Nicholsons Heating - Five Star Service

We had our regular boiler replaced with a combi boiler by Nicholson’s Heating in February 2023. Now, two years later, we feel it’s the perfect time to share a considered review of the system and its long-term performance. In short, we couldn’t be happier with the results.

Switching from a regular boiler to a combi boiler was a decision we made carefully. Our main goals were to remove the cold water tanks from the loft, reducing the risk of leaks and freezing, and to free up space in the house by removing the hot water tank from the airing cupboard. These changes have allowed us to make much better use of our home, and the results have exceeded our expectations.

We chose an ATAG IC Economiser 35 Plus combi boiler, which was quite an expensive option, but it has been worth every penny. This boiler is extremely economical—identified as the most economical boiler in Europe—and it has lived up to its reputation. Our central heating system now works superbly, and we enjoy a constant supply of hot water thanks to the switch to a combi boiler. The boiler has been incredibly quiet in operation and far less costly than the alternative of a heat pump, both in terms of running and installation. It is easy to forget that the electricity to actually run a heat pup is three times more expensive than gas per kWh, quite apart from the installation costs.

The overall installation has proven to be 100% reliable. In nearly two years, we have had no problems whatsoever. The team from Nicholson’s Heating who carried out the work were absolutely excellent—superior in every way. They completed the job on time, within the agreed budget, and within the specified time period. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and good humour made the entire process stress-free.

We were also impressed by the long-term warranty provided with the boiler. We decided to pay a little extra to extend this to 14 years, covering all parts and labour, with a lifetime replacement guarantee on the heat exchanger. This has given us tremendous peace of mind, knowing that we’re covered for years to come. Annual servicing, carried out by Nicholson’s Heating, has also been extremely cost-effective, ensuring the warranty remains valid.

As part of the installation, we opted for the Hive wireless control system instead of Nest, and it has been absolutely brilliant. It allows us to control the boiler via the Internet when we’re away from home, and the usual timer and thermostatic controls in the wireless package work seamlessly. The Hive system has been flawless, with no glitches whatsoever, and we highly recommend it to anyone considering a similar setup.

In conclusion, we cannot recommend Nicholson’s Heating, the ATAG IC Economiser 35 Plus boiler, and the Hive system highly enough. This has been a terrific installation that has transformed our home’s heating and hot water system. It is economical, reliable, and efficient, and the workmanship was second to none. A huge thank you to Nicholson’s Heating for a job done to the highest possible standard!

We have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Nicholson’s for your heating needs.

Tackling Shoplifting in Supermarkets: A Fair Approach for Honest Shoppers

Supermarkets across the UK are facing a growing problem with shoplifting, and in response, new anti-theft measures are being introduced. One recent development is the trial of trolley-weighing scales at a Tesco store in Gateshead. These scales check whether the total weight of scanned items matches the expected total before allowing payment. If there’s a discrepancy, a staff member conducts a manual rescan.

Some shoppers have expressed concerns, feeling they are being treated like criminals, while others see it as a necessary step to combat theft. The reality is that shoplifting is a major issue, costing UK retailers £2 billion a year, with thefts rising sharply in recent years. Unfortunately, these losses are passed on to honest customers through higher prices.

A Better Way to Combat Theft

While technology like trolley scales may help, there are other proven methods that could be even more effective:

1. Random Exit Checks — A simple but powerful deterrent. Stores like COSTCO already have a system where exit door staff randomly check trolleys against receipts before customers leave. This would be far less intrusive than scanning entire trolleys while shoppers wait in line.

2. Understanding the Real Discrepancies — It would be interesting to see how many checkout errors actually result in people overpaying rather than underpaying. Realistically, it’s far more common for shoppers to “forget” to scan an item than to scan one twice. We shouldn’t pretend that there are any more than a tiny number of “honest mistakes”.

3. Zero Tolerance for Shoplifting — Theft should not be ignored or written off as part of the cost of doing business. If supermarkets and the Police prosecuted every case, it would send a clear message that stealing will not be tolerated.

4. Banning Orders — People stealing from stores should be banned from them. I would like to see systems implemented whereby membership schemes and the like could be leveraged to at least in part restrict store access.

5. Controlled Sales for High-Risk Items — Alcohol, expensive cuts of meat, and other frequently stolen goods should be sold from dedicated staffed counters rather than freely accessible on shelves. This simple step would dramatically reduce theft of high-value items.

Honest Customers Should Welcome Theft Reduction

For those who shop fairly and honestly, there is nothing to fear from these measures. In fact, reducing theft benefits everyone. Every stolen item ultimately increases prices for the rest of us, so effective anti-theft policies should be welcomed. While supermarkets must strike a balance between security and customer experience, ensuring fairness and keeping prices down should be the priority.

Another SpaceX Disaster: How Many More Failures Can We Accept?

On Thursday, yet another SpaceX rocket exploded shortly after launch from Texas, raising serious concerns about the company’s approach to space exploration. The un-crewed Starship, the largest rocket ever built, suffered what SpaceX termed a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”—a euphemism for catastrophic failure—after losing contact with the ground. As a result, flights were grounded, and warnings were issued about falling debris.

The environmental impact of these repeated failures is staggering. SpaceX has now tested the Starship eight times, with this being the second consecutive failure. Each launch consumes vast amounts of resources and contributes to pollution in an era when we are already struggling to mitigate climate change. Worse still, fiery debris was reportedly seen raining down from the sky over Caribbean island nations—another grim reminder that these failures are not just theoretical setbacks but have real-world consequences. How much longer can this reckless approach continue before the world says enough is enough?

One must also question whether anyone would truly feel safe boarding one of these rockets. If Starship keeps exploding during unmanned test flights, how can we ever trust it to transport people? SpaceX continues to insist that failure is part of the learning process, but at what cost? With NASA relying on Starship for future Artemis moon missions, should we be more concerned about the safety risks being normalised?

Meanwhile, the man behind the company, Elon Musk, has yet to comment on this latest disaster. His silence speaks volumes. A visionary he may be, but leadership requires accountability, and time and again, Musk seems content to let SpaceX’s failures speak for themselves rather than address them directly.

Perhaps the most fundamental question we should be asking is: why are we so determined to build bases on the Moon and Mars when we have yet to sort out our own planet? While billions are poured into interplanetary ambitions, Earth faces wars, environmental crises, economic struggles, and social inequality. Shouldn’t we focus our efforts here first before launching even more debris into the sky?

Space exploration has always been an exciting and noble pursuit, but it cannot come at any cost. Until SpaceX demonstrates a more responsible approach—both in terms of safety and environmental stewardship—is it time to reconsider the wisdom of these continued tests. There must be limits to how many times we can excuse explosions as “learning experiences.” After all, the fallout—both literal and figurative—affects us all.