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Hi Steve, thanks for asking. Well eventually it got the better of me and I found myself not being able to be around gas boilers without shaking and sweating and I still cannot work on a gas boiler where I am confident, even with work colleagues I don't want to be anywhere near a gas boiler, sounds crazy but that is the way it is.  It seriously affected my sleep for around 4 days, so rather than bother the doctor I decided to get rid of all the bottles of scotch I've acquired over the years (I don't drink normally) but I was downing a bottle in around 30 minutes just to get a couple of hours sleep. Anyway crazy as it may seem, you suggested going to work in a cat sanctuary, it just so happens whether it was the same day I cannot remember, but someone dumped an old cat in the back garden which was at deaths doors all ribs and bones probably only had a couple of days to live, anyway she totally side tracked me as I concentrated on getting her better and she's still here, she's an old cat and has a thyroid problem but she is now on medication and getting some quality of life in her remaining time. So she probably did me more good than the doctor.

I'm still suffering with chronic headaches and I have lost virtually all my hearing in my left ear, whether this will return or not I do not know only time will tell. Financially it has had a major effect losing just one client has cost in the region of £150k as I've said previously I was doing a project at 20th Century Fox, fortunately I had people onsite and although things haven't gone to plan, we're still there and the problems haven't all been from my side.

As to the boiler & the boiler manufacturer, I'm guessing I'm going to have to be careful what I say here from a legal point of view. From the outset, the manufacturers admitted full liability and I was led to believe that the boiler would be independently inspected, this appeared not to be the case it was in fact inspected by themselves. I was also led to believe that this was a one off incident and it had never happened before, it wasn't I tried to do some research into this for a few weeks and drew a blank, but as luck would have it I changed the search terms this morning and bingo all the information I need, it would seem that one of their own engineers also received a broken nose in exactly the same fashion in August of last year, now if this is the case which I will find out as to whether it is true or not and there are other incidents. Then what happened to me was aggravated by the fact that they the manufacturers have known for quite a while that there has been an issue with these boilers and have neither informed the heating industry or homeowners of a potential risk. Now I have had the report on my particular boiler for around 10 days the report stated that there was an issue with dampness on the electrodes / ignition causing low resistance, in other words although gas was entering the boiler there was no sparking on the ignition probes, so after 5 attempts at trying to light the boiler locks out, this happened 3 times, so when it did eventually light the boiler had 20 volumes of the normal amount of gas in the combustion chamber and then it sparked in the right place and the rest is history. Something else has also happened to divert attention away from the ignition probes which I cannot go into for legal reasons, but will gladly do so at a later date. I have emailed the manufacturers some questions on their supposed independent report which they have chosen not to answer or even acknowledge, you have to draw your own conclusions as to why not. At the moment they are not aware that I now have information on other incidents and I have been totally easy going with them as it was never about compensation ect, in fact I haven't even instructed solicitors yet although I have had a brief conversation with one. But in my opinion they are trying to cover this up.... 

I can tell you now, that if you were to start writing reviews for your website.... there going to stand out somewhat........

I got one about 30 odd years ago, still going strong, bit rusty around the edges but cannot complain... have often thought about getting a newer, younger model, but as mine also cleans the entire house, I'll stick with what I've got......

On a serious note, I bought a new Siemens dishwasher last year from AO online, I like AO online, they promise to price match their goods, give discounts, deliver when it suits you (same day if you order early) you can read customers reviews about the product and the retailer. You'll occasionally get vouchers or cashback, they'll also dispose of your old items and plumb in your new product for a small fee, which takes the hassle out of trying to get it to the local waste center or paying the council to dispose of it.... I highly recommend them takes the hassle out of shopping....

Use to give it regularly in my 20s and 30s.....haven't for years though, I am however on the DVLC organ donor programme..... The way things have been going during the last couple of months, I think the surgeon is already on standby waiting for the inevitable...

I think the idea of confronting businesses on social media is great, have done it three times now twice on twitter and once on facebook. Two were parcel delivery company's the other a shopping channel all of them resolved the issue within an hour. No being passed from pillar to post or being fobbed off. As long as the customer keeps it civilised, straight to the point and without trying to belittle the company it works... Not sure it would work out too well for small businesses who only spend a couple of hours a week on social media though..

Originally Posted by abfabcards

“Even here in the UK me and Andrew would feel uncomfortable holding hands in public or showing any sort of affection in public."

 ”

Not sure you'd feel uncomfortable in Soho holding hands as everything is pretty much in your face... Having said that, my other half only grabs my hand when she wants me to keep up with her whilst out shopping..... nothing to do with affection....

Well the bible also states 'though shall not kill' but as a supposed Christian country the UK is usually at war somewhere in the world usually with a padre in tow, preaching from the good book to both men and women with state of the art weapons.... Been in this position myself, where I have one person telling me to love my neighbour with peace and goodwill to all mankind. And an OC standing next to the padre saying "shoot them before they shoot you".... As a non believer I had trouble with this, the Christians however seemed to be quite trigger happy and Rambo like...

I think this is probably one of those topics where there is no definitive answer. Funny enough I and some colleagues have been working in Soho Square today putting in a heating system for 20th Century at lunchtime we went for a shandy in a local pub in Old Compton Street. We were the only 4 heterosexuals in the pub, none of us had the urge to broadcast to all the other drinkers that we were the only 4 heterosexuals in the pub. Funny as it may seem, I started discussing this thread as one of my friends is your typical Jamaican, dreadlocks down to his backside and so forth, people don't get it when they see him and I together as I guess people think we're like chalk and cheese, but we've known each other for over 30 years, have traveled together, know each others families. And comes in handy when the local clutch fitter has mugged you off So I thought I'd ask him the question about the KKK  Maybe because me and him are always on the same wavelength I don't know, but I asked him if he would prefer someone who was racist, to be upfront about it to his face (would need to be a brave soul to try) or would he rather someone be nice as pie to him and then at the weekends practice their KKK stuff.... He chose the first option, which I guessed he would. Closer to home we have our very own EDL, they don't represent me or anyone I know. But they do have the right to protest as well as the freedom of speech, now would you prefer them to be out in the open, or would you prefer them to be banned and to go underground, because they will always exist......  

I personally don't do religion although I was brainwashed at birth into believing that I belonged to a particular faith.... But I do believe that if you wish to impose your views / beliefs on others then others also have that same right to do so to you. I'm afraid some people will always find the gay scene offensive, it may over time change where everyone excepts it, I doubt it but it might. But at the moment there are still too many people from different generations. As an example both my parents find the whole gay scene offensive, are they bigots for not being PC and excepting the way things are now? Of course their not, their grandchildren and great grandchildren have totally different views with half their friends all claiming to be gay....

Personally I think freedom of speech outweighs all other rights, people are entitled to their views much better to say what you think, rather than say what you think someone might want to hear.... People will always be offended by others beliefs, much rather people say what they have to say to my face than behind my back...