Belmont news is brought to you by the team at The Hutt News
Recent posts
Thank you for using Neighbourly
Don’t shiver in silence! Use these 5 simple (and cheap) techniques to warm up your home and stay toasty this winter.
Quick Summary
• Open curtains in the day, close them at night
• Make and use draft excluders
• Install window insulation films or use bubblewrap
• Keep furniture away… View moreDon’t shiver in silence! Use these 5 simple (and cheap) techniques to warm up your home and stay toasty this winter.
Quick Summary
• Open curtains in the day, close them at night
• Make and use draft excluders
• Install window insulation films or use bubblewrap
• Keep furniture away from heat sources and use rugs/blankets to insulate the floor
• Use as few rooms as possible and close off the rooms you aren’t using
1) STRATEGIC CURTAIN USE
After double-glazing, curtains are the next line of defence against the chill of winter. Thermal lined ones are best, and floor-to-ceiling ones provide a good ‘seal’ of warmth.
However, it’s also important to know when to open and close these curtains to get maximum effectiveness out of them. Generally, when the sun is up, keep the curtains open to let the sunlight and warmth in. As soon as the sun goes down, close them to trap that heat in overnight.
The advanced version is:
• In the morning, have north-facing and east-facing curtains open. Keep south-facing curtains closed throughout the day.
• In the afternoon, close the east-facing curtains and open the west-facing curtains. Keep the north-facing curtains open throughout the day.
• Once the sun sets, close all the curtains (including the north-facing ones).
• Repeat in the morning.
Curtains aren’t just for windows either! Pinning a rug or blanket over an external door can help give it an insulation boost too. Pro-tip: cover up pet flaps in the same way.
2) MAKE (AND USE) DRAFT EXCLUDERS
Draft excluders are long pieces of thick material, usually in the shape of a sausage, that are placed at the bottom of doors to keep the cold out and the warm in. You might be surprised at how much of a difference blocking even a small gap can make!
Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...
Humans have enjoyed wool for over 10,000 years and it continues to be a coveted textile in both high end fashion and interior design due to its many qualities. Here we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wool, sharing the tale of this ancient fibre’s origin, production and inherent attributes. … View moreHumans have enjoyed wool for over 10,000 years and it continues to be a coveted textile in both high end fashion and interior design due to its many qualities. Here we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wool, sharing the tale of this ancient fibre’s origin, production and inherent attributes.
ORIGIN
Britain is said to have lead wool manufacturing through spinning and weaving pre 1900 BC, a skill highly prized beyond their shores. Sheep were first exported beyond Europe to South Africa, New Zealand and Australia toward the very end of the 1700s. We have had a long time to accustom ourselves to the incredible natural qualities of wool and it is quite literally woven in to our trading, cultural and farming histories.
How does wool come to be? Fleece is shorn from sheep annually with a new fleece produced every year (unless you are Shrek the Sheep, who avoided shearing for 6 years – once finally caught in 2004 he produced enough wool for 20 large men’s suits, or 27 kg… blimey!). Once shorn, fleeces are thrown clean side down onto a wool table, skirted (a process to remove undesirable parts of the fleece), folded and rolled to determine class by a qualified wool classer. Bales of wool are then sent to be scoured, a bathing/cleaning process to remove dirt and impurities such as sweat and vegetable matter. Quality is determined by diameter, crimp, yield, colour and staple strength. Finer wools are used for apparel manufacture and heavier for soft furnishing textiles and carpets/rugs.
There are a wide variety of ways to process wool in to differing yarns, including worsted – a very fine yarn spun from carded wool producing a lustrous and smooth product especially suited to apparel. You may also be familiar with felted wools which are produced with heat, pressure and moisture compressing the fibres, entangling them together into a matted textile with a dense, ‘foamy’ or almost spongy appearance and feel. The woollen system of preparing carded wool for spinning ensures short fibres are retained, sometimes requiring combing. Wool can be spun to yarn on its own, or in conjunction with other fibres which can add desirable qualities and attributes to the finished fabric.
Despite a reputation as a land of sheep, New Zealand is actually the 4th largest producer of wool, with the top spot being taken out by Australia, responsible for 25% of global wool-clip. International wool production is about 2 million tonnes, 60% of which is apparel. Approximately 3% of the international textile trade is comprised of wool. We would like that number to be a little higher!
