Preparing for winter II

meanmarie

Winged One....where did you get the wind-up torch in Dublin??

Think that the Aldi offers are not always the same in UK and Ireland, heard someone talking here about wool last week and have seen none in ROI

About freezing milk in ice-cube bags, I have a cousin who always has one of these in her freezer as she says that a popped out 'cube' is just enough milk for a cuppa....but I have frozen milk in plastic cartons for years....always full cream as that's the only milk I buy, it goes yellow when frozen but is fine when thawed.

Marie

NualaBuala

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Just make sure you loosen the lid as the milk will expand upwards are it freezes

Oh I never knew you were meant to do that! Maybe I've been lucky - have just stuck the cartons or plastic bottles straight in the freezer and they were fine. I did think something was wrong when the frozen milk went yellow but apparently that's ok and it goes back to normal when defrosted.

EstherH wrote: »

Thanks. So is it like a snuggy? I got one fromt the JML stand at Asda last year. It is alright for sitting on the settee with but I have to take it off to move or hold it up and it falls off my shoulders.

I noticed the socks were priced in euros but didn't connect it with being Ireland, just thought they had used that sound instead of £ - I can be dim at times.

Just looked at the link and it is like a snuggy.

Well if you were prepared to pay the price in euros, it'll be even cheaper in pounds - yay! Wasn't sure what a snuggy was but it sounds lovely.

meanmarie wrote: »

Winged One....where did you get the wind-up torch in Dublin??

Think that the Aldi offers are not always the same in UK and Ireland, heard someone talking here about wool last week and have seen none in ROI

About freezing milk in ice-cube bags, I have a cousin who always has one of these in her freezer as she says that a popped out 'cube' is just enough milk for a cuppa....but I have frozen milk in plastic cartons for years....always full cream as that's the only milk I buy, it goes yellow when frozen but is fine when thawed.

Marie

Oh, thanks for the milk-ice-cube-for-tea tip, very handy. Re the Aldi/Lidl thing - I'm not certain, but I think Lidl has dfferent offers between here and the UK but the Aldi offers are the same. Hope we get the Lidl wool offers soon - I think I can justify a treat! If you're looking for a wind-up torch, they have them in Argos or else that shop that Winged went to is Muji on Chatham St (just off Grafton St) - it's got so many nice things that I should really avoid it!

Savvy_sewing

Just searched for the thread, as I remembered trying to ollow it last year. The Warm Front grant ddnt happen in the end, and it was a bitterly cold winter for me, with learning to get used to an old cottage (rented) after a modern exec house with all modcons!.
The draughts are still a problem, as the landlord never did insulate either.

This winter will be different as it will have to be the open fire or an electrc fire in the sittingroom, as the woodburning stove is in the diningroom. I moved around last year, but this year with the toddler now, there is no chance. DS sleeps in there!
I shall be trawling through this and the old thread, to get inspired again.

The first thing is a new letterbox and draughtproof around the two main doors. We dont have a loft access, so cannot insulate there. The curtains are the landlords, so I will make myself some heavyduty ones of my own. Fleece/lining/etc where I can.
The throws from last year can be dug out for the sofa is leather and cold!
I may even make warmer cushion covers. Put the summr fabric ones away for the spring!
I should buy a load of logs, but the shed has miraculously filled up with prams, freezers, tumbledryer, suitcases etc etc:o So will have to "hire" the family to come and make some room for me!.

rosieben

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

Just make sure you loosen the lid as the milk will expand upwards are it freezes

I've never done this, been freezing milk for years in the plastic bottles and never had a problem

EstherH

Me neither. Just bung it in the freezer.

Charis

EstherH wrote: »

Me neither. Just bung it in the freezer.

Leave a little room between the containers though, if you stack a few side by side. I once sent DS out to get some milk I'd left in the fast freeze section but he couldn't get it out of the freezer. The row of containers had expanded sideways and they'd wedged themselves in. Luckily the side panel of the section lifts out after a brief struggle, so I was able to wiggle one milk free.

The large containers take a long time to thaw in the fridge - or even on the draining board, and need shaking to break up the iceberg that has formed inside. If you don't shake it, the milk is mostly water by the time you finish the container. And you get the occasional ice lump plop into your cup of tea if you don't wait for it to thaw properly.

Paulie'sGirl

I find "normal" milk freezes fine, the "pure" or Cravendale bottles don't seem to be able to withstand the pressure so well. I've found they will always leak.

When I lived alone I would buy milk in single pints. Then, (cos I didn't get through a pint fast enough) I'd sterilise the first bottle after use, and then split another single pint between its original container and the sterilised one. It helped me always have milk in, and avoid milk spoilage. Hope it helps someone!

PGxx

purpleheather2810

Jo4 wrote: »

Where is everyone getting their flannelette sheets from and how much do they cost for a decent set (double bed size)?

B+M is very reasonable for bedding - worth a look maybe?

redlady_1

I managed to get flannellette duvet covers from ebay but they werent the best quality but definitely did the job. £18.99 for the cover and two pillow cases.

beedeedee

DS has bought a motorbike to work on through the winter. The garage doors have gaps all around - I can make a "sausage" to go along the bottom, but what about the sides? Can you get "brushes" as in letterboxes to prevent draughts?