How to use irresponsibly?

[OldBear]

The thermometer my Wife had in the greenhouse packed up at 2 years old (old mercury ones lasted many years), a decision was made to not buy anything expensive to replace it and especially nothing with bloody batteries in it - why does a simple function like measuring temperature need batteries - which will either need replacing or recharging regularly!

Hovever it arrived, this morning and is now hung up in the greenhouse performing it's function.

thermometer-use-responsibly.jpg

I've been trying to think of any way you could use a thermometer irresponsibly, but not had much luck coming up with anything - anyone have any ideas?

[Roger]

The thermometer my Wife had in the greenhouse packed up at 2 years old (old mercury ones lasted many years), a decision was made to not buy anything expensive to replace it and especially nothing with bloody batteries in it - why does a simple function like measuring temperature need batteries - which will either need replacing or recharging regularly!

Hovever it arrived, this morning and is now hung up in the greenhouse performing it's function.
thermometer-use-responsibly.jpg
I've been trying to think of any way you could use a thermometer irresponsibly, but not had much luck coming up with anything - anyone have any ideas?

Nowadays it seems that everything has to have electronics in it (!)
Our bathroom scales or kitchen scales don't hove batteries, thinking about it neither does my office stapler

[OldBear]

You are absolutely right Roger, maybe it's my age showing through but I find the whole concept of this sort of electronics/battery in everything both ridiculous, and extremely wasteful, moreso these days when we are continually preached at to save resources, next it'll be "smart" (a well worn term) connected

Guess I'm just a grumpy OldBear

[Les4048]

I’m 67 and just the opposite being a gadget man

[OldBear]

You've just made me feel very old Les4048, I prefer simple and functional

[awbuggrit]

The thermometer my Wife had in the greenhouse packed up at 2 years old (old mercury ones lasted many years), a decision was made to not buy anything expensive to replace it and especially nothing with bloody batteries in it - why does a simple function like measuring temperature need batteries - which will either need replacing or recharging regularly!

Hovever it arrived, this morning and is now hung up in the greenhouse performing it's function.
thermometer-use-responsibly.jpg
I've been trying to think of any way you could use a thermometer irresponsibly, but not had much luck coming up with anything - anyone have any ideas?

Here's one OldBear: Many years ago I thought I 'd measure the temperature of our Aladdinique (remember those?) paraffin heater. As the red mercury claimed to the top it appeared to stop a couple of mls. short of the very top of the glass tube. Naturally, in the interest of scientific study, I continued to hold the thermometer in place until the glass shattered and sprayed red mercury down the front of the heater, which remained a permanent reminder of the experiment! Does this qualify OldBear?

[Roger]

The thermometer my Wife had in the greenhouse packed up at 2 years old (old mercury ones lasted many years), a decision was made to not buy anything expensive to replace it and especially nothing with bloody batteries in it - why does a simple function like measuring temperature need batteries - which will either need replacing or recharging regularly!

Hovever it arrived, this morning and is now hung up in the greenhouse performing it's function.
thermometer-use-responsibly.jpg
I've been trying to think of any way you could use a thermometer irresponsibly, but not had much luck coming up with anything - anyone have any ideas?

Here's one OldBear: Many years ago I thought I 'd measure the temperature of our Aladdinique (remember those?) paraffin heater. As the red mercury claimed to the top it appeared to stop a couple of mls. short of the very top of the glass tube. Naturally, in the interest of scientific study, I continued to hold the thermometer in place until the glass shattered and sprayed red mercury down the front of the heater, which remained a permanent reminder of the experiment! Does this qualify OldBear?

I'm afraid to admit that I remember the Aladdinique and Esso blue !

[awbuggrit]

And Esso pink, too, unless I dreamt that

[OldBear]

Oh yes that qualifies alright and I thought I was bad soaking fire starting wood in 4 star due to it being damp when I lived in Stratford upon Avon, match lit, applied, mighty boomf, but the fire started just fine

I don't know that particular Aladdin model, we had a Valor upright paraffin heater, my Parents had it for years and it was an absolute God send during the 70's miners strikes with a few candles, I've still got it in the roof in it's original box but without a wick. It wa my job as a boy to fill the paraffin tank on that and the Aladdin Genie (I think that was the name) double glass bottle heater. Esso Blue was whet we used, you could get the cheaper pink stuff but that didn't smell very good, I think that was for industrial heating. Tell you what though, they sure heated the place albeit with a bit of added condensation!!

[Nessi]

Remember them pink stuff heaters.

Tilly lamps they were great things that gave off light and heat, but if you touched the gause after it had been fired up a few times it would disapear in a cloud of dust

[OldBear]

I remember them well, great when going tenting when the evening goes chilly, I bought an LED one as well but there's just no atmosphere with them at all, efficient but cold, I liked the sound the gaz ones made as well

[Nessi]

I remember them well, great when going tenting when the evening goes chilly, I bought an LED one as well but there's just no atmosphere with them at all, efficient but cold, I liked the sound the gaz ones made as well

you just can't beat the old original pump action paraffin tilly

[OldBear]

I knew a couple who still used oil lamps in the 70's, they lived in a remote part of Wales where the power was regularly going down, all overhead cables which were past their best. That was an experience as well, it was actually strange going back home and turning the light on after that

[awbuggrit]

I knew a couple who still used oil lamps in the 70's, they lived in a remote part of Wales where the power was regularly going down, all overhead cables which were past their best. That was an experience as well, it was actually strange going back home and turning the light on after that

My Grandmother had oil lamps, a candle for bedtime and, very high tech, a battery torch for lighting the way to the outside bog. Water came from a well in the garden via a long handled pump in the kitchen and cooking for day to day was on a paraffin stove, the black lead range only used at Christmas. Nights were totally black. All this and only 14 miles from Shrewsbury and 5 miles from Market Drayton, a place called Wollerton. They were great days as a child staying for a week- proper feather bed and porridge you could stand a spoon up in!

[OldBear]

Aye awbuggrit, them were proper days, I slept on a feather mattress when young, they fitted perfectly too I recall - not sure I'd be as comfortable now though, but I might

[awbuggrit]

They were warm that's for sure which was a much needed attribute in Grandma's cottage even in Summer!

[OldBear]

They were warm that's for sure which was a much needed attribute in Grandma's cottage even in Summer!

Yes indeed, but most people could afford to keep warm back then I think even if only in one room where the family sat together, then it was hot water bottles at bed time, very toastie

[awbuggrit]

My Aunt had metal and also ceramic hotwater bottles. None of your namby-pamby rubber burstable jobbies , which believe me are bloody painful when they perish -nevermind soaking the bed, which is not what you want on a cold winter's night sans any form of upstairs heating- and that was our house!

[OldBear]

The only metal bed heater I saw once was one you put hot coals in, I've not seen a ceramic one. We use the namby pamby rubber jobbies but they are changed every two years to avoid burst issues
My suggestion of a bed warming maid didn't go down well with Mrs Bear for some reason so I have to do them myself.....

[awbuggrit]

Bed warming Maid Love it!