Sharing bath water

have shared the bath with hubby from time to time,, but more in a romantic way than anything else lol.. I know that we staggar our bath time in order for the boiler to have enough time to heat enough water for a nice hot bath. I had thought it was just our dodgy boiler that made that a neccessity tho.

I like the quote about living in England is like camping  LOL.

I'm not getting this.

I'm not getting it either, Mindy.  The picture of the Brits as a nation whom simple plumbing and heating technology has passed by is frankly bizarre.  I honestly don't see why Angel, bless her! has to wash her hands in cold water in summer (look for the "on" button on your domestic hot water system, Angel!), or hang out her washing to dry if she doesn't want to.  As you say, Mindy, tumbler dryers aren't earth-shatteringly expensive - probably not much more than the cost of a standard rail ticket from Derby to London.

In another thread there were comments about how long it takes for a Brit washing machine to do a wash.  Well, mine is a fairly elementary model, and it still doesn't take much over half an hour - so, are people misreading the instructions? I suppose if their machines are plumbed-in to the cold water supply only, it could take longer, because the machine would itself have to heat the water first: could this be the reason for the long washing times reported?

Also, while it is true that mixer taps are rare in British bathrooms, there is a good reason for this.  The cold tap is fed by the rising main, and therefore provides water pure enough for drinking.  If it were mixed in with the hot supply. it would be meeting water that had been in stored in a tank for some time, often at a temperature beneficial to bacteria growth.  You have to run cold through a mixer tap for some time before you can be sure left-over water from the hot supply is not contaminating your drinking water.

Also in another thread there were comments about there being no electricity outlets (e.g. for hair driers) in our bathrooms.  Well, this is a safety thing too.  Bathrooms are damp places, and our voltages twice as high as yours.  Is it really such an imposition to have to dry your hair in your bedroom?

As for those who feel that living in Britain is like camping, well, I can only assume that they are living in incredibly out-of-date housing, or in very remote places, or perhaps are being made the subject of a remarkably sophisticated and complex Brit-style practical joke!

Ah Howard, it is lovely to have you back from your hols! All those poor unfortunates who have the misfortune to be living in a place without a shower, guess what? You can get a very cheap shower attachment that fits on the (non mixer!) taps from Woolies!

Ah Howard, it is lovely to have you back from your hols! All those poor unfortunates who have the misfortune to be living in a place without a shower, guess what? You can get a very cheap shower attachment that fits on the (non mixer!) taps from Woolies!

you mean the rubber type that sell for 2 quid and slip off the fawcett when you turn it up past a trickle? BTW, I don't consider my daughter a "poor unfortunate" for not having a shower

I was meaning all the poor unfortunates who have been whinging on this thread!  

Do they slip off like that? I guess it has been that long since I've had to use one I forgot about that problem. We had one years ago when I was growing up and I remember being called a "snob" by a schoolfriend because of it!

Bless you, dear Britwife!  I remember as an impoverished student living in a sqallid garret in the early '70s buying one of those Woolies things in order to raise the standard of my (then) not-too-exacting personal hygiene!*  It cost all of half a crown!

* I had probably just met a girl who was unimpressed by the hippy lifestyle!

Whinging

slip off the fawcett

As I remember it, Celtic, the trick to avoid being enveloped by an explosion of scalding or freezing water, was to wind elastoplast/bandaid round the nozzles of the taps before ramming the hose things home: provided better grip!

What do they say about necessity being the mother of invention? I'm sure it works, but I'll retreat for fear of seeming to be whinging on the subject!

Howard & Britwife, we don't think Britain has missed the boat on plumbing and heating. What we are saying is that so many of you choose not to do it. I think this is particularly true of landlords. I have no choice but to rent because I can't afford to get on the property ladder here. So unless I pay for it myself, I can't put in electric showers or mixer taps or redo the kitchen to make room for a dryer. So until then, I darn well will whinge about it because that's what this forum is all about!  

And I'm sorry, but you just can't justify non-mixer taps being better. The hot water is hot enough to seriously burn a child. I literally saw it melt a plastic coke bottle once. Surely there's a better way?  

I keep telling the story about having a washing machine that emptied into the toilet -you had to put the hose in the loo to drain.  Oh an no dryer...I used the radiators because if you hung out the clothes they got soot from the coal buring to heat the stove.  Also washed by hand when living for 4 months at the beach.  It could always be worse.  

Until about 8 years ago the people that own property behind my parents still did not have indoor plumbing.  It's amazing at even the things you find in the USA.  

I've always rented too Balmerhon and I always make sure I rent a place that has a decent shower and other things I can't do without. You could always ask you landlord about getting a dryer or whatever you need.

I didn't mean you couldn't/shouldn't whinge but poor Celtic thought I was having a pop at his daughter so I was just making it clear my remark wasn't directed at her, please excuse my flippancy, no offence intended, honestly!  

Oh and on mixer taps ... my husband is always grumbling about this too ... and whilst I agree mixer taps are damned nice to have, I will say the same to you as I say to him .... wash your hands in cold water !!!  

The hot water is hot enough to seriously burn a child. I literally saw it melt a plastic coke bottle once. Surely there's a better way?  

That's too hot.  Seriously.  The temperature can and should be adjusted on your hot water heater.  On the tank, there should be a dial.  Turn it down.  I'm afraid I don't know offhand what it should be (Howard?  Anyone?) but I will have a look at ours and post it.  If you can't manage to find it, call your landlord.  This is most probably a regulation that he has to conform to as a landlord.  There is no reason that the hotwater should be hot enough to burn.  

poor Celtic

Do me a favor Britwife....save your little condescending pats on the head for someone else OK

Do me a favor Britwife....save your little condescending pats on the head for someone else OK

OK, kids I'm about to stop the car and turn this thread around.