going rate?

[Parm]

what was it actually like out there ? I’ve only really seen what you see on the news and on dramas and from that I wouldn’t want to set foot in the place. But the reality is often quite different. Bit like St Paul’s in Bristol . If you are of the right age , you wouldn’t want to stop on your way through such as it’s reputation, but we’ve had some cracking nights there in the past if you know the right people

Yep, it was Ramadan when I was there, the oil installation was in the dessert. Part of my job was to speak with the locals.

I was guest of honour at three villages, to watch the goat being slaughtered

Other than that, I’m a West London lad. It was safer of on the streets of Irbil than Hounslow

 

[addjunkie]

We had 24/7 close protection and the Kurdish Peshmerga with all thier big toys outside the installation.

It was scarry but fun, I’d go back in a heartbeat.

The novelty would have worn off quite quickly, if bullets were flying in your direction. But I do understand what you mean.

One of my ex collegues is working in that area at the moment, they crew changed in a private jet, to get them in due to this lockdown thing.

 

[8ob]

I think I would just give them worst case scenario of say it could be upto a week, A couple of days or just a day etc

If it gets done sooner, Then they think your doing them the favour

Too many people think your ripping them off, When they clearly have no understanding of the real working world

There is that,it takes many years to build up mutual trust between a client and tradesman. I am really lucky with the ones I have on board, they throw monster projects at me now and just pay the bills with no questions asked. They know that if they asked for a breakdown of costs that it would tally to the penny, its a mutual trust neither side would break.

Bob

 

[Parm]

The novelty would have worn off quite quickly, if bullets were flying in your direction. But I do understand what you mean.

One of my ex collegues is working in that area at the moment, they crew changed in a private jet, to get them in due to this lockdown thing.

Probably a greater chance of getting randomly shot or stabbed in West London than in Irbil. We went out a few evenings (against orders), I felt much safer there than in West London, "normal" folk were incredibly friendly.

Its just the loon bags that ruin it for everyone, but that's the same everywhere

 

[tom2207]

Probably a greater chance of getting randomly shot or stabbed in West London than in Irbil. We went out a few evenings (against orders), I felt much safer there than in West London, "normal" folk were incredibly friendly.

Its just the loon bags that ruin it for everyone, but that's the same everywhere

You can find trouble in most places if you go looking for it ,,,,
My grandad used to say ,,, never trouble trouble , till trouble troubles thee. ... and he and turned a few corners and certainly knew what was what.

 

[Wedg1e]

I
Geezer came round the house this morning in a brand spanking new Mercedes Vito, top of the range, to repair my sisters phone.
This was about 12 o clock and he had done 6 phone screens already this morning.

£129 a pop, 20 minutes a screen.

in the wrong game

He only charges that because people will pay it.
If everyone said to hell with it and put the £129 towards a new phone he'd be out of a job.

 

[tom2207]

He only charges that because people will pay it.
If everyone said to hell with it and put the £129 towards a new phone he'd be out of a job.

But ,, if the screen units costing say 99 quid , it changes everything , its that know your costs thing.

No point in knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

In fairness, I ought to point out she is recently divorced and fit as f***. Obviously I don't let that influence me at all...

 

[tom2207]

View attachment 229046

Just dont get caught taking them ,,,,

 

[Wedg1e]

The SECOND anyone says "and if you do a good job of this there will be loads more" I lose instant interest and I will not be doing it. The translation of this is "I want you to do this for free as a test" or just simply, you are not getting paid.

Looking at this from the other side of the fence... if I, as a customer, need something doing (and probably quickly) then while I may not promise to find the supplier more work, I will certainly put them top of the list if there's a next time.
Supplier gives me hassle, grief and chew, they don't get used again. Two examples: a machine shop in Middlesbrough who kept back-heeling every job I gave them, hasn't had any work from us for well over a decade - and we build some expensive systems.
Another one, powder-coaters right on the doorstep decided he didn't fancy doing 'those bits of crap' that my van was full of, not only hasn't done anything else for us but when I get asked for recommendations for powdercoating wheels etc. I just cite his 'customer relations skills' as reason not to go there.
Both are still in business, but I wouldn't miss them if they weren't.
In contrast, the machine shop we use (QRS in Hartlepool, 01429 891300) and the powdercoaters (Motorcool in Thornaby 01642 616746) are fantastic in all aspects

Spot the difference...

