Preparing for winter II

rising_from_the_ashes

Well a successful, if slightly expensive, morning.

Had to go for scan at hospital so popped Home Bar*gains on the way home (I seem to be never out of that place). I really wanted to go to Hal*fords which is in the same retail park so it seemed silly not to go!:o

Anyway, managed to get at Hal*fords:

Some of the -65 deg:eek: screenwash
Gas bottles for camping stove - they're on 4 for 3 so £6.87 for the 4 which is really cheap

HB:

12 x 5 litre bags wood cat litter (£1.29 each). These are great quality but it's really difficult to get more than a couple (think everyone bulk buys if they're there) and was a big pile so ..... It's a really good price (£7.74 for 30 litres) as the big bags start off at around £10 each, even online.

Now have 75 litres stored away in an old bin in garage so I don't use it by accident (around 5 weeks supply). Also have around 100 litres put aside for post op no driving period:).

For birds:

Fat balls - still 49p for 6 so got a load more (and some for DM)
Mealworms - £1.19 for 100g (have seen these at up to £3.99 for the same size bag)
Suet blocks - 49p each (again can retail for up to £2 each)
Seed - 99p for 1.8 kg

Bought a load of the above (spent quite a lot:() but should have enough to see the birds through the harshest bit of the winter:D. I don't eat bread and always forget to pick some up for them so like to know I've got something. Hoping DM may get a big bin full of sweepings from the farmer again to top my seed up.

So ...... dog, cats and birds will now eat ...... pity, I've not got anything for me yet (apart from 2 x 4 packs of tinned tomatoes!):eek:

Glad I got the duvet washed yesterday - chucking down (again) here today:(.

rising_from_the_ashes

chirpychick wrote: »

I need a draught excluder for the living room door but it has to be one that fits onto the door otherwise the dogs steal it.

Cut several bits of elastic (long enough to sew onto the excluder, go under your door and a wee bit extra).

Space the pieces out along the length of the excluder and sew one end of each one bit onto the bottom of it.

On the other end of each bit of elastic, attach something like an empty sewing thread reel.

Slide the elastic under the door - the excluder will be held tight against the door and the dogs can't pull it out 'cos of the reels!;) HTH

chirpychick wrote: »

We have the in laws AGAIN for Christmas as my hubbys brother never invites them and i love them to pieces they are wonderful but i just cant afford to cater for them every year and father in law doesnt eat poultry so we end up having turkey for us christmas eve and beef with them christmas day. Hubby ends up spending 2 hours driving them back and forth and we dont really get to enjoy the day. Like we would like to go for a long dog walk after lunch for example but cant.

I think your hubby needs a word with his brother to tell him, it's his turn!

Gigervamp

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Ginger, how many times can you have your heating go on/off on the time (mine can do three) - I wonder if it's worth splitting it up a bit and maybe having 2 hours am, 2 early afternoon and 4 evening (same amount in total). It may stop the house cooling down as much and hopefully help stop you getting toooooooo cold.

It's quite an old system and we can only have 2 times set or constant. Also, we don't have a room thermostat, only a temperature dial on the boiler.

toottifrootti

chirpychick wrote: »

Hello,

We had a plan for Christmas but that ended up being put on hold as other things cropped up so now our parents are getting shop and scan vouchers and we are spending £10 on each other and thats it.
We have the in laws AGAIN for Christmas as my hubbys brother never invites them and i love them to pieces they are wonderful but i just cant afford to cater for them every year and father in law doesnt eat poultry so we end up having turkey for us christmas eve and beef with them christmas day. Hubby ends up spending 2 hours driving them back and forth and we dont really get to enjoy the day. Like we would like to go for a long dog walk after lunch for example but cant.
I knew this year would be a real struggle and i am grateful for so much but i do feel like the bad weather is cropping up so quickly and im not on top of it as much as i would like.
sorry for the rant.

