Cost of living crisis

[MaC]

If you do, speak to Himself first. He has literally bought the zambezi's for about fifty quid each and repaired them with a very simple electronic nudge. They're nearly three hundred pounds new. They were very new and pristine when they arrived here. It seems to be a common 'fault' that just needs juggled. If it happens out of guarantee though, folks sell then 'for spares or repair'.
If you are at all handy with electronics it's a really really good saving.

M

 

[Greg]

Marc - for reference chicken thighs today were $16.07/kg and breast was $14.97/kg.

That was in the cheap supermarket too, I saw both comfortably over $20/kg.

I will check frozen prices. I normally buy fresh and freeze them anyway.

 

[Nice65]

Oh, I like the look of the Zambezis. I almost went for one when we needed a second, but it would have had to go in the outbuilding where it would be beneficial in the cold. That would have left the very noisy 20L one we already had to go on the landing, and the noise gets on my nerves.

Actually, they don't use that much more power, looking at it again. 350W for the Zambezi compared to 220W for ours. Might not need to run for as long either. If the 20L ever packs up (it's been running 6 years straight) I might think about a Zambezi again for out there.

The desiccant ones are much quieter, it’s only the fan you’ll hear not a compressor. The hum of our Meaco used to send me off to sleep nicely.

 

[MaC]

Marc - for reference chicken thighs today were $16.07/kg and breast was $14.97/kg.

That was in the cheap supermarket too, I saw both comfortably over $20/kg.

I will check frozen prices. I normally buy fresh and freeze them anyway.

That's a bit expensive.
Iceland's offer this week is 3 packs of 450g for £9
https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/iceland-class-a-chicken-breast-fillets-skinless-and-boneless-450g/
Sainsburys can be as cheap as £6.19 kg
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp...ERS&searchTerm=&beginIndex=0&hideFilters=true

 

[Greg]

That's a bit expensive.
Iceland's offer this week is 3 packs of 450g for £9
https://www.iceland.co.uk/p/iceland-class-a-chicken-breast-fillets-skinless-and-boneless-450g/
Sainsburys can be as cheap as £6.19 kg
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/meat-fish/breast---fillet-44?storeId=10151&langId=44&krypto=BhRS7aUIRCYZkmVqAMQytob1fthaCzdKVX0k4Unpz4LNiGOQFwjoT5P3QeMgWYoa1sqISVtvAU/M7GuZC6otp68ukzRyBd0BuhAtAg/RxAUeJbdycwFJh0pHlMt/KOBuZo4wvqmwtw71+kmzKvn+Pu5R3PEaUMAMbl0MoA9Alck=&ddkey=https:gb/groceries/meat-fish/breast---fillet-44#langId=44&storeId=10151&catalogId=10241&categoryId=310865&parent_category_rn=13343&top_category=13343&pageSize=60&orderBy=FAVOURITES_ONLY|SEQUENCING|TOP_SELLERS&searchTerm=&beginIndex=0&hideFilters=true

Yes, food prices here are quite a bit more expensive than the UK - particularly if you don’t shop carefully.

There are lots of reasons for it - lack of competition, some protectionist economic policy, the sheer size of the country and the relatively small population etc etc.

I could have got chicken breast for around £8/kg today which isn’t horrendous.

 

[ElThomsono]

We have used it in the past when our storage heaters decided not to come on, but it wasn't adequate for whole house (70's chalet bungalow) heating. If the price gets too much we'll resort to it and our regrettably no longer needed artic and winter holiday clothing.

Ah right, the heat from ours goes upstairs and warms the bedrooms, the back of the house (dining room, kitchen, conservatory) get progressively colder, the latter being pretty much off limits for now :censored:

 

[RickDastardly]

If you do, speak to Himself first. He has literally bought the zambezi's for about fifty quid each and repaired them with a very simple electronic nudge. ...

May I ask please what the fix is? If I were to guess... replace a thermal fuse? I had read they were unreliable and that was another thing that put me off, but if that's the common fault...

I would be very tempted to give that a try. Our compressor one in the outbuilding is all but useless for the third of the year we need it most. I'll keep an eye on ebay for one close enough to pick up. Seems to be a lot of parts on ebay right now, the obvious way to maximise money selling a non-functional one unfortunately, and a couple with other faults.

 

[MaC]

@ElThomsono
Have you thought about using the greenhouse insulation stuff in your conservatory over Winter ?
It's just a really thick and strong bubble wrap stuff that's UV stable. Cut the panels to size, use clear duct tape to affix, and when the cold's by, peel it off, roll it up and store it up the loft until next year.
Well under £20 a roll. If I mind correctly it comes 1.5m wide by 10 long.
Still lets light in, but can make it a useable space again.

It really, really does make a difference. The other thing that made a huge difference was the foil lined polystyrene stuff used behind radiators.

