Dear Alessa,

That was a good story. Thank you. I do not like to give the meaning of the stories. Rather more like to just enjoy it. If it makes one laugh or scratch one’s head then good. Its deeper meaning will show itself when one is ready. Which I really think it takes time and effort. Sometimes my practice is very good and sometimes it is not. But, I am always open to learn more.

Oh, have you made any cat sculptures? Lately, I have replaced a few water valves that go under a sink. Then replaced a thermostat cause the old one wouldn’t turn on the furnace. Later, a person asked if I could make their staircase quieter. I like fixing things because I learn how they work first then try to fix it. Don’t always fix it but I try. Oh, cars is a big one for me. Learned a lot from YouTube videos.

Nite. Hope you are staying warm during this winter.

I have got a new hot water heater to install but waiting on my wife to give me the okay. She is afraid I might mess up. But, I have done this before for a friend’s rental property. Simple shut gas off and drain water heater. Cut the pipes and remove old heater. Put new heater in place and make connections. Plan on using valves with compression fittings so no soldering needed. Well only one solder fitting needed because of the way the pipes are routed. Still too cold out to do oil changes.
Happy Chinese New Year. Year of the horse. I really want to do some travels this year. Maybe a cruise?? See what the wife says??

Takes two or three hours to do the hot water heater. Turn off the gas and remove the water (takes longest time). Cut the pipes and remove the hot water heater. replace with new hot water heater. Connect the pipes using compression fitting (no soldering needed). Then connect the gas. turn on the water and turn on gas and the pilot light. Done.

Yeah, cruise where I don’t have to cook or wash dishes or laundry. Just sleep and eat. Talk to strangers. Have fun. Was thinking Caribbean?? Doubt it though. Maybe visit my wife’s cousin in Canada??

How are you doing? Hope all is well. Yeah, I do day dream a lot.

One day, a monk was on his way home came. When he came to the bank of a wide river, he stared at the great distance in front of him, he thought for hours on just how he would manage to cross such a wide barrier. As he was about to give up, he saw a someone on the other side of the river. The monk yells over to the the man on the other side. “Can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?” The man her thinks for a moment looks left and right along the river and yells back, “You are on the other side”.

A matter of perspective? Or just a good laugh?

Alessa, have you given it any thought about the cat tower? Wood covered in cloth? Nooks to rest? Sorry, just get the feeling you could do well. But, IDK. Wishful thinking. Hope you are yours are well.

Alessa,

I have found stud finders to be … not useful. have bought 3 different kinds and it did not work well. Ended up tossing them out. And the last one was not cheap. Thinking was maybe a more expensive one would work better. It didn’t. Speaking of broken things. Hob on the cooker? English between US and UK have some differences. UK uses spanner and US uses wrench, Torch and flashlight. So, what is cooker? Is that the stove or cooktop? The infinity switch on my electric stove have broken and the temp is not adjustable. It just turns hot to the hottest setting only. I have bought the replacement switch and changed it. Two of them went out. Replaced both. Then two weeks later, one broke again. Of course, the heating element also broke too. That affects the light that indicates the stove top is hot. My stove top is again acting up. I told my wife better to just get a new stove top. This time just the stove top and not one with an oven. I do most of my baking with the toaster oven.

I don’t have a work bench. I just use a small table downstairs in the basement. But, I do have a vise mounted onto the table. The table is mounted to the wall. I keep my junk on it. Extra parts for electrical, switches, wires, outlets etc. Also, parts for plumbing. Love sharkbite products but am learning to solder. Also lots of tools for working on the car.

Wishing you luck with the cooker. For finding studs, I use a strong magnet and wave it around looking for the screw that holds the plaster board against the wall. Don’t know how it is done in UK?