So, todays little problem.

[the Nefyn cat]

For some time now I've had to give the door a bit of a thump while lifting the handle to get the door open from the outside. Inner handle opens it no problems, so that narrows it down a bit. The door lock has been messing about, too, it's fine on the central locking fob, but the alarm is a bit too sensitive, every time a big tractor (rural life, eh?) or a noisy motorbike goes by too close the alarm goes off. Since there doesn't seem to be any sensitivity adjustment (unless anyone else knows different) and I don't want to pi55 off the neighbours any more than is strictly necessary I've been locking it with the key. Now the barrel just goes round without doing anything so it's time to get out there and start swearing. Qualified mechanic, you see, so plenty of swearing.
Anyway, this comes out

and gets attacked by some WD40 (other, better, lubricants exist but this'll do) and then this comes out after getting a bit swearier, notice the key slot, ain't meant to point that way

had a fiddle and worked out what was wrong. At the end of the screwdriver there should be some kind of retainer for a little springy thing

but it's gone, nothing rattling around in the bottom of the door, so it's off to make something soon. Got a cup of tea to finish first. If that doesn't work I may be calling on the help of some of our worthy Z dismantlers, but should be able to bodge something together.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Well, that didn't take too long. As quick bodges often don't.


Note the approved Bad Obsession style cup of tea.
And the careful use of a cable tie to prevent something from moving. It works, and that's what matters. Seems to be some kind of storm happening outside so I'll leave refitting it till tomorrow.

 

[Synclare]

Builders tea looks a little on the weak side oh yes, good bit of bodging by the way

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Builder? Horse-loving fool more like.

All them years spent lashing tanks together weren't wasted.

 

[motco]

Do you swear in Welsh? In my experience of visiting North Wales back in the 1960s before I realised that all the Welsh talk in the pub peppered with English profanities was probably directed at me and my girlfriend, I wondered why the local lingo needed English for cursing. I cannot believe Welsh is as pure as the driven snow and no profanities. After all, the English were never far away and I'm sure that was cause for a swear word or two! Memo to self: go back to the mountains again one day soon before the joints/lungs/heart/brain give up altogether! Lots of great memories of Snowdonia and the surrounding mountains.

That tea looks a bit like Earl Grey, what with it being black and all. Glad you got it sorted Nefyn Cat, there's something really satisfying in fixing something like that.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Bit late, I know. Seems the Welsh don't have a lot of swear-words, so they tend to go all bi-lingual when they feel the urge. Same goes in a shop when it comes to prices of stuff, the Welsh number system is a bit more complicated and long-winded than the English version, so they swap for the money bit and then go back to Welsh. It's a tricky language. And it also seems that there's no Welsh word for spanking. Please, don't ask how I know.