Saturday 28 January 2023

Heading Towards the End of January

 The tyre pressure warning light came on as I arrived in Southwold for the church photos, but the tyres all looked OK so I drove home carefully and the next day hauled the compressor out from the back of the garage and managed to get air in all the tyres although the gauge on the compressor is broken and checking them with the little hand-held gauge thing was a bit random. So I ran the car round to my friends at the car repair place and got them checked with their proper gauge.....seems I'd got too much air in 3 and not enough in 1 .....or had the one gone down again........we shall see. Son and DiL etc were going to come over and I asked him to bring his small battery air tyre thing but they had car problems too so didn't get here......I wish there was a way of living without needing a car!

According to the lady doing the TV weather forecast the coldest temperature recorded in the country so far this year was on the night of Sunday 22nd January  at Santon Downham in Suffolk  -10℃. I think they said it was the coldest this winter for East Anglia ? (Not sure about that). Santon Downham is over in the North West corner of Suffolk in an area known as The Brecks, where the soil is light and sandy. It gets extra cold there in winter and hot in summer. I've not got a outside thermometer any more so no idea what is was here, but the car was well iced up on Monday morning and I'm glad I have the windscreen cover thing.
I saw a really nice, large outdoor thermometer recently, it was in a charity shop glass case - where they put the more expensive stuff. The thermometer was advertising Michelin Tyres - so obviously meant for a garage . Unfortunately the price on it was £44.99! I didn't buy it.

The frosty days disappeared and from Wednesday on it was mainly grey and gloomy and  temperatures, above freezing which might be a good thing - if this weather saying is right 

If in January, the sun much appear
March and April pay full dear.

But as I've no idea how many days were sunny and how many dull - who knows what will happen.

When the sun shone briefly on Friday   I took a few photos of the rooflines and very small windows of the old houses in the village street.








This week I've been grateful for
  • A lovely quiet swimming pool
  • Plenty of time for reading
  • Brief glimpse of sunshine
Have a good weekend
Back Monday
Sue

39 comments:

  1. Cars can be a pain. The engine on ours has been making a noise for a while now. It's been in at the garage for other things, but this has been overlooked despite mentioning it, MoT included so let's hope it's nothing major.

    It pays to look up when out walking - sometimes we miss little gems - like that circular window. I always longed for one of those in my bedroom, after reading Heidi up in her hayloft . . .

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    1. My MOT and annual service is due in March - hope it stays OK until then - and afterwards

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  2. I think you're right about the weather-woman saying it was the coldest night for East Anglia. I could not get warm at all, and had a hot water bottle in bed. Car issues are a real pain. We're so grateful for the little garage in this village, who are friendly, helpful, do a good job - and don't charge exorbitant prices!

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    1. I'm so grateful for the guys at the Motor Repair place - only a couple of miles away, don't know what I'll do if they stop when the boss retires

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  3. Cars can be a real liability and so costly when things need to be done. I've been lucky with this one but there has to be some problem at some time and I just hope it's not when I am miles away from home.
    We have a Peugeot garage in town so I just use that for services and MOTs - they're always very helpful and flexible - and expensive!!
    xx

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    1. They are very good and don't charge me anything when they check the tyres - I took a box of biscuits last time

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  4. When my brother rang me on Monday he told me he had recorded -8 C here in Norfolk that morning.

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  5. We’ve been having problems with a tyre warning light coming on and I also checked and inflated where needed. However, the light still kept coming on. I read the manual and I had to recalibrate the setting to get the light out!! Daughter hit a pothole in her street on Monday morning and a spring has broken-an expensive repair when they het the part! Catriona

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    1. I learned how to reset the warning lights by holding down clutch and brake pedals for several seconds or using the menu thing - cars are too clever!

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  6. A car is a necessity when living in the country. In our village we have a post office which also sells a few groceries, a Spar shop, a garage which doesn't sell petrol, a vet and a hairdresser as well as the church. We have a 30 minute drive to get to some shops and supermarket in Devon and about 20 minute drive into Somerset. Our car failed its MOT a couple of weeks ago so it was imperative we got a car a.s.a.p.

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    1. Repairs to the car would have cost more than its value.

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    2. Oh no - an MOT fail is a real problem - hope you find a new car soon.

