Life in America - I made the move.

[WheelieDog]

One finger typeing on an iPad, frankmac beat me to it

[WheelieDog]

Aarg, that was a smiley, stupid tiny iPad icons!!!!

[Mr Zog]

My FOK Marelize… 

This morning I started off with the plumbing job, so as not to disturb the neighbours.

The old installation had the two little shut-off valves, the cold water shut-off had it's handle removed so that it would fit.

Eish.

I suppose the previous plumber was just too lazy to cut the old valve off and fit a new one just an inch further down the pipe. Or the job (installing the new vanity cabinet and wash basin) was done by a previous homeowner without much clue.

I had to remove the top drawer's side runner to get to everything. Then I removed the drain P-trap and associated piping. I took off the old flexible pipe from the valve to the tap up top, then I cut the copper pipe just behind the old valve. I cleaned up the pipe with some emery cloth. then I installed the new valve. The new valve has a compression fitting, so I didn't need to solder it on.

I did exactly the same for the second valve too, it was also missing it's handle. Then I installed two new flexible pipes from the valves to the taps up top, replaced the P-trap and associated piping, and checked for leaks after I turned the water back on. No leaks, that's a good thing   

I also noted that the inside of the pipe in the valve was very badly clogged with sediment. I cleaned out the pipe, the sediment was pretty loose, so it came out ok. Probably got stuck at the valve because of the restriction. The new valves gave brilliant water flow at the taps. nice! Now that wash basin has not just hot water, but cold water too 

pics...

1-3. The old shut-offs. Not the one on the right, right up against the drain pipe. 

4-7. The progress of the job until completed.

8-9. The blocked valve, and the old valves, without their handles. Makes shutting them off, or opening them impossible without tools.

[Mr Zog]

You'll note in the last pic above that the one valve was open, the other closed. The one that was closed was the cold water one, it could not be opened because the drain was too close... the mind boggles 


Anyways... after the plumbing I got back to the fence. I salvaged several more slats off the old fence, but after about two hours it was just too hot and the sweat in my eyes was burning them. So I called it "time" and got busy with other jobs...


I dug another hole. But this one was in the middle of the lawn, under the shade of the tree. So not as hot. Then I planted another 4" x 4" fence post. I checked it for level (verticals actually) and concreted it in. Then it got two eye-bolts. The tree got a single eye-bolt.

Can anyone figure out what I am going to be doing here? Answers on a postcard (which means I'll never get them thanks to SAPO    ), correct answers will get a virtual high-five   

[Mr Zog]

I chatted to Junior Zog on WhatsApp today, live video chat.

He told me that he had been to a Voortrekker Kamp this weekend, and they had some SAPS folks come and teach them about stuff. Like drugs, and stuff. And they got to play with some smoke grenades, and the cops even set off a couple of thunderflashes. Then the cops taught them about various grenades, and what to do and what NOT to do should they ever find one. Then they learned about fire extinguishers, and got to squirt some too 

He sent me the following pics of himself having fun.

LEKKER!

[Mr Zog]

I also got called out this afternoon, but it was a quick simple job, so didn't take me too long. But I'll go back tomorrow and install a  new pump for the customer. The old water pump is fubar, but I managed to get it running again just so they could have water. Installing the new pump tomorrow will save the customer around $100 in labour charges, the difference between normal hours labour rate and weekend rate...

This coming week I will also be away, twice. Tuesday and Wednesday I'll be up in Ocala, about 2.5 - 3 hours North West of us. I'll be attending a training seminar on advanced water purification. Should be a good one. Staying over at a motel in Ocala Tuesday night.

Then I'll be going back to Lakeland again Thursday and Friday to do the second phase of the job that I started a couple of weeks ago. Lakeland is about 2.5 hours West of us, and I'll be staying over in a motel again.

Eish. So I guess that means that I'll not be posting here much during that time. But if anything interesting happens I'm sure that Mrs Zog will keep y'all informed 

[Fudmucker]

Hmmm...
What needs to be attached at three places and removed again to cut the lawn?
A triangular flag like a pennant?
Hmmm...


So do you get to come home between Ocala and Lakeland?

[Welsh]

Watch out for those twisters Zog, looks like they are having some big ones up in Alabama😎

[OomD]

Enjoy your time lazing in the hammock 

[TeeJay]

Enjoy your time lazing in the hammock 

+1 

[alli]

Can anyone figure out what I am going to be doing here? Answers on a postcard (which means I'll never get them thanks to SAPO    ), correct answers will get a virtual high-five    :3some

SPACE - Z rocket launcher !!!

[silvrav]

Must be a jumping rope for Maggie 

[Mr Zog]

Enjoy your time lazing in the hammock 

HIGH FIVE! 

When I was still back in SA I made a hammock for the back stoep of the house we were renting. When we packed up 3 years ago I put it on one of the two pallets we brought over. Since then it has remained rolled up and unused.

Until this coming weekend... 

ps. I put two eye bolts in the post so that I could either hang it low or high...   

pps. My bags are packed, tomorrow morning I'll be off before sunrise for Ocala. 

[OomD]

Enjoy your time lazing in the hammock 

HIGH FIVE! 
<...>

Yay! I win the internet 

[JoeR]

But then we would like to see an evidence photo of you in the hammock..if it resists you ;-)

[Fudmucker]

How deep is it buried in the ground?
Hammocks exert a serious amount of lateral force,
especially if there is more than one person in them...!

[woody1]

You cannot fall deeper than 6 feet under.....

[Karel84]

Mr Zog, on the subject of hammocks, do you know of any specific way to weave nylon strapping to make a diy hammock? I've searched YouTube, but without any luck.

Sent from my SNE-LX2 using Tapatalk

[Mrs. Zog]

especially if there is more than one person in them...!

Mr. Zog + Mrs. Zog + Maggie + Sammy... 

[Mr Zog]

especially if there is more than one person in them...!

Mr. Zog + Mrs. Zog + Maggie + Sammy... 

Nope 

It will be just me, and maybe Maggie....     

Fudmucker, I buried it around 4 feet deep, then concreted it in. That was the deepest I could dig with my post hole digger. If it starts to tilt over then I'll have to reconsider the arrangement, but I think it will be fine. 

I got back this evening from Ocala. On the way up I stopped at the local equivalent of a Ultra City for a pee break. Below is a pic of the name of the stop. I think I may have been in Indian Country 

I learned a whole lot about water purification and a certain brand of water filter. I also learned a whole lot about Reverse Osmosis too. And because I was clever and answered a trick question in the class correctly I won a $25 gift card from the vendor teaching the class 

On the way home the boss called and told me that the trip tomorrow to Lakeland has been postponed, probably until Monday or Tuesday. I'm ok with that, I wasn't looking forward to going away twice in the same week.

I was hoping to go fishing this weekend, but with the severe cold snap we are having right now I think the fish will be off the bite, and I also have a shit-ton of stuff to do at home too...