From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

themadvix

EssexHebridean said:

Cardiff market is indeed still there - Leeds too has a wonderful market in a beautiful building as I recall? 

Not sure it'd be called a proper market these days (in Leeds) - it was very artisanal when we were there in April. But lovely to mooch around and definitely a beautiful building!

Greying_Pilgrim

Phew!

Done.  New windows are in, new door closed and locked and we've no more trades in the house.  YAY!

First impressions are that it's better.  There was a slight bit of condensation on the inside of the windows this morning - but we need to make sure we're using the trickle vents - and although we have an extractor in the bathroom we have yet to put one in the kitchen.  Now that all the windows are in, it should be a better balance - it wasn't a level playing field this morning.  Although I'm pleased to report that greenbee was right and there was more condensation on the outside of some windows this morning.  I remember having it the last time we had new windows, and being quite miffed that we still couldn't see out 🤣

It is quieter, although not totally quiet, as the trickle vents still let noise in.  

The workers were nice enough, but I know I'm not alone in saying that I'm glad that they've finished and we have the place back to ourselves.  We had the ubiquitous radio going whilst they worked (at least it wasn't blaring so you could hear it 6 streets away), and I rather smugly recognised the theme tune from the BBC 'Holiday' programme circa Cliff Mitchellmore's era! 🤣 Gawd, I'm ancient.  Mind, it was on whatever station Kenneth the Bruce has gone to, perhaps i ought to convert to that over R2 🤣

I think now our 'house' projects will be much smaller and incremental.  I'm going to have to wait, and wait for a new kitchen - it just isn't a priority.  I don't know if I mentioned, but we've got to be careful what we spend now, as with the purchase price, the new heating system and new windows, we're not that far short of what similar houses are currently selling for around here.  This is our home, and not an investment project, but you don't want to spend gazillions on a sow's ear.  LG's bedroom is warmer with a new window, but it's still not super-duper comfortably warmer, so a new radiator in that room will probably be a priority after Christmas.  The plumber was all for a taller unit, maintaining the same pipework, but I think it will require a bigger and wider rad.  The room has to contend with having 2 very cold walls.  I know there are calculations for room size etc, but I don't think you can beat 'lived with' experience, and this room is c.o.l.d.

Hopefully we will now have a lull in having to buy b****y spare parts for any cars, and can start a little fund for a tow bar.  That is one priority for me, as it will mean we can take our bikes places again - something I really want us to get back into for 2026.  

I'm glad I got another carton of milk last week, even though DH picked up a new one the day before, as the trades have whipped through cups of tea 😁 I don't mind, I wouldn't have offered if I minded - and at least our cups didn't get broken this time, so I remain happy to stick the kettle on.

Tea will be lentil bolognese and pasta.  I made the bolognese yesterday as I was holed up in the kitchen to keep out of the way.  I made enough tommie sauce for 2 extra punnets, and there were enough green lentils cooked..... for 2 extra punnets as well (I think).  For tea yesterday, I made spiced root vegetable and lentil stew.  This was from my recipe index, and I got it from Beebeecee GF website.  I'm not sure the recipe that is up there now is exactly the same, but it is similar.  I didn't have any parsnips so I used the last bit of swedish turnip instead.  I also put some peas in it for a pop of colour.  It made plenty for us all and was just the job as it'd got cold by the time the trades had finished yesterday, and doors had been open/windows out etc.  I was going through my recipe index noting down what, if anything, I needed to make the dishes I've notionally planned out for the festive season.  I was pleased to be reminded of this stew, as it used ingredients I had and was very simple to make.  

I am now wondering if the FB in Greying Town has a hot-line to this thread, as in double checking what was on their priority list, I noticed they have now set up an 'open day' for donations for xmas - as they did last year.  I have amended my Advent activity calendar accordingly.......  

Right, can't think of anything else MSE at the mo.  I did put out a small wash today - including towels.  They dried a little bit in the breeze, but I've put them in front of the dehu for a couple of hours to finish off.  I noticed that the sun was sooooo low in the sky today, it barely even touches our garden now 😭 Oh for the Solstice..........

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

EssexHebridean

Happy new windows, Greying! 

redofromstart

Happy new windows, maybe one day in the not so distant future mine might actually get installed (rather than just ordered!) so for now I have window envy. 

themadvix

Solstice is less than a month away now - it’ll be getting lighter again soon!
Glad you’re feeling the effects of the windows 😊

Greying_Pilgrim

redofromstart said:

Happy new windows, maybe one day in the not so distant future mine might actually get installed (rather than just ordered!) so for now I have window envy. 

The process for us, from quote to installation seems to have taken quite a time - 5 or 6 weeks at least??  We'll gloss over the nearly 2 years to save the money - it was preferable to having anything up to 5x as much, to buy a house with modern DG already installed.  I think that there is only one house in the road that has the original wooden windows from when the houses were built - our house looks like everyone else's now 🤣 

Thank you EH, redo and tmv - for your kind wishes.  It feels good to be in the 21st century, finally.... 🤣

Greying X

KajiKita

Oh this is awesome news! 🤩😊 Many new windows and door congratulations and what a relief to have it all done before Christmas 😊

With LG’s room, I wonder if stud walling the two coldest walls and installing insulation might be a logical first step? It would make the room a touch smaller but could make a huge difference to the comfort levels in there?

KK

Greying_Pilgrim

KK - there really isn't any room to play with to do stud walling - I know what you mean.  We did do that in our previous (owned) house in LG's room, but it would still have been considered a 'double' by today's standard.  Whilst LG's room is bigger than the one they had in the rental house - which was, in effect, the 'third' bedroom and was little more than a boxroom, their room now is a small single.  In reality it was probably viewed as a cot room for a 'starter' home ☹️

Greying X

greenbee

I don't use my trickle vents ... well, I try to keep them closed, but not all of them close well - as I don't like them. I open the windows and air the house regularly. I think some of the vents may be painted shut now...

Re. the radiator - how many panels and how many sets of 'fins' does LG's current radiator have?

Greying_Pilgrim

greenbee said:

I don't use my trickle vents ... well, I try to keep them closed, but not all of them close well - as I don't like them. I open the windows and air the house regularly. I think some of the vents may be painted shut now...

Re. the radiator - how many panels and how many sets of 'fins' does LG's current radiator have?

I am pretty sure it is a 50cmx50cm radiator, double walled - it's a new one. It has a thermostat which is set to 5.  The room is no more than...... 10ft x 7ft.  Although the radiator is hot, it doesn't 'throw' the heat out.  The window has diminished the temperature difference as you step into the room - it was that on the threshold the temperature dipped several degrees (easily).  But the room is still cool - you wouldn't want to sit and read, or play in the room.  

I specifically try to air the house every morning at least.  And I forgot to add that in addition to new heating and windows, one of the first things we did was to insulate the loft.  It now has - mmm 300mm(??) it has the recommended depth (possibly more).

Greying X