So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Karmacat

Amazing conversation to pop up, thank you all contributors, especially madvix ☕🍰  I'm going to have to copy that down.  

Staffordia

A couple of questions if I may? What about the environmental impact from producing the batteries? I've been led to believe that outweighs the environmental savings from not using petrol?  Presumably constant charging degrades their effectiveness over time, and what is in place for when the batteries reach the end of their life?

themadvix

Morning all,

Feel free Staffordia. The environmental impact of the mining for the batteries is not good, that is true. I find it hard to believe that it is worse than using a fossil-fuelled car, however, over the vehicle's lifetime. But I don't know the ins and outs of this. They are making more with LFP batteries now, which are less environmentally unfriendly. Technology is moving fast in the battery world and things are improving all the time. Degradation is far slower now than it was with the first-generation EVs (my friend had a first-gen Nissan Leaf and it degraded quite badly, but it wasn't managed well) - battery management has improved in leaps and bounds. And when a battery is no longer useful in a car, it is absolutely fine as a storage battery for a house/warehouse/factory - and this is the main outlet for reuse. Ultimately, of course, like all batteries, they can be taken apart and the rare earth elements recycled infinitely. We're planning on buying an older Model 3, and have no concerns about battery life. 

A busy day today, with two Cambridge meetings and then I have to take Sis to an eye appointment in town - she's got to have drops that dilate her eyes, so needs a lift and someone to look after Niece. Mr MV is at home today so I can use the car (and I'll probably leave Niece here if I can). Also need to finish this piece of work for main client as he's asked about it. He's also sent me another bit and I've got some work for my UK-based client to do too - probably tomorrow.

Have been to Sains this morning as we needed a few bits for dinner with our friends at the weekend (and we're doing some of the prep in advance). Also topped up on loo roll (45 rolls!) as I had a Nectar prices offer for them so bought 5 packs. Also 20 bonus points for something and £3 off a £30 shop - I'd spent £26.82 by the time I'd got the bits I needed, so added some eggs and sugar for 'free'. (We now have 26 eggs in the fridge mind you!).

MS things:
* Clicks, HW done, some comps entered
* 1P surveys
* Canny Sainsbury's shop
* An hour at the allotment yesterday afternoon
* (Might have applied for a second allotment! Long waiting list, so unlikely to need to make a decision for at least a year)
* S&S scanned shopping and receipt submitted 
* Doing RM Correctly Delivered survey at the moment (haven't heard from them about going back on the main panel)
* Heating still mostly off here - mainly because our automations don't appear to be working!

Gratitudes:
* Lovely cauliflower from R'ford last night - enjoyed this recipe
* It was warm at the allotment - I was in a t-shirt!
* Found a discarded tiny pumpkin at the allotment - perfect for autumnal decorations

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

Aha, presumable the zapmap house symbols are people who have home chargers you can "rent out"? I went straight to the map and saw no key so was a little puzzled

themadvix

Suffolk_lass said:

Aha, presumable the zapmap house symbols are people who have home chargers you can "rent out"? I went straight to the map and saw no key so was a little puzzled

Yes! It's not the perfect app, but it is useful.

EssexHebridean

As EVs get more common it's going to be interesting on turnings like ours. We have 2 lamp-posts for the 17 houses, one right at the dead end of the turning, and the other part way along, coincidentally nearly opposite us but also on the side of the road without the parking bays - people do park over there but you have to plonk it up on the kerb which isn't ideal, and of course could be clamped down on at any stage. On "our" side there is the parking bays, then a sloped grass very before reaching the open fronts and then the houses  - so not terrifically practical to enable charging from homes. In fact when I come to think about it I suspect our council don't approve of that anyway - I can't recall seeing the cable-across-pavement approach around us at all, although you do see it a fair bit in London. Clearly something will have to change, although from our perspective I'd want increased mileage availability on a single charge to enable our trips to the Hebrides, down to Devon etc to still be practical without having to spend crazy amounts of time standing waiting for a battery to charge. We did have a good look at the various options when we replaced MrEH's car a few years back, but came to the conclusion that we'd at this point need to go self-charging hybrid, at that that time it was a lot more economical and practical for us from all points to simply replace with ICE  again. Mum reached the same conclusion when she replaced hers - she is in an even worse situation as her parking at home is at the end of her turning with no real access to either run a cable of access a lamp-post even if the facility was installed on one of those. She came to the conclusion in the end that the ICE vehicle she eventually bought will see her out now, so she might as well just do that!  it's definitely interesting seeing all the chat about the subject here anyway. 

