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

greenbee

Thanks TMV - if I don't have any luck in the (many) CSs in town then I might do that - the problem with Freegle/Freecycle/Olio in rural areas though is that you often have to go a long way to collect things so the savings are outweighed by the fuel/time costs (particularly the time spent on arranging collection!). 

I finally tested the stove with solid fuel yesterday - it was still hot (with the fan running) this morning, but I'd forgotten how much ash it generates compared to logs. However, I think it's going to be worth getting some coal storage sorted out (either a bunker or some dedicated storage in the log store) and stocking up in the summer. It'll all help with the oil-tank-volume anxiety (I've just had a message confirming that the oil I ordered last week will be here 'on or before 14th Jan' which I already knew as that's the delivery I selected... I'd like a clue as to the actual date, but they only confirm the day before - often around midnight for a 6am delivery, which drives me nuts but I haven't done anything about finding a different supplier). 

Clearing for the fence has almost filled one compost bin (I need to fish out the holly and yew that he's put in there, and probably some of the large twigs when I turn it), and resulted in a large pile of stuff that will need to be sorted and binned/shredded/composted. So it's created a lot more work, but stuff that will pay dividends. It's a pity about the dead hedge we'd created having to be taken out, but we may find another place to put one later. 

Lots more pictures put up last night - I need to find the little spirit level to check that they're straight (they won't stay straight, but I'd like them to start out that way!). 

Today I want to take down Christmas decorations and put them away, and put the underlay under the rugs in the sitting room and garden room as well as ordering a large washable rug for the kitchen so that poor Stinky isn't slipping on the vinyl flooring so much. Just trying to decide where to get it from... it's only a short-term purchase so I don't want to spend a fortune. Sadly I got rid of all the really threadbare oriental rugs before I moved (they had holes in that were becoming hazardous, so probably a good thing). 

Baileys_Babe

Greenbee it might be worth trying different fuels on the stove, we have found some work better for us than others and some produce more ash than others. I went to our 'coal merchant' and bought 3 different bags of fuel and we rated them on a variety of things including how much ash they produced, ease of lighting... The next time I bought a different selection and we kept on until we found one that suited our needs.

This might be useful 
https://dawsonsfuels.co.uk/blogs/guides/smokeless-fuel-buying-guide?srsltid=AfmBOooseACLft7mHQTkWnGUiXVovWVhAKyMD0_LYU12Ur1ay3zk9Qgf

Or this
https://www.coal-huddersfield.co.uk/smokeless-fuels-7-c.asp

greenbee

Thanks for that. I need to investigate more as I've just been getting mine from the garage/log supplier. But as I won't be ordering more logs for a few years (between the trees I'm having down and those my mum is having down I have enough to keep me going), it may be worth checking whether the coal merchant we used when I was a child is still around and can do small quantities (they are around, still in the same place, but terrible website!). 

Fence work is ongoing - as the weather is better today I hope he'll make a bit more progress and get the posts in. I can't really spend much time in the garden while he's here, as he's a talker! But I do need to get out and plant the winter-flowering cherry and winter honeysuckle that arrived yesterday. And find a tree stake for the cherry (and something temporary for the honeysuckle to climb up). 

Stinky's paw seems to be better - I can now see/feel where the problem is/was, so can at least keep an eye on it. However, he's bored, as are the cats. And I'm still trying to pack up ready for the electricians next week. 

Baileys_Babe

I found a lot of coal merchant websites useless but they are not alone. I have been trying to help my in-laws over the last couple of years with buying various things including footwear suitable for swollen feet. I have found suitable suppliers but many appear to be doing e-commerce reluctantly I have found many of the websites very clunky and difficult to use, not at all suitable for most of the target market, one kept mentioning that instead of using the website I could phone or request a paper catalogue and then post my order. I am glad these options are available for those who feel more comfortable using them but this was a big company who are well known in their field. I felt if they improved their website less people would resort to phone or post for their order. 

