Glad you got in at last, Dove. People like that always charge an arm and a leg - emergency plumbers come to mind - because you have no option other than to grin and bear it... After an incident with our front door lock a few years ago, I put a spare back door key on my key ring as well - since when I haven't needed to use it, of course.
Glad you're warm again, Hosta.
Lovely pic, Chicky! Sounds like a good evening. And about that young Swedish girl, yes, listening to her impassioned speech made my OH cry. We agreed there's not a lot we can do about the big picture, other than writing to the MP (lost cause) and signing petitions, but that we need to stop making excuses and take personal responsibility for our own contribution to spoiling the planet for the next generation.
There's condensation on the outside of the double glazing this morning - I think it's warming up, though the thermometer says it's 1.9, so not exactly hot yet...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I missed that link yesterday, Liri, so I've just watched it.
“You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to your children.”
A more damning indictment of our so called leaders would be hard to find.
....but one of the problems is that our leaders won’t act because they are scared it will be unpopular and lose them votes. So those of us who want action have to start speaking up a bit more ☺️ and persuade them it could be a vote winner for them.
Which reminds me, I nearly waded into the smart meter debate on here last week, but decided it was too much effort ....my bad 👎🏻. Regardless of the ups/downs/incompetences of the installation process, I should have pointed out that smart meters are an overwhelmingly goooood thing. They will lead to consumer demand that can respond to supply signals (because it is measured in real time, and not once a year like it is at the moment). At the moment, it is completely the other way round: we (us and businesses) consume whenever we want and the power stations knock themselves out trying to follow us. In a world of 100% renewable energy - which is essential if we are to avoid the tipping point into irreversible climate catastrophe - we have to switch things round. Batteries can help, but smart meters are a big part of the smart system the future needs. They will allow far more renewables on the system, and let us leave the fossil fuels in the ground where they belong. Cars need to go electric very soon too, and they will need to be powered by renewable energy too.
Smart meters are not, as the Daily Fail would have you believe, simply a ruse for suppliers to get one over on their customers. Or a way of people spying on you.
I know @chicky ... that’s why I signed up for them, in the face of dire warnings from friends and family. I even forgave the first failed appointment ... these things happen ... now I feel that my willingness has been met with a kick in the teeth and I’m thoroughly p’eed off . I’m far from being a Luddite by nature, but I feel like getting a membership card at the moment. It seems to me as if the whole thing has either been managed by a load of morons or under -resourced ... probably both. I just feel so sorry for the poor Customer Service staff at Npower who were totally lovely, very professional and like me totally p’eed off too, as they said they’re getting that sort of thing happen every day. If you know of any Powers That Be I could give some constructive feed back to please feel free to point them in my direction.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@Dovefromabove thats why I qualified my comment to be “in spite of the incompetences of the installation process” 😉. I share your pain on that front. We haven’t got one either, because the mobile signal here is not strong enough, and that is a deep frustration and has caused several wasted appointments. Sorry, don’t know any Npower folks to complain to.
Fortunately, most people’s installation scenarios are more straightforward, and for the reasons above, I would encourage anyone who can to allow the changeover to take place 👍🏻
Trouble is that on average a smart meter saves £11 a year, and costs £500 to install. I won't be around when it starts to save money, and probably the meter won't be either. When they get them working properly I will get one. Same with electric cars. The price is far too much at the moment based on the reliability, the need to replace and recycle very expensive batteries. I think we are in the betamax area at the moment. I am waiting for the VHS.The technology is just not good enough yet. Until then the old cars (one petrol and one diesel) will run until they become uneconomical to repair.
Thank you @chicky. I was not properly aware of what you say on Smart meters, it is good to hear from someone who knows what they are talking about. No mobile phone signal here, so all a bit theoretical anyway.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Both my children have electric cars - their way of putting their money where their mouth is. Son's solution to the problem of buying a car now, while there are still problems (range etc) being ironed out, has been to lease one for 2 years. When the lease is up he can decide whether to get a newer model, go back to petrol (probably not!) or a hybrid, or stick with what he has. We've installed an outside power point so our children can charge their cars when they come to visit. Our son has just had PV panels installed, so when the sun shines they can charge the car for nothing...