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  7. Sister said she'd got out this week for a few walks. She shuddered when I told her how cold it was for us. She said she got some sunshine. I like that round window. Can't say I've seen any open windows here for a while!

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    1. Friday was the best day for some sunshine . I look forward to the days of having the patio doors open - it will be a while

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  8. I love the photos of the roof lines. I can relate to your tire issue -- I had the same thing not long ago and got very good at running the "free air" pump outside the tire shop. Turned out to have a nail in it -- all fixed now!

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    1. I tried to put air in at a garage - but they charge 50p and the machine kept stopping

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  9. I know I'm getting older because I now view car ownership as a necessary evil. Mum in law who lives with us gave up driving last year at 84 - just didn't feel confident anymore - I think she did pretty well , I can see myself stopping long before my mid eighties - we live in the country and of course because of petrol prices taxis are prohibitive, ah well,that's life!
    Alison in Wales x

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    1. A necessary evil is right. It would be a VERY quiet life here without a car!

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  10. I love teeny, tiny windows and especially round ones, but I doubt I would like to live in the gloom of the room that they are supposed to be letting light into.

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    1. It definitely wouldn't let much light in - but good for watching down the street

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  11. I took my husband's truck to the garage for an oil change and they checked the pressure in the tires as the gage had come on. WE are in for some show showers or mix and the cold air is coming in. We have been warm for January which is fine by me I do not like buying heating oil. a friend bought us a digital thermometer and we have an old fashioned one outside the kitchen window.
    Cathy
    Cathy

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    1. Our February weather is often nastier than January - hope not this year

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  12. We have cold and snow here which turns out to be a good thing as 2 of my grandchildren are coming out to go sledding today! I'm not sure how long I will last standing outside watching them tho. The winds are blowing which makes it feel even colder.
    This week I am grateful that I am retired and can stay home safe and warm and read on cold, snowy days.

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    1. Getting to work is a chore for people in bad weather. I'm glad I don't have to too

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  13. Trust me, it's all very noble wanting to try and be without a car. We'd be doing our bit for the environment. We'd be saving loads of money every month. But it's a real pain. I can no longer drive for health reasons so the decision was made for me, but I'd love a car.

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    1. Being without a car is so difficult in the country - probably only practical in a city with public transport

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  14. My tire warning light was staying on even when the temps warmed a bit so I took it to Toyota where they added aire no charge. This morning it was 30 F/ -1 C and since the air was added I've had no trouble.

    Love the photos and seeing the homes.

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    1. I don't think our weather gets hot or cold enough to affect tyres but I may be wrong

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  15. As the season, changes my tire pressure usually falters too. It is going to be 50 degrees F today and tomorrow and the snow will continue to melt. Nights are still freezing. Your pool access and swimming sounds wonderful.

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    1. I have to drive for 20 minutes to the pool but everything is that far away in the country - apart from the few things in the village

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  16. January seems to have gone so quickly - I wonder if the rest of the year will disappear just as fast?
    Hope your tyres get sorted soon :)

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    1. The last few days of January have gone more slowly - I shall be glad to see February come and go too

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  17. Cars can be a pain. This month has gone by quickly for sure.

    God bless.

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    1. I never used to think about car problems because Colin sorted everything easily - now they are a real nuisance.

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  18. I'm visiting from Tina's recommendation. The last time my tire warning light came on, I was literally on my way to the shop for an oil change. That made it easy to fix!
    Your pictures are lovely. I enjoyed our brief sunshine in Missouri this week, too.

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    1. Hello and thank you for visiting - I love having comments from new readers

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  19. My 12 Yr old VW doesn't have a tyre pressure warning light so it's one less thing to worry about. I can usually tell by the steering if one of the tyres is a bit low though. I do worry about something going wrong because I hate going to the garage but we do have one a short distance away which I trust. I would really miss my independence if I had to give my car up though.

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  20. I got two new tires for my car as one kept leaking air. Finally found out there was a staple inside of tire at Ford dealership. I got it done there when my oil was changed early 2022. Another tire company in town couldn't find out what was wrong with it. Interesting! We have had sunshine today and some late last week. Cold outdoors and freezing but no rain this morning. Still cold outside all day through tomorrow. Below freezing tonight as last night.
    I am wearing a shawl that Lorraine made me a few years ago. Keeps me warm and remembering her friendship and crafting! Have a blessed week!

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