Good Stuff Lesley,
I'm hoping we can start chiming-in soon with input on these things. We put mains gas to our place for heating, cooking and the on-demand water heater (boiler) thinking it would be cheaper than electric. The gas bills from last year for just a couple weeks in the winter were horrifying. We need to learn if it was just me screwing up with the gas heating stufa, unusual cold, my long hot American therapeutic showers, or the fact that we are not residents -- yet to get reduced prices for gas and electric.
We've been in our contractor's lovely large new home in Papasidero where his family spends their winter days cornered in the warm kitchen w/ fireplace before scampering to bed in bedrooms at 10C, and the rest of the 250 msq house goes unused even tho' there are radiators throughout. Simple frugality or horrible costs?? We'll learn soon. Our Italian at the time was not good enough to ask such questions without risk of insult to someone.
We plan to keep close records on utility usage and costs starting next month on arrival.
Can't wait to see your daffodils. This Wednesday is hopefully the final time in my life that I will be skiing at someone else's will. Perhaps it's time Brian takes up golf and goes to Cetraro with me 22 February. Shall I call for a tee time?
Doug
Santa Domenica Talao
Il Terrazzo Italiano