Much better!

[vilakins]

The heatpump is going again! The installer guy came round and pumped it out. Apparently you're meant to have that done every year and we've had it for two. :-P He said he should have put us on a maintenance contract but hadn't; he has now.

Whew, that's a relief! I sat outside in the twilight for a while in an attempt to cool down and got eaten by mosquitoes. Sigh. [zaps bitten hands with electric shocky thing that's meant to numb the itch] Those are big bites, the size of my fingernails. But yay, we'll have some cool back in a while.

And tomorrow after lunch we'll be on the road to Taupo! I hope we have good internet access so I can keep in touch with you all.

Comments

[mab_browne]

At least you're no longer sweltering. I've always found the phrase 'heat pump' to be interesting, given how many people use it for air-conditioning.

[vilakins]

It's what the manufacturers, dealers and advertisers call them. I suppose it's because they started as a low-power winter heater. It does that very well too; we set it to come in about 5 or 6 so we wake up to a warm house. Cool doesn't rise though so it mainly helps with the downstairs in summer.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

*squishes* glad you got the pump fixed! And hope you'll have an excellent holiday:).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Me too! I need it. I've felt more stressed than usual lately. [glomps back]

[vandonovan.livejournal.com]

Ewww bites, but omg yay a happy ending and a working pump! :D:D Very happy to hear and it was an easy fix!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

So was I! Next proper maintenance is October, so it won't happen again. I hope. The guy said lots of office building aircons and leaking right now because of the high heat and humidity.

And now it will be a week's maintenance for us!

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Have a great time!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We will!

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

Ouch about the mozzie bites. Work, shocky thing, work. Don't let Nico go on holiday with scratched mozzie bites.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It worked (after lots of zaps). They don't itch and the swelling's gone down. I shall be taking the shocky thing with me.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! Have a fun holiday :-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We will! I've half-packed already. :-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your break.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm sure I will. :-) Even if the weather's bad, I can think of plenty to do down there.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Glad it's sorted, and you have a nice cool home to look forward to after your holiday - plus the knowledge of how to get it done next time. Bon voyage!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Well, it'll be hot when we get back, but at least now we'll be able to cool it down. :-)

Merci!

[usuallyhats]

Have a lovely time in Taupo! Glad the heatpump is fixed and you won't have to dread coming back to a boiling hot house...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We will, actually, but now we can fix it in an hour or so. :-) We did last night.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it is all sorted out :0)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I'm so glad it was such a simple fix. My cure for itchy bug bites is to lay a hot (as hot as I can without burning myself) tea bag on the bite. It works for me in seconds.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Just ordinary black tea? I'll have to try that! The clicky thing is good for carrying in my bag anyway.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

I use plain old Lipton, as hot as I can stand it-- maybe it's the tannic acid that does the trick.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The big bites I clicked have disappeared now, and they used to stay for days. But I'll try the tea too. It took me lots of clicks to get the relief.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

The clicker sounds great for on-the-move attacks when the tea bag treatment is impractical.

[luinielle.livejournal.com]

Glad the heatpump is fixed! *cheers* And argh mosquitos...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the lack of them and flies is the one good thing about winter. They stop me spending much time on the hammock because I have to slather repellent all over myself and they still bite the bits I missed, like ears and toes.

We shall be hitting the open road after lunch! :-)

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Glad the fix was a simple job. Have a good break, you deserve it.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

We both do. :-) It's been two years.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I am glad your living conditions have improved! But wow, your mosquitos must be very big, leaving such bites. However - soon you will enjoy your well-deserved holidays!!!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

No, they're tiny, but I react badly to them. The usual story. I'd trade this body in for a new one if I could.

We will! The cats are in the cattery; now just to finish packing and go after lunch!

[trixieleitz]

Hurrah for functional heatpump!

That shocky thing sounds intriguing - do you have more info? I wonder if it would work on eczema.

Have a wonderful break in Taupo! I still have fond memories of childhood holidays there.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They have a website here (http://www.clickthatitch.co.nz/). It's only for bites though. I'd suggest the Clinicians' Itch Calm Cream; it's worked well for my itchy back. :-) Manuka is also good for the eczema itself, I've heard. I suggested that to a hairdresser and she was very pleased; Health 2000 (so old-fashioned) sells a good one in a green and black pot by Essenchi. I was also driven crazy with a rash from agapanthus sap two years ago and a Weleda rash cream was the only thing that fixed it.

[trixieleitz]

Thanks, I'll look out for the Clinicians' :)

I use Madeleine Ritchie Xtra (sic) Hard Workers (sic) Hand Creme when my skin is bad. It has manuka honey and is very rich; seems to help things heal faster. But it doesn't relieve the itching.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The Clinicians' range is very good. I hope it works for you.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Relief about the heatpump! I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out, and that you won't have the problem hanging over you when you come back.

It's tomorrow there, by now, so I hope you have a safe journey! Take care, and have a fabulous time!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! We're not far off leaving now. :-)

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Ouch!!!
I hate being eaten alive too. Every blood sucker seems to have my name on their menu, which makes me wonder why I like vampires!

Enjoy your holiday.
Lavender oil is good for relieving itches too.
Lemongrass is good as an insect repellent, as they discovered on Rough Science. It worked better than the commercial stuff.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I hope there won't be as many mozzies at this altitude. :-)

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

Yay, that's great to hear!

Hopefully you have good internet access once you're there.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I have internet access, but no LJ. Our ISP at home has got round the routing problems but not all have. I'm replying via email (if it works)