RENEWABILITY
A natural fibre similar to human hair, wool is made of keratin and therefore readily biodegradable. As long as there is grass to graze on, sheep will continue to produce fleece, making it an ideal renewable fibre. Safeguarding the environment is part of the important work undertaken by woolgrowers to guarantee future production and industry longevity. Due to the high quality and durability of wool, woollen products have wonderful longevity and it is also excellent for re-use and recycling. In some instances, wool products can be returned from the interior and fashion sectors to be carded and re-spun in to yarn for re-weaving – an excellent way to reduce waste and extend the life of the material. Because of its hardy nature, when properly looked after, wool has a longer lifespan than many other fibres - if you have ever visited an antique/vintage/mid-century furniture trader, you will often find original wool and wool blend upholsteries still going strong even after a few lifetimes, albeit in need of a good clean!
Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...
Book your free Sound Experience in your local bloom hearing clinic and try the newest almost invisible hearing aids.
They stream sound seamlessly from your phone (Android and iPhone) and can adjust to any situation to fit your lifestyle.
Our friendly, qualified, staff is here to support you… View moreBook your free Sound Experience in your local bloom hearing clinic and try the newest almost invisible hearing aids.
They stream sound seamlessly from your phone (Android and iPhone) and can adjust to any situation to fit your lifestyle.
Our friendly, qualified, staff is here to support you on your journey to better hearing. Don’t miss out, book today.
Advertise your entry-level and apprentice roles with Competenz through our free online job board, we have pre-qualified and motivated jobseekers ready to match with your organisation.
Find your next apprentice with Competenz!
Said to be an 'Historic Property' which is what we knew as 'Daysh Cottage' at 884 High St has now been removed and thankfully taken to Wairarapa to be renovated.
HCC Archives Plans of the Cottage [corner High and Daysh once Cottle St roundabout] show that in 1948 - Welsford the… View moreSaid to be an 'Historic Property' which is what we knew as 'Daysh Cottage' at 884 High St has now been removed and thankfully taken to Wairarapa to be renovated.
HCC Archives Plans of the Cottage [corner High and Daysh once Cottle St roundabout] show that in 1948 - Welsford the Chemist - renovated the cottage while giving his work address 868 High St, as a contact.
Closest history is that Daysh sold to Cottle 1900 and he in turn sold the land for 23 sections in Park Ave suburb.
Megan Richter and Graeme Ross on the St James bells. We are taking part in the Chime Around the World today as part of the bicentenary celebration of the invention of the ‘Ellacombe Chimes’.
anzab.org.au...
Our SPCA Pet of the Day is Opal, who is approximately ten months old.
"Hi there, my name is Opal and I am special girl looking a special home. If you are looking for a goofball dog then I'm the girl for you. I can be very silly, so if you are looking for a laugh then look no further. I … View moreOur SPCA Pet of the Day is Opal, who is approximately ten months old.
"Hi there, my name is Opal and I am special girl looking a special home. If you are looking for a goofball dog then I'm the girl for you. I can be very silly, so if you are looking for a laugh then look no further. I am looking for a home with adults only and without small animals due to my quirks and behaviours shown previously. This kind of environment will help me to thrive in training and help me to settle into my new home. I always have a pep in my step and worm my way into peoples' hearts in very little time. I look forward to continuing training with my new owners and am sure to put a smile on your face at the end of a long day. I do come with a medical waiver that my new owners would need to be made aware of. If you think I am the gal for you, contact the canine team for more information."
Nature is far too beautiful to be kept outside. Create a haven in your home with the Resene Willow Wallpaper Collection. With designs to help you relax, recuperate and revive, this collection will help make your house a home.
View the full Resene Wallpaper Collection at your local Resene … View moreNature is far too beautiful to be kept outside. Create a haven in your home with the Resene Willow Wallpaper Collection. With designs to help you relax, recuperate and revive, this collection will help make your house a home.
View the full Resene Wallpaper Collection at your local Resene ColorShop or get a taste of the latest releases online
The days are getting shorter and wetter. Winter is a few weeks away. To help get Winter ready keep your drainage flowing properly on your property. Take some time to make sure that drains and gutters are free from debris.
Maintaining your existing drainage solutions and freeing them from any … View moreThe days are getting shorter and wetter. Winter is a few weeks away. To help get Winter ready keep your drainage flowing properly on your property. Take some time to make sure that drains and gutters are free from debris.
