Preparing for winter IV

[Pink.]

Hi everyone,

As the last 'preparing for winter' thread has now grown very long, I think it's time for a new one, and what better time of year to begin to prepare than the end of September.

So here goes....a shiny new thread. Please post below all your preparations for winter. If you want to read through the tips on the older threads you can find them here:

Preparing for Winter

Preparing for winter II

Preparing for winter III

Other links that may help:

the ice man cometh! (merged with keeping warm)

Things that worked or didn't work last winter

Frugal but happy in winter?

Lets hope it's a good one for all of us.

Pink

[singlestep]

Thanks, Pink, for the shiny new thread

I've really been feeling the cold at night - or towards the morning, more to the point. Time to look out the fleecy PJs, I think. Also have made a note to get repeat prescriptions and stuff in. I've got a cupboard full of cold and flu remedies and hankies.

[Linda32]

Its too early. For the life of me I couldn't think what Winter IV meant Intra venous winter was the best I could get Sorry.


So far, we have put the heating on for 40 mins before we get up, and when we get home. It gets too warm after a bit for it to be on any longer. Just enough to take any chill off.

Used the tumble dryer a little bit more

Put another cover on the bed, we have sheets and blankets here. We still have another two blankets in reserve for December/January

[SpikyHedgehog]

I've booked flu jabs for DS2 & me (DS1 doesn't get a free one as his asthma isn't bad enough...), & told the vets nurse to book hers!

I've checked the heating works, but resisting putting it on yet, & making sure theres plenty of blankets on the sofa for snuggling under.

[CH27]

I want to spend an afternoon bulk cooking to stock my dad's freezer up with stews & pies so I know he's always got something filling to eat.

[Popperwell]

Well, as said earlier in the week, got my thermal gloves(with and without fingers)thermal socks, thermal underwear, a gilet but I think that is too cold for winter(more for taking the chill off in the evening)perhaps between spring/summer and summer/autumn. it may nver get used but at least I have one.

I have various clothes and items for the bed to stay warm. Just found a wollen hat that was knitted for me years ago by an auntie(no longer here)but is still as good as new for outside or indoors.

But I think that I need to find a scarf and a pair or wellingtons as my next bit of prepping. The wellies seem to be the most difficult to get so far.

I did not used to bother with flu jabs but with a medical condition and kidney problems they say I should and being alone and no one to care for me, it's not good to get really ill with something like that so hope to get my flu jab on Monday.

Another task sorted...

[2tonsils]

Talking of wearing a woolly hat in bed to keep you warm, as some of you were reminds me of last winter. My husband was really feeling the cold and someone gave him a thermal hat they use for mountaineering as a gift. He took to wearing it in bed to keep his head warm and we christened it his ''Sherpa Tensing'' LOL

It worked great until one morning when I woke up suddenly and thought I had an intruder with a ski mask on in bed with me....it had pulled down over his head in the night.....I think my shreiks woke up half of Europe!

[pixie__girlie]

morning all! love the thread, will be popping by to see everyone's ideas for keeping cosy in the chilly season. I've not done too much prep yet, haven't had chance as we've been busy moving house. But hopefully my dad's going to come and sort out the loft insulation (we have some but it needs spreading out, and I don't fancy going up there with all the spiders!) and have rang a company about getting some free cavity wall insulation.

Has anybody had any good / bad experiences with cavity wall insulation?

Keep cosy!

Jo x

[nikki2804]

Originally Posted by pixie__girlie

morning all! love the thread, will be popping by to see everyone's ideas for keeping cosy in the chilly season. I've not done too much prep yet, haven't had chance as we've been busy moving house. But hopefully my dad's going to come and sort out the loft insulation (we have some but it needs spreading out, and I don't fancy going up there with all the spiders!) and have rang a company about getting some free cavity wall insulation.

Has anybody had any good / bad experiences with cavity wall insulation?

Keep cosy!

Jo x

We got cavity wall insulation in January. House is warmer but the spiders were coming out the walls for weeks

[PipneyJane]

Thanks Pink for the new thread.

Last year's thread focused mainly on inside the home. I was wondering if anyone had some garden-focused ideas. Suggestions on what we should plant now veg-wise to over-winter would be particularly welcome, in my case. (All I can think of are garlic and broad beans, and I've not had much success with either.)

[valk_scot]

Originally Posted by PipneyJane

Thanks Pink for the new thread.

