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!