Posts by Sirius B

21) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113451)
Posted 26 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Glory & it looks like to end up 3 in 1.
The clothes drying over the weekend wasn't really a full test as they were already drying for 2 days, used to take approx. 2.5 days.
Did a full wash yesterday & put the washed laundry in a upright oblong basket.
That normally takes 1.5 racks worth to dry.
On the 1st rack load was a bath towel & we all know what they are like after washing.
Dry within 12 hours & the other load dry within 14.

In the past it has taken approx. 15 minutes for the radiators to heat up fully, that's now down to 8.
Also, with the air being dryer it's warmed up quicker mading the rooms too warm at times so able to cut back on heating.

Now for the big bonus, for several years now been suffering from a persistent cough, runny nose & respiratory problems.
Seeing a recent BBC report regarding councils & damp, made me look into it.

I originally put those issues down to being a long time smoker, & a weaker immune system due to old age.
In the 6.5 days of running the dehumidifier, runny nose stopped, breathing much better & coughing no longer persistent.
Nice!

The 1st unit has now been running for 5.5 days continuously & tank nearly full.
Not going to empty yet.
Just waiting for the water to push up the floater & activating auto shut down.
Then I'll know whether or not the stated capacity of 1800ml (3.16 pints) is the full capacity or the total to auto shut down.
Seriously considering getting a 3rd unit & use it as a portable between kitchen & bathroom.
22) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113450)
Posted 25 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Strange, what is Amazon up to?
The order on 20th received the following evening, not the 1st time that has occurred.
Ordered 4 products on 22nd am & a further order for 3 products (4 items) later that day.
All for free delivery in 5 working days.
Received 1 item from 1st order of 22nd, furniture & delivered by Amazon around 6pm Wed.
Checked on Amazon to see when the rest would be delivered & expecting them to be in 2 packages as 2 separate orders.
Still on track for delivery on 25th, however both lots to be delivered by Royal Mail, really?

Checked via the tracking details & see items picked up & arrived at Warrington Superhub.
That's a new one on me, so googled it. It opened in 2022.
It's a new 24/7 distribution centre for Royal Mail who dispatched it to Peterborough DO.
Delivery around 10:15 this morning in one parcel, an Amazon Prime box.

What else I found surprising was that the delivery was marked as delivered, now that is a 1st for Royal Mail with Amazon.

Anyway...
TBC
23) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113439)
Posted 23 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Frank Farian 82 Music producer (Created Boney M & Milli Vanilli}
24) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113423)
Posted 22 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Laurie Johnson 96 composer
25) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113422)
Posted 22 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Found that out over the weekend. Also, found that a review was true as well.
They help the radiators to heat up quicker, which should mean that the heating will be off an hour earlier than usual.
That should also reduce the gas bill, but will need a bit more time to see how true that will be.

Also, the manufacturer states that it only uses 47 watts so over 24 hours that'll be 1.128 kw.
If so, at the price currently paying (0.274 per kw) equates to 0.309 a day. (£2.16 pw) (that's if energy supplier uses 1000 as a kilo.).
As I got in the habit of taking a reading every 3 days, the next will be on the 24th (took a reading on 21st but didn't get the unit until 17:30 Fri so not a full 3 day reading with the unit running).

Another thing I'm going to be checking out is power consumption as the unit provides 2 modes, Strong or sleep.
Also it has led lighting which rotates through 7 colours but settled on a nice soothing blue (can lock the light to whatever 1 of the 7 one likes).
When in sleep mode, the fan is reduced, so going to use unit 12 hours on strong & 12 hours in sleep with the light off (light automatically switches off when changing mode).

Hoping that it would reduce power consumption as that would be another bonus.
Edited to correct spelling errors.
26) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113417)
Posted 21 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Glory.
A surprising one that became a double one this evening.
On 16th, ordered 2 items. One was scheduled for delivery on 19th & the other 24-26th.
Fri morning received 1st item, a hand sized package.
No way was this the 2nd item so opened it - DVD box set which was supposed to arrive from 24th onward.
Checked on Amazon & found 2nd will be delivered that day.
Checking on both, found that 1st item was delivered by Royal Mail. Wow.
As for the second item, that impressed me after 24 hours in use so ordered a 2nd Sat morning along with another 2 items.
They were scheduled for Tuesday delivery, they arrived this evening.

The 2nd item on Fri was a domestic portable dehumidifier.
Before actually ordering anything, always check the reviews.
Many reviews of the more expensive units were not to my liking, but this unit had favourable ones, so much I found it difficult to believe 100%, but ordered one (£60).
But wow, I was impressed especially after seeing after 24 hour use.
I never knew that there was so much moisture in the air we breathe.
Had 2 great nights sleep since.
27) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113375)
Posted 15 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Mike Sadler 103 Founding member SAS
28) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113363)
Posted 12 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
Annie Nightingale 83 Legendary Radio 1 DJ.
29) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113362)
Posted 12 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
I see those complaining about M$ & their dismissal of 99% of their QA testers.
That's rubbish, they have millions...

