Ian and helga go south !!

[ianthebuilder]

Oh and hello all !!! I had a near death experience yesterday and I would like to share!! Lol. I was doing a bit of making good inside the finca with sand and cement, the roof rises from about 7 ft one end to about 15 ft the other. I had to get some muck round the steel at the top end so I got jo's ladder out, it is one of those small ones that every step extends,, to about 10 ft high, Well I set the ladder against the wall and proceeded to climb, I had in my left hand a pointing trowel and a hawk with the muck on ( for those of you that don't know, muck is a wet mix of sand and cement) I got to the required height and was about to start pointing, I had the hawk in my left hand, trowel in my right and I was comfortably set on the ladder ! I started to point and as I had to stretch out to fill a hole I felt the ladder move!! When I looked down I realised I had put the ladder on some plastic sheeting that was on the floor! Now as I was looking thinking this might not be good the ladder slowly but surely started to slide away from the wall at the bottom meaning I was getting lowers and lower from the top!! As the bottom got further from the wall the plastic sheet helped it get quicker!! The only thing that saved me from certain death was the finca walls are extremely roughly finished and built with large stones sticking out, but this in turn caused another problem. The ladder started to bounce down the wall. Now as I have a strong instinct for survival and love life( especially at the moment) I did what only I can consider to be a instinctive move. I tried to hold on to the wall with both hands having abandoned my tools to there own fate 15ft up!! ( each man for himself). !! Now this resulted in my bouncing on the original rung of the ladder with both feet, and tearing the skin from my hands as I tried to get a grip oft what seemed to be a wall full of razor blades!!! All the while getting closer to the ground !! So I abandoned the ladder with about 4 ft to touchdown and landed in a heap on a bag of cement and the old dogs bed Jo had moved( fortunately he wasn't on it). Well I was amazed to still be alive and the only injury I have is a cut thumb from feverishly tearing at the wall for grip!! But I would like to add that on the way down when I thought it was all over my life didn't flash before me as they say but what actually happened made me shower and change immediately! What a day. Xxx

 

[Judge Mental]

Need to read up on working at height regs.......work smart work safe!

 

[Puddleduck]

Geeze Ian........

Get yourself some ladder steadies at the VERY least.

 

[32143]

Love reading your stuff, you should compile a book.

Lin

 

[moulin 87]

In our area of France, over the last 15 years, the local doctors refer to any ladder accident injuries as the 'English Disease', following the number of times expats, either over enthusiastic DiYs or overly complacent 'experts', try to defy the laws of gravity...

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[Zilevets]

Loving the stories you do make us chuckle!

Liz

 

[ianthebuilder]

Love reading your stuff, you should compile a book.

Lin

If I only knew where to start!!! My life in the last year has been a comedy of errors Lin ! lol

 

[reckless]

I wish it was a villa. It's a shed in a field !!! Lol

Yes Ian I realised afterwards!

But you're transforming it into a luxury residence.

 

[Puddleduck]

Loving the stories you do make us chuckle!

Liz

If I only knew where to start!!! My life in the last year has been a comedy of errors Lin ! lol

Just put everything you have written here already as one episode after another. A good editor will be able to sort the rest

 

[ianthebuilder]

I was building a shower for Jo today,at least I have done the frame, plasterboard etc and it is an indoor one. Wopieee, I came to an abrupt stop though when Jo came back after going out for some pipe etc to tell me that everywhere was shut for a fiesta!! Still had a nice fry up and a kip this afternoon ! Very relaxing,,

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[ianthebuilder]

Yes Ian I realised afterwards!

But you're transforming it into a luxury residence.

Lol. Hardly luxury reckless lol. But at the worst it will be practical, safe, warm and dry with a few mod cons!! It can't be any worse than her sleeping on a concrete floor, like she was and still waiting for all the supposed help from so called friends!!!!!

