Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[RED-DOG]

Now that I can see what type of screw it is, I manage to undo it with my Swiss army knife.

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[RED-DOG]

Once I get the knob off, I find a big nut, but I can't get at the big nut because it's covered by a plastic shield.

The plastic shield is held in place by a C clip.

This is where it starts to get interesting. (Actually, no it doesn't, but it's my diary, I'll post what I like)

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[RED-DOG]

I remove the C clip using a pair of special C clip pliers from my big fancy tool kit.

I bought this tool kit years ago. I got a huge discount because the box had been slightly damaged in the fall.

No one knows I have these tools, so no one asks to borrow them. If anyone asks, you know nothing.

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[Woodsey]

Wouldn't you just rather pay some one to do all this nonsense for you so you can concentrate on 'loose women' and 'The Jeremy Kyle Show'?

[Karabiner]

I remove the C clip using a pair of special C clip pliers from my big fancy tool kit.

I bought this tool kit years ago. I got a huge discount because the box had been slightly damaged in the fall.

No one knows I have these tools, so no one asks to borrow them. If anyone asks, you know nothing.

Click to see full-size image.

I think we've now discovered the main reason for this plumbing digression, to show off that lovely box of tools.

[RED-DOG]

I told you not to mention the tools.

[RED-DOG]

As I take bits off, I lay them out right to left, so that when I come to putting everything back together, I just have to work left to right and it all goes on in the correct order.

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[RED-DOG]

Finally, I get to undo the actual valve part with my big feck off spanner.

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[RED-DOG]

I'm shocked and dismayed to find that the valve is encased in yet more plastic, and it has a thermocouple (Plumber speak) sticking out of the back end.

I hope I can fix this, because a new one looks expensive.

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[RED-DOG]

After a moderate amount of swearing, i manage to free the valve from it's cover and ta daaa... there is the problem.

It's a good, simple problem. A nice little tear is a small rubber O ring.

Lovely.

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[RED-DOG]

Wouldn't you just rather pay some one to do all this nonsense for you so you can concentrate on 'loose women' and 'The Jeremy Kyle Show'?

I didn't get where I am today by paying for things.

[RED-DOG]

I drive out to Pochin, my local plumbers merchant.

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"We don't sell O rings, says the bloke behind the counter, but I'll tell you who does..."



I drive to HBS

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"We don't sell O rings, says the bloke behind the counter, but I'll tell you who does..."



I drive to PTS.

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You're ahead of me now aren't you?




I drive to B&Q

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"We don't sell O rings, says the bloke behind the counter, but I'll tell you who does..."



I drive to the next place, which will remain nameless, and photoless.

[RED-DOG]

I arrived at the next place and walked inside. Behind the counter was a surly man wearing a small smock and a big frown. I asked him about the O ring. He looked at me without interest and shook his head, he didn't even suggest somewhere else I might try.

As I turned to leave, I noticed a tap that looked like mine on a wall mounted display. I turned back to the man.

"Do you keep those taps in stock?" I enquired. "Yes" He replied, without looking up.

"But you don't sell replacement O rings?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Well I suppose if you can't buy an O ring, you have to buy the whole tap"

I wasn't impressed, but I was stuck, I asked if he would bring me a tap so that I could compare it to mine. He slouched off into the back of the shop and brought one out. They were identical.

"How much?"

"For one tap?"

"Yes"

"You can't buy one, we only sell them in pairs"

"I See... How much for the pair?"

He told me the price. I blanched, gave him back his tap, and left.




I went home to ponder the problem. Once there, I said hello to the dog, made myself a cup of tea, and examined the tap again.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the O ring from the tap in the shop had somehow found it's way on to my tap. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

Thinking about it now, I can only assume that the O rings had got sort of accidentally swapped over, and that my torn one was now on his tap. It sounds far fetched I know, but it's the only explanation I can come up with.

[RED-DOG]

It didn't take me long to put everything back together again, but when I turned the tap on, no water came out.

I spent almost half an hour pratting about before I realised that I hadn't turned the stop cock back on.



Ta daaaa!

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[RED-DOG]

After that, I managed to do my shopping, and I rang AOL (What a bull and cow I had with them) but I didn't manage to take the rubbish to the tip, so I'm adding that to tomorrow's to-do list.