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

EssexHebridean

Oh the diverter would be a useful thing wouldn't it. One of the first things we did when we moved in to the house was to get a heated towel rail installed in the bathroom - ours runs straight from the central heating though, as we also have the electric underfloor to use if we wanted a top up of heat at any stage when the central heating isn't on. That currently gets run when Agile goes into negative! 

greenbee

When I get the bathrooms redone (they're horrible, but functional, so not in the budget at the moment), electric UFH will be going in. I've always found it useful to have for the time of year when you don't need CH but still want a warm bathroom! And if it runs off the solar/agile/battery, then it makes even more sense. Since long covid I can't cope with the cold (my wrists felt like glass this morning, which I hate) so insulating and getting the heating right are a priority. 

The ideal for towel rails is to have them set up to work on both the heating and with an electric element. And in smaller houses, also on the hot water circuit. That way you're covered for everything.

Bleeding the radiators (again) needs to be on this week's list. 

The snow has dislodged the bird netting, but the installer responded quickly and will be out to fix it next time he's up this way. I've pointed out that we need to know it is snow-proof before we put anything on the main roof, as that won't be quite such an easy job if it goes wrong. 

Sadly I didn't see the cats' reaction to the snow as they went out while I was taking Stinky out. Fartypants appears to have been quite happy. Fatso turned round and came in so fast I'm not sure she got all the way out! However, they are both out now (the snow is melting, so it's mostly soggy), having complained about the catering. We're a bit tight on food as I clearly miscalculated now we are out of kitten food, and the next delivery has only just been dispatched. So no fussiness is being tolerated (and I need to shove some chicken wings in the SC for them). Stinky has had his rations increased, as having checked the breeder's instructions against the manufacturer's instructions, he was being seriously underfed. I can only assume they gave me the wrong information - he wasn't particularly skinny, but not fat, and the reason I double-checked was because I thought yesterday he was looking a bit thin. So I've increased his rations from lunchtime which he seems happy about!

I've done some furniture moving that didn't work, and moved it back, so have more planned for tomorrow. Tonight is bookclub, so I need to get the animals settled before I go and remember to dress in something a bit less scruffy than my dog-walking outfit!

greenbee

Stinky has been a very good puppy and was fine while I was at book club last night. Quite happy in his crate. He's also getting the message about weeing every time we go out, and is also now understanding that walks are a good time for poos... (sorry if TMI!). Mealtimes are also easier - he's (mostly) not jumping up for his food, so I'm increasing the requirement for him to sit still before he gets it, and will gradually get to the point where he has to sit and wait for permission to eat. The slow feeder, increased rations and kong for 'pudding' mean that he's taking his time to eat.

Cats got me up at 6.30am again to let them and the puppy out. They've had chicken for breakfast, and are in and out a lot - not spending much time outside, mostly racing round and playing inside. Or glaring at the poor puppy. 

I've moved more furniture, put the washing that was done last night in the TD now I'm generating plenty of solar, and also stuck the DW on rather than waiting for tonight. The battery is full and hot water tank up to temperature, so I think I might shove another load of washing in as well. I'm not quite feeling energetic enough to do ironing as the landing is a tip! But despite having a puppy taking up half the kitchen (the bit that used to be the old dining room before the vendors extended, so a nice empty space for the crate and pen at the moment), the house is starting to come together properly. 

Haven't bled the radiators yet, so need to remember that on the list. And there's a lot of gardening to do when the rest of the snow and ice is gone as annuals have died and netting needs removing from the veg plot. And I probably need to inspect the greenhouse and hope my dierama have survived.

Conversations with an architect friend today - it would be sensible to convert the garage so I have an office with access to the garden, create a bootroom and a larger downstairs cloakroom - potentially with a shower for muddy dogs/people (on the assumption that I might one day go for a run again) and laundry. Currently utility room needs a rethink, and the kitchen definitely needs a redesign. Ideally plans should be drawn up over the winter so they can be costed, quotes got, and the work can be done sometime next year/early 2026. 

Next job today... call the person who has been recommended for puppy classes, possibly while bleeding the radiators!

