Preparing for winter II

Confuzzled

mcjordi wrote: »

also the council have changed the bulbs in some of our street lights and my god its like security lights on permantley bright as hell.. phone call to them some time monday....

because those are energy saving i doubt the council will change them however if you use a dark coloured fleece as lining for your winter curtains they are then very much like black out blinds, you'll have some light spilling out the top of the window beyond the reach of the curtains but that's a bit like a free nightlight! i have a similar problem with bright lights outside both bedroom windows and the winter curtains are a blessing in that respect.

helen_jelly

Milk - we always freeze our Milk [semi and full] and leave it on the drainer to defrost overnight, shake in the morning and you're set to go


Big thanks for all the tips - I have a list of outside jobs that I'm slowly working my way through

Back to lurking now

Helen

Rainy-Days

I have just repotted one of my Japanese Azaleas as the original crock pot broke (it got knocked over). I was debating doing the guttering then the rain showers with a driving wind decided to kick in. It is on my list of things to do and I am going to try very hard to get it done by next weekend. Then that is pretty much it for all of our outside stuff. It just means things like putting the garden furniture away and cutting back in the garden - but these are marked in for October jobs to do. The rest (apart form the windows and doors to be cleaned) is pretty much indoorsy stuff which I can deal with as I go along.

Just so flipping glad the shed, bird table and seated arbour have all been dealt with now. I even got the washing line props (also wood) stained as well. I am not sure how the weather is with the rest of you but it has really turned breezy and late September like here today

I forgot to mention on the main winter pre list about putting your hoses away. Make sure they are drained and coiled up correctly. They can easily live outside, but I prefer mine to go away in the shed and then bring it out in the late Spring! It's just one thing less to be in the garden exposed to the elements.

lilme

mcjordi wrote: »

is milk ok to freeze as ive never actually frozen it but i am going to this year as the local shop ran out fast when it snowed.

Have you tried Lactofree milk? It comes with a use by on it of at least a month. Only difference between this and normal milk is that it has the lactose removed. It doesn't taste any different. It is more expensive though, it's around £1.29 a litre. But I find it tastes much better than UHT, it also keeps better once it's been opened.

seafarers_wife

just been to costco to get a few bits. for those near the gateshead one, they had 2 pair of snow track things (similar to yack trax) for £9.99 plus vat. they had mens size 8/9 - 11 and ladies size 4 - 9 (or something along those size lines).

winter prep list
Buy new kingsized duvet for spare bed
buy wind up torch/phone charger
curtains for front door
curtains for hall windows
curtains for french doors
curtains for bathroom windows
sort out car kit (de-icer, scraper, spare wipers, washer fluid, cash, phone, charger, blanket, shovel & brush)
[STRIKE]find gloves and put in accessable sensible place [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]check over walking boots and wellies and make sure still in good nick[/STRIKE]
ask neighbour what the houses round here were like last winter (was in in relatively new build before, now in a 1950's build)
[STRIKE]put up gas direct debit to ensure decent credit for winter[/STRIKE]
get gas fire safety checked
[STRIKE]baked beans [/STRIKE]
tomato soup (i go through buckets of the stuff)
uht milk - buy in bulk from costco, but only had stuff dated dec 11 so will wait another month or 2
[STRIKE]bottled water [/STRIKE]
diluting juice
rice

JillS_2

Why do people mention dishwasher salt for dealing with snow and ice? Does it work out cheaper than value household salt or is it just better at dealing with snow?

Fruball

DW salt is chunkier than household salt and yes its is better at dealing with snow

For anyone who hasn't frozen milk before, be warned, once frozen it goes yellow :eek: Once defrosted and shaken its fine though

nikki2804

Popped into B&M yesterday and noticed they do large 'magic carpets'. Meant to pick one up and typically forgot as it was so busy. Will pop back through the week when its hopefuly quieter.

Was at Primark again and picked up two more pairs of fleecy PJs. Also got 2 packs of fleecy slipper socks. They were reduced to £1 and I never realised that they contained two pairs each. Bargain!! I also picked up a pair of flip flops in the hope we do have nice weather again!

Will pick up DW salt when I go to B&M as Lidl is in the same retail park.

Spotted a lovely winter coat for my LO from Next. Its lovely and thick so I'm going to order that for him. Spotted a gorgeous pair of black winter boots for him, then realised they were £50 :eek:. As much as I want my LO to have good shoes I am not paying £50 for a pair of Timberlands that he will grow out of in 3 months (as much as the employee tried to tell me that feet dont grow that fast - tell that too my son!!)

Confuzzled

nikki2804 wrote: »

Spotted a gorgeous pair of black winter boots for him, then realised they were £50 :eek:. As much as I want my LO to have good shoes I am not paying £50 for a pair of Timberlands that he will grow out of in 3 months (as much as the employee tried to tell me that feet dont grow that fast - tell that too my son!!)

actually, when my daughter was younger the ladies at Clarks kept saying they grow out of their shoes every 6 weeks when they're quite small... mind you that might have been slightly exaggerated to guilt one into buying their expensive shoes but with my daughter it was certainly the case for many years... she's not quite 10 now and is just moving into ladies size 7 which might add credence to my claims :eek:

MrsRogers

cathy2702 wrote: »

Bought a slim chest freezer and got it delivered yesterday, I'm so reliant on batch cooking and buying discounted meat that I never have room in my freezer, will be great having this extra space this winter.

Hi Cathy - Just wondered where you got your slim chest freezer from.. we have been thinking about one for a while and struggled to find one that fits where we are planning to put it.

My prep is coming along slowly ... I seem to add more then mark off at the moment !!:eek:


Winter Preparation 2011/2012
General
[STRIKE]• Buy Hats gloves & Scarves Cat
• Buy Hat glove and scarf Ant
• Hot water bottles washed & stored away[/STRIKE]
• Thermal blinds hallway
• [STRIKE]Purchase an extra fleece blanket for our bed
• Purchase flannelette sheets for our bed
• Purchase flannelette Pillowcases our bed[/STRIKE]
• Purchased 100 tealights aswell as lots of festive ones for xmas & matches
• Stock up on lots of medicine for winter ailments (see sub list)
• Dry Clean my black wool coat
• Purchased new slippers for me
• Check winter socks me and Ant
• Get my UGG boots out
• Buy waterproof snow boots me or Short Wellies and liners
• Buy Wellies Ant
• Curtain Pole Back Door
• Curtain for back door
• Buy 2 x plastic box for car boxes
• emergency box for car x2
• buy snow shovel
• stock up on salt for paths
• [STRIKE]Buy Wind up torch[/STRIKE]
• Insulate the attic hatch
• [STRIKE]Fleece Jumper / zip top for me & Ant to layer up with[/STRIKE]
• Repair guttering side of house
• Service boiler
• Cover Outside table and chairs
• Sort Food store cupboard out
• Radiator Reflectors.
• [STRIKE]Hand Warmer[/STRIKE]


Medication List
 Cold & Flu Tablets
 Vicks Vapour rub
 Strepsils
 Paracetamol
 Sudafed
 Cough Medicine (Chesty & Tickle)
 Vitamin c
 Prescriptions
 Tampons



Car Box (2 of everything)
 De Icer
 Sraper
 Socks
 Bottle Water
 Cereal Bar
[STRIKE] Extra Jumper / Blanket
 Torch (battery & windup)
 Mobile car charger
[/STRIKE]