You can never have enough...

[popeye333]

Good. It is a special feeling.

It really is.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies It's lovely and calm outside, perfect for making a spot under the rainwater tank to make it easier to fill buckets with rainwater.

Our last power bill was $155 but you have to account for filling the big water tank (electric pump) and our running water. Every time a tap is turned on so is the power. And I was watering the garden lots which meant extra tank filling. There is also two of us and we cook. We also pay fortnightly so are in credit and the heat energy payment is added to our payment. In the winter I refuse to be cold and MrK cannot afford to be sick. Warm clothes and the heat pump on anywhere between 18 and 22 degrees. In saying that, our living room faces north, and the sun can heat it to over 30 degrees so windows could be open in the middle of winter lol. I've had a thermometer in the living room just out of curiosity and last winter it hit 36 degrees just from the sun.

Yesterday I was talking with the neighbourhood kids, and they asked me if I had a bike. Years ago, says me, it's been a while Ohhh, mum has one says the oldest and proceeds to tell and show me how mum rides her bike. First, she has to wriggle her bum back on the seat like this... it was priceless lol. Out of the mouths of babes.

My wee chainsaw needs sharpening and the chain tightening. I'm not surprised really; it's one of the hardest working garden tools we have. I'll drop it into the Stihl shop when passing next. I might even ask the guy to show me how to do it.

Time to get moving, I have some clay and sand to shift.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

The bit about our bills that surprises me is the way it is more expensive to deliver the stuff, than the power itself. And that is primarily because our fractured system has deprived us of historical infrastructure investment in order to pay shareholder dividends - including the government- which in theory is us... And now we have to pay for those past profit takes.

So, we pay, and pay, and pay...

That's capitalism for ya!

[Mica]

Morning all 
Rain overnight bit of wind

Love a bitnof solar gain for heating  KM our last bill was $81  the worst in middle of winter last year was 132 so not too bad. We benefit from bit solar gain and all double glazed which helps. 

Off in half an hour or so to pick up DD and her family from airport  they travelled home overnight and landed @ 6am in Auckland 

Washed some stretch denim yesterday going too cut ot pair pull on jeans this afternoon.

Threaded up my machines yesterday my overlocker has a problem with 5 thread grr.. L needle hitting the chain looper I think. Luckily 4 thread working ok but it means I will have to do 2 passes on the seams  stitch then overlock instead of zoom zoom with the 5 thread which does straight stitch and 3 thread over lockmin one go.
Need to find a new sewing machine dr


Enjoy your day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

The sun is trying today. Im going to dig out some of the red towels and wash them shortly.

Im mean on power and freely admit it. I use the jug for the water for the rice once every 6 days. Seldom make a hot drink, but in saying that I've had two this week.

I dont use the big oven unless baking.. Heating is a minimum cos I dont like hot air.

Showers are an absolute minimum.. And that comes from a few times of running out of water while showering in the bus. And having to stand there on a couple of occasions while MrP moved the bus closer to the tap to refill the tank. So I still have short sharp showers.. It also means I dont waste water either.

And I dont have lights on in rooms Im not in. And extra clothes, hotties and blankets come before a heater.

You see people with heaters or heat pumps on and t-shirts.. That's just dumb.

Have to make a few phone calls today. An appointment came from the cardiology clinic.. Obviously from the angina attack earlier in the month, or late last month.

Have to do WINZ job for them. They know I have moved, what I am now paying etc, you would think things would automatically click in, but no you have to tell them AGAIN.

Then Ill try and clear the last bit of clutter in the kitchen. The arm has mended lol

Anyone want the bruises tho? My forearms are a mess.. No offence intended but I hate having what I've always called Old Peoples bruises. MrP was the same .

Have a wonderful day everyone

[kiwimade64]

The bit under the rainwater tank is done, it's something I have been meaning to do for a few years now. I can now place the bucket under the tap instead of hanging it off the tap. And a piece of hose with the male and female ends on the tap makes it much easier to direct the water. All I need now is to find the old kitchen scrubbing brush I use to clean pots and the bird bath and put it with the tank.

