really old style living?

annie123

Today I have felt really old style, as I've had no so**in heating and I'm frozen:mad:

Boiler started making funny noises just after hubby left and packed up shorty after.
So I have been dressed for an Arctic expedition, moved the computer into the living room and pulled up the sofa next to the coal fire (made with the last bits in the bag) reading the web and knitting socks badly, but I am getting better with each pair.
Felt very old fashioned:D
Outside of this room it's between 8-10c in here 14-15c.
Hope hubby can fix it tonight.


Mardatha, made me think of your DD in that cold stone wall house.
How's she coping with the cold and snow?

mardatha

Oh annie you need to stash coal! - a coal fire works if you a) sit on top of it and b) dont open any doors ! LOL
The daughter is doing ok. keeping the coal fire in the livingroom on low all day and all night, which heats up the walls. The wee ones have a tiny fireplace in their room, so they get a fire lit an hour before they go through to bed. She uses a calor gas heater for the upstairs rooms for the teenagers just for an hour or so before bed. The kitchen is like mine, faces north and BALTIC. She has a wee halogen heater in there while she's cooking. The main prob is that the doors are old and wood and warp in the wet - wont close properly so let in draughts. But she bought a sledge and everybody is happy

ceridwen

Mardatha

Would it be possible for your daughter to fix up a door curtain across the back door? If she got summat thick/heavy up there on a pole then I think it would probably help a lot...

mardatha

yea she should do that

annie123

:jI've got heating again, well done hubby:j

I did have a stash of coal.....3 10kg bags:D enough for london usually but got through all that this week.
Hubby is going to get several from the petrol station up the road and store them in the back garden.
He came home with 2 tonight, its a start.

Its been nice sitting here wrapped up on the sofa by the coal fire, knitting listening to radio 4.....but 1 day of having to do that is enough for me.

Went down to 8c up to 10c now, going to leave it on for a few hours to get some warmth back into the place.

What modern thing couldn't I give up........central heating I've discovered. Lived without it when my son little, didn't like it then either.

NualaBuala

In the olden days, did folks sleep more in the winter? I'd be curious to know what hours they kept. I guess there was a big difference depending on your station in life. But say for farmers/smallholders?

I've decided I'm going to have a go at making my own soap. Am not particularly looking to do it on the cheap - but I would like to make nice soap that will be gentle on my skin. I have the lye (and am comfortable enough with that as have used it lots in labs). Could anyone point me at some soap-making websites or offer advice on recipes? I don't want to use tallow or palm oil but I know I need some equivalent so any advice would be welcome. I know some folk use soap for shampoo too, am interested in that idea.

Edit: Annie - am so glad you've got heat again!

mardatha

http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2010/10/soap-making-tutorial.html

this looks like a nice site ...? I used to make soap but not real soap. I use offcuts from a friend who runs a soap business and its gorgeous. But I cant be assed with it, no patience to wait 6 weeks for it to cure

Or here-
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldprocesssoapmaking/ss/sscpsoap.htm

ginnyknit

Nualabuala I beleive people worked by natures clock - in olden days though women seemed to have much to do indoors most of mens work was outside so they lived by the light except for the late night check on thae animals. I really don't know how they existed, the cold is wearing me down.
The builders are supposed to be coming tomorrow to finish all the work here - I ain't holding ma breath :( To cap it all a field mouse has got in through the hoel in the bathroom wall and is snuggling down in DS's room as we speak. However we havent told his girlfriend as I imagine she will be a bit upset. Hoping it runs outside for its brekkie before the workmen arrive :rotfl:otherwise i will have to borrow a humane trap tomorrow and rescue it.

Busy making pressies after watching Kirstys Xmas so am going to get out of my freezing office and snuggle up with the cat and sew.

One day this house will be sorted, at the mo I cannot find my herbs and spices and realised my beautiful dinner service has been freezing in the shed for a month:eek:

NualaBuala

Ta for linkies Mar, will have a read.

So Ginny, it sounds like only men got to rest in winter! The women were probably hard at with all the indoor jobs.Typical!

Really hope your builders finish up soon,must be v stressful. I had a mouse, caught it in the humane trap and we were both terrified of each other I reckon. Poor wee thing. I heard you have to release them a few miles away or they will come back but not sure if that is just for a house mouse.

andrinaperry

there is a really good US site called foodstoragemadeeasy.com this site promotes a three month supply of goods and offer baby steps to get there

Andrina