Preparing for winter II

richardc1983

tugrin wrote: »

Hi
I have had a panic attack about all this!!! Two things I really need advice on -1- I have a completely useless onpen fire with pathetic back boiler. Meant to heat up 3 radiators but doesnt get more than lukewarm and isnt even connected to water tank so have to have immersion on anyway. This year Im thinking I will just block the chimney and use my electric radiators. After all coal is £20 a bag and I used a bag in 10 days + electricity last year.

Have you considered getting someone to come and service the system?

squeaky

unixgirluk wrote: »

Do you know where I can get these (is it GU10?), I have these in kitchen and bathroom. Are they expensive?

You're likely to be able to find them in your local supermarket... my local Asda has them, and if not - places like B&Q and Homebase will have them.

bramble1

I need to replace lightbulbs this weekend, 4 have gone in our house in the hall ways and the kitchen.

Going for a root around the £ shop to see what i can get, and the 99p store too.
ideally would like to get (not only in £shops!)

Hot Water Bottle and cover
Lightbulbs,
Thermal tights/socks
lunch box for OH

Rainy-Days

mummytoo wrote: »

We had consensation on our window this morning, to me thats a sign autumn is really on its way now! Has anyone noticed the unusal amount of wasps today.

I had to go to the bin just after 7am and there really is a chilly nip in the air, that Septmeber autumnal nip. I am quite sure we are in for an early autumn as well and I have a horrible feeling we are going to feel it when October looms into view. There is now not too much stuff that we need to do, it's a couple of outside jobs that I cannot deal with but OH will, the rest is indoors stuff.

If we are in for a long winter I am not looking forward to it, despite all the preparartions we have done, I know it is going to be long nights and a hard slog getting to work.

bramble1

Rainy-Days wrote: »

I had to go to the bin just after 7am and there really is a chilly nip in the air, that Septmeber autumnal nip. I am quite sure we are in for an early autumn as well and I have a horrible feeling we are going to feel it when October looms into view. There is now not too much stuff that we need to do, it's a couple of outside jobs that I cannot deal with but OH will, the rest is indoors stuff.

If we are in for a long winter I am not looking forward to it, despite all the preparartions we have done, I know it is going to be long nights and a hard slog getting to work.

The good weather this year started in April, so i figure everything will be early this year.

tugrin

Richard c
I have had several people look at the boiler and suck their teeth and shake their heads and say 'you' be better of with a stove..' I know this but to put one in I have to have the back boiler removed apparently and I have JUST got the sitting room finished (apart from floor!) and decent to sit in plus I do not have the pennies so wont be doing that for a while. Have bled radiators twice. Trouble is I cant find anyone in this part of the world who actually seems to know about these ancient systems!! I think I'm going to try taking the plate out and having a look at the plates as suggeseted above (THANK YOU) Any other tips on sorting this system out gratefully recieved.

richardc1983

tugrin wrote: »

Richard c
I have had several people look at the boiler and suck their teeth and shake their heads and say 'you' be better of with a stove..' I know this but to put one in I have to have the back boiler removed apparently and I have JUST got the sitting room finished (apart from floor!) and decent to sit in plus I do not have the pennies so wont be doing that for a while. Have bled radiators twice. Trouble is I cant find anyone in this part of the world who actually seems to know about these ancient systems!! I think I'm going to try taking the plate out and having a look at the plates as suggeseted above (THANK YOU) Any other tips on sorting this system out gratefully recieved.

Maybe a google search and ring round for someone that deals with these systems and ensure they know these systems before they come out and look. Otherwise pointless.

Prudent

mummytoo wrote: »

We had consensation on our window this morning, to me thats a sign autumn is really on its way now! Has anyone noticed the unusal amount of wasps today.

Its not just me then! I have a small garden and was allowing an area under a plum tree to become a semi wilderness area to encourage wildlife. However as the garden is vey small it just meant the weeds spread quickly to the rest. Yesterday I went out and cleared it. There must be over 100 wasps buzzing around the plum tree. Still there this morning.I can't find a nest.

I am actually glad of change in the weather. I work in a school and we go back on Monday. It can get impossibly hot at times with the sun on the glass.

GreyQueen

Never got around to counting the tinned foods but suspect that I have plenty of tinned tommies........and tinned peaches at Tesco had a 3 for 3 on their basics tinned fruits (ended 16/08 sadly) so stocked up. Worked out at 19p a tin.

Having to bolt the living room door against draughts was the least of the troubles. I was in the sub-basement of a large Victorian house, built about 1850, with a fireplace in every room. I was in what was the servants' area (their scullery was my kitchen, their kitchen was my living room, the bedroom I think was always a bedroom) and there were several walk-in cupboards which had formerly been pantries/ larders etc.

The floor was about 2 inches of concrete over pamments and the place was freezing. I got a £20 carpet remnant for the living room and layered the floor underneath with lots of cardboard and newspapers. The whole house was a nightmare; on the first floor the old-fashioned non-fitted carpet would sometimes billow in the draught, as in completely leave the floor in a rippling motion. It was like a ghost story, quite disturbing to watch.

Lots of layers were worn, expecially hats indoors.

ExTrolly101

Been into loft very early this am, tidy it up and look for flanelette sheets in vac bags. Found 2 ancient ik*a lanterns for tea lights put them near the loft hatch. Found a couple of luxury fleece airline blankets ( I can't imagine how I got them;):p)they are cotton lined too not massive but enough to snuggle up in. Started my list of jobs to do thanks to rainy days and tooti frutti and input from many others brilliant ideas! Definate nip in the air this morning the hawthorns opposite my house are very heavy with berries as are the elder trees. Got boxes of clothes out of loft for DS given to me in at are lots of hoodies etc. Someone posted about snow suits for their 2 year old (same age as mine) I looked into snow suits and the cost was too prohibitive. Last year I bought a fleece suit and a separate full waterproof. Great for cold days or wet days and worked out cheaper than a snow suit, have measured DS and wet proof still fits. Was given a lovely full fleece suit by another mum from jojo maman bebeher son looked adorable in it.
http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+polarfleece-all-in-ones-in-polarfleece+B2382
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-podsuit-kids-waterproof-jacket-p96518
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/fluffy-puddle-kids-p161106

Hope this info is useful. The prices for Go outdoors are if you have a discount card which £5 for 12 months and there is so many things ideal for winter prep!!