G'day Terry, as it happened I did go to bed immediately after my last post. That is typically when I retire for the night. I'm up at that hour for a number of reasons, I'm typically a night owl, my daughter lives in Colorado and I often stay up so we can have a chat. I also have other relatives and friends in USA ad Canada so chat with them as well. I have travelled extensively over many years in Nth America, so am quite familiar with your local geography, including your weirder than our climate.
Right now it's 4.40am and your going to say "why aren't you in bed''. Well, I was until I woke up for a pee, old man's bladder. I also needed to stoke and reload the fire, It's 5c 45f here, and will probably drop a couple more deg, before sunrise at about 0700. and it might warm up to 15 or 16c a bit after lunch. The fire keeps the house warm, typically around 22c 68f. The slow combustion heater has a water jacket and heats a large 400 ltr, tank of water. this not only supplies all the hot water for the house but is connected to the under floor heating, which keeps us nice and cosy all winter. The only down side is it needs attention every 4 - 5 hours.
One thing I got used to fairly quickly is that this is a global community. here, Yes the issues raised are often very interesting and are global, also I always like to put my 10c worth in. I feel I have a lot to offer as I am formally trained as Fitter & turner, plus toolmaker, I also have a wide experience having spent most of my working life at sea as a marines engineer, having to fix all kinds of things with only the tools at hand. So I'm well versed in the philosophy "there is more than one way to skin a cat."
Having said that it's jut gone 0500 so I'm going back to bed, until about 0800.
Bob.
'