Get ready for winter
Even though we are coming into summer now (?), it’s time to get ready for winter.
Seem like a bit of a weird idea? It’s not. If you wait till winter to get ready for winter you won’t be ready when it arrives and you’ll spend a fortune trying to get through.
Huh?
Simple: drains and guttering; yards and gardens; heating.
All of these are cheaper and easier to sort in the warm seasons.
Did you know getting your gutters and drains cleared in the winter months costs more? Why? Because it’s harder. And more dangerous. It’s also more likely to result water incursion in the home. Which can be excruciatingly expensive to rectify, as many can tell you. You’re also more likely to get rats, if you have blocked or damaged drains. If they get under your floors and die, the smell is horrendous, especially in the hot weather.
It’s also easier to deal with overgrown gardens and weedy lawns in summer, than winter. They won’t stop growing in winter, but if you can get into weed control when it’s hot, they’re less likely to be a big problem when it’s not. And cutting back over growth allows for more natural light in the garden and better ground control and production. Just don’t go so hard you have no shade. Same with your lawns. Cut them long to reduce weed incursion and to protect the roots. Short lawns get burnt roots and weeds break through easier. You will spend less on sorting problems if you deal with them before you have no choice.
Fireplaces. Clean and service them. Check the baffles, seals and glass. And get your firewood now.
Did you know it’s up to $200 cheaper in summer. And you have more time to store and dry it for winter.
If you get a mixture of soft and hard woods, I’d highly recommend getting your soft wood from Tumu in Maraekakaho Rd, Hastings. 2 cord delivered (within 25km, further may incur a charge) is currently $385. ($310 with a gold card) and you can pay it off in advance, or pay online, or pay the driver. He carries eftpos. www.tumutimbers.co.nz...
If you aren’t in Hawkes Bay, check with your local timber merchants and pallet makers.
It’s all untreated pine offcuts. And will burn well in winter. Burns even better mixed with hard wood. It’s also cheaper than anywhere else, unless you get it free or at mates rates.
I ordered mine Tuesday afternoon and had it delivered Wednesday morning.
If you collect driftwood, leave it where it can get rained on for at least a year, before you burn it. Check with your local council about the rules around collecting fallen branches from public land and talk to your local council arborists about the wood they cut. It’s usually free. It’s a great way to stock up for the following winters.
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.5% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.4% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Recommendations for a plumber
Hi, I need a plumber to replace the cartridge in our underbench filter. Need an approx price as last one charged a very big fee for 10 minutes wok. Thanks
Hastings Community Patrol
YOUR HASTINGS COMMUNITY PATROL
The Hastings District Community Patrol is a team of local, self-funded, volunteers that play a key role in keeping our local communities safe.
We are a group of dedicated volunteers who patrol the Hastings, Flaxmere, Havelock North and Cape Coast central, urban, and rural areas, focusing on crime prevention. We support the police by acting as extra 'eyes and ears', noting anything that could be suspicious and informing police of incidents requiring urgent attention.
We also work closely with the Local District Councils and other organizations sharing a similar interest in community safety.
Quote from the local police “Community Patrols are invaluable to Police; they keep an eye on neighbourhoods and provide valuable intelligence to Police who cannot be everywhere at once”
We carry out day and night patrols in our dedicated patrol vehicles with sign written liveries that are easily identified by the community.
Our patrol members receive full training and guidance according to the National Community Patrols of NZ protocols and police standards. All applicants are fully vetted by the police on applying.
Volunteering with your local Community Patrol is a great way to make our local community safer and offers an ideal way of being part of a local volunteer team. We would like to encourage other like-minded community members to join our highly committed team. You just need to be keen to learn, have keen eyes and ears, be friendly, honest and be over the age of 18. Being a member of a community patrol could put you on a pathway to a career with the police.
We are a diverse group of the community, and so, if you have the time, commitment and want to put something back into your local community, Community Patrols are seeking new members.
Getting started: Your first step is to express your interest by contacting our recruitment website cpnz.org.nz/join-cpnz. Alternatively, you can contact the Hastings patrols on hastings@cpnz.org.nz
We invite you to join us and be part of your local volunteer group of community patrollers.
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