Preparing for winter II

pink_numbers

MY GOODNESS is it me or did the North West just got really cold today??? BRRRRRR!

Justamum

Seakay wrote: »

As Jim Callaghan was PM during the winter of discontent I'm assuming that I'm correct in remembering that the Labour Party were in power at the time?

That's right. I think what Butterfly Brain might be thinking about is the 3 day week.

Seakay wrote: »

For those worried about freezers - if you don't open them and surround them with blankets, newspapers, cardboard and other insulating material then the contents will remain frozen for up to 48 hours.

I think also this is where a chest freezer would perform better than an upright as the cold air won't "fall out" of a chest freezer.

northwest1965

pink_numbers wrote: »

MY GOODNESS is it me or did the North West just got really cold today??? BRRRRRR!

and so dull and dreary aswell, the lights will be going on early tonight!

MrsRogers

pink_numbers wrote: »

MY GOODNESS is it me or did the North West just got really cold today??? BRRRRRR!

Its is cold up here today pink... and VERY Windy a sign of things to come no doubt.

I have been day off work today (going on to lates this week :mad:)
I have been productive and read this thread:D I have cleared a cupboard out in my kitchen in preparation of stockpiling. I have made a 'To Do' list with lots of tips I have got from here :j

Anyone got any ideas for chimney's ..... I have 2 open fires in the bedrooms and one in the lounge. Now I say open fires they are fireplaces (which are unusable at present) however there is a draft coming down the chimney.... There is newspaper stuffed up there at present from the previous owners (we only moved in... in May)

Any better suggestions?

wssla00

Scotland is blowing a gale today but hurrah hurrah I found my old hot water bottle so am happy Need to put up the blinds and sort out the covers for the bed but other than that I'm pretty on schedule.

NualaBuala

Ìt's gloomy here too and I'm chilly too even though Accuweather is telling me that it's 20C. It sure doesn't feel it!!!! I'm wrapped up in layers and rugs to keep warm.

jackieglasgow

wssla you forgot to mention the torrential rain which hasn't stopped since 7am. It looks outside how I feel inside today. Horrible horrible horrible. Although Annie56 made me smile with her post about taking the business accounts. Good for you woman!

NualaBuala

MrsRogers, I will be using my open fire until my supply of free fuel runs out. And then I was going to use an old pillow wrapped in a bin bag and stick it up the chimney as a fake chimney balloon (the real ones are mean to be very good). I'm going to leave a bit of string hanging down to remind me it's there. Not sure it'll work but I've got old pillows in the garage so worth a try!:)

pink_numbers

MrsRogers wrote: »

Anyone got any ideas for chimney's ..... I have 2 open fires in the bedrooms and one in the lounge. Now I say open fires they are fireplaces (which are unusable at present) however there is a draft coming down the chimney.... There is newspaper stuffed up there at present from the previous owners (we only moved in... in May)

Any better suggestions?

I had the exact same problem with our fireplace and I ended up doing the following:

1) buy one of those net curtain tension poles that you extend a bit longer than the gap...

2) buy cheap fleece blanket, fold it in half, then hang this on the tension pole. You want to place the pole about two inches above the hole, and prop it up between the sides of the mantel piece... does that make sense?

3) make sure the fleece covers at least two inches on either side of the hole too, and enough draped on the ground for you to tuck in the fleece so that you get a good seal.

4) you can cover the fleece with a nicer fabric to match your room better

HTH

MrsRogers

I have been reading a few blogs/weather predictions online and its not looking good. Met Office is keeping tight lipped however the general consensus out there is we are in for a bad one again. :eek:

I was brought up very rural and got snowed in for weeks at a time as a child growing up so am not massively concerned as I now live on the outskirts of a city... my upbringing means I ALWAYS have a 'stores' as my dad calls it.. lots of pasta, dried milk, tea, sugar, tins :j

Quite fancy being snowed in and not have to go to work