Model Engine Maker
General Category => Chatterbox => Topic started by: Bogstandard on August 21, 2012, 10:24:04 AM
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A few of you might have noticed that I haven't been sticking my nose into almost every post recently, and it isn't not for the wanting to do so.
I am having my house made easier to get around, rather than having to move out into a local government controlled bungalow, where if I did move into one, I would lose all my workshop facilities.
I am now trying to get myself a better meaning to life, after going through so much agony and grief over the last few years, and especially earlier this year.
Well, it all started with a visit by my occupational therapist a few months ago, she was assigned to me because of all the problems I was having.
She applied for a local council grant for me (this is a government thing and helps people in my situation), and got the full grant, which is worth many thousands of pounds. I don't have to pay one penny towards the work done or upkeep of the items fitted, just the redecorating afterwards.
This what I am showing is the first part, an all singing all dancing stairlift, custom built to go up and around my stairs, fully radio controlled (a handset at both top and bottom), so I can park it wherever I want and call it to me whether I am at the top or bottom. When sitting on it, I actually control it with a manual joystick.
You will notice that there is other work that had to be carried out so that they could fit it in, removing and repositioning handrails, a new high output but tiny radiator, they had to remove the original because they needed the space at the bottom for a place where the stairlift could 'land and park'. All this rough work will be covered up when the whole place is redecorated after all work is finished.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/AtRest.jpg)
You will notice a little head poking out at the top of the stairs, that is Turpin, my teacup Jack Russell, and both he and Bandit love sitting on my knee (not at the same time BTW) when I am going up or down on the stairlift.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Noseydog.jpg)
It is these stairs that have caused me so much pain over the years, just going up for a shower would put me out of action for many hours, and that was every day, now, I can go up and down and have no pain at all.
In fact, it is allowing me to get my bedroom ready for me to sleep in for the first time in a few years. I have already fitted a large screen 3D TV in there, running from a hard drive with hundreds of my favourite films on it, and radio controlled all the electrics. I may never get out of bed again.
I can tell you how much this has made a difference me.
Up until this was fitted, I could only manage a 30 mile drive before I was in agony, whether driving myself or being driven. On Sunday, I went out with a lady friend for a round trip drive of about 160 miles, and only felt a slight twinge after I got back.
I think that giving up a bit of surfing time on here has been well worth it, and after the final parts are finished off, a walk in wet/shower room, and fully redecorated, I should be up to my normal tricks on here again. It might take a couple of months, but I think it will be well worth the sacrifice.
John
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Very swish John, how long before you modify it to go a bit faster....?
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Looks like a valuable addition to your house. One concern is the seat colour not a little too light? Will it not show up the dirty finger prints and paw prints?
Jo
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Well done John. To me, you are doing the very best thing for your quality of life. BRAVO! My long range plans are to do exactly as you are doing (only twice) in our home so that in later years both my wife and I will be able to navigate about our castle without fear of pain or injury from ascending or descending the steps. My Father, when he was getting long in tooth, fought me hoove and nail when I had a walk-in bathtub installed in his house. He carped about this and that but after it was installed, he realized what a tremendous benefit it was and commented that it "probably should have been done a long time ago" :embarassed: . We all look forward to seeing your posts and understand your health and comfort is far more important. My hat is off to you sir :NotWorthy:
BC1
Jim
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Glad your getting all that done John!
Dave
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Good for you John!!!
Anything that makes ones life easier is a great asset!
Yours is the first chair lift i have seen that goes around a corner.
Most of the ones seen over here are just a straight up and down chair.
Great to hear that you are out and about a bit!!
Must be nice to be able to leave the confines of the house for a few hours and not return in a lot of pain!!
Congratulations on all the restorations and all the many more that are in the works!!!
Andrew
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Best wishes with it allowing you to get more done etc. John. Sounds like it's already making a world of difference for you.
Steve
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Great stuff John,
My Aunt received the same grant for her home in Birmingham, although she opted for the lift in, lift out chair in the bath rather than a shower. It enabled her to stay in her own home for quite a few more years. :whoohoo:
Best Regards
Bob
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Just from the picture that looks like a lot of steps John...and steps that you now won't have to climb. Sounds like the benefits are evident already in your health and outlook, not to mention that cool new toy!!! ;D
Bill
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Should make life a bit easier for you John. I see from the second photo you have your quality inspector on top of things.
