I live in a pre-war semi. They are not renowned for their
warmth.
The weather has turned distinctly autumnal and chilly this
week and boy, are we feeling it. It’s not as bad as when we first moved in,
twenty years ago. I can remember being so cold, I used to sit in the
lounge and cry, wondering whether we had done the right thing in buying the house.
Since then, we’ve ‘Taken Steps’. Every set of curtains now
has a thermal lining…we have replaced the steel window frames with
double-glazed wooden ones…we have a more efficient boiler…I have draught-excluders
for every door… I wear two pairs of socks routinely, three jumpers, a scarf and
fingerless mitts if I’m sitting typing. Or, like Garfield , I sit in the sun by the French
windows, moving with the patch of warmth as it crosses the room.
It’s not helped at the moment by the fact that some of our
draught-proofing measures need to be replaced. I have to find another pillow to
stuff up one of our chimneys for example, as the last one went a bit rank
thanks to the dead pigeon.
The current project is underfloor insulation. I did offer to
go under the floorboards for Mr. Squidge (I’m 5’0” – he’s 6’3”) but he declined
to accept. We thought it would be a fairly easy job; measure the distance between
the joists, cut the boards to the right length, whack it in and bingo!
What we hadn’t reckoned on was joists that are most definitely
NOT parallel, the various pipeworks that are under the floor AND the fact that
the trapdoor isn’t wide enough for some of the pieces we’ve cut so they’ve had
to be cut again.
It has taken the best part of two days so far and we’ve not even
finished the first room; we still have the back room and the hall to do.
 |
| This isn't Mr Squidge, by the way! |
Ah well, at least once it’s finished, I might be able to
take off a layer or two.
Well, if it is of any help we are also renovating our terraced house in London. What was supposed to last a couple of weeks will last 6 weeks. Nightmare.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain! Especially when you're trying to live in it at the same time...
DeleteAfter spending 15 years in Norway I have to say I am no fan of the cold! I hope you feel warmer this winter :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, Kama - if I lived in Norway, I'd be tucked up inside all the time with a roaring fire!
DeleteWow, what you have already done to your house is an achievement in itself. I would love to put double glazed windows in my home but am put off by the astronomical prices. But yes, I can relate to walking around with so many clothes on that I topple down the stairs when I lose balance. Amanda HelmiBM
ReplyDeleteIt's not so impressive-sounding when it's spread over 20 years, Amanda! The windows made a huge difference - well worth the money, even if it does make a HUGE dint in the budget at the time.
DeleteOur house is mid-seventies, and we've just installed double glazing for most of downstairs. Now I'm feeling cold because the heating doesn't come on so often ... Best of luck with the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteWe found that when we fitted the radiator thermostats - in certain rooms the radiators are on permanently because there are draughts, so it's nice and toasty, but others feel cold because they reach temp and the radiators take a break.
DeleteI forgot what I said last time !!!!!!! humph lol
ReplyDeleteSomething like, you can't fool the tax man like that anymore, under the floor boards is not an acceptable excuse, Beside that the way you describe your lovely home anyone would think it was a wrinkly old shed or something lol. have fun but don't hide too much the next round is on you
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely Chris - just bloomin' cold at times! Sun's coming out at the moment, so will have to move into the back where it's warmer!
DeleteOkay. After reading your post I am never, ever going to complain about being cold again. I hope you'll post follow ups to this. I'd love to see how it all turns out. :)
ReplyDeleteFound you at UBC on FB. :)
Well, Mimi - it certainly felt a lot warmer in the room tonight. But that could be because I'd turned the radiator back on! Still got to stuff the pillow up the chimney...
DeleteThanks for popping in from the UBC.
Good going on the insulating. I'm with you on all of those. I'm a fingerless mitt, scarf and extra jumper wearer myself. My best find last year was some little fluffy lined suede boots, like indoor Ugg boots - worn indoors they work a treat. I hope the under floor insulation goes ok. Nothing in an old house is straight, just to challange the grey cells. May the pigeons stay out of your chimneys!
ReplyDeleteLiz - so glad someone else feels the cold to the same extent! I always feel daft in my layers...sometimes forget I'm not actually a natural blob shape, as indicated by all the extra layers!!
DeleteYour last line's given me a great idea for a story...'may the pigeons stay out of your chimneys!'