MSE News: Retirees face 'lowest incomes in six years'

jamesd

Pincher wrote: »

By "ingredient packet" I mean a packet which contained the batter for marinading the sea bass, the spice sachet for flavouring during cooking, and the bag of Chinese sauerkraut which gives the distinctive flavour of (Chinese) sauerkraut fish. I neglected to mention the cooking wine, which is needed in a lot of cooking

If you have the money you can do that. If you don't you might end up on the more basic but probably cheaper things I mentioned. You may not like them as much but if that's all you can afford, that's what you end up having to do. So there is a range between minimum and desired spending level and the context you gave was it being hard to live on those incomes, so you were effectively pitching it as a minimum you need level.

Pincher wrote: »

shattaf (Arabic douche, hand bidet, bottom washer).

I don't suppose you have any tips on good features to look for in those? Way off topic but I've been considering getting one.

Pincher

jamesd wrote: »

I don't suppose you have any tips on good features to look for in those? Way off topic but I've been considering getting one.

Safety
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Assuming you want the water warm, anti-scalding thermostatic mixer. Manual mixer has a tiny chance of scalding by mistake.

http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/22mm-intamix-thermostatic-mixing-valve-40022cp/

If I was doing a major re-plumb, for older people, I would use the 22mm mixer, and supply safely pre-mixed hot water for the whole house. For single shattaf outlet, 15mm version is fine. To revert to normal use, just turn the mixer temperature up.

Hygiene
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Mains water is free from bacteria, but loft tank water might have a dead pigeon or something. To avoid infection, use mains water. Cold only is not very nice, though, so if you have loft pressure hot water only, you might have to use mains water with an electric inline heater. Variations are mains pressure hot water from a combi or gas water heater, mixed by thermostatic valve.

Douche head
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Ergonically, I prefer the plastic one with the button in the middle, but the button mechanism leaks, and doesn't last. The heavy metal ones can smash your floor tile if you drop them, and you WILL drop them. Just accept that you will go through a number of douche heads before you find a good compromise, and make sure you get a manual stop valve at the wall connection, so you can swap heads easily.

jamesd

Thanks! If you're curious, I'm discussing some aspects of this at IP rating for combi boiler over toilet with shattaf/bidet shower. Ideally it would be a combi boiler mounted really close because I'm getting central heating installed as part of other upgrade work and that's an easy time to do things. I definitely care about safety but no immediate expectation that someone with impaired hot/cold sensing will be using it. Still worth having protection in place, though. Also definitely will get individual valves on all supply lines so it's easy to turn off the supply. Thanks for the tips on heads. Still pondering that.

johnaka

if I get 10 grand a year pension I'd be happy.
because that is a little more than I currently get working for myself!
my wife won't be able to retire till 7 years after me.
when she does I'll be 72.
also I will miss out on this new rate to retire in 2016!