Preparing for winter II

Red_Doe

kidcat wrote: »

There is a deposit here too, I remember buying a gas bbq and being horrified that the gas was costing four times the price of the bbq, at the time the firm that was best value were charging for orange gas bottles £30 deposit but no deposit for blue, so I changed the regulator for £10 and bought blue instead (my bbq was able to run on either). I now have two blue bottles one empty and one full - which brings to mind what type do you need and will a courier carry an empty gas canister? If so I am happy to send the empty one up to you its only gathering dust in my parents garden.

I don't know if a courier will carry an empty cannister, I hope so though because if I can pay for transport I would eagerly accept an unwanted cannister, my gas heater takes the blue ones.

Fruball

Thought this might be useful for some of our spider-phobic preppers - The little nasties are really starting to come in now :eek:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPIDER-VAC-Bug-Vacuum-Humane-Catcher-No-Kill-No-Contact-/250875918792?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Weed_Pest_Control_CV&hash=item3a695eb9c8

This is the cheapest I have found them... One website wanted almost double that price inc delivery but were selling on Amazon for about the price of the one I have linked to... Needless to say I bought from ebay as I don't like companies that give different prices on their own websites to the ones they put on ebay/amazon - I have no connection with the seller by the way... Just thought that as a few of us hate spiders, it might come in useful

Red_Doe

Here, spiders always come indoors just before heavy rain (that's about four days a week then ) and I used to do the glass thing to put them outdoors but am certain the same ones came back in again the minute my back was turned!
Now I squash them.....*blush* but in my defense, I've been bitten by them on occasion.

ifonlyitwaseasier

ok can we avoid talking about those nasty lil things? ^^^^

get the repellant from kleeneze, or similar place, with chestnut oil, really has made a difference for me, tho i still have hubby on duty for "de-bugging" iyswim,

Fruball

kidcat wrote: »

There is a deposit here too, I remember buying a gas bbq and being horrified that the gas was costing four times the price of the bbq, at the time the firm that was best value were charging for orange gas bottles £30 deposit but no deposit for blue, so I changed the regulator for £10 and bought blue instead (my bbq was able to run on either). I now have two blue bottles one empty and one full - which brings to mind what type do you need and will a courier carry an empty gas canister? If so I am happy to send the empty one up to you its only gathering dust in my parents garden.

Yayyyyy a solution - Go kindhearted Kidcat :T

kidcat

Red_Doe wrote: »

I don't know if a courier will carry an empty cannister, I hope so though because if I can pay for transport I would eagerly accept an unwanted cannister, my gas heater takes the blue ones.

Will contact a couple either tomorrow or weds (got funeral in middle of day tomorrow so am not sure how long it will take) and find out.

skintbint_2

http://quiltbug.com/articles/microwave-bag.htm more instructions for a wheat bag, - think you could use pasta, baking beans.
like the thought of using nice smelling scent with them. seen a post a long time ago and somebody had made a bed runner for along their bed with pockets for the bags keeping them cosy - would be worth getting an old quilt cover and sewing pockets onto it and a wee bit velcro/poppers to close the pocket and every night you have a cosy bed!

smileyt_2

Red Doe, I have some wheat grains if you would like them. I bought them intending to grind them into flour and make my own bread, but have since discovered that I have a wheat intolerance (and feel so much better for having given up bread etc, although I still miss it). I was wondering what to do with them - they're pretty useless sitting here in my cupboard! PM me if you'd like them.

ETA I was going to try growing wheat grass with them but that's a bit worthy even for this die-hard vegan lol!

toottifrootti

RedDoe have you transport - could you try asking at the fishing places - there might be an empty hanging around from the boats? And they might have pallets for firewood - but if you know anyone who drives the fish lorries maybe they could collect an empty from south for you? or if kidcat sent it by royal mail it would come to Lairg by train and the mail car would have to deliver it to you. maybe it could come by train mail - freight or whatever they call it - you used to be able to take things to a station and put bulky stuff on the train and it would go by train to the nearest station for collection - I wonder if they still do it. Most of the normal courier like DHL etc will charge an arm and a leg - I know from trying to send stuff to my Mother - they dont want to do it.

think if you have seen any delivery lorries around the area - who were they?

what about Durness - is there a community/council service point - could you ask advice about what courier firms work the area.

I dont know your financial status so I hope you wont be offeended - if you are on benefits you could apply for a crisis loan - you might get enough to get oil or even a full gas tank - the point is that the repayments are tiny - sometimes just a pound or 2 a week which they take from your benefits and you dont really notice it- if the schedule comes through with high paymets then you just phone up and say you cant pay it and they make them less by extending the repayment time - been there!!!! especially as its for fuel then you have a very good chance of getting one. its just another option.
tootsx


what about putting a card in the shop in Durness etc asking for an empty - you just never know your luck - and ask anybody you meet and ask them to ask around - ceildhs, the pub, the church - all good networking places!!!

shoei

Here goes my 1st post!!!!

So this weekend I have started my winter prep! I have already insulated a third of the roof and this weekend cleared 130 years of dust and muck out of another third ready for insulating and found out the hot water bottles. Also have my thermal curtains up in the bedroom.

I wondered if anyone could help? We live in an old stone semi cottage with hardwood double glazing that I have just restained. The house is well ventilated (draughty) and we dont dry washing on clothes horse but use a condenser dryer, and have fans in kitchen and bathroom.... however the windows are ALWAYS dripping wet with condensation in the winter. The house has been damp proofed and it is just the windows we have issues with. Is there anything I can do other than buying an expensive dehumidifier?