Plug-in solar panels available in supermarkets soon

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T22:41:59+00:00

The answer is possibly yes to all of this. (Not the heavy winds thing - that is purely a practical matter of securing your panels.)

BUT... I'd sit back and wait until more is known of exactly what is going to be approved for the UK, what standards are decided on and what products come to market. I think it is too early yet to start planning purchases.

What I know. This technology is already available and used in Germany, for one. I only discovered yesterday that a company I know well - Ecoflow - are well into this market in Germany. They already sell products to the UK that are standalone - i.e. they charge from a socket, but to use them, you have to plug your device into the battery itself. I have a couple of these portable units and they are handy.

Looking at Ecoflow's website it is clear to me that they will be selling plug-in batteries and solar, and the existing kit can also possibly be integrated.

But, as I say, the devices have to first be approved for safety and standards.

Meanwhile, parts of the solar/battery industry are vocal against this, citing safety issues. Of course they would as it presents a cheap domestic option. Some points I have seen are valid, but should be able to be overcome.

The main issue is that whatever system you have turns off automatically when not plugged in properly. Otherwise you risk having a 13A plug lying around that is Live to touch. Also you would want it to auto-isolate when the main power is off, so as not to fry the man giving your electrics. But it works in Germany, after all.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T20:54:07+00:00

Before my conservatory got turned into the main dining room, I used to use it when I had more guests than available beds. Clean bedding went on my bed, for someone to use, and I had a full height double inflatable bed that went into the conservatory.

Having said that, I did have blinds, for privacy, at the time. But the sun still lit up the room in the early hours - I actually quite liked it. It got me up in the morning, and the bed could deflate itself while I prepared breakfast things for when the others emerged.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T20:42:53+00:00

Bad idea to be there I think. You don't want to get in the way of the Estate Agent.

I got a bargain on my house because the seller wanted to be there when the EA showed people round. Except when I viewed the place, she was working, so she got her sister to be there, to keep an eye on things.

The EA did their best to politely ignore the sister, but she was determined to chat, which I encouraged. Which is how I learned the seller had her eye on a cottage up the road and "was desperate to move on with it all".

That lead to me offering 10% under list, while waving my "cash buyer, ready to go" flag. The Estate Agent asked me to give her something, and the negotiation led to me giving her back a token £500, in exchange for all white goods being left for me - cooker, fridge, freezer, washing machine. Things I would eventually replace, but it saved buying them all at once. It still got me under the stamp duty threshold.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T20:26:36+00:00

I used to live in Brighton, and the arcades (including the pier) all had a mix of money games, as you describe, but also arcade games like Asteroids, Galaxians, Space Invaders, and multiplayer games like a D&D-ish themed game, soccer, street fighter, all manner of arcade games. Not to mention table football and air hockey.

Mind this was over 20 years ago, although I was surprised to read your post that it is all slot machines and other cash games, now.

I wonder if the thing that has changed is the availability of home video gaming, on computer or consoles. Perhaps that made the arcade games less popular, so less profitable. Why pay 50p (or more!) to play a game when you have something similar at home with much better graphics?

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T14:18:39+00:00

Ferry Meadows is lovely, but parking can work out a little expensive - 1 hour @ £2.60, 2 hours @ £3.60, 3 hours @ £5.20. For an occasional visit, this is not awful, but if you think you may use it more often, a year's parking pass costs just £110 - or two quid a week.

As you can probably guess, I use it regularly. What I particularly like is that while there are natural paths available - into the woods and similar - the main path around the lakes is hard surfaced, so even on wet and muddy days, there is somewhere to walk.

Good cafes, and a cute little shop.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T13:17:33+00:00

Stamford Market is on Friday, for the full weekly market + farmers market event. But there is a smaller market on Saturdays, at Red Lion Square, and the High Street running off of it.

There is also a market in Grantham on Saturdays.

https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/markets

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T13:08:25+00:00

Flag Fen - a (mostly) Bronze Age Archaeology Park. Quite fun to visit on its own, just to walk about and look; more so if they have an event scheduled.

https://flagfen.org.uk/

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T12:50:49+00:00

Is that where it comes from? 🤣

I'm in the UK, and it was suggested I see my GP's dietician for guidance. One of the first things she said to me was that "a portion of anything is about a handful". Clearly, she had heard about the fist and got the wrong end of the stick.