And my day has been made. A couple of years ago my sister-in-law gave me some native buttercup plants. I planted them and then they were gone. Lost, I thought and when they didn't grow last year, I thought they were gone for good. Was weeding away and there they were, covered over and being protected by a pansy. I did the happy dance lol. And put a stick in to mark where they are. People driving by must think I'm nuts lol.

[Jan]

Good morning - bit of a cloudy start but I am sure it is going to burn off before lunch time .Not in a hurry to get up have been away for 17 days and I must say it’s great to be back in my own bed
The highest power bill I received last winter was $120 - it normally sits around $100. I run my heat pump when necessary both in the summer and winter - Running it on 18 takes the chill off the air in this old house but isn’t a cloistering heat - I have a lung condition thanks to polio and so my children remind me constantly when it’s cold to turn the AC on - same in the summer keeping the house comfortable for my lungs is a necessity .The government gets 52% of power company profits so when the prompt payment discounts were taken off our food manufacturers an$ growers and retailers there was a huge spike in food costs plus the govt collected more GST - Infometrics did some research on the increase in food costs that the removal of the power rebates cost at the checkout - bread went up 11c a loaf then another 8c for those cardboard tags on a plastic bag - this extra revenue for the power companies was supposed to be used to increase the capacity to produce by the power companies to negate the need to import coal - but the coal imports are higher than ever while we pay more for food and we lost our low user rebates - the beneficiaries of the 2022 restructure of the power sector were the govt and the overseas owners of the remaining shareholding by mostly overseas owners
While I am on the cost of food at the checkout - the stats dept and Infometrics reported Fonterra increased their prices they charged the supermarkets by 69% over the last 12 months - but supermarkets are so often blamed for the cost of butter and cheese - meat companies increased their prices to the supermarket by 72% - that’s why there is no rush for other companies to come here .AC Neilsen last week produced some research bought a virtual trolley of the most regular products bought by a kiwi family - PaknSave were $93.00 - Aldi ,Tesco in the UK ,Coles and WW in OZ were all at least $10 more expensive than PaknSave after currency adjustments .By the way Fonterra have announced another 8% increase in May but the supermarkets will make the headlines
Rant over Hunni !!

[Oh_hunnihunni]

You people who avoid showers, just be careful. It is one of the classic signs of early dementia. And bad for your skin. Have quick ones rather than fewer, just as economical on the power, and better for you. And those around you, lol...

All together now 'Yes Mum.'

---

Good morning - bit of a cloudy start but I am sure it is going to burn off before lunch time .Not in a hurry to get up have been away for 17 days and I must say it’s great to be back in my own bed
The highest power bill I received last winter was $120 - it normally sits around $100. I run my heat pump when necessary both in the summer and winter - Running it on 18 takes the chill off the air in this old house but isn’t a cloistering heat - I have a lung condition thanks to polio and so my children remind me constantly when it’s cold to turn the AC on - same in the summer keeping the house comfortable for my lungs is a necessity .The government gets 52% of power company profits so when the prompt payment discounts were taken off our food manufacturers an$ growers and retailers there was a huge spike in food costs plus the govt collected more GST - Infometrics did some research on the increase in food costs that the removal of the power rebates cost at the checkout - bread went up 11c a loaf then another 8c for those cardboard tags on a plastic bag - this extra revenue for the power companies was supposed to be used to increase the capacity to produce by the power companies to negate the need to import coal - but the coal imports are higher than ever while we pay more for food and we lost our low user rebates -  the beneficiaries of the 2022 restructure of the power sector were the govt and the overseas owners of the remaining shareholding by mostly overseas owners
While I am on the cost of food at the checkout - the stats dept and Infometrics reported Fonterra increased their prices they charged the supermarkets by 69% over the last 12 months - but supermarkets are so often blamed for the cost of butter and cheese - meat companies increased their prices to the supermarket by 72% - that’s why there is no rush for other companies to come here .AC Neilsen last week produced some research bought a virtual trolley of the most regular products bought by a kiwi family - PaknSave were $93.00 - Aldi ,Tesco in the UK ,Coles and WW in OZ were all at least $10 more expensive than PaknSave after currency adjustments .By the way Fonterra have announced another 8% increase in May but the supermarkets will make the headlines
Rant over Hunni !!

