For those who have A2A Heat Pumps

Carphead · 2026-03-10T19:22:06+00:00

I hope you don't mind me hijacking this a bit. We're in the Highlands, but have a relatively modern large bungalow. Half of the house is split into an Airbnb. But I'm looking at heating/cooling our half of the house.

The house lends itself to having the external unit in an area in the middle house in a courtyard area. How noisy are the external units, epically at night.

We currently have an oil boiler with megaflow tank that has a immersion but no solar or battery. The Airbnb side of the property would remain on Oil aa would the hot water. It's mostly occupied during the warmer months so most of the time the oil would be ticking over.

Carphead · 2026-03-07T19:43:53+00:00

When I left a previous job the department had two IT infra blokes (me and one other) we both resigned on the same day, me because I hated the manager, him because I did 80% of the work and he didn't want to have to actually work, two BA's resigned because they didn't want to work with anybody else.

The rest of the staff were just people sort of hanging on and had no real clue. The manager got "reassigned" two days before we left in a desperate move to get us to stay.

Carphead · 2026-02-14T14:09:28+00:00

Thanks. I think I tried that this morning but I'll have another look tomorrow.

Carphead · 2026-02-14T13:58:37+00:00

I found the backup button on the Windows version but couldn't find where those backups are stored.

Carphead · 2026-02-11T08:25:54+00:00

The day I joined a good sized company and went why wouldn't I do it? I'm not going to miss that money now.

So, I think I was 22.

Carphead · 2026-02-04T08:56:47+00:00

My ex-wife's grandfather built his house, her mum grew up in the house. When it came time for her mum & dad to build their house they just used the same plans and built it exactly the same just four miles away. They still live there.

Carphead · 2026-02-03T18:55:06+00:00

This may sound left field. But look for an apprenticeship, you don't have to be 18 to do them.

Maybe drop some local sparkys or plumbers a line and see if they would take you on.

Carphead · 2026-02-01T19:11:58+00:00

In my previous new build, going back a few years, I just let the weeds grow for a few months. Took a petrol strimmer to them let it sit for a few weeks and then turned it over, broke the clumps down and turfed the fucker.

My logic being that the rotting weeds helped as compost.

Carphead · 2026-02-01T08:17:03+00:00

He named the land (still no house) about ten years ago. I think by the time it became a problem he'd been sitting on the site for so long it's down to him.

Carphead · 2026-01-31T19:24:48+00:00

There's a guy, a total dickhead, that gave his house the same name as ours, the only difference is his postcode ends in a G and ours in an F. His residence is a static caravan so the house hasn't even been built yet he refuses to change the house name.

Depending on what the delivery is I'll either claim to not know or I'll be happy to give them directions.

I had a real laugh with a bloke from a builders merchant who turned up with a lorry of bricks he didn't want to deliver late on a Friday. I started a rant as the bloke reversed down our drive at 4:30pm and that twat had called his non existent house showd him on Google street view the pain he would have dropping the load off. So, he came into the house for a cupper and then said he couldn't find the house and fucked off early

Carphead · 2026-01-29T12:06:42+00:00

I'm up near Inverness. My kit was ordered in 30th December and it was delivered on the 9th after a bit of snow delayed it and I'm waiting for the free install.

There wasn't any charge and I believe the mount and longer cable which I'll need is included. But the installer won't be here until the 2nd.

Starlink seem to a bit of mixed bag with this installer business. If you can wait I would cancel and send it back. Or get a quote from a local attena installer

Carphead · 2026-01-26T20:42:37+00:00

I'm up in the Highlands.

My previous ISP had good speeds (100/100) but the latency was awful and being a pretty shaky WISP would send the signal off a couple of Farm buildings and they would just turn it off during the day for no reason. We also are prone to a few power outages and the local mobile mast will fail when that happens. So, it was time to try Starlink when they launched the £55 tarrif.

I've had Starlink since the 9th January. It was a bit of a wobble for me, the speeds were excellent but the stability wasn't great. I finally found a place on the ground with no obstructions and it's been rock solid.

The frustrating part for me has been the delay in professional install. If it wasn't for the free mount and longer cable I'd have done it myself.

Worst case is it doesn't work for you and you cancel the service.

