Hazel and Sloe. We ate like kings for most of the year and all of the village kids would come home with fingers stained the appropriate colour for the season. Cracking Hazel nuts with our teeth! Pretty sure my teeth would crack before the nut these days.
We also used to purse net a rabbit, fairly frequently (you find a warren, net up as many holes as you can find, light a small, smokey, fire at one and waft the smoke into the warren. Keep one rabbit and release the rest) and roast it over a fire with plenty of smokey Oak or Beech leaves. Sunny Saturday picnic and better than going home for lunch. Don’t tell the Vegans.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 02:45:20 pm: What's the App for that Matt. I've looked for it under "games" but can't find it. ;)

Re teeth - funnily, I had to have one removed yesterday. Had left a chip/fracture too long.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 10, 2021, 03:58:29 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 01:07:13 am

Someone once said that Strawberries fruit for two seasons, and then that's it, which is clearly a load of rubbish.

five years and then they get less productive - that's my experience
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 11, 2021, 08:03:01 pm: Quote from: lagerstarfish on July 10, 2021, 03:58:29 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 01:07:13 am

Someone once said that Strawberries fruit for two seasons, and then that's it, which is clearly a load of rubbish.

five years and then they get less productive - that's my experience

They sprout off new plants each year though Lagers, don't they. Maybe they're the ones producing the crop.

I found some barbecue lighter fuel amongst my skip haul of booze. You're welcome to that, but I think I'll drink the Jack Daniels ;D

.. Oh. It's that time already!
:tumble:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 11, 2021, 11:02:22 pm: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 11, 2021, 08:03:01 pm
Quote from: lagerstarfish on July 10, 2021, 03:58:29 pm
Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 10, 2021, 01:07:13 am

Someone once said that Strawberries fruit for two seasons, and then that's it, which is clearly a load of rubbish.

five years and then they get less productive - that's my experience

They sprout off new plants each year though Lagers, don't they. Maybe they're the ones producing the crop.

No. Original plants do okay for five years. Always worth cultivating the new ones ready for future years.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 19, 2021, 02:54:33 am: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51320565891_c6ad99b5db_h.jpg)

Pulled this little fella from a skip earlier ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: steveri on July 19, 2021, 11:08:44 am: Womble like, very meta :)
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on August 05, 2021, 08:52:43 am: Channelled by inner DaveThomas90 earlier this week - my missus spotted that a house round the corner had a skip with some wooden stools in it.

Popped over, had a word and walked away with them. They'd seen better days but after an hour of sanding they've come up nice!
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on August 06, 2021, 02:11:23 am: Sweet work there 3Ts
;D :thumbsup:

I've had some great conversations with folk while rummaging, and most people seem really glad to see things being given a second life. Still really boggles me what you do see thrown out - doubly, when you consider the cost of a large skip these days.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SA Chris on August 06, 2021, 08:17:30 am: I find the municipal waste dump incredibly depressing, looking at what people chuck out; bikes, exercise bikes, kids toys. Shame you can't collect from there. Although I stopped by a few weeks back with a Stanley knife and slipped out a few m of magnets from the doors of the old fridges for something I'm doing on the van.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: tommytwotone on August 12, 2021, 11:45:06 am: Quote from: DAVETHOMAS90 on August 06, 2021, 02:11:23 am
Sweet work there 3Ts
;D :thumbsup:

I've had some great conversations with folk while rummaging, and most people seem really glad to see things being given a second life. Still really boggles me what you do see thrown out - doubly, when you consider the cost of a large skip these days.

Yeah, was pretty happy with it - I need to sort out a bit of rot on the bottoms of the legs but I reckon they'll be alright.

I gather that at end of term-time a trip round studentsville in Leeds is worth doing, might give that a go next summer.

In related "stuff not going to landfill" news, Mrs TTT found someone on Facebook giving away some Barbie stuff for free, I popped over and picked it up and there was loads of it. Saving a load of stuff being chucked out, and plastic stuff too.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: teestub on August 12, 2021, 11:47:08 am: Quote from: tommytwotone on August 12, 2021, 11:45:06 am

In related "stuff not going to landfill" news,

Thought that was going to be a post about your new ride 😁
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on September 24, 2021, 06:03:47 am: It's illuminating to see what people just chuck away these days.

Found this in a skip earlier :2thumbsup:
Been thinking about buying one.

The charger plugged into it wasn't working, so just plugged in a random 12V one I had at home.

Bingo ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51510661540_886a7436f0_n.jpg)

By the by, re matched betting, just so folk know the sort of thing that's (sometimes) available, Befair give two "odds boosts", a free accumulator bet, and three boosts on horse bet odds every day at the moment.