 

[Anthea M]

I was building a shower for Jo today,at least I have done the frame, plasterboard etc and it is an indoor one. Wopieee, I came to an abrupt stop though when Jo came back after going out for some pipe etc to tell me that everywhere was shut for a fiesta!! Still had a nice fry up and a kip this afternoon ! Very relaxing,,

Well earned nap! Haha shouldn't laugh but the ladder episode is nearly as funny as the shower! Well not really ,glad you were safe ! Look forward to the next instalment !it is the way you tell it!

 

[Al-Di]

But is the ladder ok

 

[ianthebuilder]

But is the ladder ok

Haha. It lives to flight another day !! Lol

 

[Irishrover]

For what it's worth Barclay, I have had houses in Spain since 1986 and in my experience it is much better to use local Spanish builders than ex-pats (with apologies to Ian who seems like a good guy). The Brits tend to rip you off, don't do as good a job and are not as reliable as the Spanish.

Mike

I have a place in Torreviega and 100% agree with your view on using local Spanish builders....Top work and price's are right on the money...

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[ianthebuilder]

I have a place in Torreviega and 100% agree with your view on using local Spanish builders....Top work and price's are right on the money...

If the builders are as helpful and know there stuff as well as the builders merchants I am using then I'm sure your right Irish, just goes back to the fact that there's good and bad everywhere, in every walk of life!!

 

[ianthebuilder]

Good man Ian , im sure that the lady must be thinking that her luck has turned at last , dont give up on the online dating , i had a couple of horrendous ones too , but i went out with date no 13 and hit it off right away , the whole online dating can be a minefield but there are genuine people out there you just have to look , BTW im now living with date no13 and we are buying a MH together

Hi laird. I wonder if there's any Spanish dating sites worth a try? Lol. I wonder if I could handle a senorita with the Latin temperament ? Lol.

 

[gus-lopez]

I was building a shower for Jo today,at least I have done the frame, plasterboard etc and it is an indoor one. Wopieee, I came to an abrupt stop though when Jo came back after going out for some pipe etc to tell me that everywhere was shut for a fiesta!! Still had a nice fry up and a kip this afternoon ! Very relaxing,,

lol, Yes the main event yesterday "los Reyes" .The day they traditionally give the presents out.

You should have just waited until the ladder was a bit nearer the floor & stepped off.

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Hi laird. I wonder if there's any Spanish dating sites worth a try? Lol. I wonder if I could handle a senorita with the Latin temperament ? Lol.

Well you never know ,I do hear that they use sissors on unfaithful husbands

 

[appydaze]

it). Well I was amazed to still be alive and the only injury I have is a cut thumb from feverishly tearing at the wall for grip!! But I would like to add that on the way down when I thought it was all over my life didn't flash before me as they say but what actually happened made me shower and change immediately! What a day. Xxx


Hi Ian, Did you shout out the name of that red Indian on the way down? Best wishes, Pat

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[Tincataylor]

Well you never know ,I do hear that they use sissors on unfaithful husbands

...................do they need a hair cut?.....................

The Tincas

 

[ianthebuilder]

Beautiful day amongst the olive trees !! Just waiting for some materials to turn up!! I'm having a bit of a reflective day today, funny how the brain works innit? I am really finding my time well spent here and it got me to thinking ,, if I was doing the same thing back home I would be chasing the almighty dollar, making sure enough was coming in to cover all and sundry, I don't think I have ever really relaxed while working for a living in uk And been able to appreciate all the work, money, customers, life etc that have come my way!! I have been lucky to have had what I have needed from working in the past few years but I think I have been too busy working to make any real money that I have always thought I needed!!! Oppertunities always seemed to pass me buy while I was working down one hole or another, lol. And now not earning much I feel like I'm getting more out of life, if that can make any sense? So I have come to the decision or conclusion that I will spend as much of my time on the Spanish mainland hopefully being able to help people out,,, if you or anybody you know who is here or there and needs a hand or a job doing they maybe can't afford to pay top money for please let them know that I will go anywhere with helga to help if I can !!! I'm sure Jo can't be the only one who needs a bit of support and help these days!!!! Chat later. Ian xxx

 

[appydaze]

Your right Ian, life is not all about the mighty dollar or Euro. I'm sure you will pick up loads of work from recommendations. And, as long as you can live the good life along the way, how bad is that. I worked on the building sites in mid winter in England, its not funny. If you can make a life in the sun go for it. Good luck in all you do. Pat

 

[Puddleduck]

And now not earning much I feel like I'm getting more out of life, if that can make any sense?

