What are you all up to
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Kj, I think we'll all be turning things off soon, I'm making the best of our fixed rate just now, I think the price rises will be a big shock.
A nice sunny frosty morning here. We've been out doing a few things this week so have been busy. We're going to a big band evening over the weekend, looking forward to hearing the music. 🎼
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Looks like autocorrect has relocated you from the Solent to Essex.
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I had an email from the boss of our energy suppler, Octopus Energy, the other day. He was explaining the situation with the expected rise in energy bills when the Energy Cap is raised in the April. He was pointing out that the average household bill which currently stands at £1300 a year will likely increase to £2000 unless the Government take some action. Hopefully in time, maybe several years the price of energy will full and there can be some downward pressure on prices as much of the current increase is caused by price speculation, or is that wishful thinking?
As energy prices increase it makes solar panels a more attractive proposition but I do wonder at my age whether, even with the high cost of electricity, I would get a return on my investment?
Smart meter only showed £3.50 worth of energy used yesterday which is not too bad although on most days its hovered between £4 and £5. Roll on the Spring!
David
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Another frosty foggy morning here and driving into our small local town not nice but not much traffic about and surprised how many folk had not got their lights on numpties or what glad to get back home, the trip to local tip now next week as not worth going out again it has got more foggy since I came home.
So inside cleaning chores today, got some decorating to do but that will start next week as not so cold but duller and some rain new month and a change in the weather.
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DavidKlyne said: As energy prices increase it makes solar panels a more attractive proposition but I do wonder at my age whether, even with the high cost of electricity, I would get a return on my investment?
We are in exactly the same quandary, David. Solar panels make sense, ultimately, but not sure we would get a return for our investment.
In the short term we have to decide what to do in March, when we come to the end of our fixed term. Martin Lewis tends to be veering towards not fixing, but to go with a standard variable rate. For us, Octopus estimate we would be paying £100 a month more (initially) should we decide to go for a fixed rate. 😟
David
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"Solar panels make sense, ultimately, but not sure we would get a return for our investment. "
you would have if you had installed them some 10 years ago, which i did but not so sure now. Back then the feed in tarriff e.g. what you get for putting power back into the grid was very profitable, dont think you can get this now, we get approx £500+ per annum from feed in tarriff which helps with the lecce, bill, this time of year not so good only generating approx 3k per day.
Took out a 3 year fixed term agreement in October 2021 with SSE, probably best thing i could have done as just got in before they hiked the fixed term prices
another of those magical days down the sea front when walking the dogs, very cold in the shade but glorious in the sun
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For our home, I think we've missed the boat with solar, we should have done it a long time ago although the latest solar panels themselves are probably more efficient. I often wonder how long the solar panel on our M/H will last but it's certainly been a good purchase.
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We used to be with Octopus a couple of years back, they were good, but when it was time to renew, they no longer had the best deal. We are now with the weirdly named "Outfox the market" and just out of our one year fix.
They offered another fix, but it was about twice the cost of the standard (capped) tariff, so we are now on that and expect our monthly DD to go up by about £80 initially, but the capped price will increase in April.......a 50% increase has been predicted......so that will be a huge monthly increase, even with the power from the roof.
We had panels fitted about 11 years back, so are on the highest FIT, but the cost back then was also high. They have now paid for themselves, so it has been a good investment, if we live long enough to enjoy the proceeds!
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I would reckon a solar system would cost in the region of £6000. In return I would probably benefit from what, £200/300 a year, at current prices so a 20 year pay back period. If the price of electricity continues to rise well above inflation, which is likely over the next year or so the savings would be greater but would that bring the back back down to sat 10 years? Its very difficult to decide. Unfortunately our house is not south facing but east/west so whilst we would get some benefit probably not peak performance. I suppose one could argue that even at £200/300 a year it is a better investment than just sitting in a savings account but once spent you then have that much less in your savings. For many pensioners I can see the next few years being difficult as pensions are unlikely to rise on equal terms with outgoings so more and more people may well have to use savings to manage everyday life.
David
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We have been down in Cornwall this week, getting a few jobs done and preparing the van for shut down next month. Today we went down for one of our favourite walks, from Godrevy along to Hell's Mouth (where, sadly, the excellent cafe was closed!
). A good day for seal watching, must have been upwards of 100 down in Fishing Cove at the start of the walk and several more put at sea waiting to beach. 
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I don't think we would get panels now.....not at my age! And the FIT scheme closed a couple of years back, so it would be what you could save on your bills all year round, plus possibly selling the surplus to the grid in summer. With Smart meters, that can now be accurately measured. We are on "deemed export" at present, they assume 50% export, but the amount paid is a pittance.
