Yes, a new topic and let's all settle down. It has been another of those week-ends when I have wished we were all together in my sitting-room, a glass or a cup in hand and could chat about the topic and 'throw' ideas back and forth across the room. But the whole thing all becomes a bit sterile when all you can do is have your say and that's that.
So what to chat about today? Well, it is positively Septembral today - cloudy, a slight breeze from the North and no sunshine. I did a couple of laps of the patio and then, just as I was coming back in the phone rang and it was M from Book Group to ask if she could walk across for a cup of tea. I was delighted as usual and we have had a lovely, chatty afternoon.
We talked about central heating because of course here the talk is all about whether or not we shall be able to afford to use it through this coming winter. We could both remember the days before we had central heating; when we had open fires; when we sat as close as we could to the fire and the fronts of our legs were bright red from almost burning and the backs of our legs and heels were so cold we got chilblains. Ah those were the days!
Hopefully we will have a few more weeks of warm weather to come - fingers crossed. See you tomorrow.
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Just before the winter of '62 we moved into town, leaving the house with the range which was always on, summer or winter, and into a house with just one open fire. But, there was a back boiler and the hot water tank was in the bedroom which my sister and I shared, and this tank was not lagged, so our bedroom was always cozy when the fire was lit. Now I live in a gas-heated house. The cold affects my joints badly, so I don't have much of a choice.
We’ll, Pat. I would absolutely love a friendly face to face chat this morning. Coastal Redwood country of California is a bit of a walk though. I do have my first cuppa in hand and always check in here first. We’re having cool weather and coastal fog last week and this but hoping for a bit more to a warmer autumn. A hot day for us is mid 70s with upper 70s having us looking for a fan. It’s nice to have drop in friends and neighbors to pass the time. Enjoy your evening and we’ll see you tomorrow.
I am glad to hear you are going to welcome some more weeks of warm weather.
Nothing nicer than a neighbour dropping in for a cup of tea and a chat. x
What lovely neighbours you have.
I grew up with a Mum who hated neighbours dropping in for a cuppa - hasn't helped me in life at all!!
How nice that you had a visitor and a lovely chat. Heating our homes will be more expensive this winter. We will have to wear layers to keep warm and reduce our need to heat our homes. That's my plan.
With winter coming soon I bet there are a lot of people wondering if they can afford as much heat as they need to stave off the cold winds. I feel for them and for myself, too. Money seems to be elusive these days.
Ah! Those days of yore with freezing bathrooms and ice on the inside of the bedroom windows. Let us hope things wont get as bad as that again, though the news must be worrying for so many people. I have a nice collection of warm sweaters, cardigans, scarves and slacks so should be warm enough. I also have blackout lined curtains which will no doubt keep out the cold as well as they kept out the heat, and a good draught excluder.
How lovely to have the phone call from your friend to come for a chat and cuppa. I had unexpected visitors yesterday myself, which of course meant tea and a good natter.
I dislike our modern sterile kitchens and would be quite at home with those of ancient times with a 'hearth'. A comforting fire going and something boiling in the pot, and gazing into the flames. It is a shame we took this little bit of magic out of our modern rushed lives, safer I guess, but it lacks soul now.
In our cramped back yards, its even impossible to have any sort of fire, and wood heaters have been either banned or discouraged.
RecentlY I've taken to burning a glass-enclosed candle in our stove alcove in homage to 'the hearth'. Something in me resonates with that. - Pam, Aust.
...an afterthought. How much mental illness could be counselled in that slow environment, brewed tea and reflective gazing... rather than, 'pull up a plastic tub chair - tea bags and coffee are by the electric jug over there...'. We do have teenage bush retreats for such needs though which is an excellent concept...don't know if they get burnt knees and chilblains though! -Pam.
How delightful to have autumn in the air and a friend in for tea and conversation!
I've invested in heavy weight leggings and fleece slacks and I already have long sleeve pullovers and sweaters or sweatshirts to go on top. I have a couple of snug hats, too, as I intend to stay warm and lots of heat is lost from your head. :)
Hugs!
I remember red knees and chilblains and I still like a hot water bottle in winter.I grew up in rural Australia where people would pop in often for just a few minutes as they passed by.Most didn't even have a phone. We moved years ago to a small seaside hamlet and thought it would have that similar feel but as it is less than 2 hours from a major city it is now populated by 'sea changers' who although are mostly good people and upstanding citizens keep very private and would be horrified if you didn't ring before knocking and they don't 'do' popping in for a cuppa. They do meet up at cafes etc but times have changed! Glad to hear you sounding better after your health scares
It would be a fun to have a zoom discussion! A good back and forth is always invigorating.
I like the new word Septembral! the spell checker doesn't like it.
It hasn't cooled down here, yet. Too much land mass.
It has cooled down to 14C over night here, after a rather warm afternoon of 28C. We're expecting 29C again today but that's fine; what we really need most of all is rain, rain and more rain, of the gentle, steady kind, for at least a full week. But it is not going to happen anytime soon, and our landscape is slowly changing because of several dry summers in a row.
My flat is not big, and the walls of the house are well insulated, so it is not hard to keep it warm. But I am a fresh air fanatic and hate stuffed indoor climate, always throwing open windows left, right and centre; I only close them to keep the heat out (or in - depending on the season) and usually manage quite well with that. My blankets on the armchair and the settee are always in use during the colder seasons anyway.
Last Winter we hardly used our central heating at all. Not only was it quite warm, but we are in a terrace with 'heated' houses either side. I'm hoping this Winter will be much the same.
It has cooled off a bit here but the humidity is still very high. But I see little signs of Fall all over the place. The squirrels in my yard are so busy gathering food and storing it away.
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