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dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45385
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 20 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

well done with getting so far so quickly with the arrangements for the hall.

re lighting etc, ask the chap about the sound as well, im not sure of the size of hall but the two together will have a reasonable electrical load.

ie think of power for the lights and for the sound as a single load when working out if the present supply is adequate and safe to take say a working load 50kva extra(assuming you use low energy leds etc) but amps and such can have start up surges etc so supply needs to be able to handle that as well as the in use load.
if tis old style bulbs they eat power and need quite a lot of fat wires and a decent supply to the head.
re sound, having a PA suitable for general use is probably enough(5kva is more than enough for a couple of hundred people in a room), but remember that a lot of artists would bring their own amps etc and therefore the stage area needs a power supply that can feed a band's worth of stage sound equipment (a dedicated stage power supply is handy as it can be lock switch isolated when it is not required)
if needs be perhaps you can find a tame spark to go with your lighting chap?

ps the normal working load is likely to be a fraction of 50kva( 5 electric kettles) but even that might be too much to spur off the existing wires and boards.
i know such things can be a bit of a wormy can but tis better to sort it now rather than explain later

if you can get a small venue rig for an affordable price it opens up a lot of possibilities ranging from local am dram, bands or dancing(whatever style) to international artists looking to play a small rural venue.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 20 5:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

well I would have sworn I posted two days ago, but apparently not.

It was light the fire weather last night, and probably would be tonight too but I think I will just add a jumper.

Thanks for the heads up Dpack, I will ask him.

Meanwhile here in Tasmania the topic of the week is toilet paper. It has become quite frenzied. I finally laid my hands on an 8 pack this morning but, as I had to leave it in the ute all day as i drove someone to their appointment, I hid it in the footwell of the back seat, haha. I said to the checkout girl that it was my retirement fund which I would offer on Ebay for a fortune while tearing up rags for my own use.

The hall grant application stalled for a bit so I have chased up the chap who was supposed to be reviewing it for me, and he is now back on track.

Today's trip to Hobart went smoothly, and I even managed to get the shopping done. Now all I need to do is get it put away. It was hilarious in the toilet paper row - six boxes of facial tissues, four packets of toilet wipes and not a roll of toilet paper to be seen. I am looking forward to all the new recipes for toilet paper, because the canned goods row was devoid of shoppers. I actually do have something of a stockpile at all times at home because you never know when you are going to need some particular ingredient, so no panic buying for me. Even if the electricity fails I have more packets of dried beans than you could poke a stick at, and canned or bottled goods to make them taste tolerable.

Tomorrow I also have a friend coming up for lunch, so that will make a nice break in the general frenzy.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 20 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sadly reports of the toilet paper buying are coming in here too. I haven't been to look, as we have enough for a few weeks yet, and by the time I need some, I hope those that hoard will have run out of room. I mean, most houses only have so much room for it.

Because of the political uncertainty here I have been keeping my stocks of tins etc. fairly high anyway, so that we have enough to tide us over any initial trauma. I also managed to get my seed potatoes yesterday, so they are chitting up, and once it stops raining long enough for me to prepare a bed, I should be able to get the spring sown onion sets in the ground as well. More of the autumn sown ones are coming up, and with an onion and tinned tomatoes, you can make a lot of different things with a few herbs etc.

buzzy



Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 20 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mistress Rose wrote:
Sadly reports of the toilet paper buying are coming in here too. I haven't been to look, as we have enough for a few weeks yet, and by the time I need some, I hope those that hoard will have run out of room. I mean, most houses only have so much room for it.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..


Very true, but... The house that I lived in as a teenager had a downstairs loo that had clearly been converted from some other use. It was just wide enough for the WC, but about fifteen feet long and the far end was cut at an angle and shelved from floor to ceiling. I tried to encourage my mother to stock those shelves with packets of toilet paper (not for hoarding purposes but just to make use of the shelves) but she never thought it was as good an idea as I did! Mind you, it was a very large house, and there will be plenty of room for hoarding anything you care to name!

Henry

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 20 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Guess I am lucky if I wanted to hoard lavatory paper, I have several unused out buildings! I just buy it when I need it. I bought some a few weeks back-a 4 pack-should last for me a few weeks I guess.

Not much to report, but I was away with friends at the weekend.

I went to the wood cutters farm and "chopped" wood all afternoon for them and me. By chopped I mean fed to the kindling machine we did well over 100 nets so pleased, but hard work! But when the girl on the other end had to go I ran it myself and that is a lot of running about but, I did all the outstanding wood that was already cut to length so the friends were pleased and I took 10 home for my customer. I am off there this pm too as the 2 farmers who have the business are both snowed under with lambing at around 1000 ewes between the 2 of them. They have separate farming interests but are together with the firewood.

So my visits here will be short for a while!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 20 8:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I tend to buy the pack that is the best value, so as that is often a 9 or 16 roll pack, we generally have enough for a good few weeks too.

