Well I'm still freezing , I don't know about you but I never expected frost in Spain just 30 min from the Mojacar coast let alone snow on the mountains visible to the north. I must apologise to any who I have offended previously when commenting on winter fuel allowances weather they be justified or not they are required !
We have took to Wearing more skins than an onion in the day , with fleeces and Gilles being the norm. Average temp in the lounge at 8 am is 14.5c this rises to mid 16c by 10am with the sun on the back ( on a good day ) we try and manage without the LPG in the day as the fumes are awkward to breath for too many hours, LOL.
We've been getting through a 13.5kg bottle in about 6 days ( evenings) at 17.50€ a pop they add up, and even then it only takes the lounge to 19c if it's not windy out. We have found that putting the shutters down helps to keep the heat in, but also helps reduce the streaming condensation on the windows , this has lead to mould on the wall behind the sofa where the nets had becomes stuck to the wall .
By the end of most evenings we will be wrapped up in snuggle blankets, so in away it helps to keep us together , me & the lovely wife locked in a concrete box filled with fumes under a blanket looking at car brochure's.
We contacted our agent about getting the chimney opened so we can have a wood fire but to no avail, the owner prefers his MDF mock Georgian surround and decorative electric fire it would seem. No doubt all the rage in Essex in the 80's.
I went down the brico depot the other day to buy some electric heaters , picked up a couple for just 12€ each , thermostats! adjustable output the lot. Came home unpacked them and the lovely wife took the rubbish to the bins, that evening I said let's get the place warm and put on on in the bedroom and one in the lounge along with our oil filled rad and the death box, settled down to watch the box and pop the trip went , so I re set and a few mins later pop , after messing around it seems that if we have more than one on at any time plus the normal stuff it's pop and the trip goes. So that was a waste of time and money.
What sort of electric system do they have here ? Where you can't plug 2 electric heaters in how on earth are you meant to keep warm other than gassing yourself ? Mr owner I'm close to saying this place is uninhabitable as you are aware , previous usage on the electric bill shows that no one has been here in the winter I WONDER WHY ?
The wonderful food I mentioned in our local is still very good but now a bit dearer, after a 25% rise , one guy put it down to the winter visitors arriving " they always put it up in the winter " but it's still fine value. They now have a take out service for roast chickens and rabbit at 8€ ea. , how handy but as yet they have never had any as they only do take out if they have some left over from lunch ??
Got my dad n partner visiting for a week soon , their taking a detour from their annual trip to Benidorm for Christmas to see us, I'm really worried about them being warm enough he's 75 soon and a week on ice would not be good , so it may have to be another death box , as non smokers their lungs should be up to it , they can always nip to the loo to gasp at the air through the window !
Must put a wood burner on the wish list for our place !
Luego de la soleado España