Preparing for winter II

toontron

Soubrette wrote: »

You're not squatting on Snowden are you:eek:

;)

Nooooooo - but saying that - they have got a new cafe up there now I believe - might be quite comfy:D

Justamum

lutzi1 wrote: »

Not wishing to be morbid, but I've thought for a long time our reservoirs are very vulnerable to attack.

I've lived in Swaziland, and the water supply is often disrupted, often because of bad storms - the water can come out of the taps very brown. My MIL worked for Peace Corps and they always had big plastic bins full of water for emergencies. I don't know how long they kept them in the bins, but as long as they don't get light on them they should keep (light will make algae grow - which is also why the huge water tanks used for borehole water are dark green)

lutzi1

I tend to replace mine once they've gone a little way over the best by date just to be on the safe side.

NualaBuala

Someone (sorry I forget who it wa) posted some really helpful links to this website http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/17/friday-food-storage-not-quite-so-quickie-5-week-beginner-food-storage/

It's got tonnes of info on what food to store and how. This article also discusses water. She suggests filling up old plastic bottles with tap water, store them well and replacing a third of the stored water every month. She seems to know what she's talking about - it's well worth a read.

cookiekid23

got some vacuum packed risotto rice today and a box with a lid to keep the cat from attacking my packets.

i think toontron is probably so used to preparation for winter he(/she?) couldnt quite believe us urbanites prepare and like to have a thread to do so. i think we took offence a bit quickly tbh.

his (her?) tips will be worth their weight in gold. keep em coming!!

Uniscots97

Minxy_Bella wrote: »

It's bad news for me - last year was horrendous which is why I'm concerned it's going to be as bad again. I'm dreading my car getting frozen to the ice again - the brakes froze solid and cost me £250 to repair! I just haven't got that kind of money to lose!

look out for the garages doing the free winter check or check out some of the 'how to's' on the web I think halfords do some good ones to help prepare your car for winter. Also try the library too for books on how to prepare your car. I bought a lot of my car car stuff in poundland and home bargains last year, its just as good as the expensive stuff and stopped me getting any problems last year (well almost none, someone skidded into me on the ice).

EstherH

I am trying to get my head round lining curtains with fleece. Not being at all crafty or practical and never sewing anything I like the idea of being able to pin a fleece to the curtain, and having warmer rooms but do I need to gather it up like the curtains? Also, what size fleeces and windows are you talking about? My windows are very large bay ones. The curtain drop is quite long - can't remember what atm.

I did see some cream fleeces in IKEA yesterday which had holes and a fringe top and bottom. I seem to remember someone mentioning putting spare curtain hooks through holes in a fleece (I think) but not sure if these would be strong enough. Don't know whether they would be big enough or about the fringe.

You all seem to be so able in this department. Help.

Second question. Daft one, but I remember a rhyme from years ago about red and green should never be seen... Well I have a dark green suite and everything else is neutral colours atm but I really fance having red curtains, cushions and maybe rug for winter, more cosy. However, would this look wrong with the dark green? What do you all think? I know ultimately it is up to me but I would like some oppinions.

anguk

EstherH wrote: »

Second question. Daft one, but I remember a rhyme from years ago about red and green should never be seen... Well I have a dark green suite and everything else is neutral colours atm but I really fance having red curtains, cushions and maybe rug for winter, more cosy. However, would this look wrong with the dark green? What do you all think? I know ultimately it is up to me but I would like some oppinions.

I thought it was "blue and green should never be seen"? Personally I would use whatever colours you like, if you like red have red, I've never been one for following style rules.

Plus if you think about it green and red are traditional Christmas colours so would be great for winter. Get yourself some red curtains & rug and maybe some cushions or throw in something similar to a MacGregor tartan, it'll look lovely and cosy.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MacGregor_Red_and_Green_tartan.png

AnnaMonkey

Hello All!

Woo, i finally managed to read the entire thread - phew!

I'm in a one bed flat, but at the top of the (quite short really) building, and the lounge had 3 outer walls (the ceiling counts, right) and it gets COLD. we bought a dehumidifier last year as we were also getting damp/condensation on the tops of the walls, it made a massive difference. i think the main problem is drying clothes inside as the water doesn't escape unless you open a window and it was too cold for that - add on the fact that we'd obviously be in the room at the time, it's not like it's a spare room!

I plan to get in some tinned/dried foods to store - i was planning on this anyway as it's so useful to have the basics in stock before a weeks shop, but i really like the idea of a 'in case it snows' store! yay!

I also need to get an inner letterbox draught excluder and a door sausage.

I love this thread! it's kinda making me look forward to winter...

EstherH

anguk wrote: »

I thought it was "blue and green should never be seen"? Personally I would use whatever colours you like, if you like red have red, I've never been one for following style rules.

Plus if you think about it green and red are traditional Christmas colours so would be great for winter. Get yourself some red curtains & rug and maybe some cushions or throw in something similar to a MacGregor tartan, it'll look lovely and cosy.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MacGregor_Red_and_Green_tartan.png

That's nice!

Definitly red and green. I remember going to work as a young office junior in a red polo neck and a green tank top kind of thing which I thought looked nice and someone saying it to me. Can see myself in it now. Take the point about it being Christmassy. Might have a hunt around and see what I can find cheap. Did see some curtains in Ikea yesterday that I liked but couldn't find a price and they were hung up in the bedding part and I think we missed the curtain section, get lost in there lol!