My Prague Blog

Marvin sash windows

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:44:17 +0000

Now that may sound like a bridge too far for most but just think about it for a while after all DIY does stand for "Do it yourself" right! You've probably done most other home improvements around your home so why should you be afraid to replace your own marvin windows and more importantly why on earth would you consider paying someone else to do it, when you could easily replace your own windows if you put your mind to it.

DIY double glazing, ok lets run through the basics firstly you must measure your existing window to make sure the one you are replacing it with will actually fit even if you measured it originally to place the order. Always check your sizes before you rip-out the old window. Ok your new window will fit you are now faced with the task of taking out your old window.

The Rip-out

The first thing to do is remove all the opening sashes depending on the window type in your home, you will probably be left with one or two fixed panes of glass these will also need to removed to do this simply cut through the frame section around the glass and remove allowing you to access the glass pane, once removed you will be left with just the outer frame, cut the outer frame out and your ready to fit your new window. Ok I know there's a little more to it than that but that is the basics.

The Fit

The fit is the easy part, just make sure your frame is nice and level and plumb although if you live in a very old house your walls or your internal plaster lines may not be level or plumb in which case it is sometimes better to fit your window slightly out of square to make it look right in the opening. You may think this would make the opener catch and you would probably be right depending on how much out of square the whole thing was, but there is way to combat this and make sure your window never catches the procedure for this is called toe & heeling which is paramount when glazing side hung sashes.

Glazing

Glazing can be tricky but is very easy to master as is the toe & heeling procedure once you know how of course I not going to go into too much detail here on this but the rick is to firm and precise when tapping home the glazing beads. I see too many fools really hammering the beads far too hard then loosing their heads when the beads won't go in, they won't go in because the bead as been kinked on the back edge from being hammered in too hard so be aware of this when glazing upvc double glazing.

Sealing

Sealing is an art in itself but can be easily mastered the most simplest trick to keep the sealer straight on the frame is to use masking tape but the tape won't stop the bumps bubbles or gaps you may create that's all in the application.

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Dublin Accountant

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:26:14 +0000

Finding a tax consultant can sometimes be a difficult process if you have not had to engage an tax consultant previously. Many small and new businesses make the mistake of completing their own tax returns in the early years. Often a Tax consultant can save tax in areas that individuals would not be aware of – this is money well spent.

There are few things more stressful than not having a good grasp on your finances and feeling unable to approach your tax consultant. So its important to get a good one; here are some tips on choosing an tax consultant for your business:

1) Try and choose a tax consultant before you start your business as they will be able to add value at the early stage.

2) Don't accept a bad service from your tax consultant. You deserve better. If you change tax consultants your new tax consultant will deal with the handover so if you are getting bad advice or service then change.

3) Ensure your tax consultant works with small business clients and has experience in various sectors.

4) Ask what other services the tax consultant provide - do they provide business advice, can they do accountancy or have they contacts to help grow your business?

5) Get a fixed fee, paid monthly with unlimited telephone support so you won't be afraid to call them when you need to them.

6) Go with your gut feeling, if you don't think you will be able to get on with the tax consultant after the initial meeting then you probably won't.

7) Ask for testimonials. A good tax consultant won't mind if you talk to other clients.

8) Make sure your tax consultant keeps in regular contact with your business - not just at year end! They can hep and advise on capital purchases throughout the year.

9) Sometimes its best to have an tax consultant who has a smaller practice as they understand what it's like running a small business also they won't be tempted to pass your work onto the junior staff.

10) Make sure your tax consultant is fully qualified, for example as a certified or chartered tax consultant. Ask them what qualification they hold and check with the qualifying body.

McNamara Associates are Dublin Accountants and Tax Consultants. They offer a full service practice.

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A wet room for me in Prague

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:16:42 +0000

I was having a conversation with someone last week and they were telling me about the wet room they have planned for their house. I was stumped, I had no idea what a wet room was.

Well now I know. A wet room is just like a walk in shower, or really it is a walk in shower. Now I know and it can be added to my 43 things. I have just come back from holiday, and we liked staying in Holiday Inns - their bathrooms are like this. They have tiled under-floor heating, a drain in the floor - so that water can run anywhere while you are using the bath or shower.

