How often do you have a bath?

[Driver]

I bet the rich bastards used them to water (irrigate) their gardens.

...and if anyone complained, the rich bastards would introduce them to some exotic wildlife down at the local Colosseum. :eek:

[makka619]

Once a year, if that.

Just mention something I read on the net, no idea where, but some people were suggesting that baths are of no interest to them when buying a house. They look at the bath and think okay that has to go...

[Bleedin Thumb]

I bet the rich bastards used them to water (irrigate) their gardens.

Yep I bet they even washed their chariots and hosed down the cobbles stone as well, bloody romans!

[silentC]

In the old days, you had excess water rates, so there was a base amount that was included in the service charge and if you went above that, then you got hit with a bill. If the bill is big enough, it discourages people from filling their pools and hosing the driveways but the people who don't do those things still get to use the water they need for daily domestics without being penalised. Why did they abolish that system?

[bennylaird]

And what else have the Romans given us in return? (he pauses smugly)
XERXES
The aqueduct?
REG
What?
XERXES
The aqueduct.
REG
Oh yeah, yeah they gave us that. Yeah. That's true.
MASKED COMMANDO
And the sanitation!
STAN
Oh yes ... sanitation, Reg, you remember what the city used to be like.
REG
All right, I'll grant you that the aqueduct and the sanitation are two
things that the Romans HAVE done ...
MATTHIAS
And the roads ...
REG
(sharply) Well YES OBVIOUSLY the roads ... the roads go without saying.
But apart from the aqueduct, the sanitation and the roads ...
ANOTHER MASKED COMMANDO
Irrigation ...
OTHER MASKED VOICES
Medicine ... Education ... Health
REG
Yes ... all right, fair enough ...
COMMANDO NEARER THE FRONT
And the wine ...
GENERAL
Oh yes! True!
FRANCIS
Yeah. That's something we'd really miss if the Romans left, Reg.
MASKED COMMANDO AT BACK
Public baths!
STAN
AND it's safe to walk in the streets at night now.
FRANCIS
Yes, they certainly know how to keep order ...
(general nodding)
... let's face it, they're the only ones who could in a place like this.
(more general murmurs of agreement)
REG
All right ... all right ... but apart from better sanitation and medicine
and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater
system and baths and public order ... what HAVE the Romans done for US?
XERXES
Brought peace!
REG
(very angry, he's not having a good meeting at all)
What!? Oh ... (scornfully) Peace, yes ... shut up!

[Bleedin Thumb]

And what else have the Romans given us ?

I knew that was coming.

Craig, you may think that this thread has been hijacked, but think of this....Who gave us the bath in the first place?.....Bloody Romans thats who.

[Bleedin Thumb]

In the old days, you had excess water rates, so there was a base amount that was included in the service charge and if you went above that, then you got hit with a bill. If the bill is big enough, it discourages people from filling their pools and hosing the driveways but the people who don't do those things still get to use the water they need for daily domestics without being penalised. Why did they abolish that system?

It was probably too successful i.e. they couldn't charge the majority of people who did the right thing enough.

Now we all get slogged and there is no incentive to reduce consumption as there is no meaningful benchmark on the bill.
Mind you I dont read them anyway, thats SWMBO job.

[craigb]

Craig, you may think that this thread has been hijacked..

Yes, but I don't have a problem with that.

I wonder if I should put a hypocaust in my new bathroom?

[Bleedin Thumb]

And what may I ask is a hypocaust?

[craigb]

Wikipedia is your friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocaust

[Bleedin Thumb]

Ok, Ok and besides the Hypocaust what did thet they give us?