This has been a week for sorting out the heating, so all is ready for winter! This may sound as if it is a bit early, but if we leave it later, the oil price goes up in August when Americans get away by road on holiday, and availability of staff to do the servicing is also less.
The oil duly arrived on Monday and we topped up the tank; 1000 litres later…… Admittedly the price is a little less that it was two years ago, but it is still not cheap. Thank goodness for David, (who looks after the house during winter); he is well aware of the costs and keeps the boiler on a frost setting during winter, switching it off when necessary. He is also well aware that, when I arrive in France
The first picture here though, is last night’s sunset, which I thought was a pretty good one. I have also been invited to join the blog, 'Beautiful World', which contains, surprisingly enough, beautiful pictures from around the world. To visit it just click on the link HERE.
I loved the way the clouds looked so windswept and caught the colour.
Filling the tank.
The large tanker
only just fits into our little road!
Servicing the large Viessman boiler which does all the work, heating and circulating the water though the radiators. I thought that there was a water leak at the back of the boiler; each time it ran, we ended up with a large puddle on the floor. The mechanic found a hole in the flue, which fills with condensation. As he had nothing with him to solve the problem, he disappeared in his van for about 20 minutes and returned with some wide metallic tape. Hey presto, problem solved, or I hope so :-)
You are fortunate to have someone like David to watch over things. The sunset is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSusan I do not not know what we would have done without David. Life would have been very much more dificult if had not have had him as a neighbour. He popped in this morning just to check up all was OK and I just cannot say thank you enough to him. He is my superstar and he has a lovely wife and two wonderful young boys as well. Diane
ReplyDeleteHow comforting to know the heating oil supply is well sorted in early Summer, all prepared and ready for WInter mainteneance heating and for the next Springtime. You can tick that off the list and get on with all the Summer "stuff". And David sounds like a real gem.
ReplyDeleteSincere super thanks for contacting me, I'm so enjoying your postings, postings from another
"Southern-Hemispherer", even though you are now transplanted.
You are doing so well,living in two new lands where the sun must always seem to be in the wrong place in the sky - that was my experience in England and Europe. Do have a glorious weekend!
Michelle you are right, it is a bit like being transplanted after so many years living in Africa. We are still an hour different though to the UK. I often think why is Nigel not home in the UK yet, then I suddently remember that he is an hour behind me here. Thank goodness for Skype and free phone calls.
ReplyDeleteI am also enjoying your posts, it great to hear what is going on in NZ. Love to Zebby. Diane
Yes, you do have to get everything in order for winter. We never wait until it gets cold in case the oil delivery is debordée or that the price is very high.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have someone there in the winter.
Excellent idea to get prepped for winter ahead of time. I have just started knitting us a couple of scarves! But we do have a huge woodpile to work our way through when we manage to actually get a fire installed.
ReplyDeleteDedene you are so right. We have learnt that June/July is a good time to sort out things for winter. Yes we are lucky to have David, very lucky. Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Vera, the fuel was all they used to use, but now we have had a wood burner put in, hopefully when we move the fuel will not vanish quite so quickly with the extra help. Our wood pile is not big, but it will last us another couple of years as I am in the UK (sadly) for the coldest spell. Diane
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I will never miss about my old house is the oil bill. The house was built in 1830 and never insulated. If you took one of those thermal shots of the house it would be 100% scarlet! I loved it but the heating bill in the winter was what some people pay for rent... insane. I went up year round so no David and no savings. You are lucky to have such a nice fellow who figures things out for you!!!
ReplyDeleteForgot, I really love the softness of that sunset.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to be prepared for winter and save $$ too. Plus nice to have someone to help out.
ReplyDeletelongpastremembered, David has saved us a lot of money by being so careful with the heating. We just hope that when we move permanently, the wood burner will help to keep done the fuel costs. BUT wood does not get any cheaper.... Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Gaelyn, we try to buy fuel at the cheapest time of the year. It has to be bought sometime so why wait till the last minute when costs go up? I also loved the that soft sunset with the wispy type clouds. Diane
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me that we need to order our fuel for the same reasons as yourself. We are tank gas, I believe at the moment the most expensive form of heating here in Italy!!
ReplyDeleteI am delighted you have joined the Beautiful World collective. I think it is going to be fun!
LindyLouMac, we have a real mixture. All the old heating and the radiators are run on oil. We have put a wood burner in the main living room now, so I hope we can turn off radiators there. (When we are here) Our bedroom is electricity and we cook with bottled gas.
ReplyDeleteI agree Wonderful World will be very interesting.
Diane
Your photo of the sunset is just stunning and your post today of details required to keep your house running smoothly was really interesting to one so far away. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteWell you certainly look very busy, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI like your sunset, a stunning sky indeed!
Have a good evening!
Glad you enjoyed the post Mary and found it of interest. We are lucky to get such good sunsets here. One day I will go up and sit at David's house for a sunset, he has a stunning view, and see what I can get from there. Have a good day, Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks Carine, you have a good evening as well. Diane
ReplyDeleteYou certainly get gorgeous sunsets where you are!
ReplyDeleteOur water heater went out a few days ago and that means NO hot water until it's fixed!!! Hopefully, sometime this week.... I haven't taken a shower here in a few days already and reserving that for the gym, where there IS hot water.. heheheh!
Leesa it is horrible when there is no hot water. I had it happen here when it was cold weather and showering was a nightmare. No gym near us:( Diane
ReplyDelete