Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

Turned the heating on under an hour ago - I know it's only about 14C indoors in the evening, so that's jumping the gun a bit, but I've put it on during early/daylight hours, when most neighbours would be awake, when the weather's dry, "in case" there's some catastrophic event (fears/phobias time here). As a rule I'm petrified by heating systems and gas ... and so I put off turning it on until the last minute ... but I also don't want to be rushing about in the dark/wet outside if there's a catastrophic event.

What is a catastrophic event? I don't know, but I don't want to have one if it's dark, raining and none of the neighbours are at home ...



It's all going fine. Boiler works, sounds right, no funny bangs, no water leaks, no catastrophe at all (so far).

((((((((((Pastures)))))))))))))

I do know what you mean, though.
(Although my fear is of it breaking down in the middle of winter, which my former boiler, the bl00dy Potterton, used to do regularly, until I got fed up with freezing for several days every winter while it was fixed and paying out a fortune, and got a Worcester Bosch).

Look at it this way. How many catastrophic events concerning gas have there been in the last, say, five years? I'm not sure I can remember any.
When they do occur, they only merit the news because they are so rare.

How many gas boilers are there in the UK? Pretty much one boiler for almost every dwelling. That's a lorra lorra boilers.
Yet exceedingly few catastrophic events........

Statistically, the chances of a catastrophic event is so small as to not register.

Even more minuscule is the 'risk' if you have your boiler serviced regularly.

In the event of any catastrophic event, boiler-wise or anything else-wise, forget the neighbours, just dial 999.




If you're thinking more about a breakdown of the boiler, then the servicing will help to prevent that.
Plus, and I'm sure you've already done this, have back-up heaters etc., even if it's only a couple of little calor gas heaters, or the even smaller type that run off butane cylinders.

I've got a small calor gas heater and two butane heaters that I've had for years, and not had to use them since I got rid of the bl00dy Potterton. (Now I will touch wood all over the place and placate the gods for my pride and complacency. I repent, gods, I repent! Please don't let my boiler break down!)!




I've had my central heating on for a couple of weeks, due to being asthmatic. Until I got this recent chest infection, I only had it on for 2 hours very early and 2 hours in the evening, to take the chill off the house. At the moment it's on all day due to the coughing.

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

...

I do have an oil filled electric radiator, but as I've not turned it on for 10 years I wouldn't dare unless it was electrically tested... and even then I'd be scared.

I couldn't have any form of gas canister heater in the house (heaven forbid!).

A fan heater could be purchased, in emergency ... although I'd only dare use it on its lowest setting and keep leaping up expecting a catastrophic event to occur.

I'm simply no good with anything electrical/gas ... or water... or most things. I am petrified of anything that "plugs in" or "works automatically", except, luckily, the PC and tell and fridge/freezer.

Even the microwave I daren't run for more than 5 minutes - I have to stop it, wipe it down, feel all of its sides, then do the next 5 minutes

I'm just rubbish at modern living.

If anything plugs in I just fear it will burst into flames, and/or cause hidden electrical fires in the walls...

I can't help it. New house, fully/properly wired and protected, mains smoke detectors (which scare me to death when I walk near them in case they explode or go off as I walk under them - I hold my breath in fact).

Weird... is the opening word of a whole volume on these subjects.

Just flicking the kettle on makes me freeze for a split second "in case" .... in case it goes bang, in case it explodes, in case there's a flash, in case the socket blows etc etc

I also hate having the kettle on at the same time as the toaster - usually doing one then the other. Same with the microwave and mini oven - if using both I'll nuke the microwave food until "nearly done", then unplug that and use the mini oven, then unplug that and finish off/reheat the microwave food for the final 1-2 minutes. "just in case".

I can also never use anything "full pelt". Nothing can be on "full", ever. That's just petrifying.... one of the reasons the heat's never super hot ... the kettle's rarely allowed to boil until it flicks off, and even toast has to be done in two sessions.

When I was able to use an electric hob, I hated having more than one ring on at a time, more than one petrified me. Gas .... haven't got the nerve at all to use it whatsoever.

I just went into the kitchen: boiler's off, so I held my breath and listened .... is it making a noise? looked, are there any lights flashing? checked, is there a water leak? I do this every time I go into the kitchen when the boiler's been on and simply turned itself off as it's "up to temperature".