Last year's thread focused mainly on inside the home. I was wondering if anyone had some garden-focused ideas. Suggestions on what we should plant now veg-wise to over-winter would be particularly welcome, in my case. (All I can think of are garlic and broad beans, and I've not had much success with either.)

Spring cabbages, winter lettuce varieties, winter salads like endive, raddichio, corn salad (these benefit from a little protection just to keep the worst of the rain off) leeks if you can find transplants, overwintering onions, any winter lettuce that you can still find transplants for in the shops like kale, brussels sprouts and curly leaved cabbages. Some of the magazines will still have plug plant offers too.

[Lucy5781]

Had my kitchen taps replaced yesterday and the plumbers then checked my toilet cistern as he found the flush a bit feeble and discovered part of the syphon broken and the base seal about to go and flood the room

Thankfully this is all out of the Landlady's pockey

I'm now awaiting delivery of a small dehumidifier to deal with the bath alcove (it's off the end of my bedroom!!) but things felt better once the toilet was sorted out so who knows how much of an issue that was actually causing!

I think I will also try having the heating running at low temp all the time as the flat really struggles to hold any heat very well... Will look into better options for the curtains etc.

Need to wear my PJs instead of having the electric blanket on low all night which I did last night as I wasn't *that* cold..... One-off

Lxx

[Possession]

A shiny new thread! My winter prep has stalled because the pressure rail I got for the tiny area by the front door falls down when I put a curtain up. : (
Can't afford a new rail at the mo and in any case don't have the wherewithal to put one up.

[Rummer]

Woohoo, a shiny new thread! Thank you!

We are currently changing things over from summer to winter in our home and it gives a lovely nesting feeling

[Ellie83]

Originally Posted by Lucy5781

Need to wear my PJs instead of having the electric blanket on low all night which I did last night as I wasn't *that* cold..... One-off

Lxx

Hehe, that's always what I tell myself and I have been using the electric blanket fro 5 days now

[bossymoo]

Thanks for the new thread. My plans are:

Get curtain rails for kitchen and landing.
MIL to split spare door curtain to make a pair for kitchen window.
Hang them. Obviously.
Few outdoor jobs, shed tidy, brush lawn mower down, check BBQ etc.
Move toys and rug from conservatory to garage room, for warm play-space
Put some essentials in a bag for the car, just in case.
Cosy up the kids beds a bit more. DS needs another duvet cover.
Insulate the lr side window. It's a bit exposed and draughty.
Get DD extra gloves.

And I think that's it for us. We have plenty of warm layers, and boots. Had loft insulated last year. Most maintenance type stuff is kept on top of.

Anyone know where to get small kiddies gloves? DD is 2, and the baby mittens you get in the hat sets for her age are too small for her hands. We tried children's magic gloves, but they are too big. She had one pair of tiny magic gloves from last year. They fit, but we've nothing else if she gets them wet...

[maverick18]

Wow fantastic new thread.

It great reading everyone's ideas.

With regards to my own prep DS who was one on Tuesday is fully kitted out with a new coat and he has plenty of hats already which strangely enough he loves.

Just got to get OH a new coat and hat, he isn't a scarf or glove person as he is used to working outside so wouldn't wear them even if i bought them. However its reminded me I do need to stock up on some thermals for him though.

I am just putting my power cut kit together so there will be a few things added to this weeks shopping list.

Blankets are already out as i suffer with arthritis so I have to admit the heating is on a little but just to warm the house up a bit. But if the blanket isnt enough we have three dogs who like to keep us warm.

Right I am off to make a shopping list. Take care everyone.

[NaughtySpot]

Originally Posted by Ellie83

Hehe, that's always what I tell myself and I have been using the electric blanket fro 5 days now

Me too! It's been on a week now and will be used daily from now on TBH. I love it though, really toasty.

[valk_scot]

I've just discovered that I need to buy DD a new winter jacket. She may measure much the same roundways as she did a year ago but the sleeves of last year's jacket are now half way up to her elbows and it's far too short. Pity, her uncle brought it back from Canada for her and it was a fantastically warm three in one type of jacket, very wind and waterproof. Oh well, one of her younger friends will undoubtably like it.

[SIRENS]

Spent 2 hours under the stairs this morning checking my winter food pile and then pulling out all the summer shoes and bagging up to go in the loft.

Dh is off for 2 weeks fom monday so he will pack the fans,shoes and bedding into the loft and bring down the boots and shoes (thicker duvets already on)