Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

silvercar

So Monday the boiler was fixed and yesterday the wire that the guy and forgotten to re-connect was re-connected. Today we get a power cut - the 3rd in 4 weeks.

We can now predict power cuts. The microwave appears to work but doesn't heat anything and the cordless phone gives random beeps. Then the power goes 20 minutes later. Don't know why, but it has happened on all 3 occasions, today it gave us a chance to put the heating on constant for those 20 minutes to give a boost before the power went.

Today the power was off for 4 hours and the freezer temp rose from -20 to -9.

vivatifosi

silvercar wrote: »

So Monday the boiler was fixed and yesterday the wire that the guy and forgotten to re-connect was re-connected. Today we get a power cut - the 3rd in 4 weeks.

We can now predict power cuts. The microwave appears to work but doesn't heat anything and the cordless phone gives random beeps. Then the power goes 20 minutes later. Don't know why, but it has happened on all 3 occasions, today it gave us a chance to put the heating on constant for those 20 minutes to give a boost before the power went.

Today the power was off for 4 hours and the freezer temp rose from -20 to -9.

We've had a few brownouts lately. Apparently the power cables by the M1 were damaged by the fire and has compromised the grid locally. I wonder if that could affect things your way.

Also, this article could be useful for your contacts list:
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Hertfordshire/Power-company-gears-up-to-keep-Herts-connected-27112012.htm

lostinrates

No bath but....

We have HEATING!


A couple of rads don't work, but we can live with that for a While. The cats have already found their radiator beds, dh just went up to show them but they had already found it without our help.

Nice builder is going to gently apply pressure to plumber to come back ASAP for the bath.....

Mean while.....

THANK YOU for listening to me moan for so long!!

(it was touch and go about two hours a go, they got the boiler working then told nice builder they could not leave it on because pressure was too high..... But......it was resolved. Which is good really, because I was already wondering what the biomass calorific output of a pelleted heating person would be......)

misskool

:T :T:T

well done lir and fir for your patience, i am in awe of it.


on other note, the fudge didn't set but i am eating great big spoonfuls of it. must try another recipe soon or no one will be getting any presents.

lostinrates

What about trying divinity misskool?

Not seen as often here so might make an interesting sweety gift?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=divinity+recipe&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

misskool

yum, that looks good, i may have to buy a sugar thermometer first though! might be a trip into brighton if we can be bothered tomorrow else it will be a lakeland order!

lostinrates

vivatifosi

I scan Google news for news about Hertfordshire. I read this story, which if the scheme takes off, will be absolutely bonkers:
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/business/local-business/extension-tax-to-help-plug-council-cash-gap-1-4539414

Essentially one of the local councils want to charge a development tax for new buildings of up to £250 per sq m.

If you look at these figures
http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/costs/how-much-project-cost-one
That's about 1/3rd of the total build cost for an average finish project. Seems like madness to me.

I'd really like to hear Doozer's view on this. Hopefully it won't take off because only Russian oligarchs and the landed gentry will be able to afford to build houses around here.

GDB2222

vivatifosi wrote: »

I scan Google news for news about Hertfordshire. I read this story, which if the scheme takes off, will be absolutely bonkers:
http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/business/local-business/extension-tax-to-help-plug-council-cash-gap-1-4539414

Essentially one of the local councils want to charge a development tax for new buildings of up to £250 per sq m.

If you look at these figures
http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/costs/how-much-project-cost-one
That's about 1/3rd of the total build cost for an average finish project. Seems like madness to me.

I'd really like to hear Doozer's view on this. Hopefully it won't take off because only Russian oligarchs and the landed gentry will be able to afford to build houses around here.

One possible outcome is that house prices will remain the same, but the value of land will drop to reflect the extra cost of development. I don't see why developers should not contribute more to the community.

GDB2222

Anyway, enough about development taxes, I need to move onto something really important.

DW sent me to Lakeland the other day to buy some cardboard baking cases. These are like baking tin liners, but a bit stiffer, so they don't need a tin to support them. Lakeland no longer stock them. Does anybody have any idea where I can get some, please? (I don't even know the right search term.)