What made you feel good today? - Page 24

.:4:. · 16-06-2018, 09:29 PM

It always sucks working Saturdays but today was not bad considering the deadline of the job I was on today. So the job wasnt difficult as such but there was just a lot of work to get done. Typically for a work load like that I'd be thrown an apprentice or 2 and slug it out for 12 hours only to spend a further 3 hours fixing up mistakes at the end, but not today. So today the other leading hand from my team was in, the leading hand from the company's other team was in, and also their gun tradesman. It's been a long time since I have worked on a site with a semi unrealistic deadline where all people take charge and with 1 set of plans there is no questions and no mistakes. The odd whaddya reckon on occasion but not any explanation of how to get things done. It was also good to catch up with 2 guys from the other team at lunch. The gun tradesman doesn't know much English so on breaks you have to explain colloquialisms which is fine, but on site even if he doesn't fully understand what you say, he fully understands electrical work so he just gets things done. That's the only reason he isnt bumped up to the leading hand role. Language barrier. But he is working on that. For a solid days work even with the extra hour on top it feels good on occasion to go home knowing that a quality job has been done within a tight time frame and I know everything is faultless. Well on our part anyways. But as not to be unexpected the plans were being changed as we were leaving so there may be some minor teething issues come Monday morning, but as of 3:30 today the original plan was executed brilliantly. Just working with a few people and no one was a wet blanket having to work a Saturday and over 8 hours bumps up my morale. Typically even if people want the extra pay they still drag you down doing weekend work. But today was a morale booster even though I'm not looking for extra hours. Its helped by the fact I had good blokes as help and guys who know their business.

roKWiz · 22-06-2018, 03:10 PM

Took the day off today and went mountain biking in the Ironbark forests around Chiltern (Vic) Started off real cold 1 deg. but warmed to a perfect day with lots of wildlife to see.

.:4:. · 22-06-2018, 09:17 PM

Now I'm not rude or mean to my apprentice, but I like to play silly games to keep him thinking. Nothing detrimental but I have a laugh. Today we did a quick job at a place he hasn't been to but knows of because most have been there that we call ppca. The 2 p's stand for phonographic performers. It's a music industry place. Now the full name is on the directory board and intentionally I let my apprentice glance at it but gave the hurry on. So my plan worked. He misread phonographic performers as pornographic performers. He was confused as to why there were posters of missy Higgins and Daniel Johns etc on the walls and why it was an office full of hipsters. I'm going to see how long it takes before he works it all out. Harmless fun to me but I like to keep people in thinking mode.

Pedro · 22-06-2018, 11:28 PM

I recently relocated and had a heap of stuff on the floor of the two car shed at the rear of my new home. So having spent a few days sorting things out I finally cleared the space for my ute today and drove her in for a test fit. The shed is a bit short so things are a bit tight and I had to build a work bench at the rear that I could drive the bonnet of the ute under. My measurements turned out OK and so I was pretty happy about that.

So now I have to prepare the other side for the beast on its way from USA.

Pedro · 22-06-2018, 11:30 PM

Sorry about the first two pics. I rotated and saved them in picture manager but seems they have a mind of their own.

**GasoLane** · 22-06-2018, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

Sorry about the first two pics. I rotated and saved them in picture manager but seems they have a mind of their own.

Not any more

Pedro · 22-06-2018, 11:55 PM

Legend ...

**DFB FGXR6** · 23-06-2018, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

I recently relocated and had a heap of stuff on the floor of the two car shed at the rear of my new home. So having spent a few days sorting things out I finally cleared the space for my ute today and drove her in for a test fit. The shed is a bit short so things are a bit tight and I had to build a work bench at the rear that I could drive the bonnet of the ute under. My measurements turned out OK and so I was pretty happy about that.

So now I have to prepare the other side for the beast on its way from USA.

image

image

image

image

Looking good. Nothing like a well organised shed/garage.

au350hp · 25-06-2018, 04:00 PM

Dropped my XR8 off to have a set of extractors fitted and a complete 2 & 1/4 inch dual exhaust fabricated. A pair of mufflers, 200 cell cats & a X pipe. Pick up thursday which can't come soon enough

**GO FURTHER** · 25-06-2018, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roostercam

Dropped my XR8 off to have a set of extractors fitted and a complete 2 & 1/4 inch dual exhaust fabricated. A pair of mufflers, 200 cell cats & a X pipe. Pick up thursday which can't come soon enough

Will you need a retune, especially changing the cats?