The first two can be placed, and matched with a corresponding "lay" bet, in less time than it takes my PC to boot up. Worth £8-£10+ a day. You do need to have a level of account activity on the Betfair exchange to qualify for the boosts, but it's properly "Owt fer Nowt".

I was training in the park the other day, but could check my phone to see if I had to update any of my other accumulator bets, which I could have done very easily between sets - or on a beach in Calpe.

Happy to share the Profit Accumulator referral link if anyone's interested. Mark20 found some independent software that's available to use - to work out matched bet lay stakes, although the support and alerts through the Profit Accumulator site make life very easy.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on September 26, 2021, 11:51:49 pm: (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51520367507_0ac817c66b_c.jpg)

Enjoying the new lamp, at 2a.m. down at Heeley boulder.

The only things with me when I left the house earlier, that weren't from a skip, were a debit card and a dodgy lockdown haircut, which I've got to stop doing myself.

Didn't really need the debit card, having just sold a catering flask I found recently.

Bring on some winter conditions ;D
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Wood FT on September 27, 2021, 09:31:11 am: Dave, do you want two more? I used them in my cellar but got a new lightbulb for the mains light so they are surplus to requirement now.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 14, 2022, 06:44:53 pm: WoodFT - sorry!! I missed your post :bow: pm'd you ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51880855817_c55fb27b49_z.jpg)

I managed to sell these for SamT on Gumtree today.
Got a tenner for them Sam, so designate a good cause of your choice - as long as it's not some pumped up drill wielding band of Peak bolting brothers ;D

that's a joke obviously
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 14, 2022, 09:25:22 pm: Edit. found the extra £5 posted, so £15 in total Sam. Good they didn't get wasted.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on February 14, 2022, 10:54:46 pm: Nice one Dave. Up to you what you do with the cash. Just glad they didn't go to landfill. :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 15, 2022, 12:54:45 am: Thanks Sam.

A small amount of money, but always good to highlight what can get recycled :thumbsup:

I'm good with the bolt fund, but any other suggestions .. please.

Good opportunity to raise the prospect of funding other causes by selling otherwise "disposable items".

We had a Gumtree page set up for the tree campaign for a while.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on February 15, 2022, 08:31:27 am: Bolt fund or CAC, either are fine by me. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on February 18, 2022, 05:27:20 am: Quote from: SamT on February 15, 2022, 08:31:27 am

Bolt fund or CAC, either are fine by me. :thumbsup:

Thanks Sam.
£15.00 via the Donate link on the BMC website :thumbsup:

Transaction ID: 20935037597910446

If anyone else wants me to put something up on Gumtree for the same reason, or other climbing related charity, just drop me a line.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on March 01, 2022, 08:48:12 am: No bites on the Freecycle thread so thought I'd just post here before it goes back on the skip..

Small metolius bouldering mat.
Lifted off a skip on our street.
Original first generation so very old. Foam is completely shot but cover and straps all look good. It's 85 X 70 cm when unfolded so on the small side. Foam is 7cm thick but needs replacing.
Suitable for a mini wads up coming font trip maybe or as an extra gap filler for those highballs.

Collection from Sharrow Sheffield or can drop around Sheffield if I'm out and about.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Andy B on March 01, 2022, 10:22:48 am: Hi Sam, I’m keen for the pad, but I’m not sure when I’ll next be in sheffield. Hopefully later this week, but I’m not certain exactly when yet.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: SamT on March 01, 2022, 11:08:32 am: No stress.. just happy that someone might put it to use rather than it going in a skip. As mentioned its pretty old, but with some new foam, it will be fine.

I'll PM you my address/mob and you can drop me a text as and when you're about. I can always leave it outside if I'm not going to be in.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: Andy B on March 01, 2022, 12:06:26 pm: That’s great, thanks Sam.
Title: Re: Owt for Nowt
Post by: DAVETHOMAS90 on July 15, 2022, 09:52:30 pm: Right folks. Don't mention the war..

Just sneaking in.

I know someone who is looking for a bit of cleaning work.

She's currently selling the Big Issue, and we were having a chat earlier.
I'm hoping a friend of mine will be offering her something, but just in case that falls through, I thought I'd ask here.

I've known her a little while locally, and I would have no problems at all employing her. Her English is quite poor, though she speaks Spanish. I've never asked her how she ended up in the UK. She already does work for a couple of people, and was showing me photos from her work.

Someone was posting up not so long ago about looking for a cleaner.
Would be great to put her in touch with anyone interested in offering her some work.
It would be ace :2thumbsup:

Please email me or drop me a line on 07935333012