I’m not entirely sure if I should indentify with Flora or Aunt Ada Doom these last few days.
No time for the computer, much too sedentary an occupation for the mini ice-age which descended unexpectedly just before the weekend.
Major central heating failure; so the best hope for survival was Movement! Dashing about, cleaning, journeys in the car; almost anything but sitting still at my desk.
I did feel just a little isolated but the house looks much cleaner. Oddly, I now cannot settle, and it feels treacherously decadent to wake up to a warm house. Perhaps we are really rather spoilt.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Yes it has been a little cold, but great dog walking weather, if you don’t mind getting a bit damp occasionally.
I miss dog walking, Jazz, and I really don’t mind cold and damp outside, but the house was without heating for a couple of days and it was just a bit chilly.
But I’m not complaining. We carried on fairly normally, rugged up and kept moving!
Why don’t you come and visit me then? I made sure it was 22 in the shade at lunchtime and Uncle OZ was very happy.
Ethel
What a hero you are, Ethel.
We were tempted but I wasn’t sure about Uncle OZ’s feelings about such an invasion. He is the most tolerant of Wolves but….. 🙂
I sat typing this afternoon in my coat… then gave in at about 4:30 and advanced the heating!
I frequently do that, Nym, but it’s tricky if you can’t advance the heating!
Luckily, it’s now fixed and we are back to normal, but it was not a good time for sitting around!
I cannot imagine anything worse than being without heating in a UK winter. My sympathies! 🙂
Thank you, Boadicea.
We soldiered on, but I did think it was a bit too much really!
Character building is one thing, but…..
I could say something about “We soldiered on” but what the heck.
Yes indeed, Toc, we were not exactly up to our necks in mud and bullets. 🙂
Do you have central heating or do you simply do drill most of the day?
Toc, dear.
I was being just a tad ironic.
“I was being just a tad ironic.” Me too.
🙂
I should have been braver, I agree.
Living on the coast I rarely see temperature extremes, though I have lived through longer periods of power outages and frigid weather. There is an Americanism which seems apt: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Or take naps.
Climbing into bed with a hot-water bottle and a book always helps
Araminta. You should have gone to the rowing museum at Henly and worked out on the rowing machine to warm yourself up. I visited again a few weeks ago and cream crackered myself on it at he behest of the Grandsons.
A reminder why the Canadians head for Florida in the winter!
Last winter the LPG truck couldn’t make it to the house, and of course we ran out of central heating. A combination of electric hot water heating, a log fire, and electric blankets, saw us through it, but it demonstrated what people who cannot afford to have the heating turned on, have to endure. The winter weather payment is hysterical – I think it covers about ten days of LPG supply!
Christopher.
I agree with you. It was not too serious, but just slightly inconvenient.
Some years ago, I remember having no power for two weeks when the builders had removed half of the roof. We camped in one room for a while, and it was snowing.
Nym.
It’s always an option and very cosy. 🙂
OMG.
Good idea but we did have things to do, and whilst we were fine, our elderly guests and the very young baby would not have been keen on the rowing machine.
I must confess I only ever think about the museum when we have visitors who don’t know the area, and we are doing the tourist thing. Always worth a visit though, I agree.
CWJ.
Yes, it did cross my mind that Florida sounds really attractive at this time of the year, but it could have been much worse!
The temperature was well above freezing and it was fixed pretty quickly.
I don’t know what the winter fuel supplement is at the moment, but I can believe it wouldn’t even begin to address the cost of heating this house.