What are you all up to

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  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2019 #30992

    We don't have a smart meter and I don't want one. 

    We have LPG bulk gas which cost us around £550 a year and our electricity consumption is very low as we have 10 SP's ( giving us a return of around £1100  a year) we time our usage of dishwasher/washing machine/tumbler to when they are generating.

    We give meter readings every 3 mths and then the invoice is raised and paid for by DD. I don't feel the need to know how much we are using all the time. If it needs to be used then so be it, we are not by nature wasteful so having a little device isn't going to change anything.

    We have a fairly modern consumer unit as this was changed when we had a new kitchen installed. My sister recently had to have her SP inverter replaced at a cost of £1500, the new one is much better and the gizmo they install with it shows her at a glance when the panels are generating by displaying a wagging green finger, this has given us much laughter.

    Dry day today, food shopping done, freezer now filling up fine. Washing machine going like a fair, 5 loads done so far surprised

    After lunch we even managed to get part of the back grass cleared of wet leaves, I'm pretty sure I heard the grass sigh with relief laughing wallflower plants planted in a temporary position until I can clear the leaves from the flower beds. 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,855
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    edited November 2019 #30993

    Second coat of paint done this morning, only half of the room so far painted as the other side still has the old stuff in it.  Floor prepared now, so cupboard assembly will start tomorrow morning.  These first big ones have to be assembled in situ as they are 60x60x220cm tall, will need help to stand them up once assembled!

    The  rest are just ordinary base units, so easy to handle.  Sink arrived just before lunch, looks good.  Now need to decide when to order worktops.  They are 4metres long so do not want to have them lying about in the way for longer than necessary.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 14,659
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    edited November 2019 #30994

     Mind you given the time some of you spend away from home it could take years for them to find a suitable time slot.

     That was our problem, David, fitting it in between trips away, hence it going on since May!! Our IHU (the gizmo) is still not registering the daily usage but after talking to our supplier today, it can be up to 28 days before they have to do something else about getting it working. So for us it could be having to do visual readings and posting the them on line as requested. We might finally get it working properly by the end of January, all being well.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 14,659
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    edited November 2019 #30995

    Once our IHU is working properly, it will be the same for use as I like to ensure that most sockets are clear of plugs when we are away.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 14,659
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    edited November 2019 #30996

    Lovely sunny day here, which made a pleasant change. I was at the dentist before 8:30 this morning for another filling, then it was shopping, and the settling of the bill for the patio. Visit to the recycling centre this afternoon to get rid of a few bags of garden rubbish.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,378
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    edited November 2019 #30997

    Our Gizmo didn't work properly initially as the decimal point was in the wrong place! It was telling me I was using £20 worth of energy when it should have been £2!!! Then it went completely pear shaped. It is now up and running and working properly. I just like gadgets so I have no objection to it. When they installed the new meters they didn't set foot inside the house so I am surprised at what people have reported. 

    Re leaving things plugged in all the time I used to be the same. My IT son thought I was mad!!! When Margaret had her heart operation I didn't have the time or inclination to go round pulling out plugs each night so they stayed in, although on most I do flick the switch off. Apart from fridges and freezers we seem to have an increasing number of things that need to be powered up all the time like internet routers, Gizmo's, heating and heating controls, answer machine so the job has become more complicated. 

    David

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #30998

    Twas just a couple of years before my time, JVB66  but I'm sure that the politician waving that there piece of paper was actually Neville Chamberlain  not Clement Atlee ! But I'll forgive you 'cos your history slabs are probably holding up a wall as mine are doing  wink

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,098
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    edited November 2019 #30999

    and we send our readings in monthly (if home) and we have just been advised to reduce our duel fuel DD to £25 a month (from £33

    yes but if my assumption are correct you spend a lot of time away from home, so your monthly DD is hardly representative, do you by any chance keep a running total of pitch fees you incur in the course of a year, and fuel costs getting to and from these pitches, not saying you should, just a thought, do what you enjoy.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31000

    We never worry about what our leisure costs ,we have seen so many of our relations/friends say what they are going to do when retired and never get to do it ,and have since gone ,so we said we will not "just say what we are going to do" and we have done it ,and all our offspring (we are both second timers)have said they are with us whatever/where ever we do/are

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31001

     embarassed whoops,just before my time also,although i was evacuated out of Londonsurprised

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31002

    Had a good day out seeing friends near Salisbury, nearby Stonehenge always looks better in the winter, such clear views on a sunny day, I can imagine ancient gatherings there at this time of the year.

