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Yesterday was the first morning where it felt noticeably colder indoors. Indoor air temperatures remained "comfortable" at 66F/19C but it still felt quite cold. I had to wear a thicker jumper. Today I had to don a fleece jacket on top of the jumper. For the first time this autumn. For my first hour. Sitting at the computer. Catching up on the daily lunacy. Which passes for the news.
The fabric of the building is cooling. Which increases our body's radiation. Heat passes from our warm bodies to the cooler surfaces. Draughts and the wind in particular, increase the heat loss. By "wind chill" and evaporative cooling of our sweat. Or of our literally wet bodies after a shower. A dressing gown is essential and highly absorbent for that dash to get dressed "before you freeze."
A billion or more people are going to suffer from the cold this winter. Fuel prices have rocketed as the ultra rich profit from your suffering.
Unless, that is, you dress more warmly indoors and out. Or pay double for the same amount of warmth from the same heating systems. Layering your clothing helps. By trapping warm air between the layers. The problem quickly becomes the stiffness of the multiple layers. Donning and shedding layers quickly becomes a bore.
This is where down jackets, sweaters and waistcoats can really help. They are light and flexible compared to cheaper wadding. Or many layers of jumpers and cardigans.
Down clothing must be protected from sparks from stoves or naked flames while cooking. Candles too! The thin outer shell of the clothing is usually man-made material. Which instantly melts at relatively low temperatures. So stay away from such sources of heat! Or take the lightweight outer clothing off. While you add more broken furniture to the stove.
A down "sweater" is a fine piece of lightweight clothing for keeping warm. A waistcoat keeps only the torso warm but offers greater freedom for the arms. The higher the cost [usually means] the warmer and lighter the clothing if bought new. Unfortunately I can't protect the slaves who produce the down fashion wear for the high street names. Buy according to your conscience and pocket. Buy Patagonia if you care. Choose quiet materials too. If you are to avoid severe rustle fatigue.
There was a time you could buy down [or man-made padded] clothing for very little money from charity shops. Or are you too proud to be seen in such an outlet? Remember that the rich seek their ball gowns, designer shoes and handbags in charity shops. Not to mention designer furniture.
Down clothing can be compressed to nothing. With one arthritic hand on the sleeve. Feathers are much colder, stiffer, harder and sometime spiky to the touch. If the clothing is really poor quality. Man-made stuffing feels firm and stiff. Or too thin to be much good for anything except teenage fashion.
Our grandparents had only one coal fire and no insulation in their draughty homes. They knew the value of warm clothing indoors. A suitable hat stops heat loss from your head. Fleece is soft, warm and comfortable. Easily proved by going for a walk. As you warm up you remove your hat first. This may be all you need to do to stop that sweaty feeling down your back.
If the wind picks up and you start to feel cool, then the hat goes back on. I do this on many of my mornings walks. I have a variety of hats to choose from. All depending on the outside [or inside] temperature A hood is a valuable asset when it is windy. It may even save your life when you become homeless. Because you cannot pay your heating bills. Including all the extra "green" taxes piled on top.
Ask your politicooze why they sanction "Russia." But keep sending billions to Pootin the Merciless. Ask yourself why they spend billions of taxpayer's money on unproven "energy" technology. While failing to provide free home insulation. Oh, I know! Is it because a dead, hypothermic pensioner needs no pension or hospital care?
Any exercise will soon raise your temperature. So flexibility and a willingness to adjust your clothing to the circumstances is absolutely vital. Becoming sweaty. Because you are overdressed. Means you will really struggle to stay warm once you stop the exercise. Open your jacket now. Or take it off until you cool off.
A rug, blanket or duvet over your lap. While watching TV or browsing. Can seriously increase your comfort levels. A rug around your shoulder and over your lap lifts you back into the comfort zone. Snuggling into a sleeping bag may be warm but is hard to get in and out of. A cat is a great lap warmer. I spent years of winters with our tabby cat Babe. Fast asleep on my lap while browsed or blogged.
My wife and I both wore down jackets or sweaters indoors too. When the old wood stove couldn't cope. This, despite a foot to 16" of rockwool insulation over our heads.
The replacement, modern, convection stove is amazing for its heat output on less fuel! No electricity required either. That was a absolute must when we were choosing it! The ability to burn various fuels was also important. I can't be held to ransom by corrupt wood-fuel pellet importers from Russia and Poland.
I am still waiting for multiple Nobel prizes to be awarded. For the invention of thin and inexpensive home insulation. The present situation, with foot thick insulation, fully loaded with taxes, is criminal, raving lunacy. The present cost of exterior insulation would buy you a new [electric] car. Probably one built by Chinese slaves. If you could afford it. They never will. Though the corrupt and deluded architects. Who designed your average home, certainly will.
09.30 54F/12C, heavily overcast. My brisk walk to the lanes was cool in the headwind but I wore my down sweater zipped up. Opened up for the return journey. With the wind now at my back. I saw only one swallow this morning. It dived straight at me. Then did a sharp U-turn. Right in front of me.
I discovered eight large boxes yesterday. Which I had dismissed months ago. As containing yet more books. Unfortunately it was lots more charity shop fodder. Which made me extremely depressed.
I have been up some ladders. To remove a broken branch. On a conifer damaged during the felling of the horse chestnut. The needles had turned brown and were an eyesore.
Doing some indoor painting is a fairly high priority. Preferably before it gets too cold and dark. I'm thinking of very light green. If only to avoid the cold and rather stark white usually recommended. Though I don't want to steal the weak, winter light if I can help it. I'll probably need some kind of undercoat. To seal the absorptive, cement render surfaces. Hopefully, the hideous, bare, yellow bricks in the lounge should become much less noticeable if they were painted. Again they would need some sort of base.
I've bought a bottle of sealer for porous surfaces and 5L of matt white paint. I can start in either hall. To see if I like the effect. How could it possibly be worse than grey, cement render? Empty houses, over here, are commonly painted white throughout. When they are put up for sale. If that impresses potential buyers then it may be good enough for my hovel. We shall see. Like them, I can start with a blank canvas.
I have just been 150m along the drive with a full wheelbarrow. To fill in the potholes with self stabilising sand-gravel mix.
17.00 60F/15C. Half of the main hall has been sealed. Paused for tea. Will carry on afterwards. I am going to move the coat hooks to the inner wall nearer the kitchen. Where the coats won't dominate the entrance hall as the door is opened. The inner wall will be warmer too and no longer cause a bottleneck.
17.45 The entrance hall has been painted with sealer. It says one hour to dry and can be painted over after two hours. I'll leave it overnight. The walls are being left as they are. Rough and smooth. Honest. Not some gentrification of an agricultural building.
If somebody, after me, wants plasterboard and perfectly smooth, plastered surfaces. Then that will their choice. I imagine they would prefer to demolish the house and start again. Just as the two nearest houses deserve no better. Somebody could get a decently sized, private plot, set back from the road, to build their dream mansion. Just knock the three hovels down and start again. But this time with more feeling.
Dinner was mackerel on toast with fried mushrooms and halved tomatoes. Delicious.
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