First the Carrot

[LadyArowana]

We have 3 smart meters. How many work you ask? As of today a grand total of none. The one for heating and hot water at the apartment is located on a unit in a cupboard and seems unable to get a signal ( left in the same spot my phone struggled too ), the one for electricity used to work fine, then Eon became EonNext and it stopped working ( they may be able to fix remotely with a software update, or may not, and in any case have no idea when that may or may not happen ) and the 3rd smart meter is on a newly installed supply to a garage, it sent one reading which resulted in a small bill and then went on strike..... it's been over 10 months now and zero, nada, nil, zip, nothing, no readings, no bill, but the electric door still goes up and down, so all good. At the house we take meter readings and submit them, EonNext ( yes them again ) send us a bill every time they get a reading, we have no idea why, it's supposed to be a once a month direct debit based on reading adjusted to billing date. His Lordship also made the mistake of requesting a printed bill ( he wanted ONE for address verification ) and they decided he must be blind so send it to him in huge print and the paper bills never match the actual direct debits! I'm very glad it's no longer in my name, mind you switching over to a new payee was a drama, so much so that they ended up paying me £120 compensation for stuffing things up, when the saga began I only owed them less than a fiver. We are thinking of changing it back to my name again

 

[Lacan07]

Someone once said to control the people you first need to control the supply of energy, money and food. The events in 2020 make me suspect that's actually the plan.

Smart meters can be used to control energy supply. The coming central bank digital currencies will control money. Food will get scarce by itself if we all behave like the Netherlands.

In an older house we've got wood burners. I've bought a load of candles.

Can anyone recommend a good kettle that can be used on top of a wood burning stove? It would want a good solid base but the stuff on Amazon looks like rubbish.

Very rarely do I use Cash these days, except to buy stuff off FB marketplace but the move toward a cashless society is particularly worrying. There's already been instances of banks refusing to do business with certain individuals because of their political beliefs.

Btw, wood burners are terrible for the environment, makes me laugh when I think about all the well to do North London liberals huddled very smugly around their expensive wood burning stoves.

 

[malcolm]

I've had trouble with my energy supplier who decided to refund all my bills over the last couple of years and re-charge them at the current rate. Got a bit back and I'm going to be the complaints department's best friend for a while.

I'm really worried about the world at the moment. There is a big turn in the east against the dollar being the world reserve currency and that is upsetting the Americans. I think we have started WW3.

 

[a twig]

Btw, wood burners are terrible for the environment, makes me laugh when I think about all the well to do North London liberals huddled very smugly around their expensive wood burning stoves

It is ok to huddle round a wood burning stove if you live in other parts of London? Or are of a different political persuasion?

 

[a twig]

I'm really worried about the world at the moment. There is a big turn in the east against the dollar being the world reserve currency and that is upsetting the Americans. I think we have started WW3.

We live on the edge of a military training area and the uptick in activity over the last three months has been significant, both in volume and calibers. From the usual plinking away of squaddies requalifying on their rifles we have gone to artillery, helicopters, combined arms and even the odd tank trundling around.

 

[Lacan07]

It is ok to huddle round a wood burning stove if you live in other parts of London? Or are of a different political persuasion?

Its perfectly fine by me, I'd love one and don't care one jot about the impact it may or may not have on the environment

 

[Lacan07]

I've had trouble with my energy supplier who decided to refund all my bills over the last couple of years and re-charge them at the current rate. Got a bit back and I'm going to be the complaints department's best friend for a while.

I'm really worried about the world at the moment. There is a big turn in the east against the dollar being the world reserve currency and that is upsetting the Americans. I think we have started WW3.

Yeah that would be a massive blow for the US. At least we don't have to worry about China, they'll be a basket case in a decade or two.

 

[Zebra]

Get to a junk shop or, if you prefer, and antique centre and get yourself a good old fashioned copper kettle. Much more efficient than any steel equivalent and looks better too.

There's lots on eBay for 5-10 quid...

 

[Cubist]

Btw, wood burners are terrible for the environment, makes me laugh when I think about all the well to do North London liberals huddled very smugly around their expensive wood burning stoves.

Its perfectly fine by me, I'd love one and don't care one jot about the impact it may or may not have on the environment

I wouldn't worry too much about the impact on the environment. My guess is that the vast majority of the wood-burners installed in the cities have had a tastefully arranged and colour co-ordinated pile of logs nearby but never seen a flame. God forbid. That would mean the fashionistas having some crudely dressed chap doing a Dick VanDyke impression in their lounges and the ignominy of taking out the ashes.

I would guess too that a quick perusal of the second hand shops around Knightsbridge and Chelsea would find many fine stoves up for grabs after the next Must Have appliance comes on the scene.