Preparing for winter II

Uniscots97

Money_maker wrote: »

Worth remembering that although some of us may be able to get out to buy groceries when the weather is bad, for many the period following Christmas can be quite tight financially with many having a very long month before payday if they were paid early for Christmas.

And there's only so much turkey you can stomach after Christmas...:eek:

I usually buy tins and jars and long-life hot dogs buns/rolls etc (i know they are expensive so anyone knows where they can be bought cheaper please let me kow), its not a case of not being able to get out to the shops but not being able to get to my freezer as its in the garage, last year I had a job keeping the snow clear just to get to the freezer! So in end gave in (on the really bad days) and just used stuff in the cupboard, things like beans on toast, pasta and tinned meatballs, hot dogs and soup made out of what ever scraps of veg I have left and some lentils or split peas.

anguk

I bought some cheap 4.5tog quilts from Ikea yesterday, £3.99 for a single £4.99 for a double, we'll stick them on top of our winter quilts as a top-up when it's really cold. The singles are just a nice size to snuggle on the sofa too.

I also bought some tealight/small candle lanterns, they look very pretty with a little yankee candle burning inside and as others have said it's surprising how much warmer it can feel with a few candles burning. I don't know if it was just the Gateshead store but they had quite a few of their candles reduced.

nicki_2

I had the boiler serviced this morning Told the engineer that the only problem I've had with it was when it froze last year so I'm going to insulate the pipe 'cause this year is supposed to be just as bad if not worse and he just stopped and looked at me ashen faced I explained why and his reaction was "too right, get it all sorted now!" Although he's not impressed with the amount of work he may have to do due to the travelling and if it really is that bad he won't be able to get home for Xmas. But I have forewarned him, and I've warned people in work as well...now I just need to get on with stuff!

sandraroffey

look in charity shops for the flannelette sheets. recently got a double, nearly new flannelette sheet, for something like £3-4. got quite a few that way.

slm6002

For those of you who like pot noodles and are stocking up your cupboards they are currently 50p in asda. OH likes them so got a few for now and a few to hide away for later (they need to be hidden or they will not make it to winter with OH around)

Pooky

candie_gill wrote: »

Does anyone know if duck feather and down duvets are supposed to smell? I bought my LO's from argos and opened it yesterday and its smelly! Smells inbetween mould and tea tree.... hmmm! Think i will put it through the wash and then air it on the line, i googled and argos ones are coming up as smelly so must be a problem with theirs!
helps.

They will smell for a bit due to being packed in plastic and from the chemicals they use on the feathers to stop them breaking down/rotting. Don't wash it, just air it outside for as long as you can, the smell will go in a day or so.

Uniscots97

I put this on the 'workhouse' thread but thought it would be useful here as well:

This will only work if you have a small-ish dog (I suppose you could sew 2 or more together for a bigger dog). To stop my Gran's friend's little dog from getting cold at night in the winter my Mum got a polar fleece scarf from Poundland (she said you could use any old scrap material really), cut a length that matched the dog's from base of his neck to root of his tail. She cut a V-shape at one end (not too deep) and sewed elastic across the two points of the V and then some elastic (with a loop) and a button to link one side of the length of it to the other. Perfect little dog jacket to keep them snug.

Not sure what she did with the rest of the material but probably something useful!

veggieblob

unixgirluk wrote: »

I put this on the 'workhouse' thread but thought it would be useful here as well:

This will only work if you have a small-ish dog (I suppose you could sew 2 or more together for a bigger dog).

I'm now sitting at work having hysterics - my workmates think I'm mad! I know MSErs are inventive, but sewing 2 small dogs together to make one large one? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Is this so that it can pull the home-made sledge in the snow or maybe keep your feet warm at night by laying on them?

I must learn to read a whole message properly!

Thank you so much for cheering up my boring afternoon x

Uniscots97

Glad I could be of service Veggieblob, tho' I maybe should make things a bit clearer when typing!

Kitchenbunny

Unixgirluk - I saw in Mr T at lunchtime that Ye Olde Oak Premium Hot Dogs (tin of 8) in brine are 49p - half price - atm so I got one for my storecupboard. Also, Morrisons have Ye Olde Oak Chilli Dogs for 48p a tin and packets of instant mash at half price too. Needless to say I have a couple of those in my storecupboard now, ready for either winter or a power cut.

KB xx