Good Morning Good Night and General Chat.

[Steve_M]

I have a shiny new toy. No piece of wood is safe from me now.

Edited July 5, 2023 by Steve_M

[dynax]

Good Morning

 

[Fozzie]

1 hour ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

Maybe it's because we live in a rural area? Though I can't see that it makes that much difference to them. 

 

After a fair bit of digging, I've found a note on Money super market (albeit, a very small one) under one of their main pieces that states

 

Quote

"Rates and standing charges are averages, which vary by region. Assumes payment by direct debit and includes VAT (at 5%). For those who pay each month after getting a bill, it's typically 6 to 8% higher"

 

I dug further, and find the regional rates. They are in a drop down here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/ - Look for the "Prices vary by region" drop down. 

 

Do you fall under the north west region? You're only 20 miles south of me. 

Gas is showing as 7.1p and 37.8p standing charge. Electricity 28.89p and 56.54p. But in the "Northern" tab, gas is 7.05p and 37.8p and electricity 28.25p and 62.13p. North Wales and Mersey seems to have it the worst with its electricity cost being almost the highest, with a 66p standing charge. 

 

In any case, it's still worth poking Ofgem, as by their definitions, which lack any mention of "average" or "vary", there's been a deliberate fiddling of numbers. Living in a rural area should in theory drive your standing price down, as the cables/pipes are more easily accessed and maintained. Not like they are digging up London streets. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

4 minutes ago, Fozzie said:

 

After a fair bit of digging, I've found a note on Money super market (albeit, a very small one) under one of their main pieces that states

 

 

I dug further, and find the regional rates. They are in a drop down here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/what-are-the-price-cap-unit-rates-/ - Look for the "Prices vary by region" drop down. 

 

Do you fall under the north west region? You're only 20 miles south of me. 

Gas is showing as 7.1p and 37.8p standing charge. Electricity 28.89p and 56.54p. But in the "Northern" tab, gas is 7.05p and 37.8p and electricity 28.25p and 62.13p. North Wales and Mersey seems to have it the worst with its electricity cost being almost the highest, with a 66p standing charge. 

 

In any case, it's still worth poking Ofgem, as by their definitions, which lack any mention of "average" or "vary", there's been a deliberate fiddling of numbers. Living in a rural area should in theory drive your standing price down, as the cables/pipes are more easily accessed and maintained. Not like they are digging up London streets. 

It looks like we're coming within N Wales and Mersey then. I cannot understand why they are allowed the charge different amounts for different regions.

[rennie]

Good Morning 

[billy sugger]

6 hours ago, Steve_M said:

We had a busy day lime plastering a wall as part of the house renovation. It’s bloody hard work. Two of us working it took around six hours to do (yes, we’re slow). We have the larger wall facing this to do today. 

You've done a good job there. I used to be a partner in a painting and decorating business, specialising in reclamation work, and we got a public house that a retired couple had bought as a free house to renovate. The old beams were fairly easy to return to the original condition, but they wanted the walls wattle and daubed, which needed lime plastering, and neither of us could do it ourselves so we tried to get an expert without success. We never got the job finished because of my business partner decided to split from his wife and then moved into the van instead of a hotel or B+B 

[Steve_M]

1 hour ago, billy sugger said:

You've done a good job there. I used to be a partner in a painting and decorating business, specialising in reclamation work, and we got a public house that a retired couple had bought as a free house to renovate. The old beams were fairly easy to return to the original condition, but they wanted the walls wattle and daubed, which needed lime plastering, and neither of us could do it ourselves so we tried to get an expert without success. We never got the job finished because of my business partner decided to split from his wife and then moved into the van instead of a hotel or B+B 

 Cheers.

 

My good lady and I are starting to get the hang of it now. We employed someone to do a couple of the rooms and I spent a while taking them cups of tea and watching what how they did the work. We also have a couple of guys we know who are well versed in renovating ancient properties and are happy to take a call from us when we need advice. The problem with the one guy being that he’s very much a purist and would almost have you doing the whole process from digging the lime through to the end product

 

One of the decisions we made is that we’re not aiming for flat surfaces, but following broadly the line of the stone, which is giving the wall a bit of period character (well, that’s our excuse for not being very good). It will make fitting the skirting and radiator a little tricky but that’s part of the fun.
 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

1 hour ago, Steve_M said:

 Cheers.

