A few months ago we got a free pack of Phillips energy saving light bulbs from British Gas and as I had tried these so called “Eco bulbs” a few years back and found them next to useless they got filed in the garage.
I only decided to use the freebies because two of the bulbs in the wall lights in the lounge blew at the same time and as usual I didn’t have any spares.

I was pleasantly surprised, the new generation of “Eco bulbs” strike up quicker and seem to be a lot whiter.
The only thing I found was that you need the next wattage up to get the same light output i.e. 40 watt old bulb needs a 60 watt Eco bulb but with an energy consumption of only 14 watts and an expected life of over 6 years whose to grumble.
When I went in to Waitrose today the bulbs were on sale at £1.49 buy one get one free.

My route to work is mainly rural and this morning driving up  out of a dip I saw silhouetted against the near full moon a herd of deer and with the snow on the ground it looked like a Christmas card scene. Its moments like these that really cheer you up 

While I was reading today’s copy of the Times I spotted a letter sent in by Mike Borshell of Bishops Stortford.

Sir,So local authorities are running out of salt and grit. You would have thought they would have a slush fund to avoid this happening.

Well it made me chuckle……………………..

While I was cooking breakfast I couldn’t help but notice the amount of birds that were using the feeders.

There were two Robins having a territory battle (the winner is in the picture above) but wouldn’t stay still long enough for me to photograph.

I was also pleasantly supprised to get a picture of a Gold Finch with this cheeky Blue Tit. Other birds visiting today were a pair of Blackbirds, Sparrows both varieties,Starlings,Wood Pigeons and a Collared Dove.

“Stop Whingeing and buy snow chains” says Geoff Hoon the Secretary of State for Transport.

‘Why has nobody got snow chains and why are you all whingeing about what the Government hasn’t done? He suggested motorists who have not spent £54.50 on snow chains for their tyres could not grumble about disruption to their journeys.

This only goes to prove that this man is a total fool. No wonder he’s known as “Buff Hoon”. Transport experts say tyre chains are unsuitable for the UK because they cannot be used on cleared roads or at more than 20mph. They are designed for use on frozen and compacted snow that you would find in Alpine areas of Europe where many of the roads are not salted or ploughed.

Woke up expecting snow ….nothing….even Jo decided that she would drive. I set off, just out of the village it started, not snow, but sleet thick and heavy. The back roads were ok with only three lightly flooded sections. The A10 was a different matter with the sleet now very heavy, I was passed by many vehicles doing well over 60 mph……………How the hell would they be able to stop in an emergency beats me. The other thing is why don’t drivers put their lights on it’s not them seeing it’s being seen by others.

So far the blog rebuild is going well. The bit that takes the time is re installing the Gallery section, which due to it’s large size takes a long time to upload. Those of you who had links in the boat blogs section and don’t now, I’m slowly inputting them and will get there soon.

You have probably seen Alacritys blog messed up over the last few days this was because it had been Hacked…….

I am well on the way to sorting it out and we will soon be back to normal so please keep reading.

As I was looking through the February edition of Waterways World the advert for Kingsground Narowboats caught my eye.

Would you rather have your money floating around the rather ugly world of the banking system?

OR

Would it be safer floating round the beautiful canal system right here at home?

With the interest rates paid out by the banks and building societies I think I agree with Kingsground. At least you would be getting pleasure out of your savings rather than keeping them under the bed (even that would be safer than a bank)or at the mercy of a corrupt and immoral banking system.

The banks in my view brought on this calamity by sheer avarice with no thought to their social responsibilities just to their immoral bonuses. They still haven’t learned their lesson absorbing the government bail out money like sponges but not releasing any to hard pressed business and mortgages. Someone somewhere is making a lot of money at our expense.

“Vive la Révolution!

As the saying goes ” If you want something doing properly do it yourself “. Well if I had done it myself I wouldn’t have had to replace the inline extractor fan in the bathroom at home.

When we had the bathroom rebuilt we chose a Plumber who was highly regarded in the area and he did a very good job on the bathroom but I guess extractor fans were not his strong point. The fan was fitted in the most inaccessible part of the roof space when I say fitted thrown would be more accurate.

This fan was two years old when it met its maker and looked as if it had been pumping sewage. If when the plumber had installed it he had taken note of the installation instructions, he would have supported the ducting with a small fall to the outlet and not allowed it to sag. I emptied out over a gallon of disgusting water from the duct work.

I have to say now after replacement it now has a gradual fall to the outlet and is supported and lagged to help with the condensation. The replacement unit cost me £30 and took about three hours to install thats including removing the old unit. I expect it to last more than two years now.