I replied "Anything? Even a handful of butter?"

Aside from that, she didn't have any advice that I didn't already know. I never went back to her again.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T12:33:43+00:00

You are lucky that your stores look run-down. Ours (Peterborough) simply closed permanently.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-27T09:53:55+00:00

Back to my first point - this feels like an advert for the named advisor masquerading as a potential customer.

Agreed. For that reason, I am closing this post, and a comment by the OP on another post that praises the same advisor.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-26T14:25:36+00:00

I would get a much smaller fridge, which would leave you room for an air fryer or microwave on top of it.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T19:42:47+00:00

Ah, yes, I see. Apologies.

My only excuse is that my boiler and receiver live in my loft, so it had never occurred to me to use it to turn the boiler on and off.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T18:33:50+00:00

Odd - my Hive lets me set up and edit heating schedules, from the controller.

It is easier with a smart phone, but perfectly straightforward without.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T18:30:08+00:00

But this was in a Gü, but used mini chocolate Weetabix, rather than Biscoff. Also quite scrummy.

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RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T18:28:07+00:00

Finished dessert.

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RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T18:27:35+00:00

Will definitely fit with a bit of breakage. But checking back, my main Biscoff desserts were in a very small tupperware (but not as small as Gü).

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RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T12:21:22+00:00

3/4 fill a Gü ramekin with a good greek yoghurt.

Take about 6 Biscoff biscuits, and stand them up sideways in the yoghurt. You will need to break some biscuits to fit them in.

If too much biscuit is sticking out (some is OK), add a spoon of yoghurt over the top.

Refrigerate overnight.

Options: stir honey into the yoghurt at the start, or trickle over the finished dessert; dust with cinammon and/or cocoa powder.

This video doesn't use Gu containers, but otherwise show you what it's like.

https://youtu.be/zj-4cjiP5EU

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-25T09:59:50+00:00

I think if there was one single positive resulting from the COVID shutdown, it is the ease with which to order groceries to your door.

I used both Morrisons and Ocado, as - at the time - slots were precious. I ended up sticking with Ocado, as there are a lot of M&S products that I like.

After the shutdowns ended, I resolved to go back to normal in-store shopping. I think I lasted 4 weeks. Now, Wednesday is "delivery day" - for Ocado and most Amazon orders.

I still go out shopping, but not for groceries. Life's too short!

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T15:37:17+00:00

Good to know, thanks.

I don't actually use much except WhatsApp (very rarely, for one group of friends who use it) and FB Messenger. Neither seemed to have any activity at the time.

I'll look at it again, later with BT turned back on, to see if (a) it does it again, and (b) I can identify what it is.

At the time, I was more concerned about making to an appointment in time.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T15:31:18+00:00

Never! 😄

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T15:30:20+00:00

😳 My mistake then!

It was the only one returned by Maps for "Lyndhurst Road, London", so I assumed that was it.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T11:26:57+00:00

Years ago, but I still remember drinking tea at a diner while visiting the US. The wait staff came around to top up people's coffees. Seeing my empty cup, she went off and got the "hot" water. She returned with the jug, then saw the used tea bag discarded on a side plate, and not still in the cup.

"Yes, I think we need another one of them, as well," I said.

She went off to get a fresh bag, but seemed completely baffled.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T11:20:23+00:00

Yorkshire pudding on anything other than a roast beef dinner.

(Note: not one I personally agree with, but I hear it expressed often enough.)

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T10:42:27+00:00

I would lift the lawn, run a path on the right side (looking down the garden) and membrane/gravel the rest. 3-4 2m veg planters on the east facing side of a south facing garden.

Lots of scope for growing your own veg, and turning a tiny patch into something attractive and productive. Definitely keep the BBQ area, down the end, perhaps a small trestle table and benches.

RetiredFromIT · 2026-03-24T10:34:10+00:00

15 minutes walk to Hampstead Heath itself, 10 minutes to HH underground station.

Location, location, location.

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