Midwinter calling, day 29

Upgrades

All the maids have been up early and the morning begins with a good breakfast of eggs, fish, bread, jam and a few 'winter' vegetables. Experiencing just one night in the B-mansion makes it so clear how much better and more comfortable the Ackerek mansion is, and how nice it is to avoid fire baskets and fireplaces. There aren't even many fireplaces here, and of course no real chimneys. Several of the rooms cannot be heated in the winter but have used coal in a form of an open iron fire basket much like a tent at the Tosra Gathering. It feels so damn primitive and really medieval, plus the risk of fire increases a lot not to mention the smoke and carbon monoxide poisoning.

So, together with the workers, we take a thorough look at the B-mansion. I'm taking pictures, video and notes and upgrades on the B-mansion shouldn't be that hard to do well, and the boiler will be in the old 'training room' because it's possible to run copper pipes up and down there and there is a hole from the yard that can be used as a fire wood chute. That room will feel really good to remodel and turn into something completely different. It's an bit oversized, but it doesn't matter if most of the space just becomes firewood storage.

The same hole from the yard can be used to run a water pipe down, so there will be rain gutters on the roof and the water will be led to a large copper container in the basement room, where the overflow is led further out through the 'hole'. However, I like backup and it should be possible to use the small pond and stream outside to pump water into a well in the yard to make it easier for animal husbandry and watering. A hidden pipeline underground is a lot of work to do, but I'm happy to pay for it. Dual systems are good when it's for important stuff like fresh water. Hot water will be two tanks, one that is heated by the kitchen chimney and is for the kitchen's needs, and a larger one that is heated by waste heat from the steam boiler in the basement and becomes hot water for the bathroom/laundry room/toilets. They are going to do a lot of masonry work, and improve all the fireplaces with chimneys, and put in a couple of more fireplaces, so that the B-mansion has double heating methods just like the A-mansion. It won't be possible everywhere, but almost. Chimney sweeping will be a little trickier to do here, but shouldn't be too difficult or dangerous. One chimney used only for room heating, will also have a small balcony slash tower add-on, simply because there is a load bearing wall and it is possible with a practical place for a staircase to get up and down there, and the view will be nice.

The kitchen will definitely be upgraded, and as much as we can, it will be a replica of the A-mansion's kitchen. The whole smoke hood has to be replaced anyway, so they will build a 'modern' stove with a bread oven. Everyone is so damn impressed with it, and the stove makes certain cooking so much easier, so of course it will get done here too. A proper bathroom with a shower can be built, but it shouldn't be much of an issue to make a small addition to the main building against the stable for four separating toilets and a small combined bath and wash room, as well as a sauna. Generally the people here have washed and bathed outdoors in the stream and pond. The living part of the stable must be improved anyway, so it is just work I happily pay for.

To increase the thermal insulation, the roof of the mansion will be much better insulated, and there will also be insulation in some places between the floors, but that will have to wait until we have Laxlanda sawmill planks available. It is no more difficult than attaching planks to the ceiling on the floor below and filling the space with insulation, just like in the A-mansion. It's nice with both the heat insulation and sound dampening. We will upgrade the windows with a double glass solution and replace the outer windows with rebar security windows. They work well and it will just feel better. I'll talk to the window manufacturer about the same special windows here with built-in ventilation. The windows are already high and narrow, and we take measurements and make notes. Likewise, the front and back door will be replaced with a security door solution, and it will be tight against the door frame, instead of the gaps it is now. We don't live here, so if the renovation takes two or three months to do, it's not a problem.

We'll split up to do today's shopping. Jane and Iselin take Ida, Hillevi and Bodil to the seamstress guild to get things, and will then go to the jeweller for Jane's jewellery, and on to the saddle maker for the special saddles. Then they have to collect all the clogs and so on.

It is only the third time in her life that Ida is in Borgarsandr, so huge for her, and she really loved being able to make the trip to far away Kambsnes. Ida will get her quarterly salary so she has some silver to buy something with although most of it will probably be saved. I've asked Iselin to surprise Ida with cheaper everyday underwear, although most people here don't really understand the point of panties after going their whole life without them, and they mostly see it like a variant of sleep wear and luxurious. However, many people like bras once they get used to them, and especially after Jane's improvements. Not unexpectedly, women with larger busts like Alith and Caecilia like them the most. Soma and Gisela are likely future candidates. Jane has kept the system I introduced with 2 cm difference between each size, and in runes, because Jane agrees it makes sense. She has never liked the double or triple letter systems, or that there are several different systems. Plus manufacturers variations.

I probably have a lot waiting for me at Digraldi and have to go around to many places, and even if I hate riding, I still have to visit the wagon maker, and can use the cargo wagon. The winter wagon will be my sambos. So that I don't run into my sambos at the Jeweller's, that is my first stop. Alith will of course come along inside, but I'll leave Caecilia and Ciara outside.