A simpler life perhaps?

It's the difference between what you need and what you think you want........

I love having time to do what I want - or not do anything. Luckily for me I have enough money to buy what I class as essentials plus a few luxuries.

 

[scousebird]

So I have come to the decision or conclusion that I will spend as much of my time on the Spanish mainland hopefully being able to help people out,,, if you or anybody you know who is here or there and needs a hand or a job doing they maybe can't afford to pay top money for please let them know that I will go anywhere with helga to help if I can !!! I'm sure Jo can't be the only one who needs a bit of support and help these days!!!! Chat later. Ian xxx

That's a lovely offer to make and I hope there will be some work coming your way.

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[Badknee]

Your a top man Ian and that's a top idea. I'm sure that you will get enough work to finance your needs and tide you over till the next job comes along.
There's a lot of people on here that are loving your tales and taking note of the brilliant job your doing( well apart from flashing in the shower and putting finger nail marks on a wall as you fell down to earth with a bump) and word will soon get out about you in a good way of course.

 

[ianthebuilder]

evening all,, I had a good day today, 23 degrees and I was tiling the finca floor( floor no 2). It looks good I think and Jo is happy! She has started a blog on here Facebook page as well. The page is called Do this or die!! Quite a catchy title I thought! Lol. And it's available for anyone to read I think and she will be posting lots of pictures! ( I don't cause I'm too busy working) lol. And it will give you her side of the story I'm sure... I read the latest posts and thank you all for replying, I have I think a good week left here because I want to give Jo as little to do but paint when I'm gone!! I will when I leave here be looking for a site to stay on for a week or so , so I can catch up on my chores etc. And have a proper weeks holiday! I am in tortosa and I want to head towards Portugal on the other side of Spain, and I don't want to drive for hours so any suggestions will be gratefully accepted!! I don't even mind doing a couple of sites for a few days each! I would like electric but washing machines are a must!! Lol. Well I had a good day at work as I said but did have a bit of a drama with my emptying of cassette toilet!! I will not embellish but Jo has got a little old dog who is blind and deaf, he's a lovely little thing and he has taken a shine to me.. Well he followed me today or rather he was following the wheelbarrow I had the cassette in, cause it squeaks!! Well I have a spot on the edge of jo's land and it happens to be near the edge of a 40 ft drop into a dry river bed! Well I was digging a bit of a hole through the rocks etc , now hole was dug, put shovel down and saw dog having a sniff round about 20 ft away from me! As I proceeded to pour contents of cassette into hole I noticed the dog was skipping boldly towards the edge of the cliff!! Well I had a decision to make,, could I make the dog before he careered over the cliff!! Well I was off like a hair !! I was getting closer with every leap and stride but had neglected to drop the open cassette! Well you can imagine. I was panicking about loosing the dog over the cliff and there was shit flying everywhere!! Well this is where I was lucky. I grabbed Tyson by the collar with just 18 to go till certain death and as I checked myself for remnants of toilet I was very glad to say I got away with it, cassette was empty now But as I turned round to get the yellow cap something must have been just hanging about in the neck tube!! I looked at the dog and he had a turd on the side of his face!! I couldn't stop laughing,, that's justice I thought I saved his life and then I shat on him!!!!! Good job he's blind he wasn't happy !! Lol. Oh and I cleaned him up before I took him back!!

 

[Figaro]

Stunning.....could only happen to you. That could have taken some explaining !
Another story for the book ?

 

[Anthea M]

Love the story it will go down a treat with all the Funsters who like to debate where and how to deposit waste responsibly!!!made my day! Sounds like you are having a great time and that after all your hard work you can have a holiday . Lots of people on here will know where to go if you are chasing the sun . Enjoy and keep posting!

 

[ianthebuilder]

Haha figaro Always something for the book!! Lolol. If it didn't happen to me I wouldn't bloody believe it!! Ha

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