Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

Well done on the 1,000 day streak! I keep wondering how much longer I'm going to keep up with my Spanish but I'm still finding it useful although nowhere near as competent as I would be if I was learning at a face to face class (might be something to think about when I've retired?). Apparently I'm in the top 1% of Spanish learners on Duo - heaven help the rest of them in that case 🤣

Cherryfudge

LOL, I got a top 1% as well - but it could be true of both of us because we have such a long participation streak. All that gradual exposure to our languages of choice is paying off. Mind you I still get days when I think I'm not doing well: at least now I've learned that what seems like not getting it is actually part of the process of 'getting it' (I read the Duolingo blog and it's very informative). Hearing DGD learn to speak English is also informative - lots of bits of exposure to language, lots of trying to make it sound right, lots of trying out grammar to see where it's accepted and where it's an exception to the rule... 

What's ironic with mine is that I didn't get a choice about learning it at school and now I'm continuing with it almost to prove a point - though that school doesn't even exist any more. If I'd had a choice at school it would have been Spanish (my mum was fluent and could have helped!). My language of choice now would be Italian so I've done a tiny bit of that.

Today: introductory session for my course this afternoon and work this evening. Hoping the people who do the boiler can find some space for us today - they've texted to say they're trying!

Cherryfudge

Want to hear the latest? Our boiler really is dodgy and has had to be sealed off again. A blessing in disguise as, if I've understood correctly, it was drawing CO back into itself.

We can opt to repair of replace - we are thinking replace, as we don't want to be pouring money into the old one - nine and a half years old which isn't ancient but it's a combi boiler and as the chap said to me, they get extra wear and tear through doing both heating and gas. I think it cost us around £600 last time we had it fixed, so it could become and expansive hobby, and I don't think either of us wants the risk of getting poisoned by it.

So here I am with an electric heater and a hot water bottle - but I did get the bathroom cleaned earlier so the rest of the house isn't yet falling into decay.

We also heard from J that L's car was broken into and somehow they took his wallet but not the car (don't know details). They seem to be covered for losses but it's just such a bad feeling.

Sun_Addict

Sorry to hear the bad news about the boiler. Nine and a half years doesn’t seem that old, our last boiler was around 20 years old when it finally gave up although it wasn’t a combi. Our current one is 6 years old so I’d best get saving…

Also sorry to hear about the theft of the wallet 🤬

Cherryfudge

I have the feeling this one is a bit young to go, @Sun_Addict, but it's been used a lot. We could try to keep it going but I think we'd rather have the peace of mind. We are blessed to be able to cover the cost of a replacement, and I think the rest of the heating system can just stay in place without replacement.

I helped out at the evening class again - got drenched on the way there but the class itself was fun. I rang DH to rescue me rather than walk home as it's been pouring all day bar a few minutes and the pavement was under water in places. Nice hot shower when I got in, to put me right.

An incidental thing that happened: the other week I'd been cleaning at the church and had a damp cloth to put through the wash, so I grabbed a Pr!ngles tub from the recycling so the cloth could go in there and not make my bag wet. This evening I decided to take a washing up sponge, cloth and washing up liquid to the class - washing communal tea mugs in water alone isn't enough. It packed nicely into the tub and I laughed and showed it to the teacher. She said it was a great idea for packing a gift, if I covered the tub, so we got talking about what could be packed like that (toiletries, etc.). It was only when I got home that I realised the fingerless gloves I've been making as presents could go in a nice box or glass jar with a ribbon round, if I can source the right sort of thing.

Nothing spent today: this winter weather thing is good for the purse.

Floss

I had to replace my combi boiler 2 years ago - it was around 13 years old but had cost me a couple of hundred pounds the year before. I have to say it was the best £1800 I have spent, buying that Worcester Bosch boiler!

Cherryfudge

Is your new one the Worcester Bosch, @Floss? Our current one is and it's been 100% reliable for years, till I accidentally put it on the wrong setting when checking the pressure, and did some damage to something inside it. Now, however... signs of wear. The man who came to check it said they tend to be very good for a long time but once they deteriorate, that can escalate.

I think we're going to go a for a new one.

Floss

Yes it is @Cherryfudge. Costly but the 10-year warranty was a bonus.

Cherryfudge

The warranty on ours ran out the April before last. And I have to say the boiler behaved beautifully right up to the end of it. No complaints.

DH has researched the boiler our local company recommends: the spec seems right for us as far as I can tell. He's also sourced it online for £1,000 less! My job today is to double check what he's done.

It's milder and dry - so I also want to get some shopping done. I've been sitting in front of the computer far too much. I'm not on the cleaning rota this week but I might head up that end of town which gives me exercise as well.

Back in computer land, I intend to update and upload my CV, so I can apply for some more relief work. This time it's a cleaning job one of my children used to do! I can see now that if I'd got both the jobs I went for a couple of months ago, it would have been a lot to take on - a moderate amount in terms of work load but a lot in terms of new experiences. Still, I could do with more income and as this set of classes is coming to an end, I'll be back in no-income land. The cleaning job would be structure without demands.

The other computer-based thing to do is homework from yesterday's class. I couldn't complete it last night as one of the things hadn't arrived in my inbox.

in_need_of_direction

do both prices include VAT?