Maintaining your existing drainage solutions and freeing them from any build-up of natural debris (such as grass, weeds, summer growth, fallen leaves and silt) on your property is essential during this time of the year.
If you have any questions or need help with drainage solutions, give us a call. We're a local family business and here to help.
Our Pet of the Day is Rio who belongs to Sonia Saba from Martinborough.
"Rio comes to work in the vineyard everyday, rain, shine or even frost. Hence the Jacket."
Remember if you want your pet featured on Neighbourly, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo. Please remember … View moreOur Pet of the Day is Rio who belongs to Sonia Saba from Martinborough.
"Rio comes to work in the vineyard everyday, rain, shine or even frost. Hence the Jacket."
Remember if you want your pet featured on Neighbourly, email us on yourpet@dompost.co.nz with a recent photo. Please remember to say what suburb you live in.
Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs continue to test for COVID-19 across the region with 3713 swabs having been administered on Thursday 24 June across Kāpiti, Porirua, Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt, up from 2100 swabs the previous day. 💛
Thank you to everyone who needed a test … View moreHutt Valley and Capital & Coast DHBs continue to test for COVID-19 across the region with 3713 swabs having been administered on Thursday 24 June across Kāpiti, Porirua, Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt, up from 2100 swabs the previous day. 💛
Thank you to everyone who needed a test and got one, and to all the amazing staff at our testing sites!
Ka pai tō mahi whānau 💛✨
Just a reminder, if you have been to a location of interest (bit.ly...) or are displaying COVID-19 symptoms please call Healthline (0800 358 5453) to book a test. A full list of testing locations and hours are available on our website: bit.ly...
Read more here: bit.ly...
How do you know it’s winter? When the windows start dripping. While it might seem like just another staple of New Zealand homes, you don’t have to put up with a pool of water at the bottom of your windows every morning.
How condensation forms and why it matters: Condensation is the result of… View moreHow do you know it’s winter? When the windows start dripping. While it might seem like just another staple of New Zealand homes, you don’t have to put up with a pool of water at the bottom of your windows every morning.
How condensation forms and why it matters: Condensation is the result of water warming up, evaporating, then turning back into a liquid once it touches a cold surface. You know when you breathe onto a mirror and you can use your finger to write messages in the remaining mist? That’s condensation. The same thing happens with the moist air in your home and your cold windows.
What's the big deal about moisture anyway? Moisture doesn’t just make your home feel cold and damp, it causes mould too. Mould has all sorts of nasty effects on your health and it thrives in wet environments.
The condensation on the inside of your windows is a good indicator that there is too much moisture in your home. You can get accurate readings from a ‘hygrometer’; a cheap little device that you can get from many hardware stores that tells you exactly how humid the room is.
Ideally, you’d use one in each room of your house over the course of a few days to get an idea of which room is in most need of attention. If the reading is over 65% relative humidity and below 18 degrees Celsius, it might be time to take the following steps, depending on the room.
Kitchen
Boiling water and cooking kai releases up to 3 litres of water every day---it’s one of the worst offenders in the fight against wet windows. Doing the dishes isn’t much better, contributing up to 1 litre per day. To reduce the impact, remember to:
• Keep the extractor fan on. Your range hood should be larger than the cooking surface it’s venting, and should be venting directly outside---not to the roof space. Otherwise, it might end up damaging the insulation and internal roof structures. If you’re renting and the extractor fan doesn’t tick those boxes, it’s worth discussing with your landlord. They don’t want moisture or mould in your home either.
• Keep pots covered. If you’re boiling potatoes, pasta or just making a cup of coffee or tea, keep the lid on while the water heats up and while the contents cooks. Not only does this keep the steam inside, it also means the water boils faster---less energy used, a lower utility bill, and a faster dinner!
BATHROOM
Don’t worry, cleaning your teeth isn’t spreading moisture into the air, no matter how vigorously you scrub. But the bath and the shower certainly are, with each person releasing 1.5 litres of water per day with their washes.
Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...
Clelands store was close to Daysh, Cottle, Capt J T Adams and Adam Gordon opposite Masons Gardens.
History of Lower Hutt long gone.
This picture of a well known Wellingtonian should not be too difficult. What do you remember about her?
© Neighbourly 2024
Loading…