Just one thing to watch with those remote controls is that you check the frequency with the local flying club, don't want any interfearance from the RC boys making you do loop the loop half way up the stairs :ShakeHead:
J
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God speed for you John, and wish you well. Love your work and educational threads.
Best regards Don
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It is good to see the government giving back to the community and I am very happy for you John.
I have worked in the health industry all of my working life and it amazes me that it is so often the small things that we take for granted (such as climbing stairs) can be the difference between independent living and an 'aged care facility'.
The money they spend now is nothing compared to what they would spend in providing care down the track. Especially when John would lose the plot from not having his workshop. In fact, that cost would probably be measured in life years lost.
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Many thanks everyone, so many I just can't reply to everyone as I normally do. But I do realise the thought is there.
It is amazing how much this small mod has done for the quality of my life. If I had known that this would make so much difference, I would have fitted one years ago. But like everyone else, I was one who thought it could never happen to me, but it did, with great speed and aggression.
I do know one thing though, living in a society where by going down the correct local government channels and getting free grants like this has saved me many years of pain, and is already making my life worth living again.
We all complain about our National Health Service efficiency here in the UK, but no matter what, everyone does eventually get the treatment they require, totally free of charge, or in the case of prescribed medicines, very low cost, or like myself, free. In other parts of the world, I wouldn't have been so lucky.
So give me a couple of months to get back into the swing of things, and I will be posting like I used to.
John
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John, glad you got that grant to do those things. Those lifts are really a "life saver". You take your time. We will miss your input and will be glad when you get settled in with your additions so you can get back on here. We know you haven't abandoned us.
Ray
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I'm glad you are able to get this addition to your home, John. Like you say, it will make a big difference
to your quality of life. That is worth more than we can ever understand. I'm happy for you!
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John, I am so pleased to see the kind of help you are getting. Here in the states, it would be nearly impossible to have that kind of a job done without paying a lot of up front cash.
Looking forward to your posts and comments in the near future,
George
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My stairlift has a right angle bend at the bottom which deposits me at ground level right across the front door. The lower straight guide can be powered out of the way when door access is required, the chair being parked elsewhere when this is necessary. But we rarely used the front door anyway.
It was in the house when we bought it 4 years ago and happily I have not needed to use it much until recent months. I have a severe case of gout which has flared up a great deal recently, eventually affecting my legs in a collateral sort of way. Knees distorted by the search for comfortable position for my feet in bed so I can get some sleep. Can't manage without it now, at least till the symptoms subside a little more.
Another recent acquisition is a bath lift. I've not been able to get out of the bath unaided for a couple of years and can no longer adopt a kneeling attitude which did work for a while, and I don't really like showers. It cost ?230 and I noticed a replacement battery/handset would be about 75% of that price. If that is ever needed I have it in mind to get a new complete lift and will have a scissors table powered otherwise for dry use :)
Not been up to my workshop for a long time as it means climbing half a dozen steps, but I'm working on that
Ray
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good news there John that the state is giving something back and that it has considerably reduced your pain without more medication thats always a good thing
the guy across the road had a lift ( not a stair lift but a proper up and down job ) put in under the same system
I to need crutches and wheels for longer journeys over ten yards, but as yet stairs are not a problem all fours up and bum down
looking forward to you workshop tutorials
Stuart
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Well done John, all the best.
Everyone seems to knock the National Health, but I'm very grateful for it. Many years ago I broke my leg fairly comprehensively in a motor cycle accident. I found out when I was about to be discharged as "fit for work", that the initial response of the Doctors was to remove it. Fortunately they didn't, as a result of which I've led a more or less normal life for the last 40 odd years, whatever "normal" is.
So good on you, enjoy!!
cheers
Bill Pudney
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The best thing about John's new home comforts is that he gets to keep his workshop.
Who here has not learned something from his posts? And the number of people he has helped directly is uncountable. Everything based on pure logic.
