tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2008:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff/98 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z Fun stuff for and about builders - video, games, competitions, and weird stories about construction, building and builders. Movable Type Enterprise 1.53 tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.13641 2008-03-07T11:29:00Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

It would not be a shock to learn that most of you probably have no idea what your carbon footprint is. Maybe you don't care, but then again, maybe you do. If the latter is the case, then it...

James Evison It would not be a shock to learn that most of you probably have no idea what your carbon footprint is. Maybe you don't care, but then again, maybe you do. If the latter is the case, then it is worth checking out the government's latest online carbon calculator. BuildersBox quickly found out that the most important factor was flights, whether long haul or short haul. If you haven't taken many plane journeys recently, chances are that you have a low carbon footprint, regardless of what else you have been up to. ]]> Directgov's online carbon calculator]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14880 2008-02-14T09:10:43Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

You probably know them well, in fact they probably share an intimate part of your life and memories, but they're not real. The character of a builder has consistently been popular throughout the history of drama on television. It...

James Evison You probably know them well, in fact they probably share an intimate part of your life and memories, but they're not real. The character of a builder has consistently been popular throughout the history of drama on television. It is undoubtedly because the builder can be used to portray an everyman figure for a variety of purposes, not all of them good; sometimes the character is bigoted, angry and violent, sometimes the fall guy, sometimes a pathetic loser. BuildersBox had a long hard think about what are not only the most well known fictional builders, but also the most controversial. The underlying question has to be: do these characters reflect badly on builders in real life? ]]> 1) Beth Willis from Neighbours: Otherwise known as Natalie Imbruglia, she was the daughter-in-law of Joe-Scully-esque character, Doug Willis, also the owner of his own building firm. Working as a builder was inevitably going to cause problems for a woman, many of which were extensively catalogued in various episodes of Neighbours. 'Girl Power' before the word was invented. 2) Len Fairclough from Coronation Street: Softy and hardman all at once, and a figure on the street for over twenty years. A traditional, good-natured figure but some one who would get into fights if he felt that his honour needed preserving. 3) Joe Scully from the Australian soap Neighbours: Starting off as an apprentice, he eventually created his own building empire, un-imaginatively named 'Ozbuilt'. His character was generally good hearted and kind with a specific love of sports, especially football. On screen, he gave a fairly positive picture of a builder, but his off-screen drinking antics meant that he suddenly disappeared from the show overnight, never to be seen again. 4) Charlie Stubbs from Coronation Street: A traditional soap villain. Violent and constantly lying, he did not depict builders in a positive light. As is now common place in soaps, he was the kind of character that manipulated and bullied people until, unsuprisingly, he got his comeuppance. 5) Paul Priestly from Eastenders: Its odd to think that twenty years ago Eastenders was going through the same crisis that it still is going through now, with accusations that it is too 'depressing'. After the popular Simon Wicks character, builder Paul Priestly was meant to be the new, light-hearted romeo of Albert Square, getting himself into a variety of comic-romantic scenarios. And his added bonus is that before becoming an actor on Eastenders as Paul Priestly, Mark Thrippleton was a builder. tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.15600 2008-02-11T07:38:39Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

For all of you that have kids, this may be the ideal Christmas present. Sorry to mention the dreaded word so far from its date, but this was just too good to miss. Made by the aptly named American...

James Evison For all of you that have kids, this may be the ideal Christmas present. Sorry to mention the dreaded word so far from its date, but this was just too good to miss. Made by the aptly named American company 'Flying Peas', these construction 'tools' will lighten up the roughest of sustenance. ]]> BuildersBox has got to admit, we think that adults should use them too, especially as one of the pieces of cutlery is essentially a shovel with which to plough food onto a spoon. It would certainly make beans on toast more exciting, and it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'stop playing with your food'. Related internet links: Flying Peas website]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14684 2008-01-28T12:32:11Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

The only people likely to invest in zero carbon homes are those that believe that they will get similar creature comforts to a normal house but with more environmentally friendly credentials. In order to achieve this, extra money would...

James Evison The only people likely to invest in zero carbon homes are those that believe that they will get similar creature comforts to a normal house but with more environmentally friendly credentials. In order to achieve this, extra money would have to be spent, not less. It would seem that a solution has been made to this economic issue; the mud house. In fact it blows away the other zero carbon opposition as it only costs 300 quid. Whether you would want to live in it though is a different matter altogether. BuildersBox's opinion is that it would be better to spend your money planting a whole forest and carbon offset than live like a medieval peasant. ]]> The Festival of Xtreme Building website]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2008:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.22925 2008-01-24T14:55:10Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

Now here's a turn up for the books. It would seem that children are to learn about the pitfalls of shoddy building work and cowboy builders....

James Evison Now here's a turn up for the books. It would seem that children are to learn about the pitfalls of shoddy building work and cowboy builders. ]]> apparently it is really 'offensive' as the depiction of a pig cause 'cultural issues'. What do you think?]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.17017 2007-12-06T14:30:26Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

In the grand tradition of using comics to assist kids in learning, the Apollo Group has created the 'The O'Tooles' to illustrate how dangerous building sites are....

James Evison In the grand tradition of using comics to assist kids in learning, the Apollo Group has created the 'The O'Tooles' to illustrate how dangerous building sites are. ]]> The O'Tooles website]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.17235 2007-11-09T14:44:10Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

Here is a bit of a silly one. Some one on YouTube has created a little timelapse film of themselves building a Lego house. But there is a sinister twist in the plot....

