http://www.car4play.com/forum Car4play forum en-gb Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:49:57 +0100 Copyright: Car4play webmaster@car4play.com (Technical) 5 car4play690180 Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:49:57 +0100 I don't. I thought your smiley (only one) was a private one for Dog. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690180&v=e car4play690178 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:28:29 +0100 You seem to have missed my smiley at the end of my post, Don't take everything so seriously. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690178&v=e car4play690177 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:18:49 +0100 >> Hawthorn berries are OK but don’t chew the seeds. Like apple pips they contain cyanide. >> What daft scaremongering. If you look into this further you find that a person would need to eat (and crush) at least 150 apple pips to be in any danger at all. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690177&v=e car4play690175 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:14:11 +0100 Yes apricots like apples plums hawthorn cherry and almonds are all members of the rose family and many have poisonous seeds. Cyanide gas is said to smell of almonds but probably best not to check. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690175&v=e car4play690174 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:47:14 +0100 >>Don’t want lose you Dog :-) Cyanide can be used in cancer treatment. I remember reading about this decades ago. The cyanide came from Apricot kernels I believe. Also: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/sep/07/timradford http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690174&v=e car4play690173 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:07:44 +0100 Hawthorn berries are OK but don’t chew the seeds. Like apple pips they contain cyanide. Don’t want lose you Dog :-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690173&v=e car4play690172 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:34:22 +0100 >>I have an Acer, a Holly, and a Hawthorn Loads of Hawthorn around here, I make a tea with the dried berries + a tbsp of dried Hibiscus flowers for my HBP. I also do some Qigong (8 Brocades) every morning, lift weights 3 times a week, and walk 5 times per week. I'm still waiting for my vouchers. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690172&v=e car4play690171 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:54:12 +0100 We have three trees. A weeping silver birch betula pendula youngii which we carefully chose for its size , the movement of the foliage and beauty . I have planted three Victoria plum trees ( two died of brown rot ) but we love the fruit hence replacing it. Our third tree is in our front garden in the worse possible position over the sewer next to the brick wall and next to the pavement. It is 45 years old and has a trunk girth of 60 inches. It was self seeded and was just a single small stick that I allowed to grow. It is a Mirabelles de Lorraine (a yellow cherry plum ) I love it. I was not aware of such a tree but now Waitrose sometimes sell the jam. A long read about it. https://frenchmoments.eu/mirabelle-of-lorraine/ Some years I have to scrape buckets full off the pavement other years nowt due to some bug. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690171&v=e car4play690168 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:35:35 +0100 Apart from two oaks on the boundary I have an Acer, a Holly, and a Hawthorn. November does bring a lot of leaves - 20 to 30 large plastic sacks usually depending on which way the wind is blowing. I compost them in a couple of metre-cube leaf bins. They take a couple of years to decompose but make great leaf mould which goes back on the garden. The Oaks do bring a lot of wildlife, squirrels, various birds including owls and pipistrelle bats which I love to watch in the evening. Not so welcome are the muntjac deer who have just eaten all my geraniums in the front garden. Live and let live I guess http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690168&v=e car4play690164 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:04:08 +0100 Two apple trees in our garden. Some years a bumper crop but little or no fruit this year. Next door has a Walnut tree. Birds love them and either crack them on roof ridges or drop them. Picked up literally hundreds of the things off the patio in the last few weeks as we've tried to tidy the garden a bit. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690164&v=e car4play690163 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:08:14 +0100 We've got a apple tree in the front garden, lovely thing, full of fruit this year, its a greensleaves, been in three years now. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690163&v=e car4play690162 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:57:30 +0100 A neighbour ar the side of our house,but bottom of his garden has an apple tree (discovery ) and we can help ourselves to what overhangs our garden and a Damson tree as well. Free fruit. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690162&v=e car4play690161 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:24:26 +0100 I think most people prefer a leafy suburb to a concrete desert. