twobears

Oh no, this is going to take me the rest of the week to read through! Some gorgeous pets though. Here's Ethel the Oven Ready out and about in the garden this morning. She was trying to eat the food that the wild birds had dropped from the feeders and she squared up to a big pheasant to make sure she got the lot! Oddly, since I posted about her going into the neighbour's garden, she has stayed resolutely on my side of the fence. Maybe she's secretly reading the forum on her iPad? http://

I know and I loved it

Thank you everyone and Adrian you are a bit TOO clever

I've finally found my camera lead and wanted to post a photo of my favourite chicken, Ethel, but I am not sure how to find the right thread? I have tried searching for 'pet thread' but that didn't work so could someone a bit cleverer than me explain where it is please? Thank you

Boiler is undoubtedly inefficient but a new one would probably only be a few percentage points different if what I have just been advised is true? House is very well insulated in most parts he said but we have one or two small solid walls left from the original building and they could be insulated. However, I am reluctant to do that because I think it would just seal in the damp which we have never been able to eradicate

Thanks Rob, Andy and Hugh (for the first piece of advice ). I am still curious about the biomass boilers so more info would be welcome and I am even more interested in the solar panels because two of the farmers nearby have just installed dozens of the things so there must be something in it for them. I think it may be different for commercial premises though as I believe they get more payback the more electricity they use themselves? So if you were running a broiler house (neither of them are, thank goodness) you would save loads? Hugh, wonder what you are drinking matey? I take all your advice on board, save for the UKIP promotion, but maybe, in time, these options will become more viable and actually save us money rather than carbon emissions? Or am I being idealistic? I can't get a gas boiler at this house as we are not on the mains. Current boiler is ancient (1980s) but still works, apart from a faulty thermostat so the assessor said to leave it alone and I agree. It's noisy and ugly but there's probably no point in worrying about that if we are putting the house up for sale after Christmas?

I've seen one in a big house too and it looked fine in that situation, in an outbuilding, but I can't believe the government are promoting them for ordinary homes. I've converted all my outbuildings so there's nowhere to house a massive boiler. I would consider it for the next house although I'm not quite sure about the 'squealing cat' sound effects? Normally when I hear that noise it means that the feral cat that lives in my compost heap is attacking my cat so I'd probably have to wade outside with my water-filled washing-up liquid bottle every time the boiler became vocal Does the fuel look like cat litter? Maybe it is a real cat that has got into the boiler because it needs a wee?

Had one today and the chap who did it was refreshingly honest about how worthless it was for most houses. I warmed to him straight away once I realised he wasn't going to bullshit me. All I actually wanted was a free EPC ready for when I sell the house (assuming we are still in Europe by then and EPCs are still required) so it was not a wasted day but the suggestions that 'the computer' came up with were risible for the most part. I quite liked the sound of wind turbines and solar panels but these are a non starter as we are hoping to move in a couple of years, sooner if the house sells quickly. Biomass boilers sound interesting but are scarily expensive and, apparently, enormous, requiring large hoppers, separate big hot water cylinders and so on. If this is true I won't be an early adopter, hoping instead that the technology is scaled down for domestic rather than commercial use once I am ready for a new boiler. Has anyone got a biomass boiler or a ground source heat pump? I have seen properties for sale with both but am not sure of the implications. Reading the manufacturer's blurb will always give a one-sided view.

It's happened to me twice and my card had never left the house. I think it must have been a dodgy website (not that sort of dodgy ) but I don't know which one. The credit card company spotted it both times and I was not out of pocket. Thieves had tried buying cheap jewellery with it. I think that hacked me off most. I mean, cheap jewellery, moi

Ouch, that is bad

Brilliant post PIGFoetus and I love the cartoon

I didn't understand at all so thanks for explaining I'm obviously much more suited to Mr Kyle's fervid outpourings than Mr Paxman's snide remarks and obsession with the supportive qualities of M&S underpants

Hm, maybe I'm not quite au fait with chavism. Must stay in more and watch some Jeremy Kyle!! I'd be able to make money in Ludlow because that's the sort of market I aim at. There's a big supermarket there too. A Waitrose I think? And they have a wonderful lighting shop a bit further up the hill. Sorry, I don't believe that young people need youth clubs or whatever. I grew up in a tiny village with one shop and I managed just fine. Never felt the urge to turn to crime! Life's what you make it. I've never waited for someone else to provide entertainment for me