James Evison Here is a bit of a silly one. Some one on YouTube has created a little timelapse film of themselves building a Lego house. But there is a sinister twist in the plot. ]]> YouTube video]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.15121 2007-10-13T10:51:07Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

Everyone likes to make excuses. If you are a builder, the temptation may be there more than in other industries. But what are the best, the most elaborate, or the most silly excuses that builders have ever made for...

James Evison Everyone likes to make excuses. If you are a builder, the temptation may be there more than in other industries. But what are the best, the most elaborate, or the most silly excuses that builders have ever made for poor work? Sickness, general poor health, 'it's a technical issue', the list runs on and on. Here are a few: ]]> A house that is falling apart with an enormous range of cracks is blamed on the owner's post-build 'landscaping' and not on the shoddy foundations. Because planting a few shrubs would clearly cause a crack down the centre of your living room. 2) Student accommodation: always rubbish and disgusting, but reaches new levels with this particular example. One of the builders put the cupboards in the kitchen on the wrong way up, the excuse? Easy access for tall people. 3) Fancy painting your doors? Well, you better not employ these builders, which is thankfully pretty unlikely really, as they live across the Atlantic. Apparently the excuse for the doors not being painted all the way to the top was that they employed 'short mexicans'. 4) How about the one who acted like a bad boyfriend? Well, that's what this woman specifically complains of in relation to her experience with one builder. His excuse for not calling her? His mum had fallen off a bus and he had left his mobile phone at home when going to visit her. Amazingly, she bought the story, until a friend pointed out that his mum had probably already died four times this year. 5) And finally, how about the excuse of actually being a builder? That was what toff Otis Ferry told House of Commons security when he stormed the Commons chamber with his chums during an pro-hunt demonstration. He had gone and bought the hi-vis jackets and everything. BuildersBox assumes he didn't open his mouth to speak, as surely his plummy voice would have given the game away. But maybe he put on a cockey accent? Who knows.]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.15783 2007-10-12T10:05:36Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

Most offices constantly undergo radical redesigns of space every couple of years, but this example is probably the most extreme that BuildersBox has ever come across....

James Evison Most offices constantly undergo radical redesigns of space every couple of years, but this example is probably the most extreme that BuildersBox has ever come across. ]]> Related links: Wooden phones]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.15779 2007-10-12T08:48:14Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

Power tools and pumpkins anyone? Well, it's that time of year again, when people get dressed up in silly costumes, and kids come to your door wanting their next hit of e-numbers. But the real question has to be:...

James Evison Power tools and pumpkins anyone? Well, it's that time of year again, when people get dressed up in silly costumes, and kids come to your door wanting their next hit of e-numbers. But the real question has to be: how do you carve your pumpkin? ]]> Extreme Pumpkins website]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14986 2007-09-28T10:21:16Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

The Gripfill Girls are now back due to popular demand. Now gloriously titled the 'G-Force' girls, the company is using them to run a marketing campaign whereby you could win an on-site photoshoot with the buxom ladies. Phoar! BuildersBox doesn't...

James Evison The Gripfill Girls are now back due to popular demand. Now gloriously titled the 'G-Force' girls, the company is using them to run a marketing campaign whereby you could win an on-site photoshoot with the buxom ladies. Phoar! BuildersBox doesn't think there are many of you that would turn that offer down. ]]> The G-Force girls competition]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14740 2007-09-24T14:31:21Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

What? Books? For builders? That's right, and there are some good ones out there as well. Whether it be a few jokes for the back pocket or a comprehensive guide to building anything, you are sure to find what you...

James Evison What? Books? For builders? That's right, and there are some good ones out there as well. Whether it be a few jokes for the back pocket or a comprehensive guide to building anything, you are sure to find what you are looking for on the web. ]]> Building Construction Handbook 2) Penguin Dictionary of Building 3) Illustrated Dictionary of Building Design and Construction 4) Building Regulations in Brief 5) White Van Wit]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14671 2007-09-24T10:35:45Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

We all love a good flick, but its even better when we see something that we can relate to. Builders don't get a lot of coverage in films, as their jobs aren't glamorous enough for the bright lights of Hollywood,...

James Evison We all love a good flick, but its even better when we see something that we can relate to. Builders don't get a lot of coverage in films, as their jobs aren't glamorous enough for the bright lights of Hollywood, but every now and again there is the occassional builder nugget for us all to feast on. ]]> Mad, bizarre horror-digger fest: Killdozer 2) Tool craziness: Driller Killer 3) One for the kids: Bob the Builder 4) Casino Royale: superb construction site scene 5) The Money Pit: how not to build]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14656 2007-09-24T09:55:17Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

More and more nowadays, building and construction finds itself on television. Whether it is DIY or large scale construction projects, there is a wealth of shows across terrestrial and satallite TV....

James Evison More and more nowadays, building and construction finds itself on television. Whether it is DIY or large scale construction projects, there is a wealth of shows across terrestrial and satallite TV. ]]> Changing Rooms: the original, and for some, still the best 2) DIY SOS: the reason why builders make a living. Disaster aversion television 3) Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 4) Builders from Hell 5) Rogue Traders]]> tag:www.buildersbox.co.uk,2007:/blogs/builders-fun-stuff//98.14651 2007-09-24T09:28:05Z 2008-03-10T11:29:05Z

BuildersBox knows you all love a teabreak, the more of them, the better. But the real question is, what brand is the best British cuppa? Well it seems that there appears to be a degree of controversy surrounding the issue,...

James Evison cup of tea in Britain is the worst in the world. ]]> Make mine a builders 2) PG Tips 3) Adsa own brand 4) Tetley 5) Yorkshire tea Related links: The Sun gets some builders to try out various teas ]]>