One thing after another.... Pooh!

Hi Everyone!

So Helga is back, she only was at the car Doctor for today and is well again! Before that I'd enjoyed a great shopping day with my Cousin, I bought a really nice jacket and a Hollister t-shirt, I really like Hollister. Anyway, Im home and was really happy as usual with everything then went out into the hall whilst on the phone to a close friend when..... poof! All the bloody lights went out!!!!!!!

I know the trip switch thing coz an electrician had already showed me that when the sockets went out a long time ago. So I tripped it back up and it stayed up God, I'd thought and I tried all the switches, but nothing happened! Still ligts out, all of 'em!!!! I'm going to wait 'til morning coz I can't do anything now and I will check the bulbs, it's all I can do with electricicity.

I have four sidelamps that I have placed to light up every thing but the bathroom is the one I can't do anything about..... no sockets. I have five oil lamps and plenty of oil so I will have to employ one of them for bathtime.

And phone the electrician tomorrow! If it 'aint one thing it's another!!!!!!!

Celia xx

So, right before Christmas my wife loses a top molar and dentist says the bottom molar is also bad - $5,800 for two studs (fortunately the crowns are covered).

I got a recall notice for my 2006 Porsche Cayenne and I take it to the dealer last week and they find that the fuel pump and a flange have melted (by what?) and not covered by the recall - $1,200.

I wake up this morning to no heat. I built this house in 1997 so the heater is 22+ years old HVAC guy coming later today - $XXXX

So..........I hope your electrician is gentle on your pocketbook!

Oh Miki!!!

Does it not all seem to come at once! Helga was only £107, the indicator thingy finally gave up the ghost after a colleague fix a couple of years ago and my Mother is quite ok now. And as for the houselights, hopefully I can change a marmalised bulb and who knows.... I hope it is not the break switch box thingy coz that looks expensesive.

Anyway, I hope her molars are fixed and that your boiler is something simple too. It never rains but it pours, but it is said that these things come in threes, well I have had my three, so it can only be good fortune now!!!!

Celia xx

Sorry Miki, you only have two, so I truly hope the three thing is not in actual of fact!!!!

The heater issue appears to be a loose connection - cost of service call to fix $197.00.

If it happens again then it is likely a relay in a control box - $900. The heater is 22 years old and it will be make more sense to get a more efficient heater - cost, who knows!

Hi Miki,

Oh that box thing sounds quite similar or is it only for the boiler/heater? Are your heaters gas? (I don't mean petrol but l don't know what you call North Sea gas in the US), or is it electric?

Most homes have gas heating over here, but l have all electric and it is expensive, but efficient. My hall heater particularly. I was going to say that 22 years is quite old for a gas boiler/heater.

Anyway, I have taken breakfast and my ablutions, so now I am going to change my light bulbs in the hope the lights come on!!!!!!

It's a bit of a nuisance coz I wanted to get my grocery shop done this morning, but I'll let you know how I do.....

Celia xx

It is natural gas but 22 years old and not very efficient. The repairman told me I losing over 20% of the heat being generated up the flue - I believe him.

I suspect you have resistive heat for heat and water and yes. that will dig a big hole in your pocketbook.

4 years ago I installed 33 solar panels on my roof and with the offset of my power going back to the supplier my electricity bill last month was $11 but my gas bill was $240. It is time to start thinking about a heat pump. They are very efficient now and with my typically mild climate I would not need a gas addon for extra cold mornings. It was really cold last meaning it got down to 38°F or 3°C for those of us who don't speak American.

Lights fixed!!! Twas a breaker thingy..... 5 minute and £85. It's so nice to be able to see what I am doing....  

Miki, I remember you telling us about your solar panels, quite amazing, coz $11 for a month is peanuts!!!!

But gas $240!!!???? That is a month? That is immense!!! Are you heating up the Avaya Stadium too?????

My bill is about £80 for all, no gas, but I do live alone I suppose. Water is £24 and local rates just over £100, (for refuse, street lighting, parks etc...). That's all my bills, (except phone and media £80), less than your gas bill!!! And it is, over all, colder here!

But Miki, you don't have to explain Fahrenheit to a Brit of a certain age, I still think temperature in it first and on weather reports, (always Celsius), find myself timesing out nine over five plus 32 to know how the temperature is going to feel.

I would say most think Fahrenheit for hot temperature and Celsius for low temperature, (due to media sensationalising of extremes), with the younger, -40 generations almost exclusively thinking in Celsius only.

Celia xx

Celia Eriksson wrote:But gas $240!!!???? That is a month? That is immense!!! Are you heating up the Avaya Stadium too?????

No, it is just that I am home all day - these days.

Celia Eriksson wrote:I would say most think Fahrenheit for hot temperature and Celsius for low temperature, (due to media sensationalising of extremes), with the younger, -40 generations almost exclusively thinking in Celsius only.

Did you know that -40° F is the same as -40° C.

know the feeling, last year I lost my job, got another less than ideal job after several months of searching wich was 500 miles to the north, spent everything I had left to get here and my pickup had a major mechanical failure (Cracked Flexplate) which took another expensive part with it, got a loan from a relative wired to me for the repairs wich I have now payed back, but when you are broke even $1500 in repairs +$300 in car rental fees can break you.

Heating is so expensive. Accounts for most of the energy bill. It does not help that my wife has a thing for cleaning cloths and the weather means it's the tumble dryer nearly every day. (Clothes horses make to much humidity which can make her ill if we get damp / spores. Which considering her low immune system nearly killed her this time last year it worth the cost of having the house warm @20oC. We just need to be greener else where.