Our roof is almost south facing, but we are much further north than you, so we get about £1700 or so per annum, but back then the panels cost over twice what you are reckoning. To give an accurate pay back time, we subtracted the lost interest from the payments before subtracting that from the cost, and arrived at a figure of just over 10 years. Would be less now!
The £1700 was more than enough to cover our gas and electricity, but not any longer. As you say, pensions are not going to keep up with inflation on pretty much everything. We are fortunate in that we have savings, but many pensioners do not.
My Mum when she was alive, had no savings, and only a very basic state pension, we children had to take over repairs on the house, and pay any large bills, until she managed to get bed-sit type accommodation in a state funded old peoples home. Similar to here, they took most of her her pension and she was only left with a small amount, but at least she was warm and safe.
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Rather grey here today but not too cold or windy. We decided to go for a walk on the Tarka Trail and then lunch at Fremington Quay cafe, before spring and all you lot,... sorry - all the lovely holiday makers arrive. It was still quite busy on the Trail, lots of walkers and cyclists, and a few oldies like us out for a stroll. The cafe was very busy, maybe because it was a Friday? Lots of locals though with the same idea. Lovely lunch, just a bowl of home made soup now required for tea.
Despite Bakers posts re moving I then called the estate agent about putting our house on the market and we are viewing two next week. Another that we liked went on the market yesterday and sold today. The same with one last week. They wouldn’t let us view any until ours is on the market, or about to be, as they are selling so quickly around here, so many trying to move to this area. We will just see how it goes.
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Wow, never seen that many Moulesy. That is a lovely walk, shame about the Cafe, I used to take Mum and Dad there🥰
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Nice photo M. Back in 2017 when we worked Godrevy, one Saturday afternoon off we walked that route and at low tide counted 210. Happy memories there.
Annoying how people felt the need to shout at them and scare them.
We used to stand outside site on a Sunday and watch all the bikers on the way to that cafe in the summer.
Was the Jam Pot cafe in Godrevy car park open? (the round building)
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"Was the Jam Pot cafe in Godrevy car park open? (the round building)"
It certainly was, and was heaving! We were surprised just how busy the area was, given that the weather forecast wasn't brilliant. Cars parked all along the side of the road. There were notices saying that both NT car parks were full (the field isn't open at the moment) which might explain that. We took a chance and drove up to the small parking area on the right of the track and we're lucky to find an empty space.
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We used to do the St Agnes to Hayle drive, taking in Godrevy of course, almost every holiday. Some nice beaches, walks and scenery along there.
We have just tried Jack Fruit for the first time tonight. I made a Tikka Masala and we put it in for a change. Enjoyed it, and brilliant for calorie counting. We are hooked on Hairy Biker recipe variations at the moment. Both done a bike ride today, and I am hoping to start a new project this weekend. Going to restore/ resurrect an old school desk and use it as a work bench for jewellery making. Needs to be robust to stand up to some bashing and crashing, but I want it to look nice as well. It’s from the school my OH attended. His brother (who taught at the school) rescued it when the school closed, and lots of old furniture was going into skips.
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Well, you've been busy collecting things to do Ttda. Nice to see some enthusiasm. Good on yer girl!
Things settling down slowly here. Last few weeks caught up with me I'm afraid and I've been as much use as a Chocolate Fireguard to both of the incumbents here. Felt well enough today for them to hanker after the good old last few days!
Managed to speak to my brother in France today. Poor sod (excuse my French). He had to attend another funeral today for the recently deceased neighbour's DiL. He's had nothing but death to consider and deal with. Family promising to keep talking to him on a more regular basis. Not much else we can do.
Anyway I'm sorry if I've missed important news as I've not looked back through all of the posts. Hope one and all are faring well and that Bakers2 has finally moved or at least nearly there.
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Glad you got back ok WN, it tough being quite a way from your brother at the moment no doubt. Thank goodness for all the communication systems we have nowadays though. We hope to see more of our cousins if we can this year.
The desk is sort of a trial run for a much larger project, I want to decoupage it, and then if it works out, we (the Royal we) hope to transform an old but very interesting wardrobe in our spare bedroom. It’s a room that needs redecorating, so while we are waiting to hear about OHs next Op, and then his recovery, I can get stuck in doing a bit more in house.
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A misty grey start to the day, but thankfully it cleared during the morning. Went to another unspoilt village, Downham, for a walk around. It has a very good information room adjacent to the free car park and an unusual gents toilet, see below. The village was used as Ormston in an well known TV series....which?
Then onto Barley for another walk, not such an interesting spot but lots of opportunity for decent walks given the right weather. Just got back to the car as the drizzle started and the just descended again. More rain when we got back to the van but thankfully it stopped around 4:30.