dont apologise for ranting hun its understandable with all you have on your plate
like rising says its about time the brother did his bit. Or would it be possible for your inlaws to stay overnight - that at least would save on the petrol and time and your Dh could relax a bit? You could leave them to nap and you two go out for your walk or whatever . Or could the brother even pick them up after lunch and share the load. I cant remember who it was on here but they have just cooked a 14lb turkey from Aldi's it was £5.99 and portioned it up for the freezer - could you maybe do this now and then on Christmas day you could just do father in law a separate meat and everyone else have turkey - he could have the same trimmings? or even if you dont cook a turkey now just do the one main meal with something for him - a piece of steak or beef slow cooked - the oven will be on anyway - or a little steak pie - it would save you having to cater twice. maybe your Mum in law would like a turkey meal too.

just my tuppence worth
toots xx

pineapple

I think most of us feel we have to push the boat out a little when we have guests, let alone it being Christmas. Could you ask them for a contribution? Re the driving I've experienced this myself - but it would have been a worse prospect having them stay over!
I would be tempted to say the car is a bit temperamental at the moment and you need to avoid long journeys.
Or reach a compromise where you collect and they make their own arrangements to get home.

chirpychick

Thanks for your ideas I like the one about giving FIL something different instead of doing 2 big meals.
I really would like for brother in law to have the parents in law this year, for the inlaws sake more than anything. We havent been blessed with children yet but they have 2 grandchildren from my brother in law and they hardly get to see them, so spending christmas with them would make them so happy. However brother in law lives about 3 hours away and there is no way he will come and get them (usually its hubby drives them up there and collects them - meaning practically 2 days driving for him) they will occasionally get the train lol.
I think i will speak to hubby about this tonight and see what he says.
I could not bare them spending it alone as they are in their 70's and i do love them so much and they do a lot for us but sometimes we just could do with a break from them.
oh they cant stay over as we have 3 dogs a cat 4 guinea pigs 2 mice and a hamster and she says they give her asthma.
However i do think they wouldnt mind if we went and walked the dogs for an hour whilst they stay indoors and watch a bit of telly i didnt know if that was rude or not so i appreciate the suggestion. GOOD PLAN

SpikyHedgehog

smileyt wrote: »

How very dare you! :rotfl:

Could you get one of those stick-on lamps or bulbs (sure I saw one in poundland the other day) to stick on the wall near the spot lamps and use that instead? Battery operated but may still work out cheaper.

I really need some kind of snowboot. Trouble is, I'm only a size 2. Do any of you mums know of a decent boot? I have hiking shoes for walking the dogs in which are OK in most weathers, but for snow and really heavy rain I need something else. I do have wellies but it hurts to walk any distance in them as it sets my plantar fasciitis off.

Sp0rts Dir3ct have these http://www.sportsdirect.com/kids/kids-boots in the kids section - the h3ll0 k1tty boots for £5 look warm... The Sherling boots are the same as in the ladies section but without VAT so £2 cheaper, but don't know if you wanted ones with laces at the front?

alice-mary

Rising from the Ashes, "Cut several bits of elastic (long enough to sew onto the excluder, go under your door and a wee bit extra).

Space the pieces out along the length of the excluder and sew one end of each one bit onto the bottom of it.

On the other end of each bit of elastic, attach something like an empty sewing thread reel.

Slide the elastic under the door - the excluder will be held tight against the door and the dogs can't pull it out 'cos of the reels!;) HTH"

Blooming Genius idea! :T:j One I will definitely be using, thankyou Rising!!!

Alice
xx

oldtractor

Ellidee wrote: »

Good post about cutting gas/leccy costs on this blog today http://frugalincornwall.blogspot.com/

Excellent blog.
I have recently bought some more rugs. I think all I need now is fleecey PJ's for all the family.
I am knitting myself a jumper and am going to knit some long wolley socks too.

smileyt_2

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

Sp0rts Dir3ct have these http://www.sportsdirect.com/kids/kids-boots in the kids section - the h3ll0 k1tty boots for £5 look warm... The Sherling boots are the same as in the ladies section but without VAT so £2 cheaper, but don't know if you wanted ones with laces at the front?

Thanks for that link, I will have a look.

Was nippy here this morning - when I went out at 7am to feed the hens, I could see my breath :eek: Autumn is here already