Cold

[jacey]

No, I don't have a cold. I am cold. Bloody cold. Frigging freezing, in fact. I sit at my desk and my feet are like two little ice blocks. I have a centrally heated house and an office with a big radiator in it. I know the office is not all that cold, but my legs and feet still get icy when I'm sitting. I've got a big wool scarf which I either double up and lay across my knee or which I wrap round and tuck into my trousers to make a makeshift extra skirt... but still I'm cold.

What do you consider to be a comfortable working temperature for static desk-bound writing?

I'm not sure whether it's the air temperature of the office that counts, but under my feet there's a layer of fitted carpet, a layer of underlay, a layer of concrete skim and a layer of 200 year old flaggstones on top of a vaulted callar which has no window in the window opening and therefore is open to the elements. The carpet doesn't feel cold to the touch, but I'm sure there's some loss of heat through direct contact. The hallway is also cooled down because the cellar entrance is under the stairs and the side wall is wood-panelled, i.e. with no insulkation between the cellar-cool air and the wood panel.

This evening I've been snuggled in front of the TV watching Heroes and as well as the rug around my knees (granny-style) I resorted to a mini (half-pint) hot water bottle in my lap.

I think tomorrow I might resort to the fleece topper I made last winter. It's long sleeved, calf-length (with side slits) and has full length sleeves and is designed to go on top of jumper and trousers. It looks a bugger if anyone comes to the door, but I don't care.

I think two jobs on the 'round tuit' list for Best Beloved are to block the cellar window and to insulate the backside of the under-stairs wall.

Comments

[footlingagain.livejournal.com]

PS: I haven't forgotten your local history queries, but I have a bit of a panic on now. Things should quieten down soon and then I'll be back to you. I've raided the library :)

[brownnicky.livejournal.com]

My office is north facing and has an open chimney and is bloody freezing. I only heat the basement in the daytime - my kitchen has underfloor heating - and so when all else fails I use the lap top and work in there.(This happens when I start to shiver) I always have a couple of thick jumpers on and something warm on my feet. I think I may buy or borrow a fan heater for in here because I am nervous about losing work when I use the usb pen between computers. I have been known to save the wrong version and lose hours of work. Mine just is a draughty, cold house and as I can't afford to double glaze it and replace all the wonky doors and windows I just live with it.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Ours is a positively breezy, cold, old house, too. We did double glaze it about eight years ago but sadly there are some faults developing. My office window must have warped (well, old houses do 'move') and one side of the window lets in a howling gale. Then there's the cellar 'ventilation' as well. I don't have an open chimney flue in my office (though there is one in the living room) but I am over the top of the cold open cellar.

I figured I can live with it as is is... and it's kinda heartening to know it's not just me that's plain weird.