the daydream fund challenge thread

lostinrates

Right so...that dead boiler of mine is bleeding its last. I've been having to turn it on to keep the water evaparating...as per the boiler man's instructions, but now we've run out of oil again I think. So I'm going to try and work how to take it out.

We still haven't made our decision about future heating system either. DH is up to eyeballs in work and I feel bad badgering him, but just don't feel its a decision I can make a lone. Pretty sure it will be ground source heat pump but have been told its not sufficient by itself,so not sure what to supplement with, don't really want radiators, but while we don't like a hot house guests often like warm rooms...and I don't want woodburners or fires in guest bedrooms....just too risky.

eta: oh, and despite being cold it still feels like cold spring rather than mild winter. So, I think I can safely feel that I can turn my back on winter for this year. Not necessarily on cold and frosts, but on winter.

Winged_one

I haven't managed much recently. But I did get the beds in the back garden turned over, composted, and weeded. And sowed the first lots of broad beans, tomatoes, sweet and chilli peppers, cauliflowers, lettuce, carrots, leeks and a pot each of basil and coriander. I have the seeds kept out to sow a few spring onions and radishes whatever night I get home and its still bright (hasn't happened all week). So either tonight or tomorrow morning.

I've also pulled out the materials I need to start making aprons. I am intending having a few for when we do manage to get to a car boot sale in the coming months, not just things "I need to clear out", and the funds from those will be for the DDF. I had the machine out Wednesday night - a Willie Wonka costume was required for World Book Day at school. So I wasn't in the mood for aprons after that.

lostinrates

Winged_one wrote: »

I haven't managed much recently. But I did get the beds in the back garden turned over, composted, and weeded. And sowed the first lots of broad beans, tomatoes, sweet and chilli peppers, cauliflowers, lettuce, carrots, leeks and a pot each of basil and coriander. I have the seeds kept out to sow a few spring onions and radishes whatever night I get home and its still bright (hasn't happened all week). So either tonight or tomorrow morning.
.

sunds like a lot to me!

Winged_one

Thanks LIR - but the 2 seed trays of pots says otherwise! Small batches of things to start. Main sowings later when frost is less of a problem as I don't have a green house.

ukmaggie45

lostinrates wrote: »

don't really want radiators,

Have you considered Thermaskirt? We've had it put in the house, all the folks coming to do stuff there are really intrigued by it, though we haven't been there while its running yet. Still some fiddly bits of the installation to be finished off, but our builder said when they first switched the boiler on and tried it out the house got lovely and warm.

Here's a pic of the utility room, the white under the cupboards is Thermaskirt.


Utility room by ukmaggie45, on Flickr

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

Right so...that dead boiler of mine is bleeding its last. I've been having to turn it on to keep the water evaparating...as per the boiler man's instructions, but now we've run out of oil again I think. So I'm going to try and work how to take it out.

We still haven't made our decision about future heating system either. DH is up to eyeballs in work and I feel bad badgering him, but just don't feel its a decision I can make a lone. Pretty sure it will be ground source heat pump but have been told its not sufficient by itself,so not sure what to supplement with, don't really want radiators, but while we don't like a hot house guests often like warm rooms...and I don't want woodburners or fires in guest bedrooms....just too risky.

For guests, surely an electric moveable heater in each would do for when someone visits, that with a electric blanket and that should be fine for infrequent visits.
Also by far the cheapest, no set up costs and while the running costs for the heater will be expensive, it will only be on now and again.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

For guests, surely an electric moveable heater in each would do for when someone visits, that with a electric blanket and that should be fine for infrequent visits.
Also by far the cheapest, no set up costs and while the running costs for the heater will be expensive, it will only be on now and again.

Ah, as well as personal guests I also hope to have a fair few paying ones...;) Need things ''idiot proof'' really for that.

I think the thermaskirt looks great, I really like it...but it won't work in the listed house :(Maggie, thats one of the fanciest utilities I've ever seen, wow are you going to enjoy housework there!

lostinrates

I'm gessing most ofyou are out in the garden. I've packed up my mother and sent her home for the weekend and DH was due home by now but has been delayed...which was a shame as we had stuff to do this evening. This weekend we have to re erect the spare chicken house, cintrust a very short legth of fencing and strim the very small area behind...which will either become a small chicken palet or be where we put the bees....I'm guessing bees and chickens don't mix? We have to have another bonfire and plan to tackle an area to turn it from junk yard to decent. Plus planting stuff, digging more garden,messing with pumps getting rid f the mystery thing which turns out to be forsythia.......

Rummer

Raining here today so I have just focused on the house today. Not even planted things.

SpendlessKaren

My dream is to one day have a small cottage in a nice secluded'ish area, just big enough so I can have some chickens and a bit of land. I live in rented accommodation so not sure it will ever happen but it is nice to dream