Archev's adventures in the Berlingo

Is it a standard size fireplace? If yes then the TV is simply going to be too high. If it's one of those lower fireplaces (like below) then it may be OK.

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The fireplace is 3 foot 9 inches high in old money.
We're changing the surround and the fire, but the height and the width will remain the same.

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@securespark

I have always read that the TV should be at eye level or below when seated. As well as making your neck sore, it strains your eyes. TV stands are the height they are for this very reason.

Media walls are really popular for the modern look, and give the opportunity to place the TV at the optimal height, hiding all the wiring and other cables, with maybe one of those glass fronted, flame effect fires underneath.

(But don’t let the family see this post, or you may be persuaded to take on even more work than you have now)!
 
Mrs S is reconsidering, but she's not sure what else to do. The only other option is the opposite wall, which would mean having your back to the fireplace, which seems daft. It's a long room, the full width of the house, with the door in an awkward place that opens onto the sofa (if you place it where we want it). So we are going to have the door casing refitted and the door opening outwards, which is fine, because it only opens onto the under stairs cupboard door. Then it doesn't obstruct the flow of the room.

The room is 5.21m x 3.76m, with a huge picture window, as was the case with many 1960s houses.

We also have two oak cabinets which were made to fit either side of the fireplace, so that excludes possible locations for the TV. She has tried having the oak cabinets on the opposite wall and the TV to the left of the fireplace and that was no good. We also have the TV currently to the left of the door, with seats opposite, on the picture window wall.

But that's no good either. We have even trawled Rightmove for houses on the estate to see what they are doing but they just have the old "TV in the corner" thing.

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Mrs S wants our sofa around 13 feet from the TV. Reading up on viewing distances, that equals a screen size in excess of 60 inches. We currently have a 50" model.
 
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Mrs S is reconsidering, but she's not sure what else to do. The only other option is the opposite wall, which would mean having your back to the fireplace, which seems daft. It's a long room, the full width of the house, with the door in an awkward place that opens onto the sofa (if you place it where we want it). So we are going to have the door casing refitted and the door opening outwards, which is fine, because it only opens onto the under stairs cupboard door. Then it doesn't obstruct the flow of the room.

The room is 5.21m x 3.76m, with a huge picture window, as was the case with many 1960s houses.

We also have two oak cabinets which were made to fit either side of the fireplace, so that excludes possible locations for the TV. She has tried having the oak cabinets on the opposite wall and the TV to the left of the fireplace and that was no good. We also have the TV currently to the left of the door, with seats opposite, on the picture window wall.

But that's no good either. We have even trawled Rightmove for houses on the estate to see what they are doing but they just have the old "TV in the corner" thing.

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Mrs S wants our sofa around 13 feet from the TV. Reading up on viewing distances, that equals a screen size in excess of 60 inches. We currently have a 50" model.
I rarely actually watch TV programs and if it’s on there’s inevitably a log fire “burning” on the screen. Above the TV set is a large infra red heater with the picture of either a boat or a highland cow (swapped occasionally) so I look down for telly / log fire and up for warmth / boat / coo.
I enjoy defying convention 😂😂
 
Saw my Ma yesterday. She suggested something so simple. I hadn't thought of it.

She said, if you're changing the fire surround anyway, why don't you get a lower one?
 
Anyway, going back to the Berlingo story. I’m really loving this machine. Not quite got it sorted for overnight travel but might head out soon with the tipi tent just to escape.
Trials with the power station and folding solar panels going well in the garden ……
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This was last night cooking my pasta bolognaise on the induction hob. The panels had been shifted to approximately due west at about 18:30. I first set them about due south at around 11:00 and tweaked them to about half way at threeish when I returned from a walk and a pinhead porridge oat restocking foray.
Overnight I asked OVO to use my new Ohme charger to have the car at 100% by 10:00 this morning so that I could drive to Tyndrum 177 miles away (return trip)
Battery full on departure and 56 miles still available on return. Predicted cost to recharge to 85% for tomorrow £1.73.
And that included plugging the power station battery in to the car cigarette lighter socket and charged it up to 75% whilst I drove.
The road was fine and the traffic very easy going and suited my 50 / 55 mph average beautifully.
The e Berlingo is definitely not fast but pulling up through Glen Ogle is a fairly steep bit of road and a wee shift up to “normal” from “eco” for a mile or so allowed a swift dispatch of a slower truck.
There is a “power” setting above “normal” but Citroen suggests you’ll only really need that for towing (wish I’d kept the towbar from one of my diesel automatic Berlingos).
 
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The nights have been a bit cold for me up till now, and I'm a bit busy for the next two weeks, but I should start making plans.
Aye same here plus my fence and garage roof storm damage proved a bit painful. I was also crawling around to locate as much shattered glass from the greenhouse and dismantle the twisted aluminium frame. I took that metalwork up to the scrapyard and received the princely sum of £12. The insurance company gave me the cost of a replacement of about £800. It was originally my Dads greenhouse and he bought it new 60 odd years ago and it’s been in three gardens since then. My dear wife grew many kilos of wonderful tomatoes etc. in it over the years so I suppose I shouldn’t have been too sad to see it go.
 
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