.:4:. · 25-06-2018, 09:41 PM

I had a major breakdown to attend today, that never is a good thing. Long story short for a bit of background, a large company spent a whole heap on a failsafe backup system that some engineer sold them for a hefty amount. They went with the cheapest quote for install (not my works quote), and the guys they used installed it as per the drawings which is fine, but none of the installers noticed the myriad of flaws in the system. Turns out it fell over in a spectacular way. So after I got them back up again and things calmed down I went in for a meeting with the high up people and initially they were hostile and seeking blood. It's not my job to point fingers and blame so I put that aside and explained what went wrong, why it went wrong then explained the solutions and why etc. The main ones where the reason they didn't know the flaws was because the system had never been used. Anyrate I left that meeting and all parties were calm. Back to my job at hand then the emails started being forwarded my way. After an episode like that that's never good. Nah, this time it was. Various parties sending appreciation and positive feedback. Considering the company lost a lot of money in the down time, they were happy for a solution after the rush I had to get them back up temporarily. They can try throw it all back on whoever they like but it's got nothing to do with myself or who I work for, I was there for the to solve the problem not point a fingers, but offering the solution and on my end explaining in a way that can be understood by normal people not only saves getting asked questions over the phone but builds customer confidence. Now for that mob I have a good working relationship with their facilities lady which is fine, normally it's the invisible stuff like the coffee machine has tripped or whatever, but after a major breakdown hearing her say to the important people that's why she calls me in specifically, that's a boost right there.

au350hp · 26-06-2018, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Will you need a retune, especially changing the cats?

I'd be very interested to hear from anybody who has had their ECU tuned or flashed in the 220kw AU after changing their exhaust. I'd like to do something as she uses more fuel than I think is normal, but with the new O2 sensors & resetting the ECU, I'll see what happens. The only place I am aware of nearby is Autotech in Granville & I am sure I want to leave my car with them.

chrisandsharon · 26-06-2018, 02:39 AM

Watchin James Cordon with J-Lo, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gwen Stefani etc etc......man what a laugh

ford71V8 · 26-06-2018, 12:31 PM

Not today, but I'm still chuffed from seeing my son umpire his first footy game on Sunday morning.

He's played since he was 5 and asked me to find out if he can train to umpire. He had a meeting on Wednesday and was put on the roster Thursday. Absolutely thrown into the deep end but he stood up to the nerves and did a great job, receiving praise and guidance from the 2 team coaches through the game.
Decent money-maker for a 12yo too, so yeah I'm bloody stoked for him.

**solarite_guy** · 26-06-2018, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:4:.

I had a major breakdown to attend today, that never is a good thing. Long story short for a bit of background, a large company spent a whole heap on a failsafe backup system that some engineer sold them for a hefty amount.positive feedback.

Good job to catch that on the spot.

Unfortunately, I have never seen a proper Disaster Recovery system sold and put in place.

Nobody ever wants to pay for the right solution up front.

roKWiz · 26-06-2018, 05:49 PM

Quarry day today in a -3deg morning.
Needing to handpick and pile 10T of granite for a new entranceway in Beechworth tomorrow. With the little Ford Trader at the shop getting an injection pump rebuild, I was a bit reluctant to use the Falcon PV to do the job but it proved itself capable of getting around the boggy quarry with each load inside of approx. 1.25T.
Sure felt good to finish with a chicken schnitzel late lunch for me and a quick hose down for the PV.
I'll let the quarry truck take the load up the 20km climb.

jandj · 26-06-2018, 10:33 PM

Got a flight back home tonight ( working interstate) to work on my house with my dad, haven't seen my wife & boys now for 2 months. It's funny how life goes, struggled for a decent job in my trade in brissy.
Now final working for a great company, and making a good living for my family.

Cheers Jason

au350hp · 27-06-2018, 02:48 PM

Follow up for anybody interested. I have it on good authority from a AFF AU owner that fitting a complete replacement exhaust system does not require a ECU tune. The more free flowing system will help it to lean out a little as they run rich from the factory so it balances out. The cars were designed to run on 95 octane but like many, I only use 98 octane. Glad to know I don't have to spend anymore for optimise the new exhaust.

LG17 · 27-06-2018, 03:07 PM

Finding the latest season of "the Ranch" on Netflix!

.:4:. · 27-06-2018, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarite_guy

Good job to catch that on the spot.

Unfortunately, I have never seen a proper Disaster Recovery system sold and put in place.

Nobody ever wants to pay for the right solution up front.

