h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yeah, I know Boxing Day was two days ago. It took us a day to recover. And then last night, we were watching 'The Madness of King George' while eating sandwiches. I lost a crown. (It's not really lost, it's in a plastic bag now.) Elektra made crown puns. She's been hanging around me too long. The dentist isn't back until Monday. So it goes. No more gluten free baguettes.

Anyhow, Boxing Day was a mad whirl at the farm, and a good time was had by all. I thought we'd have more room afterwards, what with getting all the gifts out of the linen closet, but we came back loaded with gifts from loved ones, so it was merely a matter of redistributing Stuff.

You will be the recipients of some of this largesse: my sisters raided an antique store for a huge stack of sheet music, most of which even I have never heard of. Watch for videos of such classics as 'When All My Blackbirds Turn Blue'. At least, I think that was the title. And something about a shack in Killarney.... And, of course, Rudolf Friml.

The farm looked so pretty at night, with its Christmas decorations, that I thought we should share and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2ECWCQEkM

High tech lighting on a 200+-year-old house. Not bad.

F1926355?thread=5120444

"Elektra made crown puns"

as abovePlease ask Elektra to add them here ? WE love puns
The more the merrier

That farm house looks really pretty. I wouldn't be allowed to do something like that, my husband would be too afraid of the electricity bill.

Those are LED lights, don't cost much in electricity terms. Also: 110 instead of 220.

The voltage doesn't affect how much energy the bulbs use.

The American voltage does make it less likely that you will be killed if you touch a live wire, but also increases the current, which makes it more likely that your house will burn down from overheated wires.

I did not know that. Learn something new every day, thanks! (I flunked electricity in school.) Apparently, it confuses a lot of people, because Bob Vila had to explain it. (He's a TV DIY expert.)

http://www.bobvila.com/posts/74654-110-vs-220-efficiency

I'd always associated the difference in energy costs between life in Europe and in the US with that 220/110 business which kept us from carrying appliances with us. But that was obviously an error on my part.

My sister once shorted out an entire Paris hotel with her hair dryer. I *told* my mom that adapter gizmo didn't work.

I think the LED lights are cheaper to run, though, aren't they? Let's see what the government says...no, not Mr Trump, the Department of Energy:

'LED is a highly energy efficient lighting technology, and has the potential to fundamentally change the future of lighting in the United States. Residential LEDs -- especially ENERGY STAR rated products -- use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting.

Widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States. By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh (compared to no LED use) of electricity: This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today's electricity prices.'

So that might be good news.

And, unlike CFLs, you can use LED bulbs with a dimmer switch.

I'm just switching to LED light bulbs

LED bulbs are cool to the touch, unlike incandescent bulbs.

You can only use LEDs with a dimmer switch if it is a modern one designed for LEDs. If you use it with a traditional dimmer:

1. The light will flicker annoyingly but will not dim
2. The expensive LED bulbs will burn out very quickly

The led bulbs I got from wilkco's says dimmer etc on them, but they are working ok, I don't have a dimmer switch anywhere in the house.

3 @ (giving out equivalent of 60w) for £5 10 year guarantee - don't quote me co's I've chucked the packaging (with info) out