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

He only charges that because people will pay it.
If everyone said to hell with it and put the £129 towards a new phone he'd be out of a job.

That's about what I spend on a recon phone every few years

 

[tom2207]

Its true , the people you phone last on the current job do tend to be the ones you call first on the next.

 

[tom2207]

That's about what I spend on a recon phone every few years

Yep , Im sim only on an old Galaxy5 neo , 20 quid a month unlimited everything , replaceable battery and a memory card ,,, I dont understand the thousand pound phone way of thinking at all.
and ive the next two sitting in boxes in the drawer ready to swap just in case.

 

[Wedg1e]

Yep, it was Ramadan when I was there, the oil installation was in the dessert.

Ah yes, I've been there, it's near Tiramisu I think.

 

[Wedg1e]

But ,, if the screen units costing say 99 quid , it changes everything , its that know your costs thing.

No point in knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Is it not just that mobile phones are overpriced for mass-market electronics? People think the £129 is cheaper than buying a new phone so are relieved.
Stop falling for the hype and buying the next big thing and see what happens...

 

[tom2207]

Is it not just that mobile phones are overpriced for mass-market electronics? People think the £129 is cheaper than buying a new phone so are relieved.
Stop falling for the hype and buying the next big thing and see what happens...

Im still on a samsung galaxy s5 ,,, with more of the same as spares for when the current one gets destroyed , although i do get a good few years out of a phone ,,, I still have woodchip on the walls and magnolia emulsion , I dont just follow trends lol.

 

[Wedg1e]

A mate of mine is restoring a 1984 Yamaha RD500 from a crate of bits, not all of which were there. It's up and running but one of the missing parts was the powervalve controller (2-stroke engine so the response is affected by the exhaust resonance etc., Yamaha came up with the idea of a blade in the exhaust that alters the flow, back-pressure and so on across the rev range, for those who aren't familiar).
So he searches the world and finds a PV controller but it turns out to be faulty. Yamaha used the same electronics across a whole range of engine sizes from 125 to 500cc or more so there are circuit changes, but also they fitted different connectors so it's not a simple swap from another model.
Although I don't do so much of it these days, electronics was my teens hobby and what got me into the job I do, so I said I'd take a look. He'd already exhausted what the internet had to offer, which doesn't seem to be much.
I stripped it down and traced the circuit, which was fun since it's encapsulated in resin. Having identified the various components I then had to find datasheets to get the pinouts so I could guess at what sort of signals might be floating around in it. I then lashed it up on a power-supply and hung a 'scope off it and eventually got to the bottom the problem. Bit of soldering later, plugged it into the bike and took it for a spin on a private test track and it only bloody works
Just need to finish the CAD circuit diagram and that's another bit of smug satisfaction.
Payment? Money? Among friends? Don't be disgusting

However, the next person who wants one fixing...

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Yep , Im sim only on an old Galaxy5 neo , 20 quid a month unlimited everything , replaceable battery and a memory card ,,, I dont understand the thousand pound phone way of thinking at all.
and ive the next two sitting in boxes in the drawer ready to swap just in case.

Both me and the wife have a pixel XL
Two decent phones for under 200 quid the pair
I'm happy to stay a few gens behind. Not like they are making huge leaps. Just marketing bumf to sell the latest model.

 

[Wedg1e]

Im still on a samsung galaxy s5 ,,, with more of the same as spares for when the current one gets destroyed , although i do get a good few years out of a phone ,,, I still have woodchip on the walls and magnolia emulsion , I dont just follow trends lol.

Yes, sorry, I wasn't referring to you directly, just the clumsy twonks who crack the screen on their wide-screen pocket plasma and then breathe a sigh of relief that it's only a day's pay to get it fixed

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Both me and the wife have a pixel XL
Two decent phones for under 200 quid the pair
I'm happy to stay a few gens behind. Not like they are making huge leaps. Just marketing bumf to sell the latest model.

As my phone is my main web browsing and email device I like a decent size screen
Still have a s2 in good working order that wont die it's my backup.