Hi Everyone,

Last week I dusted off the tools and went back over to my local Royal British Legion.  They are fed up with soaring electricity costs so asked me to put the toilet lighting on motion detectors.  It was nice little job so I took a few photos for you.

The first thing is SAFETY FIRST! Just because it isn’t school or you’ve been doing this for years you must follow your safe isolation procedure. I have pulled the fuse for the lights and checked for ‘dead’ there.  I am now back at the mains checking the lamp.  By the way I am in the building alone so not locking off the whole mains is not required, I am perfectly safe.

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Hello everyone,

This week’s chit chat is about education.  As we know the economy is in tatters so cuts have to be made.  The Government have decide to scrap the NVQ system changing it to a new system called QCF.  ”So what?” I can hear you say.  Well Government funding is to be withdrawn unless you are in the trade on an apprentiship.  This means my days are probably numbered in my local FE college.  I work through an agency so I feel I am walking on thin ice!  As a writer and teacher I am not match fit but will be OK once I get back in the groove.  So has anyone anything they need bodging fixing up

Hello all,

I was teaching this week and the fire alarm guy was round servicing the big panel in the entrance hall.  The panel sits there with no wiring showing, so it must be wired from “round the back” so to speak continue

Hi All,

Now the title of this blog has your inquisitive juices flowing let us proceed with gusto!

I went over to Northern Ireland this week-end to visit an old school chum. On the day I was leaving I was stood outside a cafe in a little town and found something for you!  Firstly you may remember this……

For those from another planet or below 25 this is Hilda Ogden posing with a picture of her beloved Stan and her treasured flying duck mural in the background! So then how could I make the link in “busman’s holiday mode”……. continue

Hi All,

All of my career, so far, I have always been struck by the two distinct strands that exist in our field……

• Those that “write” about how to do it
• Those that actually “do” it

As you know I am a new writer and have set out on a one man mission to put all this nonsense right! Now the “Part P Doctor, Second Fix” has been safely launched I am trying to squeeze some time to do other books! My next project will be to show the rookie (or rusty pro) all I have learnt in 30 years on tips and tricks to do with installation.

As all my regular readers are aware I also do quite a lot of teaching these days which leads me on to this weeks blog.

The college, where I lecture have decided to launch a new short course called “The fundamentals of inspection and testing” which is also known as the 2392 ……… continue

Hi All,

As well as being a little contractor, part time teacher, small time author, good father and husband ………in my spare time I also help people out where I can. My local Royal British Legion asked me to fit a new time clock for their old central heating system after having a few problems.  I nipped round yesterday…..

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Hello All!

It is now a few weeks since we launched the “Second Fix”.  Sales have been very brisk with no advertising thus far!  Anyhow, now it is time to get down to brass tacks.  This page is my open surgery where I shall take all questions or comments on the book, or anything else that takes your fancy, electrically speaking!  I’m waiting……

Best wishes

Alan