The Final Advent: A Season of Challenges

Posted on by Ilze

Advent has always been a time of anticipation and preparation, a season to cherish quiet moments and reflect on the blessings around us. But this year, the final Advent feels more like a whirlwind of chaos and uncertainty. A mess has crept into our home, and I’m not sure where it will lead us.

First, my mom came to spend the holiday season with us. It’s always a joy to have her here, but unfortunately, she’s fallen sick. She’s been feeling unwell for days now, and seeing her like this has added a layer of worry to an already stressful time. We’re doing everything we can to help her feel better, but it’s tough to watch someone you love struggle.

As if that weren’t enough, our central heating system decided to betray us at the worst possible time. For those who may not be familiar with the implications, let me explain: when it’s freezing outside, a lack of heating indoors doesn’t just mean discomfort. It means the risk of the temperature inside dropping so low that the pipes could freeze and burst. And we’re not just talking about a few radiators here – our entire house is equipped with an underfloor heating system. The thought of it failing is a nightmare I’d rather not imagine.

Without heating, the house has already started to lose its warmth. We have the heaters in, we have electricity and use that to heat the hosue. We’re layering up and doing our best to conserve warmth, but the truth is, we’re not sure if or when the heating can be restored. The financial toll of such a failure is terrifying to contemplate. Replacing or repairing an underfloor system is no small expense, and in this moment, I’m not sure we can afford to lose our house to the winter.

This Advent, instead of peace and calm, we’re grappling with fear and frustration. I’m trying to remind myself of the resilience we’ve shown throughout this house’s renovation journey, of the countless challenges we’ve faced and overcome. But this? This feels like one of the biggest tests yet.

For now, we’re holding onto hope, bundling up against the cold, and doing our best to keep spirits high despite the circumstances.

Ilze

P.S. Finally we put on our Christmas tree, love the aroma it brings…

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31 thoughts on “The Final Advent: A Season of Challenges”

    1. Thank you so much for your kind and warm wishes; they mean a lot to me. This season has been challenging, but knowing there’s support and care from people like you truly brings comfort. We’re doing all we can to keep warm and help my mom recover. Your thoughtfulness makes a big difference—thank you!

      I was so inspired by your last post and particularly by your grandmother’s range that I started looking for a Victorian-style cast iron fireplace to build into a wall and use as a candle fireplace (a fake one, since we don’t have a chimney). I think I’ve found one option! But first, we need to sort out the central heating problems. I bet it will take weeks for us to recover from all this.

      Sending warm wishes to you and your loved ones as well. ❤️

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    1. Thank you for your thoughtful words. I completely understand what you mean about the “Like” button feeling inadequate—it’s been a tough time, and your hope means a lot. We’re doing everything we can to manage the situation and stay optimistic. Your support truly makes a difference—thank you, Derrick!

      It’s 18C inside!❤️

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    1. Thank you for your encouraging words. It’s true that life often throws challenges when we least expect them, but I’m staying hopeful that we’ll get through this, just like we have with other obstacles. Your support means a lot!

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        1. Thank you for your kind thoughts—it means a lot. Unfortunately, we already know it’s major. Jānis is pretty good with these things, and it’s clear the compressor is dead and needs to be replaced. We’re hoping to get it sorted as soon as we can, though it’s definitely a challenge right now.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to me right now. I’m hoping for a quick recovery for my mom and that the heating issue gets resolved soon. Your support is truly appreciated!

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  5. The “like” I put on this post is for your lovely Christmas tree, certainly not for your circumstances 😦 I’m sorry for all the trouble. Praying God will work it all together for good and your holidays will be warm, healthful and blessed.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I really appreciate the thought behind the “like.” Your well wishes mean a lot during this challenging time, and I’m hopeful things will turn around soon so we can enjoy the holidays in warmth and good health. Thank you again!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I’m really hoping my mom feels better soon, and that we can get the heating issue sorted out as well. Your support means a lot, Beth!

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  7. i’ve got a little bit of an issue dampening the holiday as well. sending positivity to you and your family and good luck wishes that the central heating system can be resolved.

    i have had a pipe burst on me for a reclamation project during the winter. it was literally hell on earth. the only thing I can advise for your particular case is to run every faucet you have in the house, the best way to prevent frozen pipes is to keep water flowing through them. run the cold water handles only as hot water (as counterintuitive as it sounds) is susceptible to freezing. Mike

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    1. Thank you so much for your thoughtful message, Mike, and for sharing your experience. I’m really sorry to hear you had to deal with a burst pipe—it sounds like an incredibly stressful situation. Your advice is really helpful, and we’ve been thinking about that too. We also have a circulation pump in place, and so far, we’ve managed to keep the house at 18°C, which is a relief! It’s not perfect, but we can manage until Monday, when we might need to call in some local specialists. Thanks again for your support!

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        1. I’ll write a blog post about this experience… Or… maybe I would want to forget it as soon as possible 🙂

          Short: The compressor, which is part of our geothermal heating system, isn’t working. The bigger issue is that it’s the holidays, so getting things fixed is even more challenging. Thankfully, Jānis managed to get the replacement part, but installing it is no small task—it involves welding and flushing the refrigerant under a vacuum.

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  9. Ilze, a couple more things –

    prioritize your water pump. particularly where the pipe extends into the ground. if you can, get a heat source there. in one project, i had a water pump that was in an unheated veranda and i put an electric heater to radiate heat onto the pipe – i think you can also wrap a blanket around it.

    if you have any part of the house’s foundation that has a hole where cold air can go into the underground pipe area, cover it up tightly with whatever you can. as ironic as it sounds, snow is a very good insulator. i would plow snow into the side of an old house and we would pat it down until it was packed densely to cover any holes.

    I’m sure you and your husband know, but in these times of cold the wind is the true enemy.

    this may seem superfluous but flush your toilets at 2 or 3 in the morning as this is when the house is coldest. this will also get water running.

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  10. Oh my gosh, Ilze, are there no service companies that can help? I’ve never heard of a home being heated entirely by underfloor heating. I hope the heat can be repaired somehow and very soon. I hope your mum feels better soon. 🙏🏻❤️

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    1. It really is a mess! The compressor, which is part of our geothermal heating system, isn’t working. The bigger issue is that it’s the holidays, so getting things fixed is even more challenging. Thankfully, Jānis managed to get the replacement part, but installing it is no small task—it involves welding and flushing the refrigerant under a vacuum. Fingers crossed, we can sort it out soon – tomorrow. Thank you for your kind words and well wishes for my mum—I really appreciate it! ❤️

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  11. Oh Ilze, what an awful way to finish out the year. Here’s hoping your mother and the heating system are both on the mend soon. Wish I could send you all more layers to wear. Instead I can only wish you a merry and much warmer Christmas and New Year.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful message—it truly means a lot during this challenging time. Staying positive hasn’t been easy, but we’re holding on to hope. Some progress should start on resolving things around the 27th. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful Christmas and a bright, happy New Year!

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