Import Open Symbols into Inkscape
I just recently came across the Inkscape Open Symbols library project and could kick myself for not finding it sooner. There are thousands of freely1 available symbols which are very handy for using in web or print design jobs but were always a faff to import into Inkscape.
The only way I knew of doing it previously...
Hot Buttered Rum
For years I was aware of Hot Buttered Rum partly because of the film Northwest Passage1 and partly due to repeated mentions on the Ian Anderson radio programme, but I had never drunk it nor made it. After a recent viewing of the film I was determined to give it a try, and for your delectation I now present...
Aran-coirce
For a many years now we have had a tradition of eating oatcakes and blue-veined cheese with a glass of port in the evening during the Christmas and New Year period. Our port wine preference is for an LBV from W&J Graham. This wine is readily available, reasonably priced and very drinkable. Usually, we have Dunsyre Blue cheese but recently all of the Errington Cheese products have been
Not built to last
This is going to sound like one of these moans that things ain't made they way they use to be. It will sound like that because that is exactly what it is. The last time I bought a pair of safety wellies that really lasted was in 1994. They were purchased in a local hardware store, were a great fit, certainly not expensive and lasted me until 2010. I didn't realise it at the time but they were a landmark pair of wellies; durable in a way that modern wellies aren't. Even after a...
Built to last
Our house has many old style British round-pin sockets installed in the skirting boards. We don't use these sockets but bit-by-bit we are making use of the locations to fit more modern square-pin sockets. I recently removed a 5 amp socket, pictured below, in the downstairs hallway and was amazed with the sturdy build of the back box.
Old style British round pin 5...
Fermented porridge
I placed some excess porridge (oats) I had cooked in a tightly sealing Tupper container, and placed it on top of the 'fridge. It was intended to be eaten later that day. Unfortunately, it was somehow knocked down the back of the 'fridge and jammed in the cooling fins.
It wasn't until I knocked something else off the top of the refrigerator that I noticed the porridge container. This must have been, at least, two months later.
It was with some trepidation that I...
Johnny Weissmuller
A short while ago I was researching some statistics on past Olympic Games and came across some information about the swimmer Johnny Weissmuller. The name was immediately familiar to me but from a quite different context. During my childhood, showings of his Tarzan films were regulars on Saturday morning television and even now I can picture him in his various adventures alongside co-stars including Maureen O'Sullivan, Brenda Joyce, Johnny Sheffield ("Boy") and "Cheeta"...
My kingdom for a transponder
We recently purchased a very low mileage secondhand Peugeot Partner Combi. The vehicle is in very good condition and had a full service history. I believe the car, when new, came with one remote control key and one manual key. The remote key had two buttons on it, one to unlock the car and the other to lock it. Through years of use the buttons on the remote key had broken but the previous owner hadn't replaced the key and instead had just taped over the missing...
Don't do this at home
Replacing the water pump on a VW T25 Transporter is a pretty tough job not because it is technically challenging but due to the very restricted access to the major components, pipes and bolts. One of the Allen bolts holding the smaller coolant pipe flange to the pump, for example, could only be given a 1/8th turn before having to take the key out, re-position and turn again. This procedure had to be followed both when taking the bolt out and screwing it back in again.
It wasn't...
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