Must have missed that thread Hugh. Some good points made and a clip of Family Guy too

Bobbins? I don't want to do away with all the chains, just to have more variety. Because of the way we live now we couldn't go back to the days when Arkwright and his ilk served us, although I do remember our village shop being like that and it was most enjoyable, if a little slow. I really would welcome more small shops amongst the big stores. I put my money where my mouth is too. I always check out the high quality independents when I find them and usually end up buying something. I particularly love small bakeries and country wear shops as well as galleries and antique shops and lighting/ furniture ones too. If Argos,Tesco and IKEA were my only 'choices' I'd make my own stuff!

I'm in total agreement with you in that case. The homogeneity of our high streets is too depressing. How much nicer it would be to have towns and villages with individuality and real character. It's been said often but you really could stand in almost any modern town centre and see exactly the same boring shops/fast food outlets. One place that has avoided that in some ways is Ludlow. Pity more places don't take up the challenge and step away from the 'AnyTown' image.

I'd say roll but they are all good words. Mr Twobears would say 'bun' which used to make me laugh because to me that's a small cake One of my work colleagues from the north east used to call it a 'hoagie' which I'd not heard until I met him. I've lived in a lot of different parts of the UK and the 'language of bread' has more variety anything else I think. Mmmm, bread, must go and get some to eat now

YOLO Mudman I think that's a Chavism? I understand it's used to excuse any sort of anti-social behaviour on the part of the speaker.

Another word I've noticed being used, particularly by younger people (sorry but I am an elderly lady ), is "so" at the beginning of a sentence. To my elderly ears this sounds as though the sentence which follows should be declamatory and yet it is often the most banal statement, or question, imaginable. Is that an American trait or is it simply a way of making yourself sound inadvertently pompous?

Rock_Steady (and I have to ask, are you named after the musical style?) I've read many times that 'gotten' was originally an English word, although I've never checked the veracity of this, and, if America wants to pick up and use our cast offs that's fine but if we think "got" no longer works for us then we must invent a new word, not go back in time and start speaking as though we had returned to a previous century! There are a few words from 'ye olden days' that might be able to be pressed into service again I suppose but I am reluctant to begin speaking like an extra in Blackadder StevoD, yes, you are right. Language must evolve which, to me, means going forward rather than back. Like the poster who complained about the Americanisation of our high streets (and he has a point although I welcome foods of all nations 'cos I'm a greedy sod ) I worry that we will lose the vibrancy and richness of English if we all succumb to American English without a fight

Thanks StevoD I tried that on the Martin Lewis site and was turned down for all the cards, even the ones for people with CCJs and I ain't never had one of those!!! I only did the 'soft search' like I said so no harm done to my credit record. Thanks Colin Definitely going to get the M&S card (as opposed to the S&M card, not a 50 Shades fan ) one way or another

Fodder, Mr TB's main project manager is leaving and he says he thinks I could do the job really well but I'd have to, ahem, forge my CV as I've not got any formal qualifications. Don't think I have the nerve Ian, I did try on the Martin Lewis site and that's how I found out that I had failed big time I love that site but for once it didn't work for me. I can totally understand why I'm not credit worthy until get back to work and I'm really not enjoying being so dependent on Mr TB. Unfortunately, I've been in and out of hospital a lot recently and am just not well enough to work at the moment Hugh, I can't remember his name either. Two old duffers here If you remember please let me know

Fodder, I only did a so-called 'soft search' which, according to MSE, doesn't show up to the lender only to me if I look at my credit record, which is something I've never actually done to date. No, I am definitely the card holder and Mr & Miss TB the 'authorised users' on my account. I had my own limited company until just under two years ago and have a perfect repayment record. I pay by DD and always in full so I guess the CC companies don't make anything much out of me by way of profit, only what they charge the merchants? Mr TB has two further cards of his own as well as his company credit card but the one he uses most in the UK is mine so I guess I will be keeping it even though it is no longer financially attractive

Failed I am not eligible for any credit cards on the site. I think I'd better keep the one I have and get Mr Twobears to apply for the M&S one

Many thanks Dan. I do think you are right and if it has happened to you your evidence is very credible. I've almost finished the pre application thingy now so we'll see what transpires