Who else could convince a beginner that he could build a twin cylinder reversing piston valve steam engine by following the Paddleducks book? And without a "proper" engineering drawing in sight, just a Crap-o-Cad for each of the many parts, with a lead-me-by-the-hand explanation of how to produce them.
John, you are a member of Cameron's Big Society and the investment they have made in you is fully justified. Long may you continue to inspire us.
Belligerent? Bogs? - Thank God for that! - HMEM now seems a distant memory, long live MEM
Ray
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Well, the next part of this saga started this morning, a wrecking and rebuilding crew started work on my bathroom, demolishing everything that I had done about 7 years ago, with my own blood,sweat and tears.
What first greeted me when I went up this evening.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Bath1.jpg)
The following pics are as I swing around.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Bath2.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Bath3.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Bath4.jpg)
Because when I first designed and made my bathroom those years ago, I used all the best adhesives available for the wall tiles. In fact this caused me to stop all work on the job after only two hours.
I overheard the French foreman saying to the other workmen that rather than removing the old tiles, the holes in the walls showed their attempts to get them off, they would just stick the new ones over the top. Well I saw red at this proposed 'bodge' job and told them that they were all 'cowboys' (a name we give to rogue and bad workmen in the UK) and got them out of my house.
It wasn't until later, when the local council designer and building inspector turned up to sort things out, and told them to do the job properly and to my satisfaction that they were allowed back in. So now they are going to have to remove the three stud wall plasterboard coverings, with the tiles still attached, and reboard the three bathroom internal walls before tiling over it all.
I hate having to do things like that, but one thing I won't stand for is bad workmanship, even though someone else is paying for it all.
So I will have to keep a close eye on this lot now, and they sure now know that I won't stand for any bad practices on my property.
It was only because of my planning in the first place, using stop taps on all feed pipes, that allowed them to take out all the normal bathroom fittings in less than an hour. Without those, it would have meant draining everything down and blanking everything off. I will now make sure that when they start to put all the new ceramics back in, in different positions, they do the same thing.
The best bit of fun I've had in ages.
John
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Funny ......we use the saying "Cowboy up!" to describe someone who through great adversity, stood up straight and got the job done.....right.
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Over here it means someone pretty rough and ready, with no real thought for consequences. The original meaning here tho' was the description of someone, usually an old, wore out, bloke that did the outside chores (including milking the cow) on the stations.
No comments about old, wore out, blokes please!
They look to be progressing pretty well John.
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How about old wore out dropbar's?
Keep em in line John!
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It is looking good John and I am pleased that it is making a difference. You deserve it after all the pleasure you have given us with your posts and advice.
I look forwardbto chatting with you on Skype when the smoke and dust clears.
Jim
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Excellent, John!!
Just wonderful.
This looks like just the thing to radically improve quality of life.
I say this a bit selfishly as you have been such a great help and inspiration, not only to me but to so many here and on other boards.
If the longer drives look like they may be possible, that will be excellent.
If more shop time is possible, that would be even better.
Looking forward to more progress pix.
All the best to you,
Stan
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John
Congratulations on your good fortune to live in a society that can manage to provide for all of its members, and to do it in a reasonable manner. We don't do it that way in this country. We should, but we don't.
I know that this will make a big difference in your life and I look forward to your return to this forum as a contributor of reason and thought.
Jerry
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What you all don't realise that while all this is going on, and ladies please excuse the language now, I will be standing in my kitchen, all over bare a**sed, first thing in the morning, in fact, today, in about an hours time, trying to give myself an all over scrub down. The sight will be enough to scare the dogs and cat to death.
Luckily, I still have a downstairs toilet as well, so I don't need to do everything in a bucket. :toilet_claw:
But it will be well worth it in the long run.
I was going to go down my mates house for a shower each morning, but I thought that, because he is on permanent night shift, it wouldn't be fair for me to keep him out of bed while I get myself cleaned up.
The battle continues with the cowboys in a couple of hours. :hammerbash:
John
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Hi Ho Silver
Yippy Ky Yo Ky Ya.
Oh Cisco
OK Pilgrim gimme the Jemmy
Nous frangois tout savoir sur la plomberie
Why do you ask Kemo Sabe?
