Preparing for winter II

Eenymeeny

Well done, Diddly! Hope that everyone else is cosy tonight!:)

Confuzzled

for those of youthat haven't read the 'is your heating on or off' thread you might want to read this post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=38836544&postcount=4942


:eek:

well if it's as accurate as they say i got that sledge in the nick of time! i've just turned the heat up higher for when it comes on later... if the storm is really bad we could lose electricity from the weight of the ice breaking powerlines so i want to get this house nice and warm just in case... won't hurt to have some thermal mass built up and hey, if it's too warm i will just do some washing and use the heat up on the clothes :rotfl: (i want my heated airer *stamps foot*)

keep warm everyone!

Confuzzled

Frugal wrote: »

Nothing in Berkshire yet....

Just saw a poor man slide off his bike, on South Today news :eek:

I am fed up with it already and it hasn't even snowed a single flake here

I am scared the outside pipes in the outhouse will freeze up. I've done what I can to insulate them but short of putting heating in there then there is probably little point if temps get really low. Might put my tumble drier on for a few mins before I go to bed and hope the residual heat will prevent a nasty burst pipe.

something that is very commonly done in the states to keep pipes from freezing is to keep the water running through them like a slow trickle... i believe the point is that the water is warmer than the cold air in and around the pipes even if it's cold water (running hot water would cost a fortune!)

if i'm going to be away for a few days and the weather is going to be very cold i always leave a steady low stream in my bathtub (and make sure i clean the drain first!) i've never had my pipes freeze, but then it could be an old wives tale...

Confuzzled

Frugal wrote: »

Do you fancy sharing your knowledge of what is going to happen in Berkshire?

The twins (4) keep asking me how many sleeps til the snow comes :rotfl:

awwww bless!

we had snow earlier tonight. i just had this 'feeling' so i looked outside... it was really quite pretty, we have several sodium lamp streetlights here and there was this amazing hazy orange glow with mist around the rooftops and pristine snow covering everything whilst a fine wave of snow showered down

it's since been heavy sleet for sometime though that's finally let off. we may not have enough snow for sledging tomorrow but we will have enough ice!

bluebag

Frugal wrote: »

Do you fancy sharing your knowledge of what is going to happen in Berkshire?

The twins (4) keep asking me how many sleeps til the snow comes :rotfl:

:rotfl:
They are really cute at that age.

Regarding the freezing outhouse, my mum has a downstairs loo that has UPVC walls and she was always worried about the pipes freeezing, she got a skirting heater and that just keeps it sort if unchilled if you get me without a heart attack sized bill.

nicki_2

My house is amazingly toasty tonight Going to juggle the times/temperatures for over the weekend on the timer so it stays comfortable

Off to get into my nice cozy bed now :wave:

Confuzzled

we just had what i assume was a power surge as everything down one side of my lounge went off for about 5 seconds (but the christmas lights stayed on! )

got me off my bum to finally put my emergency box together. i hadn't worried much as i keep my windup torch on the top shelf on my desk so it's really easy to get to and i know where everything else is but i figured it would be even easier if it was all in a box!

now the box has spare batteries (double and triple A), a mini flame thrower as i call them (for lighting candles), box of matches, tea lights, standard taper candles... but i didn't have a candlestick anywhere so i just emptied a jar of bamboo shoots, cleaned it out and it's just the right height and width for 4 tapers. it'll do in a pinch but i worry the heat might crack the glass so i'm going to be on the look out for a candle holder or two when we go into town to post the ex mil's birthday prezzy on monday. if i can't find anything there i'll try ebay.

i am also going to redouble my efforts to find my original windup torch,(thought it was in the emergency cupboard/junk area but it's not!) it also had a radio and phone charger on it. i'm not that fussed about the charger but i'd really like a radio if it all goes dark! i checked my daughters wee cd player and it takes 8 C batteries :eek:

i have two adaptors that let you use a double A battery for a C but i only have two! so if i can't find that torch/radio i'll look on ebay. and i think i'll get one of those phone chargers that someone mentioned earlier this week, runs directly off an AA battery... my ex had one they're very easy to use and helpful.

i also remembered to go downstairs and get the butane canisters from the hall cupboard. it's soooo cold down there i worry they won't work if we need them! no point in buying a campstove if i can't cook with it cuz my butane is all messed up! (i know nothing of butane as you might have guessed and i'm actually kinda scared to use the stove so here's hoping i don't have to!)

sheesh i thought i was prepared and i find out i'm not so well prepared... i'm gonna crack my own whip and sort this out!

[Deleted User]

sb44 wrote: »

Is it quite accurate then Kittie?

I may subscribe just for a month so that we can keep an eye on the weather leading up to our week away at Christmas.

try the free one first. Both give the forcast for just about 2-3 hours ahead and yes it has been very accurate

[Deleted User]

Confuzzled wrote: »

we just had what i assume was a power surge as everything down one side of my lounge went off for about 5 seconds (but the christmas lights stayed on! )

got me off my bum to finally put my emergency box together. i hadn't worried much as i keep my windup torch on the top shelf on my desk so it's really easy to get to and i know where everything else is but i figured it would be even easier if it was all in a box!

now the box has spare batteries (double and triple A), a mini flame thrower as i call them (for lighting candles), box of matches, tea lights, standard taper candles... but i didn't have a candlestick anywhere so i just emptied a jar of bamboo shoots, cleaned it out and it's just the right height and width for 4 tapers. it'll do in a pinch but i worry the heat might crack the glass so i'm going to be on the look out for a candle holder or two when we go into town to post the ex mil's birthday prezzy on monday. if i can't find anything there i'll try ebay

I have put a windup lantern in the bedroom by the door and have a nightlight from lakeland constantly plugged in as it has an emergency torch on it. Most of my candles are big fat ones so I just stand them on saucers. I am very glad that I went mad buying yankee candles in jars over the last few years, I knew they would come in useful. My parents used to put a blob of molten wax on a saucer and stand a candle in that, scary looking back now!!

diddly74

We have snow in Rugeley (Mid Staffordshire) Hubby went out to work at 5:30am and despite our neighbours trying to stop him (:mad: by parking s***ing cars across our driveway) he got to work fine and said the roads were ok.

Its not a lot of snow and seems to have stopped now (about half inch I reckon) my daughters will both be over the moon when they wake up.

I knew I should have gone out last night with the torch and made sure the garden was "clean" from our 2 dogs! Hurry up sunshine and melt it and dry it up so we are safe on the roads again! I don't mind playing in the snow but I hate driving in it!