Could you put the plants that arrived yesterday in a bucket or similar for the very short term so you don't distract the person doing the fence.

greenbee

Tree is in a bucket with water/damp paper in the garage (other plant is in a pot, also in the garage) as last night's frost means I won't be planting anything until next week at the earliest!

Oil delivery was made at 6.30 this morning, so we have a full tank which is nice (particularly given Agile prices today), headboard for the spare room was delivered and I have attached it to the bed, so that room is making good progress. Pictures still need hanging, and I need to find a big wall mirror to hang above the chest of drawers, as well as mending/refinishing the bedside table. But it's almost there. 

Called about some lampshades I'd ordered on 3-5 days delivery. Apparently they don't have them in stock (not mentioned on the website or the order acknowledgement) and have no idea when they'll be in. So refund requested and it looks like it is being processed. 

Several more oil-filled radiators have been delivered over the last few days as these will allow me to make the most of the solar/agile and provide backup when the oil tank gets perilously low. There have been some good prices recently on models I already have and am happy with so I just need to work out where exactly they'll go (big one in the garden room, small one in my office, medium one somewhere upstairs probably to move around). Cushions and a couple of cushion covers have arrived, and a couple more cushion covers are due today/tomorrow. 

Bedroom clearing is going OK - one down (just need to take the curtains and blind down), one to go (won't take long, there's not much in there) , and then the bathroom, hall and airing cupboard to get done. But this was probably the most complicated bit as it's the room my mum uses so had a lot of stuff in it. I'm debating moving the radiator from underneath the window to an internal wall. It think it's the only room I can realistically do it in, so it's worth considering. 

Stinky has had a short walk, and some playtime in the garden. Everyone has been fed, cats have been out, and have also taken over the upstairs landing as a playroom. And as it was dry I also opened all the windows today briefly to get some air in!

EssexHebridean

You've reminded me that I want to keep an eye on oil filled rad prices too - and indeed I've just done an Amazon search as that ought to prompt some keener prices going forwards. It's also interesting you were talking about moving of a radiator too - we were discussing exactly that possibility in our front room at the weekend. It being under the window is a pain - more so currently as that window is rather a "leaky"" one, and although if moved to the other wall that is a possibility it would still be behind a sofa, it might also allow for more even heating of the room - currently there is a 1 degree difference from one side to the other! 

greenbee

I can PM you the links to the radiators I’ve found if you want! Radiator positioning is a minefield as you need to work out airflow patterns, and although with double glazing it no longer makes sense to use the radiator convection to provide insulation, it’s often the the best place from the point of view of use of wall space. Plus moving pipework can be complicated. In this particular case there’s some dead space on the wall opposite the window which is just inside the door. Sadly i don’t think i can move any others. 

I’m also planning on putting electric UFH in the bathrooms when i redo the floors (no idea when) as it’ll add flexibility. And I really need to get a radiator on the CH circuit into my bathroom! 

A combination of the small oil tank, solar, and agile means I’m thinking very differently about heating than in the past.

EssexHebridean

Yes please to those links - we need to have a think about how best to deal with it, and I will probably also invest in some more smartplugs if we do end up buying additional heating options, but even our little tiny oil filled rad really is very effective.  

We have electric UFH in the bathroom and mostly leave it off but obviously it does get switched on when we have a night of super-low/negative pricing, though, and in spite of it never feeling like it does much, it does make a difference. 

greenbee

Electric UFH should just be background heat. I found that I felt the benefit in the bathrooms most in spring/autumn when the heating was off but it was nice to have the chill taken off the bathroom! I think it probably helps reduce condensation and mould too. When I get it, it'll go on the same system as the electric radiators/smart plugs/heating, so in theory I can set one profile to make the most of agile and apply to everything. Maybe when I'm bored one day I'll look at home assistant and more automation, but for now I think I'm doing reasonably well. 

EssexHebridean

Yes - useful to be able to automate things like that. I've got the smart plugs but of course those have to be set manually. The two lots of UFH won't automate at all annoyingly - the kitchen on is still on an old fashioned dial thermostat (which also doesn't really work so just ends up being turned up to full blast!) and it won't be cost effective to get that changed I shouldn't think.