Daydream fund challenge part 4

Chesapeake

So anyone got snow yet? I haven't seen any myself but getting lots of pics through on FB

choille

Yes, the tops are white. Gritter out this evening sanding the roads.

Davesnave

greenbee wrote: »

Thanks Dave. I'm pretty sure about the caulk round windows, as you can paint over that

Yes, I use silicone outside at the junction of the render and the window frames, but indoors DW says she uses caulk. Now she's well again, DW has been doing all the interior painting.

Pete came back on Friday to transfer most of our soil heap out front to the dip in the top field, so both areas were improved. We've kept some soil in reserve for next year when we green the remaining boundary between us and next door with a new tree & shrub bed. I know we've been messy for the past 4 years, but they will never be tidy!

Pete was also here again today to drop off a load of logs and food for the lambs I'm looking after in Horse Woman's old paddock. He said "That's last year's logs, so now I'm going to bring up this year's three loads...":eek:

We haven't any space left for more logs at present, so that will be the next job, I suppose; making room. Since we became more highly insulated and installing the new boiler and fire, the log demand has dropped back considerably. I've also made more myself through the hedging work, so it looks like we'll be over-stocked soon. :undecided

Had to laugh when I saw the news about the folk in Templeton who burned an effigy of an Openreach van for bonfire night! I expect many of you saw it too. Most people will never have heard of the tiny place, which is about 10 miles east of us. It has the same broadband speed that we had, until about 3 years ago....:rotfl:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-41876557

Politicians and businesses like BT Openreach make noises about helping rural communities, but we know they only do things when it suits them.

No snow here, but it was beyond T shirt today for the first time.

Fay

Hi everyone, sounds like jobs are all moving on. It must be nice t be planning tree and shrub areas Dave rather than drains. I hope Alfie keeps us up to date with her decorating too.
All semi quiet here on the western front but I suspect not for long. Proceedings are proceeding now and things should start moving. I've seen an incredible property that I would sacrifice a lot for but I just don't think I can do it.its a beautiful, or could be becustiful, timber framed house in Worcestershire. Needs extensive modernisationa no some restoration t the timber frame. I found s lovely man who let me send him some pics and he's given me an idea of cost just from what he can see on the pics...eek. But if I could do it, oh it could be glorious. Plus my dollshouses would look superb in it he he
Thongs are turning to Christmas now and with a lot of uncertainty about my life I do think I will still be in this house. A sale before Xmas would be pushing it now, it's not even on the market. So I think I shall plan for that and see what happens.
Not much happening with me today huh as I am down with the lurghy. It's not often colds and coughs etc get to me but this one had and a couple of days off work are being had!
Stay safe and warm everyone.

Davesnave

Fay wrote: »

Hi everyone, sounds like jobs are all moving on. It must be nice t be planning tree and shrub areas Dave rather than drains.....

Well, yes, but the basic soil shifting and outdoor painting has taken over before I've quite finished the drain connections, so I still have a few hours on those yet.

It's been a matter of racing the weather. I can do the remaining drain stuff any time, but the digger work would have been impossible to do since the rain, without creating a huge hippo wallow, so we went to the wire with that. We do have dry spells in winter, but they're unpredictable, like everything else around here!

However, we now have semi-promises of action from the electricians and plumber for early December.....:undecided

Yes, I think a sale before Christmas would be nothing short of miraculous now, but think of the benefits of going to market in the New Year.

"Thongs are turning to Christmas now...." :huh:

I never got on too well with thongs, much preferring my boxers in one size too big, not for any 'interesting' reason, but simply for freedom of movement. However, you probably meant 'thoughts,' and yes, they certainly are....

Our Indian relatives-to-be have just invited themselves down here for the festive season! :eek: Apparently, they aren't interested in the locality, so the time of year doesn't matter; they just want to check-out our property.:rotfl:

That's Pete's best beef off the menu then!

Hope you are over the lurgy double-quick.:)

greenbee

Electrician turned up on Monday.

Builders were here today. All the electrics are chased in. A few bits left for the electrician to do this week.

Fire surround and jetmaster removed (and a lot of soot, some twigs and a jackdaw skeleton), skirtings off in sitting room and ceilings sanded.

Builders due back Friday or Monday (weather dependent as they have another job to finish which needs dry weather) and are committed to finishing the dining room/sitting room/hall/downstairs loo/office before Christmas. Including time for me to clean up, put furniture back and put up the Christmas tree... we'll see. But they do better with a deadline.

Kitchen & utility can be done in the New Year...

Davesnave

greenbee wrote: »

Fire surround and jetmaster removed.....

We used to have a Jetmaster. Installed it in 1984. They were all the rage....then!

What are your thoughts on the wood burner, greenbee? We're happy with our Woodwarm, but I've heard great things about Burley Stoves too. Whatever it is, the flue and the fitting seem to matter as much as the brand.

We still haven't lit-up yet; the chimney sweep cancelled our Monday appointment as he had a tummy bug, but we should be good to go on Friday.

greenbee

I'm waiting to confirm the size of the opening and then going to have a look at the options. I only want 5kw (although I'm tempted to get something bigger and put firebricks in so I can get more heat out of it if I want to!) as that means I can get rid of the vent.

Chimney/flue people are keen on clearview and parkray. Lots of people fans of Morso. Also Aarow. I'd love a Chili Penguin but it wouldn't really work with this house. Probably not getting another stovax now there are more small multi fuel options available.

I've always had good advice here http://www.westcountrystoves.co.uk/ although they don't fit in my part of the world... I think I bought my ash can from them! Might be more useful for you as they're nearer ...

DaftyDuck

Hi GB. I've just had two fitted, and a third sits in a box to go in. They are larger stoves, and will (possibly..:p) also heat the radiators, so may not be comparable. I do agree that the chimney and fitting are half the battle, and my guy did try to cut corners a bit too much, to keep his profit margin. I'd have rather he was just honest, and upped the price!

The three flues all draw differently, even though on same roofline, and two share a stack. All the stoves behave differently and, of course, no room is alike. My wife is made of lava, and likes the room to keep her soft, so wants 24(00)°C, I'm happy if there's no ice on the whiskey.. or in it!

I didn't like chilli p. Personal taste, slightly worse build, possibility of spares difficulty (there are only five employees, I believe, and they also do non stove stuff???). I went with a Parkray Consort 15 (big, smaller exist..;)), and it's well built, easy to use, gets damn hot! Second room got an Aarrow ecoburn 11, slightly smaller, but slimline and 5"flue suited room. Do like that. There's an Arada Farringdon ... owned by Aarrow now.... but that's yet to be used in anger. Nice stove, though. Very well built, smooth to use.

If you are adding firebricks, might be worth checking the stove box out first, as some bricks are cut to fiddly shapes, others are... brick-shaped:o. I traced all the originals before installation, to make cutting my own spares easier.

If you do need an airvent, position it well. Draughts can be so irritating!

I, too, have a dead Jetmaster in the garden. It was a beast to get out! No idea if anyone on Free cycle will want it! Scrappie can have it, along with nearly 30 old radiators!


I have lit up two. I actually need to burn wood to get rid of some of it. Lovely, having all that heat with little fuss.

Hope your install goes well, and you have a cosy winter in your hive:D

Davesnave

We decided against the Penguin for much the same reasons as Dafty. You won't go far wrong with a Clearview, but they're pricey. Our Woodwarm Firegem is less deep than most, which I think might make it slightly more messy, but it's a dream to control. Pete is very positive about his Morso.

First real frost this morning, so it'll be squash picking today. Did small ones this year, as the zeppelin-sized bananas were fun, but not very practical.