P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[mrsgoggins]

17 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Good Monday morning.

It is cloudy and 6°C here.

I hope everyone has a good day.

 

I love this one Graham, but it was far more appropriate for me years ago! When Sunday meant getting ready for school the next day - the marking and the preparation angst, not the kids I should add. 

 

One of the joys of retirement is luxuriating on the Sunday feeling of not feeling burdened by how much there is to do for the next week.  I don't know if that's common to many other jobs, but it definitely marked my career.  The classroom part (I taught 14-18 year olds) I enjoyed btw.

Edited December 5, 2022 by mrsgoggins

[twotravellersLondon]

It's 5˚C out this morning but 20˚C indoors with no heating on overnight.

 

We've spent the last few week replacing a couple of double glazed units, sealing drafts around pipes etc coming into the house and have just replace a bathroom fan so that the ducting is anti-draft. We've revamped the open flame gas fire, have adopted a pretty old fashioned attituded to opening and closing curtains, only use the kitchen extractor fan when necessary and leave water in the kitchen bowl to cool before we pour it away.

 

The result is that our home, without heating on most of the day and at night, is a whole 15˚C warmer than outside... and that's on the coldest morning of the year so far. We've no SMART meter... they just don't work here... but we've been taking readings and estimate that our total energy use for the last three months is down to only 52% of what it was last year... but we have still to see the half-yearly bill.

 

The cost of all of our draft proofing etc works out about the same as our winter heating allowance... the new bathroom fan and outside non-return cowling was only £30... how much we will be paying on the next biannual bill seems likely to be reasonable.

 

We were out at the annual local Symphony Orchestra's Christmas Concert yesterday afternoon... it was really wonderful to see all 450 seats in the house taken as the performance was supporting the Orpheus Centre... a specialist further education college for young disabled people who have a passion for the arts. Really moving to see so many supportive people looking out for others in the community.

 

Charlotte from the centre sang "Walking in the Air." There was hardly a dry eye left in the house and at the end the applause and cheers just went on and on. Warmth is so much more than the ambient surrounding temperature and we really did feel that Christmas was really on its way.☃️

Edited December 5, 2022 by twotravellersLondon

[kalos]

2 hours ago, mrsgoggins said:

One of the joys of retirement is luxuriating on the Sunday feeling of not feeling burdened by how much there is to do for the next week.

I know where you're from 😊 as a recent retiree ,trainee you might say ,I think we are getting 

the hang of things . After our meal out yesterday we treat ourselves to a night out at the 

Hilton ,a change from our four walls .

The only thing we had to do was relax ,enjoy the footie (not the first 20 mins) and look forward

to a lovely buffet breakfast this morning . The only other person we saw was sat 50-60 ft away 

so very pleasant for a Monday morning . Really liked the Christmas tree they had      

                           

[zap99]

1 hour ago, twotravellersLondon said:

It's 5˚C out this morning but 20˚C indoors with no heating on overnight.

 

We've spent the last few week replacing a couple of double glazed units, sealing drafts around pipes etc coming into the house and have just replace a bathroom fan so that the ducting is anti-draft. We've revamped the open flame gas fire, have adopted a pretty old fashioned attituded to opening and closing curtains, only use the kitchen extractor fan when necessary and leave water in the kitchen bowl to cool before we pour it away.

 

The result is that our home, without heating on most of the day and at night, is a whole 15˚C warmer than outside... and that's on the coldest morning of the year so far. We've no SMART meter... they just don't work here... but we've been taking readings and estimate that our total energy use for the last three months is down to only 52% of what it was last year... but we have still to see the half-yearly bill.

 

The cost of all of our draft proofing etc works out about the same as our winter heating allowance... the new bathroom fan and outside non-return cowling was only £30... how much we will be paying on the next biannual bill seems likely to be reasonable.

 

 

Well done you. We open the curtains when we get up and close them when we go to bed. We give the central heating a boost when it gets cold. I put thick socks on yesterday and a 10.5 tog duvet. That should keep the bills down.

[lincslady]

Talking of keeping warm, I have recently bought a lambswool jumper and matching longish cardigan - hardly the epitome of elegance, but they are so warm.  Along with a rug over the knees, sitting reading or watching  TV with the heating on not too high is comfortable.  Being oldish, I feel the cold more than  my active middleaged kids, and staying with them can be a bit of a trial in the winter otherwise.

[yorkshirephil]

No problems keeping warm here in Miami on Arcadia as it is 26oC. We only have two weeks left and not looking forward to getting back especially reading the news sheet with the threat of snow and sub zero temperature. 

[Peanut006]

8 minutes ago, yorkshirephil said:

No problems keeping warm here in Miami on Arcadia as it is 26oC. We only have two weeks left and not looking forward to getting back especially reading the news sheet with the threat of snow and sub zero temperature. 

Perfect temperature!!! Hope you are having a lovely time

 

Michelle

[kalos]

How to kill a few hours ,even though I can use my phone (Samsung ) or tablet which 

runs Windows 10 .My much loved Windows 8.1 is now coming to end of update support .