M

 

[MaC]

May I ask please what the fix is? If I were to guess... replace a thermal fuse? I had read they were unreliable and that was another thing that put me off, but if that's the common fault...

I would be very tempted to give that a try. Our compressor one in the outbuilding is all but useless for the third of the year we need it most. I'll keep an eye on ebay for one close enough to pick up. Seems to be a lot of parts on ebay right now, the obvious way to maximise money selling a non-functional one unfortunately, and a couple with other faults.

He's doing his Wii thing just now (bouncing around behind me :giggle: ) but he says send him an email. So, maybe pm me and I'll pass it along to him and the two of you can discuss it

M

 

[RickDastardly]

So, maybe pm me...

Thanks, I will as soon as I figure out how. Can't seem to find any way to PM you... I get nothing if I go to your profile (other than posting a profile message) and I cannot seem to 'start a new conversation' from my inbox - I get a "you don't have permission to do that'.

 

[MaC]

Click on your Inbox on the green header at the top of the page. Should open up pms.

Sorry, just read that you've tried that.

I have found that the forum times out, and I get that message too when I'm trying to post.
So, I've been copying what I tried to post and then re-loaded the page, and it posted fine.

Maybe try re-loading ?

M

 

[E. By Gum]

On Monday I had a go at the cherry plum tree that's self seeded in the garden many years ago. Has become as tall as the house and was trying to pull the gutters off the wall when the wind blows it over that way. With lots of efforts and swearing I got the top half cut off and pulled down.
Anyway texted me second cousin who lives in Lincoln and he's on about bringing a chainsaw from work at the weekend for free wood, he loves that kind of wood. He's got a wood burner stove in his back room.

 

[MaC]

Fruit woods are lovely for carving, turning, and burning

 

[Oldtimer]

That sounds like my woodworking practice. The way I carve and turn leaves the results only fit for burning.

 

[MaC]

:LOL: :ROFLMAO:

I have some beautiful pieces of woodturning

One uncle was an engineer, and he treated wood like metal. The most amazing pieces made from box and ebony.
I still use a set of bowls my Father turned when I was a little girl too.
My Brother turned some of the lace bobbins that I use as well.

M

 

[Nice65]

Fruit woods are lovely for carving, turning, and burning

Ah, Mary, can you PM Brian over on BCUK? He’s probably wondering where ROF went.

 

[BorderReiver]

Ah right, the heat from ours goes upstairs and warms the bedrooms, the back of the house (dining room, kitchen, conservatory) get progressively colder, the latter being pretty much off limits for now :censored:

Our stove is rated at 5kw and it does keep the deep chill off the upstairs, but it's not what you would call hot upstairs. It can get too in the living room when it's running at full belt. We bought it as dual fuel as a hedge against the probable regulation changes to burning wood; the dual bits are safely tucked away in the garage.

 

[Gower Ranger]

I got lucky with my electricity tariff: 14p/kWh day, 5p/KWh between 2030-0030hrs, 25p/day standing charge.

So I charge car and run what appliances I can during cheap period: paying £137 a month which is overpaying by double as I need to cushion the blow when the tariff ends and my costs rocket!

Our main meat consumption is "home grown" venison and rabbit, which saves money since I make my own ammo for the deer rifle, which will last years.

I should really learn to fish properly but don't have the gear or know-how.

Logs are bought locally, unseasoned, and stored for a year or two. Much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than commercial wood but supply is erratic.

We used to buy organic chicken and veg but as costs go up, principles get relaxed.

 

[bushwacker]

Kevs got the fishing gear.

 

[MaC]

Ah, Mary, can you PM Brian over on BCUK? He’s probably wondering where ROF went.

Kev has already done so and I'm pretty sure I sent him a pm about OOT a while back too.

M

 

[MaC]

Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish.....and it clutters up his workshop; apparently

 

[Beachlover]

Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish.....and it clutters up his workshop; apparently

:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Or someone else's shed. :p

 

[bushwacker]

Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish.....and it clutters up his workshop; apparently

I think Kev may tell you his fishing gear was the least of the clutter

 

[Woody Girl]

My friend who went to NZ came back to a redundant deep freezer, and loss of all within, including a whole summers worth of my foraged berries. 😭
I was realy looking forward to a black currant crumble this weekend. 😫😭

 

[MaC]

My friend who went to NZ came back to a redundant deep freezer, and loss of all within, including a whole summers worth of my foraged berries. 😭
I was realy looking forward to a black currant crumble this weekend. 😫😭

Oh that's awful. What a loss.

I think in these days of energy concerns that canning takes on more import. If you make a very fruit heavy jam, then it's good to use to make puddings like crumble I find, and it keeps for years in the jars, if they're well sealed, without going off too.