the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

RAS wrote: »

I managed to leave a mug on the plot last Sunday. This Sunday morning it was full - 100cms of rain in less than 7 days.

100cms? Huge mug!

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Me too. It's like when babies are ill and they can't tell you what's wrong, nor you explain it to them.

This. Feral cat is a problem still. I can't bring myself to put down an animal that is still living life....but I do wonder how much pain she's in and because realistically daily meds are not going to be possible through summer as they would be with one of the pets its a quandry. Also just the investigations...my cats would cope well..the anesthtics and biopsies would be painful but they are quite sociable and don't mind being pampered by nurses before and after. For the feral a day at the vets is a day in hell.

I talked green energy with the architect and as promised I'm reporting back. For us he feels we have a strong solar option and ground source heating for he house. He is not primarily and eco architect but is very minded to get the best from a property and his feeling is this includes own power generation and if possible, with sell back potential. He's also keen for us to use the available ag rooves to earn solar income.....he feels the more we put in the more we generate and the sooner we pay back the cost of installation....

He doesn't feel wind is all its cracked up to be as it stands and advised us to hold off on that for the time being. Which is a shame. Listening to details of two applications in this country, three wind turbines powering 5000 homes at Swindon seems a better use of space than 35 acres powering 1000 homes from solar in westbury.

We're dry, frosty and mist clearing to very clear sun. We bought a themomtre for the garden at the weekend, but not sure how accurate it where to site it. most of the day it read 13, then a beam of sun broke through, right on to it, and it shot up to 30:rotfl: so ...need to move for that to be reliable.

Today we're predicted 7. Compared to the thirteen of yesterday....its just so up and down. Its creating havoc in the animals who keep starting a shed then stopping...its going to be a long spring moult I think.


edit: about to delve more seriously into the power thing: our boiler has been declared unrepairable this morning so power moves back up the agenda!

RAS

lostinrates wrote: »

100cms? Huge mug!

Got confused 100mm.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

is a shame. Listening to details of two applications in this country, three wind turbines powering 5000 homes at Swindon seems a better use of space than 35 acres powering 1000 homes from solar in westbury.

edit: about to delve more seriously into the power thing: our boiler has been declared unrepairable this morning so power moves back up the agenda!

Pity about the boiler, but at least we're coming out of winter...:)

Is someone proposing 35 acres of PV panels near Westbury, or am I misreading? Sounds a lot!

More logging going on here today, but the wind's biting. All the eggs sold by mid day, so we are offering free artichokes now as compensation.

Very pleased to see the first seedlings coming through, especially my own cucumber seed from 'Tamra,' a threatened variety which is tricky to produce viable seed from. My first attempt was a disaster, with not one decent seed from the whole cue, but the second cue produced a few dozen that seemed good, and now I know they are.

rhiwfield

Lir, dont know whether you noticed but RHI details now expected on budget day (march 23?). What's your boiler run on atm?

Just had a few days thinking we had a leak on our water service pipe, a replacement connection would have set us back getting on for £3k (very difficult site!) so huge sighs of relief when engineer called in this morning and pronounced connection leak free. Problem seems to have been caused by gale force winds blowing water into garage and leaving a pool on the floor (right next to where tap had frozen earlier!). So a pat on the back to Dwr Cymru for fast response and for upgrading stop tap connection to mains and an excellent job of reinstatement

DW has picked up a local part time job, DD2 is expecting second child, just had visit from NZ based DS1 (and a big family reunion as well) so things not too bad atm

Despite attempts to grow most of our fruit and veg, the veg side is running mighty thin. Wont get more than a few meals from remaining carrots and swede, and just a few parsnips left while what brassicas escaped the freeze are ending up inside the hens. Some stuff left in store, the freezer or preserved but if we didnt have the option of buying in stuff we'd have a very long hungry gap!

lostinrates

rhiwfield wrote: »

Lir, dont know whether you noticed but RHI details now expected on budget day (march 23?). What's your boiler run on atm?

Our boiler is oil. I can give the oil to my parents rather than sell....I only got the tank filled a few weeks ago, but they've done enough for me over the years....and doubtless they'll pay me back in kind.

RHI clarification will help, certainly. I feel immensely calm about it all ATM. I have to trust the architect really....I don't understand any of it, so have no other choice.

And davesnave yes, 35 acres a planning permission has been put in for. north of westbury, near west wilts trading estate.

RAS...I guessed but it made me smile...sounds like the ideal size of mug if it could keep the drink warm too...:D

RAS

lostinrates wrote: »

And davesnave yes, 35 acres a planning permission has been put in for. north of westbury, near west wilts trading estate.

Did anyone pick up on this story

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/06/solar-farms-threaten-green-subsidy?INTCMP=SRCH

Rather worrying at first glance.

choille

I want to do something up on the hill but after the carryon I had with objections to my woodland plans I doubt it will be smooth & don't feel up to the battle at the mo.

The battles about windfarms is bad - Lewis is split in two because of a foreign co attempting to move in on the community plans - nothing surprises me.

I wouldn't mind making a bit 'o money out of wind - there's plenty of it for everyone here.


Glad to report that Mrs Chuckles seems much better but she's still in solitary confinement - I can't believe she will be okay but looking good.

lostinrates

Davesnave the swindon wind farm is on our local news now....will increase wiltshire green energy by 50%. Fears that refusal of panning will have employment kickback, locally preferred is roof top turbines. Brize Norton could be a problem. Conditions will have to be met.

RAS

lostinrates wrote: »

Davesnave the swindon wind farm is on our local news now....will increase wiltshire green energy by 50%. Fears that refusal of panning will have employment kickback, locally preferred is roof top turbines.

For wind power, the bigger the better. If the radius doubles the out increases by a factor of 4.

Roof top turbines are too close to areas of turbulence and therefore even less effective that might be expected and at sizes that are worth having, they would shake many houses apart.