I thought I would try for a Windows 10 update and thought I would have to buy a product 

key but nope all went in fine ,for nowt .

I thought it would cost me but it's up and running which is better than scrapping my old faithful.

So if you have an old 8.1 and you have a couple of hours spare ,give it a go 

[Snow Hill]

Last but one volunteer session today, temp was around 5-6C, so went for the layers option as talking to people outside. So this is what I was wearing

Thermal Vest, Polo Shirt, Fleecy Gillet, EH Fleece Jacket, EH waterproof/wind proof jacket, snoop around neck, woolly hat, thermal ski socks and thermal fingerless gloves and hiking boots. Kept me quite warm, my colleague on shift this afternoon, didn’t go for layers and was complaint about cold. Only 4 visitors this afternoon, but all very interested in site so I was able to spend more time with them then would be normal on a busier day. 
 

Adopting the layers method indoors as well. 

 

On way home passed a car coming out of junction, BMW driver on mobile and not wearing seatbelt, I could see clip by the window, turns out car behind me was an unmarked police car, he had spotted him too, blue lights on and one BMW driver likely to seeing a rapid rise in points. 
 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Snow Hill

[Eglesbrech]

On 12/3/2022 at 1:51 PM, Ilovemygarden said:

Graham - I returned on 18 November and enjoyed it too.  Eglesbrech  - I think they do have Glasgow flights every week.  I certainly was on one and have another for the same cruise on 24 February.   However. I think you maybe live in East Lothian so Newcastle might be easier for you anyway.   For all you other February Azura cruisers I’m going on the 24th for two weeks.  Maybe some of us are on the same week(s). 

Thanks. I like East Lothian but I don’t live there. Much further north  and central so it is six and two threes for the me to go to Edinburgh or Glasgow as both are a similar drive anyway.

 

I just need some sunshine in January or February so will go for whatever offers the easiest route to it. Fed up with the cold and it’s only December. Minus six and potential snow forecast for later this week! Hope they have the forecast wrong.

 

 

[Ilovemygarden]

There must have been a comment in one of your posts that had me imagining you lived in East Lothian!   Hope you find some sun in the new year - yes, the current forecast does suggest we will need it! 🥶

[Eglesbrech]

13 minutes ago, Ilovemygarden said:

There must have been a comment in one of your posts that had me imagining you lived in East Lothian!   Hope you find some sun in the new year - yes, the current forecast does suggest we will need it! 🥶

Perhaps when I was discussing the potential deep water cruise port at Preston Pans? We go to that area a lot for weekend breaks to Seaton Sands, Dunbar, North Berwick, Eyemouth etc and eat out a lot so I probably  sound like a local. Nice area.

 

It,s really freezing here tonight. We have oil and  petrol for the generator just in case, when everyone puts on lots of heating the power might go.

 

Has anyone else noticed how few Christmas lights there are this year. Maybe people saving power?

[Presto2]

11 hours ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

I love this one Graham, but it was far more appropriate for me years ago! When Sunday meant getting ready for school the next day - the marking and the preparation angst, not the kids I should add. 

 

One of the joys of retirement is luxuriating on the Sunday feeling of not feeling burdened by how much there is to do for the next week.  I don't know if that's common to many other jobs, but it definitely marked my career.  The classroom part (I taught 14-18 year olds) I enjoyed btw.

 

This made me smile  

[Josy1953]

11 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Has anyone else noticed how few Christmas lights there are this year. Maybe people saving power?

There are quite a lot of Christmas lights around here.  We put ours up a few days ago, earlier than we have done previously, and noticed the a number of other houses in our road have done the same.

Coming home last night I thought that more houses than usual were lit up, though that may be because we were driving through an area that we don't usually pass through so it could be usual there.

[Splice the mainbrace]

I put our Christmas lights up outside yesterday, quite modest compared to some with a few led sets weaved through our trees and shrubs. Our neighbours hang icicle types around the eaves of their house, I’m not good confident with heights on ladders so I don’t do that! I read a which? report that had done a study to show that a average led set only uses 50p of electric if used 6 hours a day for a month.

 

I’ve got a hospital appointment this morning for a potential basal cell cancer on my forehead. I had only recently noticed it which is why I went to the gp but my wife showed me a photo from over 2 years ago and it shows it then and if anything is smaller and paler now. So hopefully all is ok and it may not be a BCC.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Splice the mainbrace

[Purdey16]

Well good morning everyone, I’m flying back home today later , back to the breezier cold , been 23 here but we did have 4 days of rain but as soon as that stops it’s burning hot again, was up early in the mornings watching the sun rise while sister in law’s and dad still in bed sleeping, as for their Xmas lights outside my husband brought them all solar ones so no electricity been used , she’s very happy with them .

