UlsterRugby1999

[quote user="Northender"] I didn't see the game but having followed football for many years , it seems obvious that either the officials did not see the incident or they saw it and chose to ignore it. This of course , if the latter is true ,  brings in all sorts of allegations about match fixing.[/quote] I dont go along with the match fixing thing. I honestly believe that this was a case of either total ineptness from 4 officials or possibly all three pitchside officials honestly didnt see it. Possibly a combination of the two. Its a hard pill to swallow but thats life. What it does show is (a) the fickleness of people like Platini and the lip service they all pay to cleaning up the game (b) the immediate need for an eye in the sky ref who has the ability to reverse a poor decision by the ref. Either way, Ireland didnt deserve to exit the WC that way but there is nothing that can be done about it now.

[quote user="Richard"]It's a shame, as on paper, France are a far superior side and should be at the world cup finals anyway, but the manner in which they won was sad. But Ireland put up a good fight and over the two legs could have won. However, France stand a far better shout on winning the tournament than Ireland, so in the grand scheme of things, the right team has gone through. At this moment in time, I think Spain or (yawn) Brazil have to be the strong favourites. England, no hope, they are worse than France. [/quote] Agree and disagree. Sure they are the better team but the only goal they scored was from a deflection. Ireland at least were able to score a legitimate and fine goal and despite being 2nd best created many chances which sadly they couldnt finish off. Additionally, on paper stands for very little. Its how they play on the day. In Dublin Ireland were not too far behind France in play, possession and chances and they were miles ahead last night. If you need to cheat to win then you can never have it said that the right team has gone through. Its not right for anything, the game, the supporters, the sponsors or worse still the youngsters who have yet to come through the ranks and now see that cheating is okay if you get away with it. Not only was there 2 handball's missed by 3 damn officials but there was also 2 men offside. How poor is that if these officials are supposed to be the best the IFA have to offer.

Agreed John, but unless you live close to a reasonable sized town or city (as I guess is the case for many of us here) you have to travel 50 plus Kms to and from the places where you buy your materials and many people dont get everything from the same supplier so even if you did have a delivery service by the time the cost of delivery has been added it may well still be cheaper to go and get them yourself. This may be based on cost, quality, discounts, special offers or whatever. So you'll still likely wrap up a day for 1 or 2 guys just to be ready for the off. My main point was that oldgit72 has already cranked up nearly 4500€ in labour alone.

[quote user="Gardian"]True .............. & surprising, but not because the Irish were bad.  The Wallabies had just improved enormously, eh?[/quote] Sorry Gardian  - I'd responded to our friend plod before I'd realised there was another page. While plod is correct, we got it back as the game went on (maybe a pride thing as much as anything else) as we used the scrum in the last 10 minutes a couple of times and our try came from a chosen scrum. I guess O'Connell felt at the time that we had regained sufficient control of the scrum. Their line-outs werent inspiring either. In fact, there were a few glaring holes in them. They had no idea what to do with Cian Healy especially when he made that charge which led to Tommy Bowe's try. Bodes well for more NH wins maybe. [:)]

[quote user="oldgit72"]Most of the wiring willbe run through plasterboard where possible. I was thinking 2-3 weeks work which @37euros/hour comes to about 3000 euros+materials. I've bought quite a lot of the materials aready (gaine,prises,interruptors) so hopefully there won't be too much more in materia costs. I can't see where you would spend several thousand on materials for a small place like mine. I'll post when I get a quote I'm happy with.[/quote] Assuming an 8 hour day and a 5 day week at 37€ an hour over 3 weeks you've already churned out 4440,00€ before you add your own material costs plus any additionals your electrician may need. Earth spikes, cables, clips, etc etc. Oh and dont forget, if he/she reuqires any additional materials you will pick up the tab for travel and material collection too. The number of people I hear complain that they get charged for the time it takes to go and get the materials does my head in. [:@]

[quote user="plod"]Yes, but you got pushed off your own ball in the scrum - by Australia!!![/quote] Mmmmmmmmmm - cant argue with that. Thats a worry. Still not sure if it was down to a better Aussie scrum or our lads.

[quote user="plod"]I think Ireland were a tad fortunate though I give them credit for keeping going right to the end. I haven't had the misfortune to see any of England's games but hardly anybody has a kind word to say. Despite the injuries I don't think Jonno picks the right players or else asks people (eg Monye) to play out of position. What do you expect from a team which has Steve Borthwick and Louis Deacon as the second row? France were good value against SA and it was extraordinary to see a South African scrum under pressure. Early on in his appointment I thought Lievremont was barking but there was method in his madness. He has now beaten NZ and SA in quick succession.[/quote] Mmmmm - Rather a tad harsh plod, I think we contained them pretty well and their game plan didnt deliver the goods they'd expected. Rocky Elsoms reaction post match confirms that somewhat. They expected to run us into the ground and score at will but Healy and Co had other plans. Our backs defence was immense and our ability to break them down in defence was pretty near the best I've seen from a NH team against any of the Tri's for a while. 3 times Bowe got through scoring once, being (rightly) denied as inconclusive and being stopped on the line by 2 fwds. If it hadnt been for the numbnut ROBOT O'Gara's hideous toss (he doesnt pass at the best of times) to O'Driscoll the Austrailians were only good for the Elsom try. How many penalties did White give against the Wallabies on or around their 5 metre line when we were driving forward. What did Cian Healy show them up as. Unable to think out of their rehearsed set piece mentality. This is where we got back into the game IMHO. We thought outside of the box and went both at them and around them and they were, often, caught flat footed. Hey, but what do I know [:D][;-)][:D]

