Bit cold out

Dougs See, if it was actually cold I would be more sympathetic, but when I get a "put the heating on I'm freezing" when the thermostat's reading 21 then I'm less so.

Neither do mine. I feel like my dad the amount of times I'm saying it. But the thing is, it makes fucking sense goddammit.

I get "but I just want to be warm in my own house". Well yes, you can be. BY PUTTING WARMER CLOTHING ON FFS.

Ahem. I'm fine. it's fine.

It's depressing how easily we fall into these stereotypical rants. I say depressing, it's oddly comforting.

The only good thing about autumn/winter is the darker nights for gaming and films.

For the first time since I was a child, we have an open fire in our lounge. I love fires and would have them every day in winter.

Then stupid fucking scientists said they give you cancer and make you die and it’s taken the fun right out of them. Stupid science.

It may be science but I’ve waited decades for an open fire only for scientists to piss on my dreams.

I’m pretty salty about it.

But I hate dying

I raised this with my chimney sweep when she came round to er... sweep the chimney. She said that as long as you're using a smokeless fuel and the fire is drawing properly then you should be fine. This is the main reason why the govt are saying that you can't use unseasoned wood or coal anymore as you get a lot of particulate matter out the chimney from them.


I also read that Sheffield study and it was not exactly definitive. They had a total of 20 people involved, 19 of whom had a wood burner and one with an open fire. It didn't say what fuel the open fire was using nor anything about the house setup, the equipment they were using was apparently not the best either. The trial mostly focused on the risk to people when wood burners were opened while lit and that PM was released at that point. 

Don't get me wrong, not having a fire lit is probably healthier for you than having one lit, but thats also the case with candles which leave soot all over the room. 

So, use smokeless fuel, ensure you have good draw and a good draught into the room and you should be relatively safe (probably safer than driving behind a diesel car* ). If you smell smoke in the room then you're doing something wrong. 


*I have no idea if that is true, someone can Google it. 

Wouldn't be surprised if it was a DM article... They're pretty fond of telling you what will give you cancer.

This dude took matters into his own hands:

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/11/harmful-effects-of-wood-burners-need-further-study

Our heating never really went off. I just have thermostats on every radiator with their own target temperatures. So over summer it never fired on.

Maybe we could help each other with the costs? It'll only work for those looking for a switch I guess but if Octopus looks like the best deal for anyone else I've a referral link you can use to share £100 credit.

I'm sure others have something similar. I used the energy club website as it checks whole of market and then got a quote directly with Octopus. Helps if you know what your yearly usage is.

clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub

Think this is the one people are getting put on with Octopus now;



It's turned a bit nippy this morning... Had to drag myself out from under the double duvet.

If I’m reading this right, UK electricity is some 1.8 times more expensive than PL electricity.

Since you all make about 3x more than we do, you have no right to complain.

No wonder so many people emigrate… :-(