DIY with function over finesse!!

[Gibbo2286]

The last time I needed a ladder I borrowed one off a neighbour, it was an old wooden one and so heavy I couldn't lift it.

[bobins]

When I saw Skull's picture I immediately heard the opening bars of the theme music to Casualty in my head

[CitroJim]

When I saw Skull's picture I immediately heard the opening bars of the theme music to Casualty in my head

I always remember the episode of Casualty when the protagonist lost consciousness in an XM, fell forward against the steering wheel and the horn went off...

Anyone familiar with an XM will understand just how wrong that was

[Skull]

How old is ‘too old’

If you know what you are doing then I don’t see a problem - users like me, occasional DIY’ers are probably more at risk than someone who’s been up them half their life.

I have a neighbour who’s 80 I often see up his old aluminium ones and lends me them as and when required. I don’t think I’d like falling off them but the recovery time of older people is probably the biggest concern.

I did have a near miss a few years ago, where I slid off my roof (same roof) whilst trying to hook some roof ladders over the ridge tiles, I landed safely enough but was lucky the ladders missed me as they followed me down!

I’m more careful now Bobbins although I could easily be starring in the next episode

[mickthemaverick]

You know when you are too old Skull, there is no defined age, when you start fearing being up on the ladder is the time to call it a day. I used to scale radio masts with just a safety belt and working steps, now I only use step ladders that have a raised hoop handle for me to hold!! I used to race motorbikes, now since my accident you won't get me on the bike stationary!!

[Skull]

Mick Coming down at full speed is what I fear the most …

Watching the TT this week reminds me why I no longer have a motorbike, only been there once (1991) - too many nutters in one place for me

[Gibbo2286]

My brother used to say "It wasn't the fall that killed him it was the landing."

[myglaren]

Apparently she is a sky diver and genuine daredevil, not an air hostess, but it is still a long way to fall without any brakes.

[mickthemaverick]

A little job I started in the week was interrupted by car jobs but I managed to complete the three new vegetable beds this morning. Amazing what you can do with a few old pallet racks and a bit of inspiration:

MTMO - home for next year's veggies

[mickthemaverick]

SWMBO has cost me £7.00 this morning!! How I hear you ask:

I had to get the cover for the patio table out of the shed which led me to discover the rodent issue I had cleared a few years ago, the start of this thread IIRC, has come back again.

The holes in the corner

The best thing I have found is simply concrete so I went to B&Q and bought this:

The quick solution

Aah so how can you blame her for that ? you wonder. Well the thing is I don't, however in order to lay the concrete I need my builder's trowel and float which I keep in the corner of the greenhouse ever since our sewarage incident earlier in the year, and there is the problem. We have simple rules between us to ensure living in harmony, the garage is mine, the shed is shared and the greenhouse is hers. So I went to the greenhouse to collect my tools which are in the bottom right corner next to the grey crate:

The greenhouse

You may have spotted the problem in that picture but if not here's a close up:

the troublesome issue

I cannot get to the tools without disturbing the spider and SWMBO, whose sole domain it is, has forbidden any disturbance as it is only trying to help her by catching pesky flies in the greenhouse!!!

Thus I had to go out and get this :

My brand new trowel

which is where my £7.00 cost comes in!!

[myglaren]

The lodger should be taking care of the rodent problem.

[mickthemaverick]

That's what I'm hoping from now on Steve, this damage was quite old. Anyhow I got Aerosmith's lead singer in and now it looks like this:

Concrete in the holes, then tiles cemented and pegged into place with three sheets of galvanised steel actually blocking the holes.

It doesn't look pretty but we won't see it once all the stuff is back in the shed!!

[myglaren]

Had to look up who the singist was

Squirt some anti-Marten spray around too.

[mickthemaverick]

I'm not allowed to do anything that might upset critters Steve, hence the problem with getting to my trowel!! I think they'll have to work quite hard to get in again because all four sides are now on concrete!!

[myglaren]

Hope that works, they can be quite inventive and tenacious.