Your sesame baked cauliflower sounds gorgeous! I love those sorts of umami/sweet & sour type flavours.

How's your Mum coping now? Hopefully she's doing OK and doesn't need to be kept in plaster for too long. 

Staffordia

Thanks for your reply MV, it's always interesting to get a different opinion on a subject.  Like EH, I want the flexibility of 400+ miles to a tank and a 5 minute refuel.  No doubt if the economic and political will is there than it may actually happen at some point. 

themadvix

Afternoon all,

I suspect the council doesn't have a say EH, it's just that it's not become necessary near you yet. My sister has a similar set up with a grass verge etc. and it is an issue (but she could charge at work or even at ours if we worked it out right as she works in our town).

Some of the newer cars have longer ranges and I'm not sure that you need more than 250 miles in one go - I know I certainly need a wee stop more often than that! Charging at services would use the super-fast chargers, so only takes 20 mins - time for a wee and cuppa and then back on the road. We plan on driving to Germany and Scotland in ours and don't foresee a slower journey as a result.

The baked cauli recipe is really good - we've only had it a couple of times, but I think it'll become more regular... if I can grow cauliflowers! Mum is doing fine... she's only got a temporary cast on though and keeps saying that they won't be putting a proper one on... this is entirely based on her assumptions and dislike of the cast as it makes her feel claustrophobic. Which I get, but honestly, her attitude towards it is bizarre - I keep having to remind her of the importance of it healing properly.

It's currently chucking it down here for the second time since I put washing out about an hour ago, due to sunshine and a dry forecast..... 🙄 Do I trust the dry forecast for tomorrow and just leave it out there?

It has been a busy day workwise - the two bits I mentioned yesterday, plus a little job for the Americans, plus follow-up for another piece with UK client and another unexpected bit from main client. Fortunately it's a quiet day Cambridge-wise, although there's always more for me to do if I want there. Main client has also advised me of a fairly large project arriving on the 8th December for completion by the 22nd, so that's good too.

I also ventured onto the Flylady thread briefly this morning, so our bedroom is now spick and span, awaiting clean sheets this evening. Strained kefir, made pizza dough for tonight and tidied the hotspot in the hall - the house is feeling a lot less of a mess now.

MS things:
* MSE was down - definitely good for work productivity! 😂
* Clicks, HW done
* 1P surveys done
* TV survey
* S&S submitted
* Took Sis to her eye appointment yesterday and in a complicated dance, the possibility of takeaway was mooted, but in the end Niece and Sis went off to see Dad and fiancee. Mr MV and I considered takeaway anyway, but when it came to £28, we decided not to bother - had egg on toast instead!

Gratitudes:
* Despite the occasion, it was lovely to spend some time with Sis without Mum or Niece around!
* Niece and Mr MV spent some quality time together (?) while he was supposed to be working
* My R'ford squash box has arrived and is full of beautiful squashes. I have wanted one for several years and resisted, but despite our house already being full of hg squash and overwintering chilli plants, I got it this year. I'm hoping it might also inspire me to grow different varieties too, as Mr MV isn't a huge fan of BNS.

Have a good afternoon all!

Karmacat

I noticed MSE being down - it was good productivity, yes, but I'm really glad its back up 😅

Yay for egg on toast! A starring role on MSE for that 😊 

badmemory

Has she definitely broken the wrist.  Not done what they did with my mother & decide that a fall at her age must have broken the bone.  It hadn't.