    Looks like it's going to get colder, keep warm one and all! smile

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2019 #31003

    Its certainly getting colder here brue, the gritters were out as we came home from town at 15.30 surprised

    Busy morning lifting more leaves of the back grass area, then the front grass, followed by weeding and fluffing up the soil at the smaller of the front beds. Pruning the 2 roses at the front of the house and tidying up the now soggy hostas.

    OH finished clearing out the caravan and car, drained the caravan down ready for the winter and of course chatted to anyone and everyone that happened to pass by laughing

    After lunch into town to bank our latest 'fits' cheque. Then searching the card shops for a 'Grandson' Christmas card, couldn't find one anywhere that fitted the bill, either too young or too old, finally got one in Tesco's of all places. 

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 14,659
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    edited November 2019 #31004

    Back to normal this morning with light rain but fortunately no wind so didn't get over wet when out with Flyte, but it still was a wellie job. Better afternoon and I managed to get a more some of the polishing done in the van, hopefully will complete the job tomorrow.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,855
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    edited November 2019 #31005

    Very cold here this evening, after a sunny day.

    We now have 2 of the 3 big cupboards assembled and in place, though I will not finally fix them to the wall until we have the 3rd one ready.  DD was working from home today so was able to assist with lifting the cupboards once assembled.

    They have plans for most of the weekend, so we may get some "time off" to catch up with chores at home.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31006

    Chores,  KjellNN,  What chores  ??undecided

    No No Delete that or Kj just might answer something like " Mines a double Aquavit { Akvavit ?? }innocent

     

    Old men do remember some very old jokes,  don't you Rocky  sealed

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,812
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    edited November 2019 #31007

    Heavy frost here this morning. Beautiful though. Quick hospital check on my eye for me, then home for house chores. And cleaning out MH😁

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2019 #31008

    Same here TDA, lovely and sunny but cold.

    OH gone up to the hospital for his Ultrasound scan.

    I'm in the process of renegotiating our 2nd year price for bulk LPG. Its not going well at the moment as I thought we had agreed a price cap last year of 3.5ppl they are saying no it was variable. Have looked out contract, no mention of 2nd year in anyway, now waiting for them to call me back, as they are looking at contract too.I have 2 great quotes from other companies but as I'm still in contract for another year I can't move YET playing hardball at the mo so will see what they come up with.

    Might get out in the garden later when the sun has melted the frost, still lots of leaves to be collected up. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31009

    Could be that the other quotes are to get your custom, it seems quite a popular method hoping you will stay,surprised 

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,098
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    edited November 2019 #31010

    Beautiful here in LOS solar panels generating 1 kw just now most they have done for over a week. Cycled into Stubbington village to procure tickets for carol festival, OH off to scrabble club PM, so on dog walking duties, lots of very big expanses of fresh water in the beach areas and he just loves diving in. Getting bungalow ready for early Christmas, daughter who lives in Spain arriving next Thursday for 5 day stay, yet another religious holiday in Spain so schools are closed.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,098
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    edited November 2019 #31011

    Good for you, we are fortunate in that we live almost on the beach and only 30 mins from Rooksbury park club site, so if we are suffering from withdrawl symptoms we can always pop up there for a few days, but it is closed during the winter months, but we do walk in 100 acre wood which is the wood the site sits in.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,812
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    edited November 2019 #31012

    We are planning North Wales! Got some nice sites sorted for a week’s tour, checked what interesting places are open..............weather watching now........😁

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited November 2019 #31013

    Good news from postie this morning. DVLA have renewed my licence for another three years, so now I can get down to some serious planning for next year. It's always a bit tense when you have to do these field vision tests because of a glaucoma condition. Like Rufs, I'm grateful for some blue sky at last pushing some Kilowatts into my solar panels.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,098
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    edited November 2019 #31014

    good luck, spome great field vision tests across to the IOW today and a great French Market in LOS with some yummy cheeses and a huge wok full of king size prawns simmering away, washed down with a nice glass of vino, just on my way for lunch cool

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,812
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    edited November 2019 #31015

    Good news indeed CY.