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690161&v=e car4play690160 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:08:48 +0100 Our previous neighbour had a large oak tree in her garden. The blasted thing was a real nuisance, every autumn the leaves would fall off in droves and no matter how much I tried to cover the drains they would invariable get blocked, needing a session with the rods every year. The first job the couple who bought it about seven years ago did was to have the thing cut down, no problem with the drains since and no piles of leaves congregating in every corner. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690160&v=e car4play690158 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:42:09 +0100 Our previous property at Bolventor on the Bodmin Moor was south east facing and had full-width windows which was fine in winter watching the sunrise over the tors but, boy were the lounge and 2 front-facing hot in the summer! The Oak trees here are an absolute curse, especially last year which was a mast year. Don't mention the leaves (I said not to mention them!) I've never seen so many - too many for the garden waste bin in Autumn, Just as well I have 3 garden vacs, a fairly useless B&D, an Einhell, and an old mains Bosch which could suck up a small dog :) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690158&v=e car4play690154 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:56:48 +0100 >> I have 4 oak trees in my sou'west facing garden which are taller than the owse. They are a boon in this blimming heat. They have a TPO on 'em .....>> But brief boon, measured in hours rather than days. So many residential estates in this country, especially older ones, are blighted by trees planted decades ago which have been allowed to become forest monsters (IMHO Mr Leyland deserves a posthumous prison sentence!). You can see this in most of our city's Victorian/Edwardian 'residential areas'. Some, like common ashes and sycamores are merely arboreal weeds which have no place in suburban gardens, yet are unduly sanctified by zealous TPO officials. Houses can be rendered almost unsellable by these protected giants. We are fortunate that from dawn to dusk the sun shines on the walls of our unshaded house because every little photon helps to keep it warm in the non-summer months. On a clear day there is a surprising amount of heat from January sunshine. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690154&v=e car4play690109 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:12:50 +0100 >>Don't go commando, then. Way to go in a heat wave. Shorts, loose T shirt not tucked in - hang on in there! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690109&v=e car4play690108 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:17:08 +0100 'with everything sticking to me with the sweat, including my instrument' Don't go commando, then. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690108&v=e car4play690062 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 19:33:40 +0100 The main thing I don't like about the DIY unit is that the length of pipe between the units is fixed by necessity. So we have a length outside the building wrapping around on the wall. It doesn't matter in my case because no one sees it as it's up against a fence but you wouldn't want this on your house as it would be a right eyesore If you ran the pipes up in the the loft and back down you might be able to lose them in there, but then they are relatively short so your options are rather limited. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690062&v=e car4play690049 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:39:34 +0100 Well, not in the same way .. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690049&v=e car4play690048 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:38:05 +0100 You cant make Nitrogen light up. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690048&v=e car4play690046 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 12:30:58 +0100 >> I do wonder if the new windows, 18mm argon filled gap, are keeping heat out ? What is the argon intended to do, which nitrogen wouldn't do cheaper ? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690046&v=e car4play690042 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:54:51 +0100 Inside my house was like an oven when I returned after several weeks away. Immediately fully opened my large tilt & turn windows allowing a through draft, being on a slight hillside helps. Back to almost normal within 60 minutes, summer duvet on and very pleasant for sleeping. I do wonder if the new windows, 18mm argon filled gap, are keeping heat out ? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690042&v=e car4play690041 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:34:25 +0100 I played in an orchestral concert yesterday down here in Hertfordshire which involved a three-hour rehearsal in the afternoon, followed by a performance in the evening of about two hours. I managed hydration OK in the afternoon, but somehow got to the end of the evening and realised I was dried out. Having to wear long trousers and a shirt, with everything sticking to me with the sweat, including my instrument, made for one of the most unpleasant experiences ever. With so many people in one space the evening was even more unpleasant than the afternoon, when at least clothing could be informal. We're still cooling down the house, which reached over 29C despite our best efforts with closing and opening windows and curtains at the right times. It's still over 26C. