FabSwingers.com forum: National brick shortage

By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

Do you think planning regulations should be relaxed in order to avoid housing development being stopped due to the national brick shortage?

At the moment if the developers/builders change the type of brick in order to complete the build they have to seek consent, which is slowing the development/build process.

Why are we still using brick anyway?

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

But if they didn't use brick they would huff and puff and blow your house down

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Because straw and sticks were found to be susceptible to wolf attacks

Sorry I couldn't help it!

I think it's a sign of the times that instead of remodelling old houses, people would rather raze them to the ground and build a characterless brick house!

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"But if they didn't use brick they would huff and puff and blow your house down

Not if they put the sticks and straw together.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Because straw and sticks were found to be susceptible to wolf attacks

Sorry I couldn't help it!

I think it's a sign of the times that instead of remodelling old houses, people would rather raze them to the ground and build a characterless brick house!

Even developments that aren't made of brick use them for cladding. Are we just stuck in a design type rut?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bricks are a traditional facade that has proved to be strong, durable and aesthetically pleasing which is continues to be popular. Unfortunately they are a bugger to manufacture and the higher the gas price the harder it becomes. As for planning, I had a project almost stopped because a conservation officer didn't agree that the new brick matched the old brick sufficiently. When I asked. If she wanted to review the 500 bricks we had looked at to find a better match she signed off our choice! Commone sense should hopefully prevail.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"But if they didn't use brick they would huff and puff and blow your house down

Not if they put the sticks and straw together.

In between bricks?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?"

A discussion I was having today.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No, i don't. If they can't contract to order enough of the bricks specified in the planning consent they shouldn't be managing/developing.

Why use bricks? Because they are a perfectly appropriate building material. Would the Yanks lose far less lives/property in tornado alley if they built suitable housing? Probably.

That said, there is nothing better than a well designed house built properly in god quality stone.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I love cob houses

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Bricks are a traditional facade that has proved to be strong, durable and aesthetically pleasing which is continues to be popular. Unfortunately they are a bugger to manufacture and the higher the gas price the harder it becomes. As for planning, I had a project almost stopped because a conservation officer didn't agree that the new brick matched the old brick sufficiently. When I asked. If she wanted to review the 500 bricks we had looked at to find a better match she signed off our choice! Commone sense should hopefully prevail."

Of course the rising cost of bricks, plus the shortage making the price reach a premium, will all add to making new homes even more unaffordable.

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?"

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

No, i don't. If they can't contract to order enough of the bricks specified in the planning consent they shouldn't be managing/developing.

Why use bricks? Because they are a perfectly appropriate building material. Would the Yanks lose far less lives/property in tornado alley if they built suitable housing? Probably.

That said, there is nothing better than a well designed house built properly in god quality stone. "

God quality stone may be hard to get for some of us.

The brick shortage wasn't predicted. There isn't a central development office that notices that everyone has specified the same brick. The resultant effect is that schemes are being slowed and in some cases stopped as they wait for the brick that was in the spec to become available again.

We have a housing shortage and the brick shortage isn't helping.

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By *emmefataleWoman
over a year ago

dirtybigbadsgirlville

No, i don't. If they can't contract to order enough of the bricks specified in the planning consent they shouldn't be managing/developing.

Why use bricks? Because they are a perfectly appropriate building material. Would the Yanks lose far less lives/property in tornado alley if they built suitable housing? Probably.

That said, there is nothing better than a well designed house built properly in god quality stone. "
From gods own county?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I love cob houses"

I do too. I like a nice cob loaf too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Of course the rising cost of bricks, plus the shortage making the price reach a premium, will all add to making new homes even more unaffordable.

I strongly suspect that the cost of bricks in a new build is less than 1% of its "market price". As for the balance, people need to open their eyes somewhat.

How come very few people consider the "demand" side of today's major problems?

Growth in GDP isn't everything.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No, i don't. If they can't contract to order enough of the bricks specified in the planning consent they shouldn't be managing/developing.

Why use bricks? Because they are a perfectly appropriate building material. Would the Yanks lose far less lives/property in tornado alley if they built suitable housing? Probably.

That said, there is nothing better than a well designed house built properly in god quality stone. From gods own county?"

Absolutely. Shame they didn't latch onto dampproofing earlier when they built most of Huddersfield and Bradford.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few.

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By *icked weaselCouple
over a year ago

Near Edinburgh..

"I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

And Then someone invented concrete house`s or "Wimpy" Homes During the 60`s and 70`s.. Eyesores

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?"

I have been asking this question for years. There are SO many gorgeous houses and cottages that could be brought back to life instead of being left empty and derelict. What is the obsession with having brand new characterless 'boxes' to live in?

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By *icked weaselCouple
over a year ago

Near Edinburgh..

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

It`s the LAND !!!

Down here in devon - people buy old properties and let them go to ruin.. its only so they can get Planning Permission to let it go to ruin and knock it down and build a new house on that Plot of LAND !!

its called Investment ..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I love cob houses

I do too. I like a nice cob loaf too."

