The Trials and tribulations of a Swingers Party Host
Why is it that sometimes things just fail to go right?
This year we have had 2 parties, after years of running parties you would expect that things would go as smooth as clockwork - you think wrong.
January.
We have the party booked, 40+ people have told us they are coming. The day before our oil burning furnace dies. We have a 400m2 (4000 sqare foot) house to heat, with outdoor temperatures of about 2C.
We manage to get 4 calor gas heaters running, plus another 4 electric fires running and the aircon switched to heat mode.
Next problem - we live in Spain, and Spanish Electrical systems are temermental at the best of times.
We can run a limited number of devices, 4 heaters plus aircon was taking us to the edge, as soon as we turned the cooker on - bang - the breakers all pop. OK. Turn off heat, do the cooking, turn heaters back on. Next we have guests arriving (30 minutes early) wanting coffee, so we turn the coffee machine on. Whoops no lights, trace the wiring back, melted wiring (Spanish circuitry) replace circuit with a temporary bypass, turn on and - yep, you got it, bang go the breakers - so off go a few heaters, coffee machine on coffee made, off with machine, on with heaters. That's how it went all night.
The week after the party we replace the furnace, 3rd in 4 years! and its only used for 4 months a year.
February.
OK we have heat. we also have a portable Spa. Honorable Chinese Instructions say 4 hours to heat. OK its all in place filled with warm water in plenty of time before the party. Towels all laid out, rest of house ready for the party, except the cooking.
Spa cooling rather than warming. so we turn heater to full, and off the breakers go again. heat spa or cook? So its heat awhile, cook awhile... Then people decide to get into Spa. Naked feet, damp floor, shocks!
Spanish electrics again! This house is only 8 years old. The wiring is mostly 2.5mm 3 core with proper circuit breakers. The trouble is, Spanish electricians have their own wiring system. Why waste that pretty green and yellow cable on earth, we can use that to carry a live line to the lights! Or lets use blue as live for this sector, now lets use brown, no brown left? OK use that bit of red!
We have now drained the Spa, and are moving it to another area of the property that I have wired. Its earthed. Its on its own circuit breaker. I will ignore the Chinese and start warming the water the night before.
I am sure something will go wrong in March. I will let you know.
Why is it that sometimes things just fail to go right?
This year we have had 2 parties, after years of running parties you would expect that things would go as smooth as clockwork - you think wrong.
January.
We have the party booked, 40+ people have told us they are coming. The day before our oil burning furnace dies. We have a 400m2 (4000 sqare foot) house to heat, with outdoor temperatures of about 2C.
We manage to get 4 calor gas heaters running, plus another 4 electric fires running and the aircon switched to heat mode.
Next problem - we live in Spain, and Spanish Electrical systems are temermental at the best of times.
We can run a limited number of devices, 4 heaters plus aircon was taking us to the edge, as soon as we turned the cooker on - bang - the breakers all pop. OK. Turn off heat, do the cooking, turn heaters back on. Next we have guests arriving (30 minutes early) wanting coffee, so we turn the coffee machine on. Whoops no lights, trace the wiring back, melted wiring (Spanish circuitry) replace circuit with a temporary bypass, turn on and - yep, you got it, bang go the breakers - so off go a few heaters, coffee machine on coffee made, off with machine, on with heaters. That's how it went all night.
The week after the party we replace the furnace, 3rd in 4 years! and its only used for 4 months a year.
February.
OK we have heat. we also have a portable Spa. Honorable Chinese Instructions say 4 hours to heat. OK its all in place filled with warm water in plenty of time before the party. Towels all laid out, rest of house ready for the party, except the cooking.
Spa cooling rather than warming. so we turn heater to full, and off the breakers go again. heat spa or cook? So its heat awhile, cook awhile... Then people decide to get into Spa. Naked feet, damp floor, shocks!
Spanish electrics again! This house is only 8 years old. The wiring is mostly 2.5mm 3 core with proper circuit breakers. The trouble is, Spanish electricians have their own wiring system. Why waste that pretty green and yellow cable on earth, we can use that to carry a live line to the lights! Or lets use blue as live for this sector, now lets use brown, no brown left? OK use that bit of red!
We have now drained the Spa, and are moving it to another area of the property that I have wired. Its earthed. Its on its own circuit breaker. I will ignore the Chinese and start warming the water the night before.
I am sure something will go wrong in March. I will let you know.
Labels: spanish electric, swingers party
posted by dirtydavid at 12:34 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home