Watty1

Just a thought while you are having work done. I have an outdoor shower, it runs off a gas bottle and needs to be drained over winter, but, it is really useful for smelly dogs!  (It was an ebay find installed by ex)    I actually had it installed so there was warm water to shower off a horse but it really came into its own with WattyDog when he kept going for unscheduled swims.   Would puppy like an outdoor shower? If I was planning from scratch I would put one in

greenbee

Good idea Watty. I know there used to be plumbing in the corner where the utility room and kitchen join (and I may put it back there when I redo them both). So making an outdoor space for dog/welly washing there makes sense. As does removing the tap from where it currently is as that's on the 'ornamental' part of the patio rather than 'working' part!

greenbee

Getting things done with a puppy around is hard work. However, I've had a bit more time to spend with him today, and as a result he's tired. We've been out in the garden quite a bit despite the weather - I've been cutting back and filling the garden waste bins, and he's been eating apples/bark/cardboard and running about. We also did our usual couple of walks. 

I have moved a few bits of furniture round during the week, and need to get on and finish putting things away - so cleaning bicarb out of drawers and lining them for a start. 

My cleaner has taken a couple of pairs of curtains, and the rest are packed up in an old suitcase ready for the CS. Sadly the blinds don't fit her house, so those will also have to go to the CS on a day I have time to take them all. 

I've also finally managed to speak to my neighbours at the back (who seemed perfectly OK despite what the neighbours to the side who also share a boundary with them say), and they're happy for me to put up a dog-proof fence using deer fencing. I'm hoping that this will also ensure there is no confusion about the boundary - I have a double hedge, and there is a hedge either side of the current fence. They seem to think the hedge both sides of the fence is theirs... I'm hoping we can agree that maintenance of everything on my side of the fence line is my responsibility as once the fence is up it'll be person-proof as well as puppy-proof. 

Plunge pricing on Agile tonight and tomorrow, so need to think of all the things I need to do that use electricity (ironing for one), and also make sure I get electric heating working to minimise the use of the oil CH. And also regularly discharge the battery, as I'll make a decent profit on export too. It'll be interesting to see how it works out!

Better take the puppy out for a wee again... 

CCW007

I do miss plunge pricing on Agile! But have two hours free electric in the morning so can't complain.

badmemory

Ironing!!!!!  The last time I used my iron was the week before lockdown.  I was going to use it about a year ago & couldn't remember where I had put it.  I do think I ought to try it just to see if it is still working.  However I chose my ironing board so that it could be quite high so I could do jigsaws without bending over.  So testing the iron will have to wait until I have finished the current jigsaw.  It is all about getting your priorities right.

rtandon27

I love the very thought of people proof fencing 🤣🤣🤣 - I'd love to put up an eight foot one on the boarder I'm not responsible for - as it is currently only 4 foot plus a breeze block footing and the neighbours on the other side are definitely they type who deserve an 8-foot barrier if not a solid brick wall!  Funnily enough the fence line I'm responsible for is with the lovely neighbour and is eight foot high, but when either of us is up a ladder tending our various tall plants, we chat over the fence!

greenbee

I need to message the neighbour I'm hoping to do the fencing. I'll try to remember to do that tomorrow, now I've got agreement from the neighbours that I can put the fence up. 

Wind is getting up, but I should probably take Stinky out again soon. I might line a couple more drawers and put a few more things away first.

Towel rails and immersion are programmed through the negative energy pricing until 7.30am, after which I need to reprogramme. I've messaged my mum (who is coming over tomorrow) to tell her to bring non-urgent laundry over (she has visitors staying who are coming over with her, and leaving later in the day, so their bedding would be ideal!). 

I just need to work out where to put the small oil-filled radiator (possibly in the kitchen to keep the puppy warm), whether to put the electric airer up even though there's no washing to go on it at the moment... although a wool wash at 10pm might be an idea, what laundry to put on overnight (better go and look... I could also do a cleaning cycle and/or wash the cleaning cloths), and whether I can be bothered to chop some veg to shove in the SC for soup overnight. 

I should have a bath... if I prep everything then I could actually get the wool wash done and hung up, and at least one more wash setup. I don't want to put too much effort in though - the big thing I need to remember is to export from the battery before 2am and after 5am. Ideally being ready to export at 4pm but leave enough battery so I don't use anything until after 7pm. However, I'll only do as much as I can. I don't want to get too bogged down in it!