[Splice the mainbrace]

I have a new washing machine arriving this afternoon. We had one of those weeks last week where the old one failed mid wash and tripped out the house then 2 days later the printer locked. Apparently after so many prints the ink pads need replacing (we had it for some years but not used that much) but it costs more or about the same to replace than buy new.

[twotravellersLondon]

13 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Has anyone else noticed how few Christmas lights there are this year. Maybe people saving power?

 

We've driven though South West London and out into Surrey a couple of times recently and have been taken by just how dark it is. Not only very few Christmas lights... just very few lights showing. Few porch or drive lights and most windows in darkness. It's all a bit eery and somewhat disconcerting. 

 

Local "village centres" have very few lights but that's not surprising... lots of the local "village shops" close on Monday now... just not the business that there was. None of the local pubs or country restaurants have banners out advertising Christmas. 

[Adawn47]

2 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

We've driven though South West London and out into Surrey a couple of times recently and have been taken by just how dark it is. Not only very few Christmas lights... just very few lights showing. Few porch or drive lights and most windows in darkness. It's all a bit eery and somewhat disconcerting. 

 

Local "village centres" have very few lights but that's not surprising... lots of the local "village shops" close on Monday now... just not the business that there was. None of the local pubs or country restaurants have banners out advertising Christmas. 

I have agree with you. I am surprised by the lack of Christmas lights around here too. I'm used to seeing lights on early, but even the houses opposite which were always well lit around the end of November are in darkness. Even mine , which is normally decorated on the December 1st, but that's down to lack of enthusiasum I'm afraid. I'm feeling a real 'Bah Humbug' this year unusually😒

Avril

[lincslady]

Gorgeous  photos, Purdey,   I hope you had a lovely  relaxing time.

[zap99]

45 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

We've driven though South West London and out into Surrey a couple of times recently and have been taken by just how dark it is. Not only very few Christmas lights... just very few lights showing. Few porch or drive lights and most windows in darkness. It's all a bit eery and somewhat disconcerting. 

 

Local "village centres" have very few lights but that's not surprising... lots of the local "village shops" close on Monday now... just not the business that there was. None of the local pubs or country restaurants have banners out advertising Christmas. 

We had a zoom meeting and agreed that when folk from that London come down to Surrey we will all turn our lights off and close the curtains. We decided to leave on the lights on the A3 .Don't want to cause any harm, just wind them up a bit. Seems the plan is working....Happy Christmas.🥳

 

[Snow Hill]

51 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

We've driven though South West London and out into Surrey a couple of times recently and have been taken by just how dark it is. Not only very few Christmas lights... just very few lights showing. Few porch or drive lights and most windows in darkness. It's all a bit eery and somewhat disconcerting. 

 

Local "village centres" have very few lights but that's not surprising... lots of the local "village shops" close on Monday now... just not the business that there was. None of the local pubs or country restaurants have banners out advertising Christmas. 

Some of it is down to not knowing how much it costs to run the lights, an assumption that as there are lots of lights it must be expensive, LED lights are not that expensive to run

 

This calculator has appeared in a number of media outlets in last few days

 

 

https://www.festive-lights.com/knowledge/are-christmas-lights-expensive-to-run

 

[terrierjohn]

9 minutes ago, Snow Hill said:

Some of it is down to not knowing how much it costs to run the lights, an assumption that as there are lots of lights it must be expensive, LED lights are not that expensive to run

 

This calculator has appeared in a number of media outlets in last few days

 

 

https://www.festive-lights.com/knowledge/are-christmas-lights-expensive-to-run

 

I wonder just how many LED lights there are being used, I know that ours were quite old and certainly pre dated the introduction of LED ones,  when we last put them up. I suspect many people still have quite old ones, which are probably far less economical.

[Splice the mainbrace]

2 hours ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

 

 

I’ve got a hospital appointment this morning for a potential basal cell cancer on my forehead. I had only recently noticed it which is why I went to the gp but my wife showed me a photo from over 2 years ago and it shows it then and if anything is smaller and paler now. So hopefully all is ok and it may not be a BCC.

Back from the hospital and the good news is that it’s not cancerous and nothing needs to be done, the bad news is it’s something that I can’t pronounce (seborrhoeic keratosis) but apparently most people have at least one in later life.

[kalos]

There was something on TV about Christmas lights and apparently the ones that twinkle

or flash on on and off can save you money  .

Must be all those bits unlit saving money ,who would have thought it 😕

 

I'm as enthused as Avril this year but will probably wrap a bit of tinsel around our solar 

powered welcome light ,it's the taking part though really .

This time of year reminds me of some factory manager teams I used to meet ,they also 

reminded me of Christmas lights.

They clung together, half of them didn't work and the other half were not that bright either.😉

I suppose a timely reminder about your pets and Christmas lights is in order !

Last year my mate Barry was shocked to find his dog had ate a full string of tree lights.

I rushed him and his dog to our local vets who was pleased as he managed to remove them 

from the dog .The dog was de-lighted as well 😂

Have a good day