...Us.
30) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113344)
Posted 5 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
1st grumble of 2024. :-(
There are some sad muppets in the world, but hey, it takes all sorts right.
Took a reading of the electric meter earlier this week, 1st as it was the regular one & 2nd, to check that it was using the previous costing rather than the increased one on 1/1/24.
No problem as it was using the previous costing, however there was a problem.
In Spring, Summer & early Autumn, no problem but in the Winter months if reading took after 4pm, need the light on in the meter cupboard.
No oops, need new bulb.
Nope, bulb had been nicked.
Replaced but it was too late to contact landlords.
The main issue with my cupboard is that it not only has my meters there but also the landlords meter for their electricity mainly for external lighting.
So there should be only 3 sets of access, Landlord, the maintenance crew & cleaners.
Only got off the phone a short while ago.
I wanted clarify a specific point.
Who is responsible for the cupboard light, tenant or landlord.
Got told tenant & asked why the question. Told them, they put me on hold.
Came back to me & said that no maintenance crew attended the property over the holidays, but I quickly replied, but the cleaners have (they have a power point to connect their hoovers).
I know we have an energy & cost of living crisis, but nicking a light bulb? Come on!
31) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113342)
Posted 5 Jan 2024 by Sirius B
Post:
David Soul 80 Actor (Starsky & Hutch)
32) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113280)
Posted 14 Dec 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Nice combined cost, ours for Nov was £130.
Topped up the gas on 6th & already noticed a hefty drop.
With the heating on for a couple of hours a day, was using £2.59 a day & it's already showing as £1.14 a day, we'll see the outcome when Winter is over.
So it looks like Oct cost is much lower than the previous costs this year
If correct, instead of running out next Sept (card topped up as soon as meter topped on 6th).
Looks like it'll be sometime in Oct.

Getting back to that e-mail.
£3.37 a month?
That's £0.02 a day leas than the current daily cost of £3.39.
Sheesh!
33) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113264)
Posted 13 Dec 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Grumble.
I've often bemoaned the lack of people using the Mk1 computer & utilitiy companies ripping us off, but the latest e-mail leaves me scratching my head.
From 1 January based on your usage, what you pay (on average) for electricity per month will be changing from £3.29 to £3.37, and what you pay (on average) for gas will be changing from £23.94 to £24.83.
Your estimated cost for the next 12 months for electricity is £40.41. Your estimated cost for the next 12 months for gas is £297.96.
Your projected monthly energy usage is 6.50kWh for electricity and 205.75kWh for gas.
Based on the past quarter, my forecasted 12 month top up will be £1,344.00 & usage approx. £1.260 (electricity).
Haven't done the gas one as it's Winter & having the heating on during cold days, sends the usage high.
The Autumn/Winter bill is usually just over double of the Spring/Summer bill.
The last 12 months, topped up £392 with £369.64 used.
I'd love to know what planet these people think they're living on.
34) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113214)
Posted 3 Dec 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Amazon's reply.
Hello,
We could not post your review because it focuses on one or more of these topics:
Sellers
Delivery
Packaging
Pricing
Availability
Why is that not allowed? These aspects vary by order and will not be relevant to all customers. That said, we want your feedback about sellers and packaging, just not in product reviews.
Didn't post a product review, sent a "problem with order" post.
Also, it seems that "Amazon Basics" is sold & packaged by a third party according to the above.
35) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113207)
Posted 30 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Shane MacGowan 65 Singer.
Alistair Darling 70 Politician,
36) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113201)
Posted 29 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Grumble.
In 45 years spent in the transport industry, seen some things that made one wonder how some companies manage to remain in business.
Last Thursday, ordered 3 items from Amazon.
Was very surprised when received 2 items early the next evening.
The remaining item, 5 reams of printer paper to be received by 30/11 as expected.
Just received not more than 5 minutes ago.
Sheesh.

Personally, I would have refused to deliver it.
The outer box, flimsy & not secured very well.
The Amazon Basics inner box falling to pieces & only held together with a nylon strap.
4 of the 5 reams had the outer covering either torn or open.
Should have stuck with my previous suppliers - Viking Direct or EuroOffice.
37) Message boards : The Lounge : These are no longer with us, may they have peace. (Message 113180)
Posted 27 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Terry Venables 80 Former football player & manager.
38) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113161)
Posted 23 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Less tax.
I could be wrong, but I don't think I'll pay any as I will still be over £2k shy of the personal allowance.
39) Message boards : The Lounge : Grumbles, Glory and All Your Off Topic Discussions (Message 113159)
Posted 23 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Glory & a couple of grumbles.
Grumble.
Heard back from the Peoples Lottery. They will remove my details from their database ONLY after I provide my name & address.
Already provided. How many items does it take to query a database?
Grumble.
Where Income & Expenditure is concerned, the % game is a big con.
The Dual Fuel Cap will increase by 5% on 1/1/24.

Glory.
Current funds on electric meter will run out around 29/12/23.
Have maximum 0f £250 waiting on key & soon as that gets entered then, will shoot over to shop & top up another £250.
That will run out around 18/5/24, bypassing even the April Cap.
Don't think if it is reduced it will be lower than Oct 23 Cap. :-)
As for gas, that's been bugging me for some time.
Checking the last 6 monthly spreadsheet, I topped Gas up on 7 April which lasted 5.25 months, giving a daily usage of £0.66.
With the standing charged changed to 2Kwh instead of 1 & the higher charge applied to those 1st 2 units (0.29p), it leaves our gas usage to 0.08p a day?
Either that new boiler is very efficient or we don't use 2Kwh of Gas per day.
Either way, it's a bonus. :-)

Another pension increase next year. £800.
Wonder how much of that will get eaten by higher bills.
I bet the Council Tax will increase by at least 5%. :-(
40) Message boards : The Lounge : Let's talk politics (Message 113158)
Posted 23 Nov 2023 by Sirius B
Post:
Agree. The problem is though, parties like the PVV can only get bigger due to the EU & the West as well fumbling around concerned about what is happening around the world while ignoring their own citizens.
That chicken is not far from coming home to roost.


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