326 replies to this topic

[Ministage2]

Hi Guys

 

Just a question- this poor chap who lost everything is very lucky to have such a kind bunch of people looking out for him, im honestly quite moved at how everyone had pulled together to help him.

Im assuming he has a few people who know him personally on here outside the forum and have helped with the rebuild - i think we would love to hear from them about how badly affected the folk were on the isle of Wight by the floods and especially how the mini is coming along now!

 

Also, Ben, have you got any pictures of before and after with the mini so i can see how it was when it was finished before the flood and how its all been washed away and rebuilt! i love things like that - like a timeline - bringing it back to life.

 

Its a sad thing that nature takes a bite out of us from time to time.

Edited by Ministage2, 08 March 2014 - 08:20 AM.

[Ben_O]

Hi Ministage2

 

The Mini is a project that is stripped out and being restored so there is no real before and after. 

I did update my build thread with some of the remedial work that i had to do post flood so you could check that out if you are interested? There are some before and after shots there. The link is in my signature.

 

Everyone on here has been marvellous and i have received lots of support from the guys here with offers of parts and financial help. It has also given me the opportunity to speak to members both on the phone and in person for advice and support. 

 

I don't know what i would have done without TMF and with it being so unexpected as well it really is very touching and i often read back over this thread.

 

Thanks

 

Ben

[(philip)]

Just read through all this. Amazing. A real community of awesomeness.

Hope everything getting better Ben.

[Ben_O]

Just read through all this. Amazing. A real community of awesomeness.

Hope everything getting better Ben.

Slowly but surely mate

[Ben_O]

Hi everybody!

 

I just thought i would share with you my latest purchase. 

 

This was bought with some of the donation money and i have just picked it up.

 

It is a Snap on Mig 130 to replace the one i lost in the flood.

 

So here is what i got

• Welder with a new reel of 0.8 wire, new tip and shroud fitted
• spare new reel of 0.8 wire
• spare new reel of 0.6 stainless wire
• new can of anti splatter spray
• 4 packets of assorted 0.6 and 0.8 tips
• 2 new full disposable argon/co2 gas bottles
• speedgas auto dim shield
• welding gauntlets
• spare wire liner

plus a tool box to store the accessories in and a duffel to store the shield and gloves etc in.

 

So i am well pleased with it and it works a treat!

 

So thanks alot TMF for making this possible.

 

Ben

 

 

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[Teapot]

You sound a lot chirpier these days. That's what we like to hear .

[Ben_O]

Thanks very much.

I'm happy at the moment as i'm with family in kent and spirits are high.

Next week we go home(ish) to the IOW  still no progress on the flat so we will be back to sharing a single bed in a box room. doh!

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Tamworthbay]

Thanks very much.
I'm happy at the moment as i'm with family in kent and spirits are high.
Next week we go home(ish) to the IOW  still no progress on the flat so we will be back to sharing a single bed in a box room. doh!
 
Cheers
 
Ben

The summer is coming, with longer days. Hopefully that will help as well.

[Ben_O]

Cheers Clive.

We will be happy once the work is underway, at least then we will know it WILL happen instead of just not knowing. Its just hard being in limbo at the moment where you just can't settle and have to live out of boxes and bags.

Still, it could have been much worse, at least we have a roof over our heads.

 

Just need to buy a grinder now and then work can continue on the Mini!!

 

Thanks guys!

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Just realised I haven't updated since march!

 

Well, all of the rubbish has been cleared now at long last. no more looking at everything lost everyday. We had a waste clearing company take the bulk away but he charged for a fixed amount of waste and didn't quite realise how much there was!

In the end, he agreed to take the fridge freezer even though it cost him a lot to dispose of it in exchange for leaving a few bits behind.

 

Did two trips to the tip today to get rid of the worst of it and was just left with the tumble dryer, a hippo bag full of general rubbish and some odds and ends of wood from the furniture we had to break up.

I strapped the mattress to the roof of my car to get it to the tip and broke the aerial off in the process which was a bummer. The car was like driving a kite with that up the roof!

 

So with the tumble dryer being the biggest pain (massive 15KG drum model) I decided to break it up to make it easier to dispose of. Once I got the huge drum out, I had the idea to use it as an incinerator so set to it and spent the rest of the evening burning the rest of the stuff. Also cut back some trees a few weeks ago so they were nice and dried out so burnt them too.

 

Progress on the flat is still very slow, We now have 3 industrial de-humidifiers on the go 16 hours a day and a huge air recirculator going too so it's getting dryer. The bathroom door now fully closes with ease so we know it's getting there.

A few more weeks of drying out and hopefully the work can commence.

 

Hope to be moved back in by July but not certain on that yet. all depends on how quickly things move.

 

We are generally feeling better now time has passed and we have been spending a lot of time at my Mum's which is good as we can get away from the place.

Just desperate to get moved back in now so we can start putting the donation money to use and replace some of out furniture and belongings.

 

the Mini is thoroughly dried out now and the zinc primer I applied is keeping all traces of rust away. I cleaned the dust off of the shell yesterday and am making plans to continue with the restoration shortly.

 

I would like to close this message by extending my huge gratitude once again for all of the support that TMF has given through these tough times and I am confident that things are going to be much better in 2015!

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

Well after 7 months of misery, the Insurance company have finally given the go ahead for the repairs to be done to our home.

 

It's the best news we have had for a long time and we are elated.

 

Still very bitter that it has taken so long but it looks like we can finally start putting our lives back together after this tragedy.

 

Still no joy with our claim for compensation with the highways agency but we have been advised that we will need to have a summons issued to them before they will take the matter seriously.

 

More on this later.

 

I will be at IMM on Sunday and i hope to meet as many of the people that helped us with their kind donations and/or support during this time.

 

Ben

[Ben_O]

 

[Miniminx71]

Excellent news. I felt so sorry for the people affected when I was watching it on the news. Glad to hear yours in getting there and you'll be sorted soon. The Isle of Wight is a lovely place to live.

[Ben_O]

Excellent news. I felt so sorry for the people affected when I was watching it on the news. Glad to hear yours in getting there and you'll be sorted soon. The Isle of Wight is a lovely place to live.

Thank you.

 

we are just waiting for the call now and then we will know when the work can begin.

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they will be fitting a kitchen so we will just have a double unit with sink and draining board and 2 double wall cupboards like before but we will improve it ourselves once the other work is finished.

 

To be honest, we are just looking forward to having a clean, dry and safe home that we can relax in.

 

We will probably just have a bed to start with but once we get it properly decorated and furnished, i will take some snaps and get them up on here.

 

I still feel sick when i look at the post flood photos but i guess it's one of those things that you don't really get over, you just move on and try not to think about it. 

 

Ben

[Orange-Phantom]

Damm, I've just read through this and really feel for you.  Glad to hear things are getting better.

 

And here's me getting rather annoyed about the cat's getting fleas!  Kinda put's things in perspective a bit!

 

Oh and is the fund still going?

 

All the best.