    Our pooch is dealing magnificently with all the election flyers coming through letterbox........... just travel straight through, then re emerge as the promised poop they are.....😁

    I had the delight of actually feeding one to him in front of one particular party canvasser......🤣🤣

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2019 #31016

    As it happens one of the quotes was from my current supplier but it came via a comparison site.

    It was an offer to retain my custom, on speaking to my supplier they are saying that the offer is only available if I was coming to the end of my current contract. The offer is 2p per litre below what I am paying now and 12p below what they are quoting me for my 2nd year of contract yell

     I managed to get the new rate for 2nd year down by 5p per litre but that's still 7p above the rate if I was out of contract. I told them I am still not happy with it and requested them to raise it as a complaint. I would appear going through a third party gets you a better rate than dealing direct with the supplier. As you are tied in for 2 years they have you over a barrel once the first year is up. However I don't give up easy laughing

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,960
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    edited November 2019 #31017

    Great news CY glad your sorted for another 3 years. 

    Our panels are doing great to today. smile

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31018

    Lunch over,  Sun  beating down out of a clear blue sky, still only 6* tho', so I've got the slides out again and a Christmas CD  by choirs of Peterborough Cathedral belting  out to keep me unaware of any  door-steppers  innocent.

    Hope you all are as happy as CY & I are,in our very different ways.

    As a  diabetic of about 30 years sitting ( Brian does not do 'standing' )  I know only too well  the worries that can come with these differing ailments.cool.

     Take care everybody  !

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892 Participant
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    edited November 2019 #31019

    Our second home is Ferry Meadows and has been since the early 1980s  its just over one hour journey from Commons Wood on the A1 where our c/van is stored,and we are 3miles from there,

    We are there for Xmas then on to Seacroft for New Year,

    Where we live we can see the East Coast mainline over Welwyn/Digswell Viaduct,so although we are only 22 miles from Kings Cross we are right on the Edge of open country side with an Ancient bluebell wood  at the top of our road that in the summer is a lovely walk right into the town,which Rosa loves because of Deer that frequent it

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,472
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    edited November 2019 #31020

    Eon came this morning to replace our smart meter with an even smarter one. Very efficient, arrived at 8:00 all finished and little gizmo working for 8:50. It is actually linked to our account, so now the costs it shows are accurate, rather than just approx as before. Still doesn't include VAT though, which I find strange. Is anyone on a domestic tariff exempt?

    Then off for my annual MOT at the health centre, which I passed. They were running more or less to time, a nice surprise.

    Grand daughter looking after this afternoon. She helped us put up the outside Christmas lights ( as much as a nearly 2 year old can😂) and is now having a snooze before we visit the church to look at the Christmas tree display.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 11,220
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    edited November 2019 #31021

    Dropped the 2 ladies off in Chester this morning so that they could catch the coach for their Yorkshire expedition. Carried on to the Wirral to do some birdwatching but, believe it or not, was foiled by the dastardly sun! Looking towards Wales the sun was too low.

    Went for a stroll and then made a bad choice. Decided that I didn't want to do any food shopping tomorrow and as I was near M&S at the Cheshire Oaks Outlet village would make a detour there. Why did nobody warn me that it was Black Friday? At the very least I thought that War of the Worlds had actually arrived such was the panic amongst the populace.surprised (Will be posting a sight of the Triffid in the "What have you Seen" thread.)

    Took the very long, but moving ,way out when escaping. The place was gridlocked.

    Got home and posted a meter reading, whereby I was informed that although I had agreed a new tariff with the same company, effective from tomorrow, they have only just released a cheaper one and I could have that instead. So quite happy. No mention whatsoever of meters.

    Ttda, come now as fine weather only due to last until Wednesday! That may be it for the year.

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