Hello All,

I am sorry for not posting for so long.  It has been a busy summer doing…….mmmm well not so sure.  That said, I have done an interesting install today and will write it up later.  For now though, the latest news is this:

I have applied for a full time post at my local college. Why am I doing this after all this time on the fringes?  Well, in July I took a job working for a large national contractor on a shopping centre outside the city.  Of course, it is normal to be treated as a child with the obligatory 2 hour H&S induction.  This one though had a twist!  In line with the modern site, you now have to wear big gloves to protect yourself.

During the induction the big boss invited questions-so far.  As a doctor of 30 years experience, I have never worn gloves full time so asked how I was supposed to connect up a ceiling rose.  The answer was quick and decisive, “Not my problem”

When I eventually got out on site, I started to dwell on this……… I went out into the street for a fag and thought about how it had all changed in my time.  Little Hitlers, who know nothing about ‘work’ have banned music, smoking etc- now I had gloves and goggles on to connect little wires!

I put the fag out, took off the hard hat, popped on my helmet and moonwalked to my beloved Goldwing- (oh by the way no parking for workers either). I surprised my long suffering wife as I walked in and announced my formal retirement from the construction industry!

So now I will only entertain little jobs where Hitler cannot afford to be employed…… Somehow, I am sure I will survive with no gloves and radio 2 in the background.

So to today.  This post at college has been advertised nationally so I could be up against formidable adversaries.  The applications closed at 5pm this afternoon, so win or lose I promise to let you know….

Bye for now!

Alan

Hello all!

I was back in Ireland last week on a family visit and just went round to look at my sisters mansion!  I will have to finish that first fix sometime- a good excuse for another visit me thinks!

Anyways a couple of pics for you peruse this week….. The first concerns the difference in Irish regulations to ours.  Check out my mothers consumer unit…….

continue

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 wandering around the net recently and came across this little gem! When a trainee is coming to the end of his apprentiship he has to do a final trade test called “AM2″
A trainer I work for had the idea of a mobile test centre and here it is…… continue

As you may  know, I have been a “have tools, will travel” sparkie for most of my career.  I was clearing out a wardrobe the other day and uncovered this old picture.

It was August ‘98 and I was working on accommodation  blocks on an oil base in North Africa.
As I find more of these pics, I will post them, but for now……

The sweaty motley crew from left to right are…..

Kev – a plumber I think, perhaps from Oldham

Paul- a sparkie from Tyneside way

Ian- another sparkie from Manchester

Martin- a joiner from York way

Me!

Dominic- a plumber from Oldham

I would like to make contact with these guy again to see where they ended up- can you help?

Hi all,

Last week, my life took another turn…..

Last year the contracting outfit I worked for went pop in October. The training business attached to it closed the following March.  I had drifted away from these businesses last June as the writing was on the wall in my opinion.  Anyhow I have been busy since but went quiet this June. I then mailed one of my employers that I used to work for years ago ( yep, on the millenium dome, that long ago!) and asked if he had any work for an old sparkie.  To my pleasant  surprise, he welcomed me back and last week was spent in Manchester city centre installing dado trunking and  doing some minor works in offices.

The company is a young, competent and  forward looking outfit, and though they do not have a website, I put a link on for you…

Oh, how the mighty fall!

I thought that would get you interested!  Today I am discussing different studs, joint box studs! Last week A customer phoned me to finish off his lounge.  He had scabby wiring to a center light and four wall lights. He wanted these in the same places plus an extra light in his new feature fire place.Now the way all these modern fittings work, there is usually a shortage of space to fit all the wiring.  On top of this he is wiring a fancy sound system with speakers in the ceiling. Therefore I decided to wire it all to a joint box in one of these speaker holes. 

A bit tight but a real good job. Let me explain…… continue