Well that would be perfect. I'd love to build a hobbit house somewhere.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

It`s the LAND !!!

its called Investment ..

Not the case in this part of the world! I'm talking about single houses that have been left empty for years and no one touches them. Planning consent would certainly not be given to knock anything down to build new on the same plot.

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

You can buy houses where we live that are breezeblock ...you buy the bricks as and when you can afford them ..this has been going on about 13 /15 years

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few."

It's funny that a lot of the Victorian builds were rush jobs, cutting corners so that developers could make a quick profit. They didn't expect the terraces like mine to last this long. They wouldn't meet building code now.

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

I am strongly in favour of very tight building regulations. We help to conserve character of areas, ensure that the capacity of local services, roads etc meet demand as well as preserve wild areas and public health. Done on the cheap with little control and safety standards etc fall. I would hate neighbouring properties to be out of step and ruin others lives and investments. As for brick, it has served us well for hundreds, thousands of years. I dont know of a more attractive widely available house external material. As said, I have not detailed info on shortages, but if that is the cause, then Id look at dealing with it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I am strongly in favour of very tight building regulations. We help to conserve character of areas, ensure that the capacity of local services, roads etc meet demand as well as preserve wild areas and public health. Done on the cheap with little control and safety standards etc fall. I would hate neighbouring properties to be out of step and ruin others lives and investments. As for brick, it has served us well for hundreds, thousands of years. I dont know of a more attractive widely available house external material. As said, I have not detailed info on shortages, but if that is the cause, then Id look at dealing with it. "

If only that were true.

Around here they've recently erected/thrown together 500 or so "brick boxes" some even stacked three high on top of others.

In keeping with the character and historical development of the area? No way.

Maintaining local servies? The Junior school got one additional portacabin taking up half the playground.

The roads? The council painted a few "keep clear" signs across driveways for the extended queues at every set of traffic lights. Of which there are several.

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few.

That's my point, they have lasted because they were constructed properly. They only need some tlc and most of them would easily last another 100+ yrs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few.

That's my point, they have lasted because they were constructed properly. They only need some tlc and most of them would easily last another 100+ yrs "

We've just bought a stone built house......won't be going anywhere soon

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This Country doesn't have a shortage of Housing what it does have is a massive shortage of Social housing, Private development will not solve the problem as its getting more difficult yearly to get on the first rung of the house ownership ladder.

Gimp the Red

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By *he tactile technicianMan
over a year ago

the good lands, the bad lands, the any where you may want me lands

"I love cob houses

I do too. I like a nice cob loaf too."
and cob records of Porthmadoc? shame they have gone to the wall with digital downloads, maybe the brick industry should read the writing?

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By *rightonsteveMan
over a year ago

Brighton - even Hove!

Damn! I misread it as 'national prick shortage' and thought 'hurrah!'

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I love cob houses

I do too. I like a nice cob loaf too. and cob records of Porthmadoc? shame they have gone to the wall with digital downloads, maybe the brick industry should read the writing?

They were an institution

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

I'd like to see more Gingerbread houses, personally. Whenever you are feeling peckish there is never one around.

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

I'd love to live in a Huf Haus.

Friggin gorgeous, environmentally sound and quick to build.

Shame they're a tad pricey!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'd love to live in a Huf Haus.

Friggin gorgeous, environmentally sound and quick to build.

Shame they're a tad pricey!

I'd rather live in a whole one

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I love cob houses

I do too. I like a nice cob loaf too. and cob records of Porthmadoc? shame they have gone to the wall with digital downloads, maybe the brick industry should read the writing?

They were an institution

Have been to a wedding there - beautiful.

Mud houses are the way forward

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By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"We've just bought a stone built house......won't be going anywhere soon

Our last house was stone and nearly 400 years old - not a straight wall or level floor anywhere, but still standing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes."

There is a hotel in the Indian Ocean like this.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
over a year ago

in Lancashire

"This Country doesn't have a shortage of Housing what it does have is a massive shortage of Social housing, Private development will not solve the problem as its getting more difficult yearly to get on the first rung of the house ownership ladder.

Gimp the Red"

this..

for many of the workers and others that are essential to the way our society runs its more like impossible..

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By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

There is a hotel in the Indian Ocean like this. "

I just Googled it and that's definitely the way forward. We just need to develop the oxygen gum now.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?"

Because it's vastly more expensive to repair homes scattered around that to build a new group all together.

Inspecting all the wood removing all the wiring plumbing gas etc and bringing it all up to code takes ages and costs a fortune for little gain

Not to mention if thw building is listed then you're royally stuffed and it would never turn a profit.

Plus most of those houses are empty and in terrible ghettoish areas where the people who can afford to buy a house do not want to live

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few.

Victoria stiff lasts so long because they didn't have our understanding of engineering so things were made with a huge safety margin.

