Tag Archives: winter

adiós central heating?

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in cats, home, sevilla, spain, weather

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Although at first I was thrilled about finally having central heating and air-conditioning in the new casa az, after one and a half winters here I’m not sure I can afford such luxury. And although I’m not actually sure if this new method will prove any more economical, it’s worth a go. To wit… I have opted to try using a wall-mounted electric space heater and an oil-filled electric radiator in my livingroom (which is really the only room that needs heating during the day) to see if that makes a difference. I used both of these in the old casa az, but there I was able to close off the living room, though I didn’t have double-glazed windows. As you can see, Luna is very keen to show her appreciation for anything that gives off heat.

It’s weird because back in Canada, and even when I lived in England, it was just a given that you had to pay crazy amounts of money to stay warm in winter. I think because here an extra sweater or scarf can actually make a real difference – even in mid-January – it’s often preferable to do that than pay more. Gone are those -30º days when I would walk around my carpeted Canadian home barefoot and in short sleeves. And good thing too, because that was just stupid (come to think of it). It’s not so much the extra sweaters I mind, it’s that first getting out of bed moment, that from now until February will just get more and more painful.

How do you stay warm in winter without cranking up the heat?

winter shoes 2012-2013

03 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by in shoes, shopping, spain, weather

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Every year it’s the same story, trying to find a pair of comfortable winter shoes. The very best winter shoes I ever bought were a pair of red Campers about 8 years ago. I am still wearing them (they have become my rainy day, don’t-care-if-they-get-wet shoes). But the truth is that they are totally falling apart. Subsequent Campers I’ve bought have turned out to be less than comfortable, though I think I should have clued in earlier to the fact that I should have been buying them a size bigger if I wanted to wear them with socks. Duh.

And so! These are some Clarks I found the other day. I think I would have preferred them in red but they weren’t in stock. Though in person the “Clarks red” (seen on other models) is a dull burgundy and not like the colour in this photo. I think these ones will soon take the place of my favourite old Campers. And maybe one day I’ll finally break in the other two pair that are collecting dust since I hardly ever wear skirts with tights anymore. Very odd having black footwear though…

That’s pretty much me set up for winter wear. How about you?

16º celcius

15 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in welcome

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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!