Topic: The Chit Chat Thread

@Thrillho Nah, I don't have that much stuff (and I got rid of a bunch while packing). I still need to get another cabinet for DVD's, game discs and such but I expect to be fully unpacked sometime next month

@nessisonett I know exactly what you mean
The best thing about this one is that it can be rather easily expanded while the collection grows.

In other news, DPD delivered half of my new studio desk today. It was 2 packages and they left the other one at the central sorting facility, lol
No desk until Monday then

@Voltan That's typical of DPD. At least you are into your new place, which will no doubt feel great.

This is just my CD collection - over 1000 CDs on this...

And this is my current set-up

The Black covers on the PS5 really help it blend it and stop it looking out of place and so large too

I'm looking at bookcases at the moment for my library, any recommendations on a good sturdy bookcase? They will house a lot of hardcover comic collections and just large books in general. Don't want to go cheap as I know they will just sag and need replacing.

@Kairu Its all personal preference. I hate White hardware at the best of times - but when its so much bigger than everything else, and the light bounces off, it really does look so much bigger in the slot.

This was it before - although would stand out even more with the rest of the unit

@MightyDemon82 My shelves were purpose built by a professional who also understood the 'weight' it was going to be expected to carry and ensuring that the shelves don't sag as well as making the Wall fittings strong enough to support it too. Especially as I sit under that. Each shelf is split up into 3 or 4 compartments to stop sagging. Each upright is screwed into the Shelf top and bottom to stop sagging under the weight...

The problem with a LOT of bookcases is that they are 'flat pack' and chip board which often causes some sag and don't take very well to being moved. Ikea Billy Bookcase isn't too bad for a cheaper option and can be strengthened - they do a 'narrower' option too so not so much weight per shelf so won't sag. You could buy 2 or 3 and fix them together as one wider bookcase...

@BAMozzy I'll maybe go a similar route and get custom built ones. Better to get something that will last a lifetime rather than replacing bowed shelves every few years!

Does anyone actually understand how energy bills work? We seem to be paying about £400 more a year than we actually use. Confused as to how companies making massive profits can double your monthly payments despite you not even using that much gas and electricity. I just don’t get how it works like you’d think that you’d pay for whatever you used.

@nessisonett aside from the daily standing charge (an amount everyone pays to stay connected regardless of usage) you do only pay for what you use, but usually on an annual cycle so to speak.
For example I pay £150 every month regardless. Months where I use less than £150 eg summer, I'm building credit. So in winter when I use more than £150, the built-up credit helps cover it. Come next summer if I still have a large amount of excess credit then I'd request that to be refunded, or lower the monthly payments.
Have you checked your account to see what the credit/debit situation is?
Those on pre-payment meters are much like the old days of topping up credit on a mobile phone pay as you go.
As for companies making massive profits, that's another story.

@nessisonett maybe you’ve been underpaying through the summer and they are now recouping the debt plus current use, or they have increased it now based on projected use through the winter so you don’t get a huge bill in Spring, or a combination of both. They are known to go a little OTT with estimated use sometimes I believe. Give them a ring, if there is scope to reduce it they certainly will. Ultimately if you overpay through the winter you’ll pay less when they next review, or get a refund, though.

@JudgeDredd @MatthewJP @kyleforrester87 I had a look and we seem to be £180 in credit but will have to pay £201 in December to break even for the end of the year. There’s absolutely no way that we’re expected to use £381 worth of energy in December so the only explanation I can think of is that the energy company is basically just taking the piss.

@nessisonett in which case you'll remain in credit into the new year which'll help in the cold months of Jan and Feb. Despite the ridiculous costs of each unit of gas and electricity, the energy company is not pocketing any overpayment you make, it'll remain on your account

@nessisonett My electric bill monthly payment has gone up from 80 quid this time last year to 130 quid just after new year and now to 200 quid this month. Good thing we get that 60 quid credit every month until next April.

I live in a 1 bedroom house on my own and I work I the office Monday to Friday 9 - 5. I always take my meter readings and my bill is always higher then the estimated ones I get, and they were just as high in the summer than in the winter, which I don't understand.

I have changed a couple of things this time as I noticed my hot water was heating up throughout the day instead of only during off peak hours, which I've changed now. And I understand how to use the storage heaters more this time round, so hopefully that will reduce it a bit.

@JohnnyShoulder if you were heating your hot water tank 24/7 your electric use will be big! You should have a dual rate meter for the storage heaters, ideally, to charge them up during off peak times

@kyleforrester87 Yeah the hot water it should only kick in during off peak hours and and that usually lasts me a couple of days. It had a new element installed earlier this year so that might have fudged up timer, but I've sorted it now so it comes kick in during the early hours.

Yeah my storage heaters only warm up over night, but you can manually override them to pump out heat, which is what I was doing last year lol. Once you have the temp right it makes the whole house nice and toasty, and I don't need put the standalone heater on in the bedroom or the under floor heating on in the bath room. Those last two things are obviously more expensive than using the storage heaters.

@JohnnyShoulder storage heaters are a bit of a nightmare generally IMO, but sounds like you get along with them alright

@Kairu Yeah, Noisy pops in every once and a while, but must be pretty busy. I did see he commented yesterday on the PSVR2, so I know he’s alive! 😄

@Kairu Although he and I aren’t acquainted in person, I have no doubt. A legend indeed. I do miss his forum megapolls. I helped out with the last one in 2020 and it was a ton of work (well… not “work” as it was really fun and totally voluntary, but it took a good amount of time and effort) so I just can’t carry the mantle for keeping those going due to my lack of time.

@Th3solution @Kairu I think he posts mainly on Pure Xbox since he went over to team Green.

@JohnnyShoulder If he’s running a Megapoll over there then I’m going to be very disappointed. 😉