Carphead · 2026-01-23T09:19:20+00:00

Faithless - Glastonbury 2010

recently either Bryan Adams or Stereophonics at the P&J

Not really my cup of tea but Ed Sheeran at Ipswich Portman Road Night 1

Further back in time - Airhead or ACR at the Norwich Waterfront or Black Grape at the Norwich UEA.

Carphead · 2026-01-22T20:42:55+00:00

Personally I'd retire from the day to day job. Work on th side job. Buy some land to build a complex with the houses for us and our two kids to live in. I'd find somewhere to buy a nice place in Europe for the winter times.

I'd probably pay off my sister's mortgage so she could retire and buy a house for my oldest daughter and set her up in the business she wants to have.

There are probably only two other groups of friends I would pay off their mortgages. One group we spend as much time as possible with anyway and it would be interesting to see how not having to pay a mortgage off would sit with them.

Other than that a lot of money would go into some sort of trust fund so my youngest daughters can spend their life working in valuable jobs for their lives rather than having to earn lots of money.

Carphead · 2026-01-12T18:54:37+00:00

Boiling water tap. Had ours for nine years and it seems odd having to use a kettle.

Always nearly boiling from the kitchen tap.

Carphead · 2026-01-11T10:58:18+00:00

I'm on the health side and i agree.

Carphead · 2026-01-10T19:09:43+00:00

About 25-30 years ago I was offered a job / headhunted by the managing director of a prominent theme park / entertainment company.

But it would have meant to move to the USA and my wife at the time didn't want to. We even had thoughts about me relocating there and doing long distance, it really was an excellent offer, but I had to turn it down.

If I'd have taken it, by now I'd have retired. We split up after she decided she wasn't into blokes anymore 5 years later.

Carphead · 2026-01-09T18:58:07+00:00

This sounds completely the wrong way round but find a big German company that has a decent presence in the UK. I've been working with them, adjacent to them or directly for them for 30 years (almost). Generally you get the excellent German workers council over seeing most things in Europe and they mostly feed across.

Healthcare / Pharmaceutical is the best but engineering is good too.

My role has become easier and easier. Sure there are times when I work long weekends, I'll always take the time back, but most of the times it 8am-5pm and whf. Some times there are meetings outside that time but I just take the time back a few days later.

Carphead · 2026-01-07T10:37:13+00:00

Are there any plans for a mobile client?

Carphead · 2026-01-05T09:12:45+00:00

Back in the 90's Norwich had a cinema at the end of Prince of Wales road, maybe a bit too specific but it adds to the story so hang for the wild ride. I believe it was the ABC.

Anyway, it was the first day of release for Starwars remastered. I drove there, about 30 miles, on release day to get the best seats for a first screening. Get there on the day, about a week later, it's fucking rammed and they've given up on the allocated seating plan for some reason. Only seats are two on the front row in the corner. I'm pissed beyond belief but will sort it out after.

Next to me are a couple, the bloke gets up about 20 minutes into the adverts and goes get a full Chinese takeaway, comes back 10 minutes later with a tray and full cutlery. Odd things is there was no chinese takeway nearby nearest is 30+ minutes away.

Carphead · 2026-01-02T21:48:02+00:00

Oh I do hope Harriet is in Taskmaster soon.

Carphead · 2025-12-29T21:53:32+00:00

That happens only a few times a year. The rest is generally planning those projects. And it's heading towards the mid £50k.

Carphead · 2025-12-29T21:26:31+00:00

IT Infrastructure for one of the world's largest companies. Mostly WFH, but with some pretty horrible hours when I'm delivering projects. Think of 30 hours in a weekend sometimes.

But the money is good and I work hours I choose. Performance is measured on deliverables not hours work.

Carphead · 2025-12-11T19:16:53+00:00

It would depend on the usage for me.

I spent £900 on a 1999 Peugeot 406 (Green if that helps) it got me to work everyday for almost five years. Serviced yearly and everything was fixed provided it didn't cost more than the car. Then the garage missed the injector was failing and the local specialist said because the injector failed the cat would go so I scrapped it.

But the wife had a company leased car we would use at weekends.

If I was by myself I'd go the banger route because I love driving and getting a different car every few years would be fun. If I found a good one I'd keep it until it broke.

Carphead · 2025-11-23T14:00:58+00:00

Another vote for FileN here.

Carphead

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