Living the Good Life - mortgage free and living in line with our values

themadvix

greenbee said:

I'd have to physically turn the inverter off which is a massive faff - I can't do it from the app. I set the battery to charge, which means even if it's full the house will pull from the grid rather than battery - but when I'm generating 9kWh of solar it's quite hard to use it all - let alone more - when I don't need heating! Given the negative pricing was pretty low, I wasn't overly bothered as I can make more from the solar export than the import, but want to try to do the right thing by a. using the excess in the grid and b. not exporting more solar than I need to when there will be excess. 

It's frustrating that while myenergi's chargers work with Intelligent Go, their batteries don't work with Intelligent Flux. But I guess it's complicated!

That's annoying. We use home assistant to do all of our battery/inverter management (when I say we, I mean Mr MV sets it all up with idiot-proof buttons for me to press. It means we can turn discharge off when we get free leccy, charge battery when car is charging (on Intelligent Go 7p rate) and do all sorts of other (geeky) things.... I have no idea if it would be compatible with your system though, sorry! (Probably could ask on the energy/tech boards - I'm pretty sure someone there would know the answer!)

greenbee

Home assistant is compatible, but I don't have the spare brain cells at the moment to work it all out On the energy board the current usual answer is to swap to a PW3, but a. I don't want the disruption of replacing perfectly good almost new kit with something else and b. I have ethical concerns... I just wish Octopus and Myenergi would talk to each other! They may well be in negotiations, as there have been a lot of software updates (with accompanying glitches) recently, so I'm still hoping!

themadvix

greenbee said:

Home assistant is compatible, but I don't have the spare brain cells at the moment to work it all out On the energy board the current usual answer is to swap to a PW3, but a. I don't want the disruption of replacing perfectly good almost new kit with something else and b. I have ethical concerns... I just wish Octopus and Myenergi would talk to each other! They may well be in negotiations, as there have been a lot of software updates (with accompanying glitches) recently, so I'm still hoping!

Totally agree on both the brain cell front and the replacing something new with something else. I'm not familiar with a PW3 - what's the ethics issue? Fingers crossed Octopus sort it out soon!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Been quiet on the work front today - although I did invoice main client this morning for what would represent a month and a half's normal work (but all done in August), so that's quite nice. Have done various Cambridge bits, including some data entry this afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon was wonderful, after running about doing all the prep for the free electricity - we watched the Grand Prix, I had a nap and then reading and some TV. Indulgent relaxation!

This morning I did 3 loads of washing, including the bedding and they are all ready to come in now. I also planted the pansies and the sad chilli up. Picked a cucumber, several tomatoes and lots of chillis. Chucked several finished toms and put the spent compost on the flowerbed, which is now looking tidy with its mulch! Have been to allotment and picked another large courgette, a good handful of french beans, more dried beans, several raspberries and blackberries (for breakfast tomorrow) and a few baby corn. Did a bit of weeding too.

Asbestos man came back to me yesterday - we should be booked in for removal on 27th (awaiting his confirmation), so hopefully we can get the install booked in for soon after that. At last!

MS things:
* Clicks and HW
* Moved mature NS&I bond money back into EF - given future plans, I won't be tying any portion of it up for now
* 1P surveys
* YG survey
* Several PA surveys
* Invoiced main client

Gratitudes:
* Gorgeous sunshine again here today
* More raspberries - I thought they were over, but there's a second flush
* Mum's friend can't go to theatre with her tomorrow afternoon - as work is quiet, I've decided to take her up on the offer of the spare ticket!

Have a good evening all!

beanielou

Good news on the removal.

themadvix

Thanks Beanie - yes it is - finally feel like we're getting somewhere!

greenbee

I have a feeling you might have an Ethical Consumer subscription - if so, Tesla's write-up is worth reading (it was updated today). 

themadvix

Oh PW - Power Wall, I’m with you now. Yes to EC subscription and with you on Musk. But I think there’s slightly more nuance to the ethics of Tesla per se than EC consider (I definitely don’t agree with everything they write more widely - e.g. hardline stances on meat eating etc.). But totally agree that buying a new PW isn't the answer! (Our decision to buy a Tesla secondhand wasn't entirely a financial one - the ethics of not directly putting money in his pocket did play a role. But I am not convinced (however off the rails and power crazed he now is) that the EV landscape would be anywhere near as advanced had Tesla not been pushing it forward in the first place).

Will check out the update.

ETA for clarity and thoughts I couldn't be bothered to type on my phone last night!

themadvix

Morning all,

Typically main client sent some work last night, which I'll get done this morning, but he seemed slightly surprised when I mentioned I wouldn't be around this afternoon - I know it's going to be busy this week/month, but he hadn't sent anything until late yesterday (and then only one thing), so how was I to know I'd be busy from today! 🙄 In any case, I've made it clear I'm here the rest of the week (and a big project is arriving Thursday, so that'll keep me busy).

Have invited in-laws for Sunday lunch - we have half a pork joint in the freezer that was frozen when they couldn't come for Mothers' Day, so it'll free up some space (also will serve cabbage which is taking up a lot of freezer space too!). Apart from some cream (MIL doesn't like custard) and some butter (for crumble, I used most of month's provisions doing my epic baking session at the weekend), I won't need to buy anything. Mr MV wants to crack on with the teardrop - it's coming along now - so this will provide some interest/shape to the weekend without reducing the time he can spend on it. Imagine his dad will want to see it too.

Meeting Mum in London at 1400, so will have lunch before I go and should be back in time for dinner. Will take a couple of apple muffins for snacks. Her friend isn't worried about ticket money, but I'll send her £20 via Mum in any case. First evening class of the new year this evening, so hoping I'll have the energy for that (and that the tube strikes don't cause mayhem - we're walking from the train station, so as long as trains are on time, we should be OK). 

Dinner last night was the leftover sweetcorn dhansak, a portion of courgette and chickpea curry from the freezer (glad that was used up with the dhansak as it was pretty watery and tasteless) and rice. Not sure what dinner will be tonight, given my unknown whereabouts, but we have bread, eggs and baked beans in if necessary (although Mr MV has had free breakfast at work today, so he may not fancy the same again for tea!).

MS things:
* Clicks and HW
* Dinner from freezer
* Sunday lunch for guests with minimal spend required
* Loads of PA surveys done this morning

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine here again today - am going to cut the grass soon
* Bountiful produce 😊
* Some work this morning

Have a good day all!

rtandon27

I love when the freezer provides a 'free' meal - I found a forgotten Osco Buco joint in ours which will do nicely for some sort of stew on Sunday!  It's 'low & slow' season, and the added benefit is a bit of warmth in the house without the central heating on!