the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

It's funny you should start a thread about the impending "much colder than normal" Winter we are going to be having. I'd been thinking about it myself. Didn't they say we were going to be having a hot, hot Summer, what the heck happened there???? I've got plenty fleecy blankets, and am on the look out for plenty fine fleece tops to layer and wooly socks. I don't care, not out to impress anyone. I hate being cold. I'm sitting here with a big polartec fleece blanket wrapped around me, toasty warm and cosy.

I've noticed that since I moved in here a few years ago, I've needed to put the heating on earlier in the year, used to be about October time, now it's about mid September and on for longer, switching it off around April, and need to turn it up higher to get the same effect. Have to start layering the clothes more.

Thought about getting a halogen heater, I know I saw a thread somewhere about them.

It's the elderly that I feel sorry for, having to decide whether to turn on the heating and stay warm or eat, what a choice. Everyone listening, if you know of anyone elderly that lives nearby and on their own, give them a knock every so often to make sure they are ok. There aren't many elderly people around where I live but if there were I'd be tempted to take them round a hot meal or invite them round for a while. It must be really tough for them, particularly when they don't have any friends or family nearby.

A good hot spicy chilli or curry always warms you up and keeps the bugs and flus away too. Dig out that slow cooker.

Get linings for your curtains and make sure that they don't drape over any heaters so the heat goes out the window. I remember when I was a kid the frost on the windows in the morning would be half an inch thick. Thank goodness for double glazing.

Put reflective panelling behind any heater sited on an external wall so the heat goes back into the room.

Layer your clothes, as the warm air trapped between the layers keeps you warmer than just shoving a big sweater over a teeshirt.

I've thought about getting a dehumidifier to use at times throughout the day as during the Winter my flat can be affected with condensation, despite having the heating on at a reasonble level. Any hints tips on which to get appreciated.

Check your home for draughts, using a lit candle around windows, door frames etc, be careful you don't incinerate the house though. :rolleyes:

Sausage dog draught excluders.

Insulate loft spaces/hot water tanks etc. Now, I know this is going to seem like a silly question but I have a hot water tank with like the hard foam outer covering on it, would I still need to get one of those quilted jackets for it or is it fine without. I usually have the temp set at 60 degress in the summer/autumn months but when it starts to drop in temperature I crank it up to 80 degrees otherwise I have to run away practically half the tank before I get to hot water. Any tips/hints appreciated.

Thanks all.

competitionscafe wrote:

Risottos, stews, roasts, hot soups, curries, Thai food, log fires, cozy blankets, mulled wine - I love winter.

Here you go competitions

Sofa_Sogood wrote:

Has anyone else felt cold enough to put their heating on yet?

I've had my heating on for a week or two now, it's chilly up here. Sitting here wrapped up in a big polartec fleece blanket. Just in case anyone wants to get one for this bad Winter we are going to be getting.

http://www.landsend.co.uk/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1544941&prmenbr=361&prnbr=074474&cgrfnbr=&fromsearch=yes&cat_parent=&mdiv=wl

It said on the local news here today that apparently the electricity companies are struggling to keep up with the demand for power so we are likely to get blackouts this Winter. Crikey, I think I've had one power cut in the whole time I've been in town. I remember when I was a kid we used to have regular power cuts in Winter as we lived out in the country in the middle of nowhere and it wa always quite nice, huddled around a big roaring fire and a gas lamp for light. Had a woodburning stove for heating the water etc. I like Winter when there's snow to speak of but these snowfalls we get in town, it's usually all gone by the afternoon and the kids are gutted as they always want to build a snowman. My blood has become really thin since I moved into town. On a visit to my parents a while ago went for a walk with my mam and she just went out with a little jacket on, no gloves and stuff and I had like a down jacket on, scarf, gloves the works and I was flipping freezing. Lasted about ten minutes into the walk and turned back for the warmth of the Rayburn stove back at their place.

I'm the early riser in our house (5am onwards) so I'm the one who puts the central heating on (time switch is dicky). This week I've switched the central heating on every morning.

This house has doubled glazed windows, but landlord doesn't care and the doors have huge gaps round and the roof and walls definately need more insulation. It costs a fortune each winter to keep it warm. I found making door curtains really helped (I got some curtains from the charity shop and adapted them to make them into door length). Cost me about £3 or £4 per door I think. (I joined together two curtains to make them full length). It definately cut down the drafts.

The house we are moving to is old, has sash windows, but has a wood burning stove in the kitchen. The kitchen is lovely and large so I can see us making that the main room of the house (and going on long winter walks to collect sticks!).

When I was little we lived in the middle of the country in an old house and remember the fern pattern frost on the inside of the windows - I used to try and get dressed under the bed covers. Anyone remember wearing thick vests in the winter? (and no I'm not ancient!)

Ive been feeling the cold this last week too! Had heating on e every morning and again last night for an hour. In fact got the fire on at the min even tho the sun is trying to come out. i just cant get warm! I dont think standing outside in my pj;s with the dog has helped tho lol