Cowd.

It's cowder than a witches T.t ......geet both my woodburners in...plenty of smokeless bought through the year. I now can see the benefits of aquiring all sorts of wood and pallets during the year. Storing it has been a pain ..but nice and cosy ere ..hope you are all keeping warm without breaking the bank with the prices of fuels at present.

I'm as cowd as a polar bear's ar ..... bum!

I just got home from our lovely warm office into a freezing house. I'm wearing four layers, had to put on two electric fires in living room and lit the oven in the kitchen to warm that up, and I've got my old sheepskin jacket around my knees. Lecky is already costing me a fortune, but needs must.

Just said hello to my next door neighbour as she arrived home from work. She is a teacher at a posh school.

She told me they have no heating at school, so it had been a difficult day: everyone muffled up.

Bet they would have sent all the kids home if it had been a state school.

Its Cowder than a step mothers kiss. Mollie I realy think you should look into getting a free boiler and central heating, I'm sure there must be a grant available for a person of your maturity who has worked all her life, If you lived in council or private rent, The LL would be forced to provide, I'm sure one of the google boys on here can find a scheme,

Mollie....look after yourself luv....Hope the wise ones on here can advise you in the right direction. X X X

Tom:

I already went into that years ago. I was given free insulation in my attic, and cavity wall insulation. This was some sort of Governmental Warm Home Scheme and included was a new central heating boiler. My old one was condemned in 2013.

However, when it came to the new boiler, I was denied because .....

Now wait for it .....

I've never claimed any benefits in my life - not a single penny piece - so I didn't qualify for that, so I've had to manage.

Mr Biker:

Thank you. I will.

You have to really watch them schemes, also.

My late friend Alice had her CH boiler fail about ten years back.

Another friend of mine, Paddy, who was a gas safe reg plumber would have fixed it for her for £80.

He was a kind hearted soul, he would have done it for nowt if she could not afford the £80.

Anyway, Alice decided to cope with winter by wrapping in her duvet for two winters, as she then qualified for a free replacement boiler.

Well, the replacement came around, and the scheme offered the funding, but this funding only covered part of the work which the contractor claimed was needed. ( I know not if two years of non use had resulted in sludge build up in the system)

She ended up paying £1,700 as her contribution to this episode. She still appeared to believe that she had got a bargain.

Ena:

I've heard of that happening too, but I believe the one on this particular scheme was totally free. Pity I didn't qualify, but my old system was installed in 1983, so it was 30 years old, poor old thing.

I'm just starting to warm up now as it takes ages in this combined living/dining room of mine so, to combat, the coldness, I made meself a hot Chilli con Carne and rice, and now I'm having a cup of hot chocolate. Just the job.

Mollie

Scroll down to boilers for people on low incomes.

Boilers

Thanks Gaffer but, as I said earlier, I'm not qualified as I'm not on any benefits. I receive a full pension and still work, just part time, so I'm not considered to be on a low income.

If I received any of those benefits, then I would qualify, but I'm not.

In any event, to be honest, it wouldn't be just a boiler I'd need as the radiators would be full of sludge by now, so I'd need new radiators as well, which wouldn't be part of the package.

I really am okay as I am, but thank you for the link. I didn't mean to cause this much concern. We survived without CH in the 50s when we were kids, and I won't be some poor old dear that will freeze to death as I've learned to live without it over the last 10 years or so.

Mollie M did you sort your tax code out? If the tax man owes you money then that would help with the heating bill

Peter:

No, nothing could be done about it. Because we had a rise in pension, it put my income up, so our beloved tax man is taking his share of my wages. It's only a couple of quid a week, but to me it's not fair when folk are getting all sorts of benefits, never having worked, and never paid into the system when those of us that have, get penalised for it.

Never mind. If they're that desperate for my money, they can keep my £2/3 a week to cover the cost of any future admin they send me.

Mollie, Its no longer clever to work, adapt to modern living and retire, then you may be entitled to , pension credits and therefore get a new boiler and restore your home to, what an immigrant would expect to live in,
crazy but true,

incidentally, who wrote your boiler off ? Its not unknown for gas service plumbers to say a boiler is unsafe just to get a new boiler sale, Very often they will say, " Oh dear, sorry luv we can't get parts for these anymore but. I can do you a new boiler for a bargain price" .

Tom, I was getting it serviced by E-On who I was with at the time, so there was no offer of replacement.

There's no way I'm going to retire. I've worked all my life and I have to have something to do to get out of the house. I don't have a social life any longer, so my only connection to the outside world is going to work for the company of others, and through my computer, and it suits me fine until I'm no longer capable of working. I really am okay as I am, and I'm lovely and warm now.

I fully understand Mollie and good on ya girl.

I really do appreciate everyone who has shown concern for me, so thank you all very much.

It is bloody cold tonight

Went out to the greenhouse and it was -5C in the greenhouse .Just put the heating on in the bungalow temp was 13C will be just nice for when the carers come to wash/dress Yvonne.

You'll be pleased to know the asylum seekers in the flats near me have their windows wide open day and night . Obviously the heating is on constantly . The may as well just stick two fingers up at us .