I know Jan, even my big block of plastic Edam from New World was hovering around the $12  last week. So I bought two, lol...

It is still cheap protein. 


Oh, and km? In among my springing spring bulbs I rediscovered my saffron crocuses. Going to mark those and rescue them, for sure!

[kiwimade64]

lovely, OHH What a treasure to have in the garden.

I'm making a chicken pie for dinner. Homemade pastry (no pastry in the freezer so have to make my own), and chicken stock, mushrooms, leeks, onions and carrots along with left over roast chook for the filling. Just letting the stock cool and the pastry rest before I make the filling. It's a fuss and made over different stages but yummy and a good way to use every bit of that yummy chook.

[Lilith7]

Hope you're settling in well Popeye & manage to get everything organised as you want it.

I subscribed to Bryan Bruce, & a the other day he did a piece abour the Mondragon cooperative in the Basque region of Spain which has been going since 1956. I found it extremely interesting, as a possible alternative to big business. I wonder what might happen if something similiar was set up here.


https://www.mondragon-corporation.com/en/about-us/

https://www.mondragon-corporation.com/en/


Got caught in the rain this morning coming back with the dreaded shopping but luckily really just a light drizzle so not too bad. Everything drying in airing cupbpard & we were lucky it had stopped by the time we went for our walk.
I've another pair of jeans to take up when I can find time, can't do much more outside now that its wet but had managed to get quite a bit of log-ish grass sorted out.

[popeye333]

Well the kitchen is clear bar one heavy crate.. Which Ill move piece by piece to the garage.

Dianne and Paul came in and took down the grotty shower curtain rail and hung the towel rails.

Went and picked up the lemons that were meant to be dropped into my mailbox lol.. Must have been drunk again .

And I have all my pretties on the coffee table.. Ill wash them tomorrow.

Got all my lovely red towel's washed and dried, so they are in the hot water/linen cupboard.

Still haven't found my dinner and bread and butter plates.. I think Ill be asking Di to bring hers in. I loath paper plates. They must be either in the sewing room or the garage. And to be honest I simply cant be bothered looking.

Its a week already. And Im tired. My body is covered in bruises, just from bumping or lifting things and using my arms when I shouldn't.

So Ill have a few days off...... Dohhhhh I could use my flash bread and butter plates from my Mother of pearl tea set if need be. I do have some clear plastic plates I could use too. The latter I got for taking to the home.

And with Fanny here that means Ill be on maid duty. But to be honest I'd rather she sits and stays out of my way in the kitchen anyway. Just thinking I've known her since the Mid 90s and have never eaten at her place. Ever lol.

Kiwimade I was like that when I discovered the Hydrangea has survived.. if its fine tomorrow Im going to trim it. It was lightly raining when I went out earlier.

[zqwerty]

Is your power bill 'average'?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/360669330/...ll-average

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies It's pretty rough out there with wind and rain so an indoor day it will be.

I read the article, zqwerty, and this is why the daily rate is being changed over time, so everyone pays the same. It means some (like us) will pay more but the cost will be fairly divided. And I love that business model, Lilith. You are paid what you are worth and for the effort you put in. I wonder how it would work if you couldn't work due to an accident or illness. It certainly would be interesting to see it here.

Mica, I hope you can find someone to fix your overlocker. So frustrating when things fail us.

The Furry One has poked his nose out both doors, and nope, the weather isn't any different out the back lol. The look on his face is priceless, as if it is all my fault.

It may be a hardanger day today and I should hit the halfway mark.

