Crap weather for February!

[Macca]

looks like its ready to fall down. WE have an old hotel thats listed. no one will do it up as it would cost a fortune to do it the way they want and for the use its allowed. will they change their attitude? nope, they would rather it fall down and kill folk. pointless

Same here, they have just knocked down this old pub. Not sure how old but the red brick building to the right is 1869 and the pub is older. It closed in about 1998. Anywhere else this would be a listed building. Note it still has the original windows (the interior was all original too including the quarry tile floors). A great shame.

[Pigmy Pony]

Oh my God Marco, where did you dig that one up? My sister will go mental!

I remember when she was in her teens, and we were all at a christening or something, and my stepdad mentioned to my dad that Tracy was turning out to be a bonny young woman (he wasn't being pervy or anything), and my dad replied "Yes, she's the face of the eighties". My stepdad always referred to her as the Face of the Eighties until his dying day. These days she has the face of someone in their eighties.

[Marco]

Strange - you call UPVC an invention of the devil, but you're perfectly happy with all your "leather look" vinyl outfits!

Yes, but I only accepted them out of politeness, when you were clearing out your wardrobe, even though they were stretched to buggery [with 'questionable stains' in key places, especially on that pink catsuit with the 'peek-a-boo' crotch]. Not only that, but you pinched it back off me again for that swingers do in Adlington!

As an installer of UPVC windows doors and roofline, I should be taking the opposite view, but I won't. It's nice to see a home with well-preserved original features. Of course it is mostly a matter of taste, and older isn't necessarily better, as I'm sure you'll appreciate next time you're out in your Merc with the not-so-old car stereo blaring, or when you're watching your 4K giant telly.

Ah, so that's what keeps Anita in the style she's become accustomed to?

Yeah, I completely agree. Older isn't always necessarily best, the same as vice versa. When it comes to properties though, especially old ones with some history, they should always be kept as original as possible. And I wouldn't thank you for ANY form of mass-produced 'new build' from Barratt, or whatever (rows upon rows of squashed together, soulless 'dolls houses'), as for me they're an abomination...

With houses, I either like proper old, at least 100 years (as long as the property still has some/most of its original features), or ultra-modern 'hi-tech'. I dislike the stuff in between.

These are the types of windows we have throughout (pic taken when we were recently installing a new kitchen):



And when the kitchen was almost completed:





All individual leaded panes (with solid sandstone surrounds), done by hand by the chap [a true 'old school' craftsman, as constructing proper leaded windows now is a dying art] whose business I've linked to in my signature. Costs a bloody fortune to replace, if any are damaged.

Could you imagine UPVC in a period property like that? Doesn't stop daft door-to-door window salesmen trying their luck, though!

Marco.

P.S I love how you've grown your hair.

[Marco]

Oh my God Marco, where did you dig that one up? My sister will go mental!

I think that look has a certain unmistakable 'charm'.

Marco.

[Marco]

upvc here all round... may not be stylish but its clean, tidy, warm and low maintenance. not my house tho...

That's the point though, innit

Marco.

[struth]

bitter cold wind still even tho its 5c. goes right through you. still ive got milk again so im fine for a while . a trip to the hospita tomorrow is all thats on at moment for week.

[Pigmy Pony]

Looking very nice, and tastefully done. The Belfast sink's a nice touch, but they can be a bugger for breaking things in, if you're a bit clumsy! I'm assuming Del's the designer, and you were put in charge of the fridge magnets If I were visiting, I'd be tempted to shuffle them around, to mess with your head a little.

[Marco]

Looking very nice, and tastefully done. The Belfast sink's a nice touch, but they can be a bugger for breaking things in, if you're a bit clumsy! I'm assuming Del's the designer, and you were put in charge of the fridge magnets If I were visiting, I'd be tempted to shuffle them around, to mess with your head a little.

Ha - you assume wrong, mon ami... It was very much a joint effort, as it always is with these things. I'm into interior design (partly because of working with interior designers), as part of my job, and Del's always loved it. We designed the bathroom from scratch, too...

Entrance to my farting chamber (then a small hall, before getting to the actual bathroom door):




View [when pressing out one of my infamous 'torpedos']...




You should feel honoured!!






The fridge magnet thing is something I'd do to you

Marco.

[Marco]

Btw, the kitchen started off looking like this:







As you can see, it was a decent 'wee project'!

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

What's the shovel for in the bottom picture? Did you have to do your jobbies on the floor until the bog was installed? Seriously I think it all looks great, and totally in keeping with the building. However...

Those windows, nice as they are, look to be a triumph of style over practicality, and for probably 95% of us would have more cons than pro's - there'll be next to no insulation properties (I'm assuming they are single glaze) and unless the workmanship is absolutely first class would be a bit draughty too. I've no doubt your man has done a first rate job, and work done to that standard doesn't come cheap! Which brings me to another con:

A whole house of windows in QUALITY upvc could be done for half the cost (or less), and that, combined with the energy savings, would make it a no-brainer for most of us.

Just one pro: just look at them, they look great! And it were my house, and I could afford it, I would do exactly the same.

By the way, tiling the bathroom walls is a canny touch - painted walls would be peeling inside a month