heating

Posted on Sat 5 May 2007 at 11:13

Life goes on quietly, no excitement recently.

We had a heat pump fitted last weekend - that should help keep us warm over the winter.  A heat pump is a reversible air-conditioner.  So it can cool the place down in summer, heat it up in winter.  It only works for a given area, so it should heat the lounge/dining/kitchen area.  If we want, we can install another one for the other end of the house but we thought we would see how it goes first.  Apparently they are very economical to run and as fuel prices in New Zealand are said to be extortionate, that is a bonus.  We had bought a portable air-con unit in the summer, so we will have to put that on Trademe and recoup some of the money we spent on the big unit.  Also, as this house has a Domestic Ventilation System already installed, we should sell the portable dehumidifier as well.  Not to mention the gas fire.  We may even be in profit by the time we get rid of that little lot!  And the electrician is meant to be coming on Monday to fit the bathroom wall-heater, the heated towel rail, the security light and a double socket in Melissa’s bedroom, so that will be good to get out of the way too.  I have even been up the attic for a poke about and found the insulation up there doesn’t seem too bad.  Having started a thread on BE about loft insulation and had some really informative replies, I think we will leave it as it is for the moment and look at underfloor insulation next.  I hope it muffles the sound of that bloody noisy motorbike!!!

Work is good at the moment.  I worked an early shift today, knocked off early at 2pm and am going back to do a nightshift.  I didn’t have to, but said I didn’t mind volunteering, as they have been really helpful with giving me the shift pattern I wanted.  And Steve was in Wellington this week past on another course, so they let me work 8 –5 instead of my usual hours so I didn’t have to mess about with childcare and working until 11.30pm if I were on a late shift. 

Today was the foggiest I have seen it since moving here.  We have been well warned that it gets very foggy over autumn and winter.  I had a job deciding if it was misting up on the inside or if it was really fog on the outside it was that bad.  However, if you have ever lived in Peterhead, this is a doddle!! At least it gets over 13 degrees even in winter here, and that was any summers’ day in the Blue Toon.

I have just had an unexpected phone call from my cousin Lilaine, who lives on the South Island.  I love it when that happens, gives you a real feel-good factor that people want to keep in touch.  She sounds far more Scots than I do even though she has lived over here for 20 years!  In my defence, I was born in England and lived there until I was 4, firmly establishing my English accent.  And moving round the UK with my English husband has probably ‘refined’ my accent too.  However, it comes out a bit thicker as I get further into conversation with other Scots, so I won’t lose too much sleep over it!

If you have got round to reading this Lanie:  Thank you, it was really good to catch up, lovely to hear from you.  I didn’t realise how much gossip I don’t hear until you told me! 

Also got a call from Jac and Adie, we are going to visit them next weekend in Auckland, looking forward to that!

Melissa has been taking bone carving as an option this term.  She made a pendant that looks a bit like a long tooth for want of a better description.  It has been carved and smoothed and drilled to put a leather lace through, and then she gave it to me.  Apparently, the first one you ever make should be given to a relative and the second to a friend.  Thank – you Melissa, I am very proud to wear it.  I saw her briefly today; she came back from the stables, was in the house about an hour, and then went off to have a sleepover with a friend.  So, you may gather from that, that she is well and truly settled here.