djbobbins

BTW, although there's no rule against it (providing the wall behind the stove is masonry) the back of the stove looks to be too close to the rear wall. This will tend to stop the air from circulating around the back of the stove. Once you find out what model of Aarrow stove it is, you'll probably be able to find a copy of the manual online and see what Aarrow recommend for a minimum gap.

Think that answers your question then!

Sounds like it is not a problem of your technique, or of the flue needing cleaning (although that might help). If you do the same thing on different days, but get different results, IMO that points towards design issues with the flue e.g. It being affected by wind. I'd also support the idea of trying an H- shaped or curved T-shaped cowl or chimney pot.

Nice looking 355 on fleabay at the moment, bidding was £235 earlier on this evening including some twin wall, scuttles etc.

My parents have a Rayburn No. 2 New Pattern, circa 1948 vintage and still going strong. AFAIK it is still on the original boiler and main components, but has gone through a fire grate about once every 15 years and the occasional fire brick. It runs predominantly on waste wood, does all of their domestic hot water and convection space heating for a 30 x 13 foot open plan kitchen dining room, plus 90% of cooking is done either in the oven or on the hotplate. It will stay lit overnight but that's best achieved with a shovel of homefire. If I had the space I'd have one in a heartbeat.

No, you can trade in either the physical commodity (in which case it would be expected to be delivered) but also paper products - so for example, paper oil. This means that you are effectively guaranteeing the future sale or purchase price of oil, without needing to actually buy the oil. You guys that buy lots of diesel could trade that way... say you look at future diesel prices now and you are quoting for a big job. The job price needs to be fixed, but you don't want to get stung by pricing the job now then seeing crude oil prices go up. One way to hedge the risk would be to buy a future paper crude oil contract. When it then comes to next year (or whenever the job and the oil contract are timed for) you then have to settle the difference between the forward contract price and the spot market price at the time. So you either pay out on the oil contract if oil prices have fallen (but will have made more on the job using the diesel) or vice versa. However you don't have to physically buy the crude oil itself.

For me it's all about maintaining a mix. I've only ever put about £1500 tops into a single company, plus try to keep a range of companies - so some miners, oil company, supermarkets, banks etc. I'd like to be able to invest in a buy to let property as well, but for the moment am looking to keep chipping away at the mortgage on the place we actually live in. The falls in share prices do hurt, but I've only ever put money into shares when I've had a bit spare, so I look at it as being something that's a nice to have rather than I'm relying on paying off.

Most things dry and free... but we went through some Euc and alder a few years ago; both were good in their own way. Alder a bit quick burning but hot. Euc nice and heavy and slow burning but a witch to split!

Have bought shares in about a dozen different companies over the last 7 years. Lost money on some, made on others. As it stands, my average return is about 6% per year so better than if the money was sitting in the bank. The shares are invested in an ISA so no tax to pay on dividends or any capital gains. Gives me something to do of a morning, checking the movements, although it's been a bumpy few weeks recently.

Got any buildings? Indoor caravan storage might be an option, I understand that's good for a tenner a week at least. If you had twenty caravans the neighbours or planning people will get sniffy but for 2 or 3 you might be okay, especially if they are indoors and out of sight.

Saw the last one in my local Lidl today; I've got no need for a petrol strummer but had to work hard to resist the urge to buy it just in case...

In Germany for the holidays, diesel here is as low as about €1.06, so with current exchange rates that's about 75p. Although strangely the garages do change their prices a lot, so for example at the same garage it will be dearer in the morning and evening than during the middle of the day.

Tone wasn't lowered there, CTID!

What happened to the Cockney Avon lady? Max Factor... (Go back and read it out aloud in a Cockney accent)

Bad news on the TV today from the wood mill a couple of miles from where I grew up; hoping things work out as there are family friends that work there and a former colleague of mine that lives in one of the cottages immediately across the road.

I remember seeing this website years ago when I was doing a bit of googling on eucs - in this trial they seemed to be fairly hardy, although it was in Kent so not exactly the Arctic Circle. The growth rate of the E.nitens is little short of phenomenal and should be used as a reminder to any homeowner considering planting euc - nitens in particular obviously - in a small space. http://www.primabio.co.uk/Biomass/srftrials_enitensinKent

Little lad walks into the bedroom and finds his parents "at it" in bed. Dad turns round and sees the boy, so says 'Nothing to worry about son, Mummy and Daddy are trying to make you a baby brother or sister'. To which the boy replies 'Could you do her doggy style instead; I'd rather have a puppy!'

Sell it in rings part seasoned, with an axe, as a homeowner exercise kit! When I tried to split mine by hand years ago, much sweating and high heart rate occurred.

Another vote for the Titan from Screwfix from me. I bought mine secondhand, £26 used on eBay used once, the chain was shot after someone had used it for cutting out roots but one spare chain later and all sorted. I am impressed with the power of it, the lack of noise when handling logs is good, however my oil tank window doesn't work either and it weeps a bit of oil if stored flat. But all in all, for the money, go for it.

Paint some ordinary house radiators in matt black paint and mount them in a sunny spot near the pool. Run a piece of copper pipe from just below the surface of the pool into the bottom pipe on each rad. Put a return pipe from the top of each rad down into the pool (must also end below the surface). Prime the radiators by sucking water through. Once the sun shines and heats the radiators up, natural convection should cause the water to warm up in the radiator and circulate naturally into the pool. I've seen this working but not built one myself though!

Looked a bit smooth barked to be Euc but may be a variety I'm not familiar with? The splitter is a very impressive bit of kit - I was a bit surprised that it looked like single handed operation though.

I was tasked to do the same but fortunately we only had just over three acres. Still, I remember it was hard going on the back for the 2p per plant that I got paid!

Too close to your house - get rid!

Not had ours lit for the last week or so but tempted to light it today. Alternatively I might have a beer and an early night!

Been to Polesden Lacey National Trust house today, hotel overnight and off to Gatwick for an early morning flight tomorrow. Moscow here we come!