So I just got confirmation from the local authority that I can build a workshop in my garden exactly where I want it.
Normally I wouldn't need permission for this as it's below a minimum size that requires planning permission, but because of the strange fact that my house is effectively built back to front means I had to get permission. *The back door of my new house is actually the front door!?!? XD
In the UK you need planning permission to build a shed in front of a house but not behind it. It's all pretty confusing! XD
But the good news is I can go ahead with it whenever I want without needing any other checks or permission.
I won't be building it until I live there, whenever that is, but it's good to know it won't be a problem.
Well there was a little power cut last night and the server rebooted. That's ok, it can cope with that. However I had fucked up my openvpn configuration, from months ago, and accidentally left my client connection details in the wrong place. On rebooting those client connections kicked in and caused the server to be unreachable. I didn't know that was the problem and have spent hours trying to figure it out. Problem is now identified and fixed.
Just another 'Go Fuck Yourself' from the universe :/
Today I have undertaken surgery on my original MX Ergo to replace the switches which had become a little trigger happy.
I'm pleased to announce the surgery has been a complete success. The original Omron switches have been removed and replaced with higher quality Kalih GM 8.0 switches which are quieter and will last much longer.
The patient is now fully recovered and back to work.
The site might be down for a while from the 15th depending on how much the phone company fuck up switching me to a new internet provider. Hopefully it all goes smoothly and you won't notice anything... ...but past experiences suggest it could be a bumpy ride.
It's normal for the DPC (Damp Proof Course) to be above floor level with a solid (Concrete) floor but with a suspended wooden floor it should be below the joists, not above!
This is the damp problem in my new house I have to fix. It's very unusual, in the UK at least, to have suspended wooden floor and solid on the ground floor level of a house. This is why the DPC is wrong for the timber floor side. The reason my house is like this is because it's built on a hill and they clearly couldn't be bothered with getting lots of infill to do all solid floors.
I will have to replace the floor joists and fit them on hangers instead of fitting them in to the brickwork. I will also be adding tanking (a cement based slurry) that will waterproof the brickwork from the DPC down to just below the joists which will protect them from moisture in the brickwork. I'll insulate between the joists too. Hopefully the existing floorboards can be reused.
On the concrete & tile side I'll take up the tile and paint a damp proof membrane (DPM) on to the surface and up the wall to the DPC. I'll then add a thin insulating board and thin tiles on top.
Cold as fuck in the UK, -9 last night. We had some snow last Sunday which is still around because it's not warm enough to melt. Makes a change from the bizarrely warm weather in the autumn.
I got a letter today from my local council to offer me £50 to help with my energy bills as I'm ill and unable to work.
Very nice! That will be very helpful... ...Oh, wait. I must have photo ID and I must go to a post office within 7 days to get it. Most people in the UK who don't currently drive don't have photo ID, that would be me. I also have no way of getting to a post office. Also why limit it to 7 days?
The letter says I should email the council if I have questions, so I have. I received an automated response telling me that they are very busy and will try to respond to me within 21 days!?!
Most of the people being given this money will never be able to get it!
This is life in Conservative Britain.
Give with one hand and take it back with the other!
The server had been misbehaving again, although it didn't affect this website at all. I had both raid arrays drop a drive and refuse to re-sync. I don't understand why but I think the controllers in the external drives I was using for my back raid arrays were causing issues. Luckily the external drives are just internal drives with a sata controller attached and sealed in a plastic box. I removed the drives and have fitted them in pairs in to 2 drive docking stations. Thankfully they now resync and work as they should, at least for now.
I also had an issue with the second ethernet controller. It refused to work so I replaced it. The replacement refused to work so I put the original one back in and it works great!?! I don't understand why but I don't have much time so I'm happy with it! XD
And now I can get back to trying to move house... ...the long wait continues :/
...Now both my parents are gone it's time to sell the old family home, which I live in, and buy something with my share.
I have a buyer already which is awesome, and I got a got a good price too. So that's working out great...
...But trying to find a house to buy that meets my needs and I can afford, holy fuck it's hard :/
People are buying and selling houses at crazy speed and it's impossible to keep up. I'm going to look at a house tomorrow which would be perfect for me. I can afford the asking price and a little bit over, but I'm fairly sure it'll go for more than I can afford.
I'm having to consider houses 50+ miles from where I currently live just to try to find something!?!
This is why I've been neglecting the site lately, sorry about that.
Hopefully something works out for me soon because this is so stressful :/
I have many excellent Logitech devices, MX Master 3 Mouse, 2x MX Ergo Trackball, MX Keys Keyboard. I need a new keyboard for my little HTPC in my bedroom so it made sense to get another MX Keys keyboard. This time I got the mini version so it takes up less space.
BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM!
It doesn't work with the unifying receiver like all the other devices! No, this is a 'business' keyboard so it requires a Logitech Bolt receiver !?! The 2 receivers are not compatible in any way and all devices will only work one or the other, never both!?!
But there's more. The MX Keys Mini, unlike all the other logitech devices I have didn't even come with the receiver! It's an extra £20!
I could just use it with Bluetooth except for the fact that when I need to make a choice on the bootloader screen bluetooth isn't enabled.
I think I'll just return the fucking thing and get the full size MX Keys that will do everything I need for the same price!