Wonder if my landlord would spring for this?

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Nursing Home in Prague

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:31:26 +0100

When I am old and cranky and I can’t look after myself no more - please stick me in a nursing home. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t want this anytime soon - I think I have a good few years left before being put out to pasture, also some would argue that I may be cranky enough if not old enough. In addition I want one of these places where I have my own front door, living room, kitchen, etc - but with 24 hr help close by - more the type of thing I see in the UK nursing homes.

And rightly you may ask, why the hell am I writing about this just now? Bloody good question, as one would hope that I am 30 or more years away from this.

I spent the weekend in Prague, while there we visited the other half’s parents. A seniors community living would be great for them - the type of thing that I describe for myself - however it seems that the Czech market for nursing homes is not yet as advanced as Ireland or the UK. Now I know there are other that would consider their way is better with older people being looked after by their family - sorry people but if you think this still you are living in wonder land.

All of Europe has become so busy that the life style of having time to look after older parents has changed - both in most marriages work, and work too long and late into the day to have the time to spend with their own children and look after their parents.

I reckon by the time I am ready to be carted off we might have something more like the various options they have in the sates - I so hope so.

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Learning Czech

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:41:10 +0100

This is hurting my head. I have started in earnest to learn Czech. I lived in Vienna for a while and took German classes, I did not find it easy, however it did seem possible and I did start to understand what people were say and I could speak a little.

But Czech - big sigh, hang head...

Nothing makes me feel so stupid as learning another language. In general in life I find most things fairly easy. But with repetitive stuff that I have to do over and over again, well I just want to leave.

We have post-it note on things around the house, I am a child.

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Just Back from Prague

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:25:21 +0100

Spent the weekend in Prague and back here in Ireland for about ten days now - and still don't feel like I have got back into a routine yet.

The weekend was busy, as it always is, any time we head to the Czech Republic. Thursday landed late, Friday hotels problem - ah the idea of service in many Czech Hotels is fairly amusing until you have to deal with it. But that is for another day.

Then my first Czech wedding - my god they go on all day. Sunday the mother in law to be gave me a learning Czech book, hmmm....

Monday back on the plane...

And working too much since I got back.

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Prague Here I Come, for a few days...

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:18:36 +0000

So here I am stuck in Dublin Airport as he flight is delayed for two hours. It doesn’t happen often thank god, but airports are fairly boring places.

However Aerlingus gave us vouchers for food - good… And I get to sit here in Starbucks and chill for a few hours - still it is hard to get passed the bordom. So here I am writing and hoping that no-one reaaly reads this.

Walking in Europe is a new site that I am developing, and much to my surprise it still hasn’t been indexed by the big G after a month - I should really have put a bit more effort into that, so hopefully this post will help the big G find it at last.

Dublin Airport is fairly horrible, in a few hours we will be in Prague - and what a difference there is in the airport. Prague is just so … clean, not so packed, much easier to be in - also I can still smoke there. Yeah one day I might get around to not doing that anymore.

So hope some of this made some sense - I have only had one xanex so far - yeah hate flying also…

Have a good weekend.

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Moving to Prague

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:15:58 +0000

So we made the decision last week to move back to Prague. I am Scottish, the other half is Czceh and we lived together there for six months before moving to Ireland - we have been here for the last two years now.

I found this site while looking at Moveable Type for my own personal blog and I thought I would give it a go for this subject only - Our Move to Prague.

At first I was exicited and now I am thinking - oh my god what am I doing - I don't speak Czech - the lessons will start in Sep after out last big holiday before the move. Now I work mostly on the internet so that part is flexible - lets give it a bash and see what happens.

So this blog is somewhere away from the crowd to post about all the problems and issues I will run into getting ready to move and the moving itself.

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Moving to Prague

nobody@vox.com(pragueman) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:15:52 +0000

I found this site while looking at Moveable Type for my own personal blog and I thought I would give it a go for this subject only - Our Move to Prague.

So this blog is somewhere away from the crowd to post about all the problems and issues I will run into getting ready to move and the moving itself.

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