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Just over four years ago, I wrote a post about how the old casa az was often 13º celcius in winter. Early mornings it was often 10-12ºC, which with the draughts made it extremely painful to get out of bed in the morning.
Fast forward to winter 2011-2012…
The coldest I’ve found in what I still call the “new casa az” (though it’s been almost a year now) has been 15ºC, first thing in the morning when overnight temps have got close to freezing. Normally early morning indoor temps are between 16-18º here. And no draughts thanks to double-glazed balcony doors (which also help keep out the noise from an illegal after-hours bar across the street, but that’s another story).
Plus I have central heating. For the first time ever in Spain!
So when I first wake up I put on the heating while my flatmate Peter puts on the coffee, then I snuggle back under the duvet with cats and iPhone while the place warms up and coffee brews… and then I get up to start my day. Comfortably.
Don’t get me wrong. I still wear three layers and a scarf while at work in front of my computer, but the difference is that I’m not still freezing cold after all that. The central heating is set to a maximum of 20º which is perfectly comfortable. And well… it just somehow feels so darned GROWN UP that I can live comfortably in my home, for the first time in almost 20 years.
Sure, I’m still a bit worried about what the next electicity bill will be, but I like that this “new” casa az never actualy gets as cold as the old one did, and that my flatmate is now making enough money to help me pay the bills, and that I put on the heat in the morning… because I can!
casa azahar 
You could invest in a timer, to switch the heating on, so you don’t have to wait…
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Nah. It’s not really freezing cold inside when I wake up, like when I lived in Bristol. And I don’t mind snuggling with cats and reading my twitter stuff while I wait for the coffee to be made… the great bit is being able to get dressed without those excrutiating moments between pyjamas and day clothes.
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I’ve just had a new central heating boiler which is much more effective than the last one. Last year I had cavity wall insulation put in and the year before the loft was well insulated. Also the way I pay my gas & electric isa direct debit every month, which lead me to start the winter over £100 in credit! So I feel perfectly justified to turn my heating on whenever I damn well want this year and it’s lovely.
The trouble is that whenever the weather is dry and I’m in the dining room on the computer, I feel honour bound to open the back door so the dog can hang out in the back yard. He won’t do that if I close the door. So I end up suddenly realising I’m chilled to the bone! The things we do for our pets.
It’s lovely to be warm, though, isn’t it?
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Yes, it is absolutely lovely to be warm.
The thing I haven’t explained well is that in Seville most people seem to still be in denial about the concept that it actually gets cold here in winter. Even well-to-do families still huddle around the “brasero” table, which overheats your feet and legs (and causes some serious circulation problems) while the rest of the house stays freezing cold.
In Canada it was always accepted that in winter you had to pay a shit-load of money to keep your house warm and your water pipes from freezing up and exploding. But here it’s considered a gross self-indulgence to heat your home to a level that only requires you to wear two sweaters and a scarf.
Will let you know what next month’s electricity bill is, but for now I don’t care. Also, once a year has passed here I am going to check out going on a budget plan to even things out.
Know what you mean about the animals. Often I turn on the portable electric radiator so the cats can snuggle up next to or on top of it… and they’re wearing fur coats!
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Even though I have central heating and appr. 21C indoors Leopardess prefers to sleep on top of the bathroom radiator. I’ve put à towel there. She must have à warm AND comfy spot, eh?
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I love my new heating system with a digitally programmed thermostat — since I had to install a whole new system (cue the smell of a rusted-out heat exchanger and the loud clanking sound of a system fan with worn out ball bearings), it came with the package. I can’t imagine going back to a system that obliged me to get up while it was still cold and crank it up in the morning. And yet… it sure needs a lot more attention than the old crude 20 year old system. I’ve already had the thermostat replaced. Just a good thing that using my home for business allows me to write off the cost of a service contract. Because feeling that toasty floor register next to my bed on a 25 F ( – 4 C) winter morning is very very nice.
Cats find the warmest place anywhere. It is usually on me.
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My kilogrammic weight is almost down to your farenheitist temperature!
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Glad to hear you are warmer. And that Peter is making coffee.
🙂
Personally I have I have my love to keep me warm….no wait, it’s my ceramic heater!
Cheers!
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