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690041&v=e car4play690038 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:01:11 +0100 Last night was our choral society concert. Quite pleasant outdoors, but singing for two hours in a building which hadn't had time to cool down was pretty exhausting - not helped by having erected some staging in the morning, rehearsed in the afternoon, and then dismantled staging again after the concert ..... A pleasant 20 deg this morning. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690038&v=e car4play690036 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:34:24 +0100 Well last night was slightly cooler but at 10pm it was still 30c inside. Still uncomfortably hot for sleeping. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690036&v=e car4play690034 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 23:59:39 +0100 Yea I have a solar iBoost to use excess leccy to heat the water with spare solar. No gas used for a couple of months now, shame the standing charge is quite so high! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690034&v=e car4play690033 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 23:06:10 +0100 Currently pondering over batteries. Do however have a solar diverter which channels exporting electricity into the immersion heater until it gets up to temp. So its a sort of battery. We normally run on oil so there's a saving to be had. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690033&v=e car4play690032 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 17:53:39 +0100 Nah, batteries go on and off my wishlist fairly frequently but I really don't think it makes economic sense. I only use c 10kWh a day (less in the summer, unless charging the car) and I'm on Agile so can often keep unit prices low so the only potentially tricky bit ss not using much between 16:00 and 19:00 which we do quite easily (- that went over 80p pkWh the other day!) There's a rather geeky forum where that sort of thing is discussed at length and in depth, i think you'd be able to browse but not sure how you'd join... https://forum.octopus.energy/latest http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690032&v=e car4play690031 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 17:40:40 +0100 Have you upgraded to batteries Smokie. If so any recommendations? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690031&v=e car4play690024 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:30:33 +0100 Not sure about the planning aspects if the unit is too close to a neigbour. I know a bloke down the road had to move his heat pump. Silly man put his solar panels and heat pump in, then decided on a side extension, the planning permission picked up on moving the heat pump and rejected the whole plan. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690024&v=e car4play690022 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:46:48 +0100 Yeah they do make a house look a bit industrial. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690022&v=e car4play690021 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:44:55 +0100 I'd have a couple of self installs if it wasn't so fugly - probably lounge and bedroom. She won't be persuaded. It was all I could do to get solar panels back in 2011 (when of course they were a rarity), but now she's seeing the benefits Given the not unreasonable price, and while my neighbour is still handy with tools, I may work on it a bit more.. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690021&v=e car4play690017 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:19:09 +0100 But a: they use more expensive units, b:they will insist on >> a pro installed and signd off electric installation, so there is that to pay for >> before they arrive. >> >> >> What's different to the ones they use compared to diy ones? Still must be a fair margin in them. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690017&v=e car4play690010 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:40:43 +0100 Forecasters are predicting that a couple of more spells of very hot weather are likely in July and August. This will likely become the new norm, and before next summer air con will be installed at chez O'Reliant. Very unlikely to be able to get it done this summer. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690010&v=e car4play690009 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:36:27 +0100 >> Definitely fresher today. >> Wind has swung to SW and there's some cloud cover. Outside temp now 25.3 with >> a forcest max of 29. >> Tomorrow on it's back to close to seasonal norm with temperature in early/mid twenties. >> Rain that was showing as expected in next 24-48hours has gone though. The heat bubble is moving north and compressing in the east. I am off to Northest Norfolk for a week on Monday, currently at Sandringham its 30+. Monday it will be 24c. YAY http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690009&v=e car4play690007 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:32:26 +0100 >> That's a fair bit of labour. A day per unit? Depends, but no more. But a: they use more expensive units, b:they will insist on a pro installed and signd off electric installation, so there is that to pay for before they arrive. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690007&v=e car4play690006 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:29:21 +0100 >> The EU banned to DIY units with prefilled lines. Lots of cheap chinese units around with the >> usual chinese probelms, some work forever, some last a short time, some doa. You are a little ray of sunshine. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690006&v=e car4play690005 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 11:08:55 +0100 >> >> >> >> >> >> How much is a split air con unit fitted ? >> >> Anywhere between 1800 and three grand. Dependent on complexity. >> >> DIY split units can be bought for 500-800 quid. Dependent on BTUs. >> That's a fair bit of labour. A day per unit? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690005&v=e car4play690004 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:52:42 +0100 Definitely fresher today. Wind has swung to SW and there's some cloud cover. Outside temp now 25.3 with a forcest max of 29. Tomorrow on it's back to close to seasonal norm with temperature in early/mid twenties. Rain that was showing as expected in next 24-48hours has gone though. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690004&v=e car4play690003 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:27:09 +0100 >> >> >> How much is a split air con unit fitted ? Anywhere between 1800 and three grand. Dependent on complexity. DIY split units can be bought for 500-800 quid. Dependent on BTUs. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690003&v=e car4play690002 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 09:55:56 +0100 How much is a split air con unit fitted ? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690002&v=e car4play690001 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:37:43 +0100 The EU banned to DIY units with prefilled lines. Dont know if the UK still follows the EU rules, probably. Non DIY ones have the gas in the external unit and need the lines making and connecting, then vacuum the inside unit and lines, then open the taps on the outside unit. Lots of cheap chinese units around with the usual chinese probelms, some work forever, some last a short time, some doa. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690001&v=e car4play690000 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:12:03 +0100 8 in the morning here in Boulogne. Thunder and lightning and torrential rain. Lovely. Blodwen very happy.. Taken refuge in a local cafe enjoying a coffee and pastry. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=690000&v=e car4play689999 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:07:06 +0100 Yup my buddy said don't bother getting a pro one, diy ones are easy http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689999&v=e car4play689998 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:35:56 +0100 >> If you find yourself stuck on the M25 at any point, give me a call >> and I will shout words of encouragement from one of the over bridges. >> Docked on time and out of the port in an hour…quickest ever. For some reason the bikers disembarked after cars & motorhomes. In my experience that’s not the norm. Unfortunately I got well & truly stuck in the M5 closure. I knew it was closed but there was a mile plus tailback in lane 1 of traffic leaving the M5 and it was obvious that the diversion would be gridlocked. That was confirmed on local traffic announcements…took a gamble and stayed on the M5. A spot of sunbathing, ate my empanada for lunch, cold water from the Alpicool car fridge and home 9 hours after leaving Plymouth. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689998&v=e car4play689997 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:56:06 +0100 >> feed the ac refrigerant pipes through. These come pre-gassed and sealed with a valve lever >> thing to open them. Yeah, it seems to be you need to be careful to get a "diy" one pre gassed, the pro ones are gassed after install. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689997&v=e car4play689996 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:46:07 +0100 Well that was a hot one, blazing sunshine all day. Time for a cold one. Hit 46c at home in the conservatory. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689996&v=e car4play689994 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:44:50 +0100 I put a split AC unit in our office cabin. Cost around £750 at the time. Works really well. Currently freezing myself, so occasionally it's quite nice to go out into the warm... As for installation, it's a breeze (see what I did there?) mount the internal unit where you want it, drill a hole in the wall and feed the ac refrigerant pipes through. These come pre-gassed and sealed with a valve lever thing to open them. So you feed the free end through the hole which need only be around 4 x 2 inches. Then mount the ac unit on the outer wall within reach of the pipe length and supply power to it using Tuff cable, isolator etc. I used a separate MCU on fuse board for it as that was close. Then insert AC pipes and open the valve. That's it. Heats the place in winter and chills it in summer. The only thing is to periodically clean the filters because when they gum up with dust it seriously impacts performance. Much cheaper to run than standard electric heaters http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689994&v=e car4play689993 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:28:57 +0100 I'd like to know how that one works. Sunlight falls on solar panels, panels generate electricity, electricity powers A/C. Had a propane-filled Mitsubishi system installed last autumn. Used a bit for heating up until last week, and for the last few days I have been working from home at a comfortable 24 °C, rather than the low 30s in the office. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=689993&v=e