Best Regards
Bob
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Actually Bob, the plumber is about the only good one amongst them.
He got more done yesterday than anyone else, and to a good standard as well.
John
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John.
That's good to read one out of ? is better than none.
Best Regards
Bob
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This may help
http://cheezburger.com/6588004608
Stan
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The main problem now Stan is that they have turned to water off for most of the day while they are doing pipework, so your redneck shower wouldn't work anyway, and besides that, I'm choking for a cup of coffee.
John
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Now THIS is more like it, doing the job correctly.
Remove ALL tiles, and plasterboard if necessary.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Firstfix%201_zps193c0208.jpg)
First fix of plumbing, heating, gas line and electrics. The main lights and extractor fan, plus the main shower pump are all wired up and running.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Firstfix%202_zpsc33d1250.jpg)
Now getting the walls ready for tiling.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Firstfix%203_zps88014291.jpg)
Things are now back on track. Colours chosen, all chrome fixtures and fittings are either on site or ordered, and they are now asking me where and what I want fitting.
Once the two main drains are in, they should be starting to contour the floor so that the water drains away correctly.
It's really nice to be working on a bit of a project again.
John
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I suppose one could say...
The bog will no longer be so standard. :naughty:
I'll get my coat now.
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rim shot please!
He's here all week folks! Order the meatloaf! :ROFL:
Dave
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Good on you there John
I am afraid to say this but with the current standards in the build trade when the start a job you have to get your foot on their neck and keep it there.
we once had a job done buy a long standing building firm , when i said that wall is not level the comment was " I will sort it before I get to ground level " he was as you guessed doing the footing , twice I told him I was not happy with this , when he arrived the next day I had give the wall the order of the boot ( size 12 )
Guess what the rest of the job was done correctly
Keep your eye one them John especially before they box it it up
Stuart
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Nice one Marv, a bit corny, but it worked, only, don't give up your day job. :toilet_claw:
Please don't encourage him any more Dave, as you know, as soon as Marv gets a light on, even though it might only be from opening the fridge door, he starts to perform.
Stuart, as you can see, the rules have been set, and they are now towing the line and working as a team. In fact, yesterday afternoon, there were five of them crammed in there, all merrily doing their jobs. :zap:
They all seem to be happy now, and if they are happy, then so am I. :pinkelephant:
Time to get a big jug of coffee made, just in case they turn the water off again.
John
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Really pleased you're getting stuff sorted out John, should make things a lot easier once it's all done.
All you need now is an iPad so you can continue posting while you're on the throne ... :naughty: :ROFL:
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OOOOOOOH Thanks for that image Eric..!
:ROFL: :ROFL:
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Shouldn't be a problem Dave, the iPad has an Olephobic Screen Coating so I expect poo won't stick either .... :LittleDevil:
Edit: :thinking: Am I allowed to say "poo" on the furum? :naughty:
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So the animals left yesterday, three days late, because of my keeping a good eye on them. Just the snag team to come back and finish off, a bit of gloss paint, set the timer on the extractor fan, mirror and window blind to hang, and one wall joint sealing to do.
So here are what I will call the finished product.
A little different to when you last saw it.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished1.jpg)
The power shower, absolutely great, with the pump on full, it nearly takes my skin off.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished2.jpg)
How they made the full cubicle, a stud wall.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished3.jpg)
And the way they have set the floor, the whole room could drain down into this outlet.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished4.jpg)
And the power behind the scenes, the biggest pump they could fit for this unit.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished5.jpg)
And a little closer.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished6.jpg)
The khazi in the corner.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished7.jpg)
Finally, the watering hole.
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/bogstandard_photos/Later%20pics/Finished8.jpg)
Coupled with my stairlift, these items have really transformed my life.
Just got to get the whole house decorated before Christmas. Again, I am getting someone else in to do that, so I should be able to get back to my shop soon.
All I need now is a new car to tootle about in as I can drive a lot better now I don't have the pain. That is a job for this afternoon, I'm going down to order one.
