Karmacat: I'm passionate about my DFW journey to riches

redsquirrel80

Karmacat wrote: »

Oh! I better make it to the class then

Nah, don't worry, I'm not going to waste *that* amount of money (£28, sigh.... it seemed like nothing in the old days). Its just my usual isolationist carp, I'm not going to pay any attention today. Before I get there, I'm also going to go to Wickes, to buy some mortar and plasticiser - my builder can do the repointing that needs a ladder, but I'm going to do everything else. I was telling my mum while I was at hers, and even she seemed to think it was quite normal - she'd seen a youngster in her twenties doing it, now she's going to think I'm chicken if I don't! :rotfl: At least it will save me a lot of dosh!

Haven't seen your diary yet Red, I'm off now for a looksee - you'd better be going to your classes too!

Hehe.. have a lovely time at your class Mine doesn't start till next week, so I can't be nagged until then!

GettingThingsDone

Hi KC - welcome back!

The books I've been reading are The Black Swan: The impact of the highly improbably, and Fooled by Randomness, both by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I don't know if you've come across him?

Anyhoo - sounds like all's good with you - catch you around!

gtd

Karmacat

I went to the class! :j :j :j

It was great - I felt a bit sick most of the time, I must say, but that was kind of bound to happen. I kept up, even tho I stopped going to classes before some of them were born, and I wasn't even the oldest one there! After the class, I got a great compliment from the teacher, even tho I ducked out of the last exercise. She said "you've done a *lot* of ballet, haven't you." I was so pleased, I can't tell you. As I get fitter, and more familiar with the sequences of moves, it will get better (and I'll be able to jump!). I'm a happy camper this morning, tho I did sleep in a bit too long.

GettingThingsDone wrote: »

Hi KC - welcome back!

Thanks!

The books I've been reading are The Black Swan: The impact of the highly improbably, and Fooled by Randomness, both by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I don't know if you've come across him?

Ooh, no, I haven't come across him, but they sound interesting - very appropriate for the state of the markets at the mo. Thanks, I'll keep a lookout.

redsquirrel80

Oooh that sounds great, so glad you made it along and enjoyed it - it's amazing how you remember things like that, even though it's been a while. So pleased for you

Karmacat

Thanks Red! It was a good evening, actually - I sat on the beach for a while too, beforehand. Ballet was always part of my childhood, even in my early teens rebelling and leaving for a while. I started at 3, and left at 19 - I was away at college, but kept coming back because the school was re-mounting a show I was in, and I didn't want to let them down. And I was doing 20 hours a week at the end of that time - I was sort of like hypno's kids, except that my school was only 5 minutes walk away. That kind of thing never leaves you, never.

Thanks for your support, it means a lot - we just have to make sure about your classes and your fitness now!

Karmacat

The builder's here, doing his thing on my leaking mortar, and has more bad news for me - he took a pic with his phone cos its quite high up. The bricks of my house don't all sit on a bed of mortar, some of them just sit on a *facing* of mortar only! This dates back to when the house was built in the sixties - talk about cowboy builders! He's been drilling back the stuff he has to replace, about a quarter/half an inch, and it just creates a hole where he can see right into the cavity wall! No wonder I'm getting water coming in through the wall!

Having a proper look at the wall, especially the weather-facing one, has convinced me once again to have a go myself, even if its just the low stuff that I can reach easily. I bought some mortar yesterday before the ballet class (my builder doesn't know!) and I just need to buy some plasticiser/waterproofer, and find a way of drilling out some of the old stuff. I have an old electric drill, and a battery-operated screwdriver, maybe I can adapt one of those. But if need be, I'll buy something to do it, just a square metre of his work is costing £130. Has to be done tho.

redsquirrel80

Wow, good on you for giving it a go - especially at £130 a metre! :eek:

By the way, for the ballet class, have you had to buy proper shoes etc yet, or do they let you have a go in 'normal' clothes until you decide you're staying?

Keeping_Motivated

Hi Karma

Well come home...ballet sounds just fab, well done you for going back.

As for the mortar 'stuff' (can you tell I'm a numpty) maybe you could post on the In MY Home DIY thread (is that what its called?) for some tips to help you?

Take care
KM x

Karmacat

Hi KM!

Thanks for the welcome! Yep, the ballet was fab... I'll have to do a bit more limbering up at home, I think, but I really enjoyed it.

As for great minds.... yep, I've just been over at the DIY section, I can't remember the name either, and tho it says its about white goods, there's lots about DIY on the fabric of the house. One bit was horrifying actually - a general level of costs for repointing was about £15-25 a metre. I just paid £100+ for that.... I'm going to ring up some other people and get some quotes. I'm really worried that the builder I trusted has actually been selling me down the river, even on one job thats awful.

boredofbeingathome

Karmacat wrote: »

The builder's here, doing his thing on my leaking mortar, and has more bad news for me - he took a pic with his phone cos its quite high up. The bricks of my house don't all sit on a bed of mortar, some of them just sit on a *facing* of mortar only! This dates back to when the house was built in the sixties - talk about cowboy builders! He's been drilling back the stuff he has to replace, about a quarter/half an inch, and it just creates a hole where he can see right into the cavity wall! No wonder I'm getting water coming in through the wall!

Having a proper look at the wall, especially the weather-facing one, has convinced me once again to have a go myself, even if its just the low stuff that I can reach easily. I bought some mortar yesterday before the ballet class (my builder doesn't know!) and I just need to buy some plasticiser/waterproofer, and find a way of drilling out some of the old stuff. I have an old electric drill, and a battery-operated screwdriver, maybe I can adapt one of those. But if need be, I'll buy something to do it, just a square metre of his work is costing £130. Has to be done tho.

I can't believe what some folk charge..i would have a test of the mortar and see if it is crumbly, if it is then should be easy to get out..but i would get another attachment from the DIY store..something with a flat head and use the hammer function on your drill..the way it will act like a chisel. They do take the P these builder chaps..good luck with it, karma. x

Oh and welcome back, glad the ballet class went well:D