 

My good lady and I are starting to get the hang of it now. We employed someone to do a couple of the rooms and I spent a while taking them cups of tea and watching what how they did the work. We also have a couple of guys we know who are well versed in renovating ancient properties and are happy to take a call from us when we need advice. The problem with the one guy being that he’s very much a purist and would almost have you doing the whole process from digging the lime through to the end product

 

One of the decisions we made is that we’re not aiming for flat surfaces, but following broadly the line of the stone, which is giving the wall a bit of period character (well, that’s our excuse for not being very good). It will make fitting the skirting and radiator a little tricky but that’s part of the fun.
 

You going for rushes on the floor as well?

 

It's looking good. I love older properties with character. 

[Steve_M]

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

You going for rushes on the floor as well?

 

It's looking good. I love older properties with character. 

We’re not in a rush to change the wooden flooring…

 

One of the jobs I’m not looking forward to is replacing the floors in the lounge and dining room. Both are, to use a technical term, f*cked. The lounge is a floating floor and I think we’re looking at replacing the current wood with engineered wood. The dining room, I suspect, will be digging up wherever is under the wooden flooring (concrete?) and then making a decision on how to replace it. I laid a concrete floor in my first house and it was knackering - and I was 23, and fit. Not sure I’m up to that now. 

[veracocha]

Just got back today from Lake Garda and wife made the point that in 33 years of marriage every holiday I would always seek out the lovelies on the beach. Seems my head has done a complete 180° since I got into biking last year. What a smorgasbord of bikes there is adorning the lay-by's and car-parks of that lake. 

[dynax]

Good morning

[rennie]

Good Afternoon 

[rennie]

I've got an interview next Tuesday! 

 

At the local Technical college ( I went there in the 70s/80s)

 

The job is nothing like anything I've ever done before, the money is nowhere near what I was on,

but I quite fancy doing something "useful" 

[S-Westerly]

2 hours ago, rennie said:

I've got an interview next Tuesday! 

 

At the local Technical college ( I went there in the 70s/80s)

 

The job is nothing like anything I've ever done before, the money is nowhere near what I was on,

but I quite fancy doing something "useful" 

Good luck Rennie.

[Guest]

Getting somewhere with our extension finally. Taken a bloody year to get to this point and still correcting things the shit builder did or didn't do. Final bits over the next few weeks and the kitchen is all ready to go.

[Bender]

6 hours ago, rennie said:

I've got an interview next Tuesday! 

 

At the local Technical college ( I went there in the 70s/80s)

 

The job is nothing like anything I've ever done before, the money is nowhere near what I was on,

but I quite fancy doing something "useful" 

Good luck

[Guest]

7 hours ago, rennie said:

I've got an interview next Tuesday! 

 

At the local Technical college ( I went there in the 70s/80s)

 

The job is nothing like anything I've ever done before, the money is nowhere near what I was on,

but I quite fancy doing something "useful" 

Lecturing/ teaching?

[Bender]

56 minutes ago, goat said:

Lecturing/ teaching?

Subject material for a cider drinking study ?

[rennie]

Good Morning 

 

Sort of lecturing! Engineering skills coach

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, rennie said:

Good Morning 

 

Sort of lecturing! Engineering skills coach

What age are the students? I taught further education a couple of times and have taught older students a bit. Teaching 16-19 year olds is a pretty special experience. University age and older a lot different. 

[dynax]

Good morning

[Guest]

Osmo oiling in the sun. Very pleasant. 

[rennie]

3 hours ago, goat said:

What age are the students? I taught further education a couple of times and have taught older students a bit. Teaching 16-19 year olds is a pretty special experience. University age and older a lot different. 

I don't really know till I've been for the interview! 16 up  I'm guessing 

 

The job spec. wasn't very clear but I fitted most of their requirements so applied 

 

If I do get it it'll be a massive change for me!

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, rennie said:

I don't really know till I've been for the interview! 16 up  I'm guessing 

 

The job spec. wasn't very clear but I fitted most of their requirements so applied 

 

If I do get it it'll be a massive change for me!

It was a big change when I did it. Was proper chucked in at the deep end. Its a tough job, some love it, me not so much. Very underpaid for what's expected. Good luck with the interview. They're bound to ask about safeguarding I'd imagine.

[Steve_M]

23 hours ago, rennie said:

I've got an interview next Tuesday! 

 

At the local Technical college ( I went there in the 70s/80s)

 

The job is nothing like anything I've ever done before, the money is nowhere near what I was on,

but I quite fancy doing something "useful" 

Good luck.