[quote user="dragonrouge"]Saw our game against Samoa turned it off at the end. There is no doubt whatsoever we have talent but Wales just simply ran out of ideas. Still I think we have three home games this year including the first Friday game in February against les bleus. Then maybe Ireland and Italy so three home wins? Still say at least its amongst the best stadium in the world and of course right bang in the middle of a wonderful city.[/quote] Aye the art of positive thinking dragonrouge. [;-)] but unless Gatland gets your feet back on the ground and starts to string some decent set piece moves together and gets you guys to think on your feet a bit more you might well struggle against Italy (and at home that wouldnt look to good). As Gardian says, Italy had a decent result against the All Blacks and they are always a handfull to any team.

Ah - good man yourself Gardian -  kind words sir. I've been really busy the last few months so very little posting time but have been following the Forum, not that there has been much in the way of rugby discussion. Go a wee bit easy on Johnno though, I think he's going okay. He's blooding a few younger guys and there is always the possibility for some turbulence but he's a confident and inspirational leader and I believe he'll do well for the Red Roses. As for France, I've only read the reports too but like Johnston, Lieveremont is still building HIS team and is still only focused on 2011. France will go into the RWC strongly and will certainly end up in the last 4 if not the last 2. Agreed re Italy. They are always a danger and we havent seen their full potential yet. Its going to be an interesting 6N's this year and if I was a betting man, I'd wager on France to win it but not with a Grand Slam.

How good was that. Ireland 20 - Australia 20. We fought hard and made our own luck and never quit and ground out a draw against the mighty Wallabies. And Captain Century himself scored the try to give us the draw. man I'm exhausted. Looking forward to the Fijians and the Boks. Bring it on. Well done to England and France. The more we Northern Hemisphere teams grab wins the better our confidence levels will be going into 2011.

Just tested the water temp. Its showing at 82 degree celcius so I'll reduce the thermostat setting. From the previous posts I take it that it should be 65 degrees celcius. Thanks all for the input and help.

teapot -  I dont know that I fully understand what you are actually trying to say. My fault not yours I guess. I understood that evacuated tubes were superior to the others and that the ones that BricoDepot have on offer right now are, actually, more efficient than the older type and the poly & mono crystal types. No doubt I have misunderstood but thats what I have been reading. Where I live (between the borders of S/E Vienne - Haute Vienne and Indre, I know of 2 families who have SIMILAR type systems and both have a total of between 2.5 and 3 m square of evacuated tube panels and they have too much hot water for approx 9 - 10 months of the year. Why then does the BricDepot deal with 2.3 sq m of evacuated tubed panels and all the guarantess and the stated approval for fiscal rebates annoy so many people. Surely thay cannot be so crass as to sell their units if they wont do most, if not all, of the job.  

Weird - your email bounced too. I'm PMing you now. [8-)][8-)]

[quote user="Nick Trollope"][quote user="UlsterRugby1999"] Mmmmmmmm - and guess what I cannot find a chez nous. A thermometer that goes over 50C. This is getting silly to use a quote [:$][;-)] [/quote] Go to your local GiFi or other tat shop and buy an internal/external thermometer for about 10€ - they will work! I've emailed you, BTW. Let me know if you don't get it. EDIT - And it bounced! I'll PM you this time... [/quote] Mmmm Strange that Nick - I use that email address all the time. I'll reply via the private route now. Tomorrow I'm off to search for a fancy thermometer.

Mmmmmmmm - and guess what I cannot find a chez nous. A thermometer that goes over 50C. This is getting silly to use a quote [:$][;-)]

[quote] [quote]Just tested it this morning. I got 37.8 degrees Celcius which equates to 100.04 degrees Farenheit. Errr - that'd be pretty hot then and possibly why the C/E is working so hard. Does that sound about right. [Www][/quote] This gets even more silly and no, it doesnt sound about right. 38 degrees celcius is anything but too hot, you are looking for 65 degrees celcius. Try dipping your elbow in it, if the skin comes off then you had 100.04 degrees celcius which is too hot [6][[/quote] Achhhh – how embarrassing is that? I had it in my head that water boiled at 100˚F. I used a thermometer for checking the kids temps etc – and – you’ve guessed it – upon checking it just now I found that it had blown after I had tested it in the water yesterday. [8-)] I don’t think we actually have a thermometer that will read that high but I can assure you, that you would scald your elbow if you put it in. The water is pretty close to boiling water. I’ll see if I can check it somehow. What temperature should it normally be?