Glad the kindling is going well Gregotyn. 1000 ewes lambing is going to take some getting through, even if most lamb quite happily on their own. I know they have to check the lambs and intervene if there are any problems, so a busy time for them.

Our firewood is still going strong. Not many loads, but log sacks still going well. We filled another 30 yesterday plus 10 of the reusable mini dumpy sacks. They don't seem to be going so well, but they are going.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 20 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Best value is always the best-but that is not always the cheapest with lavatory paper; enough said!

Regarding sheep and lambing, they are glad of me to help with the kindling, as it releases them to go round and check the stock. For me it is a bonus as I have wood when I have no saw. I still have found no any bearings yet. I will have to get someone who is "pooter savvy" to hunt some down for me or try a local shop or 2, but that is time wasted when I could be helping the friends and so earning nets of sticks from them. A bit catch 22 in reality.

I probably won't make tomorrow and go straight to the farm to get as much done for them (and me) as possible and have a session here on Saturday. My hope today is that the lad who cuts the trees into the 18" lengths has been at work. So I am now off into battle with the wood!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 20 7:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If you can earn enough nets to keep you going for a week or so Gregotyn, which by the sounds of it you should have done with all the work you have carried out for them for free, you will have time to look for the bearings. I expect your ladies at the library will show you how to do it, or even get your friends that you visit, or their children on the job for you. They might find a shop you can get to has them, or failing that, order them for you online.

The weather here yesterday was a little better. Just sudden hail showers, but they were pretty vicious. I went with son to deliver some log sacks in the afternoon down near the coast, and it was interesting to say the least. The road was flooded in two places; possibly a mixture of a very high tide with the wind behind it and rain. The first was draining into the sea, so wasn't as high when we came back. The second, round the corner, was a bit deeper and son was worried about driving off the road into the ditch, but I pointed out there was the odd marker each side, so keeping between them should keep him out of the ditch. That was deeper if anything on the way back, and a lorry had just gone through it at about 30mph. He stopped and warned us it was deep, but we knew we could get through, and a panel van followed us, at a far more sedate pace I should add. Adds interest to deliveries.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 20 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have spoken to a man who buys from us at work; he has a tractor franchise like us, but a different brand, but like us he services any make that comes his way. And he has asked a local man in Oswestry, if they can find any bearings so in the morning I may not get here as I will be doing Oswestry first thing to see if I can get any of the needed bearings. I will still be cutting wood, but for other projects besides, rather than kindling, though all 6 inch plus offcuts will be in the kindling department! They are not doing kindling today as they have to brash-out and chainsaw the trees into the right length-18 inches ready for the cross cut saw on the back of the tractor, where they are reduced further to 6 inches, and then a dumpy bag to the kindling machine, a bit of a journey but it works for them, I just fit in! Any large logs are split on the back of the tractor. All the man who takes off the cross cut does is decide on dry or to be dried!
It's good as I don't have to worry where the next stick is coming from.

We have had some wet too, but not as badly as you. There is one place where folks stop and wonder if it is deep. If I am there I tell them not to worry just second gear and slow with higher revs and I'll will pull them out if it goes wrong. It would not flood in that place if the farmer would not keep blocking up the exits into his field from the flooded piece, not much to go down over a period of rain "in bits" but a lot if you break his defences! How anti social the man is!!

One thing is certain if the council decide to have another meeting about the rates they will get it in the neck from me regarding potholes. Here there are holes 9 inches deep, I have put a traffic cone in one of them! At the present they seem to put the rates up every year, do nothing to the roads, and there are no extra services added unless you are on the dole; and raise council wages; I have friend who said there is no incentive to get a job, he is better off as he is not travelling anywhere and a few lawns to mow in summer and "lols" to help in the winter. I am not taking notice of Boris as I think he is too confident regarding things he is going to do, but I doubt if he will have enough money to do it. I guess you can tell where I think his brains must be! Life ain't too bad when you are a multi millionaire, I guess. I wouldn't know how to spend to his kind of money.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 20 7:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hope you get the bearings by your route. It often works if you know people who know people.

The problem is with the council tax that they are getting far less from central government and have barely enough to cover the essential services like child and adult welfare. Your council probably have miles and miles of country roads to cover and just don't have the money for the work.

Central government have responsibility for A roads and motorways, and those round our way are in pretty poor state. It was decreed not long ago that some of the holes in one of the main east-west routes were not potholes as they weren't deep enough. They were bad enough for motor cyclists to have to weave between them otherwise they would have come off, and for cars to get damage.

One of our winterbournes is up badly too making the ford along a back road now impossible. The road has been closed for a couple of weeks now, and still apparently, judging by posts on the local facefook page, people move the barriers and try to get through. I certainly wouldn't bother in a car as almost certain to get stuck, and it is flowing fairly well too, so sideways pressure on the vehicle and water coming up the side.

