Brrr! my boiler is dying, are there any low cost loans for repairs for people in Income Support?

[Biobytes]

Yes, that is the question, the thing is buggering up for the second time in this month, and has gone through extensive repairs over the last couple of years.

I'm in IS and definitively can't pay for it to be serviced (nobody wanted to insure it after the last policy run out last year), can I get a low cost/interest? if so, does anybody now who to contact?

I have no hot water or central heating at the moment.

Thanks god! That is good news.

Now, any suggestions to warm a bath or make a pretend shower?

Ok, I just can wait for the postman to bring a reply from Warm Front. I qualify, no doubt of it, but considering the possible wait, and the fact that I have a child with achronic respiratory condition.... if at some point it becomes unsafe to manage the waiting... can anybody suggest some low cost loans for people in my situation?

Whereabouts are you? We have a couple of electric heaters we'd gladly give you and if you live near enough, you are welcome to use our bathroom to bath the little ones.

I find that sleeping bags as well as duvets work well in the kids bedrooms. Again, if you need sleeping bags we can loan you these.

Let me know whereabouts in the country you are.

Thank you Rhubarb, I don't know if you are still were you were but it is my impression that I am near the other side of the country.

But thank you, much appreciated.

I have a friend who has a spare double bedroom that I could use up to the beginning of December. So that could sort DS and I up for a few weeks, but the problem are... the dogs....

This morning they were shaking. The poor old things have not exactly much hair left, I can not keep them overnight in the same room with us as DS has asthma. So they are now kitted with DS' old baby clothes and was wondering about getting them their own hot water bottle (may need advice to see if dogs and bottles mix well).

We're in Wiltshire.

Stick a hot water bottle in their basket.

We struggle for money too and at this time of year I use the sleeping bags and they have a hot water bottle in bed about half an hour before they go to bed.

In the past I've done that thing of putting on all the pans and then carrying them to the bath. What I would now suggest is that you try and heat the bathroom and get a large bucket full of hot water. Get them to stand up in the bath whilst you bathe them using the bucket. Hair can stand not being washed for a while - you can buy spray on cleanser and conditioner now.

Try to heat just one room that you can all relax in.

Sometimes charity shops will stock electrical items that they've checked, it might be worth phoning round to see if they've got any heaters. But if you are anywhere near us, we'd happily let you have ours until you get sorted out.

Ask on Freecycle for old duvets etc for the dogs?

HAve got one of those oil radiators and a couple of jumpers for the dogs, I will cover the crate with the usual blanket to help them keep warm overnight.

I'll be back at the house after droping DS at school. So I guess I will remove all the textiles from the study so both dogs, me and radiator can share it during the day. DS is going to his dad tomorrow after school, so that is a little one less to worry about. Phew!

Thank you Rhubarb. For some reason I thought you were in Lancashire, I'm in Yorkshire.

As for Warm Front, I have been allocated someone to cme and have a look, they told me that person will contact me in 4-6 weeks, adn take it from there.

Many thanks to you all. The advice is really helping.

if they're in a crate then I'd igloo them in, def an old duvet over it, several blankets etc, something thick on the base and up the sides a bit. ARe you sure the bathroom is the warmest room?

No, not the warmest, but being the smaller is the most likely to keep the warmth.

Anyways, came back this morning to a lovely warm room, the dogs are fine. I, on the other hand... can't face the idea of being home during the day and somewhere else at night in a regular basis...

Bio, I used to live in Lancs, then I moved to France, then Cumbria and am now in Wilts.

Wish I lived a bit nearer, I would have popped over with our leccy heaters and sleeping bags.

It's awful living without heating and hot water. Our house in Cumbria didn't have central heating, just a real fire and a couple of leccy heaters. It got so so cold and a couple of times the boiler packed in too. So I really do feel for you.

Hot chocolate is a Godsend, warms you right up.

Thank you, it is the intention that counts And I think you have already helped me a lot in many other circumstances in all these years I have been around.

France.. I remember that program, would you try it again? By the way, where has Janh gone? Since she materialised at my home 3 years ago to successfully change my perception of things, I have not seen much of her around. Is she also doning a new name?

Have you name changed then? Yes I would try France again, like a shot I would! The guy who directed and shot that programme, he's the one doing 'The Family'. We're still in touch, I count him as a friend now.

I don't know what has happened to JanH tbh. She turned up at my house once too, really helped me, turned things around for me, was always there for me. Visited in France too. But I've not been in contact with her prob since before moldies kicked off. I think she's in moldies, but I'm not sure. She's just disappeared and I wish I knew why, she was such a good friend

Yes, name changed. ExH knows I get a lot of support from here and at this moment of legal battles and back stabbing I really don't want him finding out things about me through the site.

Are you in contact with the Moldies? I felt as if I were left out of a family party when all those familiar people disappeared. But anyways, I guess I was not very active in Mumsnet when that happened so it's probably my fault.

I'm not in moldies no. So I'm afraid my contact with people like JanH is really limited as I don't think she uses Mumsnet anymore. I do have her on facebook but she hasn't replied to emails.

I was only in contact with one moldie throughout the whole debacle and I've kept in contact with her, luckily she understood both sides and we've remained good friends. But I believe she's now left moldies.

Every now and then a huge row escalates about what happened back then, so you are in no way alone with your feelings. Even mentioning the 'm' word could get me into trouble on this thread, so the less said about the whole thing, the better.

Hope your boiler gets sorted soon, it's not much fun having no hot water or heating oop North in this climate.