02-03-2022, 07:03 PM
We didn't have central heating either - not until my 20s, when we moved to a council flat with a warm air system. It was changed to a conventional wet system by the council, who also re-wired the place for us. In out previous council house, we had a gas fire in the lounge, and a couple of convector heaters. We did try a storage heater, but it didn't really help. It was certainly cold in the winter, but it was the norm, and it wasn't a problem to dress appropriately. When I was a teenager, many of my friends lived in similar conditions in council houses; others were "posh" and lived in relative luxury. We didn't waste time being envious - it's just the way it was. At least I had the best stereo (or so I thought, but I was definitely biased, as it was something I'd cobbled together from the remains of the sort of stuff that we now collect). The part of Surrey where we lived at the time was - probably still is - a place of extremes. At one point, we were about a mile from Mohamed Al-Fayed's home. When I worked for a local TV shop, I was roped in to help with most of the deliveries, and that was really eye-opening.
Gary, you're dead right to be sceptical about retro-fit cavity wall insulation. I think people are generally more aware of the risks now, but for a while, getting it fitted was the in-thing. Then getting it out was the in-thing! Fine if done properly at the time of construction, of course.
Gary, you're dead right to be sceptical about retro-fit cavity wall insulation. I think people are generally more aware of the risks now, but for a while, getting it fitted was the in-thing. Then getting it out was the in-thing! Fine if done properly at the time of construction, of course.
