google-site-verification: googlefcdf2b670c6956e5.html

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Encounter with Anglian and Everest

If you want double-glazing the two biggies Anglian and Everest head the list. Really easy to get an appointment via website.
Anglian calls back and swamps me with money off voucher. Great, because all the prices are already half price. "Half price of what?" I ask. "Of our standard price", I get the answer. I can't find any prices on the website.
"Do you live alone?", asks the lady of Anglian. "Why do you want to know?", I ask back. They want to have all the decision makers at the table, she explains to me. "We don't want to lose time by coming twice." I am only asking for an estimate. Anglian actually does not show up at all.
But the Everest man comes. He measures everything and is ready to give me a challenging price. He looks suspiciously at boyfriend who is sitting in the lounge and does not get up to join us. Everest man opens up the catalog and starts prep talk. Unfortunately he is half an hour late and I have to tell him to send estimate via mail. I never hear from him again.
Other people get pursued by Anglian and Everest. The easiest to get rid of them is to tell them you want to compare. 

It is so cold that my olive oil in the kitchen turned solid. Time to make a list.

Let's tackle the problem head on. Make a list. I really love my old timer sash windows. they were one of the reasons why I fell in love with this house. I really took good care of them, found a nice team that refurbished them and also draught-proofed them. But If I want to have it warm they have to go.
My conservatory has only a plastic roof. It is as cold in there as it is outside. Which would not be too bad, but the conservatory is connected to my kitchen. Ever experienced hard olive oil? That's what happens in the winter.
My house is an end of terrace house. And to be honest, close neighbours (they are lovely) on one side are just enough for me even though their snuggling up makes your house warmer.
Because I am replacing the windows I can just as well start with internal insulation. The walls have to be redone anyway. What about a new entrance door? Well, this can wait.

Sunday 10 February 2013

Seven degrees. And I am not talking about outside

Just woke up. And it is cold. Seven degrees. And I am not talking about outside. I am talking about my living room. Ok, outside it is -4, and even colder.
But where did all the warmth go. In the evening, with the help of radiator on full blast, coal and wood in the open fire place I brought the heat up to 18. But all the efforts vanished.