So poor I can't even pay attention

LAM2011

Hope you are starting to feel a little better. Colin sounds like he feels quite at home now.

Hobnobs ... mmm I am starving - off to find some food.

take care x

missrlr

Piquant wrote: »

I dither about the heating not only because of the cost, but because the house is old the heating is an add-on. There is no thermostat control on the ancient radiators, some are big, some are little. The boiler ought to be on Antiques Roadshow it is so old! The heating is ineffective at best! Most of the windows are now double-glazed which has helped a lot.

I will put the heating on as soon as I start to feel cold - promise. I have been toying with the idea of a heated throw for use during the day when I'm writing or doing the long overdue admin:o That would save on heating during the day. Of course I can beat the cat in an arm wresting contest to get control of the throw.....

OK - first get hold of your energy company web site and see if they are doing free energy efficiency help things and get some thermostatic controls installed from them free
second if above does not work then try council may need a call for this but if you are in receipt of some benefits then may be able to provide for free.
third try speaking to JSA people too - you may get help from them for this
Also at the same time get any other energy efficiency things sorted from via them e.g. loft insulation and so on.

One trick I used to use was to regulate the rads without temp controls a bit by restricting the water flow using the valve, not perfect but can help. E.g. for low use rooms have it nearly off completely. For other rooms turn 50% off and so on. If you are really organised you can turn up and down when you go into / leave a room!

Hope you feel better soon.

taxi73

Heated throws £19.99 in Lidl this week

Piquant_2

lucielle wrote: »

I think Lidl are selling heated wraps this week.
L

taxi73 wrote: »

Heated throws £19.99 in Lidl this week

I'm off to have a look later! Thanks for the information, a heated throw will make all the difference in the evenings :T

Piquant_2

missrlr wrote: »

OK - first get hold of your energy company web site and see if they are doing free energy efficiency help things and get some thermostatic controls installed from them free
second if above does not work then try council may need a call for this but if you are in receipt of some benefits then may be able to provide for free.
third try speaking to JSA people too - you may get help from them for this
Also at the same time get any other energy efficiency things sorted from via them e.g. loft insulation and so on.

One trick I used to use was to regulate the rads without temp controls a bit by restricting the water flow using the valve, not perfect but can help. E.g. for low use rooms have it nearly off completely. For other rooms turn 50% off and so on. If you are really organised you can turn up and down when you go into / leave a room!

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks missrir, I will look into all of this later this morning.

I was supposed to have cavity wall insulation installed [do you install it?] but my walls are too damaged to do this. The rendering is coming off. I have quotes to remove rendering and re-render coming in at the £3k mark - unfortunately, not possible at the moment.

I'm not sure about fiddling with the radiators, there's only one room that's not in use and it is one of the rooms without double glazing, so I might turn that one off. I've heard that bubble wrap over the window helps, but I'm not sure if you stick it directly on the glass or leave a gap, as in double glazing.

Piquant_2

Here's the update on yesterday's admin day.

Argued with the mortgage insurance people that it wasn't right to deduct £140 from my claim and stop the claim because Pr*t had made a mistake with my payslip. This has been corrected and a letter sent by Pr*t confirming their mistake. The money is now being refunded and the claim will continue :T

Called the gas company and reclaimed the £122.88 overpayments. I have transferred suppliers so it couldn't be put towards future bills. They don't seem in a hurry to send the money to me, 1st November... but nevertheless, money back in my account :T

Called savings company where I have held an online account for at least five years, but had forgotten user name, password and pin Amazingly helpful, considering I didn't know any of the answers to my memorable questions either New details being issued. I think there is about £25 in there. It was a offer recommended by this site years ago, put in £20 and have £5 added as a start up gift. :T

Couldn't do the endowment letter as the printer ran out of ink :mad: So I researched prices and got a 10% discount texted to me. It's supposed to be next day delivery - fingers crossed. £23.39 spent on essentials.

Used the Post Office offer of buy 36 stamps at 2011 prices if you're claiming benefits. I don't send many cards at Christmas so this will cover cards and more :T

Applied for three jobs, none of which I am ideal for, there is hardly anything out there at the moment. I am using the applications as a means to get back into the swing of it.

I've checked the stores and I have enough food in not to have to do a proper shop this week. I'll need milk and some vegetables later, but can probably make do on £5:T

Cut back a bit more garden and raked leaves, not that you'd notice this morning, leaves everywhere. I found a leaf sucker upper thing in the garage. I think I'll see if it works and then do a major leaf clear once a week. The thing chops the leaves into tiny bits meaning they'll rot down quicker in bags. Still got some tulip bulbs to plant out. Monty Don says November is best. I'm going to try to over-winter some of the geraniums and dahlias in the back bedroom. That may be a job for Sunday.

Once the printer cartridges arrive I'll move on with the endowment claim which is the last thing on the list!

the_cake

Hi Piq
If you pop over to the Old Style 'Preparing for Winter' thread you will find heaps of useful info on bubblewrapping windows etc.
Glad you're back in the land of the living, hope your horrible cold is not lingering, so many lurgies about at the moment. Hugs to Colin from The Striped One.
And WOW to yesterday's admin, you're really back and motoring, aren't you?!

Piquant_2

the_cake wrote: »

Hi Piq
If you pop over to the Old Style 'Preparing for Winter' thread you will find heaps of useful info on bubblewrapping windows etc.
Glad you're back in the land of the living, hope your horrible cold is not lingering, so many lurgies about at the moment. Hugs to Colin from The Striped One.
And WOW to yesterday's admin, you're really back and motoring, aren't you?!

I'm okay once I start, it's the starting that's the problem:D

I meant to add that the heating didn't go on as I wasn't cold, just popped on a thick manky cardi - mmmm so glamorous....

Hugs from the Captain and Colin to all of your four legged ones. No treats forthcoming as neither will share....

Piquant_2

...and I'll go and look up about the bubble wrap too - thank you!

NewLeaf_2

use double sided tape all around the window frame and the cling film it. when we had just 1 pane of glass that really helped