Any ideas, on a different theme for a second, why the quote thing behaves like this. [8-)]

[quote user="teapot"]Can you test the temprature so you can be more accurate 65 degrees feels very hot but a long way from boiling.[/quote] Just tested it this morning. I got 37.8 degrees Celcius which equates to 100.04 degrees Farenheit. Errr - that'd be pretty hot then and possibly why the C/E is working so hard. Does that sound about right. [Www] [quote user="Nick Trollope"]Not that I am aware of, I'm afraid. Where are you? I can probably find you someone to design a system for you.[/quote] Thanks Nick - I'm in the south east Vienne area - Montmorillon is the nearest largest town.

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="UlsterRugby1999"]Just a thought - our water is seriously hot as if its a degree or teo below boiling. Can I turn the heating element down. Surely this would have a positive effect on the electricity used. [8-)] [/quote] Do be careful lowering the temperature. Hot water should be stored at a temperature of around 60°C / 140°F to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria. I thought our hot water was too hot and it would be worth adjusting the thermostat. I checked the water temperature, which is 64°C / 147°F. [/quote] Thanks Clair - good advice although I think our water would be well above that. I'll test it this evening and see what its showing.

Thanks all - I'm still not sure I understand all thats being said here but I get the gist of it. Just a thought - our water is seriously hot as if its a degree or teo below boiling. Can I turn the heating element down. Surely this would have a positive effect on the electricity used. [8-)] Nick - can I get access to an online method of calculating what my needs would be for a solar domestic hot water system?

Whats with this flippin quote thing.??????

[quote user="Nick Trollope"][quote user="UlsterRugby1999"]I have an 84 year old MIL who lives with me, who constantly washes things, along with 2 teenage children and my wife and me. The system doesnt run on Heures creuses as we'd never have hot water all the time. So, yes, its running pretty much all the time.[/quote] I'm not convinced, I'm afraid. A 200L C/E running 24/365 will cost about 1500€ per year to run. It is impossible for a C/E to run 24/7 (do the maths - I can't be bothered!). I reckon that an "average" family uses about 600€ (max) of water heating PA. Your C/E could be faulty or very old, which could account for some losses, but not 100%+   [/quote] While not wishing to throw all my personal data onto the Forum - lets assume that the Chauffe'eau was running 12 hours per day and ours is, as its is, a 3Kw unit then we'd cranck up 36kw per day which would be 13140 kw at (I believe 0.08€) per unit would equate to 1051€ per annum. Not quite 50% but still a large amount.

I have an 84 year old MIL who lives with me, who constantly washes things, along with 2 teenage children and my wife and me. The system doesnt run on Heures creuses as we'd never have hot water all the time. So, yes, its running pretty much all the time.

Okay - phew - thanks for the thoughts and input so far. Well most of the posts that is. Setting aside the views of BricoDepot and I understand what La Plombiere means, what is the general view of the system, its cost, and its ability to deliver me, in my house, with a reasonable percentage of my hot water needs. If, as has been suggested, I double the collector size would I expect to have a high percentage of my domestic hot water requirements for a family of 4? I have a friend in the Haute Vienne who has 4msq of collectors and complains, mildly, that his tank bounces it gets so hot and this isnt just in the summer months. Second question if I may, with the system that is on show at BricoDepot, or any other equivalent system, what back up methods can I use. We use wood burners and reversible air con systems here so nothing can be connected that way so I guess I'll need to be able to connect it to an electrical heating unit. Any thoughts on how I can do this. I'm sorry but I dont have the technical knowledge and a lot of what has been said here has blinded me. I pay 2500€ plus per annum in electricity bills and I calculate that circa 50% of this may be the cost of heating water. Therefore, a system that costs 2400€ which will produce, as an example, 75% of my water needs will have a pretty decent payback time. So, therefore, I'm quite interested in it.

Mmmmmm - why would BricoDepot sell a product in Indre (36) and the Vienne (86) if it wouldnt perform its function, as stated in the advert, of producing hot water. What is it about this system that is so bad, or at least thats how it seems to me its being portrayed. Surely they are not crass enough to believe that they could sell a system which simply wont do as it says on the tin. I know some of you, from past posts, wouldnt touch BricoDepot with a long pole but I have seen several of their Air con systems installed and working very very well with truely happy clients. Le Plombiere, when you say tepid shower, is that directed to me or in response to PoolGuy as I couldnt quite figure it out. If me, then why? As for the fiscal refund, I would have believed that Kingfisher wouldnt be stupid or naive enough to believe that they can print that you will benefit from the grant if in fact you wont, especially as its being installed by a qualified tradesperson. I nearly wish I hadnt asked the question. Will it do the job or not. We live here in a micro-climate which, allegedly has as many sunshine hours as Toulon. So why wouldnt it work.