GDB2222

"I do have an oil filled electric radiator, but as I've not turned it on for 10 years I wouldn't dare unless it was electrically tested... and even then I'd be scared. "

Whilst you're taking that to the dump, could you collect a vanload of stuff we don't need and haven't used for years as well, please? We need to de-junk radically, and I don't think we are the only NPs with that problem.


Edit: Not that you need to de-junk, Pastures.

Pyxis

Oh Pastures! :A

That sounds so debilitating.
You must be so anxious the whole time.

It's a real phobia, isn't it? Not sure what the name for it would be. **

How would you be with a coal/log fire, if you had a chimney? Would that be better or worse? (You can have a spark guard in front of it).

Fan heaters can sound alarming. Perhaps a new oil-filled radiator would be the answer? Nice and quiet.

I have heard that the Dyson upright 'fan' heaters are very efficient and don't make any noise. They cost an awful lot, though.

I don't like to think of you being cold because you're scared to put the boiler on.


What do you think would enable you to feel less anxious?








(** It might be Oikophobia, which includes a fear of household appliances).

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

How would you be with a coal/log fire, if you had a chimney? Would that be better or worse? (You can have a spark guard in front of it).

Absolutely no chance. Apart from the faff/effort/mess, there's all that "chimney fire" fear - and I've no fireplace, let alone a chimney

Pyxis wrote: »

Perhaps a new oil-filled radiator would be the answer?

This one was new when I got it ... and it's got "sentimental value" as my parents bought it for me.... so tough one. If I'd bought it I'd sell it .... but I can't.

Pyxis wrote: »

I don't like to think of you being cold because you're scared to put the boiler on.

I'm not cold ... I brave it out then bite the bullet and it's mostly OK for the rest of the winter (I just check the boiler 3-4x a night) ... it's having to turn it on after it's not been on (except for hot water) after 7-8 months that petrifies me.

Pyxis wrote: »

What do you think would enable you to feel less anxious?

Getting married to somebody strong, dependable, knowledgeable, trustworthy ... who can take control of all house systems
He'd also have to outlive me.

Pyxis wrote: »

(** It might be Oikophobia, which includes a fear of household appliances).

Or it could just be: madness, bl00dy l00ns everywhere

It's not just household things.

I was in the car yesterday and got caught up in queueing traffic. I have to immediately open the windows wide and turn the heater on full blast then watch the temperature gauge. I'm scared the engine will overheat

I've fears about most things I'm afraid.

Thousands of fears about thousands of things.

Anything that makes a "slightly different noise" is also an issue. Luckily for me I read before I got my freezer that modern freezers make odd noises due to the way they cool - otherwise I'd be petrified of the freezer making that "cracking" noise it sometimes does, but I'd read about that somewhere by accident and discovered there's a noise before it occurred

Sometimes I daren't even open a big window (e.g. the bedroom wide one) in case it drops out of the frame.

I swear.... I can't use anything

Pyxis

Pastures, would you like to be free of all that anxiety, or do you feel it's just a part of you?






Edit. The only reason I'm asking is that, if you like, I could PM you some suggestions.

ukmaggie45

Forgotten what (if anything) I told you about my PIP claim.

My Motability car goes back on 1st November. I've sent my Mandatory Reconsideration letter in, but don't think it'll make any difference, so will prob have a Tribunal to look forward to soon. :eek:

So we've come for a final trip in my comfy car before it goes back.

View from deck on arrival by Maggie, on Flickr

It's very chilly here, with an Easterly wind blowing up the field. Brrr!

East wind blowing in by Maggie, on Flickr

Doing very badly health wise since we got back from London, have to go for colonography - at least I think that's what it's called.

But on our way back from London we did see a great sight in the car park at Norton Keynes on the M6 Toll Road that really gave us a smile!

Truck with an elephant model on it by Maggie, on Flickr

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

Pastures, would you like to be free of all that anxiety, or do you feel it's just a part of you?

Edit. The only reason I'm asking is that, if you like, I could PM you some suggestions.

Would the suggestions be suitable for somebody "on the spectrum"?
My issues are part and parcel of my speshulness.

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

Would the suggestions be suitable for somebody "on the spectrum"?
My issues are part and parcel of my speshulness.

I'll PM you, you speshul person, you!

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

I'll PM you, you speshul person, you!

I've read it. I won't reply by PM as I hate doing that ... little box to reply/type in is so small it's like painting the hallway through the letterbox