I am also enjoying a couple of cold beers, and had 4, yes four cups of coffee this morning! Wow I feel like a little firecracker! The weather has gone a bit bananas as well. Very windy here, but Scotland and the Netherlands are going to cop it. It might lull over over the mull on Saturday, but I think we might have a mother of a blow on Sunday. (I have Haggis neaps and Tatties on the stove so i mustn't be long cooking up here on my laptop).
Speaking of wind, I suppose anyone with a wind turbine is having to dump one heck of a lot of power right now. I hope they are hooked to the European Grid, we could be powering up half of Europe with this amount of energy. (About 47% probably) Well actually about 30-33% right now. If the Government in the UK hadn't decided to opt for more neuclear power stations we would be backloading up to 47% for about 5 days! Don't ask me how I know, I just do.
Just going to put the veg on my very slow ceramic hob. I do enjoy the benefits of such amazing technology, but to be honest I am happier in front of an open hearth. I love watching the flames. My Happiest moments were at my Grandmothers in front of the Raeburn. I think this is why I truly want a re-conditioned (Re-Designed) wood burning Raeburn. I want to be able to heat water from it, and run a few radiators. Stuff the AGA, the principle is good but it's become a status symbol.
I suppose I am going to bang on about alternative energy again, but true coppice management of trees doesn't give me a problem. I also like going out with the dog and my Husband to collect fallen branches through the summer months. Using a Raeburn for a week or two at a time would give me a great sense of homeliness and luxury.
Living on an Island as I do using this as a primary heat source would not be sustainable, so I would like all the back ups of evacuated tubes and solar panels. Now there's a thought, all these people out of work could be retrained to retro-fit all this type of capture equipment, so we can all contribute surplus to the grid.
We would all need a little maintainance contract. And replacements.
I am still thinking of all those people in Scotland and Scandinavia who are going to suffer some very high wind. I think the insurance industry stinks as it is now. I suppose in my 'lets get it fixed world' I would rather see some kind of 'Mutual' assurances rather than huge profit making companies. How about the one company in a local area does the funding for the self help/bild projects i posted on somewhere else, and then if there is a problem with the house it comes with a guarantee that repair work can be undertaken by trainees under supervision of senior craftsmen. Lets get training back where it's meant to be.. on the Job!
Well that's me for the moment, I am going to finish cooking our Haggis and mash the neaps and tatties. Mmm.. lots of golden Jersey Butter, and some of our Aran Whisky!