Living Large, on a Small Income, by the Sea.

jwil

We have sensor lights that are triggered by movement.  It can get a bit annoying when it's windy etc, but I think I prefer it to a light that's permanently on all night.  I have no idea which is better for safety though.

greenbee

I've turned all the outside lights off here. Some were on sensors, some dusk-to-dawn, but I like dark. I use a torch when I go into the garden to empty the dog at night, and if I go out/come back after dark. I can turn the lights on from a switch if I want to, but do it very infrequently (and ended up leaving the porch on until 3.45 this morning as a result).

Two neighbours have very bright outside lights - one fixed at the top of their gable so the light goes well beyond their fence/hedge and it's like a searchlight shining into the house, the other lower but still bright. I know where the 'searchlight' was coming from, so asked them to stop using it as it was lighting up the whole garden and inside the house. No clue where the other comes from, but it isn't quite as annoying as it's lower. The reason I mention this is that you need to think about whether the light would be a nuisance to neighbours. 

redofromstart

I have motion triggered security lights but they are mostly on an angle that minimises cat alerts.  Every so often one of the little darlings triggers them off and appears to be having a disco but I can live with that.  I was rubbish at remembering to switch a proper light on and off.  Both neighbours at the back have super bright ones that light up my bedroom so I have blackout curtains.  

joeyjimbles

We have a sensor light at the back of the house; it's handy if I need anything from the big freezer in the shed in the evening, and of course it would go on if someone were to come over the fence (though it would probably collapse on them if they tried).
We have fixed lights at the front on a timer. 

We also benefit from sensor lights at the back of our local restaurant, and to a degree their CCTV. They have been really lovely about consulting with us on the height and range of both which was very thoughtful. 

doingitanyway

You are hilarious @PennysIntoPounds
I have yet to create my Minted account but I will.
Drink with friend was nice...thank you 

Thanks @jwil @greenbee @redofromstart @joeyjimbles for really helpful responses. I am mindful about light pollution so I will have the sensor. I dislike strong light on all night as I like dark, but so do burglars! So the security light is essential. 

A erghh day as I am looking for an important document. I had breaks but really going at it all day with no result. Soooo stressful and annoying...

But I used the Oct free electricity to heat the house, use the dehumidifier and bake an acorn squash in the oven that came out totally deliciously  I also baked a tray of veg. Was going to bake something sweet but I know I would have eaten it all so I did not.

Listening to podcasts...

Off to hoover, and resume looking...

Hope you are having a good enough day

jwil

I hope you find the document.

teapot2

Fingers crossed you find your document soon. Do you think its in the infamous 'safe place'🙄?

Tresinia511

Oh no!! The dreaded 'safe' space🫣i hope for your sake it's not there or truly it is lost for ever😁

in_need_of_direction

We never had a somewhere safe but always had an extra household member called nobody.  It was amazing how much more active nobody was than anyone else. Nobody moved things constantly 

doingitanyway

Thank you everyone

Part of Friday and the whole of yesterday was given over to searching. I was in panic mode thrashing about. I woke up this morning with a clear head.  I thought, if I haven't seen it here it must never have been unpacked, or it was left in the last place I lived in. I narrowed my search to unpacked boxes in the loft. Guess what? I found it. 

Since finding it a mouth ulcer that sprang up since Friday has disappeared. They go of their own accord anyway with 1-2 weeks. It went after yoga. I just looked up mouth ulcers on the NHS website. Top of why they occur is stress...

So stressed yesterday, I hadn't wanted to eat my soup that I did not refrigerate, so now it needs chucking as it went off!

Time to create a safe space for such things and go through all the things in the loft so I know what is there

No to Do, today, just rest, pottering and relaxation

Happy Sunday