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Grey and wet here, nothing wild or wooly tho. And its 22 in my kitchen.

My power bills are around $120 a month max. Was over $150 with MrP at home.

Im having a day off today.. Well I will wash all my pretties and put them on the shelves. But that's an enjoyable thing for me. I have the Tupperware out and happy with how it looks. To the point that I placed it out and haven't changed a thing.

I have found the Sparkling grape juice of which we will Toast Mum on my Birthday.. The reason it was important was it was Mum who told me to sneak it home lol.. Its from the Christmas dinner at the rest home lol..

I might look at dinner sets online and then look in oppies and see what their plates are like. For someone who used to buy a new dinnerset if one plate got chipped, having odd ones was never in my kitchen. but now I have several pieces.

I just have no desire to lift crates around to find the set. Im too tired at this stage.

Dianne and I moved the cabinet that was making it difficult to get into the upright freezer so thats much better now.

Have a fab day everyone

[Roma]

Good morning. 

Cloudy and only single digit figure temperature expected today.  Good to have the fire roaring. 

Sensible furry one ... until the need has to be taken care of! DH was looking at the forecast before (for back home) and it did say the weather was not good for pet walking today, lol.

Mmm, chicken pie ... that's an idea, I see there are a row of near ready leeks in the garden here. 

Lucky to get lemons Popeye ... I look forward to the new season's ripening. Good to have mandarins available now though. 

No plan today, might do some exploring ... will need to keep warm. Yesterday while out we noticed lots of people searching the ground under trees ... then realised they were gathering chestnuts.

School time. 

Enjoy the day all.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Oh roasting chestnuts on the hearth pan over the fire in the lounge, that's an old memory of us with my Dad. We didn't really get that taste of those, so it was not a tradition we continued, but doing it did remind him of winter in Edinburgh. Frankly, any crappy day does that for me, lol...

[kiwimade64]

The Asian community gather the chestnuts here, roma   You have probably seen them along Broadway or Tower Rd picking them up. There are walnuts along Tower Rd too.

I've been looking at different gadgets MrK could use to make his life a tad easier.  Not cheap by any means but at least we won't have to wait to borrow from the health system (there is a list a mile long) and we will own them in case I ever need them later in my life.  It will be a slow process to buy what he needs but not as slow as waiting to borrow.  The step for the bath arrived yesterday.  It needs one more layer to increase the height and it will be perfect for him.  Easy clean and non slip.  And light enough to move to the kitchen if either of us need a bit more height for the pantry.

[Mica]

Morning all 
Damp out waiting for the heavy rain vlater today

Sounds like you are settling in Popeye.

Have friends coming for lunch so I have been in the kitchen preppedcthe chicken for the slow cooker last night popped it on at 6am before vI went to gym. Made a sponge will fill with strawberries  and cream for dessert 
Will cook the rice in microwave.

Got my jeans half sewn, looking good so far.

Enjoy your day

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Well, I have had an adventure today. The scoot is in the workshop sorting out some motor issues, and I had run out of a few essentials, so I decided to test my physical endurance and do a bit of walking and bussing, with some trepidation because my breathing after the PE is a bit dicey on occasion. And the scoot has made me lazy, so I need to get a bit more active beyond just the gardening and round home stuff.

And it was okay. The heart rate definitely went up, my leg muscles are a bit on the tingly side, and boy, I am warm, lol, but considering my couch potato history I am impressed with myself. Although, if I wake up sore I will know why!

Note to self - do more.

[Lilith7]

Just don't overdo it Hunni, take it slowly until you get the measure of what you can & can't manage.

Cold & tipping down here so Madame le Dog & I got a bit wet when out for the walk. Came back & decided to do the hems on the new jeans - apparently, I needed assistance from Madame le Cat who plonked herself on the waist end which I'd laid out on the table & refused to move.

Decided on stuffed spuds & a veg & veg sausage casserole for dinner, & have added a couple of bits of the zuccini I froze as an experiment last month just to see how it goes.