My DS says I'm old and eccentric

George’s gran, one of my daughters has put her smart meter in a cupboard, the other simply refused to have one. Mine was £16 one day when I charged my hybrid car as well as keeping the heating on all day. I have Reynauds so hand n feet like ice blocks if I don’t keep toasty.

That’s very good HVDY - I pay £200 (Octopus) and I’m in a bit of credit, but the cost of energy for my enforced ‘house arrest’ through illness, was quite a shock, although last week was especially cold up here.

Well yes, HVDY - but one more reason to use common sense and put on some layers to help, no?

Well if you are, Romola, I am too (old and eccentric that is!). I'm wearing two pairs of leggings, two pairs of socks, two thermal long sleeved vests, a top, a jumper and an enormous fleecy zip up jacket thing on top. I have no heating on; I live alone so it is more efficient to keep my body warm rather than the house. Electric blanket on my bed, and a fleecy wrap handy to put over my knees if necessary.

Georgesgran We pay £191 a month for gas and electricity (almost all of it on gas). I'm home all the time and I'm not going to be cold

HowVDY - I’ve been stuck at home with a cold this week and have had my heating on similar hours to yours - absolutely horrified that it’s been costing @£12 a day!!! Not sustainable for me.

Replies to your son
Old? well it happens! Eccentric? -Oh I hope so!
You could try as well -"I'm working on it"
"I hope to get better (or worse depending on your point of view). So be warned."
I'm in slippers, fleecy lounging pants and a big fleecy jumper., with thermal underwear. Not even decently dressed!! so you are one better than me.

Excentric is not about wearing layers though- that is just common sense!

Old and eccentric? Wear the label with pride Romola- and welcome to the club!

I like the Bohemian label Iam64 I might use that for my house. I told my DIL in random conversation that I was having a decluttering January and getting rid of 1 thing a day. She said "It's going to take a long time to clear your house at that rate". I didn't realise my house needed clearing completely, more a bit of tidying up.

I too think being called eccentric is a compliment. Though we’ve a way to go before we’re as eccentric as my late MIL.

For the record, I’m wearing a thermal long-sleeve top, cashmere jumper, thermal leggings and jeans, socks and sheepskin slippers. It’s warmed up outside, to +5 today and it’s 22deg in the kitchen. The slow cooker has been on and it’s nice and cosy in here.

Thanks to all of you who say that they're wearing much the same as I am.
I am 77 so yes I am old.
Eccentric? Others must judge, as real eccentrics don't see themselves as such.

It was minus 6 here this morning, so you’ve dressed for the weather. If you were doing cart wheels in a bikini he may have had a point

Thermal long sleeved vest, fleece jumper, thick loose cord type trousers, thick slipper socks - sleeveless fleece was taken off whilst I got warm hoovering and laying the fire, w hi h is now burning merrily. Ch on in kitchen and hall. Fire here in the sitting room.

I apologised to one if my daughters pals when she first visited for the first time, about how untidy the place was. They were studying drama at A level - which may explain why her response was ‘I love it, it’s so bohemian, I’ve always wanted to live in a bohemian house ‘
Take eccentric as a compliment Romola

Im wearing a thin cotton sweater with a long kaftan over it and thick socks. Heating is on but not full. Earlier I was taking photos by the kitchn door but wearing a thick fleecy robe with hood and fingerless gloves.

Someone very wise once said to me:-

If you are poor and behave in a different way you are odd or crazy. However if you appear to have money and are well educated you are eccentric.

I am definitely eccentric and have been so for years.

Long sleeved t-shirt. Jersey cardigan. Zip up knitted cardigan. Long fleece zip up robe (what ARE these things called?). Dressing gown.

I'm not cold in a house with no heating on all day. Utility bills are only about £40 a month more than last year.

Millie22

I don't think 60 is that old. Middle aged surely 🤔

If you're going to live to 120! I'm almost an OAP and I haven't hit 60 yet.

Gracious. He's a bit eccentric himself.

It is really cold. I'm wearing a vest, warm long-sleeve cotton roll neck, wool jumper, flannel lined jeans, wool socks, slippers. Appropriate IMO.

CH is on and both wood fireplaces are roaring. I'm warm.

I don't think 60 is that old. Middle aged surely 🤔

Well, age is just chronology. As to putting the heating on more, it's not sensible because it's too expensive, and not ecological either!

I'm wearing a thin long sleeved base top under a fleece top, leggings under a pair of trousers and thick ski socks. It's 18C in the kitchen and although my body is warm, my hands get cold so I have a pair of Montane liner gloves to pop on which I can type in. My daughter wouldn't dare call me eccentric as she's just come back from hiking up a mountain in the snow in a temp of -15C. Now that's eccentric! I'm happy to be called old though.

You don't sound eccentric to me. I'm wearing a similar amount of layers.

Nothing wrong with being eccentric anyway!

Tell your DS, if he makes such comments again, that if he pays the heating bills you'll warm the house to his requirements.

The Energy Saving Trust recommends heating your home to between 18 to 21 degrees celsius during winter. And The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests 18 degrees is the ideal temperature for healthy and well-dressed people. Both agree this is also the ideal temperature for sleeping. www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/no-place-like-home/whats-the-ideal-home-temperature.html

Our thermostat is set immutably at 18.5 degrees, which is within the recommended range, /7/365. We do not ever change it. Despite that I feel far colder inside on a freezing cold (outside) day than I do on a warmer sunny day.

So today, with the exterior temperature below 5 degrees and the temperature inside 18.5 degrees, I am dressed the same way as Romola and Baggs. Were the external temperature around 10 degrees and the internal temperature unchanged, I would be wearing several layers less.

In fact I like being all wrapped up in lots of layers, it is the warnth and coziness. I much prefer it to thinner more summery clothes.

You’re not eccentric, we have a log fire going and heating on low and I’m wearing a woollen dress with a vest style top under it and leggings, very cosy.
As for old, bit cheeky really from your DS.