When icicles hang by the wall

[shewhomust]

I suspect from the responses to my recent post about having a new gas meter fitted that some of my readers aren't aware quite how decrepit our central heating system is. Kind remarks along the lines of 'All's well that ends well' overlook the fact that it isn't over till it's over.

Well, it's over now. We woke up on Sunday morning to no heating, and all the lights out on the timer. Maybe it was just an electrical glitch? A blown fuse? Maybe, but what had caused the fuse to blow? We'd find out soon enough, but for the present we booked an engineer for Monday morning and went out for the day (and did many things and had a good time: it's not all doom and gloom).

The engineer gave us the bad news: the fuse had blown because the punp had seized. Replacing it would be a half day's work, and given the condition of the system as a whole, would only be a temporary fix: he would do it if we insisted, but why not let them quote for doing the job properly, replacing the boiler, flushing the system, the lot? So that afternoon his colleague from Britiush Gas came and gave us a quote, and that evening a local builder who had been recommended to us also came, and we will go with the latter (two main reasons: 1, local firm and 2, better boiler for not much higher price).

They will probably start work on Monday - earlier if they can, though we aren't enthusiastic about a Friday start and everything in pieces over the weekend.

Not that I'm enthusiastic about prolonging the status quo, either. We tell people that we are the generation who grew up without central heating, and we can cope; it's good to discover that this is actually true, at least while the weather is comparatively mild. We are unearthing all our old electric heaters and warm jumpers. D. is visiting, and has brought a couple more fan heaters, and quite a lot of firewood, so we lit a fire last night, which was very cosy. The main problem is that our only source of hot water is the shower; I use the kettle to heat water for washing up, which becomes tedious very quickly.

We have guests to dinner on Friday - I'm still thinking how best to handle that.

Comments

[helenraven.livejournal.com]

I hope it goes smoothly. And that the weather continues mild.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

THIS.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Thanks - currently raining.

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Electrical devices in charge of heating do this kind of thing on purpose at a certain time of year and outside maximum temperature which is why this never happens during summer.
I'll never forget when the heating fell out in Hamburg and hearing x-spouse say to someone on the telephone (still polite but in a pointed manner; not quite his usual way) "...maybe, if you'd consider looking out the window?!" It was snowing. I recall, having taken a hot bath (ha, because hot water was, due to Nachtspeicher vs. daytime electricity magick, not depending on the same system that I'll explain one day when we have both bottles of wine&time and are neither school's out(me) tired or, indeed, suffering cold...either of us;) watching snow flakes blow in across my rednosed face.
"Interesting"
What was that phrase about experiences again? Anyway, I hope this one ends soon and that it is, at least, not snowing in Durham!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Not snowing. ANd all consulted tell us we will be treated as an urgent case, because we are "vulnerable" (i.e. old). We aren't entirely pleased about that...

Meanwhile, we entertain D. with Bordeaux wines and tales of out holidays - are your ears burning? And I look forward to more bottles of good wine shared with you, and conversations about heating circuits and all things boring ...

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile yes, I just walked home along the quais looking at all the other places I was going to take you by way of Batobus and then maybe a short visit to StEmilion so yes indeed: red nose; red ears! It all follows and I recall there were complaints about heat back when but that was after a few miles of doing Bx by foot only to find the most beautiful basilica we have to show visitors https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilique_Saint-Seurin_de_Bordeaux closed just because of it being monday after having found the main cathedral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bordeaux_Cathedral closed due to *ahem* travaux but I mean, we did sort of glance at it in passing, didn't we and then durham_rambler read the entire declaration of human rights outside the Palais de Justice saying: "it's all good" but at least you got a pot of olive oïl to take home and that, I hear, can be eaten cold with...er: salad?!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Happy days!

D. has been speaking of Saint Emilion with great longing - perhaps I should send him to you!

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hadn't realised, D. was male. For some reason, I thought female, I have no idea why, probably sexism or worse. Do send him along just prepare him of complications...;)