Daydream fund challenge part 4

ferretkeeper

Yes, talk about wind chill, brrrrrrr, right through my dressing gown when I let the dogs out this morning! It's milder now thankfully. I'm low on oil so better get a top up pronto, I think I'm going to need it, I wonder if the prices are down like other fuels?

BD I also had a lab called Ben, he was a black lab, our best dog ever! my neighbour has a Ben dog too, so when I want a cuddle with another soppy black lab I go over there

any builders I've used see to prefer giving a price per job, so I can't help there, but agree it's best to sort it now than have the problem lingering on and potentially more damage being done, particularly in a spot where it can go unseen.

We knew the two windward corners of our house were taking a hammering and it was damp inside, wall paper was lifting. The whole house was re-rendered a couple of years ago but it wasn't til recently that I hacked off all the manky plaster in those corners back to bare brick, and just painted over with a natural breathable paint. Which BTW you might like, there's no fumes etc, no smell...try chalk or clay based paints

The moral is, don't ignore these things, we should have knocked off the damp plaster a long time ago, let the walls breathe, and us. Actually, the people here before us, who covered it up with damp paint and wall paper, should have done it :mad: but they were ultimate bodgers :rotfl:

I'll be putting right some more of their wrongs soon, got my plumber booked, the new bath is delivered tomorrow, the rest of the suite is already here, woo hoo :T

Better_Days

Yes FK, now is a good time to buy oil, can't see it going much lower. Last year we paid 63ppl, then the last fill up was 46ppl.

Even lower now, heating engineer mentioned 30 something ppl.

Black Labs are great aren't they? We've had two. Both were 10 or 11 when we got them, and such good company and very steady. We were on holiday in the Peak District when we lost Ben. Poor chap had a gastric torsion and the vet couldn't save him. Awful going home without him When it was Jet's time I fed him choccie biccies to distract him from the vet and he left peacefully. Two furry souls which greatly enhanced our lives.



Thanks for the advice re the plaster - how long would you leave it to dry out properly before painting?

Wind really getting up here and rain too, not very nice at all.

ferretkeeper

Wow BD 30p/litre!? That's good, I've just paid 40p, apparently prices are fluctuating a bit. Delivers coming this afternoon.

Yes I often think I need another black dog in my life, one day, one of my collies has the same gentle soul but not quite the presence. We never realised just how special he was and how lucky we were til he was gone and I got a pack of collies with all their neuroses!

I can hardly believe we found him at the RSPCA. We were "visiting" for a "look round" with the step kids I think, showing them the kennel we found our first dog in, and lo and behold there was Ben, fate!

Not sure about time to paint, our walls have had a couple of years of no extra water getting in, the affected plaster was very crumbly, I wouldn't say it was still damp. I painted the brick as soon as the dust had settled, did a very watery first coat then a full strength one. I used Earthborn clay paint as I had some already, in fact I mixed two half tins of leftovers and tinted it with acrylic paint, waste not want not! I suspect if the walls were still damp they would dry through the paint, it's totally breathable.

Speaking of which, looks like my old bathroom stuff will be gone thanks to freecycle, I love it!

Davesnave

Aaarrrggghhh! Went down to Exeter with DW to see her off, as she's away, Grannying again, and when I get back, the wood burner door glass is falling out!

Builder's not admitting anything, but he was last to use it and I know the interlock frustrates most people. It can't be forced and there's a knack.......Well, it's knackered now! :mad:

Luckily, I saved the glass and all the fixings are there, but it needs a specialist to put in the sealing strips. I have to hand it over to one of the few local experts....which will not be cheap.

Meanwhile, I can only have a 'supervised' fire and most of the heat will go straight up the chimney anyway. Think I will just retire to one corner of the house....where the Aga is!

choille

Artic here. Woke to white out, but it has turned to rain & sleet - will be able to go & post now.

People who have had a black lab are true fans of the breed, friends have three & wouldn't have anything else & trying to get me to get one, but it's a Malamute for me.

More wild kids about. Lovely wee things, so able.

There are no spare roof tiles on Lewis! The builder we know localish has over 50 roofs on his list of repair jobs. So he's done /will do well out of the gales.

Massive thunder crack this morning -thought a plane had crashed. That heralded the thaw. But we still have electrickery so that is fine.

The sheep look soggy muddy & ravenous. The bird feeders are regularly stripped & we have many little visitors to them. The moles are just wrecking the place - has there ever been so many of the wee burgers?

Better_Days

Oh no Dave :mad::mad::mad:

Is it a fiddly job getting the glass back in again? I suppose that it has to be exactly right as it gets so hot. Last thing you want is glass shattering across the room because it is under uneven pressure.

The chap we had doing the kitchen etc would never admit that he dented or damaged anything. He was like a two year old, he always immediately said 'it wasn't me'. He even said it when he let the dog escape by leaving the gate open (luckily a neighbour caught the dog dancing in front of a HGV) when there was only me and him in the house and I was resting in bed.

Not heard of the clay paint FK will look into it, thanks. I don't think the oil was as low as 30ppl, but it was in the 30-40ppl range. How lucky to find Ben, just waiting there for you. :A I think if we have another dog it will be a Lab. We had Jet from Lab rescue on a foster basis and we paid for his food etc and they paid his vet bills.

Getting much colder here now although I think you have it much worse choille.

lostinrates

Well, we better go for the ESSE iron heart now, the fireplace has been cut out to fit it.


I've been in bed again this week, builder arrived today and sent me back to bed. I've just had my second cup of tea of the week ( yes, CTC, that unwell!) and realised I won't be able to have candles around the fireplace as it will all be too hot with the ESse there. At least buying candles for the cheese room will be cheaper, eh?

Better_Days

Ohhh LIR
Is it one of these?

If so I have stove envy :o:o

azzabazza

Sorry to hear you are poorly LIR.

Very cold and a bit blustery here today. One very heavy sleet shower this afternoon with ink black sky but no sign yet of the forecasted snow.

lostinrates

Better_Days wrote: »

Ohhh LIR
Is it one of these?

If so I have stove envy :o:o

Yes.

I don't. Fir loves it, but I'll always regret we haven't had the open fire we wanted. It is the next best option, but my opinion on ranges is very 'meh' and woodburners the same, so to me its a sort of a bitter compromise. But I can see its not the worst to make.

I feel so grotty this week tbh I'm beyond caring. They can put a calor gas fire in there.


( edit : I realise how spoiled that is, sorry, just feeling very sorry myself ATM! I realise in truth I'm very lucky to be getting it rather than the hole we've had, and I do like range toast, so I will at least have that bonus!)