DIY: looking for nuts

It is so easy to have a policy of throwing every old things away and buy new ones. There are screws and nuts which might come in handy, yet when you need them, you cannot find them. Being a son of a mechanic, it could be in my genes or it could be learning by example. I keep all kinds of parts for just in case which means we live among messy surroundings at most times.

There was this old shoe rack (3 levels) made of metal (with nuts missing), which was one of many items which my son discarded when he renovated his house. I went to a hardware shop and was told to look for them in a motor shop because what they have are of different grooves. I went to a vehicle spare parts shop and the boss said he does not stock those. Thinking those racks are being sold in furniture shops, I went to look up my friend who works in one. His shop does not sell those and he has no such nuts. Luckily, few doors away was a motorcycle repair shop and the boss has some which fit. It costs only 30 sen each, but I need 12 which work out to Rm3.60. It is still a small sum, but the same rack if found at the flea market might cost around that sum, nuts included! When I started out looking for the simple and common looking nuts, I did not expect having to go round a few shops before I could find them!

Renovation also meant creating new problems. It was not too long ago when we bought a new washing machine which we transported back ourselves and installed according to instructions. It had to be moved to another room till the renovation works were completed. Instruction to contractor to have an outlet was done. But when instruction for a raised platform for the machine was given, nobody thought about the position of the outlet hole. Now, we found to our dismay, it was on the wrong side of the platform which means the outlet hose provided is too short! Again, we need to improvise with another length of hose which I have just bought and yet to check if it fits.

In case anyone thinks DIY is not worth the trouble, I can tell that either he comes from a rich family with most things provided or he has yet to live on his own and experience the costs of repairs. It is not only the cost of a technician being asked to make a house call for just checking, tightening or adjusting some screws, but the trouble of having to wait for him to come and to stay with him till he finishes his work. The other thing I dislike is not knowing what type of person you will be meeting and having to be careful in case he takes something when you are not looking!
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