The Sportage '3', 1.7 diesel in black.
http://www.kia.co.uk/new-cars/range/suvs-4x4-cars/new-sportage/profile.aspx
John
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John,
Looks good to me, please tell me more about the power shower. I have never heard of let alone seen one before today.
Best Regards
Bob
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Power showers are devices designed to pump mains water at hgher than normal in order to use up the entire contents your hot water tank in the time it takes you to have your shower ;D.
John: there should be a pressure regulator switch on the pump, see if you can get the snagging team to turn it down. It will save you money on your water heating bills :ThumbsUp:.
I must say very nice.
Jo
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Looks fantastic John.....but....power shower, new sportage, shop....might make for more decisions on where to spend time :) I am happy for you though.
Bill
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Looks great! Don't they use copper piping in the UK any more? It's still pretty much standard in the US.
Simon
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Bob,
My one requires a pump to give pressure to all the jets at the same time if needed. All I have to do is rotate in front of it and point the handset down at my feet, instant scrub down.
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/triton-unichrome-thermostatic-3546-13510
Jo,
It was turned down when they called today, it is now a lot more civilised towards my skin.
Bill,
I am hoping to restart my life in the new year, I haven't had a holiday for a few years, so the car is for continental touring. My 10 year old Suzuki is still good, but I wouldn't trust it for really long journeys.
Simon,
They have been using plastic piping with instant couplings for a fair number of years now, but they still use a lot of copper for non accessible areas, but it is getting very expensive nowadays. Eventually, for houses, I think it will all be plastic, so simple to install.
John
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Simon
You can still get copper and iron tubes here in Denmark, but no one uses them in new installations any more. It takes a fraction of the time to assemble the new plastic systems, they last more than twice the years the metal ones do and you don't have to insulate them quite as much to avoid heatloss or condensation :Love:
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Power showers are devices designed to pump mains water at hgher than normal in order to use up the entire contents your hot water tank in the time it takes you to have your shower ;D.
Just for the record Jo in the UK it is illegal to put a pump on mains water, I suspect bogs pump draws water from a gravity fed system eg cold tank in loft and hot water cylinder. If John has a combi boiler or Megaflow type hot water then what they have done is a no no.
Looks good John, just don't point teh jets towards your tender bits :noidea:
J
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Just for the record Jo in the UK it is illegal to put a pump on mains water,
:o Looks like my power washer for the car is illegal then.
Jo
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Well, there is illegal and illegal, isn't there. In Aus, or at least in NSW, it is still technically illegal to generate electricity BUT just about everyone has a small generator for emergency or camping and the govt pays silly subsidies to people putting power back into the grid via their solar gens. Go figure????
Great job on the bathroom John - I am insanely jealous, in fact!
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Congratulations John.
A new bathroom is a new lease on life.
I like the straight walk in to the shower. Worse thing in the world is a toe stub first thing in the morning when your mind and body is ready for blissful enjoyment.
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You're quite right Jason, I raised my cold water tank into my loft and tapped into my large copper hot water cylinder when I fitted my old smaller power shower about 7 years ago, so this one was dead easy for them to fit, all the hard work had been done. But this one, if you had a combi boiler installed, wouldn't need a pump.
Zee, you are spot on about stubbing your toes.
That was one of the problems with my old shower, because I can't raise my right foot when I am walking, but actually drag it along, I had difficulty climbing in and out of the old shower, even though it was only about 4" high, I kept banging my toes on the edge. OK when going about normal, I have shoes on to protect them.
I don't think people realise just how life changing something like this can be for a person with even a fairly mild disability, like myself, and as I have said before, the conversions I have had done has saved me two or three hours of intense pain EVERY day. That amounts to a lot less suffering when added up over a lifetime, or whats left of mine.
I won't be able to thank enough, the people who saw my problems and applied for the government grant for me to have this done to my house, so that I could stay there and retain my independence, and even my new car is being subsidised through a charity called Motability.
http://www.motability.co.uk/
Motability may not be right for everyone, but for my new lifestyle, it is perfect.
I know that there people from the UK on this site that maybe have worse problems than myself, and are suffering alone. My suggestion is to contact your local occupational therapist, and see if they can help, as they have done for me, all free of charge, and in my case, all in less than six months.
John