News
Good-bye to 2025! Suffered an AORTIC DISSECTION back in March. Successful operation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (Mr Orwa Falah and his team!) and a frustrating R&R (I like working!). Grateful thanks also has to go to the staff at Stonehaven hospital who called the ambulance for me - blue-lighted into Aberdeen Royal (no queuing!) - saved my life. On-going CT scans etc - plus 12 pills per day. So I'm well looked after. Promise I will never lift a heavy welding jig over my head and do twenty squats again!
07/01/2026: SNOW! And more SNOW - then more SNOW. No welding - can't get to the workshop but I will try today.
22/01/2026: First full week back in the 'shop! Besides all the metal-bashing/welding I have to deal with shipping issues - Parcel2go/UPS - two cheeks of the same arse. Fedex - just an arse.
24/03/2026: Aberdeenshire Council has decided my rent should increase 50%. With the recent decline of the OIl & Gas industry, Aberdeen rental prices have become accessible - so we're on the move to a bigger workshop next month! Bit of a PITA but the extra working time gained from reduced commuting and the savings on diesel(!) make it worthwhile.
10/06/2026: When I moved into the Laurencekirk workshop it took several trips in a long-wheelbase transit. This move up to Portlethen required two trips using an 18 tonne truck and several trips in my works van! One heavy piece of machinery still to go but I welded up the first pipe in the new 'shop this morning. People have been VERY patient - but I really have to get a move on now.
15/07/2026: Rolling now! New workshop is a mess but will get everything sorted over the coming days/weeks. So sad I had to leave my custom-built work benches - definitely need something similar in the new place.
06/08/2026: Once again I am locked out of our e-mail address - info@2bular.com. A never-ending merry-go-round of passwords/one-time codes etc etc. Please use - jvalentine46@gmail.com - if you are waiting ...... and waiting, for a reply. Trying to sort this out once and for all.
10/08/2026: Point of order! Up here in sunny Aberdeen during this Summer, we've had a couple of days where the daytime temperature has drifted over 20deg C - A COUPLE OF DAYS! Yesterday was 15deg C and 17-18deg C is the norm up here June-August. Talk of the 'Fifth Heat-Wave' is .................... interesting. I don't want 32deg C when I'm metal-bashing/TIG-welding anyway!