The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

mardatha

Propane doesn't freeze but the regularator on top of the cylinder does and the gas goes off.

pollyanna_26

Is there anyone in the family near enough to come over a couple of times a week and get the coal indoors space permitting Mar? You can't be doing it yourself especially when the snow and ice arrive.


I don't know if your little community up the hill is retired folks or if there may be a family with a teenager willing to fetch the coal in. Would be worth the price of a takeaway.


I don't know how long the RV has needed you to do the things he used to but if it's at least 6 months it could be worth considering claiming attendance allowance. As long as he's needed help for at least 6 months and is not in receipt of DLA he should qualify.


You could then pay someone to do the things you're pushing yourself to manage.


Have you considered applying for more suitable housing? I think you're in council housing , you may be able to get an exchange or bid on suitable properties. The banding process should bump you up the waiting list a bit due to both your health issues. I've no idea what the situation with housing is in Scotland at the moment but worth a try. You can't be bending down to the coal box and climbing those steep steps without impacting your own health.


Thinking of you both and sending love and light.
polly & k xx

mardatha

Awh ty Pollywolly xxx Re housing there's not much waiting time up here, it's a very rural empty place We can get a gold priority pass with just a letter from the gp, but I don't want to move just yet. I have good neighbours, good fresh air, a good solid 1930s bungalow, a great view and a big garden. However one day we will have to and then we'll make sure the priority pass is in place.
Youngest son arrived this morning with his son and they filled about a dozen carrier bags with coal and piled it beside the back step. Then the neighbour gave me a little box to keep the rain off the bags of coal so that is at the back door as well. Son will come over weekly and refill.
I love to be organised and prepped

greenbee

Do you have a coal scuttle/box indoors Mar? I keep about a day's worth (I probably don't use as much as you, as mine is just for the fire, not the heating or hot water) indoors so I can just shovel it on as needed.

I also find that I have to be careful how I put the coal on the fire - if I tip it on with too much dust the air doesn't flow and it sulks, so I either put a shovel-full on at a time if it's going well, or use tongs if it is misbehaving.

Likewise I keep logs in baskets in the sitting room and hall, but also keep some in the garage - like Mrs LW mine are well-seasoned but it's damp outside, so a bit of time in the dry helps enormously. I do the same with kindling - take it out of the bunker (it shares with the coal) and keep it in the garage for topping up what I need in the house.

pollyanna_26

mardatha wrote: »

Awh ty Pollywolly xxx Re housing there's not much waiting time up here, it's a very rural empty place We can get a gold priority pass with just a letter from the gp, but I don't want to move just yet. I have good neighbours, good fresh air, a good solid 1930s bungalow, a great view and a big garden. However one day we will have to and then we'll make sure the priority pass is in place.
Youngest son arrived this morning with his son and they filled about a dozen carrier bags with coal and piled it beside the back step. Then the neighbour gave me a little box to keep the rain off the bags of coal so that is at the back door as well. Son will come over weekly and refill.
I love to be organised and prepped

This has put my mind at rest Mardymar. I've been trying to think of solutions including if only we still had the Heffalump and could mount an aid mission.


Very wise not to leave all the positive things with your present home you'll never get the same good neighbours and other things you love about living up the hill anywhere else. It's good to know the priority pass will be there for the future.


One thing I've wondered is if the council can do something about the 4 steep steps similar to a ramp with handrails but in a way that gradually takes you to the door. There possibly is something they could come up with.


Hoping the surgery will happen soon. I remember when you needed to get to hospital with the snow thick on the ground so fingers crossed you'll avoid that.
pollyx

mardatha

Yes, you have a good memory Polly! His first heart attack when the ambulance got stuck and half the street had to come out and shove us up the hill It's just a wee short cul de sac of 8 houses but it's quite steep.
Greenbee I know the feeling re a temperamental stove. Worse than a moody cat.. We don't like wood though, it's messy and not red hot. Smokeless eggs are the hottest and longest lasting we have found, for us anyway. Just cost the earth!

greenbee

In my case Mar, the wood is free - I'm still burning the trees I took down when I moved in, and have since taken out some more. I'm trying to get the tree surgeon back to remove a dead ash - I guess the good thing about them being so useless at getting back to me (I've been very clear that they need to email rather than phone as I work abroad 50% of the time, but that's apparently too complicated) is that I'll have cleared space for the next lot of logs before they get round to it!

I keep the smokeless for when it's really hot and I need to keep the stove going overnight. Although hopefully as I've just filled the oil tank that shouldn't be a problem for a while. I'd like to empty the coal bunker this year, and refill it in the summer.

VJsmum

mardatha wrote: »

Propane doesn't freeze but the regularator on top of the cylinder does and the gas goes off.

Gosh!! I never knew that... Every day is a school day

Glad you are getting help to be organised

camelot1001

Great organisation there Mar, hope the RV makes a swift recovery. I love the idea of a knitted cover, very ingenious and hope it's a bright colour so you can see it in the snow!

LaineyT

Will be keeping everything crossed that RV gets the op done as soon as possible Mar and good to hear that you are getting some help with the heavy lifting chores, take care of yourself x