Good to hear that you are now feeling better WN, and interesting to hear of your reconstruction project tda.
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Just dropped by for some light reading.
Good luck DEBSC with house sale and buying, don't know whether to congratulate you or commiserate!
Good to read your post wherenext, please stop being so upbeat on my house move!
After a lovely day yesterday, we had a great afternoon with friends, we were brought back down with a wallop today!
Good news from the optician check up, no change in prescription but thickening of the back of the eye cataract removed from, meaning it may need lazering - apparently quite common, in a year or so. Had a scan on the back of the eyes which was checked after I left. Later phone call asking me to chat to doctor as narrowing of blood vessels - could be cholesterol or blood pressure, latter is a surprise isn't it?
Just prior to the call we had email from our solicitor with some very surprising news to her and us, we learnt our buyer's need exchange and completion on the same day, which the entire chain has to agree to. Apparently not insurmountable but additional complications and no guarantees should they pull out at the last minute and everyone's removers employed we all have to bear the costs and of course legal stuff too ....... Naturally it's Friday so can't chat to anyone as they don't work over the weekend. So expect blood pressure is up anyway.
Ho hum I suspect another night/weekend of restlessness.
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Bakers, my Mum had to have one of her eye’s lazered after a cataract op. Nothing to worry about, and it sorted the problem, with no re occurrence. So please tick this off your worries.👍
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Thanks takethedogalong and brue.
My sensible head has been telling me similar, my heart sinks and my tummy wobbles. I'm sure it will work out, but could do without a twist at every turn. If I was writing a script it would be thrown out as being too far fetched.....
Just settling down for tge night, audible book at the ready, one I know so no excuse to listen! Hopefully I won't hear a thing 🤞🤞
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I hope everything for your house move gets sorted soon B2, and don't worry about your eye, OH also had to have some laser treatment a while afterwards, and it was all very fast and painless.
We have finally managed to book our upcoming 3 week break........2 CLs, 2 CCC sites and one small commercial, but it has not been easy as getting replies via e mail and/or telephone to enable the decision making took some time. Only the 2 CLs were "on the ball" and replied within hours. The commercial will be the most expensive, but overall the average per night is coming in at around £21, so not too bad.
Next we need to plan our summer trip, 5 weeks, no plan as yet, but thinking to initially head to the Borders or Northumberland.
DD has said she and the children may like to come along to our first stop, so max 3 hours drive from Glasgow, nice big hardstanding pitches, and good play area on site for the little people are the essentials, which pretty much rules out CLs and CAMC sites.......... all suggestions welcome!
OH has been looking at the many "holiday parks" in the area, but, as most are focussing on statics and lodges, detailed info on touring pitches is hard to come by, as are prices, and one place did not actually know how wide their pitches are!
Nathan will be 1 year old on Monday, he is having a little party this afternoon so we are off down there for 1pm, need to do LFTs now.
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I can’t suggest much in the way of sites with playgrounds K, but Foulden Hagg CL (small separate private site as well) is lovely, and it’s 20 minutes easy drive to gorgeous Cocklawburn Beach for the little ones. Site is about 6 miles from Berwick, in Borders. Eyemouth is close, smashing little seaside town, plenty there for little ones. There’s lots of room on site for kite flying, electric cars, scooters, etc…. We have seen quite a few children having a good time on there. Plenty of wildlife spotting as well. Owners are very nice.
Edit, just realised about HS pitches K. Sorry FHagg is grass, but we have never had a problem with MH on either side.0 -
As the motorhome had sat on the drive since before Christmas, went for a spin down to Selsey and a walk along the sea wall in the sunshine. The sea was like a millpond. Interesting blue plaque about Gibbet Field where a pair of smugglers were hung in chains "pour l'encourager le autres" in 1749.
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Sounds like “Winter’s Gibbet” at Steng Cross near Elsdon CY. Can be seen from miles around, built specially to deter other murderers…..
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KJ, would somewhere like Haggerston Castle (Beal) suit the family, not far from Lindisfarne etc and near the coast? There are quite a few large sites along the east coast which might suit.There's Seton Sands too nearer to Edinburgh.
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That is a very atmospheric pic TDA👍🏻, a lot of places in Northumberland have that vibe, they really do spooky atmospheres well up there👍🏻😊
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Yes, it’s an eerie place. There’s usually a wooden carved head on the Gibbet, but periodically they get stolen. The Scots/England Border, and the Wales/England Border are just so interesting from the point of view of history. Fought over so many times, every little town, village, church etc… has a tale to tell.
Haggerston Castle is a good suggestion brue, close to beach as well. Pony Trekking on site 👍
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