Take a steam engine some of them were built with a safety factor of 12 ie the component was 12 times stronger than it needed to be because they couldn't be sure the material would always be the same or they had to account for things they couldn't predict. Hence why a steam engine from hundreds of years ago can still work today.

A modern civil airliner by comparison is built with a safety factor of just 1.25

They don't last so long cause they were well built they last so long cause they were so untrusted of thier materials they beefed up the design ridiculously

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

".....

Plus most of those houses are empty and in terrible ghettoish areas where the people who can afford to buy a house do not want to live"

Which prompts the question - are these 'ghettoish' areas because the houses are in poor condition or are the houses in poor condition because they're in an undesirable area?

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

Victoria stiff lasts so long because

Sounds like a TG porn star

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

There is a hotel in the Indian Ocean like this.

I just Googled it and that's definitely the way forward. We just need to develop the oxygen gum now."

No need for clothes. There are pesky sharks in those parts though.

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By *umpkinMan
over a year ago

near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack!

There`s an estate near me that is known as the Barrett Box estate! Concrete bases were put down and plywood boxes were stacked in an appropriate configuration to make the interior and were then bricked up aroud the outside. Lovely accoustics if you`ve got heavy shoes on!

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon

A national prick shortage !!

Oh no !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

".....

Plus most of those houses are empty and in terrible ghettoish areas where the people who can afford to buy a house do not want to live

Which prompts the question - are these 'ghettoish' areas because the houses are in poor condition or are the houses in poor condition because they're in an undesirable area?"

Usually they're left when the people who can move away do. And then no one who can buy them wants them. And the people who would be willing to live there can't afford to buy them

And the locals smash the shit out if them tbf

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

".....

Plus most of those houses are empty and in terrible ghettoish areas where the people who can afford to buy a house do not want to live

Which prompts the question - are these 'ghettoish' areas because the houses are in poor condition or are the houses in poor condition because they're in an undesirable area?

Usually they're left when the people who can move away do. And then no one who can buy them wants them. And the people who would be willing to live there can't afford to buy them

And the locals smash the shit out if them tbf"

Perhaps this is what compulsory purchase orders are meant for.

I take the point (above) that homes are easier/ cheaper built in blocks but every home or site is precious nowadays, especially with the amount of nimbyism out there.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Go to bank ask for loan to buy a house when they ask is it brick opps no loan

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"Go to bank ask for loan to buy a house when they ask is it brick opps no loan "

Eh? Are you saying you can't get a mortgage on a brick built house?

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By *etanreadyCouple
over a year ago

dover

Our house dates from the 1850`s , no damp proof fitted then, getting the the whole house damp proofed next week, also internal wall coming down, so if anyone wants some old bricks, you know where we are.

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

"Our house dates from the 1850`s , no damp proof fitted then, getting the the whole house damp proofed next week, "

Considering your user name is WetandReady, does that mean you'll change it to nowdrybutready?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Go to bank ask for loan to buy a house when they ask is it brick opps no loan

Eh? Are you saying you can't get a mortgage on a brick built house?"

They tend to only lend if its brick

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Why are we not repurposing/redeveloping the 600,000 empty homes and properties across the UK instead of building new ones?

I have worked on new build sites and can guarantee the Victorians made a better fist of putting up a house than we, in most cases, do now

x a few.

Victoria stiff lasts so long because they didn't have our understanding of engineering so things were made with a huge safety margin.

A modern civil airliner by comparison is built with a safety factor of just 1.25

They don't last so long cause they were well built they last so long cause they were so untrusted of thier materials they beefed up the design ridiculously"

Thanks for that. No one has ever explained it like that to me.

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Our house dates from the 1850`s , no damp proof fitted then, getting the the whole house damp proofed next week, also internal wall coming down, so if anyone wants some old bricks, you know where we are."

Put those bricks online - someone will want them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"But if they didn't use brick they would huff and puff and blow your house down

That just cracked me up!

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes."

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

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By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says fish can't swim backwards.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says fish can't swim backwards."

He hasn't watched Shark Tale

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says fish can't swim backwards.

He hasn't watched Shark Tale"

I hope they make beeping noises, or at least little bubbles with 'beep' on a bit of paper appear

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

whats wrong with loaves covered in superglue?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"whats wrong with loaves covered in superglue?"

When you heat them up - they're toast

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says fish can't swim backwards."

Is Mark (who is a ninja) always right? If so, where are all the bricks?

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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"whats wrong with loaves covered in superglue?

When you heat them up - they're toast "

But they will smell lovely.

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By *unky monkeyMan
over a year ago

in the night garden

"It's high time we lived under water in glass domes.

As long as we can watch reversing Goldfish

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says fish can't swim backwards.

Is Mark (who is a ninja) always right? If so, where are all the bricks?"

What a ridiculous question darling of course he is. I think.

My friend Mark (who is a ninja) says the missing bricks are at Dave's down the road. He is making a bar in his living room 70's style.

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