Elmas Xantia V6 and Musical Stuff

[elma]

That's my birthday too!

[CitroJim]

Ho ho ho ..... then you're hoping for too much this xmas young man [emoji3][emoji318].

I always look forward to the New Year with great hope and big optimism... I've yet to be disappointed

Good to hear you'll be V6'ing it in 2017

That's my birthday too!

New Year's Day?

[elma]

New year's eve.

[CitroJim]

New year's eve.

I have made a note of that James

[superloopy]

That's my birthday too!

Happy 'pre birthday' to you from me [emoji18]

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[elma]

Just a week ago I moved from Wales to a place near Southampton that's very rural. It's absolutely stunning and I'm looking after a 32acre plot that's just trees, streams and grass. I'm residing for the next 6 months in a reasonably nice static caravan. This morning there's a sparkly frost decorating the fields, it's like a perfect Christmas card.

Of course this means the water supply's frozen, in all 3 places it can freeze. This means there's little point trying to unfreeze it, the pipes are well insulated but the tanks are not and that's the problem. Im not going to go into what's going on with the toilets other than to say it's the most frustrating issue. Fortunately I'm used to this stuff and have bottled a few gallons for drinking and handwashing.

The scenics in a mood too so I can't go to the leisure center for a shower. The cold seems to have flattened it's battery, no point using the emergency key thing as I've no charger and the Scenic can't be bumped with a flat battery as far as I know because of the e handbrake.

For now the gas regs still working, so I've the oven and the fire. However they tend to freeze up soon after the water in my experience so the fires on full blast getting the place warm. Luckily I have plenty of electric radiators, a camp stove and a slow cooker. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so harsh down South or I'd have asked for a generator and an electric water heater on site as well.

Just off to do the rounds now, then I'd better cobble together a charger. I have a brand new almost empty barn so I think I'd better get the Scenic in there to protect it from the weather. Funnily enough I always intended to keep the Xantia in there but the Scenic I park as close to the caravan as possible.

If any of you are thinking of moving to a field in the near future remember. Leave the cold tap dripping heavily overnight, it saves a lot of hassle.

[Gibbo2286]

Lucky B............

My gas central heating boiler died the week before Christmas and the Corgie 'expert' misdiagnosed the fault, a £115 part didn't fix it, another £35 part didn't fix it, another £89 part didn't fix it ..................so no radiators or hot water

I do have a gas fire and it's been burning away at full blast and the electric kettle has had more than the usual amount of use.
Hoping to get it finally fixed today but not holding my breath.

[elma]

Oh dear, I'd assumed that would be sorted by now. You know corgi doesn't exist anymore? It's gassafe nowadays, maybe your engineers been hibernating for a few years.
My situation should sort itself out this afternoon if the weather forecast is accurate. I'm about to take the dog out for a romp in the frosty fields, which I like because my boots don't get muddy.
I'm a big believer in redundancy when it comes to services. Ideally every dwelling should have 2 different ways of heating itself and water.
Im so pleased you said electric kettle, it's reminded me i can have a warm wash in the sink.

[Gibbo2286]

Yes I knew about the Corgie name change, just couldn't think of the right new name this morning

I've got a cousin named Elma

[superloopy]

Corgi DO still exist, we've got our boiler and heating cover through them. The 'gas' element of the standard was renamed Gassafe presumably to make it more understandable to consumers. CORGI engineers are gassafe registered.

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[Peter.N.]

Welcome to the countryside Elma

I arrived home from a week in hospital last Monday to find we had no water, or at least none was being pumped into the reservoir, we had a few days worth in hand so not desperate except that you can't buy any parts this time of the year. Anyway with my wife doing the gofering, as I am not allowed to lift anything, we got it fixed.

Would I live anywhere else? No way.

Peter

[elma]

I'm well used to it having moved to the mountains 12 years ago. Just surprised that it's so harsh down here without the altitude. Waters defrosted now anyway and I stayed warm lugging 20 empty gas bottles back up to the cage. My predecessor was quite lazy and there's plenty to do here as a result.
Elma a brilliant name, I've never met a real Elma. I was christened with it when I joined the yha as I had an air rifle and gathered a lot of my own food.

[elma]

Now I'm really smiling, the Scenics cheered up and is working as normal. It's now residing in the barn and I've left it running for now, I'll go turn it off in about 15 mins. I doubt the battery was actually flat because it started well, I think it was just homesick and angry. These modern CAN electrics are a lot to deal with for a poor cold little car far away from home. I'm leaving it running anyway as I need to go out later and the seats felt like they wee made of cushioned Ice.

[CitroJim]

It still sounds very idyllic to me James, it reminds me of when we used to winter caravan - keeping the aquaroll unfrozen and indeed, the cassette loo!!!

You'd be surprised how harsh the weather can get down this way but you'll find it's never very extreme... And that's good..

Enjoy, and remember, humping gas bottle around is fantastic exercise

[Peter.N.]

We had the heaviest frost of the year this morning but as far as I know the water is still flowing. I have fitted a tubular electric heater in the pump house on a froststat, I keep meaning to check if its working but it hasn't been cold enough so far.

I have installed a 'Watchman' oil level sensor in the reservoir so I can read the level from the kitchen and that says 'full' so I trust it is.

Sounds as though you have a lot of work there James, I am well retired so only have my own systems to maintain which I generally manage. Have a few trees to cut down and log when I am recovered so there is always something to do.

Peter