Washing machines

[robinmckinley]

 
 It’s been a filthy bloody day with heavy cold rain, nearly sleet, falling relentlessly and trapping claustrophobic humans and itchy-footed hellhounds indoors. The hellhounds are bigger and solider and warmer-blooded than my whippets were but they’ve still got whippet fur, which is to say silky and fine and without extra layers either under- or

Comments

[kalanthe]

When I visited Britain and Ireland, I kept wondering WHY - in countries that have so much rain - there were no dryers in most of the houses. Just these stand-up racks. I don't know. I never felt that my clothes were properly fluffed or something, and it took forever for things to dry. And while line-dried clothes were all fresh and such, time was again an issue and if it happened to start raining while they were out there... in they came.

One of the things I've puzzled about ever since. Along with the lack of water pressure in showers. And the lack of full enclosures in showers built into bathtubs, ensuring I got more of the bathroom wet and making me feel rather exposed. And why washing machines are often in the kitchen, but then I suppose it doesn't require another water hookup somewhere.

*grin* Just a few differences...

But even with a dryer, I've experienced the every-towel-used situation with my mom's dogs and the mud and the rain and the pent-up energy and as soon as they're dry they want out, out, out!

[robinmckinley]

I can answer one or two of these things. Fuel is MUCH more expensive over here, including things like electricity. What it costs you to run your dryer, you *notice*. Peter didn't like spending the money and even twenty years ago I was already relatively green so while I'd had a dryer in America--which I'd felt increasingly guilty about using--I didn't have too huge a struggle to give it up over here

[mythusmage]

Dogs (and cats) are endlessly fascinated by whatever you're focusing on, because it might be food.

Darkness: Mommy's hunting.

Chaos: Let's watch her kill it!

Robin: No, you sillies, you don't eat lint.

[robinmckinley]

It's also hierarchy. Oooh! Head of the pack is down where WE CAN REACH HER! Will she PLAY with us?!??

[green_knight]

That filter thing:

In Germany, washing machines are plumbed in appartment bathrooms where the wastewater goes into a narrow pipe and filtering out fluff is absolutely necessary. In Britain, washing machines are plumbed in kitchens where the wastewater goes into an outside drain; blocking those will take a considerably larger amount of fluff and washed paper towels, so British washing machines do without.

(I *still* want to strangle the stupid bitch in my previous house who washed enough paper towels _to_ block the outside drain and created an overflow pond of washing-machine-and-kitchen-sink water in the garden; cleaning out an outside drain is *not* a fun occupation.

As for the weather, it's supposed to be this lousy until Tuesday, and the second half of the week does not look better. In a word, lousy.

[robinmckinley]

Oh, thank you! I like practical bits of useless info or useless bits of practical info. It's all part of being a fantasy writer, it seems to me: picking up string-like bits of info too short to save and carefully winding them into what eventually becomes a great world-sized lump . . . :)

If this is Not Done in blog or internet courtesy I will retire blushing in confusion, but I've just clicked over to see who you are, on the grounds of oooh, another person in England, and your profile gives no clue but your journal seems to say you're another writer? But your web site link isn't working, and the error message doesn't even suggest I try again later. Please advise?

Hellhounds and I managed to bolt out for a proper walk this morning *more or less* between bursts of rain, but it's not friendly out there.

[aapreciate]

**** My German DNA has no sense of humour, and requires ample penance for the least infraction.

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I understand completely and feel *very* sympathetic about the wet, cold, dirty, difficult circumstances. Can you fit one of those nifty washer/dryer stacking dealies where your washer is, just for times like this? Winter has barely started--I hate to think of the gnashing of teeth some months from now!

But at least the opera made the weekend all worthwhile, yes?

And you may have pent up dogs and wet and dirty towels and filthy weather, but as of today, I HAVE A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. A driver's license is due to follow WEDNESDAY. Heaven help us all.

-Kath

[robinmckinley]

I have another half-finished post waiting about my Appliance Situation. The short form is, no, I don't have room for stacking ANYTHING. Also a dryer is one of those my-consumer-footprint-is-big-enough-without-one choices. And I made it through last winter with hellhounds . . . it can be done. It's just *messy.*

Not as bad as 16 year old girls, however! don't they change clothes about six times a day? :)

[robinmckinley]

Golly. My American washing machine had a filter--little trappy thing in the top. It meant when you washed dog blankets you didn't have to *wash the machine* after. But that's the point--it was easy, handy and it WORKED. The one I've got now is a lot better than nothing but . . .