IT'S has you say MRS C ,they are sticking 2 fingers up to all of us hard working -tax payiners of Britain yet SUNAKI does sweet bugger all about then again what does it har m them in their MILLION HOME PROPERTIES ??
GB

GB

From the German newspaper Bild.


Bild

This is our Germany


.
Since 2015 alone, our country has taken in more than three million refugees, many of them from the Arab world. We held up "Welcome" signs. "We can do it!" was Chancellor Merkel's mantra.

However, the photos on these pages show that we haven't managed to make clear what we expect from everyone who wants to live in this country with us. That we do not want to change our way of life just because we have guests.

And we forgot that there are two words that are much more important than "We can do it". They are: "Never again"! And "Never again" is now! They mean: Never again anti-Semitism in Germany, never again tyranny and racism. All of this applies to all people who live in this country.

A manifesto in 50 points
1. For everyone living in Germany, Article 1 of the Basic Law applies: "The dignity of man is inviolable."

2. For us, there are no infidels! Everyone can believe in whatever they want – even Santa Claus.

3. Anyone who considers our constitution and our legal system as a collection of non-binding recommendations should leave Germany as soon as possible.

4. Anyone who wants to live here permanently must learn German. Only when we speak the same language will we understand each other.

5. Everyone can demonstrate peacefully in Germany for their convictions. Free speech does not include threatening people, assaulting them, throwing rocks, burning cars, or celebrating murderers.

6. We don't wear masks or veils; we look each other in the face (unless it's Carnival or Corona).

7. Respect and charity sustain our free society.

8. Against the backdrop of the darkest chapter in our history, Israel's security is a matter of German national interest! This means: Standing up for the security of the Jewish people is non-negotiable. Criticism of Israel's politics is, of course, allowed.

9. We say please and thank you.

10. We gladly shake hands as a greeting or farewell.

11. We see the police as "friend and helper," not as a repressive force or an enemy.

12. Many Germans eat pork. Of course, not everyone does. By the way: We have 10 million vegetarians or vegans because freedom also goes through the stomach.

13. The state has a monopoly on violence. Apart from the state-appointed agencies, nobody has the right to use violence against people or things.

14. We accept that our freely elected parliament sets the rules for our coexistence, which can be checked by independent courts.

15. Men are allowed to love men and women women. Whoever has a problem with that is the problem himself. Love and let love!

16. Even if someone feels neither male nor female, they are not persecuted or punished. In our country, citizens are allowed to think freely and live queer.

17. We don't see social services as employers but as institutions that help people in financial need, people who can't work. Not people who don't want to work.

18. We respect the judiciary because it judges without prejudice.

19. Women wear bikinis or bathing suits in the swimming pool. And if someone wants to swim naked in the Baltic Sea – that's okay too!

20. Women and men are equal in every respect.

21. Equality also in payment for work (we still have to catch up there)!

22. We discuss controversially and passionately, but we don't insult those with different opinions.

23. We are tolerant with the tolerant.

24. And we have no tolerance for intolerance!

25. We only use fireworks on New Year's Eve, so when it's allowed.

26. We don't burn flags of countries we dislike. That's a crime!

27. We respect every religion, but we clearly separate religion from state.

28. Women who have affairs are not ostracized, let alone beaten or stoned! In the event of a divorce, joint custody applies to the children. It doesn't matter who caused the marriage to fail.

29. You don't have to be a virgin to get married!

30. Those seeking protection from political persecution or war in Germany will find it. Even those who have no claim to it can often stay. We don't expect gratitude, even if it would be appropriate. But we do demand strict adherence to our laws and respect for our values and way of life.

31. We don't marry off children. And men can't have more than one wife.

32. Women decide – like men – for themselves how they dress, who they're friends with, whom they love, whether they'd rather go to a club or church, whom they vote for, and what profession they choose.

33. Germany is a country of grillers. After a picnic in the park, we take our trash with us.

34. Knives belong in our kitchens, not in our pockets.

35. We pay taxes because we know they are the foundation of the state.

36. When a woman says no to a man, it is final and absolute. Anything else constitutes sexual harassment or rape.

37. We expect everyone who can and is allowed to, to seek employment and provide for themselves – even if social assistance or citizen's income might initially be higher than the salary.

38. There is compulsory schooling in Germany. We believe in the importance of education and learning.

39. We give up our seats in buses and trains for the elderly and disabled.

40. Cheers, Germany! Beer and wine are part of our culture here. Respect it, and if you don't want to drink, don't.

41. How long or short a skirt is, is decided solely by the woman wearing it.

42. Those who cannot tolerate the caricature of politicians, celebrities, gods, or prophets are not in the right place in Germany.

43. The media question politicians, but we generally trust that the elected officials decide truthfully and for the people's welfare.

44. Honor does not mean the right of the strongest.

45. Respect and appreciation are just as natural in social networks as they are in supermarkets or offices.

46. We try to protect the environment and conserve resources. Sustainability is the future.

47. Germany has a heart for children. They are not beaten but promoted.

48. Catcalling, like whistling or calling out to women, is harassment.

49. Boys and girls can go on school trips together, participate in sports, and swim classes together.

50. We love life, not death.

It is cold but the weather is beautiful. Wrapped up warm and hopefully us owd ones will have our liberty bodices on.

Its cowd enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey