"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

Thanks for the insight TMV I really do need to read the instructions for mine as I'm sure I could tweak it... but as it seems to be working maybe it's best to leave it!

For today's free electricity hour I have prepped scarpaccia, farinata, courgette curry, bean curry, peanut butter and almond cookies, a load of washing, and down jackets (washed on a cool wash) ready for the TD. Battery is currently on stop so I'm exporting lots, and it should then top up in the free hour and with any generation this afternoon. Immersion diverter is also currently off to maximise the amount going to the grid. If I finish all my cooking before the hour is up I might do the tiny bit of ironing that's sitting there waiting for me.

Oh, and I could boil the kettle to get the duck giblets I need to slow cook for the cats going  

Tree surgeons are here topping a holly that had grown a stupid top-knot, taking out a weedy looking birch, pollarding a couple of hawthorns, and cutting the hedge at the back. I think they'll be doing the front hedge tomorrow, where they'll be taking out the laurel and leylandii so the native plants that are growing into them have a bit more chance. It may also make space to move at least the garden waste bins out to the front rather than leaving them where they are at the side of the house, but I won't know until I see it. 

greenbee

Tree work is done at the back - I definitely need a couple more out, and then can start planting. Front is going to look a mess for a while as there are holes in it where they're taking all the nasty stuff out. They've left me anything that is the right size for turning into logs, and also tipped some chippings into a couple of the bulk bags I had lying around. I really should have asked them to fill them all up, but having not yet dealt with the random sacks of compost at the back I didn't really have room. Next time however.... they may not be good quality, but I'm planning on using them for veg plot paths/composting them, not using them as mulch on their own. 

Slow day for solar today, but as I'm not using much it isn't a huge issue. I will need to set the DW off at some point but may be able to put that off until the morning. Must remember I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning!

badmemory

Just thought I'd mention that the installer came the other day & fixed whatever it was the meter changer had done.  Just opened the meter cupboard door & moved something.  They could have charged me as it definitely was not their fault.  They said it often happened when the meter was changed.

greenbee

I'm glad its sorted! I guess ideally you'd have the smart meter fitted first, but I bet the waiting lists are longer for the meters than the solar installations!

Not much generation today - not importing much, but the battery has only recharged about 10% since this morning. I'm hoping it'll top up another 10% and then I'll be OK until morning. But no additional peak rate export today!

badmemory

You are right about the lead times.  Not long at all for the solar but 5 weeks for the smart meter.  As they say if I had known then what I know now.  Now of course I have no way of reading this new meter, so that could be fun.

We must be sunnier here as it went up to 75% then down to 48% with a daily large use but it is struggling now.

greenbee

And I saved 63p on the first 'free' electricity session. I think the later ones should be even more productive. 

greenbee

Gardener is here today and it's a bit wet and windy. So far we have: installed a safe (no more losing my passport!), found the stopcock under the kickboards (where the sink used to be, not where it is now) and hoovered up all the rubbish under them, resealed the sink (which it turns out, moves - if we have to do it again we'll be using no more nails underneath it, but it does make me realise I need to prioritise getting the kitchen done next year). Further inside jobs include putting up a bathroom cabinet (being done now), and putting up a magnetic strip in the garage so I can attached screwdrivers etc to it. Then it's on to outside jobs - moving round some security cameras so the high one can have a solar panel added to avoid the need to get on a ladder when the batteries run out, and doing the weeding. But that's for him, not me - I'm off to the dentist shortly.

I've also booked myself onto a scything course, let the plumber know we've found the stopcock, and replied to an email about some furniture I might be acquiring. I just need to work out how I will get it from my uncle's to here (about 2-2.5 hours each way, and it'll be a vanload).

Off to the dentist shortly, home via a shop of some kind as I need a few bits and pieces of food. And then I might do some work.

greenbee

Safe, bathroom cabinet, magnetic strip, security cameras all sorted. Also some fiddling around with the shed to get the water flowing into the gutters properly. 

Hygienist and shopping done. Sun has shone, battery is full, and I'm finishing work early to lie on the sofa and read a book rather than getting out in the garden which is what I should be doing... 

Baileys_Babe

greenbee said:

And I saved 63p on the first 'free' electricity session. I think the later ones should be even more productive. 

We saved a similar amount 66p on our first free hour. I like the focus it gives us to focus what we are planning on using our electricity for and changing when we do certain tasks.

I'm not sure if we could make as much use of a future session if it is soon as we are all caught up with the laundry.

I wish we were able to have solar panels (listed building) our roof is angled so it gets lots of solar gain which we can not make the most of.

greenbee

Baileys_Babe said:

greenbee said:

And I saved 63p on the first 'free' electricity session. I think the later ones should be even more productive. 

I wish we were able to have solar panels (listed building) our roof is angled so it gets lots of solar gain which we can not make the most of.

One of the advantages of my ugly roof with it's concrete pantiles!

I need to read the instructions for the oven to see whether I could run the self-cleaning programme