Ive seen the light
I don't mind doing all the little jobs that make the place run but every now and then you take on a little task which has adverse consequences.

When one of the fancy low energy bulbs decided to end its working life, it required replacement. These bulbs had been in position for many years, a happy side effect and testament to their longevity. However, at the time of installation, no-one had given any thought as to how the fittings were constructed or how to remove the light bulbs. The architect specified them, the electricians fitted them and no-one else had a clue

I grabbed the stepladder and confidently headed for the ceiling. Having utilised several implements to get to the bulb, I thought it would have been straightforward to remove it. Nope. twisting didn't work and neither did pulling. I struggled for quite a few minutes before the elderly glass gave way and crumbled in my hands, leaving the base of the bulb in the fitting, but slightly more concerning, having showered my face with a white dust and shards of glass.

I brushed this away and fought with the fitting, finally working out how to extract the bulb base. Now, I appreciate that it was simple once I had a acquired a new bulb, to work out how to change it, but I didn't know what bulb to buy until I had removed it.

After I finished, I was left with a slight irritation in the eyes and thought little of it until I got home that night. It still felt quite scratchy and I wasn't totally happy with it and it obviously wasn't just going to 'go away'. On looking in the bathroom mirror I noted that I could see a sizeable lump of glass moving up and down the surface of my eye with each blink of the eyelids.

A trip to A&E ensued, and a steady handed doctor, with the aid of some significant magnification, removed the offending article.

ALL light bulbs now require goggles for change, which probably looks a bit odd but I'm not keen to repeat the experience.

Oh and BTW if the doctors seem keen to put the orange dye "fluoroscein" into your eye, try asking for a bit of local first as it stings quite badly.

Maybe reading the manual for the light fitting in the construction file would have prevented it. Maybe it wouldn't. Maybe I couldn't be bothered to go into the loft and find said file before attempting such a job, it was only a light bulb after all.
(gearanach #wankwankwank, Sun 1 Dec 2013, 13:54, 5 replies)

Ow
Fuck's sake. Have a click for probably giving me nightmares!
(wolfpussy will nibble your fingers on, Sun 1 Dec 2013, 23:22, closed)

Also...
You showered your face with mercury.
(squigbobble existed, Mon 2 Dec 2013, 10:45, closed)

Ugly stuff
Unlike bulbs of yore they always seem to crumble and be filled with mysterious chemicals that leave you wondering. BTW, you have a plain old broken bulb stuck in the socket, push a cork into it to get a grip without glassing your fingers.
(xixax, Mon 2 Dec 2013, 11:19, closed)

Nothing beats the thrill of shoving a pair of pliers in,
without bothering to check whether or not you've shut off the power.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 2 Dec 2013, 11:44, closed)

rust
I got a bit of rust in my eye after working on the car with no goggles. The doc removed it with local anaesthetic, and what looked like the world's smallest Dremel.
(Simian Typewriter Supplies Pty. Ltd. is house hunting in the neighborhood of infinity, Mon 2 Dec 2013, 19:22, closed)