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 20 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The drongos who break down barriers to get across flooded fords are also the first ones to scream health and safety if they get hurt. If the water is up to your calves it's too deep to drive through and unless you KNOW there is no washaway it may well be deeper than you expected. Don't understand it myself.

I started yesterday with the intention of finalising the grant application, meeting with the builder for a quote and various other activities. By 8:30 I was running around getting dressed in fancy clothes however as the other volunteer driver had to be taken to the hospital for admission. She was also supposed to be taking someone down for a series of appointments so I was driving both of them. The series of appointments as due for completion by around 1.30 so I was still pretty confident I'd at least catch up with the builder, but unfortunately that was not to be. I messaged him at three and told him I hoped to be home by 4:30 but luckily that was not going to suit him as I did not eventually get home till seven last night. I was starting to run out of daylight to knit with. And the passenger lived in a village to the North of Oatlands so had to be delivered before I could get going. As it was I nearly missed the local shop so went there in the government car not mine, haha.

Today I caught up with Jose about the business plan, incorporated the notes prepared by Council's person into the grant application, cut some pieces of lumber up and am not enjoying a small fire as the weather has not gone into two figures today. But at least it's been sunny and not windy so not that bad really. Tomorrow Jose will sent me his words for editing and I will send my words to him for input and comment, then I will finalise the drawings (no-one on the committee has bothered with plan suggestions), and hopefully on Monday will be able to sit with the Council bloke and finalise all but the numbers which will have to await the builder. Wish me luck, because as the last driver standing all that may go to hell in a handbasket.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 20 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I thought that was what government cars were for, Cassandra, and also to be driven too fast with a sticker on the back quoting the status of the occupant, and how late they were due to other important business!

We are lucky here in that we haven't had serious flooding the worst for me is that a bit of water builds up in the cellar and goes away. Other than that the water from my fields above run down the drive very slowly, and cause no damage hit the land drain and go off to the river below my field 200 yards away. Most of people go into floods with the wrong attitude-fast and furious; you need to be positive but not race, high revs low gear works for me. One bad spot did loose half the road on a flat bridge as too much water was pressing on the base whilst trying to get through. Our road problem is that they are not doing the essential maintenance to roads properly. One council lad said to me "they give us the hand tools-shovel, pick and the tarmac; we fill the hole with tarmac and drive over it with the lorry to press it down! They have stopped putting the run of tar where the two sides of the layers meet in the middle of the road and so sealing the joint. When water gets there in winter it freezes and lifts the tarmac a bit each time, potholes developing afterwards as further erosion occurs due to traffic. The response is to put the rates up annually.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45385
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 20 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the best government cars have sharron and dave on the windshield, plenty of dents and the exhaust in the boot, you never notice them til "sharron"pulls a 9 and a flash bang

cassandra



Joined: 27 Mar 2013
Posts: 1733
Location: Tasmania Australia
PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 20 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If I were to do that I would spend the rest of my life completing paperwork in triplicate Gregotyn. They take dings and bumps very badly.

If you hear MI6 wants old cruddy cars they can buy mine for the right price Dpack.

I have had a fairly unproductive day - the bank is clean and sanitized, the market in town produced some beetroot and carrots which will be added to various other vegs to make a borscht variation, and I have persuaded the organising committee to cancel our Greens gathering next weekend on the grounds that what with Coronavirus and the fact most members in my electorate are in the 'at risk' and 'most readily disposable' category it would be a pity to have to start the branch from scratch in a few months time.

Things grant related have been studiously ignored so I expect I will have to do that this evening. The fire is laid, and ready to go if required - it's warm outside but indoors it's relatively chilly), and I am engrossed in Antiques Roadshow.

Our government has been shamefully focussed on conserving the economy at the risk of human life, but the one good thing they have done (to rescue the economy, not to be nice to poor people) is to offer us all a one-off payment of $750. Mine will be going on firewood, so I hope my woodman is up for the job. Of course we don't get it till the end of the month if not later, by which time it will be harder to get the wood and most of us will be dead anyway, haha.

It's interesting times we live in

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 20 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

There is supposed to be a Chinese curse of ' May you live in interesting times'. At the moment things are far too interesting! Not only have we got coronavirus but also an idiot prime minister who is determined to get us out of the EU by the end of the year regardless. The small fact that we won't get the help with shared information etc. to help with the epidemic doesn't seem to bother him. Of course being in his 50s, overweight, and not being known as teetotal might focus such mind as he has if he get it.

You seem to be very busy at the moment Cassandra. Good luck with it all.

In the UK, a number of cars won't even go through water as deep as you say, as the occupants would be getting wet feet and the air intake and exhaust would be under water. Our car had a fairly good road clearance, but I certainly wouldn't take it though anything much more than 6", even with your slow and high revs Gregotyn. The vans (utes) are a lot higher off the ground as they are 4 wheel drive, so pretty safe, although running water is always a problem as you have the sideways push.

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