Daughter has bought an electric car, because leasing wasn't available where they live in Ireland. Currently they can charge their car free at the railway station - Ireland seems to be much more geared up to providing incentives to "go green".
At present we run the smallest available petrol car (Toyota IQ). Will we get an electric car? Hopefully, yes, eventually... if the price comes down, and we can buy a good one second hand. I think it would be difficult to justify the cost at the moment. Am I two-faced? Probably... or maybe just pragmatic...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I can't see why anyone wouldn't want a smart meter, you see what you're using, as you're using it, pence per hour, £ per day/ week / month all at a glance.
Posts
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Glad you got in at last, Dove. People like that always charge an arm and a leg - emergency plumbers come to mind - because you have no option other than to grin and bear it... After an incident with our front door lock a few years ago, I put a spare back door key on my key ring as well - since when I haven't needed to use it, of course.
Glad you're warm again, Hosta.
Lovely pic, Chicky! Sounds like a good evening. And about that young Swedish girl, yes, listening to her impassioned speech made my OH cry. We agreed there's not a lot we can do about the big picture, other than writing to the MP (lost cause) and signing petitions, but that we need to stop making excuses and take personal responsibility for our own contribution to spoiling the planet for the next generation.
There's condensation on the outside of the double glazing this morning - I think it's warming up, though the thermometer says it's 1.9, so not exactly hot yet...
“You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to your children.”
A more damning indictment of our so called leaders would be hard to find.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Which reminds me, I nearly waded into the smart meter debate on here last week, but decided it was too much effort ....my bad 👎🏻. Regardless of the ups/downs/incompetences of the installation process, I should have pointed out that smart meters are an overwhelmingly goooood thing. They will lead to consumer demand that can respond to supply signals (because it is measured in real time, and not once a year like it is at the moment). At the moment, it is completely the other way round: we (us and businesses) consume whenever we want and the power stations knock themselves out trying to follow us. In a world of 100% renewable energy - which is essential if we are to avoid the tipping point into irreversible climate catastrophe - we have to switch things round. Batteries can help, but smart meters are a big part of the smart system the future needs. They will allow far more renewables on the system, and let us leave the fossil fuels in the ground where they belong. Cars need to go electric very soon too, and they will need to be powered by renewable energy too.
Smart meters are not, as the Daily Fail would have you believe, simply a ruse for suppliers to get one over on their customers. Or a way of people spying on you.
Here endeth the sermon.
I’m far from being a Luddite by nature, but I feel like getting a membership card at the moment. It seems to me as if the whole thing has either been managed by a load of morons or under -resourced ... probably both.
I just feel so sorry for the poor Customer Service staff at Npower who were totally lovely, very professional and like me totally p’eed off too, as they said they’re getting that sort of thing happen every day.
If you know of any Powers That Be I could give some constructive feed back to please feel free to point them in my direction.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Fortunately, most people’s installation scenarios are more straightforward, and for the reasons above, I would encourage anyone who can to allow the changeover to take place 👍🏻
I was not properly aware of what you say on Smart meters, it is good to hear from someone who knows what they are talking about.
No mobile phone signal here, so all a bit theoretical anyway.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Daughter has bought an electric car, because leasing wasn't available where they live in Ireland. Currently they can charge their car free at the railway station - Ireland seems to be much more geared up to providing incentives to "go green".
At present we run the smallest available petrol car (Toyota IQ). Will we get an electric car? Hopefully, yes, eventually... if the price comes down, and we can buy a good one second hand. I think it would be difficult to justify the cost at the moment. Am I two-faced? Probably... or maybe just pragmatic...