I'm dont work with data recovery, this is a backup generator system with a ups to catch the power drop untill the generator syncs up and takes over. The system is supposed to cause no interruptions to the server room in the event of a mains fail. Now for what I do the end result is common but there are a few different ways to do it. Difference is out of the different methods, they work. This system once I ran around with a pad and pen drawing as I go, had most the right bits, just one or 2 weren't in the right spot and 1 component wasnt the right part for the job. The fix isnt major, however the first time the system was put to use it fell over. Then there is organising time to do a shutdown to make the fix but for a company that's 24/7 there are a lot of people who all have to agree on the same date and time.
All that aside, as small as it sounds, today I treated myself to the set of screwdrivers I've had my eye on for ages. They were always too expensive even with dealing the guys at the wholesaler I have dealt with on sales for years. However one guy, I help out by boosting his sales when using the work account, has been around a while as a storeman and driver is new to sales he hooked me up with a 70% discount for a cash sale. One hand washes the other. I help him make his quota with works money, he hooks me up when it's my money.

**Giant Cranium** · 27-06-2018, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LG17

Finding the latest season of "the Ranch" on Netflix!

Tried watching that. So much canned laughter it ruined it for me. It’s all i could concentrate on

au350hp · 28-06-2018, 04:47 AM

Finding this classic Deep Purple, 'Highway Star' song covered by street artists who totally nail it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ree-byztoJs

auxr · 28-06-2018, 11:06 AM

Finally bit the bullet and threw Mr Principle out the window - got foxtel sport package solely to watch motor sports including supercars - bring it on.

ford71V8 · 28-06-2018, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roostercam

Finding this classic Deep Purple, 'Highway Star' song covered by street artists who totally nail it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ree-byztoJs

Um Yeah, that was awesome, cheers for sharing that.
Was waiting for a rear end hit in the traffic behind.
Also, love the old fella come in from the side @ 3m02s

Syndrome · 28-06-2018, 06:28 PM

Seeing Serbia eliminated from the World Cup

Sar4890 · 28-06-2018, 06:53 PM

That cover of deep purples highway star was brilliant!

**solarite_guy** · 30-06-2018, 07:00 PM

Two tens for a five.
(Jen are you watching?)

**GasoLane** · 30-06-2018, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarite_guy

Two tens for a five.
(Jen are you watching?)

[YT]f7pMYHn-1yA[/YT

You've seen Jens Vids as well eh

.:4:. · 30-06-2018, 08:30 PM

I didn't really want to work today but I took one for the team. What made it worth is was we got in the concrete cutter who I haven't used in maybe 8 years and he's a character. Not the kind bloke to have around if you're a sensitive person but he has no filters and is a hilarious old bloke. But also just an old school weathered tradie. I marked out the position of the box I wanted cut into the slab loosely and he gave it to me for wanting to measure it out properly, looked at the box and cut it out with no measurements at all. Got it right too. Considering the margin of error is only 10mm and he got the depth spot on with no measuring or setting a depth on the wet saw. My offsider is an English guy who is a tradesman but hasn't been around the old school often and definately not around the definition of bogan aussie tradie, but having a solid laugh in the morning (my concrete cutter had a few ummm, not politically correct statements about men holding hands etc), it made the morning fly past. There are only 2 types of really old blokes I come across on site, the grumpy ones who know what they're doing but are waiting on retirement, or the funny guys who have been there for a long time but still try to make it a good time.

roKWiz · 01-07-2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:4:.

I didn't really want to work today but I took one for the team. What made it worth is was we got in the concrete cutter who I haven't used in maybe 8 years and he's a character. Not the kind bloke to have around if you're a sensitive person but he has no filters and is a hilarious old bloke. But also just an old school weathered tradie. I marked out the position of the box I wanted cut into the slab loosely and he gave it to me for wanting to measure it out properly, looked at the box and cut it out with no measurements at all. Got it right too. Considering the margin of error is only 10mm and he got the depth spot on with no measuring or setting a depth on the wet saw. My offsider is an English guy who is a tradesman but hasn't been around the old school often and definately not around the definition of bogan aussie tradie, but having a solid laugh in the morning (my concrete cutter had a few ummm, not politically correct statements about men holding hands etc), it made the morning fly past. There are only 2 types of really old blokes I come across on site, the grumpy ones who know what they're doing but are waiting on retirement, or the funny guys who have been there for a long time but still try to make it a good time.

4 , Happy to have a joker on site, my how things have changed on building sites in the 35 years I've been at it, there are so many sad, sensitive types now.
It's funny when you go on a new site and the young ones invite you to have lunch with them only to find them sitting around in silence staring at their phones, facebooking and tweeting no doubt. Seems they would rather talk to someone in another place than the guy next to them.

Working for myself I'll usually only take a short break for lunch (around 11am) and knock off earlier.